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Noah Frye Gets Crushed: A Queer Middle Grade Story About Friendship for Kids
In this cute and queer contemporary middle grade comedy about friendship, first crushes, and first kisses, twelve-year-old Noah Frye comes up with a foolproof plan to teach herself how to have a crush on a boy to fit in better with her friends—only to discover she’s been looking in the wrong place, and her crush was right beside her all along . . .
Noah Frye just had the Best Summer Ever. Not only did she have an epic time at science camp, but her new camp friend Jessa is going to Noah’s school in the fall. Noah can’t wait to introduce Jessa to her best friends Zoey and Luna when classes start. But when the friend group is reunited after their summer apart, something seems to have Zoey and Luna have discovered boys, and now it’s all they want to obsess over.
Suddenly, it feels like Noah is the odd one out in their friend group, especially since Noah hasn’t ever even considered boys in that way. When Noah finds herself caught in a lie about having a boy crush of her own, she decides she’ll do anything to fit in with her friends again—even if that means using the scientific method. Noah’s crush experiment is find a boy, fake a crush until it turns real, and get her friends back. But that might be easier said than done, especially when Noah can’t stop thinking about Jessa. What ensues is a hilarious and heartwarming turn of events in this queer contemporary middle grade story about friendship, first crushes, and self-discovery.
Noah Frye just had the Best Summer Ever. Not only did she have an epic time at science camp, but her new camp friend Jessa is going to Noah’s school in the fall. Noah can’t wait to introduce Jessa to her best friends Zoey and Luna when classes start. But when the friend group is reunited after their summer apart, something seems to have Zoey and Luna have discovered boys, and now it’s all they want to obsess over.
Suddenly, it feels like Noah is the odd one out in their friend group, especially since Noah hasn’t ever even considered boys in that way. When Noah finds herself caught in a lie about having a boy crush of her own, she decides she’ll do anything to fit in with her friends again—even if that means using the scientific method. Noah’s crush experiment is find a boy, fake a crush until it turns real, and get her friends back. But that might be easier said than done, especially when Noah can’t stop thinking about Jessa. What ensues is a hilarious and heartwarming turn of events in this queer contemporary middle grade story about friendship, first crushes, and self-discovery.
260 pages, Hardcover
First published May 28, 2024
7 people are currently reading
2305 people want to read
About the author
Maggie Horne
4 books90 followersMaggie Horne grew up near Toronto, Canada. She now lives in the UK with her wife, where they keep a selection of dogs and children.
Maggie is the author of HAZEL HILL IS GONNA WIN THIS ONE (an Indies Introduce Summer/Fall 2022 Selection, Indie Next pick, and Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection) and NOAH FRYE GETS CRUSHED from HarperKids, as well as DON'T LET IT BREAK YOUR HEART and FREDDIE AND STELLA GOT HOT from Feiwel & Friends. She’s always trying to write the queer stories she wishes she could have read growing up.
Maggie is the author of HAZEL HILL IS GONNA WIN THIS ONE (an Indies Introduce Summer/Fall 2022 Selection, Indie Next pick, and Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection) and NOAH FRYE GETS CRUSHED from HarperKids, as well as DON'T LET IT BREAK YOUR HEART and FREDDIE AND STELLA GOT HOT from Feiwel & Friends. She’s always trying to write the queer stories she wishes she could have read growing up.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
May 11, 2024
On my blog.
Rep: lesbian mc & li, gay side character
Galley provided by publisher
Noah Frye Gets Crushed is a sweet and funny tale of, at times, pure chaos, following Noah who, when her best friends start talking about boys all the time, decides the way to fix this all is to (checks notes) pretend to have a crush on a boy too. Yeah, Noah. That’s gonna go so well.
On the one hand, then, this is a bit like a comedy of errors. On the other, it’s a poignant story of Noah’s self-realisation and the new friends she makes along the way. And Maggie Horne is so so good at blending the two. One moment you’re laughing at Noah’s antics, the next you’re tearing up as Noah starts to feel like a spare part amongst her friends. It’s a book I just know is going to be great for a whole generation of young lesbian readers.
I think what’s key to that is the fact that Noah has the space to mess up. She screws up! She hurts her friends! But it’s about the growth she goes through surrounding that, not only in coming to realise things about herself. She is, ultimately, a bit of a mess, but she’s learning throughout the book. It’s honestly just a very satisfying character arc that she goes through to me. Probably, it has to be said, one of the most satisfying of all the middle grade books I’ve read.
It helps that Noah is just an entirely relatable character. I don’t think there’s many people who won’t have felt like they just wanted to fit in with what their friends were doing at some point or other. Watching Noah go through that, but then come to realise that she can just be her own person separate from them too, was heartening. It was also very nice to see the support system she had around her, even if she didn’t always realise they were there, and it produced some sweet moments (and laugh out loud ones too!).
Just overall though, if you’re looking for some sapphic middle grade to be reading, Maggie Horne’s books should be high on that list.
Rep: lesbian mc & li, gay side character
Galley provided by publisher
Noah Frye Gets Crushed is a sweet and funny tale of, at times, pure chaos, following Noah who, when her best friends start talking about boys all the time, decides the way to fix this all is to (checks notes) pretend to have a crush on a boy too. Yeah, Noah. That’s gonna go so well.
