zsul's review against another edition
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
this book was such good fun and i appreciate the casual use of they/them for a character!
theybedax's review
4.0
The cover doesn't do it justice. This is a phenomenal book and I took great joy in each chapter. I would love to keep reading about everyone in the Rainbow Club . You've got gay characters, a trans/nonbinary character (they/them pronouns), ace character, closeted characters, poc characters, and more!
ruthie_wk's review against another edition
4.0
This was a freaking delight!!!! I wanted more time with beardy mcbeardface and the rest of the institution...but I definitely take what I can get from this one. Hail Lexa!!
This was an absolute pleasure to read.
Thank you Mwana for the recommendation
This was an absolute pleasure to read.
Thank you Mwana for the recommendation
espiargrant's review
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
There were a few cute moments that I liked, but overall, I felt a bit disappointed with this one. The first and second halves of the book felt like two completely different stories. The first was essentially The Geography Club, but with a few too many characters for any of them to be well-developed in such a short book. And then those characters disappear for the second half, seemingly inspired by The Adjustment Bureau, where we're suddenly introduced to new characters that are likewise undeveloped. The plot was poorly executed and extremely rushed at the end. And although the discussions of the queer community seem well-intended, I felt that some of the themes that were touched on were handled a bit clumsily and weren't as informed or nuanced as they should have been. Don't get me wrong, there's still a lot to like about this book, like the cute, quirky characters, the banter, and the awkward jokes. I just wish the book had lived up to its full potential.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying and Kidnapping
Minor: Homophobia
epistemology's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Your very typical gay YA novel, with flat side characters and a hunky romance interest of ambiguous racial background. It keeps you on your toes though. Something short and sweet before bed.
mwana's review against another edition
5.0
The mind wants to be open, but all the noise and anxiety and pressure keeps it shut...
If you could walk through a door and turn up anywhere in the world, where would you go?
As for me, I would love to show up in a bank vault, and considering how broke I am, I may get off with enough money to sink an economy. And I would not regret it. Not one bit. But I digress, in all seriousness... I would open the door and end up on a marble balcony with art deco tiling overlooking Central Park.
Cole, on the other hand, ends up in an aviation museum. Confused, groggy and weak, he has to find a way to get back to school before lunch break ends. And he does, only he ends up inside his locker. For someone who is gay, has a history of being teased about his history, it appears like an easy-to-explain situation, amirite?
Nope. Cole has to learn how to deal with the fact that he can literally teleport through doors. Any time he walks through a door, he has to visualise where he wants to go otherwise he will end up in the last place he thought of. That kind of responsibility is not easy to handle. But for Cole, it kinda is because he is a master list maker. A bonafide type A who has to have a plan for everything otherwise he ends up like the rest of us freaks who don't know how to control our minds and end up vomiting over the carefully curated order around us.
He has some great friends around him too. Who are a great lesson in the seamless application of the LGBTQ spectrum in literature. Which we damn sure need more of. His parents are the parents we all wish we had.
This is only the third book I have read this year that has left me looking and feeling like
Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks is the perfect YA Fantasy novel for the grouchy ass adult who needs an exit plan from her grouchy ass life. Well, it is for young adults but speaking as an 11-year-old in the body of a 25-year-old which sometimes feels 75 years old I can say with the utmost confidence that this book will entertain everyone.
Following Cole on his wild misadventures as an amateur teleporter will lead to some interesting places. From the glass door bathroom of his crush [hubba hubba], to his favourite board game cum coffee shop to the creeps who keep following him around and wanting to melt his brain. Luckily for Cole, he always has a plan.
Edit: The author responds to my question via Twitter.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
If you could walk through a door and turn up anywhere in the world, where would you go?
As for me, I would love to show up in a bank vault, and considering how broke I am, I may get off with enough money to sink an economy. And I would not regret it. Not one bit. But I digress, in all seriousness... I would open the door and end up on a marble balcony with art deco tiling overlooking Central Park.
