mckinlay's review
1.0
*I received an ARC of this book from netgalley and the publisher. This does not affect my review.*
DNF at page 166
TW: transphobia
I’m genuinely baffled why this has such good reviews that call it “light hearted.” I was annoyed basically from the start. Mads is incredibly disrespectful toward her parents, ESPECIALLY her mom, who she repeatedly calls a bitch AND doesn’t tell her friend to NOT talk about her mom. I get not liking your mom, but there’s a line, okay? You don’t let your friends call your mom a bitch. You just don’t!
That wasn’t the worst offense though. There are some seriously transphobic comments made by the MC’s dad. Like, i think it could be really harmful to trans teens, and children of trans parents. Because I quit, I don’t know if he came around but after Mads’ “best friend” outted the trans character I was done.
I think if this book wasn't marketed as like a cute coming of age queer graphic novel, I would maybe have been less frustrated. But the back of this book makes it seem like it's just a girl kind of realizing she might like girls. That is definitely NOT what I took from it.
0/10 do not recommend.
DNF at page 166
TW: transphobia
I’m genuinely baffled why this has such good reviews that call it “light hearted.” I was annoyed basically from the start. Mads is incredibly disrespectful toward her parents, ESPECIALLY her mom, who she repeatedly calls a bitch AND doesn’t tell her friend to NOT talk about her mom. I get not liking your mom, but there’s a line, okay? You don’t let your friends call your mom a bitch. You just don’t!
That wasn’t the worst offense though. There are some seriously transphobic comments made by the MC’s dad. Like, i think it could be really harmful to trans teens, and children of trans parents. Because I quit, I don’t know if he came around but after Mads’ “best friend” outted the trans character I was done.
I think if this book wasn't marketed as like a cute coming of age queer graphic novel, I would maybe have been less frustrated. But the back of this book makes it seem like it's just a girl kind of realizing she might like girls. That is definitely NOT what I took from it.
0/10 do not recommend.
fantisian's review
2.0
The fact that the correct pronouns weren't used until the end was extremely frustrating, like didn't even try. And, why did she need to constantly be so rude to her mom until she had no other option but to hangout with her. I'm not understanding what the hype is about. The art was nice though.
chelseymarie's review
5.0
So this book has a lot of transphobic and homophobic characters in it, which can make it hard to read at times because the main character, Amanda, is growing up in a conservative family and a very religious one, and there isn’t anyone in her life at first who can push back against those bigoted ideas. But slowly, Amanda gets to know other people who can show in word and deed that all those bigoted ideas are wrong. For some readers, I can see how the homophobia and especially some of the characters’ views on trans-folks can be too hurtful to read through to the end, but the turn around for Amanda made it worth it for me.
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