A review by withlivjones
I Was Born for This by Alice Oseman

emotional inspiring lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I love Alice Oseman’s writing. The narration feels so natural and real, and while people might call it cringey I think it’s just so true to young people’s trains of thought. They rarely have everything together - especially in the case of the characters in this novel - and the narration reflects that really well. There are also a lot of little tidbits that are so relatable, like in the case of Jimmy’s anxiety and Angel’s lack of direction. All the characters are well fleshed out in a way that you both criticise their mistakes and end up sympathising with them anyway. And while I can’t comment on the accuracy of the representation in the novel, it feels really refreshing after the other books I’ve read by Oseman having primarily white cisgender casts. 

If you’re looking for a book with realistic events this probably isn’t for you, as the plot is pretty fantastical and at points reads like fanfiction. But as someone who reads and enjoys a lot of fanfiction, I’m 100% here for it. 

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