al3xa's Reviews (242)

Cheer Up! Love and Pompoms

Crystal Frasier, Val Wise

5.0

hopeful fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Loveable characters: Yes

Content Warnings

The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School

Sonora Reyes

3.0

fast-paced

Content Warnings

When the Angels Left the Old Country

Sacha Lamb

5.0

adventurous hopeful medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Content Warnings

A Scatter of Light

Malinda Lo

4.5

emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Content Warnings

The Luis Ortega Survival Club

Sonora Reyes

4.5

hopeful reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

i really loved this book — was genuinely compelled to keep reading the whole way through! i also felt like the diverse representation (especially ari’s experience with autism and selective mutism) wasn’t tokenized at all, which felt really special.

my biggest issues with the book
were that some things didn’t feel totally realistic, but that is par for the course as an adult reading YA! in particular the fact that ari is in high school and has apparently never spoken in the classroom (except to her favorite teacher 1:1) but doesn’t have any diagnosis / accommodations, just suspected autism — i can’t imagine that happening in public schools fr.

i also thought the double romance / happy ending was a tiny bit unnecessary but very sweet,

and these characters certainly deserved a happy ending!!!

Content Warnings