Reviews

I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston

likeasloth's review against another edition

emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

jeannebean's review against another edition

adventurous challenging funny hopeful inspiring mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

brekker_by_brekker's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia

nakaawang's review against another edition

3.0

i love every single person in this book.

astraldylan's review against another edition

emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Without going into the detail on the relationships, as that is central to the plot, this book was a fun read full of chaotic teenagers. Good exploration of being queer in a religious high school and themes of home and depicting southern states with nuance and pride, rejecting a common notion that the US South is only backwards and Republican. A great read, would recommend

macintasha's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

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Content Warnings

I felt like the diversity in this book was really forced. Smith discovering their gender identity felt shoehorned. Also Shara realizing she was in love with Chloe felt unearned. So much of the book was spent on the mystery, the romance didn't feel like it had time to develop.

rene_'s review against another edition

4.0

WOW, McQuiston did it AGAIN. I've been a fan of their work since RW&RB and albeit this book isn't one of my favorites, I loved the power they conveyed about standing together. Throughout the entire duration of the hunt for Shara, I thought Chloe was just this insanely frustrating gal who was blind-sighted by the whole situation, kissing her friends goodbye and letting this Shara of a girl get to her. EVEN over her exams. Like which valedictorian does that? Jk. But then she found Shara and the entire puzzle to find Shara was so that the people she cared the most about could better understand themselves, including herself and I fucking love that. I want to end with the comment that Smith Parker is fucking adorable: a six-foot quarterback that loves to have flowers in his hair, grins with sparkles around his eyes, and wins everyone over with his personality.

P.S. The setting is Alabama and half the characters that were important in this book grew up in this setting but I CANNOT imagine them speaking with an Alabaman accent.

gemmabenham's review against another edition

inspiring 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

laurareads5's review against another edition

3.0

Book was ok; hated narration of audio book.

thetayloredpage'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