Scan barcode
anniefwrites's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
This was a really fun read! I can't believe I've never read any theater-themed YA novels before this (since I was a theater kid myself) and this one did not disappoint in the drama department (pun intended). I loved the fast pace and the lighthearted energy, though I wish the characters had a bit more conflict and weren't supportive of each other almost all the time just to bring the stakes up a bit. But in general, this was a perfect beach read and a heartwarming, romance-y book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Alcohol
nytephoenyx's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Kate in Waiting is… fine. What is going make this book review so difficult to write for me is that there’s nothing technically wrong with the book. Becky Albertalli tells Kate’s story with the same directness and the same humor as her other books. The style, the characters, and the story are all on point. I liked it. And I didn’t like it.
Lets start with the basics. Kate in Waiting is another high school in Georgia book, with teenagers all over the LGBTQIAP+ spectrum. There’s racial diversity in the character and I honestly believe that as she grows as writer, Albertalli does a better job of creating characters and making them rounded. Her romance writing is also really sweet.
You know what I don’t like about her writing, and especially about Kate in Waiting? The friendships.
I can’t even say those are badly written, because they’re not. But they are complicated and sometimes petty and they make me cringe and it’s uncomfortable to read sometimes not because she’s done a poor job, but because she’s done a good job and my biased self would like a little more of the “friendship is perfect” illusion. As a whole all the characters were fine and I liked Kate’s voice – I really did! I’m all about the self-depreciating humor. That’s kind of my thing. But I really, really didn’t like Anderson and Kate’s friendship.
I didn’t like Anderson + Kate so much that it tainted the book for me. And again. I can’t emphasize enough that this has nothing to do with Becky Albertalli because she wrote it really well. Their friendship gave me anxiety. It made me angry. It had the types of things that make me want to turn off drama and reality tv shows. Kate in Waiting is about heartbreak and complicated relationships and the fact that life has its way of surprising us. And there were some scenes that I liked so much. But I don’t know that it was enough to make me love the book.
Again. Me not loving the book is about my own personal issues and not the book.
Honestly, you’ll probably like the book. Lots of people like Kate in Waiting. A large part of it revolves around the musical Once Upon a Mattress which is a great musical. I especially love the comedy trioin Once Upon a Mattress – it nods its head to Shakespearean comedy and there’s a lot of pantomime and physical comedy which I appreciate. There are some scenes that are super cute and the pure awkwardness of Kate and Ryan’s relationship is fun (though it got a bit sappy for me at the end). There is a lot of good about this book and I so recommend it. Really. I do!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol
stillreadingat4am's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
4.5
This was a real feel-good book!
While it definitely tackles important and heavier topics like bullying, the overall vibe of theater kids just doing their thing was amazing!
As a former theater kid myself, every description of rehearsals and the performance itself was a big ball of nostalgic hugs.
The closeness you feel by being part of a theater group is something I don't often see displayed in books but here it was so well done!
At first I struggled a bit with the characters, not gonna lie. Kate and Andy are very imperfect teenagers and Matt is just some kind of saint we don't learn a lot about. But as the story progressed, I got to know and love them all better. My favourite characters are definitely Ryan, Noah and the both theater teachers but the whole squad has won my heart.
Oh, and did I mention that it's incredibly funny?
While it definitely tackles important and heavier topics like bullying, the overall vibe of theater kids just doing their thing was amazing!
As a former theater kid myself, every description of rehearsals and the performance itself was a big ball of nostalgic hugs.
The closeness you feel by being part of a theater group is something I don't often see displayed in books but here it was so well done!
At first I struggled a bit with the characters, not gonna lie. Kate and Andy are very imperfect teenagers and Matt is just some kind of saint we don't learn a lot about. But as the story progressed, I got to know and love them all better. My favourite characters are definitely Ryan, Noah and the both theater teachers but the whole squad has won my heart.
Oh, and did I mention that it's incredibly funny?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying and Alcohol
Minor: Toxic friendship
More...