tripleareads's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
frankiedoesntsmile's review
4.0
I don't even know where to start.
I felt like I was reading about myself.
From a small town? ✅
Grew up in a Christian household? ✅
Defied gender norms? ✅
Complicated relationship with father? ✅
Unsure about my sexuality? ✅
Ride or die friends? Okay, maybe not this one but still!
This book was about exactly what it says it's about: a girl wanting to define her sexuality on her own. And I loved that
That being said, this is a character-driven story. So if you're looking for thrills and excitement this ain't the book for you. Not a lot happens.
For a book whose focus is on the sexuality of a teen girl who's crushing on two (maybe even three???) of her best friends, there's not a lot of tension - if any. Even the parts that should definitely have a lot of tension! The most tension comes from Billie feelings like her sexuality is being defined for her.
Also! Everyone in the Hexagon is still in high school. And this takes place around the same time that most schools (in the USA) are in session. But I don't think them going to school is ever mentioned??? If it is I certainly don't remember it being mentioned???
I did love this book and I identify with Billie so so much and I want to give this a 5/5 so badly buuuut I can't. I just feel like a lot of the major plot points were smoothed or glossed over.
One thing I will say: the overview on the back of the book mentions the exploration of gender... which doesn't happen! Unless I missed something major??? I wanna say this is a typo and what it was actually meant to say is the "exploration of gender NORMS" not gender itself.
I felt like I was reading about myself.
From a small town? ✅
Grew up in a Christian household? ✅
Defied gender norms? ✅
Complicated relationship with father? ✅
Unsure about my sexuality? ✅
Ride or die friends? Okay, maybe not this one but still!
This book was about exactly what it says it's about: a girl wanting to define her sexuality on her own. And I loved that
That being said, this is a character-driven story. So if you're looking for thrills and excitement this ain't the book for you. Not a lot happens.
For a book whose focus is on the sexuality of a teen girl who's crushing on two (maybe even three???) of her best friends, there's not a lot of tension - if any. Even the parts that should definitely have a lot of tension! The most tension comes from Billie feelings like her sexuality is being defined for her.
Also! Everyone in the Hexagon is still in high school. And this takes place around the same time that most schools (in the USA) are in session. But I don't think them going to school is ever mentioned??? If it is I certainly don't remember it being mentioned???
I did love this book and I identify with Billie so so much and I want to give this a 5/5 so badly buuuut I can't. I just feel like a lot of the major plot points were smoothed or glossed over.
One thing I will say: the overview on the back of the book mentions the exploration of gender... which doesn't happen! Unless I missed something major??? I wanna say this is a typo and what it was actually meant to say is the "exploration of gender NORMS" not gender itself.
scrollsofdragons's review
3.0
3.5 The standout in this novel was the tight knit friendship group.
What I wasn't fond of:
-Her dad didn't even apologize for the way he treated her, but was like instantly forgiven because he said he was proud and loved her, nothing about how his views were wrong and how terrible he was about it. I don't know how to feel about her mom, she was much more accepting but she let the dad just be a total shit and that I can't excuse.
-I couldn't stand the whole anti gay church members who were like practically most of the adults and the ending where they just accept Billie dancing with a girl was a bit sudden for all the shit they threw about it beforehand.
-And Billie kissing everyone to find out who she liked, who does that? Like that has the potential to seriously mess with people when you kiss one, decide nah not for me then go on to the next. And she left others hanging why she decided what one she preferred to be with and that just felt a little shitty.
What I wasn't fond of:
-Her dad didn't even apologize for the way he treated her, but was like instantly forgiven because he said he was proud and loved her, nothing about how his views were wrong and how terrible he was about it. I don't know how to feel about her mom, she was much more accepting but she let the dad just be a total shit and that I can't excuse.
-I couldn't stand the whole anti gay church members who were like practically most of the adults and the ending where they just accept Billie dancing with a girl was a bit sudden for all the shit they threw about it beforehand.
-And Billie kissing everyone to find out who she liked, who does that? Like that has the potential to seriously mess with people when you kiss one, decide nah not for me then go on to the next. And she left others hanging why she decided what one she preferred to be with and that just felt a little shitty.
novel_nora's review against another edition
4.0
"I don’t need alcohol; I get drunk on schemes" is an absolute banger of a line that may or may not have made me cackle like a deranged goat, and perfectly describes the character who thought it: mc Billie McCaffrey. If I met her in real life (and she also wasn’t fictional) I would probably be terrified of her witty ideas and her predisposition to getting herself in trouble. Luckily, she did grow throughout the novel, and her journey was still more entertaining than cringey.
My brain crunched thoughts so loudly it sounded as if I were snacking on Doritos.
