A review by angelreadsthings
Odd One Out by Nic Stone
4.0
This book surprised me in all the right ways. I selected it expecting a fun, slightly above average read about teens of color stuck in a love triangle. What I actually encountered was a story about identity, love (platonic, romantic, and familial), and belonging that successfully pulled in diverse perspectives to create a surprisingly holistic and authentic picture of each of those themes (while still being a lot of fun). This book is sure to provoke discomfort and anxiety in a lot of people because it doesn't shy away from the messiness and confusion of teenage emotions, desires, identity exploration, or decision-making. Stone lets her characters be realistically problematic, which will be off-putting to some but made me love (most of) them and the story all the more.
I also have to say that this is one of the most accurate examples I've read of navigating multigender attraction in a monosexist world. Stone wrote at the end of this book that this is the book she needed at various stages of her life as she wrestled with her own sexuality and I feel the same. I'm glad this book exists.
I also have to say that this is one of the most accurate examples I've read of navigating multigender attraction in a monosexist world. Stone wrote at the end of this book that this is the book she needed at various stages of her life as she wrestled with her own sexuality and I feel the same. I'm glad this book exists.