A review by bookedwithmolli
Unteachable by Elliot Wake

4.0

So, UNTEACHABLE. It's not a sugar-coated book. It's not a nice book. It's not a meek book. UNTEACHABLE is a brave book about a flawed, brave, REAL girl. Maise is possibly the BEST heroine I've read about in a LONG time in YA, NA, etc, because Maise doesn't front. She knows she has issues, and it takes her some time, but Maise grows and starts to do things FOR HERSELF. She changes the parts of her life she doesn't want.

And she's unflinchingly honest about her relationship with Evan, her teacher. YA and NA -- and hell, adult -- needs Maise. And many more characters like her. (YES to unapologetic characters who aren't portrayed as ice-queens/etc. FUCK YES to books that are sex-positive. I could write an essay about this.)

UNTEACHABLE is incredibly well-written; the prose is beautiful. Stark when it needs to be stark. Lyrical when it needs to be lyrical. The characters are all incredibly developed, and the plot, despite some escapist moments that feel unreal, is solid. And the romance. It gave me so many feels. And yes, there WAS romance, and seduction, and lust. And it was brave and perfect.

Bravo, Leah Raeder.