Reasons to Hate Me

by Susan Metallo

"Metallo crafts interesting and realistic teens and adults, and offers a unique and nuanced view of an autistic teen experiencing high school." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

A hilarious and heartfelt novel about a neurodivergent theater nerd that tackles slut-shaming, what it means to be a friend, and the power of forgiving others—and yourself.

There are countless good reasons to hate seventeen-year-old Jess Lanza, Stone Bridge High’s premier autistic theater nerd and Champion of Questionable Life Choices. Unfortunately, the cyberbullies that hounded her all summer are stuck on last year’s life-ruining mistake, the one that earned Jess the title “Boyfriend Stealing Slutbag.” To relieve the bullies of their stale content, Jess vows to dazzle them with online posts about her own ridiculous fails and embarrassing character traits. But somehow, all of Jess’s posts circle back to her friendship with Chloe—the friendship her alleged sluttiness pulverized—and the gaping hole she left in Jess’s life. As Jess chases Chloe’s forgiveness, she must confront some of her darkest weaknesses—and darker still, the truth of what happened with Chloe’s boyfriend, a story neither of them wants to hear. Told through a series of blog posts and short scripts, this cleverly staged and structured debut novel crackles with spot-on dialogue, features a range of fully developed neurodiverse characters, and sharply evokes high school in all its hilarious and agonizing complexity.

Genres: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Disability, Friendship, Contemporary, High School, LGBT

400 pages, Hardcover

First published September 2, 2025

About the author

I am a neurodivergent author and youth services librarian. Reasons to Hate Me, my debut novel, received several honors including a SCBWI Work-in-Progress Award. A graduate of the College of William and Mary, I am living my best nerd life, and when I’m not writing a book (or reading someone else’s) you might find me doing a crossword puzzle or singing the soprano line of a Baroque fugue. I live in New Mexico with my husband, my children, and an 80-lb. bulldog who fervently believes she will fit on your lap. Find me on Bluesky (@metallowrites.bsky.social) and Instagram (@metallowrites).

Reviews

[Gabrielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reasons to Love Reasons to Hate Me:

1. The neurodivergent and autism representation is some of the best I've seen.

I felt so seen in this story in a way that I've never experienced before. I had to put the book down many times to process and appreciate these characters that only a neurodivergent author could have written.


2. The writing was deft, insightful, and humorous.

Written as part-blog-post, part-theater-script, the structure and style were unique. There was magic in little turns of phrase and the tiny observations that would provide a new angle mid-scene, almost like cursorily glancing at the road through a rearview mirror. This is a story about Jess learning to be a better person, and a better friend. But it's also about Jess learning to identify when other people have wronged her, and that it is okay to be upset about it. The development and the arc that this main character goes through was special for me to witness.


3. The way that conversations about sexual assault, consent, and healing from trauma is dealt with and portrayed is some of the best I've seen in a book written for teenagers.

Reasons to Hate Me is one of the first young-adult stories I've read that really, concretely addresses consent– what it is and what it's not– by targeting common misconceptions that teens have about it. I was relieved that this topic wasn't exploited merely for shock factor, as sexual assault too often is poorly dealt with in fiction. Rather, it was handled with respect. Considering that autistic youth are between three and four times as likely to experience sexual victimization as allistic youth, that relief was doubly felt. And I have to say, the straight-forward scene-work really spoke to me as an autistic reader. That method of communication felt like a ray of sun through a cloudy sky. The narrative is mainly focused on healing, and it offers its readers hope.


4. Quiz: What Variation of Asexual are You?

This story manages to tackle difficult problems with authenticity and nuance. That applies to Jess's side-quest in trying to figure out her sexuality, and I loved that this question is both considered and left open-ended. She is free to stay a verb, an object that stays in motion. By the end, she doesn't have everything figured out, but she learns that staying true to herself is more important than a label.


5. The book accomplished what it set out to do.

I recently watched a clip of R. F. Kuang at her tour for Katabasis in London, and she said: "The particular ability of literature to investigate another lived experience through all its shades of complexity, to not reduce another soul to just a good person or a bad person, an ally or an enemy… I think it was Kazuo Ishiguro who put it this way: When you have successfully written a piece of prose all you're doing is telling your reader, 'I feel this way, do you feel it too?'"

That was something I thought a lot about reading Reasons to Hate Me. I wasn't sure what to expect going in, but I am grateful to have gone on the journey that it took me on, and to have really felt, yes. Yes, I do feel this way too. And that was magical. I hope that this book finds more readers that can say the same.


