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ashction's review
5.0
I tried to read this last year when it came out, but I was so not in the mood for it then. I'm so happy that I was able to pick it up now, because You Should See Me in a Crown is a super fun coming-of-age and romance, and a fresh voice to add to the growing amount of diverse titles in YA! Alongside the insanity of prom in Campbell (seriously, wow, it's major), there's also some really good representation for sickle cell disease (I can currently only think of one other major YA book about it off the top of my head), really good exploration of coming out, and thoughtful insight on friendship and finding your place within the high school hierarchy. There is also unfortunately a racist and homophobic villain so potential trigger warnings there! Can't wait to see what Leah Johnson puts out next!
auteaandtales's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ellenmorgan's review
5.0
This is just the cutest, and Alaska Jackson’s narration of the audiobook is FLAWLESS.
tjeoconnor's review
5.0
This book is incredible. A heartfelt love story, intertwined with learning that everyone makes mistakes, and how to forgive them. Liz Lighty is strong enough to stand up to every kind of pressure you can imagine, and come out sparkling like a diamond.
kmatlydennis's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
4.0
The queer midwestern prom story I never knew I needed.
eponineeurydice's review
3.0
Awwwwwww! Sidenote I live in a small town and our prom is NOWHERE near this crazy holy moly!
sylfaun's review
5.0
The one thing about You Should See Me in a Crown that threw me off was having prom set in 2020.
I loved reading this book. I recognize that it was not written for me and there were cultural things that I did not grasp. But that is absolutely ok. We don't really need another romance from the perspective of a white girl.
Despite not having the connection I did still feel drawn in by the book and these amazingly written characters. This not quite friends to lovers, not quite enemies to lovers follows Liz as she grows into herself, learns what it means to be accepting and true to herself, and not letting others manipulate her life. From the first paragraphs describing her fear of making a mistake that could be seen by the school to the last line where she acts for her own happiness we have one of the best character arcs I have seen in romance. And this romance is also not the fluffy thing we normally see when set in a high school setting. There are true stakes to both the relationship and Liz's personal life. And while a prom scholarship is not something I had even thought could possibly exist, it is built into the world so wonderfully that I found myself thinking it was the most normal thing ever and didn't my high school do that?
I think this will go down as the best YA of the year, potentially best book of the year depending on who you talk to, and were only halfway through 2020. And I only hesitate to say that because of how many absolutely incredible books that this one could go toe to toe with that have come out already.
The only thing I want more of out of You Should See Me in a Crown is that I'm desperately curious about Emme and would love to see a companion novel, novella, or even short story from Leah Johnson that just lets us live this timeline from her perspective.
I loved reading this book. I recognize that it was not written for me and there were cultural things that I did not grasp. But that is absolutely ok. We don't really need another romance from the perspective of a white girl.
Despite not having the connection I did still feel drawn in by the book and these amazingly written characters. This not quite friends to lovers, not quite enemies to lovers follows Liz as she grows into herself, learns what it means to be accepting and true to herself, and not letting others manipulate her life. From the first paragraphs describing her fear of making a mistake that could be seen by the school to the last line where she acts for her own happiness we have one of the best character arcs I have seen in romance. And this romance is also not the fluffy thing we normally see when set in a high school setting. There are true stakes to both the relationship and Liz's personal life. And while a prom scholarship is not something I had even thought could possibly exist, it is built into the world so wonderfully that I found myself thinking it was the most normal thing ever and didn't my high school do that?
I think this will go down as the best YA of the year, potentially best book of the year depending on who you talk to, and were only halfway through 2020. And I only hesitate to say that because of how many absolutely incredible books that this one could go toe to toe with that have come out already.
The only thing I want more of out of You Should See Me in a Crown is that I'm desperately curious about Emme and would love to see a companion novel, novella, or even short story from Leah Johnson that just lets us live this timeline from her perspective.
hollyr1999's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Despite the opportunities to be really cliche, I think these characters and their stories kept the book unique in addition to addressing the discrimination that exists today.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Racism