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A review by violentdelights
Something More by Jackie Khalilieh
3.75
I feel like I give every YA/romance novel I enjoy a 3.5, but I definitely enjoyed this! It was cute, heartwarming, and easy to read - I devoured it in less than a day despite the audiobook being eleven hours.
On the note of the audiobook, I really enjoyed the narrator - she managed to make distinct voices despite the fairly large cast of characters, and had voices that sounded boyish that weren’t just her awkwardly lowering her voice.
By far, the best character was Jesse. As someone who also sees the world in black and white more often than not at least in my YA), it was unexpected to see the shades of gray that coloured the book. Took a bit of getting used to, but I ultimately enjoyed it.
I’m usually not a fan of love triangles, but this one unfolded very naturally, and it was nice to see a brown neurodivergent girl be desired, something so rare to see for a single one of those identities, let alone at the intersection of them. I wish her identities took a bit more centre stage, but I also appreciate stories being told where brown and neurodivergent characters get to just exist, same as white and neurotypical characters do.
At the end of the day, it’s exactly what it says on the tin - a cheesy high school romance with an autistic girl navigating the ups and downs of her freshman year.
On the note of the audiobook, I really enjoyed the narrator - she managed to make distinct voices despite the fairly large cast of characters, and had voices that sounded boyish that weren’t just her awkwardly lowering her voice.
By far, the best character was Jesse. As someone who also sees the world in black and white more often than not at least in my YA), it was unexpected to see the shades of gray that coloured the book. Took a bit of getting used to, but I ultimately enjoyed it.
I’m usually not a fan of love triangles, but this one unfolded very naturally, and it was nice to see a brown neurodivergent girl be desired, something so rare to see for a single one of those identities, let alone at the intersection of them. I wish her identities took a bit more centre stage, but I also appreciate stories being told where brown and neurodivergent characters get to just exist, same as white and neurotypical characters do.
At the end of the day, it’s exactly what it says on the tin - a cheesy high school romance with an autistic girl navigating the ups and downs of her freshman year.