On the one hand, then, this is a bit like a comedy of errors. On the other, it’s a poignant story of Noah’s self-realisation and the new friends she makes along the way. And Maggie Horne is so so good at blending the two. One moment you’re laughing at Noah’s antics, the next you’re tearing up as Noah starts to feel like a spare part amongst her friends. It’s a book I just know is going to be great for a whole generation of young lesbian readers.
I think what’s key to that is the fact that Noah has the space to mess up. She screws up! She hurts her friends! But it’s about the growth she goes through surrounding that, not only in coming to realise things about herself. She is, ultimately, a bit of a mess, but she’s learning throughout the book. It’s honestly just a very satisfying character arc that she goes through to me. Probably, it has to be said, one of the most satisfying of all the middle grade books I’ve read.
It helps that Noah is just an entirely relatable character. I don’t think there’s many people who won’t have felt like they just wanted to fit in with what their friends were doing at some point or other. Watching Noah go through that, but then come to realise that she can just be her own person separate from them too, was heartening. It was also very nice to see the support system she had around her, even if she didn’t always realise they were there, and it produced some sweet moments (and laugh out loud ones too!).
Just overall though, if you’re looking for some sapphic middle grade to be reading, Maggie Horne’s books should be high on that list.
July 3, 2024
This was such a quick read for me, and I really enjoyed it. Noah is a very loveable main character, and she really took me back to how I felt at her age. At first I was afraid there would be a lot of friendship drama, or maybe even friendship breakups, but I was so glad to see the friends working through things and their friendship group expanding instead.
March 13, 2024
Firstly, a massive thank you to the publisher for sending me a proof copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I love Maggies work! I read Hazel Hill last year and absolutely adored it so I was very excited when I found out there was a new book on the way 👀
I think i was only 2/3 chapters into this before I started bawling my eyes out. The fact the author got me so emotional so early on just tells you how powerful her words are and I loved every page of this!
I'm a massive animal lover so also loved reading about Noahs time volunteering at the animal shelter.
A beautiful story that was a joy to read 🌈
I love Maggies work! I read Hazel Hill last year and absolutely adored it so I was very excited when I found out there was a new book on the way 👀
I think i was only 2/3 chapters into this before I started bawling my eyes out. The fact the author got me so emotional so early on just tells you how powerful her words are and I loved every page of this!
I'm a massive animal lover so also loved reading about Noahs time volunteering at the animal shelter.
A beautiful story that was a joy to read 🌈
January 31, 2024
I loved this so much, and I mean it when I say will read anything Maggie Horne writes. Hazel Hill was one of my favourite books of last year, so I had high hopes for this book. I was not let down. Noah Frye manages to perfectly emulate how compulsory heterosexuality is experienced by young queer people, and how confusing and damaging it can be for them, speaking from experience. Noah had the most relatable commentary, and her perspective was just a lot of fun to read overall. A highlight of this book was the immaculate dialogue between the twelve-year-old girls and their 'boyfriends'; I remember hearing classmates saying the exact same things at that age and it was hilarious to read. Also, the story involved the characters volunteering at an animal shelter - immediate five stars.
A couple of aspects felt unrealistic: the ten-year-olds being able to volunteer at the animal shelter, and Noah's friends knowing about her actual crush but never bringing it up because they wanted to let her say it first, which I thought was nice of them but also highly improbable considering they were all twelve and quite feral. Aside from that, I loved everything about this book.
A couple of aspects felt unrealistic: the ten-year-olds being able to volunteer at the animal shelter, and Noah's friends knowing about her actual crush but never bringing it up because they wanted to let her say it first, which I thought was nice of them but also highly improbable considering they were all twelve and quite feral. Aside from that, I loved everything about this book.
September 18, 2025
4.5 rounded down for predictability. This is a sweet, queer coming of age story that I absolutely loved. Noah is typical 12 year old girl trying to fit in with her friends and becomes scared she'll be mocked or left behind when her besties start dating and she doesn't like any boys. Add in her camp friend moving into her neighborhood and a boy who adopts the dog she's taken care of at a local shelter for years and you have drama drama drama! I enjoyed all the introspection by Noah while at the same time being completely oblivious to her true feelings about Jessa. I liked the additional subplots about the family going through hard financial times and her relationship with her sister. There was a lot of dogs in the novel which isn't really a positive or a negative for me but it was more than I was expecting. If you're into realistic middle grade novels with relatable characters and self-discovery, this should be right up your alley.
July 15, 2024
This book, was so well done I loved it! I don’t read a ton of middle grade but this was such a sweet book about self discovery and feeling different. Not only does it discuss queerness as a child, it also delves into money instability and what that can feel like for a child. The sister relationship got me very much in my feels as well as it was: very accurate and authentic. Truly such a sweet read with so much heart!
TW: bullying, money instability
TW: bullying, money instability
did-not-finish
October 14, 2024DNF at 47%.
I really wanted to like this book. I really did! And there definitely were some parts of it which I found charming. But ultimately, I just wasn't enjoying the book that much - partially for some petty reasons, partially for some plot reasons.
