Reviews with content warning for Abandonment - Girls Like Girls

It’s hard to give this a star rating, but although there are things that I think would make this book better, it hardly matters. What does matter to me is that this book has a lot of heart and deals with some queer themes and issues in a very resonant way. Not to mention, it was a super entertaining summer read, especially during Pride.

My biggest criticism is that I wish there was more nuance at the end with (I’m going to be vague here) the topic of “running,” and that decision. I don’t think it’s always a simple yes/no, and it would’ve been nice to see an exploration of that. But like I said, it has a lot going for it. It’s just so cool to have this book by a favourite artist, and this expansion on the music video, that emotionally this is a 5. And it deserves that.

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shector1's review against another edition

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emotional reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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ilonaftoth's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad medium-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

4.0

Book Content/Trigger warnings: mentions of suicide, parent death, homophobia, feelings of abandonment

Despite never having listened to Hayley Kiyoko’s music nor having seen the music video of the same name, I was really excited to read Girls Like Girls. I went in knowing only that it was a Sapphic coming-of-age story and who doesn’t love those?

Girls Like Girls follows Coley, a 17-year-old about to enter her senior year of high school, as she moves to rural Oregon to live with her father after her mother dies by suicide. Coley hasn’t seen or talked to her father since she was three so you can imagine how difficult that transition is.

Kiyoko’s debut is a quick, easy read that had me and my inner teenager full-on sobbing at one point. As a queer teen girl (although I didn’t know it at the time), this book would have been everything to me in high school. I wish I could time travel to give it to 17-year-old Ilona. It definitely would have helped me come to terms with my queerness a lot sooner and would have saved me a lot of pain over the years.

While Girls Like Girls is not perfect, it handles themes like forbidden desire, feelings of abandonment, feeling unworthy of love, and second chances beautifully. I was particularly moved by Coley and her father’s relationship. He knows it won’t be easy to make up for years of being an absent father, but he’s here now and he’s going to do everything he can to be there for her and earn her forgiveness.

Even though the coming-of-age part of the story was well done, the romance part of the story was a bit of a letdown. I could not get behind how Coley talked about Sonya, the love interest. Coley claims to be the only one who truly sees Sonya but it felt more like she was projecting unrealistic expectations which ultimately felt like she was turning Sonya into a Manic Pixie Dream Girl. At one point she compares Sonya to shifting sand—describing how you think you have a hold on her then the next thing you know she’s slipping through your fingers.

I think this is the first romance where I was disappointed the couple stayed together at the end. Coley and Sonya have the potential to make a good couple but they have more work to do on themselves first and I would have liked to see them come into their own a bit more before officially getting together. The ending of the book was abrupt and it felt like there were a few too many loose ends.

The overall message of Girls Like Girls overtakes and technical problems the book might have. Kiyoko’s first foray into the world of novels has only further solidified her as a queer icon. I’ve seen many people discuss how the Girls Like Girls music video helped them accept their own queerness, and now, with the Girls Like Girls novel, even more people will be able to connect with the story and maybe, just maybe, feel a little less alone.

Thank you to NetGalley & Wednesday Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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abitbetterbooks's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-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? It's complicated

3.0

I feel like this book was just okay! There were things I really liked and appreciated about it, and then there were other elements I felt were very weak. I didn’t love the book but I didn’t dislike it either. I guess you could say I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed.

As a mixed Japanese & white queer woman, I’m a big fan of Hayley Kiyoko and had really high hopes for the representation in this book. I really wanted it to speak to me deeply and to feel seen by it and I just… didn’t connect with it or with Coley that much. I feel like I wanted a bit more about what her relationship with her mom was like or more about any Japanese culture or that they may have shared. Sometimes it felt too easy to forget that Coley was even supposed to be Japanese.

I really appreciated and enjoyed the 2006 setting, and I loved the LiveJournal entries, which felt so nostalgic and served as excellent character work. All of the music choices were perfect throwbacks and I loved all of the references. The setting felt very realistic and made the threat of homophobia that much more high stakes.

However, having just read The Astonishing Colour of After by Emily X.R. Pan, which also centres around the topic of a mixed Asian girl grieving her mother’s suicide, it felt like this story fell a little short in comparison. The writing felt a little young and a bit uneven; Coley felt more 13 than 17 a lot of the time. There were some lines that stood out to me, and some really poignant moments though! In particular I liked the development of her relationship with her father and the fights & disagreements they have felt visceral and raw.

This would be a good read for fans of Hayley Kiyoko or those looking for more sapphic YA stories!

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beyourbestshelf's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful sad fast-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? It's complicated

3.5

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rylaneli's review against another edition

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challenging hopeful reflective tense fast-paced

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

3.0

The story of a first queer love and coming to terms with your identity, while also revolving around themes of grief and loss, depression, and navigating difficult relationships.

Coley’s life is uprooted after her mom’s death, and she’s moved in with her absent father who she has very little connection to. She quickly stumbles upon a colourful friend group in this small town, immediately forming a connection with the quiet girl, Sonya.

There was a lot I liked about this story - although it started off slower, it quickly developed to a pace that kept me reading until the end in almost one sitting. The story was sweet at times, heartbreaking others.

As an adult reader, I felt the writing style to be too young and simple for me - even compared to other YA books. I regret to say it read more like fanfic.

My main issue, after finishing the book, is the pacing. It starts slower, speeds up towards the middle, and ends very abruptly.

I would’ve appreciated some time for Coley and Sonya to talk more, find their footing, and deal with the aftermath of all the drama in the friend group. I was left with some unnecessary questions: do her friends know now? Is the group split up? Will they be safe?
I’m not sure if there’s going to be a sequel - there’s certainly a lot of room for one - but regardless I would have liked a day or two to cool down and figure things out after the fight and Sonya’s big decision.

Overall I enjoyed this and would recommend it to younger readers who are struggling with similar things!

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