A review by downtown_kb
Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

5 Expansive Georgie Stars!
 Is it weird that this book is about Georgie but for me it was very much Levi’s story? 
This story made me cry, and not in a sad way, but in a beautiful way.
Georgie is laid off and goes home to try and find herself. She is down on herself for not having any plans for her future and she finds an old journal of all the things she wanted to do but never did in high school. Silly things like watching horror movies she wasn’t allowed to watch, jumping off the old pier, sneaking into the local bar etc. So she sets out to do them. 
This book is sweet and charming and at first I just didn’t know where we were going with it all. I can get all literary and tell you I felt set a drift in this story like Georgie was but whatever, I’m gushing. It’s slice of life and a slow build. 
But I fell so in love with Levi Fanning. I need more grumps who are actually just shy introverts. Quiet, unassuming, so caring, and  just not sure how to act around people. I appreciated Levi’s inner monologue so much. You could tell he had really done the hard work in therapy. He is the sweetest. (There were some Reid Sutherland vibes) I melted. I also appreciated how he seemed neurodiverse and socially anxious but it wasn’t labeled. I get so tired of the “I have anxiety so xyz”  inner monologue.  I don’t want my characters trapped in a neatly labeled box. In this you come to understand how he sees things just by getting to know him. K.C. does this so well like she did in Love Lettering.
Don’t get me wrong, I also loved Georgie. She cracked me up. I really enjoyed her meta humor. And her journey was so sweet. I didn't care so much for her and Bel's friendship at first but when it all came together it was so beautiful to see how Georgie loves from the eyes of her best friend. 
What bumped this book to 5 stars for me was the 3rd act split, which is nuts. I saw the 3rd act conflict right away but when it did come around it was just so real and didn’t go at all how I thought. Levi’s reaction, he knew was immature but an emotion he just couldn’t stop, like self sabotage. And something he had to fight so very hard to overcome to come back to Georgie. It was so real. So relatable. That desperate desire to get over what’s pissing you off and struggling so hard to not be petty when your feelings are hurt. And the way they came back together was so lovely!
Also, I need more dogs as plot moppets, that was perfection. Anyway, this lived up to my hopes and dreams!
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