A review by betweentheshelves
I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston

emotional funny hopeful medium-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

5.0

Everything that I said in my review back in January still stands in this re-listen! Given the current climate of LGBTQ book bannings, this book is so important. About a group of queer teens carving themselves a place where they might not otherwise be accepted. So many of Chloe's fellow students aren't out, so she's able to be a shield for those that don't feel safe to be out yet. There's just so much to love about this book, and I think everyone should read it!
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Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an advanced copy of this to review! Casey McQuiston is absolutely one of my all-time favorite authors, and she’s written a YA! What isn’t to love? This is absolutely one of my most anticipated books of 2022. I am so happy to say that it lived up to the hype.

Best known for Red, White, & Royal Blue, McQuiston’s writing definitely lends itself well to a YA audience. McQuiston has a knack for writing great casts of characters that you fall in love with almost from the beginning. This is the cast for Shara Wheeler as well. What’s great about this book in particular is that none of the characters are who they were at the beginning of the book, in the best way possible. Growing up in this highly conservative, christian setting, this book is very much about finding yourself and finding a way to be yourself, even if everyone around you doesn't want you to be.

I said this when I originally posted my review on Goodreads, but this book is like a mashup of Footloose, Mean Girls, and Paper Towns. In like the best way possible. Maybe throw a little Breakfast Club in there. You get wrapped up in Chloe’s obsession to find Shara, but you also see how her journey to find Shara changes her. And how it changes Smith and Rory (arguably the best plotline, but that’s all I’ll say here). Once events really start to pick up, it’s difficult to put this book down.

I’ve seen some critiques for this book saying that Chloe is a bit selfish, which she is. She’s very much wrapped up in her own world for most of the book. But also, that’s the point? This is such a teenager thing, and it fit so well for Chloe’s character and her character arc. I am here to say we should no longer rate YA books down for portraying teenagers as accurate teenagers.

Anyway, it’s hard for me to rank McQuiston’s books, but I know that this one will absolutely make it on my re-read list. Which reminds me, I should re-read Red, White, & Royal Blue. It’s been too long. 
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This is like a combination of Footloose, Mean Girls, and Paper Towns, in the best way. I got to that second half and I couldn't put it down! Stay tuned for a full review to come next week.
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