Petty reason I DNF'd: This book is a *lot* more dog-focused then the summary would suggest. The single pug on the cover is the only clue you get to this, but the main character's family has 6 pugs, she volunteers at an animal shelter, and her favorite shelter pit bull is the main point of connection with the boy she forces herself to ""have a crush"" on.
That doesn't make the book bad in general, but it does make the book bad for somebody who is afraid of dogs. Normally I'm alright seeing them in fiction, so I'm not entirely sure why this book set me off.
Related, but slightly less petty reason: I don't think the way this book portrayed dog handling was correct...? I might be completely wrong on some of this. Again: afraid of dogs, not an expert. But I don't think a 12 year old should be walking 6 dogs at one time...? I'm not even sure if adults should.
And then there's the shelter pit bull, which the main character talks about how people unfairly judge for NO REASON and how he's really just the sweetest but nobody wants to adopt him for COMPLETELY UNFAIR reasons. And... obviously, with the right training, individual pit bulls can be sweet dogs. But the fact of the matter is that pit bulls are statistically more likely to be involved in severe or fatal dog attacks.
There is... valid reasons to be concerned, and as somebody whose had my fear of dogs often dismissed because "don't worry, he's just a sweetheart", it does bug me.
Finally, while this book felt like an excellent portrayal of a girl who has no interest in ROMANCE and therefore is forcing herself to have a crush on a boy... it didn't particularly feel like she was forcing herself to have a crush on a BOY. It felt like she was just forcing herself to have a crush in general. And if this was a book about an aromantic kid, that'd be great! But I know this is supposed to be a book about a lesbian kid. And it just did not read that way to me.
I really wanted to like this book. I really did! And there definitely were some parts of it which I found charming. But ultimately, I just wasn't enjoying the book that much - partially for some petty reasons, partially for some plot reasons.
Petty reason I DNF'd: This book is a *lot* more dog-focused then the summary would suggest. The single pug on the cover is the only clue you get to this, but the main character's family has 6 pugs, she volunteers at an animal shelter, and her favorite shelter pit bull is the main point of connection with the boy she forces herself to ""have a crush"" on.
That doesn't make the book bad in general, but it does make the book bad for somebody who is afraid of dogs. Normally I'm alright seeing them in fiction, so I'm not entirely sure why this book set me off.
Related, but slightly less petty reason: I don't think the way this book portrayed dog handling was correct...? I might be completely wrong on some of this. Again: afraid of dogs, not an expert. But I don't think a 12 year old should be walking 6 dogs at one time...? I'm not even sure if adults should.
And then there's the shelter pit bull, which the main character talks about how people unfairly judge for NO REASON and how he's really just the sweetest but nobody wants to adopt him for COMPLETELY UNFAIR reasons. And... obviously, with the right training, individual pit bulls can be sweet dogs. But the fact of the matter is that pit bulls are statistically more likely to be involved in severe or fatal dog attacks.
There is... valid reasons to be concerned, and as somebody whose had my fear of dogs often dismissed because "don't worry, he's just a sweetheart", it does bug me.
Finally, while this book felt like an excellent portrayal of a girl who has no interest in ROMANCE and therefore is forcing herself to have a crush on a boy... it didn't particularly feel like she was forcing herself to have a crush on a BOY. It felt like she was just forcing herself to have a crush in general. And if this was a book about an aromantic kid, that'd be great! But I know this is supposed to be a book about a lesbian kid. And it just did not read that way to me.
March 5, 2024
Noah Frye Gets Crushed is the sophomore release from author Maggie Horne, following - you guessed it - Noah Frye, a twelve year old middle-school kid. Over summer break, Noah met Jessa, a girl with all of the same interests as Noah, and she couldn't wait to introduce Jessa to all of her best friends.
But following summer break, something seems to have shifted quite dramatically: Noah's friends have become a little bit boy crazy, and Noah...is exactly the opposite. In fact, she couldn't care less about boys, and it makes her feel a little bit like a freak, like a misnomer, like she doesn't really belong in the place and around the people that used to be her safety blanket.
With only two options on the table, lose the only group of friends that she has ever known because she's an outlier amongst them or join in on the boy-loving fun, Noah conducts an experiment: find, and pretend, to like a boy, any boy, to fit in with the people that she felt at home with just months before.
But living the lie that came with the experiment becomes infinitely more difficult when Noah starts to have feelings, real feelings, for someone that wasn't a part of her plans. She had started to fall for Jessa.
So, what the hell was she supposed to do now?
I read Maggie Horne's debut novel 'Hazel Hill is Going to Win This One' and instantly fell in love with it. The writing style, the characters, the way that it felt almost like you were living the story and not just reading it.
Going into this second novel, I was worried that the magic might not be quite as prevalent...but God, was I wrong.
I devoured this book and I loved every single second of it.
So if you're looking for a fun, easy and wholesome book to read, I cannot recommend Noah Frye Gets Crushed enough.
5/5 stars, yet again. I'm starting to believe that Maggie Horne can do no wrong. 🌟
But following summer break, something seems to have shifted quite dramatically: Noah's friends have become a little bit boy crazy, and Noah...is exactly the opposite. In fact, she couldn't care less about boys, and it makes her feel a little bit like a freak, like a misnomer, like she doesn't really belong in the place and around the people that used to be her safety blanket.
