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shaipanda's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-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
4.75
I absolutely loved the journey of reading thisss
It made me laugh, it made me cry and I got so emotionally attached to the characters and the journeys they go on
So happy I grabbed this from the bookstore after having heard such good things about it and once I started it I couldn’t put it down and absolutely binged it lol
It made me laugh, it made me cry and I got so emotionally attached to the characters and the journeys they go on
So happy I grabbed this from the bookstore after having heard such good things about it and once I started it I couldn’t put it down and absolutely binged it lol
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Racial slurs, Racism, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Dementia and Alcohol
Minor: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Vomit, and Classism
nokvi's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
3.75
I always say this but I always rate YA more leniently because I'm not the target audience and I try to imagine how teen me would feel. (Honestly it was about 3 stars)
Honestly, Teen me would not read contemporary romance but I think if she did she would love this book. While there was very limited ugly crying and the plot was rather predictable, I truly enjoyed how this work tackled issues of race, especially internalized biases that we may hold ourselves to and how one navigates a world that they are not welcomed in. How it addressed Classism is also appropriate, as Quinn has some thoughts that had me like Girl? You sure this is the thought process you want it subscribe to?
Is it the best book for targeting these issues? No but I imagine for a teen trying to figure their lives out, especially in circumstances (not the blackmail part but operating in a world where you are othered) that Quinn find herself in, would be glad for a character that's so relatable.
I'm also a sucker for unlikely friendships and finding the persons that were meant for you, there's nothing more beautiful that community and with what happening to Hattie, I'm glad Quinnfound a friend in Livvy
The journey of self acceptance andremoval of dependency from her journal is wonderful and I'm actually very happy with the third act and the establishment of boundaries If she had forgiven Carter immediately I would have been most upset
Excuse Me while I ugly cry is a beautiful journey of self acceptance, setting personal boundaries and carrying yourself out of your comfort zone, the importance of community and family amongst things. While I do find it somewhat immature (for my age) in terms of its target audience I firmly believe it's a strong contender
Honestly, Teen me would not read contemporary romance but I think if she did she would love this book. While there was very limited ugly crying and the plot was rather predictable, I truly enjoyed how this work tackled issues of race, especially internalized biases that we may hold ourselves to and how one navigates a world that they are not welcomed in. How it addressed Classism is also appropriate, as Quinn has some thoughts that had me like Girl? You sure this is the thought process you want it subscribe to?
Is it the best book for targeting these issues? No but I imagine for a teen trying to figure their lives out, especially in circumstances (not the blackmail part but operating in a world where you are othered) that Quinn find herself in, would be glad for a character that's so relatable.
I'm also a sucker for unlikely friendships and finding the persons that were meant for you, there's nothing more beautiful that community and with what happening to Hattie, I'm glad Quinn
The journey of self acceptance and
Excuse Me while I ugly cry is a beautiful journey of self acceptance, setting personal boundaries and carrying yourself out of your comfort zone, the importance of community and family amongst things. While I do find it somewhat immature (for my age) in terms of its target audience I firmly believe it's a strong contender
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Dementia, Toxic friendship, and Classism
beegster16's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Racism and Classism
Minor: Sexual harassment
bookishkellyn's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
- 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
Quinn was not at all beating the oreo allegations until about midway into the book, and I had to fight the urge to DNF. But as her new connections with the side characters (Carter, Auden, Olivia ‘Livvy’) developed and her links with her old circle (Matt, Destany, Gia) unraveled, she became a much more enjoyable character. Her inner thoughts in every chapter were arranged into mental lists that almost sounded like poetry, and Carter’s notes at the end were a nice touch.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Racism, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Classism
Minor: Racial slurs and Dementia
lil_wavy_'s review against another edition
funny
tense
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
3.75
I was not expecting the ending, it was cute but definitely a little plot twist though. This book will definitely have you laughing. It also discusses: racism, discrimination and mental health. I can relate to the main character of being in a predominantly white school, it was rough but having good friends is what kept me out of trouble
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Classism
moonlitreading_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
“I want you to be able to celebrate our differences. I need you to be aware that our differences will get us different outcomes in life. And I need you to know that just because I don’t fit into your stereotypes, that doesn’t mean I’m any less Black.”
