orcasrule's review against another edition
4.0
This book is so beautiful, it basically nails everything it aims for. A young teenage girl losing and finding herself again after moving to a new more conservative town, meeting new friends who turn out to be much better friends than her old bff was, falling in love with a girl she THOUGHT was straight or maybe in denial but whose actually super sure she's gay and just hadn't come out yet. I loved the messages about religion and god (though they definitely aren't heavy-handed) I appreciated this take on having all the important people in her life super chill with her being gay.
I loved the exploration of the relationship between Elizabeth and Jo, seeing them find their feet together as Jo starts to let go of the resentment she feels and Elizabeth makes a point to show Jo she's okay with her being gay.
I also adored B.T.B. and his relationship with both Jo and Mary, neurodivergent representation still barely exists in YA and so I loved the way his character seamlessly fit into the story and how he was adored by all his friends.
The only things I wish had been done differently is I wish we'd gotten a proper full apology scene between Jo and her father where he acknowledges how wrong he was to ask her to go back into the closet and apologies for almost ruining everything for her and not living the gospel he preaches.
I also wish we had a scene of Jo kicking Dana to the curb because she's such a lousy friend holy crap, she's so self-centred and I hated how Jo was constantly apologising to her when she never once did anything wrong. Instead of being supportive Dana just made everything about her. So I would have loved a confrontation scene.
All in all this is a fantastic read, the romance is sweet and well done and the other side relationships are really well executed too.
I loved the exploration of the relationship between Elizabeth and Jo, seeing them find their feet together as Jo starts to let go of the resentment she feels and Elizabeth makes a point to show Jo she's okay with her being gay.
I also adored B.T.B. and his relationship with both Jo and Mary, neurodivergent representation still barely exists in YA and so I loved the way his character seamlessly fit into the story and how he was adored by all his friends.
The only things I wish had been done differently is I wish we'd gotten a proper full apology scene between Jo and her father where he acknowledges how wrong he was to ask her to go back into the closet and apologies for almost ruining everything for her and not living the gospel he preaches.
I also wish we had a scene of Jo kicking Dana to the curb because she's such a lousy friend holy crap, she's so self-centred and I hated how Jo was constantly apologising to her when she never once did anything wrong. Instead of being supportive Dana just made everything about her. So I would have loved a confrontation scene.
All in all this is a fantastic read, the romance is sweet and well done and the other side relationships are really well executed too.
jessielevans18's review against another edition
5.0
I really liked this book! very cute, good ending good everything! big fan
laura_liisa's review against another edition
2.0
2.5
Idk if giving this 2 stars is extra mean, but I had high hopes for this book and it was such a letdown, so 2 stars feels kinda fair, I guess.
I liked the chemistry the MC and the love interest had. Also that the story pushed back on the father's 'request' for the MC to 'go back in the closet' and that the MC called her father out on it. But the unnecessary and drawn out drama around the MC starting a relationship off with lies and also lying to her new friends about things she could have talked to them about etc + some of the questionable decisions about the character with an assumed intellectual disability just frustrated me so much. Plus the homophobia and some bs ~acceptance~. Reading the author's note I understand the idea behind the story was very lovely, but even if perhaps I wasn't the right audience for this book, I feel like the execution was lacking.
Idk if giving this 2 stars is extra mean, but I had high hopes for this book and it was such a letdown, so 2 stars feels kinda fair, I guess.
I liked the chemistry the MC and the love interest had. Also that the story pushed back on the father's 'request' for the MC to 'go back in the closet' and that the MC called her father out on it. But the unnecessary and drawn out drama around the MC starting a relationship off with lies and also lying to her new friends about things she could have talked to them about etc + some of the questionable decisions about the character with an assumed intellectual disability just frustrated me so much. Plus the homophobia and some bs ~acceptance~. Reading the author's note I understand the idea behind the story was very lovely, but even if perhaps I wasn't the right audience for this book, I feel like the execution was lacking.
bendit's review against another edition
1.0
an audiobook I listened to in passing at work, :( it was not good
kirstyreadsblog's review against another edition
1.0
DNF I was so excited about this book but the ableism is so gross I couldn't keep reading it. If you're going to include someone on the spectrum as a side character don't treat them like a 5 year old.
ana_chelidze's review against another edition
4.0
Super cute :)
I’m not generally here for religion-centered stories but this was too wholesome not to love
I’m not generally here for religion-centered stories but this was too wholesome not to love
breadedbookpages's review against another edition
3.0
I remember I was a bit uncomfortable at the portrayal of the brother but i was so deprived of f/f romance that I just wanted to like the book so bad. I've read several reviews that point out aspects I kind of didn't look into when reading this book so I'm gonna clear my rating. I just remember liking it personally.
krissyronan's review against another edition
4.0
Swoony and lovely romance. Faith and LGBTQ prominently featured but not preachy.