A review by betweentheshelves
Forward March by Skye Quinlan
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Excited for her senior marching band season, Harper's just hoping her dad's presidential campaign won't interfere too much. However, Harper's world is completely changed when she's approached by Margot about her profile on Tinder. A profile that Harper never set up. Now, Margot is determined to get to know the real Haper.
But there are obstacles in their way, mainly Harper's homophobic mother, the dean of their school. As Harper discovers more about herself and her sexuality, she has to figure out if she has the freedom to be herself.
Listened to the audiobook for this one, and there are so many great things this book has going for it. The main one is at the heart of the novel: Harper and Margot's relationship. I loved the way it evolved throughout the book, and Margot was kind and considerate about Harper's asexuality. They truly cared for one another, and the way their relationship unfolded worked on so many levels.
The marching band aspect of the book worked really well, too. Quinlan captured the feel of it, and through marching band, Harper is kind of able to figure out what she might want after high school. The whole atmosphere did wonders for the story itself.
There were some elements I wish would have been a bit more fleshed out, though. Mainly, Harper's dad's campaign and the political nature of him running for office. That aspect of the story felt a bit rushed, to be honest. Additionally, the plotline with Harper's original friend group, while authentic for teenage friendships I thought it could have been a bit more fleshed out, too.
Basically, I think everything surrounding Harper and Margot (and Harper's brother) was the best part of the book, and I'd definitely recommend reading it just for that!
But there are obstacles in their way, mainly Harper's homophobic mother, the dean of their school. As Harper discovers more about herself and her sexuality, she has to figure out if she has the freedom to be herself.
Listened to the audiobook for this one, and there are so many great things this book has going for it. The main one is at the heart of the novel: Harper and Margot's relationship. I loved the way it evolved throughout the book, and Margot was kind and considerate about Harper's asexuality. They truly cared for one another, and the way their relationship unfolded worked on so many levels.
The marching band aspect of the book worked really well, too. Quinlan captured the feel of it, and through marching band, Harper is kind of able to figure out what she might want after high school. The whole atmosphere did wonders for the story itself.
There were some elements I wish would have been a bit more fleshed out, though. Mainly, Harper's dad's campaign and the political nature of him running for office. That aspect of the story felt a bit rushed, to be honest. Additionally, the plotline with Harper's original friend group, while authentic for teenage friendships I thought it could have been a bit more fleshed out, too.
Basically, I think everything surrounding Harper and Margot (and Harper's brother) was the best part of the book, and I'd definitely recommend reading it just for that!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Outing
Minor: Vomit, Alcoholism, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts