Scan barcode
A review by aromanticreadsromance
You Started It by Jackie Khalilieh
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Ahhhh this was so so good!! I’m so grateful I got to read an ARC of it. Thank you to Tundra Books for the privilege because I def would not have lasted until its pub date!
This book has Palestinian rep (written by a Palestinian Canadian author), anxiety rep, IBS rep. I loved Jamie’s relationship with her mom. As a teenage girl, I also was so adamant that I didn’t want to turn into my mom, and then one day had a terrifying thought that I was more similar to her than I was admitting to myself. Jamie feels cut off from her Palestinian roots because of her mom, and she has a lot of resentment for that. She also feels like her mom is responsible for her dad having left them three years ago. I like how Jamie grows to understand her mom, and her mom starts to see how her judgment has harmed Jamie. I think their arguments are realistic.
OH MY GOSH I LOVED AXEL. That boy has my entire heart. His passion for dance, his embracing of his Arab (Lebanese) roots, his clear love and care for Jamie… He’s the real MVP in this book.
I also came to love Olivia’s character. Jamie is so aware of how her dislike of Olivia is rooted in internal misogyny, but she also can’t help but hate her for “stealing her boyfriend” (Ben). I love that Olivia and Jamie eventually hash it out.
And okay, even Ben’s character wasn’t so terrible in the end, even though he made a ton of mistakes (don’t we all, especially as teenagers).
I have a feeling some readers will complain that Jamie is too immature. Yes, she is immature. But she’s a teenager. I think some people forget what they were like as teenagers. Everything feels so dramatic and raw because you’re going through so many firsts. I probably would have acted similarly to Jamie and had the same thought processes. Even as an adult I can relate so much to her all or nothing thinking and catastrophizing. I think Jackie writes teenagers so well, and I like that their flaws seem so real. Jamie grows exponentially from the start to the end of the novel.
I could go on and on about this book. I might add to my review tomorrow after I’ve had more time to digest. But Jackie is a goddess and this book is chef’s kiss good! *mwah*
This book has Palestinian rep (written by a Palestinian Canadian author), anxiety rep, IBS rep. I loved Jamie’s relationship with her mom. As a teenage girl, I also was so adamant that I didn’t want to turn into my mom, and then one day had a terrifying thought that I was more similar to her than I was admitting to myself. Jamie feels cut off from her Palestinian roots because of her mom, and she has a lot of resentment for that. She also feels like her mom is responsible for her dad having left them three years ago. I like how Jamie grows to understand her mom, and her mom starts to see how her judgment has harmed Jamie. I think their arguments are realistic.
OH MY GOSH I LOVED AXEL. That boy has my entire heart. His passion for dance, his embracing of his Arab (Lebanese) roots, his clear love and care for Jamie… He’s the real MVP in this book.
I also came to love Olivia’s character. Jamie is so aware of how her dislike of Olivia is rooted in internal misogyny, but she also can’t help but hate her for “stealing her boyfriend” (Ben). I love that Olivia and Jamie eventually hash it out.
And okay, even Ben’s character wasn’t so terrible in the end, even though he made a ton of mistakes (don’t we all, especially as teenagers).
I have a feeling some readers will complain that Jamie is too immature. Yes, she is immature. But she’s a teenager. I think some people forget what they were like as teenagers. Everything feels so dramatic and raw because you’re going through so many firsts. I probably would have acted similarly to Jamie and had the same thought processes. Even as an adult I can relate so much to her all or nothing thinking and catastrophizing. I think Jackie writes teenagers so well, and I like that their flaws seem so real. Jamie grows exponentially from the start to the end of the novel.
I could go on and on about this book. I might add to my review tomorrow after I’ve had more time to digest. But Jackie is a goddess and this book is chef’s kiss good! *mwah*
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Alcoholism