Reviews

In the Role of Brie Hutchens... by Nicole Melleby

catbewks's review against another edition

5.0

Spoiler

"[...] You did it, Brie. You worked hard and did it. And maybe you didn't get chosen - because sometimes we work hard and someone still earns it more - but you grew, and you were brave, and you were so good. Don't give up on me now."
"I'm tired of trying," Brie admitted.
Ms. Santos nodded. "It can be exhausting. But nothing changes if you stop."
"It'd be easier, though."
"Would it be?" Ms. Santos asked.
No. It wouldn't. It would just keep hurting.

ashwolff's review against another edition

4.0

All My Children. December 2000 is everything.

I didn’t understand any of the catholic stuff, at all. But the rest was unbelievably relatable. Even if I watched it when it aired and our protagonist found it on YouTube.

andrearbooks's review against another edition

5.0

In the Role of Brie Hutchens by Nicole Melleby was an emotionally honest and overall wonderful read. What really drew me in and made me love this one was the connections to soap operas in the book. As someone who grew up watching my mom's shows (or stories as my grandma says) and will even catch those that are left (#missyouloveyou Passions, As the World Turns and Guiding Light), this was something that hit my specific feels in a certain kind of way. This is the story of Brie. Brie aspires to be an actress and to attend a performing arts school. One evening while looking at pictures of her favorite actress online, Brie's mom enters her room. Worried about what her mom has seen, Brie proclaims she has the honor crowning Mary at the May ceremony. That'd be awesome, except it's not true. From there, Brie commits to doing whatever she can to earn this honor for real. In the meantime, Brie is navigating her own attractions and identities. The incredible piece of this part of the story is she's doing this through soap operas. She begins to find stories that help her better understand how she feels, and these stories help her to find her voice. As a character, Brie was an absolute and authentic delight via her realness. She also is working through a great deal of "tough stuff" with her family around finances and employment, and she additionally works through all those struggles that middle school seems to bring. I will tell y'all again what a joy this book was for me. Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this April 2020. Oh, and one last thing - The scene Brie chooses for her audition at the performing arts school was just so darn great. It makes me want to go down a soap opera YouTube rabbit hole rn. . .

thegloomyreader's review against another edition

4.0

this was cute af!! but y'all know you can use the word 'lesbian', right?? it's not a slur.

aelis_'s review against another edition

emotional lighthearted

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia

kiki19's review against another edition

emotional hopeful fast-paced

5.0

althea's review against another edition

4.0

This book felt like a weird mix of my girlfriend and my childhoods! It also made me cry! Full RTC.

lesbiyinzer's review against another edition

5.0

This is one of those books that, if I had read it as an actual YA, it would have changed my life.

It felt like the author crawled inside my head and feelings and then put them to paper in a way I never could.

If you grew up Catholic and queer and never felt like you could be yourself, well, this is your chance to read a story about how it could have been.

skogen's review against another edition

DNF 24% because life is short & there are other books I'm more interested in

rosmelie's review against another edition

fast-paced

4.0

I think this is a really good story for younger pre-teens/teens that might be questioning their identity.