Scan barcode
orionoconnell's review
3.0
Firstly, I want to say that while this book had a premise that it could have been a little off putting for some readers, it wasn't.
A coming of age story about a teenager who's going through a lot: parents fighting, losing friends, bad grades and figuring out where she wants to be in life, and coming to terms with her sexuality amidst all of this.
Some of the end of the book came off as a little cliche for me, and there weren't any 'wow' moments for me, however, there wasn't a time I needed a break. It read kind of like a dramatized TV series, not great, not bad.
A coming of age story about a teenager who's going through a lot: parents fighting, losing friends, bad grades and figuring out where she wants to be in life, and coming to terms with her sexuality amidst all of this.
Some of the end of the book came off as a little cliche for me, and there weren't any 'wow' moments for me, however, there wasn't a time I needed a break. It read kind of like a dramatized TV series, not great, not bad.
federsturm's review
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- 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
2.75
bookswithlauren's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Bullying, Outing, and Sexual content
deafchipmunk's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-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
5.0
This book holds a lot of important messages that are very commonly thought of as 'not a big deal' which in reality actually sustain a big impact on someone. I definitely think this book had some sort of charm, whether it be the realistic humane characters or the subtle & simple but prominent writing which made the reading experience just so good and engaging. Overall I think it really just boils down to if you could relate to the themes presented in this book or not; either way, those said themes were important, but they varied in levels of personal important whether or not you can relate.
But the beauty of this book for me was that I felt emotional for Ashleigh (and even the rest of the characters) based on things happening to her that I couldn't correlate with at all. I don't know how Liz Kessler did it, I rarely feel emotion while reading books, and I'm really not in the right mindset to delve deeper into that, but she did it. Sure this was just a personal experience and everyone reading this book will certainly not have the same reading experience as I did, but this is just my experience with this wonderful book, and for that, I give it 5⭐️s.
And look, I don't care all that much if everything ended up too neatly or some of the characters were questionable or whatever. I wasn't looking at this book from that perspective once I started feeling WAYS I NEVER DO WHILE READING LITERATURE. My singular complaint is the blurb. It didn't actually summarise the premise of the book that well... iykyk if you've read it. But even then it's not anything world shattering and at the end of the day I don't care.
I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read something as relatable as this at this perfect time where I was able to relate to this, and I'm also so glad I read this at this perfect time because my last read was absolute DOG SHIT:) (so yay I'm not going to get into a reading slump)
But the beauty of this book for me was that I felt emotional for Ashleigh (and even the rest of the characters) based on things happening to her that I couldn't correlate with at all. I don't know how Liz Kessler did it, I rarely feel emotion while reading books, and I'm really not in the right mindset to delve deeper into that, but she did it. Sure this was just a personal experience and everyone reading this book will certainly not have the same reading experience as I did, but this is just my experience with this wonderful book, and for that, I give it 5⭐️s.
And look, I don't care all that much if everything ended up too neatly or some of the characters were questionable or whatever. I wasn't looking at this book from that perspective once I started feeling WAYS I NEVER DO WHILE READING LITERATURE. My singular complaint is the blurb. It didn't actually summarise the premise of the book that well... iykyk if you've read it. But even then it's not anything world shattering and at the end of the day I don't care.
I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read something as relatable as this at this perfect time where I was able to relate to this, and I'm also so glad I read this at this perfect time because my last read was absolute DOG SHIT:) (so yay I'm not going to get into a reading slump)
emrythequeer's review
4.0
Great coming of age, discovering your sexuality book. A little bit predictable but still a fun and interesting read. Near the end I couldn't put it down (sorry for how cliche I sound).
alishaduh's review
4.0
This book is so cute honestly.
Well, cute at the end anyway!
I randomly picked up a copy of this from the library and was super hyped to start reading it- I was saying to my friend the other day how there was a lack of lesbian protagonists in the media and this book was a surprise to find, albeit a good one.
Honestly, I adore the way Liz Kessler writes here, it gave me a real sense of what Ash is like, it may just me being an English student that picked up on it but the dialectal words used really did give Ash and her friends and family a sense of realness.
I really liked the way the whole teacher-student relationship between Ash and Miss.Murray mapped out, it may not have been completely resolved at the end but I love the ambiguity!
Well, cute at the end anyway!
I randomly picked up a copy of this from the library and was super hyped to start reading it- I was saying to my friend the other day how there was a lack of lesbian protagonists in the media and this book was a surprise to find, albeit a good one.
Honestly, I adore the way Liz Kessler writes here, it gave me a real sense of what Ash is like, it may just me being an English student that picked up on it but the dialectal words used really did give Ash and her friends and family a sense of realness.
I really liked the way the whole teacher-student relationship between Ash and Miss.Murray mapped out, it may not have been completely resolved at the end but I love the ambiguity!
sarahavrile's review
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
b_xthany's review
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
kaitlyns_library's review
2.0
Writing style was more 2009 than 2015 and I felt like the transitions were weird. Some of the scenes were side-eye worthy. But I did like the MC finally knowing who they are.
benyihs's review against another edition
4.0
Diría que un 3,5
Es bastante sencillo, y tiene mucho drama adolescente. Pero es interesante (divertido?) acompañar a Ash en su descubrimiento sobre sí misma.
Se lee rápido, pero no es una súper lectura. Esta bueno para cuando se quiere leer algo tranqui, sin muchas sacudidas... aunque tiene este asunto con los problemas matrimoniales de los padres que habrá a quienes no es un tema “de lectura tranqui” puede pegarle un poco más en los feels.
En el desenlace estuve a punto de decepcionarme diciendo que fue todo demasiado fácil, demasiado Disney, pero bueno, casi? 50/50
Es bastante sencillo, y tiene mucho drama adolescente. Pero es interesante (divertido?) acompañar a Ash en su descubrimiento sobre sí misma.
Se lee rápido, pero no es una súper lectura. Esta bueno para cuando se quiere leer algo tranqui, sin muchas sacudidas... aunque tiene este asunto con los problemas matrimoniales de los padres que habrá a quienes no es un tema “de lectura tranqui” puede pegarle un poco más en los feels.
En el desenlace estuve a punto de decepcionarme diciendo que fue todo demasiado fácil, demasiado Disney, pero bueno, casi? 50/50