toofondofbooks_'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
Funny, relatable, and informative, this essay collection about queer women in pop culture was exactly what I needed this pride month. It was a really great way to wrap up my month of (almost) all queer books!
There was this one chapter about lesbian yearning that I felt SO called out by that I had to stop listening and collect myself before continuing to read it. I loved the way Gutowitz delves into queer female celebrities and the treatment of them in the early 2000s because I think that is so worth examining - basically, we owe Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson a massive apology.
Another great aspect of the book is the relatable way the author writes about the early days of the pandemic. It was a really funny way of putting it, but also sad. There is also a section where she writes a letter to her younger self, which broke my heart and made me laugh at the same time.
I had some minor issues with the book, but overall really enjoyed it and recommend it.
There was this one chapter about lesbian yearning that I felt SO called out by that I had to stop listening and collect myself before continuing to read it. I loved the way Gutowitz delves into queer female celebrities and the treatment of them in the early 2000s because I think that is so worth examining - basically, we owe Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson a massive apology.
Another great aspect of the book is the relatable way the author writes about the early days of the pandemic. It was a really funny way of putting it, but also sad. There is also a section where she writes a letter to her younger self, which broke my heart and made me laugh at the same time.
I had some minor issues with the book, but overall really enjoyed it and recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Misogyny, Lesbophobia, Outing, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Fatphobia, Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, and Rape
Moderate: Racism and Biphobia
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Islamophobia
caseythereader's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
Thanks to Atria Books for the free advance copy of this book.
- GIRLS CAN KISS NOW is a hyperfocused deep dive into growing up and coming out in the 2000s. Gutowitz breaks down the journey lesbian culture and visibility took in those years, from hidden secret to loud and proud.
- I'm a few years older than the author, but so much of her experience of growing up as a suburban white girl receiving conflicting information about what being gay meant (and therefore being unable to discern whether you were gay) resonated deeply with me.
- A lot of really rough stuff is covered here, from generalized lesbophobia to forced outing, but this essay collection is actual laugh out loud hilarious. I kept reading passages aloud to my spouse, trying not to snort laugh at descriptions of furtively using the family computer or falling into lesbian TikTok.
- GIRLS CAN KISS NOW is a hyperfocused deep dive into growing up and coming out in the 2000s. Gutowitz breaks down the journey lesbian culture and visibility took in those years, from hidden secret to loud and proud.
- I'm a few years older than the author, but so much of her experience of growing up as a suburban white girl receiving conflicting information about what being gay meant (and therefore being unable to discern whether you were gay) resonated deeply with me.
- A lot of really rough stuff is covered here, from generalized lesbophobia to forced outing, but this essay collection is actual laugh out loud hilarious. I kept reading passages aloud to my spouse, trying not to snort laugh at descriptions of furtively using the family computer or falling into lesbian TikTok.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Outing, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Cursing, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Misogyny, Bullying, Lesbophobia, and Sexual content
Minor: Religious bigotry, Vomit, Alcohol, and Transphobia
More...