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Not About a Boy
Euphoria meets Girl in Pieces in this coming-of-age story of a girl trying to put a grief-stricken past behind her, only to be startled by the discovery of a long-lost sister who puts into question everything she thought she knew.
Amélie Cœur has never known what it truly means to be happy.
She thought she’d found happiness once, in a love that ended in tragedy and nearly sent her over the edge. Now, at seventeen, Mel is beginning to piece her life back together. Under the supervision of Laurelle Child Services, the exclusive foster care agency that raised her, Mel is sober and living with a new family among Manhattan’s elite. It’s her last chance at adoption before she ages out of the system and she promised, this time, she’ll try.
But a casual relationship with a boy is turning into something she never intended for it to be, causing small cracks in her carefully constructed walls. Then the sister she has no memory of contacts Mel, unearthing complicated feelings about the past and what could have been.
As the anniversary of the worst day of her life approaches, Mel must weather the rising tides of grief and depression before she loses herself, and those close to her, all over again.
Amélie Cœur has never known what it truly means to be happy.
She thought she’d found happiness once, in a love that ended in tragedy and nearly sent her over the edge. Now, at seventeen, Mel is beginning to piece her life back together. Under the supervision of Laurelle Child Services, the exclusive foster care agency that raised her, Mel is sober and living with a new family among Manhattan’s elite. It’s her last chance at adoption before she ages out of the system and she promised, this time, she’ll try.
But a casual relationship with a boy is turning into something she never intended for it to be, causing small cracks in her carefully constructed walls. Then the sister she has no memory of contacts Mel, unearthing complicated feelings about the past and what could have been.
As the anniversary of the worst day of her life approaches, Mel must weather the rising tides of grief and depression before she loses herself, and those close to her, all over again.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published July 2, 2024
About the author
Myah Hollis
3 books73 followersMyah Hollis is a Pennsylvanian writer living in Los Angeles. She specializes in Sad Girl Lit, mainly due to her chronic fascination with psychology. Not About a Boy is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 234 reviews
August 21, 2024
3/5 ⭐️
- This is a coming of age story that is so needed because the characters go through real hardships in this story. So often you read stories about high schoolers that are fluffy and fun which is great because those are needed too, but it’s tough to find books set in high school where the characters are really struggling. My younger self would have really resonated with these characters.
- The pacing of the story wasn’t as fast paced as I usually read. If you enjoy descriptive poetic writing, you’ll love this book. That’s not my favorite style of writing so I found myself wanting to skim the pages at time.
- The cover is gorgeous and really portrays the depth you feel in this story! The characters go THROUGH IT. I feel like everyone reading this will relate to the story in some way.
- This is a coming of age story that is so needed because the characters go through real hardships in this story. So often you read stories about high schoolers that are fluffy and fun which is great because those are needed too, but it’s tough to find books set in high school where the characters are really struggling. My younger self would have really resonated with these characters.
- The pacing of the story wasn’t as fast paced as I usually read. If you enjoy descriptive poetic writing, you’ll love this book. That’s not my favorite style of writing so I found myself wanting to skim the pages at time.
- The cover is gorgeous and really portrays the depth you feel in this story! The characters go THROUGH IT. I feel like everyone reading this will relate to the story in some way.
September 24, 2025
From the gorgeous cover art to the book being described as Euphoria meets Girl in Pieces has me so STOKED to read this! ♥️
May 25, 2024
When I was 19, I went through a breakup that nearly destroyed me. I stopped eating, I stopped engaging, I was so sad all the time that even just going through the motions was more energy than I could muster. The thing was, it wasn’t about my breakup, not really. That was just the final straw, the catalyst of dealing with all the emotions and thoughts that had always been present. It was this moment that forced me to deal with everything I felt, to know that change was necessary, to acknowledge those thoughts and to learn how to manage them.
In Not About a Boy, Hollis pulls back the curtain on all those thoughts and raw emotions. Because it’s “not about a boy.” It’s about being okay existing, about feeling right in your own skin, about being willing to try knowing failure is an option.
This story was so beautifully and devastatingly written. There’s experiences everyone can relate to and some that will resonate with only a select few. I wish I’d had stories like this during that time in my life, so I could know I was not alone, and I hope it finds the readers who need to hear that everything will be okay.
Thank you to Myah Hollis for putting words to all those nameless feelings and emotions. For sharing Mel’s story with all of us. I cannot recommend this remarkable debut enough!