This book was so good I need everyone to read it!!! Joya Goffney’s writing really had me hooked from start to finish. Following Quinn and see the gang around as they tried to figure out who her blackmailer was while completing the tasks from her to-do list was quite fun. This book also gives a great focus on racism and classism which I think were written really well.
Quinn was such a lovely character. She’s not perfect, and that makes me love her even more. There’s a lot of reflection, self-awareness, and acceptance on her part amid the chaos going on in her life. This experience of being blackmailed was a very ugly one, but it helped shape the person she’s becoming.
Quinn’s friendship with Carter, Olivia, and Auden was so adorable. I especially love her friendship with Olivia. Despite everything that happened in the past, their bond remained intact and became even stronger. I love women<3333
The romance between Quinn and Carter made me squeal because they were soooo cute. They pushed each other to become better and happier versions of themselves, and I love how good they were at communicating with each other. And their flirting and banter??? I’m obsessed.
If anyone’s wondering, yes, I did ugly cry when I read this. I will absolutely read more of Joya Goffney’s work.
This book was so good I need everyone to read it!!! Joya Goffney’s writing really had me hooked from start to finish. Following Quinn and see the gang around as they tried to figure out who her blackmailer was while completing the tasks from her to-do list was quite fun. This book also gives a great focus on racism and classism which I think were written really well.
Quinn was such a lovely character. She’s not perfect, and that makes me love her even more. There’s a lot of reflection, self-awareness, and acceptance on her part amid the chaos going on in her life. This experience of being blackmailed was a very ugly one, but it helped shape the person she’s becoming.
Quinn’s friendship with Carter, Olivia, and Auden was so adorable. I especially love her friendship with Olivia. Despite everything that happened in the past, their bond remained intact and became even stronger. I love women<3333
The romance between Quinn and Carter made me squeal because they were soooo cute. They pushed each other to become better and happier versions of themselves, and I love how good they were at communicating with each other. And their flirting and banter??? I’m obsessed.
If anyone’s wondering, yes, I did ugly cry when I read this. I will absolutely read more of Joya Goffney’s work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Racial slurs, Racism, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism
yayokay's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.0
okay, it depends on the reader. overall, it was well-written with an engaging plot-line and characters. quinn's epiphany was incredible and her character development was perfectly written and paced. it contained occasional memorable lines. but for a romance book, im a bit iffy about it. i dislike the way their relationship evolved and, spoiler, what carter did was invasive. i do not think i would forgive the guy tbh 🤷🏻♀️, i think i struggled to understand her decision.
it would be better if the lines between her self-discovery and love were written better. it was a lot to process when she was healing while simultaneously carrying the love plot. but maybe that was the author's technique of showing how chaotic quinn's life seemed to her. i disliked that. however the explanations wrapped it up nicely.
it would be better if the lines between her self-discovery and love were written better. it was a lot to process when she was healing while simultaneously carrying the love plot. but maybe that was the author's technique of showing how chaotic quinn's life seemed to her. i disliked that. however the explanations wrapped it up nicely.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Alcohol
Moderate: Dementia
Minor: Classism
stephanieluxton's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
I didn't have high expectations for this book because I don't really read YA fiction much these days but I ended up really enjoying it! The plot was whatever, but the characters were really excellent. We have our relatable flawed protagonist who's on apathy to discover who she is as a young woman. Her character arc and relationships with other characters, especially her grandmother and Olivia felt really wholesome to me. I loved Carter's character because he was super imperfect and felt real. He's interesting because he has his own things going on and doesn't exist just to be a heart throb. His entire personality isn't built around being a love interest and I appreciated that. Almost every character in this book has a satisfying character arc and changes by the time we get to the end. Even the smaller characters learn things throughout the ride. Also I liked that the author touched on race and class related struggles without getting ridiculously political. Overall, it was definitely worth the read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying and Alcohol
Minor: Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic friendship, and Classism
It's a YA adult so nothing crazy or explicit happens. There's some obvious bullying as the MC is being blackmailed by someone who's threatening to reveal secrets from her stolen journal. There's themes regarding what it's like to be the only black person growing up in an upper class white area so a bit of classism and racism is discussed as the MC is figuring out how her race co tributes to her identity. There's a scene were a bunch of teens get drunk.rjsthumbelina's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Dementia
Moderate: Racism and Toxic friendship
Minor: Racial slurs and Classism
yeojinqueen's review against another edition
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Classism
Minor: Dementia, Abandonment, and Alcohol