With only two options on the table, lose the only group of friends that she has ever known because she's an outlier amongst them or join in on the boy-loving fun, Noah conducts an experiment: find, and pretend, to like a boy, any boy, to fit in with the people that she felt at home with just months before.
But living the lie that came with the experiment becomes infinitely more difficult when Noah starts to have feelings, real feelings, for someone that wasn't a part of her plans. She had started to fall for Jessa.
So, what the hell was she supposed to do now?
I read Maggie Horne's debut novel 'Hazel Hill is Going to Win This One' and instantly fell in love with it. The writing style, the characters, the way that it felt almost like you were living the story and not just reading it.
Going into this second novel, I was worried that the magic might not be quite as prevalent...but God, was I wrong.
I devoured this book and I loved every single second of it.
So if you're looking for a fun, easy and wholesome book to read, I cannot recommend Noah Frye Gets Crushed enough.
5/5 stars, yet again. I'm starting to believe that Maggie Horne can do no wrong. 🌟
June 6, 2024
A tender middle grade novel about making new friends, discovering who you are and first crushes. When all of Noah's friends come back from summer boy crazy she tries to fit in by pretending she has a crush of her own only to find herself falling for her new friend Jessa. Heartwarming and good on audio, this was an enjoyable book by a new to me Canadian author. Looking forward to reading more by them soon!
October 29, 2024
As soon as Noah gets home from camp, things are different with her two best friends: Neither of them can stop talking about the boys they kissed over the summer. Noah, Zoey, and Luna were once so in sync that nothing came between them, but now Noah feels pressured to follow her friends into this boy-crazy phase. So, she makes up her own crush on a mystery boy.
January 20, 2025
SOOO CUTE. exactly what it feels like to be a lesbian in elementary/middle school and have no idea. super precious to think about young kids having access to a book like this & save years of confusion !!
January 12, 2025
Sweet, funny novel from the perspective of a 12 year old girl trying to keep up with her friends' new crushes by finding her own boy to crush on. But she finds out everyone is not the same, and that is a good thing. Celebration of friendship and family with lgbtq+ themes. Great for pre/early teens.
April 25, 2023
Second books are hard! People tell you that all the time, but you don't really believe it until you have to write one! Noah pushed me and made me think about parts of myself and my identity I'd never actively thought of before, which is a very cool part of getting to write books that people don't really talk about that often. I'm really, REALLY excited for you to meet Noah; I hope you love her as much as I do.
July 16, 2024
this book really was written for the lesbians who gaslit themselves into believing they had crushes on boys (aka me). NOAH FRYE GETS CRUSHED is an adorable, heartwarming and important middle grade novel, and all i want after reading it is to give noah—and my past self—a big hug!!
October 11, 2024
LOVED IT!
Great book for middle school girls.
Noah is a wonderful character and had me laughing out loud many times.
Great book for middle school girls.
Noah is a wonderful character and had me laughing out loud many times.
February 1, 2024
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Rising 7th grader Noah has two very good friends in Zoey and Luna, but after a summer apart, she is dismayed to find that her friends are now interested in boys, and talking about kissing them. The thought has just not occurred to Noah, who also dismays her older sister Brighton by wanting to wear bike shorts and an old t shirt to school. To get her friends off her case, she tells them she's been talking to a boy over the summer, but won't tell them who. A bright spot in the new school year is that her best friend from camp, Jessa, has moved to her town and gets along fairly well with Zoey and Luna. The four start planning a Halloween party (with BOYS, of course!), and watch the television show Rural Refresh to make fun of the hosts, who are in direct competition with Noah's family's home remodeling and woodworking business, which is struggling. Noah spends a good deal of time working at the local animal shelter, where she talks to Lydia, the cool, twenty-something manager as well as Archie, a boy in her class with whom she gets along well. Noah's family has six special needs pugs, so she is very interested in animal welfare and bonds with Archie after his family adopts a rescue dog. She intimates that Archie might be her crush, and Luna and Zoey think this is great, although Brighton is rather surprised. When there are problems with the party, and Noah is less and less interested in pretending she is romantically interested in Archie, will she be able to keep her friends? There are some fun twists that I don't want to spoil.
Strengths: This was more of a friend drama book than a romance, even though the idea of romance features very strongly in Noah's world, as it does in most middle students' lives. Noah isn't really thinking about being involved with someone; she's watching her friends couple up, and is worried that she should as well, so that she is going along with the crowd. I liked that the girls were planning a party; I had a lot of parties in my parents' basement, and it was always such fun. The family finances were realistically portrayed, and there was an intriguing twist with the Rural Refresh show. Brighton was a supportive older sister, Archie was a kind and caring classmate, and even Lydia at the shelter is another trusted adult on whom Noah can rely.
Weaknesses: Noah seemed rather young for 7th grade, which is definitely something I see a lot, but I found it hard to believe that she was surprised by her crush. No one else was. It wasn't an issue of "I can't have a crush on a girl" that we might have seen ten years ago; it just hadn't occurred to her. Of course, I DO see a lot of rather clueless middle school students!