Cole, on the other hand, ends up in an aviation museum. Confused, groggy and weak, he has to find a way to get back to school before lunch break ends. And he does, only he ends up inside his locker. For someone who is gay, has a history of being teased about his history, it appears like an easy-to-explain situation, amirite?
Nope. Cole has to learn how to deal with the fact that he can literally teleport through doors. Any time he walks through a door, he has to visualise where he wants to go otherwise he will end up in the last place he thought of. That kind of responsibility is not easy to handle. But for Cole, it kinda is because he is a master list maker. A bonafide type A who has to have a plan for everything otherwise he ends up like the rest of us freaks who don't know how to control our minds and end up vomiting over the carefully curated order around us.
He has some great friends around him too. Who are a great lesson in the seamless application of the LGBTQ spectrum in literature. Which we damn sure need more of. His parents are the parents we all wish we had.
This is only the third book I have read this year that has left me looking and feeling like
Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks is the perfect YA Fantasy novel for the grouchy ass adult who needs an exit plan from her grouchy ass life. Well, it is for young adults but speaking as an 11-year-old in the body of a 25-year-old which sometimes feels 75 years old I can say with the utmost confidence that this book will entertain everyone.
Following Cole on his wild misadventures as an amateur teleporter will lead to some interesting places. From the glass door bathroom of his crush [hubba hubba], to his favourite board game cum coffee shop to the creeps who keep following him around and wanting to melt his brain. Luckily for Cole, he always has a plan.
Edit: The author responds to my question via Twitter.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
alisonalisonalison's review
5.0
Oh, I loved this. It's so awesome! It's delightful and engaging and it's so thoroughly and happily and authentically queer. I loved how the kid's queerness was absolutely *not* the problem in this book, as it so often is in YA. The problem is that he suddenly starts teleporting uncontrollably. This is a cool story and it's fun and upbeat and real-world diverse and wonderfully nerdy. The writing is so snappy and confident. I loved the Canadian-ness of it all. Cole's dad is deaf and I loved their relationship and how deafness was portrayed. There's a lot of queer people in this book and I love how normal and not very important the queerness it is. It's just reality and no bad stuff happens to anyone and how awesome is that? I wish it wasn't so rare to read YA books where nothing bad happens to the queer kids. I treasure those books. Own voices queer books are so important. I loved this and I look forward to reading more by this author.
lacyduckie's review
3.0
Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks was a cute quick read. (Even though it took me awhile to get to because of my never-ending ever-growing tbr.)
The story reminded me of the movie/book [b: Jumper|47970|Jumper (Jumper, #1)|Steven Gould|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1304981770s/47970.jpg|3050557]. It has all the makings of a romcom with a little scifi mixed in; my favorite kind of story.
Cole is in his final year of high school and suddenly he finds he has the ability to teleport. I like that this book is a story that shows lgbtq stories don't always have to be about coming out. We need more of that. 💕
Review copy provided by Netgalley.
The story reminded me of the movie/book [b: Jumper|47970|Jumper (Jumper, #1)|Steven Gould|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1304981770s/47970.jpg|3050557]. It has all the makings of a romcom with a little scifi mixed in; my favorite kind of story.
Cole is in his final year of high school and suddenly he finds he has the ability to teleport. I like that this book is a story that shows lgbtq stories don't always have to be about coming out. We need more of that. 💕
Review copy provided by Netgalley.
amphipodgirl's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
This was fantastic! There's a main plot that's "oh my god I just learned to teleport and what the heck do I do now" and side plots of teenage friendships and relationships. The teleportation plot is fast-paced and gripping. It has the usual "oh my god I can't tell anyone supernatural things are happening" thing, which I tend to find annoying, but it was handled pretty smoothly. And, speaking as a parent of geeky queer teenagers -- these are quite authentic portraits of geeky queer teenagers. The romance stuff was nicely low-key, not all-consuming. Cole is self-aware and insecure and bright and observant of others, and those things all make him a very engaging narrator. I recommend this a s a super-engaging quick read.