Thank you to the author and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me cackling, cringing, and crying in my car outside the bookstore like I’m seventeen again and just got dumped over AIM.

Jess Lanza is that one theater kid who refuses to go quietly, even when the whole school is calling her the “Boyfriend Stealing Slutbag.” But behind the bold blog posts and killer one-liners is a neurodivergent girl figuring out how to apologize, how to be forgiven, and how to forgive herself. It’s raw and awkward and sometimes messy, which is exactly what being a teenager is.

Told in blog posts, scripts, and online chaos, this story nails the vicious loop of high school gossip and the way one mistake can explode a whole friend group. And somehow, it manages to be both heartbreakingly honest and laugh-out-loud funny, with side characters I’d absolutely follow onto a spin-off stage.

If you ever lived online, loved a friend too hard, or tried to rewrite your own narrative while the comments section screamed otherwise, you’ll see yourself in Jess. This one sticks to your ribs.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book at Susan Metallo's visit at Swem, and I'm so glad I got to read it and hear her speak. She was right: schools need more books with autistic characters. Reasons to Hate Me talks about being autistic in a way that's not always present in other books. Jess's autism influences her perspective and the way she tells her story, but it isn't the cause of her problems or something she has to solve. I remember Susan Metallo mentioned that she wanted to portray autistic characters realistically, and I think she did that really well. Jess is a complex character who develops in how she sees herself and her relationships over the course of the book. Even if you don't completely relate to Jess or her experiences, you can still see yourself in her. I loved her community and how it changed over the year and the way it was sort of always there even when Jess couldn't see it.
The other thing Susan Metallo talked about was queer characters in books. I liked the side characters, but I was completely surprised at Jess herself. I don't want to spoil the book, but the way it was presented was really refreshing to read. It's so easy to make her realization of her sexuality negative, and I'm thankful that the author didn't make it a sad thing like I've seen in other books with characters like her.
Reasons to Hate Me is hopeful and funny, and I would have sped through this book in a weekend if I had had more time. I did speed through this book as much as I could, and I'll have to read it again to fully grasp all the details and enjoy all the funnies. I hope this book ends up in many libraries, and if Susan Metallo publishes more, I'll definitely read them.

[Ashley Scow · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5 rounded down) While I whole-heartedly appreciate how much visibility was given to the autistic and neurodivergent communities, I had a hard time rooting for our main character. She was brash and stubborn in ways that may come off as confidence, but left me feeling icky.

I think this book would be perfect for a younger reader who also feels slighted and wants to regain some power through confidence, empowerment, and acceptance for some things that can’t be changed.

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jess is a very interesting character. I enjoyed reading about this neurodivergent high school girl as she is dealing with her autism, bullying, overbearing mom, and her estranged best friend.

I loved the writing in this book and enjoyed the mixed media aspect! I think this book was just a bit too long, some moments felt like they weren’t really moving the story forward but it did provide more insight into the FMC’s relationships with her friends and family. I appreciate the diverse cast of characters. I also appreciated the way the author handled some of the heavier topics such as consent and the representation of neurodivergent characters. Overall, I enjoyed this book and would read more from this author in the future.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most YA books I´ve read have been disappointing to me as novels because they seem too schematic or narrowly focused on single issues and often have a very blunt ¨author´s message.¨ Reasons to Hate Me has an interesting, unique, and multi-faceted heroine who would probably have put me off in real life, but whose sensibilities engage the reader´s own emotions and thoughts.
I don´t think this works as an epistolary novel, because Jess as I understand her would never write the blog entries which make up the book, but it doesn´t matter -- her voice is so compelling that the reader forgets the fictional context and just enjoys the witty and moving content.
Full disclosure: I had to get my daughter to explain some of the terms used.

[Lectus · Rating 3 out of 5]

It reminded me of a book with a similar character: I’m a bitch and I know it, AND I’m proud of it. It will come to me, it will come to me…

[Baylee Thurman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! The characters are well written and it was easy to slip into the main character’s shoes. I laughed and cried while reading this and cannot wait tog it to be in stores so I can buy a physical copy for my personal library. Highly recommend for teens, young adults, and adults.

[Jesslivraddict · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pour être honnête, je pense qu’il s’agit du livre le plus intelligent et le plus mature que j’ai pu lire en YA. C’est clairement un livre que j’aurais aimé avoir quand j’avais 15 - 16 ans, non seulement pour me donner des outils sur lesquels réfléchir face au harcèlement scolaire que j’ai subi mais pour comprendre certaines notions et leurs implications.

