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momentum262 's review for:
This Is Not a Love Scene
by S. C. Megale
I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book courtesy of St. Martin's Press and Wednesday Books via NetGalley
Release Date: May 7, 2019
Publisher: St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books
Genre: Teens & YA
Rating: 5 / 5
Storyline:
Maeve, an 18 year old budding film director who happens to use a wheelchair due to a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy, is about to begin to navigate the tricky waters of first love. While filming her Senior film project, she realizes she is falling for the older actor in her movie. He is suave, tall, and aloof, and she is attracted to all of it. However, one of her flaws is that she comes on too strong with flirting, likely as a defense mechanism she has created to cover her insecurities about wondering if she has a body worthy of loving. Despite this, she realizes someone is finally reciprocating her advances and this makes her start to question everything she thought possible for her future.
The Good:
This book is how you do disability representation right in literature. Yes, Maeve has a disability and uses a wheelchair, however this is not a book where she "comes to terms" with her disability or inspires others because of her condition. This is real life. A teenage girl who is different from her peers, questioning if this makes her worthy of the same love her peers are given. That is a real life dilemma many of us secretly ask ourselves, disability or not. I read some reviews that said they though Maeve was "too self-absorbed" because she was constantly questioning others motives for looking at her, helping her etc. This review clearly came from a person who has never experienced disability. These small quips of insight into Maeve's mind are realistic. As someone with a disability myself, it's important to make sure you aren't being pitied. There are weird people out there who think you should be prayed over every time you are out in public for being "so brave", so yeah, it's realistic to be quite alert when out in public and analyze what types of looks you are receiving.
Additionally, Maeve is a very realistic portrayal of a teenage girl. Most YA novels do not depict teenage girls well. Maeve is average (in the best possible way), boy crazy, dream-oriented in her film making career, texted her friends for advice (and they replied in realistic teenager lingo) and was kind of a floater in the school atmosphere. She is content with blending in and just wants to experience the same chances her friends have at love, kissing and more. This book will give YA readers an insight into the worries teens with disabilities may face when it comes to love, but although they are different, all of us face unique worries when it comes to letting another human into our hearts. Disabled bodies are just as sexy as other bodies, and I hope this book gives young people that realization as well.
The Bad:
I would have loved more depth in the other characters, especially Maeve's friends. However, since it was narrated from Maeve's POV, it would get tricky to make all of the characters as dimensional as she was portrayed. Plus, we aren't always granted a full depth look into our friends lives while we are young (or at any age), so in a way it felt more realistic of the teenage experience. So many YA novels have their characters have these huge, heartfelt talks between friends, but those types of conversations were few and far between in my teenage years.
The Bottom Line:
This books is perfect disability representation in literature and captures a realistic teenage experience at first love. "This is Not a Love Scene" is an enjoyable ride throughout.
Release Date: May 7, 2019
Publisher: St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books
Genre: Teens & YA
Rating: 5 / 5
Storyline:
Maeve, an 18 year old budding film director who happens to use a wheelchair due to a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy, is about to begin to navigate the tricky waters of first love. While filming her Senior film project, she realizes she is falling for the older actor in her movie. He is suave, tall, and aloof, and she is attracted to all of it. However, one of her flaws is that she comes on too strong with flirting, likely as a defense mechanism she has created to cover her insecurities about wondering if she has a body worthy of loving. Despite this, she realizes someone is finally reciprocating her advances and this makes her start to question everything she thought possible for her future.
The Good:
This book is how you do disability representation right in literature. Yes, Maeve has a disability and uses a wheelchair, however this is not a book where she "comes to terms" with her disability or inspires others because of her condition. This is real life. A teenage girl who is different from her peers, questioning if this makes her worthy of the same love her peers are given. That is a real life dilemma many of us secretly ask ourselves, disability or not. I read some reviews that said they though Maeve was "too self-absorbed" because she was constantly questioning others motives for looking at her, helping her etc. This review clearly came from a person who has never experienced disability. These small quips of insight into Maeve's mind are realistic. As someone with a disability myself, it's important to make sure you aren't being pitied. There are weird people out there who think you should be prayed over every time you are out in public for being "so brave", so yeah, it's realistic to be quite alert when out in public and analyze what types of looks you are receiving.
Additionally, Maeve is a very realistic portrayal of a teenage girl. Most YA novels do not depict teenage girls well. Maeve is average (in the best possible way), boy crazy, dream-oriented in her film making career, texted her friends for advice (and they replied in realistic teenager lingo) and was kind of a floater in the school atmosphere. She is content with blending in and just wants to experience the same chances her friends have at love, kissing and more. This book will give YA readers an insight into the worries teens with disabilities may face when it comes to love, but although they are different, all of us face unique worries when it comes to letting another human into our hearts. Disabled bodies are just as sexy as other bodies, and I hope this book gives young people that realization as well.
The Bad:
I would have loved more depth in the other characters, especially Maeve's friends. However, since it was narrated from Maeve's POV, it would get tricky to make all of the characters as dimensional as she was portrayed. Plus, we aren't always granted a full depth look into our friends lives while we are young (or at any age), so in a way it felt more realistic of the teenage experience. So many YA novels have their characters have these huge, heartfelt talks between friends, but those types of conversations were few and far between in my teenage years.
The Bottom Line:
This books is perfect disability representation in literature and captures a realistic teenage experience at first love. "This is Not a Love Scene" is an enjoyable ride throughout.