This book totally lived up to the hype for me. So moving and so deft. It really covers a lot of territory and I especially thought the teen friendships were very realistically portrayed. (A lot of drama based on Tumblr likes and unfollows, for example.) There are a LOT of moving pieces to the plot and a few things may have resolved a bit too neatly BUT I did think the more important pieces (the police/trial and the school/friendship/relationship plots) were great. And I loved Starr's family so much, and the humor mixed in with the tragic situation was great. I think this is a book that might be hard for some white readers to read but hopefully it will help understand the impact of microaggressions, institutionalized racism, etc etc. But also, like when I say stuff like that last sentence I just said, it can make books sound kind of "mediciney" and this was also just a good book to read.

PS ALSO it can be hit or miss when contemporary YA characters are real into 80s/90s stuff but I felt like her love of Fresh Prince was so great because there still aren't a lot of other shows like that. ALSO a lot of teens I know still do love Fresh Prince because that shit is TIMELESS.