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seventhswan's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Where I thought this book fell down was the ending. The conflict between Imogen and
Graphic: Toxic friendship
Moderate: Alcohol and Homophobia
Minor: Drug use and Hate crime
amachonis's review
- 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
Moderate: Homophobia
calamitywindpetal's review
- 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
Moderate: Bullying, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Biphobia, and Homophobia
Minor: Sexual content and Racial slurs
jhna04's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Biphobia and Homophobia
alex1's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Biphobia
Moderate: Homophobia
yasidiaz's review against another edition
- 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
This book is absolutely everything to me. From the get-go, I was obsessed with it. I relate so much to Imogen's feeling like there is no way she is queer. Like Tessa said, Comphet is a bitch. Sexuality is complex and fluid, and I loved how Becky touched those nuances.
Gretchen was the fucking bane of my existence and I was screaming at my phone every single time she appeared. Her blatant biphobia (as well as acephobia because what the fuck was that "Do you want to fuck her? No? Then you're straight" as if biromantic asexuals don't exist) and gatekeeping brought back so many bad memories for me. I feel many of us, especially those of us who are not the "right" queer have met a Gretchen at some point. We, as a community, need to stop policing people about their own identities and how they express them because it will only hurt us all.
Tessa is my girl, I love her to pieces. Her energy, her chaos, and just her hilarious brain. I loved how she doesn't take any bullshit from Gretchen in the end. I loved how she always made sure to make Imogen feel welcome, even from the start.
Don't be surprised if you see this book in my favorites of the year, because this book is absolutely perfect.
Graphic: Biphobia and Homophobia
sampetsdogs's review against another edition
5.0
Imogen's internal monologue was so relatable. The way she described her uncertainty and confusion and agony about trying to determine whether she's queer....sounds a lot like my own inner voice. At one moment feeling certain of who and what I am, but then seeing/hearing others' experiences making me second-guess myself. Am I actually queer? And if I am, am I queer ENOUGH to claim space in the queer community? If I haven't experienced the discrimination and turmoil that other "out" queer people have experienced, then does my queer identity even count? It's way too easy to gaslight myself into thinking that I'm an impostor, even though I'm smart and logical enough to know that I'm not. Imogen and her best friend, Lily, end up discussing this internal dilemma in such a way that I just felt so seen and, more importantly, valid.
"It's like there's this idea that you have to earn your label through suffering. And then you have to prove it with who you date, how you dress, how other people perceive you." --chapter 58
"Sometimes I am [confident]. And then ten minutes later, I'm convinced I'm somehow faking it in my own head...And it's such bullshit....Sometimes I feel like, 'oh my god, why am I giving this so much mental energy? I'm literally at home watching Netflix, no one cares.' But I care. It matters. Of course it matters, it's a whole big piece of who you are." --chapter 57
I could wax on forever about how reading this book has monumentally shifted my perspective on queer identity, but I doubt there's enough room here for that many characters. I'll just say, I think this book is such a fantastic addition to the YA Queer Lit genre, and I'd highly recommend it to all the baby queers out there, as well as anyone that's questioning their identity. And maybe also anyone that thinks they're, as one of the characters from the book put it, "The One True Queer" who feels entitled to know what every single person's labels and pronouns are.
There's no right or wrong way to be queer, no one gets to decide what labels apply to you, and there's no time limit on realizing and claiming your identity.
Graphic: Outing, Biphobia, and Homophobia
Moderate: Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
cocopom's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
Graphic: Biphobia and Homophobia
Minor: Lesbophobia and Toxic friendship
shaunashares's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Biphobia
Minor: Homophobia
heckingchonk's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, and Biphobia
Moderate: Outing