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ac_catsnstuf's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
very well written, picked it up because it’s so hard to find books with female autistic main characters. i don’t usually read romance though and im not a fan of love triangles which is why it got the rating it did
Content Warnings
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
glass_carousel's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
merryfaith's review
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, and Alcohol
ksreads14's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
For me this book was a lil boring.
Content Warnings
teavampyr's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
cgbmartin's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I have a 15 year old daughter so obviously I am not the target audience for this book. But the writer made me feel 15 again. All the choices made, good and bad and well-intentioned, felt so true to being 15. I told my daughter this is a must-read book for her.
kaiteayu's review against another edition
5.0
*Slight spoilers*
This book had me needing the next chapter one after another. If I could summarize the book in a sentence, it would be a fantastic coming-of-age story with important topics regarding the lives and experiences of Palestinians and individuals in the autism community.
If Jessie has no supporters, I’m dead because I absolutely love her. I am her ride or die. I sometimes related to her and remembered my experiences in high school that felt very familiar in some scenes. Even in smaller scenes, there is so much value, and even the wording of things people say to Jessie is impactful. Her teacher telling her she “doesn’t seem autistic” was horrific as I’ve heard this in media, and people sharing their experiences about those who do not understand so will devalue their experiences because they don’t “act” a certain way. In the worst way, the ignorant people in the book feel too realistic, to say the least.
I found the love triangle somewhat funny as I was halfway through, and I was like, okay, are we sticking with this guy? I haven’t heard much from the other. The 180, for me, was crazy. But I would route for Jessie regardless. I would laugh when these guys would pop up left and right. In one scene, she went to the cafeteria essentially to be alone, and boom, one of them was there the next second. It was funny, but I could sense that both guys cared a lot about her.
For me, an essential part of the story was her family. Her conversation with her dad had me in tears about how he spoke about Palestine, living in Canada, and his love for both places, but following his heart for what was best for his family was what he truly wanted. There’s nothing I would change, and I was intrigued by the story the whole way through. I give it 5/5 stars and would recommend it to everyone. I will definitely be rereading! I need this made into a movie ASAP.
This book had me needing the next chapter one after another. If I could summarize the book in a sentence, it would be a fantastic coming-of-age story with important topics regarding the lives and experiences of Palestinians and individuals in the autism community.
If Jessie has no supporters, I’m dead because I absolutely love her. I am her ride or die. I sometimes related to her and remembered my experiences in high school that felt very familiar in some scenes. Even in smaller scenes, there is so much value, and even the wording of things people say to Jessie is impactful. Her teacher telling her she “doesn’t seem autistic” was horrific as I’ve heard this in media, and people sharing their experiences about those who do not understand so will devalue their experiences because they don’t “act” a certain way. In the worst way, the ignorant people in the book feel too realistic, to say the least.
I found the love triangle somewhat funny as I was halfway through, and I was like, okay, are we sticking with this guy? I haven’t heard much from the other. The 180, for me, was crazy. But I would route for Jessie regardless. I would laugh when these guys would pop up left and right. In one scene, she went to the cafeteria essentially to be alone, and boom, one of them was there the next second. It was funny, but I could sense that both guys cared a lot about her.
For me, an essential part of the story was her family. Her conversation with her dad had me in tears about how he spoke about Palestine, living in Canada, and his love for both places, but following his heart for what was best for his family was what he truly wanted. There’s nothing I would change, and I was intrigued by the story the whole way through. I give it 5/5 stars and would recommend it to everyone. I will definitely be rereading! I need this made into a movie ASAP.
muur's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
arayofreading's review against another edition
2.0
I really went into this expecting to love it. I'm so happy there is a book out there with a Palestinian and autistic representation, but unfortunately this book just didn't work for me.