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Teen for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
In Not About a Boy, Hollis pulls back the curtain on all those thoughts and raw emotions. Because it’s “not about a boy.” It’s about being okay existing, about feeling right in your own skin, about being willing to try knowing failure is an option.
This story was so beautifully and devastatingly written. There’s experiences everyone can relate to and some that will resonate with only a select few. I wish I’d had stories like this during that time in my life, so I could know I was not alone, and I hope it finds the readers who need to hear that everything will be okay.
Thank you to Myah Hollis for putting words to all those nameless feelings and emotions. For sharing Mel’s story with all of us. I cannot recommend this remarkable debut enough!
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Teen for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
February 19, 2026
I was not prepared for how much this book emotionally impacted me. Our main character, Mel, had my heart in her hands through the entire journey. Seeing a young Black girl depicted with such honesty and vulnerability was highly valuable. I loved how this story handles trauma and mental health while showing that healing isn’t linear.
From the beginning I felt attached to Mel. I like how we meet her with emotional walls up as the story slowly lets us in on Mel’s life. It’s a good reflection of her avoidance and coping. Even when her life starts to change for the better, she still struggles. It was a great depiction of the depth and complexity of healing.
Mel’s experiences illustrate the harms of the foster care system. She deals with many mental health conditions which were all handled with great care and thoughtfulness.
I also appreciated how her relationships were handled. At such a young age, she’s dealing with the grief of a tumultuous relationship. Her grief in particular felt so accurate and relatable. She is also navigating new friendships, a new relationship, and new family. Mel has several heartfelt connections through her support system. But I like how none of these relationships are easy and each have their own conflicts and challenges. Her friendships were so touching.
Even in the end, I like how it leaves us feeling like we don’t know what will happen next because that is exactly the position Mel is in as she continues to heal and grow.
I have nothing but positive things to say about this story. It was introspective, raw, and moving.
From the beginning I felt attached to Mel. I like how we meet her with emotional walls up as the story slowly lets us in on Mel’s life. It’s a good reflection of her avoidance and coping. Even when her life starts to change for the better, she still struggles. It was a great depiction of the depth and complexity of healing.
Mel’s experiences illustrate the harms of the foster care system. She deals with many mental health conditions which were all handled with great care and thoughtfulness.
I also appreciated how her relationships were handled. At such a young age, she’s dealing with the grief of a tumultuous relationship. Her grief in particular felt so accurate and relatable. She is also navigating new friendships, a new relationship, and new family. Mel has several heartfelt connections through her support system. But I like how none of these relationships are easy and each have their own conflicts and challenges. Her friendships were so touching.
Even in the end, I like how it leaves us feeling like we don’t know what will happen next because that is exactly the position Mel is in as she continues to heal and grow.
I have nothing but positive things to say about this story. It was introspective, raw, and moving.
March 1, 2025
i wish middle school me had this book ❤️🩹
December 4, 2023
Staggeringly honest and emotionally-complex, NOT ABOUT A BOY paints a portrait of a girl on the cusp of adulthood with tenderness and tenacity.
Deftly intertwining lyrical prose and searing wit, Hollis writes for the girls who've been lost and understand the grueling task of finding oneself all over again.
Deftly intertwining lyrical prose and searing wit, Hollis writes for the girls who've been lost and understand the grueling task of finding oneself all over again.
April 26, 2025
“it was a secret place. it wasn’t but it was. no one was there at that hour. there was no reason to be because we were there, and it must have been made for us. i called it eden, and like its namesake, i knew it couldn’t last. i knew there’d come a day when i could never go back. but for now, we’d found paradise.”
May 10, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
This was such a deeply moving story. It’s a heavy exploration of trauma, grief, and the pain of separation, and I truly felt for Amelie as she navigated all those trials from childhood into young adulthood. Her journey felt so authentic, and I was rooting for her every step of the way. What I loved most was that the character relationships felt so relatable and this book is so much more than just a story about a boy, it’s a powerful look at how we carry our past with us and what it takes to grow through the loss. Definitely a nice coming-of-age read.
This was such a deeply moving story. It’s a heavy exploration of trauma, grief, and the pain of separation, and I truly felt for Amelie as she navigated all those trials from childhood into young adulthood. Her journey felt so authentic, and I was rooting for her every step of the way. What I loved most was that the character relationships felt so relatable and this book is so much more than just a story about a boy, it’s a powerful look at how we carry our past with us and what it takes to grow through the loss. Definitely a nice coming-of-age read.
July 2, 2024
I had high expectations of this book, however from the top the story is very slow. I hoped the pace would go up, but it didn't. There are lots of names and things going on, making it hard to define a red line in the story.
I did like the realization part in part two the best, but overall I felt like the storyline was too slow paced and blunt. Therefore I give this a 2 star rating
I did like the realization part in part two the best, but overall I felt like the storyline was too slow paced and blunt. Therefore I give this a 2 star rating
April 10, 2024
I. 👏 LOVED. 👏 THIS. 👏 BOOK.👏
1000% euphoria vibes. Hayden is SWOON. But this book IS NOT ABOUT A BOY. I laughed, I cried. In fact Myah Hollis has this incredible ability to write lines that make you want to laugh and cry at the same time.
This book also had some elements which reminded me of It's Kind Of A Funny Story, which was an all time favorite of mine for many years.
A must read of 2024. Be ready for an emotional gut punch. Bring tissues and have ur HEA rom com ready to read afterwards.
1000% euphoria vibes. Hayden is SWOON. But this book IS NOT ABOUT A BOY. I laughed, I cried. In fact Myah Hollis has this incredible ability to write lines that make you want to laugh and cry at the same time.
This book also had some elements which reminded me of It's Kind Of A Funny Story, which was an all time favorite of mine for many years.
A must read of 2024. Be ready for an emotional gut punch. Bring tissues and have ur HEA rom com ready to read afterwards.
August 21, 2024
Yup. This was just as beautiful as I knew it would be 💙
Not About a Boy is just as it’s title states. It’s a YA coming of self novel focused on a complex and loveable character named Mel as she navigates love, loss, mental health, friendship, family, and the knowledge of who she is and what she deserves.
I wanted nothing but the best for Mel and every single soul she encountered- it’s very rare that I love every character in a book 😅
Not About a Boy is just as it’s title states. It’s a YA coming of self novel focused on a complex and loveable character named Mel as she navigates love, loss, mental health, friendship, family, and the knowledge of who she is and what she deserves.
I wanted nothing but the best for Mel and every single soul she encountered- it’s very rare that I love every character in a book 😅
August 18, 2025
This book was everything. The writing was absolutely beautiful. I need a physical copy, so that I can keep my favorite quotes forever. It’s been a while since I've read a book with such great character development. I love Amélie so much and I truly wish she was real so that I could give her a hug🥺 Babygirl went through it, but I’m so glad I had the privilege of being apart of her journey. I can’t wait to recommend this book to everyone I know🫶🏽
December 7, 2024
This was an ok read for me. Definitely deals with some hard topics, but for me they were just told in such a blunt way that I couldn't really muster up much emotion for the characters.
April 16, 2025
Gathering my thoughts…
January 8, 2026
“Amelie, it was never about a boy”
I really enjoyed this book! Amelie was a very complex character who truly was trying her best not to burden everyone, but in the process ended up hurting herself and others around her. Extremely well written, I truly felt like I was experiencing her POV first-hand. Great debut from this author and great first read of the year.
I really enjoyed this book! Amelie was a very complex character who truly was trying her best not to burden everyone, but in the process ended up hurting herself and others around her. Extremely well written, I truly felt like I was experiencing her POV first-hand. Great debut from this author and great first read of the year.
January 11, 2025
All I have to say is this book was raw, filled with emotions that I can relate to. Emotional roller coaster for sure. 🩵
February 12, 2025
It was good until it wasn't 😭
June 1, 2026
I feel like rating this book a 5 out of 5 stars is too small. This book is 10 out of 10 stars.
Where do I begin about this book?
Not about a boy for me personally I was curious on what this book may be about - the plot, the themes, the characters and everything and seeing the front cover of the book I was like okay this is a bit of me.
I’m not going to make a long review or woffle too much, but not about a boy from the beginning of the book to the middle and finally to the end broke me it made me cry. It made me emotional, made me laugh in some scenes in the book I feel like not about a boy I really saw me in Amélie especially what she went through with her grief about her ex and about her growing up. I felt so seen and there was some points in the book where I was my heart is going to break. Plus the plot twist with finding out she had a twin sister called Aubrie.
Whoever reads this book or where this book comes across your for you page, I beg you read it because it makes you just think and reflect on you. Yourself as an individual and also your psyche/mindset in your childhood. I feel like not about a boy really does making you feel seen and I would always think about Amélie. She didn’t deserve all the things she went through, as times I wanted to give her a hug.
Myah Hollins the author you are, as this is your first book, I give you your flowers. I really really hope you do write more books and honestly this book is amazing and the quotes from your book I will think about them everyday.