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Dee's Star-Crossed (2017), Hitchcock's One True Way (2018), or Arlow's Almost Flying (2021)
Rising 7th grader Noah has two very good friends in Zoey and Luna, but after a summer apart, she is dismayed to find that her friends are now interested in boys, and talking about kissing them. The thought has just not occurred to Noah, who also dismays her older sister Brighton by wanting to wear bike shorts and an old t shirt to school. To get her friends off her case, she tells them she's been talking to a boy over the summer, but won't tell them who. A bright spot in the new school year is that her best friend from camp, Jessa, has moved to her town and gets along fairly well with Zoey and Luna. The four start planning a Halloween party (with BOYS, of course!), and watch the television show Rural Refresh to make fun of the hosts, who are in direct competition with Noah's family's home remodeling and woodworking business, which is struggling. Noah spends a good deal of time working at the local animal shelter, where she talks to Lydia, the cool, twenty-something manager as well as Archie, a boy in her class with whom she gets along well. Noah's family has six special needs pugs, so she is very interested in animal welfare and bonds with Archie after his family adopts a rescue dog. She intimates that Archie might be her crush, and Luna and Zoey think this is great, although Brighton is rather surprised. When there are problems with the party, and Noah is less and less interested in pretending she is romantically interested in Archie, will she be able to keep her friends? There are some fun twists that I don't want to spoil.
Strengths: This was more of a friend drama book than a romance, even though the idea of romance features very strongly in Noah's world, as it does in most middle students' lives. Noah isn't really thinking about being involved with someone; she's watching her friends couple up, and is worried that she should as well, so that she is going along with the crowd. I liked that the girls were planning a party; I had a lot of parties in my parents' basement, and it was always such fun. The family finances were realistically portrayed, and there was an intriguing twist with the Rural Refresh show. Brighton was a supportive older sister, Archie was a kind and caring classmate, and even Lydia at the shelter is another trusted adult on whom Noah can rely.
Weaknesses: Noah seemed rather young for 7th grade, which is definitely something I see a lot, but I found it hard to believe that she was surprised by her crush. No one else was. It wasn't an issue of "I can't have a crush on a girl" that we might have seen ten years ago; it just hadn't occurred to her. Of course, I DO see a lot of rather clueless middle school students!
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Dee's Star-Crossed (2017), Hitchcock's One True Way (2018), or Arlow's Almost Flying (2021)
February 21, 2024
Noah Frye Gets Crushed is a Middle Grade contemporary story that follows Noah who comes back from summer camp excited to tell her best friends all about the new friend she made who is moving to their school but instead finds them discussing the boys they kissed and are crushing on. Noah feels out of place during these discussions and for potentially the first time that she doesn’t fit with Zoey and Luna so to combat this she pretends she has a crush too.
During the story, we see quite a mix of characters including Noah and her friends, her parents, her sister and Lydia who runs the animal centre where Noah volunteers at weekly. Noah herself felt like she was twelve and while at times she possibly came across as a little bit younger the situations she found herself in and the way she acted most of the time felt reasonable for her age. The story also felt accurate twelve is often the age when some of these things start to change but it didn’t feel like they were acting like teenagers yet keeping the balance quite well. I also really liked the support that Noah found around her from her older sister who while annoying does listen to her, to the friends she already has and the ones that she develops throughout the story and the adults she has surrounding her, they all show her that they care and want to support her while also being there when she needs them.
I struggled to get invested in this one which is a shame because it's a really good and important story about friendship and moulding yourself to fit in even if that’s not who you are. There was quite a lot of drama which is completely normal for the age but not something I always enjoy reading about for extended periods.
This story tackles topics that are extremely important in a way that is suitable and understandable for younger readers. It makes them approachable and doesn’t use terms that may confuse them which I liked. Stories like this are key for younger readers to have access to as they begin to explore who they are and I’m happy that I am able to read and review in a period where so many of these fantastic stories are getting written.
I will be recommending this book and while it’s not necessarily one I’ll come back to myself I enjoyed my reading experience and am glad to have done so. It feels well suited towards younger readers in a way that can also include the adults that are around them. 3 stars as it was an enjoyable read but not a new favourite or one I’ll likely reread at any point in the near future.
Thank you Netgalley and Firefly Press for a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
During the story, we see quite a mix of characters including Noah and her friends, her parents, her sister and Lydia who runs the animal centre where Noah volunteers at weekly. Noah herself felt like she was twelve and while at times she possibly came across as a little bit younger the situations she found herself in and the way she acted most of the time felt reasonable for her age. The story also felt accurate twelve is often the age when some of these things start to change but it didn’t feel like they were acting like teenagers yet keeping the balance quite well. I also really liked the support that Noah found around her from her older sister who while annoying does listen to her, to the friends she already has and the ones that she develops throughout the story and the adults she has surrounding her, they all show her that they care and want to support her while also being there when she needs them.
I struggled to get invested in this one which is a shame because it's a really good and important story about friendship and moulding yourself to fit in even if that’s not who you are. There was quite a lot of drama which is completely normal for the age but not something I always enjoy reading about for extended periods.
This story tackles topics that are extremely important in a way that is suitable and understandable for younger readers. It makes them approachable and doesn’t use terms that may confuse them which I liked. Stories like this are key for younger readers to have access to as they begin to explore who they are and I’m happy that I am able to read and review in a period where so many of these fantastic stories are getting written.