Funnily enough, I thought the use of the love triangle was the best part of the book. This was not an equal love triangle by any means—you know very early on who she's going to end up with—but that wasn't not point. We follow Jessie as she experiences these two relationships and watch as she resolves what she is willing to tolerate and how she wants to be treated. I didn't necessarily care about the triangle itself, but I liked that it was used in a way to facilitate Jessie's (albeit long and nonlinear) coming of age in a way that felt authentic to many teen girls.
However, while I appreciated the framing of the love triangle as more of a personal journey, it was still not developed enough for it carry the story. And yet, it took up most of the space in the narrative to the detriment of every other aspect. There were so many things that this book touches on only to never really develop—the gender dynamics between her siblings, the family relationships in general, her Palestinian heritage. So many of the side characters felt like caricatures of their archetypes, and I found her friend group, frankly, annoying.
Overall, I really wanted to love this but it was not for me.
Funnily enough, I thought the use of the love triangle was the best part of the book. This was not an equal love triangle by any means—you know very early on who she's going to end up with—but that wasn't not point. We follow Jessie as she experiences these two relationships and watch as she resolves what she is willing to tolerate and how she wants to be treated. I didn't necessarily care about the triangle itself, but I liked that it was used in a way to facilitate Jessie's (albeit long and nonlinear) coming of age in a way that felt authentic to many teen girls.
However, while I appreciated the framing of the love triangle as more of a personal journey, it was still not developed enough for it carry the story. And yet, it took up most of the space in the narrative to the detriment of every other aspect. There were so many things that this book touches on only to never really develop—the gender dynamics between her siblings, the family relationships in general, her Palestinian heritage. So many of the side characters felt like caricatures of their archetypes, and I found her friend group, frankly, annoying.
Overall, I really wanted to love this but it was not for me.
_toristhoughts_'s review against another edition
5.0
this was inCREDIBLE.
I wish this had been released about seven ish years ago for ninth grade me to read.
it has been so long since I've read a YA teen romance (not that i dont read YA, but its been a minute since the teen romances felt like something I was in the mood for) but I decided to go ahead and try this bc several people had recommended it - and I'm glad I did.
I wasn't exactly hooked the entire time, but I didn't feel the urge to quit and dnf either. the last half had me screaming and crying and giggling and it was so much fun to read. it was so cute and I absolutely love the FMC. Jessie was written so well and I loved her character development.
I was 100% rooting for Griffin since the very beginning btw, he was great. all of the characters were good, but I just want to put it out there, that Griffin would have been my pick between him and Levi - even tho if this was irl 15-yr-old me, she definitely would have chosen Levi (listen. long haired, older boys were totally my thing in HS, and might sorta be now... but shhh. Griffin stole the show for me this round #teamgriffin4eva)
and I'm not going to spoil the end or anything so I'm just going to leave it at that. bc I was still unsure about who she was gonna choose until the last chapter and I don't want to ruin that for anyone else.
so anyways. overall: loved. definitely recommend :)
I wish this had been released about seven ish years ago for ninth grade me to read.
it has been so long since I've read a YA teen romance (not that i dont read YA, but its been a minute since the teen romances felt like something I was in the mood for) but I decided to go ahead and try this bc several people had recommended it - and I'm glad I did.
I wasn't exactly hooked the entire time, but I didn't feel the urge to quit and dnf either. the last half had me screaming and crying and giggling and it was so much fun to read. it was so cute and I absolutely love the FMC. Jessie was written so well and I loved her character development.
I was 100% rooting for Griffin since the very beginning btw, he was great. all of the characters were good, but I just want to put it out there, that Griffin would have been my pick between him and Levi - even tho if this was irl 15-yr-old me, she definitely would have chosen Levi (listen. long haired, older boys were totally my thing in HS, and might sorta be now... but shhh. Griffin stole the show for me this round #teamgriffin4eva)
and I'm not going to spoil the end or anything so I'm just going to leave it at that. bc I was still unsure about who she was gonna choose until the last chapter and I don't want to ruin that for anyone else.
so anyways. overall: loved. definitely recommend :)