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emilyr's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The story starts with a trans boy writing fake anonymous "Meet Cute" stories on his Tumblr as a way to create the trans love stories he wants to see in the world. He's determined to create his own Meet Cute to Happily Ever After story and at first it seems like everything is going to plan, until, of course, people aren't everything he hoped. It's an interesting premise, but it was hard to find anyone in the story to root for. The main character Noah seems to be in a perpetually bad mood and doesn't really seem to learn much throughout the novel. When his relationship with Devin turns from friendship to more, I wished they stayed just friends. It seems like Noah is diving right in expecting another perfect romance even though he acknowledges he barely knows anything about Devin. It also seemed like so many people turned out to be villains in a way that didn't really advance the plot, but we also never got any explanation about the trolls attacking the blog even though the blog was supposed to be such a main thread throughout the novel? Overall, it was an interesting premise with a lot of messy, interesting, diverse characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia
Moderate: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
mezzano's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Emery Lee's debut novel Meet Cute Diary strongest attribute in certainly in its representation. In the story, we have a trans and multi-racial protagonist with friends and family that love him. There is a Cuban supporting character who is genderqueer and asexual. The protagonist's best friend is a lesbian. Minor characters in the story are also shown to be a part of the LGBT community. The amount of casual questioning and embracing of pronouns and identity is a joy to see in Young Adult literature today.
Noah Ramirez runs a popular blog dedicated to giving trans people everywhere hope for their "happily ever after." Only a few people know his secret, like his best friend Becca. When Noah decides to spend a summer in his brother's college town while his parents get their new home set up in California, he secretly hopes that finally, one of his fictional "Meet Cutes" can become the real deal. The premise of this book is very sweet, and is a relatable theme for teenagers everywhere learning to handle changes in their lives. This book discusses a range of relationships and the main character must learn for himself what it truly means to be in a healthy and dedicated relationship with another person.
At times, the book can be frustrating due to Noah's self-centered and dramatic nature. Many opportunities to provide support for friends and loved ones with dialogue are often exchanged for venting sessions and rants. Noah is a judgmental person with a quick temper, and none of these things change by the end of the book. Early on, opportunities for genuine connection are brushed aside for fantastical blog ideas. By the end of the book, Noah does learn some things about what it means to recognize others' needs (and his own), but there is a feeling that it is "too little, too late" to make a fully satisfying ending.
Noah Ramirez runs a popular blog dedicated to giving trans people everywhere hope for their "happily ever after." Only a few people know his secret, like his best friend Becca. When Noah decides to spend a summer in his brother's college town while his parents get their new home set up in California, he secretly hopes that finally, one of his fictional "Meet Cutes" can become the real deal. The premise of this book is very sweet, and is a relatable theme for teenagers everywhere learning to handle changes in their lives. This book discusses a range of relationships and the main character must learn for himself what it truly means to be in a healthy and dedicated relationship with another person.
At times, the book can be frustrating due to Noah's self-centered and dramatic nature. Many opportunities to provide support for friends and loved ones with dialogue are often exchanged for venting sessions and rants. Noah is a judgmental person with a quick temper, and none of these things change by the end of the book. Early on, opportunities for genuine connection are brushed aside for fantastical blog ideas. By the end of the book, Noah does learn some things about what it means to recognize others' needs (and his own), but there is a feeling that it is "too little, too late" to make a fully satisfying ending.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Transphobia
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Vomit
Unlisted content warnings: Aphobia Transphobic and aphobic remarks are made in this book. There is a suicide attempt described in the book (no real details, delivered "as a rumor") The main protagonist
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