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A review by godlizza
Amelia Westlake Was Never Here by Erin Gough
4.0
Where has this book been all my life? I knew going into it that it was gay but not that it was Australian! Big plus.
For real though, this book was great. The plot was fast-paced and engaging, Will and Harriet are both fun, flawed characters and I loved their relationship, and all the pranks of Amelia Westlake were great. Way more ballsy than anything I ever pulled in my private school days lol. This book takes care to talk about feminism in interactional ways. I think a lot of people will be put off by characters not challenging racist comments from their peers in the beginning but the book doesn't let them get away with it. Nat was great for that. And it really just shows how Will, and especially Harriet, evolve.
The only complaint I have is that there wasn't a whole lot of subtlety when it came to some side characters. We know right off the bat that Harriet's girlfriend is a butt and are just waiting for that situation to implode. Similarly with her mum. But it's minor so I'll let it slide.
Erin Gough, you are on my radar.
For real though, this book was great. The plot was fast-paced and engaging, Will and Harriet are both fun, flawed characters and I loved their relationship, and all the pranks of Amelia Westlake were great. Way more ballsy than anything I ever pulled in my private school days lol. This book takes care to talk about feminism in interactional ways. I think a lot of people will be put off by characters not challenging racist comments from their peers in the beginning but the book doesn't let them get away with it. Nat was great for that. And it really just shows how Will, and especially Harriet, evolve.
The only complaint I have is that there wasn't a whole lot of subtlety when it came to some side characters. We know right off the bat that Harriet's girlfriend is a butt and are just waiting for that situation to implode. Similarly with her mum. But it's minor so I'll let it slide.
Erin Gough, you are on my radar.