Haley Jakobson

Sav Henry is finally nearing the end of her transformation into a new self. She’s got a genuine group of queer friends, is actually getting over her ridiculously hot but emotionally unavailable first queer situationship and is finally comfortable being an out bisexual. She even might have a crush on the cute transmasc Wes in her gender studies class. The world is looking up for Sav.

However, when she finds out her best friend Izzie is engaged, everything she’s built up threatens to crumble. Not only is she going to have to introduce sorority girl and never-used-a-pronoun-Izzie to her new queer friend group. Pause for the inevitable disastrous results. But a wedding means family and family means Izzie’s older brother. Who the very sight of causes Sav to panic ever since that one night. Sav realizes she’s going to have to face both past traumas and current problems as the worlds she’s tried so hard to keep apart collide with a force she can’t control.

I absolutely devoured this book. It is a shorter read than I was expecting. But it didn’t take away from the book at all. I think I’m just sad there wasn't more to read. But the plot flowed just right, the characters were complex and the existential vibe of your early adulthood was spot on. It was also told in a dual timeline, going back and forth between the events of the past and the current plot. Which was absolutely necessary for this book. It gave it this diary-like quality that helped me empathize with and understand Sav.

I related to Sav in many, many ways. It felt like she perfectly represented all the thoughts and emotions I experienced when I came out as a lesbian my sophomore year of college. And not in an “I’m a 50 year old author who is trying to connect to the younger generation” type of pandering that I see far too often in coming-of-age novels. Sav’s journey felt raw and honest but also hilarious and light hearted.

The more intense plot points were balanced out with fun, messy queer experiences. From navigating the queer ex-labyrinth to getting your heart broken by your first sapphic situationship to acknowledging your privilege and growing as a human being. There was never a moment where I felt brought out of the book truly. I was captivated from the first sentence to the last and everything in between.

The layered plot really stands out though. Sav is navigating not only coming out as queer in her early 20s, which is a difficult feat in itself. But she is also dealing with a childhood friendship that may have run its course. And if anyone has ever been through a best friend breakup, oh my it almost hurts worse than a romantic breakup. On top of dealing with a potential New Romantic interest, while fending off her wishy-washy ex. Like this girl cannot catch a break and I ate up every second of it.

All in all if you are a queer person you need to read this book. End of story I will be accepting no criticisms. I highly recommend straight up buying this book (although I prefer to wait until paperbacks normally) as soon as humanly possible. I will never stop talking about this book. I am beyond thankful that I had the opportunity to experience this story and I hope you do too. Enjoy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for sending this eARC for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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