sebbyreads's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
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
4.0
paigemorgan17's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
tense
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
4.25
annakim's review against another edition
2.0
At what point does being an outsider stop being a description and become your entire personality? I know that, traditionally, there is a view of theater kids being nerds and outsiders, but Kate really seemed to lean into and embrace being an outsider and continued to wallow in her sadness. I guess I'm just lacking in empathy because I had to patience for her and her group, especially with their continued judgment and, tbh, slut shaming of the fuckboys and girls. I was a band kid myself, but I guess my high school wasn't so stratified like high schools are typically described in popular culture since the band kids were also popular kids and jocks (not all, but a good number - not me, though; I was definitely a nerd. lol)
And even though Kate and Anderson are described as being incredibly close and their friendship as deep and true, it really is rather toxic in its codependence (I mean, Kate even admitted that any crushes she had that wasn't shared with Anderson immediately died. Like, wtf?)
Maybe I missed it, but I don't see that they really learned anything from everything that happened, aside from them admitting that the ground rules really don't work, which is true. I also feel that they both acted really badly towards each other and were incredibly passive-aggressive until it was time for the BIG REVEAL. It was also incredibly predictable. As soon as Noah appeared, I knew that he and Kate were going to get together by the end.
While I managed to finish the book, it was more out of stubborn annoyance than out of any great enjoyment.
Also, not that I was a popular girl, but are there any YA books written from the perspective of the popular, mainstream kids and not just the angsty outsiders?
And even though Kate and Anderson are described as being incredibly close and their friendship as deep and true, it really is rather toxic in its codependence (I mean, Kate even admitted that any crushes she had that wasn't shared with Anderson immediately died. Like, wtf?)
Spoiler
Maybe I missed it, but I don't see that they really learned anything from everything that happened, aside from them admitting that the ground rules really don't work, which is true. I also feel that they both acted really badly towards each other and were incredibly passive-aggressive until it was time for the BIG REVEAL. It was also incredibly predictable. As soon as Noah appeared, I knew that he and Kate were going to get together by the end.
While I managed to finish the book, it was more out of stubborn annoyance than out of any great enjoyment.
Also, not that I was a popular girl, but are there any YA books written from the perspective of the popular, mainstream kids and not just the angsty outsiders?
wombat_88's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
alinaborger's review against another edition
Why did I wait so long to read this one? All the squishy sweet feels, high school theatre exactly right, and so much big friendship. ❤️❤️❤️
carolinalves's review against another edition
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.0
kenadietd's review against another edition
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
shelvesofstarlight's review against another edition
5.0
I am always a fan of a YA contemporary focused on best friendship and theatre and so I was obviously going to love this book with all of my heart.
The characters were all well written and I just loved how they were all so committed to theatre and their friendship group. As a sort of theatre kid myself, I related to this and it made me quite nostalgic for my theatre days. Kate and Andy were such lovely main characters and I just loved Kate so much because our personalities are quite close and omg I was basically her in school (minus the communal crushes haha). I loved Matt and Noah and Ryan too and I loved how they plated into the story and supported Kate throughout the events of the book and her life prior.
The plot was wonderful and just so perfect for this YA contemporary because it was just so well-paced. I did predict how things would end near the start but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book at all. In fact, it might have made me enjoy it more as I saw my predictions play out! As I have already said I adored the theatre aspect and I just thought it was so great to see how that was so central (even the chapter titles were called scenes). The third act conflict was well thought out and didn't drag on too long which was great. And the ending was just super sweet as well!
The writing was brilliant, it was light and funny and just so wonderful. You could see Kate's thought process through the way the book was written and I just loved that. It really felt like it was a sixteen/seventeen-year-old narrating the story with the colloquial style of wiring. Just a wonderful book through and through.
I was kindly provided with a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The characters were all well written and I just loved how they were all so committed to theatre and their friendship group. As a sort of theatre kid myself, I related to this and it made me quite nostalgic for my theatre days. Kate and Andy were such lovely main characters and I just loved Kate so much because our personalities are quite close and omg I was basically her in school (minus the communal crushes haha). I loved Matt and Noah and Ryan too and I loved how they plated into the story and supported Kate throughout the events of the book and her life prior.
The plot was wonderful and just so perfect for this YA contemporary because it was just so well-paced. I did predict how things would end near the start but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book at all. In fact, it might have made me enjoy it more as I saw my predictions play out! As I have already said I adored the theatre aspect and I just thought it was so great to see how that was so central (even the chapter titles were called scenes). The third act conflict was well thought out and didn't drag on too long which was great. And the ending was just super sweet as well!
The writing was brilliant, it was light and funny and just so wonderful. You could see Kate's thought process through the way the book was written and I just loved that. It really felt like it was a sixteen/seventeen-year-old narrating the story with the colloquial style of wiring. Just a wonderful book through and through.
I was kindly provided with a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
francisopal's review against another edition
4.0
Full author interview: https://bookpeopleteens.wordpress.com/2021/06/30/interview-jason-june-becky-albertalli/
IM: In both of your author notes for your books, you talk about how your main characters are similar to yourselves. I was wondering how, more specifically, your main characters are similar and different to yourselves and your teen experience.
BA: I think every one of my main characters ends up getting a lot of me, sometimes even more than I realize until later. Having re-read little bits of my teen diary, it is really like reading Kate in Waiting. Like wow, there was no point in my turning anything older than 17… I think part of it is the way her mind works and the way her voice sounds, but definitely the theatre kid stuff too. That was pulled directly from my teen memories, that was my entire world in high school. There’s a lot of friendship stuff in there as well, some of it kind of teen friendship stuff, because I was absolutely a kid who got no action… which meant my friendships were the love story. That’s always been something that’s very important to me, I’ve had in different areas of my life a lot of really close friendships with different dynamics…This book is dedicated to Adam Silvera and there’s definitely a lot of Adam and me in Kate and Anderson.
IM: In both of your author notes for your books, you talk about how your main characters are similar to yourselves. I was wondering how, more specifically, your main characters are similar and different to yourselves and your teen experience.
BA: I think every one of my main characters ends up getting a lot of me, sometimes even more than I realize until later. Having re-read little bits of my teen diary, it is really like reading Kate in Waiting. Like wow, there was no point in my turning anything older than 17… I think part of it is the way her mind works and the way her voice sounds, but definitely the theatre kid stuff too. That was pulled directly from my teen memories, that was my entire world in high school. There’s a lot of friendship stuff in there as well, some of it kind of teen friendship stuff, because I was absolutely a kid who got no action… which meant my friendships were the love story. That’s always been something that’s very important to me, I’ve had in different areas of my life a lot of really close friendships with different dynamics…This book is dedicated to Adam Silvera and there’s definitely a lot of Adam and me in Kate and Anderson.
wintersdoe's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75