The dialogue in this book is top tier. The one liners and lovingly snarky insults the characters toss at one another is very entertaining, and it’s easy to believe the members of the Hexagon have known each other for years. The group’s vibes are immaculate and make this book hilarious, although there were a few members that didn’t really get much screen time, and I would’ve been fine with it being the Square. (sorry Mash and Fifty, but I genuinely forgot you existed) Without spoiling anything, I also liked the ending and overall messages of the book about experimentation and self-identity.
That being said, there were some things I didn’t like. I rarely think books need more exposition, but this was one of them. In the first half, there were aspects that were never explained, and the characters would just show up at a random house as if the reader was already supposed to know why. I didn’t, and it made the first half uncomfortably disengaging compared to the second half, when I finally figured it out.
I was also extremely confused when about ¾ of the way through, the POV switched to Davey and then back to Billie again. Why? Still unclear. It didn’t add anything to the plot, and only added foreshadowing to a ‘reveal’ that was always incredibly obvious. I liked Davey’s character, but his perspective (which was even via phone call transcripts at one point) was jarring and made the narrative of the book feel in-cohesive. The book even jumps back in time ten years at a few spots, which was even more jarring. I wish this section had been incorporated differently, and overall the book jumps around WAY too much in the second half.
Overall, I would recommend this book to people that want a fun YA Contemporary with witty banter. It has meaningful themes and a digestible, wholesome interior. I just wish that the beginning was less confusing, and the second half had been combed through to fit Billie’s narrative.
My brain crunched thoughts so loudly it sounded as if I were snacking on Doritos.
The dialogue in this book is top tier. The one liners and lovingly snarky insults the characters toss at one another is very entertaining, and it’s easy to believe the members of the Hexagon have known each other for years. The group’s vibes are immaculate and make this book hilarious, although there were a few members that didn’t really get much screen time, and I would’ve been fine with it being the Square. (sorry Mash and Fifty, but I genuinely forgot you existed) Without spoiling anything, I also liked the ending and overall messages of the book about experimentation and self-identity.
That being said, there were some things I didn’t like. I rarely think books need more exposition, but this was one of them. In the first half, there were aspects that were never explained, and the characters would just show up at a random house as if the reader was already supposed to know why. I didn’t, and it made the first half uncomfortably disengaging compared to the second half, when I finally figured it out.
I was also extremely confused when about ¾ of the way through, the POV switched to Davey and then back to Billie again. Why? Still unclear. It didn’t add anything to the plot, and only added foreshadowing to a ‘reveal’ that was always incredibly obvious. I liked Davey’s character, but his perspective (which was even via phone call transcripts at one point) was jarring and made the narrative of the book feel in-cohesive. The book even jumps back in time ten years at a few spots, which was even more jarring. I wish this section had been incorporated differently, and overall the book jumps around WAY too much in the second half.
Overall, I would recommend this book to people that want a fun YA Contemporary with witty banter. It has meaningful themes and a digestible, wholesome interior. I just wish that the beginning was less confusing, and the second half had been combed through to fit Billie’s narrative.
meermollusk's review against another edition
4.0
4.5
This book just warmed my heart. It was a solid 4 for me the whole way through until the ending, which just totally won me over. The characters in this story feel so real, their actions, personalities and relationships never felt out of place. I also loved the way religion was portrayed in this novel. Billie's relationship with God and her religion never felt like it was being forced on the reader and felt very authentic to her as a person, flawed but real.
I do wish the author included a little more information about some of the side characters (Mash and Fifty) since it seemed we got quite a bit of background on everyone else except those two.
Overall a fun, feel-good read!
This book just warmed my heart. It was a solid 4 for me the whole way through until the ending, which just totally won me over. The characters in this story feel so real, their actions, personalities and relationships never felt out of place. I also loved the way religion was portrayed in this novel. Billie's relationship with God and her religion never felt like it was being forced on the reader and felt very authentic to her as a person, flawed but real.
I do wish the author included a little more information about some of the side characters (Mash and Fifty) since it seemed we got quite a bit of background on everyone else except those two.
Overall a fun, feel-good read!
ag_berry's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
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? No
4.0
scarlettdowd's review against another edition
5.0
haha, squeezing in just one more for that sweet reading challenge
(tbh tho, this book was perfect)
(tbh tho, this book was perfect)
xdarkthunderx's review against another edition
1.0
This was so fucking boring with annoying ass “queer I guess (maybe cause there aren’t labels) but problematic af” characters and awful plot.
Fuck a Corn Dolly. Jesus, what a boring plot line.
Billie being hailed as some great queer rep cause she kisses 1/2 of her friend group is so dumb. Like, sooooo dumb. I’m annoyed.
Fuck a Corn Dolly. Jesus, what a boring plot line.
Billie being hailed as some great queer rep cause she kisses 1/2 of her friend group is so dumb. Like, sooooo dumb. I’m annoyed.
cs_the_librarian's review
emotional
hopeful
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? No
3.0
azalia's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0