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kingrosereads's review against another edition
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
A queer coming-of-age that takes place during the most difficult time of most teens’ lives: senior year of high school.
Quinn is a senior in high school dead set on playing soccer for UNC. However, she still hasn’t heard back from UNC and her long term girlfriend, Jamie, has broken up with her before their final year starts. All of Quinn’s plans are falling apart around her and she’s desperately trying to keep it together. Then she starts dating cool girl (and longtime crush), Ruby. However, the more she spends time with Ruby, the more she misses Jamie. Oh, and she tries to save her local queer coffee shop from closing for good.
I didn’t hear much about the book, I just happened to be in the YA section of the library and saw this book. Since I wanted to expand my queer reading, I decided to give it a shot with an open mind despite the fact I hate the cover since the two characters look exactly the same.
Unfortunately, the book didn’t pass the vibe. At first I thought I was being too sensitive or quick to judge about the bi representation (or really the lack thereof). But as it turns out, I’m not the only one that saw the biphobia in this book. The characters assume straight and gay are the only two sexualities someone can be, and Quinn even thinks Ruby could be using Quinn as an “experiment”. Also, Ruby is depicted as being flaky and unable to commit (which are extremely harmful stereotypes about bisexuals). And I also learned the author apparently has been biphobic in the past. Needless to say, this is the last book I read of Heaney’s.
And it seems they live in a pretty progressive area given the queer coffee shop, yet Quinn and Jamie are the ONLY queer people in their school? Yeah okay.
It’s a very white centric book as well. And I find the “old school” lesbians, Gaby and Dee, to be really problematic. Already the book is just some white feminism BS, but these older lesbians take it to another level while also being casually transphobic (the whole “womyn” thing?). It’s just a gross depiction of queer adolescence.
I think it’s accurate in its depiction of senior year for a lot of students waiting to hear responses from universities. It’s an incredibly nerve wrecking time, even if you are a good student or a top athlete there aren’t spots for everyone. I also think that the overthinking, overreacting, back and forth between crushes and making them their whole world, obsessing over texts, and self-centerness is on brand for a lot of teenagers, though Quinn takes it to a level where it was difficult to like her as a character. Her mental health is kind of brushed over and seen as silly.
I couldn’t stand Quinn or her friends or Jamie. I didn’t see Jamie or Ruby as love interests since beyond physical attraction, there was nothing there. Quinn isn’t perfect but Jamie seems to control and gaslight Quinn, while Quinn makes her whole identity about soccer and who she’s dating. All the side comments it makes about heteronormativity and yet, despite being lesbians, that’s exactly how the relationships are depicted. Also, just because it seems to be a stereotype that lesbian/queer group date each other and break up and stay friends, does not mean you have to stay friends with your ex.
Also, I didn’t really see the point of the book. It just made me annoyed and irritated.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Biphobia, and Transphobia
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