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fromthefoxhole's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-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
4.5
It's a sapphic retelling of Pride and Prejudice, of course I cried or squealed the entire time.
I love the modernizations and tweaks to the plot that keep it refreshing. Focusing on a queer found family, gender bending half the cast, and never shying away from heavy handed pop culture references all point to 2023, but there's still so much respect being paid to the source material.
I love Liz. In any p+p adaptation Lizzie is my twin flame, but Liz especially came swinging for me with conflicted feelings on gender presentation, taking the leap to become an author, and general rage against capitalism. I completely used up two bunches of sticky tabs with things said, referenced, or done that I felt were relatable. Tack on the deep sense of injustice with how little representation of the broader spectrum of queer folks exists out there? Its like Kellogg ripped my brain out of my skull and smeared it on the page (ew, why is that my metaphor? I'm so sorry).
I've always wanted to be a very openly and loudly queer person because I never had that growing up (I'm being so real, I think the closest I had was clay Aiken being gay. shout out clay Aiken, I guess?). I definitely didn't have a non binary pansexual role model (or probably whatever other labels might define me down the road). I feel very strongly that I don't want future generations of queers to feel the same loss I do from the past decades of marginalization and hiding and violence. Seeing that reflected in Liz's deep appreciation for Moira, her delight in finding queer spaces and seeing other people confident and happy, knowing that Kellogg feels those things too, it really helps me feel connected across the miles.
okay, hopping off my soapbox to say - this book is so gay!! I don't even know if there's a straight amongst the entire cast. there are non binary people, trans people, gay and lesbian and bi people, the whole gamut. half of the lesbians have dated each other, as is tradition, there's a non binary person with a bow tie obsession. It would feel like caricatures of I didn't know those people in my own life, y'know? there are so many references and inside Jokes, winks and nudges to the queer reader that feel like Kellogg herself is writing to us directly.
reading just as you are felt like receiving a gentle kiss on the forehead. I want to frame the entire thing, or use it as wallpaper or something.
I love the modernizations and tweaks to the plot that keep it refreshing. Focusing on a queer found family, gender bending half the cast, and never shying away from heavy handed pop culture references all point to 2023, but there's still so much respect being paid to the source material.
I love Liz. In any p+p adaptation Lizzie is my twin flame, but Liz especially came swinging for me with conflicted feelings on gender presentation, taking the leap to become an author, and general rage against capitalism. I completely used up two bunches of sticky tabs with things said, referenced, or done that I felt were relatable. Tack on the deep sense of injustice with how little representation of the broader spectrum of queer folks exists out there? Its like Kellogg ripped my brain out of my skull and smeared it on the page (ew, why is that my metaphor? I'm so sorry).
I've always wanted to be a very openly and loudly queer person because I never had that growing up (I'm being so real, I think the closest I had was clay Aiken being gay. shout out clay Aiken, I guess?). I definitely didn't have a non binary pansexual role model (or probably whatever other labels might define me down the road). I feel very strongly that I don't want future generations of queers to feel the same loss I do from the past decades of marginalization and hiding and violence. Seeing that reflected in Liz's deep appreciation for Moira, her delight in finding queer spaces and seeing other people confident and happy, knowing that Kellogg feels those things too, it really helps me feel connected across the miles.
okay, hopping off my soapbox to say - this book is so gay!! I don't even know if there's a straight amongst the entire cast. there are non binary people, trans people, gay and lesbian and bi people, the whole gamut. half of the lesbians have dated each other, as is tradition, there's a non binary person with a bow tie obsession. It would feel like caricatures of I didn't know those people in my own life, y'know? there are so many references and inside Jokes, winks and nudges to the queer reader that feel like Kellogg herself is writing to us directly.
reading just as you are felt like receiving a gentle kiss on the forehead. I want to frame the entire thing, or use it as wallpaper or something.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dysphoria and Cursing
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Drug use
Minor: Lesbophobia and Outing
caseythereader's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
4.5
Thanks to The Dial Press for the free advance copy of this book.
- Raise your hand if you're looking for a sweet, funny, and smart lesbian Pride and Prejudice retelling! Oh, everyone is looking for that, and here it is in JUST AS YOU ARE!
- This book is a loving homage to P&P, to queer culture, to trying to find yourself when you're somewhere between labels. I adored Liz and Daria, modern incarnations of Elizabeth and Darcy down to every last detail.
- One of the things I loved most about this book was how steeped in queer culture it is. So often books feature one or two queer characters surrounded by straight people, but this book is queer down to the bones. Every character is queer, they move entirely through queer spaces, and references to our pop culture touchstones abound. Heaven.
- Raise your hand if you're looking for a sweet, funny, and smart lesbian Pride and Prejudice retelling! Oh, everyone is looking for that, and here it is in JUST AS YOU ARE!
- This book is a loving homage to P&P, to queer culture, to trying to find yourself when you're somewhere between labels. I adored Liz and Daria, modern incarnations of Elizabeth and Darcy down to every last detail.
- One of the things I loved most about this book was how steeped in queer culture it is. So often books feature one or two queer characters surrounded by straight people, but this book is queer down to the bones. Every character is queer, they move entirely through queer spaces, and references to our pop culture touchstones abound. Heaven.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Sexual content, and Alcohol
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