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jenmangler's review
3.0
This is a such an important book about a subject we don't talk enough about in middle school: Sexual harassment. When is it "flirting" or "just goofing around," and when does it cross the line? What does consent mean, and what does it look like? How do you deal with a situation that makes you uncomfortable when everyone else seems to think it's no big deal?
reader4evr's review against another edition
Not going to give this a rating because I’m not sure how I can give it the appropriate rating if that makes sense.
lawbooks600's review
emotional
medium-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
Score: Seven out of ten.
For a book targeted at a younger audience this was surprisingly heavy. I can't believe this one isn't YA. Maybe He Just Likes You by Barbara Dee circled my recommendations until I saw it on a library shelf and picked it up. I headed in with high expectations, and when I closed the final page, it was enjoyable, yet flawed.
It starts with Mila recounting her life at school when she notices something, the boys, like Callum, sometimes hug her without consent and for a strangely long time, a few seconds too long. Mila doesn't know what this feeling is yet for the first opening pages, but what she does know is this isn't flirting. This is something else, despite her peers calling her reactions immature and over-the-top. Mila drives the central storyline with her character development of realising what sexual harassment is. Why didn't she tell anyone about this? I presume she didn't have the words yet. Or another reason.
I'm glad Dee put in effort by also making her see words are better than actions, which made me like her, despite her flaws. The pacing is enough to keep the plot going, with a length below 300 pages, but I sometimes feel a lot is going on. Mila has a lot of character dynamics with her friends, like Mila and Naomi and people she prefers not to interact, like Callum, and Dee dedicated lots of subplots to them, like the one about her mother attending an exercise program, but it detracts from the narrative.
The writing style is okay, except for one choice: if Mila (and therefore Dee) can say Asian, like in the term Asian American, why can't she say Black or Latina? Like others, Maybe He Just Likes You solely focuses on characters' experiences based on gender, but there's no intersectionality, which felt like a missed opportunity given the cast is diverse. The concluding pages are engaging though, as I get to see the satisfying end of Mila's arc.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, Sexism, and Bullying
Full trigger warnings: Physical assault, child abuse and implied injury, sexual harassment, bullying, sexismbibliobrandie's review
4.0
I think this is a good book and an important book. I will be sending it to my 12 year old niece so that she can talk about it with her mom. Unfortunately I listened to the audio version and the reader was very breathy and it probably skewed my rating for this book.
lanadelrat's review
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
enne_deali's review
5.0
everyone needs to read this book. everyone. girls, guys, adults, children, teens, everyone. i know i'm not the first person here to write a review saying how important this book is, but i just could not agree more. and i applaud Dee for being able to bring up such an important & necessary topic in such a comfortable & approachable way. i've seriously read this book maybe five times. it's just so relevant in so many ways. ugh, please just read it already, why are you even here?? go!!! <333
dannidrew's review
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
natalyamarie_'s review
3.0
⭐2.5
the overall message of the book was good but i didn't like the ending
the overall message of the book was good but i didn't like the ending
nahhreally3's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment