Reviews tagging 'Body shaming'

Kate In Waiting by Becky Albertalli

3 reviews

beckyyreadss's review

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emotional fast-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

I love Becky Albertalli and I love most of her work. I didn’t really enjoy Yes No Maybe So, but I love Simon v the Homo Sapien’s Agenda. I wanted to read more of her work and was hopefully for this book and . . . well, it just fell flat.  

This book is based on Kate Garfield. She and her best friend Anderson Walker are not co-dependent, even though everyone thinks they are. They carpool together to and from theatre rehearsals, they consult each other on every single life decision, and they crush for the same guys. This isn’t usually a problem . . . until Matt Olsson shows up. He is Kate and Anderson’s long-distance crush, and he is now at their school. Matt is talented and sweet, and Kate likes him, really likes him. The only problem? So does Anderson. Turns out, communal crushes aren’t so fun when real feelings are involved. This one might even bring the curtains down on Kate and Anderson’s friendship. 

I'll start with what I liked – Ryan and Noah – the F boys for the win. They were the only ones that didn’t annoy and that I didn’t want to kill. They were both real and I was rooting for them during this book. Ryan is the whole one who was willing to spit the truth and not care because he prefers the truth out in the open. Noah was a complete golden retriever who just wanted to make Kate happy (who didn’t deserve it by the way.)  

Okay, Kate drove me nuts, I get it’s a YA and it’s not supposed to be serious, but it was very repetitive - I like Matt, he is flirting with me and Anderson, Anderson is breaking the rules so I'm gonna break the rules, my best friend now hates me, Noah is following me around. That was like the first ten chapters and then times that by eight – that's the story. This book could have been shortened by 100 pages if you cut Kate’s inner monologue down. Anderson was a hypocritic, he is ranting to Kate about keeping an open line of communication and then the second him and Matt start dating he runs and lets Kate believe Matt likes her – that was just a shitty thing to do, I understand why but it could have been done better. The communal crush thing just was weird and I would never do that with anyone. Kate and Anderson didn’t deserve the happy ending they got because they were just so toxic and annoying the whole way through this book. Matt could have disappeared, and I wouldn’t have noticed as he is barely in it for the big MMC. 
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betweentheshelves's review

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funny lighthearted medium-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

4.5

 Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing me an advanced copy of this to review! I love Becky Albertalli, and this is one of my most anticipated releases of the year. I am happy to say that it definitely lived up to the hype!

Right from the start, we get Albertalli's signature lovable characters. I immediately fell in love with Kate and Anderson and their little, diverse squad. Not only do we have Jewish main characters, Kate and Anderson (who is also Black), but also a trans character and other gay characters. Just like in Simon Vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, this is a squad you'll fall in love with and their love for theater. It's honestly contagious.

What I also loved about this was Kate's journey in finding confidence in herself. At the beginning of the book, she's content to stay in the background. But through her friends and their support, she realizes that she is pretty awesome. Everyone deserves friends like that. Even though the plot points were slightly predictable, I didn't care because I loved reading about these characters.

Finally, I loved the importance that Albertalli places on platonic love. I don't feel like that's ever emphasized enough in rom-coms, but it's front and center in this book. Platonic relationships are just as important as romantic ones, and this romance gives equal importance to both. Next to the characters, that's probably my favorite thing about this book.

All in all, this will hit home with theater nerds everywhere. If you're looking for a love story focused on friendship, this is the book for you! 


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Of course this is adorable in that teen rom-com way. As always, Albertalli absolutely nails the characters. More in a full review to come on Thursday!
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decklededgess's review

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funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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

trigger warnings: bullying, mild misogyny and sexism, alcohol use, homophobia mention, divorced parents


becky continues to write books i can read in a single sitting despite having outgrown the need for such comfort. i love these.
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