Where do I begin about this book?
Not about a boy for me personally I was curious on what this book may be about - the plot, the themes, the characters and everything and seeing the front cover of the book I was like okay this is a bit of me.
I’m not going to make a long review or woffle too much, but not about a boy from the beginning of the book to the middle and finally to the end broke me it made me cry. It made me emotional, made me laugh in some scenes in the book I feel like not about a boy I really saw me in Amélie especially what she went through with her grief about her ex and about her growing up. I felt so seen and there was some points in the book where I was my heart is going to break. Plus the plot twist with finding out she had a twin sister called Aubrie.
Whoever reads this book or where this book comes across your for you page, I beg you read it because it makes you just think and reflect on you. Yourself as an individual and also your psyche/mindset in your childhood. I feel like not about a boy really does making you feel seen and I would always think about Amélie. She didn’t deserve all the things she went through, as times I wanted to give her a hug.
Myah Hollins the author you are, as this is your first book, I give you your flowers. I really really hope you do write more books and honestly this book is amazing and the quotes from your book I will think about them everyday.
January 7, 2026
This book was so refreshing and poetic. I loved reading this book about a black girl who dealt with addition, grief and love. I think for Mel moving to a new city and being with a new family was good but she tried to self-heal when she hadn't processed so much in her life and it backfired. Hayden specifically dealt with the most neglect and I'm happy there was a resolution in their relationship. I wish there wasn't so many secondary characters. I've shared some of my favorite quotes below.
"I need to be traumatized in the exact same way no less than three times for me to modify my behavior."
"He’s like glass. Clear all the way through. Light reflecting. This is only problematic when I catch my reflection in his glow."
"That me still lives too close to the surface of my body, inextricably nestled between skin and muscle. The girl who was in so much pain that she sought distraction or relief at any cost. This new me is fragile. I built her from nothing. From scraps. I moved to New York to create the life I could never have in Connecticut, but you can’t outrun yourself. It takes more effort than I have some days to keep the darker parts of me from waking."
"I imagine that, for Debra, being my case manager must feel like being a car salesman trying to get that shitty old Ford Focus off her lot. It’s particularly frustrating because Laurelle Child Services is the Bentley dealership of private adoption agencies, so why is the Ford even there? Do they expect her to sell it? In this economy?"
"Depression isn’t just isolating. It’s erosive. It destroys beautiful things. Feeds off the worst parts of you. For me, it flips on like a switch and builds until I can’t see anyone around me anymore. When it ends, I have to tend to all the things I’ve neglected. The people who feel abandoned by me and the responsibilities I’ve failed to prioritize. It’s exhausting"
"My beautiful, smart, funny friend. Going full Interpol over a boy who won’t even cross the Brooklyn Bridge for her. A tragedy."
"I need to be traumatized in the exact same way no less than three times for me to modify my behavior."
"He’s like glass. Clear all the way through. Light reflecting. This is only problematic when I catch my reflection in his glow."
"That me still lives too close to the surface of my body, inextricably nestled between skin and muscle. The girl who was in so much pain that she sought distraction or relief at any cost. This new me is fragile. I built her from nothing. From scraps. I moved to New York to create the life I could never have in Connecticut, but you can’t outrun yourself. It takes more effort than I have some days to keep the darker parts of me from waking."
"I imagine that, for Debra, being my case manager must feel like being a car salesman trying to get that shitty old Ford Focus off her lot. It’s particularly frustrating because Laurelle Child Services is the Bentley dealership of private adoption agencies, so why is the Ford even there? Do they expect her to sell it? In this economy?"
"Depression isn’t just isolating. It’s erosive. It destroys beautiful things. Feeds off the worst parts of you. For me, it flips on like a switch and builds until I can’t see anyone around me anymore. When it ends, I have to tend to all the things I’ve neglected. The people who feel abandoned by me and the responsibilities I’ve failed to prioritize. It’s exhausting"
"My beautiful, smart, funny friend. Going full Interpol over a boy who won’t even cross the Brooklyn Bridge for her. A tragedy."
July 30, 2025
this was was so good and NOT ABOUT A BOY! lol there was a twist that I did not see coming, this book talked about real things and all young people should read it. I would read this again and definitely recommend it.
February 18, 2025
if i could re-read this book for the first time right now i would omg. definitely my favorite book so far this year
July 16, 2024
Beautiful writing and the descriptions are so vivid / clever ❤️ reminded me of Euphoria / Amazon’s or die trying / gossip girl
May 21, 2026
Sad Girl Lit, according to the author. I need to make that a tag on here because yes.
