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mehsi's review against another edition
5.0
This.Was.Amazing!
Drag, road trips, romance, hilarious situations, and much much more.
The first 100 pages took me 2 days, not because they were bad, but because they were a bit slow, and our MC and his self-pity also got a bit annoying. But after those 100 pages? I just flew through the story and after an hour I was tired (because it was after 1am), but very satisfied. Sure, the ending wasn't entirely my cup of tea, though I was happy for our MC, he did deserve what happened in the ending, but it felt a bit like a cop-out way to get such a thing that way after all that happened. Of course I won't spoil anything in regards to what happened, just read it for yourself and see what you think of it.
With the exception of the ending, and the whiny MC (sorry, I get that he doesn't have the best life, but come on guy, no need to constantly wallow in self-pity), also maybe the preachy boyfriend (who really always had something calm and straight-from-some-kind-of-wisdom-book-thing to tell his boyfriend), this book was terrific. And just for those tiny things, which got swallowed by the awesomeness of the rest of the book, I couldn't give a star less.
The theme of the book was really fun (and also interesting), and something which I haven't seen much in books (especially) YA, Drag, and all that surrounds that. Not only the wearing of the outfit is important, but also several other things, and I loved how the author wrote about it. How he even mentioned shows like RuPaul (though I only seen a few episodes the show is really fun).
At first our main guy isn't really sure about drag, he is really interested in it, he is feeling free when he wears a wig, or when he is in drag, but he isn't quite sure how to do all the things. His first performance was a horrible experience. But as the book continues, he finds people who care about him, and who show him several things that he needs to become a true drag queen. From make-up, to clothes, to singing, to everything else. I just loved how the author wrote about our MC's road trip and what he learned there, it just felt all natural. I was worried he would go in mostly unprepared or just by the help of Youtube, but instead he found real people while on trip to his destination.
The drag queen competition, and the preliminaries were just so much fun. We came across several amazing, and some not so amazing, characters. Though I have to say that even that guy that I didn't like during that competition turned out to be a nice guy after all, just someone who had a harsh past and is now hiding behind a big wall of bitchiness.
I could so see myself watching the contest and all the stuff that happened there. I could just see our guys (or should I say gals) standing there showing the world their best drag, and their best talent.
I also loved the romance between our MC and his boyfriend, though I had wished there was a bit more kissing and hugging. :D
Heather was also a great character, though I did feel sorry for her. No one deserves that kind of crap to happen to them.
Even though the ending was a bit of a cop-out, I do have to say I did enjoy parts of it, and I was also very delighted for the MC.
I definitely have to give bonus points to the cover + jacket. It is so bright and colourful and fits the book perfectly!
All in all I truly enjoyed this book and I would highly recommend this book.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com
Drag, road trips, romance, hilarious situations, and much much more.
The first 100 pages took me 2 days, not because they were bad, but because they were a bit slow, and our MC and his self-pity also got a bit annoying. But after those 100 pages? I just flew through the story and after an hour I was tired (because it was after 1am), but very satisfied. Sure, the ending wasn't entirely my cup of tea, though I was happy for our MC, he did deserve what happened in the ending, but it felt a bit like a cop-out way to get such a thing that way after all that happened. Of course I won't spoil anything in regards to what happened, just read it for yourself and see what you think of it.
With the exception of the ending, and the whiny MC (sorry, I get that he doesn't have the best life, but come on guy, no need to constantly wallow in self-pity), also maybe the preachy boyfriend (who really always had something calm and straight-from-some-kind-of-wisdom-book-thing to tell his boyfriend), this book was terrific. And just for those tiny things, which got swallowed by the awesomeness of the rest of the book, I couldn't give a star less.
The theme of the book was really fun (and also interesting), and something which I haven't seen much in books (especially) YA, Drag, and all that surrounds that. Not only the wearing of the outfit is important, but also several other things, and I loved how the author wrote about it. How he even mentioned shows like RuPaul (though I only seen a few episodes the show is really fun).
At first our main guy isn't really sure about drag, he is really interested in it, he is feeling free when he wears a wig, or when he is in drag, but he isn't quite sure how to do all the things. His first performance was a horrible experience. But as the book continues, he finds people who care about him, and who show him several things that he needs to become a true drag queen. From make-up, to clothes, to singing, to everything else. I just loved how the author wrote about our MC's road trip and what he learned there, it just felt all natural. I was worried he would go in mostly unprepared or just by the help of Youtube, but instead he found real people while on trip to his destination.
The drag queen competition, and the preliminaries were just so much fun. We came across several amazing, and some not so amazing, characters. Though I have to say that even that guy that I didn't like during that competition turned out to be a nice guy after all, just someone who had a harsh past and is now hiding behind a big wall of bitchiness.
I could so see myself watching the contest and all the stuff that happened there. I could just see our guys (or should I say gals) standing there showing the world their best drag, and their best talent.
I also loved the romance between our MC and his boyfriend, though I had wished there was a bit more kissing and hugging. :D
Heather was also a great character, though I did feel sorry for her. No one deserves that kind of crap to happen to them.
Even though the ending was a bit of a cop-out, I do have to say I did enjoy parts of it, and I was also very delighted for the MC.
I definitely have to give bonus points to the cover + jacket. It is so bright and colourful and fits the book perfectly!