Ce que j’ai aimé dans le récit :
* Les sujets abordés de manière intelligente et compréhensible sans que cela soit trop rébarbatif : On parle de harcèlement scolaire, de consentement, de la perception de l’autisme sur des personnes racisées par rapport aux personnes blanches, recherche de son identité sexuelle, … des sujets très forts qui amènent le lecteur à réfléchir sur ces sujets et leurs implications dans la vie de tous les jours en même temps que notre héroïne. J’ai aimé par ex que le meilleur ami de Jess, Cam, lui fasse remarquer que juger ceux qui la critiquent et qui l’insultent ne la rend pas meilleure, que du contraire. J’ai aimé ces petites prises de conscience tout au long du récit qui permettent à notre personnage principal de mûrir et de sortir grandie d’une année qui a été très difficile pour elle.
* La pièce de théâtre en un seul acte que Jess a écrit : j’ai trouvé ça brillant et assez explicite sur ce qu’elle souhaite exprimer, sur le fait que sur chaque image négative qui nous est collée à la peau se cache derrière son homologue plus positif.
* Les personnages : Clairement, le personnage de Jess est hyper attachant. J’ai adoré la suivre tout au long de cette année scolaire et la voir évoluer dans sa manière de penser, de voir les choses de manière plus positive autour d’elle et aussi de se voir elle. Se rendre compte qu’elle a des amis pour qui elle compte et qui comptent pour elle. Améliorer sa santé mentale en allant voir une psychologue qui lui permet au fil des séances de voir le trauma qu’elle a subi d’une autre façon, plus lucide et comprendre réellement la portée du consentement. Se remettre en question. En fait, Jess arrive à faire à 18 ans ce que j’ai appris à faire des années plus tard et que j’apprends encore toujours aujourd’hui.
J’ai beaucoup aimé les autres personnages aussi comme Cam, le meilleur ami qui est toujours là mais qui la remet aussi à sa place quand elle ne se comporte pas comme il faut (par ex, avec son blog, la manière dont elle juge Hannah et les autres ou encore le fait qu’elle ne s’intéresse pas vraiment aux activités sportives auxquelles il participe), Emily qui se montre discrète mais toujours présente et sa copine Nic qui elle est un petit rayon de soleil.
* La manière dont l’autrice fait passer ses messages en utilisant de métaphores faciles à comprendre et à transposer.

Ce que j’ai moins aimé dans le récit :

* Les références aux comédies musicales et pièces de théâtre m’ont un peu perdue vu que je n’en connaissais aucune…
* Je pense le relire en français (s’il est traduit), car je dois bien l’avouer, c’est un des romans qui m’a posés le plus de soucis pour le comprendre et je pense être passée à côté de détails car je n’ai pas du comprendre toutes les subtilités de l’écriture.

NOTES
Personnages : 5 / 5. Au-delà du personnage de Jess qui est hyper attachante, les autres personnages qui gravitent autour d’elle sont d’une telle bienveillance qu’on a tous envie d’avoir une telle bande d’amis dans sa vie. Chloé m’a saoulée tout au long du livre (surtout à la fin quand elle vient demander à Jess de lui pardonner).
Histoire : 5 / 5 - L’histoire est construite de manière un peu plus complexe qu’un roman contemporain YA habituel mais je trouve que cela concorde avec la narratrice Jess avec des passages assez simples et d’autres plus complexes qui sont en fait le reflet de ce qu’elle vit dans sa tête. Ce n’est pas toujours clair, ça demande de la réflexion mais cela reste intelligemment construit.
Écriture : 5 / 5 - Malgré la difficulté rencontrée pour lire en anglais, je reconnais que l’écriture est intelligente. Je regrette simplement ne pas avoir compris toutes les subtilités et avoir manqué les références aux pièces de théâtre et comédies musicales évoquées.

Note globale : 5 ⭐ / 5 - Note coup de coeur 🩷 !

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reasons to Hate Me: thought-provoking and very startling! This is one of those books where there's a central plot twist/reveal that the book's marketing has completely kept secret but which dramatically changes the story's tone/themes. So it's rather a journey!

For the first quarter or so, I (an autistic reader) was thinking, "yes! finally! this is a book about an autistic teen where the writer doesn't hesitate to call out the ridiculous/ableist aspects of high school and allistic society in general! this is exactly what I've been needing!" Admittedly, the epistolary framing of the novel falls flat--I didn't at all believe that these chapters were a teen's blog posts--but Jess and the way her mind works still came through and were nicely engaging.