I will be recommending this book and while it’s not necessarily one I’ll come back to myself I enjoyed my reading experience and am glad to have done so. It feels well suited towards younger readers in a way that can also include the adults that are around them. 3 stars as it was an enjoyable read but not a new favourite or one I’ll likely reread at any point in the near future.
Thank you Netgalley and Firefly Press for a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
May 17, 2024
This book was a bit of a mixed bag for me, so let’s start with the things I enjoyed!
The thing that stood out the most for me was the depiction of compulsory heterosexuality. I thought it was done really well, as we saw Noah pick a boy to ‘have a crush on’, and look at her straight friends and try to copy the way they felt and acted about boys. Sometimes it lead to hilarious outcomes, sometimes heartbreaking, and I thought it was done really well.
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I also really liked the different relationships that Noah had with her friends and family. She has a strong (and true-to-life) relationship with her older sister, and all of the friendships were really sweet.
To be honest, the relationship with Jessa – the girl she has a crush on – was the most underwhelming. I didn’t really get a sense that Noah fancied her, or that the way she felt about Jessa was different than any of her other friends, until the very end. Mostly it came from other characters (such as Noah’s sister suspecting she had a crush) rather than Noah herself, and I would have liked to see a bit more in the text.
With that came lower stakes for me in the story. I wasn’t particularly invested, and the book didn’t really engage me in the way I wanted it to.
There are some really great themes and ideas in this book, but overall I found it fell a little flat for me.
I received a free copy for an honest review.
The thing that stood out the most for me was the depiction of compulsory heterosexuality. I thought it was done really well, as we saw Noah pick a boy to ‘have a crush on’, and look at her straight friends and try to copy the way they felt and acted about boys. Sometimes it lead to hilarious outcomes, sometimes heartbreaking, and I thought it was done really well.
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I also really liked the different relationships that Noah had with her friends and family. She has a strong (and true-to-life) relationship with her older sister, and all of the friendships were really sweet.
To be honest, the relationship with Jessa – the girl she has a crush on – was the most underwhelming. I didn’t really get a sense that Noah fancied her, or that the way she felt about Jessa was different than any of her other friends, until the very end. Mostly it came from other characters (such as Noah’s sister suspecting she had a crush) rather than Noah herself, and I would have liked to see a bit more in the text.
With that came lower stakes for me in the story. I wasn’t particularly invested, and the book didn’t really engage me in the way I wanted it to.
There are some really great themes and ideas in this book, but overall I found it fell a little flat for me.
I received a free copy for an honest review.
January 9, 2025
A great middle grade read about fitting in, friendship and first crushes.
When Noah returns from summer camp she realises something has changed. Her best friends are suddenly giggling about boys and kissing and Noah feels left behind. She invents a crush to try and feel included but things spiral beyond her control as her friends think it's a boy at school and Noah continues to play along.
While this is happening Noah's new friend from summer camp has moved to the area and started at their school. Noah eventually realises she does have a crush after all, on her new friend Jessa. The book does a good job at portraying Noah's confusion about what is going on with her friends and why she doesn't feel the same way. Also the way she has trouble identifying her feelings about Jessa because it is different to what seems to be expected. Hopefully this book will help readers going through something similar by providing a fictional example as these are rare in MG books.
There were parts that struck me as unrealistic. Such as 12 year old Noah even being allowed to volunteer in the animal shelter, let alone unsupervised. I'm also unsure how many 12 year olds watch home renovation shows, even if they do feature their home town. The behaviour of Noah's friends was well written and seemed realistic for the most part. Where it didn't was where they kept quiet about Noah's crush until she realised herself. But it is a fictional book and I can see it intended to be positive scenario for being able to come out, especially with the supportive family around her. Likewise the 12 year old boys being perfectly accepting of another boy being gay. This is a book which shows what things could be like. There are many, many books written about heterosexual first crushes where there is no need to worry about what people will think/say. It is brilliant to read a MG book where the same is true.
When Noah returns from summer camp she realises something has changed. Her best friends are suddenly giggling about boys and kissing and Noah feels left behind. She invents a crush to try and feel included but things spiral beyond her control as her friends think it's a boy at school and Noah continues to play along.
While this is happening Noah's new friend from summer camp has moved to the area and started at their school. Noah eventually realises she does have a crush after all, on her new friend Jessa. The book does a good job at portraying Noah's confusion about what is going on with her friends and why she doesn't feel the same way. Also the way she has trouble identifying her feelings about Jessa because it is different to what seems to be expected. Hopefully this book will help readers going through something similar by providing a fictional example as these are rare in MG books.
There were parts that struck me as unrealistic. Such as 12 year old Noah even being allowed to volunteer in the animal shelter, let alone unsupervised. I'm also unsure how many 12 year olds watch home renovation shows, even if they do feature their home town. The behaviour of Noah's friends was well written and seemed realistic for the most part. Where it didn't was where they kept quiet about Noah's crush until she realised herself. But it is a fictional book and I can see it intended to be positive scenario for being able to come out, especially with the supportive family around her. Likewise the 12 year old boys being perfectly accepting of another boy being gay. This is a book which shows what things could be like. There are many, many books written about heterosexual first crushes where there is no need to worry about what people will think/say. It is brilliant to read a MG book where the same is true.