This is the kind of story I like. The characters are well drawn, and the plot is A+. I also like that it's a look at a mental illness I haven't seen clearly portrayed (and named) in a lot of media.
So yeah. I dug it.
This is the kind of story I like. The characters are well drawn, and the plot is A+. I also like that it's a look at a mental illness I haven't seen clearly portrayed (and named) in a lot of media.
So yeah. I dug it.
April 20, 2026
ENJOYED THE BOOK MORE THAN I THOUGHT I WOULD. IMAGINE AS AN ADULT THAT YOU HAVE AN IDENTICAL TWIN THAT YOU CANNOT REMEMBER WHATSOEVER BUT THEY REMEMBER YOU. JUST TRYING TO NAVIGATE AFTERWARDS COULD ONLY BE CHALLENGING BECAUSE YOU NOW ARE QUESTIONING EVERYTHING. LOVED HOW HAYDEN WAS ALWAYS THERE FOR HER WHEN SHE NEEDED HIM EVEN WITH HIS RESERVATIONS.
July 22, 2025
Was in fact about a boy lol.
But it was more than just that, it was Amelie finding herself after loss. Wanting more after not wanting anything at all. Accepting love when she felt undeserving. Letting go when she held on too much. Healing when all she did was hurt.
When I first saw this book on Pinterest, I picked it up because the cover captivated me, but as I turned the page Amelie drew me in. Her story, her figuring out, her healing, her accepting and learning to live with borderline personality disorder.
Complex characters always do it for me and I lost sleep because I was about to go to war for Amelie. Hollis beautifully coined a flawed, struggling, trying character and that made her beautiful.
With so many gems and nuggets littered through each page, I found myself enamored. Just to leave you with one and by far my favorite…
“Life. The way we navigate it as women. As Black women. It’s different. It takes incredible resilience and a strong sense of self. The things you’ve been through, they’re part of your story, but they’re not the sum of your identity. You have to plant your identity deep enough for it to take root because the world will try to define you. To tell you who you are and what you’re worth. It isn’t always easy to stay grounded in what you know to be true. You have to remind yourself constantly. No one knows you the way you do.”
But it was more than just that, it was Amelie finding herself after loss. Wanting more after not wanting anything at all. Accepting love when she felt undeserving. Letting go when she held on too much. Healing when all she did was hurt.
When I first saw this book on Pinterest, I picked it up because the cover captivated me, but as I turned the page Amelie drew me in. Her story, her figuring out, her healing, her accepting and learning to live with borderline personality disorder.
Complex characters always do it for me and I lost sleep because I was about to go to war for Amelie. Hollis beautifully coined a flawed, struggling, trying character and that made her beautiful.
With so many gems and nuggets littered through each page, I found myself enamored. Just to leave you with one and by far my favorite…
“Life. The way we navigate it as women. As Black women. It’s different. It takes incredible resilience and a strong sense of self. The things you’ve been through, they’re part of your story, but they’re not the sum of your identity. You have to plant your identity deep enough for it to take root because the world will try to define you. To tell you who you are and what you’re worth. It isn’t always easy to stay grounded in what you know to be true. You have to remind yourself constantly. No one knows you the way you do.”
April 4, 2026
4.5 ⭐
but I'ma round it up because not long through the first portion I was like I'm liking this even more. Between her asking for help, the tattoo, and the truth - I just love it. Amélie's found family added on top of the fact the second portion hit me hard, I would read it again.
but I'ma round it up because not long through the first portion I was like I'm liking this even more. Between her asking for help, the tattoo, and the truth - I just love it. Amélie's found family added on top of the fact the second portion hit me hard, I would read it again.
June 27, 2024
Excellent coming-of-age book about Melie trying to cope with a loss, a boyfriend she keeps at a distance, and aging out of the foster care system soon. When she finds out she has an identical twin sister it’s too much for her, and Melie starts spiraling taking drugs again and keeping everyone away. When she goes to a treatment center, she wonders if she will ever find a way to be herself. Does she even want to?
February 21, 2025
it’s 11:50 pm and I’ve just finished the book so my option may change later but I this book left me with a longing for my 17 year old self I wish she had this book. It speaks so open and truthfully about mental illness and idk it made me feel as if she took a look in my brain and took little pieces of my feelings that I couldn’t out into words. I felt seen by this book and I’m so happy I got to read it. I didn’t love the ending however the ending plus the acknowledgments for some reason felt like the perfect way to end it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 234 reviews