Girls Like Girls is based on the iconic music video and song from Hayley Kiyoko. I was immediately drawn in by the gorgeous cover. The story follows Coley and Sonya, with Coley forced to live with her estranged father after the death of her mother. Coley must wrestle with romantic feelings about Sonya, as Sonya must decide whether she accepts herself. There are no easy answers and the girls must choose whether they can continue their friendship/relationship… 

The story felt very surface-level. I struggled with the lack of depth in both plot and characters. While Coley absolutely had tragic things happen in her backstory, they felt a little underdeveloped. If you’ve seen the music video, you’ll have a good idea of where the story is going. However, the pacing felt a bit off as the climatic moment occurs and then the book wraps up. I would have expected more about what happens next or what happens  between them in the future. 

I enjoyed the relationship between Coley and her dad. It was nice to see Coley form genuine connections outside of her somewhat toxic friendships and relationship. Girls Like Girls has an important message about being true to yourself and not worrying about the expectations of others. I do think this book will really mean a lot to some readers, especially those who love the titular music video and song.   

Thank you to Hayley Kiyoko, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.