December 3, 2024
Had to read this book for a creative writing class. Overall, this was a really pleasant book and a queer, children-friendly novel.
This is the reflection paragraph I wrote at the end of my assignment:
Before reading this novel, I hadn’t realized that I had never encountered a queer fiction book for middle-grade readers. It still surprises me to think that the books I read as a child were not as open-minded or representative as those available today, even though only a decade has passed.
Noah Fries Gets Crushed made me realize that novels are another sociological object that evolves and changes alongside society. New generations of authors want to address broader themes they might not have seen represented in their own childhoods. This is what it felt like to me while reading, and it is how Maggie Horne describes her purpose in the acknowledgment section. She wanted to write about the feelings she experienced at Noah’s age and show what that journey might look like for a child today, which I find incredibly important. It’s not just for the LGBTQ+ community; this novel is for everyone, because discussions like these should be public and normalized. This novel is also for those who “know her [people like Noah], love her, are her”.
I may never have attended a girls’ sleepover, gone to science camp, or even attempted a scientific study as a 12-year-old, but I still recognized myself in Noah’s youth and resistance to change. It was really nice to revisit the world of middle school through Noah’s eyes as a 20-year-old student.
This is the reflection paragraph I wrote at the end of my assignment:
Before reading this novel, I hadn’t realized that I had never encountered a queer fiction book for middle-grade readers. It still surprises me to think that the books I read as a child were not as open-minded or representative as those available today, even though only a decade has passed.
Noah Fries Gets Crushed made me realize that novels are another sociological object that evolves and changes alongside society. New generations of authors want to address broader themes they might not have seen represented in their own childhoods. This is what it felt like to me while reading, and it is how Maggie Horne describes her purpose in the acknowledgment section. She wanted to write about the feelings she experienced at Noah’s age and show what that journey might look like for a child today, which I find incredibly important. It’s not just for the LGBTQ+ community; this novel is for everyone, because discussions like these should be public and normalized. This novel is also for those who “know her [people like Noah], love her, are her”.
I may never have attended a girls’ sleepover, gone to science camp, or even attempted a scientific study as a 12-year-old, but I still recognized myself in Noah’s youth and resistance to change. It was really nice to revisit the world of middle school through Noah’s eyes as a 20-year-old student.
September 15, 2024
Noah Frye comes home from a summer science camp hopeful about the new school year; her best camp friend, Jessa, is relocating to her Canadian hometown! Unfortunately, from the moment Noah reunites with her friends Zoey and Luna, it becomes clear that nothing is going according to plan. As Noah tries to welcome Jessa into their group, she starts to doubt her own place with her suddenly boy-crazy friends. Noah hatches a plan to convince everyone, including herself, that she is also crushing on a boy. As Noah carries out her plan, it becomes clear her true feelings are more complicated than not being boy-crazy. This is a gentle, character-driven story about the changes relationships undergo in middle school, as well as an exploration of Noah's coming to terms with her own queer identity. Noah's identity is explored in an innocent, age-appropriate manner and is supported by those she is closest to. Horne has written a lovely story in which being queer is not a controversy. Noah Frye Gets Crushed will have readers of any identity reflecting on what they hope for from relationships of all kinds.
Recommended for readers in grades 4-7.
Recommended for readers in grades 4-7.
October 4, 2024
Noah Frye comes home from a summer science camp hopeful about the new school year; her best camp friend, Jessa, is relocating to her Canadian hometown! Unfortunately, from the moment Noah reunites with her friends Zoey and Luna, it becomes clear that nothing is going according to plan. As Noah tries to welcome Jessa into their group, she starts to doubt her own place with her suddenly boy-crazy friends. Noah hatches a plan to convince everyone, including herself, that she is also crushing on a boy. As Noah carries out her plan, it becomes clear her true feelings are more complicated than not being boy-crazy.
This is a gentle, character-driven story about the changes relationships undergo in middle school, as well as an exploration of Noah's coming to terms with her own queer identity. Noah's identity is explored in an innocent, age-appropriate manner and is supported by those she is closest to. Horne has written a lovely story in which being queer is not a controversy. Noah Frye Gets Crushed will have readers of any identity reflecting on what they hope for from relationships of all kinds.
Recommended for readers in grades 4-7.
K.M.
School Librarian
This is a gentle, character-driven story about the changes relationships undergo in middle school, as well as an exploration of Noah's coming to terms with her own queer identity. Noah's identity is explored in an innocent, age-appropriate manner and is supported by those she is closest to. Horne has written a lovely story in which being queer is not a controversy. Noah Frye Gets Crushed will have readers of any identity reflecting on what they hope for from relationships of all kinds.
Recommended for readers in grades 4-7.
K.M.
School Librarian
December 16, 2023
Wow! I’m incredibly lucky to have been shared an e-ARC of this book. It is so sweet and honest. The voice is spot-on for middle grade.
Noah’s friends and family are so supportive, even though sometimes she fails to see it. I love how perceptive she is in her “experiments” of the human condition. The most hilarious thoughts cross her brain, especially when she’s analysing her older’s sister’s relationship to try to learn how to flirt. She’s hilarious! And at the same time so real.
