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angelface777's review against another edition
5.0
Radio Silence by Alice Oseman was a loan from my niece Lily who loved it so much they wanted me to read it.
Alice Oseman is their favorite author. This book in particular (I can't speak for her others since I haven't read them) is a coming-of-age with plenty of queer and BIPOC characters set in a near future society.
Frances is a reserved study freak whose only goal is to get into a great college for English Literature. She has some school friends she doesn't relate to, and there is always this lingering backstory of a BFF neighbor girl Carys that Frances "drove off with a bad decision". Also she is obsessed with an indy podcast called Universe City, a post-apocalyptic set plotline about the narrator, Radio Silence, having adventures and trying to escape Universe City... that she recently was contacted by to do the art for! Because her secret passion is anonymous Universe City fan art.
Enter Daniel, the other super smart kid at school that Frances is always in silent competition with, and Aled, a shy boy who also happens to be the older brother of Carys. WHAAAA!? These 3 end up forming an unlikely friendship full of individual insecurities and secrets.
Very accurate portrayal of the difficulties of teenage-hood: Finding yourself, being comfortable in your own skin, owning your weird and also your serious, and bring brave enough to knock down every wall in your life... even family ones. Underage drinking/drugs are in this book, but I believe it takes place in England.
My favorite character was definitely Frances' Millennial mom
Alice Oseman is their favorite author. This book in particular (I can't speak for her others since I haven't read them) is a coming-of-age with plenty of queer and BIPOC characters set in a near future society.
Frances is a reserved study freak whose only goal is to get into a great college for English Literature. She has some school friends she doesn't relate to, and there is always this lingering backstory of a BFF neighbor girl Carys that Frances "drove off with a bad decision". Also she is obsessed with an indy podcast called Universe City, a post-apocalyptic set plotline about the narrator, Radio Silence, having adventures and trying to escape Universe City... that she recently was contacted by to do the art for! Because her secret passion is anonymous Universe City fan art.
Enter Daniel, the other super smart kid at school that Frances is always in silent competition with, and Aled, a shy boy who also happens to be the older brother of Carys. WHAAAA!? These 3 end up forming an unlikely friendship full of individual insecurities and secrets.
Very accurate portrayal of the difficulties of teenage-hood: Finding yourself, being comfortable in your own skin, owning your weird and also your serious, and bring brave enough to knock down every wall in your life... even family ones. Underage drinking/drugs are in this book, but I believe it takes place in England.
My favorite character was definitely Frances' Millennial mom
ctingle's review against another edition
5.0
A beautifully written novel that addresses mental health, sexuality, and friendship. I enjoyed this novel a bit more than Alice Oseman's "I Was Born For This". Both are well written and well executed, but I connected more with Frances and the pressure and anxiety that she feels (and places on herself). There's just so much to this book, and I highly recommend it.
eclipse888's review against another edition
4.0
That was one of the purest and most beautiful m/f friendships and I'm so happy the author decided to not let them end up as a couple
iveydocx's review against another edition
5.0
Oh my God, okay. I read this in one day and I love it so much. I've been craving an authentic, unapologetic YA book and this hits the mark. The writing isn't flowery or anything but personally I really like that. This is also casually diverse without being token diverse, which I love, and this definitely feels very "slice of life" edging on "literary." A great comp title for the general vibe of this book is "The Half Of It."
I just. Man. I'm floored. I think I'll need to do a full review of this, because I loved this book.
I just. Man. I'm floored. I think I'll need to do a full review of this, because I loved this book.