All in all I truly enjoyed this book and I would highly recommend this book.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com
historysworstmonster's review against another edition
3.0
The writing isn't particularly great, but this gay self acceptance YA novel is not as paint by numbers as you might expect. I found it and it's characters to be charming. I wish books like this one or those of David Levithan had been around when I was a teen.
buddy524's review against another edition
3.0
It was a nice read but at times was way to unbelievable. Granted, that’s saying something about the material, but certain plot points were too easy.
memorable's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
gloomybear_jazz's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
tense
slow-paced
3.75
singergurl4life's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
fast-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
dennis_j's review against another edition
5.0
Wow! An amazing story about how not to be an awful person, but kind, loving, and authentic to yourself. Every Florida school library should carry copies of this one their shelves.
hayleybeale's review against another edition
3.0
Fluffy story about a young gay man finding himself through drag. It's great to see teens of all types being accepted and celebrated; though it's a little too fairytale for my tastes it will appeal to fans of Tim Federle's Nate novels. See my full review here.
Reviewed from an ARC.
Reviewed from an ARC.
kaygeraldine's review against another edition
5.0
First thing's first: I wasn't expecting to like this book.
It was one of my spontaneous grabs from the library. Ya know, one of those "I really like the cover so I'm going to check it out even though I don't know the premise of the actual plot!" books. That's not always a bad thing. In some cases, it can lead you to finding a favorite.
This was one of those cases.
I sat on my porch, with a cup of tea in my hand, and read this cover-to-cover in less than four hours. Yep, it was that good. Usually, when I read, I have to take fifteen minute breaks every once in a while because I'm either bored or busy. But I made sure to make time for Drag Teen, because frankly, it deserves all of it and more.
Writing: 5/5
Jeffrey Self has created a voice that is humerus, serious, and, most importantly; real. Seriously, the writing made me LOL on one page and think about my life choices on the next. Plus, the writing flowed really easily. With some authors, the plot is good but the writing could use some work. But Jeffrey's writing pulled me in from the very first page. The use of words and metaphors were literally amazing.
Characters: 4.5/5
Overall, the set of characters were really great. I found myself relating to almost all of them. (Even Tash, towards the end.) Each main character represents an insecurity that many people, teens especially, possess. I found myself relating a lot to Heather. My best friend relates more to Seth. Almost every single person can identify with at least one character, which is almost impossible to find in other YA novel. The only problem I had with the characters was how often the main character, JT, complained. I know that he was insecure about his body, his life choices, and his boyfriend. But come on. I found myself rolling my eyes quite often whenever he assumed something ridiculous, or acted out for no reason. I'm sure not everybody agrees with me, but I'm just stating my opinion. I found him to be an annoying character, which was a shame because it prevented me from enjoying a lot of the book.
Plot: 5/5
The plot of this story was great! It had some bumps in the middle, but it kept me hooked through the entire story. I didn't want to put the book down! It was sort of predictable, but at the same time, it was very fun to read. I absolutely loved the entire JT/Seth relationship. And what I loved even more was the fact that this book didn't solely focus on JT coming to terms with his sexuality. He was as queer as a three dollar bill (hehe, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, anyone?) and he embraced it, instead of trying to hide it. I can usually tolerate angst, but it was nice to take a break from it. The story just felt so real, like you were there with JT, Heather, and Seth the entire time. Like, none of the plot twists seemed ridiculous or far-fetched.
Overall, I give this book 5/5 stars. I recommend it to anyone wanting to learn more about the art of drag, or for anyone looking for a feel-good comedy.
It was one of my spontaneous grabs from the library. Ya know, one of those "I really like the cover so I'm going to check it out even though I don't know the premise of the actual plot!" books. That's not always a bad thing. In some cases, it can lead you to finding a favorite.
This was one of those cases.
I sat on my porch, with a cup of tea in my hand, and read this cover-to-cover in less than four hours. Yep, it was that good. Usually, when I read, I have to take fifteen minute breaks every once in a while because I'm either bored or busy. But I made sure to make time for Drag Teen, because frankly, it deserves all of it and more.
Writing: 5/5
Jeffrey Self has created a voice that is humerus, serious, and, most importantly; real. Seriously, the writing made me LOL on one page and think about my life choices on the next. Plus, the writing flowed really easily. With some authors, the plot is good but the writing could use some work. But Jeffrey's writing pulled me in from the very first page. The use of words and metaphors were literally amazing.
Characters: 4.5/5
Overall, the set of characters were really great. I found myself relating to almost all of them. (Even Tash, towards the end.) Each main character represents an insecurity that many people, teens especially, possess. I found myself relating a lot to Heather. My best friend relates more to Seth. Almost every single person can identify with at least one character, which is almost impossible to find in other YA novel. The only problem I had with the characters was how often the main character, JT, complained. I know that he was insecure about his body, his life choices, and his boyfriend. But come on. I found myself rolling my eyes quite often whenever he assumed something ridiculous, or acted out for no reason. I'm sure not everybody agrees with me, but I'm just stating my opinion. I found him to be an annoying character, which was a shame because it prevented me from enjoying a lot of the book.
Plot: 5/5
The plot of this story was great! It had some bumps in the middle, but it kept me hooked through the entire story. I didn't want to put the book down! It was sort of predictable, but at the same time, it was very fun to read. I absolutely loved the entire JT/Seth relationship. And what I loved even more was the fact that this book didn't solely focus on JT coming to terms with his sexuality. He was as queer as a three dollar bill (hehe, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, anyone?) and he embraced it, instead of trying to hide it. I can usually tolerate angst, but it was nice to take a break from it. The story just felt so real, like you were there with JT, Heather, and Seth the entire time. Like, none of the plot twists seemed ridiculous or far-fetched.
Overall, I give this book 5/5 stars. I recommend it to anyone wanting to learn more about the art of drag, or for anyone looking for a feel-good comedy.