attytheresa 's review for:

Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel by Sara Farizan

4.0

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It's junior year at the prep school near Boston, and Leila is struggling. Her conservative Iranian immigrant father has his heart set on her becoming a doctor, Leila struggles with science, and she's worried about somehow slipping up and letting the world know that she likes girls not boys. In fact, we are well into the story before the author even has Leila use 'lesbian' with respect to herself, signaling her own acceptance and readiness to come out. Then there is all the usual angst and turmoil of high school and its rigid social structures.

I loved Leila and her self-deprecating humor. I laughed out loud when she expresses her disdain for exercise, gyms, and soccer practice in particular - I so related! Her friends and classmates and their personal hurdles are recognizeable. Leila's family dynamic is believable. The author handles this coming of age and coming out story with a light hand. If I have one critique: it's a little too central casting/formulaic at times. We have the mean girl click, the token outed gay guy, the gorgeous new girl who is 17 going on 30 and stirs up everything and everyone, the former best friend. On the other hand that's hardly a fair criticism because after all, that's high school.