Enjoyed every moment of Noah exploring the relationships around her, and in turn coming to learn something very important about herself. Great feel-good ending! And if Halloween is one of your favourite times of year, I highly recommend getting this book.
Noah’s friends and family are so supportive, even though sometimes she fails to see it. I love how perceptive she is in her “experiments” of the human condition. The most hilarious thoughts cross her brain, especially when she’s analysing her older’s sister’s relationship to try to learn how to flirt. She’s hilarious! And at the same time so real.
Enjoyed every moment of Noah exploring the relationships around her, and in turn coming to learn something very important about herself. Great feel-good ending! And if Halloween is one of your favourite times of year, I highly recommend getting this book.
March 25, 2024
Maggie Horne really seems to know how to pitch her books perfectly for the lower end of teen when talking about some potentially difficult subjects. Just like Hazel Hill is Gonna Win This One, this book is the perfect entry for someone feeling that something may be wrong with them when they don’t feel the same way as everyone else seems to. Noah is a great character who you can really empathise with as you follow her attempts to fit in with her friends who have recently discovered boys. Her determination to follow her plan and achieve the desired result helps show her thought process as she works her way forward, finally finding out what it is she REALLY wants.
May 21, 2024
Noah is back in her small Canadian town after a summer at camp. She's looking forward to 7th grade, hanging out with her best friends, and introducing them to her friend from camp who is new to town. When she realizes that her two best friends now have boyfriends, she decides she needs to find a boyfriend as well. This book has some great friendship moments, some funny mix-ups, and was a joy to read. Not everything rang true to me as an adult reader, but I think 5th and 6th graders who are navigating friendships and wondering what romantic feelings might be like should love this book. ARC courtesy of NetGalley.
August 20, 2024
This was absolutely adorable. I always enjoy how well some middle grade authors are able to capture the whole drama surrounding first crushes, especially when it's about a kid realizing they might be queer. Horne absolutely nails that in this one, as Noah feels like she's behind all of her friends.
The progression of Noah's friendships in this also felt so realistic and true to middle school in this book. She has such a wonderful little friend group, and I especially liked her relationship with Archie. It was so cute. Honestly, if you aren't reading middle grade fiction, you are definitely missing out because there is some good stuff in there!
The progression of Noah's friendships in this also felt so realistic and true to middle school in this book. She has such a wonderful little friend group, and I especially liked her relationship with Archie. It was so cute. Honestly, if you aren't reading middle grade fiction, you are definitely missing out because there is some good stuff in there!
May 21, 2024
*4.25 Stars*
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this little book. i can't lie, I like Hazel more but this was very good. The main character was layered and I felt her love of animals through the page. It was a lot of anxious fun, I really felt for her but I saw how everything would crash and burn pretty soon and I wanted to get there. And yet, I still enjoyed the journey. I loved seeing her grow throughout the book and I really had a good time getting to know Noah and seeing her get to know herself. I did wish she wasn't so focused on her own plans at times and see what was really around her but, in the end, that was part of her charm.
Basically, that was another very good book by Maggie Horne and I cannot wait for more!
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this little book. i can't lie, I like Hazel more but this was very good. The main character was layered and I felt her love of animals through the page. It was a lot of anxious fun, I really felt for her but I saw how everything would crash and burn pretty soon and I wanted to get there. And yet, I still enjoyed the journey. I loved seeing her grow throughout the book and I really had a good time getting to know Noah and seeing her get to know herself. I did wish she wasn't so focused on her own plans at times and see what was really around her but, in the end, that was part of her charm.
Basically, that was another very good book by Maggie Horne and I cannot wait for more!
November 15, 2025
This was such a lovely read, I thought that it perfectly encapsulated the experience of being queer and figuring out your identity.
One line that really stuck out to me was “it’s hard to know something about yourself when no one ever tells you that it’s an option”. I sat there and fully stared into space for awhile after reading that.
I loved Noah like she was a little sister, honestly, I was ready to fight anyone who was ever mean to her. All the other characters were so sweet, especially Archie, I adored their friendship even if Noah was using him as a science experiment.
One line that really stuck out to me was “it’s hard to know something about yourself when no one ever tells you that it’s an option”. I sat there and fully stared into space for awhile after reading that.
I loved Noah like she was a little sister, honestly, I was ready to fight anyone who was ever mean to her. All the other characters were so sweet, especially Archie, I adored their friendship even if Noah was using him as a science experiment.
February 12, 2024
When twelve-year-old Noah comes back from camp, it seems like her best friends only want to talk about boys. Worried that she'll be left behind, she decides to find a boy to make herself have a crush on, even though they're the last thing on her mind. She'd rather hang out with Jessa, her new friend who's just so cool, funny, and perfect... Noah Frye Gets Crushed is timeless in its pre-teen awkwardness and social turbulence, both a funny and touching novel of growing up and discovering yourself at your own pace.
February 13, 2024
Oh what a story! Funny, sad, poignant and heartwarming. What happens when your friends all have crushes and you don't and a new friend joins your group? Welll Noah Frye soon discovers and comes up with a plan to help. Best laid plans never work. It takes a lot of tears and upset for the truth to come out in the best way. I hope everyone has a support team this good around them when they need it.
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