In the second quarter, the plot kinda stagnated, and I was starting to wonder where all the conversations, which were getting a bit repetitive, were heading. (I still think this section could have been tightened up somewhat.)

And then we get about halfway through and there's a big reveal that reframes what we've read so far and alters the direction of the rest of the plot--that Jess's experience with Noah was nonconsensual and traumatic. Suddenly we've got strong guiding themes for the rest of Jess's story: consent, victim-blaming, sexuality, therapy, healing from trauma.

And how Metallo handles these themes is really effective and nuanced. If you're looking for a YA book about the aftermath of sexual assault, part of me thinks that this is one of the best books I've read on that topic.

But I also can't help thinking that the halfway-point swerve in tone isn't the best structure for addressing such a sensitive topic? One, because it means almost no one I've seen is giving content warnings or describing this as a book about sexual harm in order to avoid giving spoilers--which means readers who want to engage with this topic may not find this book, and readers who are not feeling up to engaging with it may be misled into reading something upsetting that they weren't prepared for. And two, because once we learn the real theme of the book, some of the themes that the beginning seemed to be setting up kind of lose the spotlight--we do still get good messages about not making assumptions of others and about growing and learning from one's mistakes, but I ultimately don't feel like this is the novel about ableism and about challenging allistic expectations that I was looking for.

In conclusion: Reasons to Hate Me is a powerful and engaging book, but definitely not the one I was expecting, and not what a lot of other readers will expect either. I'm left glad that I read it, but not sure who to recommend it to.

[Kara Sandoval · Rating 5 out of 5]

A YA Must Read

Book 87 of 100

Reasons to Hate Me by Susan Metallo
🎭 Young Adult Fiction • Friendship • Neurodivergent Rep • Asexual Rep • LGBTQIA Rep • Diversity • High School Drama

Why I Recommend This Book:
I absolutely LOVED this book. It is 10 Things I Hate About You meets Mean Girls meets Atypical. Witty sharp and cleverly put together it is written in the style of blog posts with bits of scripts and dialogue that showcase the author’s love for theater Shakespeare and Broadway. I laughed out loud more than once and still found myself heartbroken for Jess our neurodivergent main character.

This story is about friendship love and the weight of bad decisions. Jess makes a mistake that spreads like wildfire through her school and she becomes the target of relentless bullying. Do you fight back or do you ignore it? That question runs throughout. The book explores shame forgiveness and the complicated messiness of being a teenager trying to find your footing.

What stood out most for me is how honest Jess’s voice feels. She is funny flawed and relatable. The humor keeps the story moving but there is also a deep emotional pull that makes you feel every moment of her regret and her hope. The representation here is phenomenal from neurodivergent rep to asexual rep to LGBTQIA rep and more. The diversity on the page feels real and meaningful. This is a book I believe should be standard reading for kids just starting high school.

Favorite Quotes:

“I would go to a sports ball game the day Stephen King wrote a rom-com.”

“Did you know that silence is its own sound It’s not an absence of sound; that’s a mistake a lot of people make. Silence sounds like blood rushing in your own ears.”

“If the last few months have proven anything it’s that the universe gets its kicks by undermining my expectations.”

“I really don’t understand humans but I’m learning to follow their rules.”

“The best writing connects us to emotional truths. They don’t have to be big truths or even serious truths. They just have to be true.”

Final Thoughts:
Reasons to Hate Me is a wonderful YA novel that manages to balance laugh out loud humor with themes of bullying forgiveness and identity. The diverse representation is handled with care and the structure makes it stand out as something fresh and clever. It is both fun and heartbreaking and I am so glad I picked it up.

Trigger Warnings:
Bullying • Slut shaming • Friendship conflict • Public shaming • Racism • Microaggressions • Dubious consent

[Jamie Steinberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seventeen year old Jess Lanza is being cyberbullied by her classmates at Stone Bridge High. Chloe, an autistic theater nerd, made a mistake with her best friend’s boyfriend and someone has been posting nasty things about her online ever since. To counterbalance the blog being posted that trashes her, she has created her own where she lists the reasons for people to truly hate her. Reasons to Hate Me reminds us that when something bad happens there are two sides to every story, and not all labels are valid.

Jess knows she has messed up. While practicing a theater scene she crosses the line with her best friend Chloe’s boyfriend, Noah. No longer able to keep what happened to him a secret, Noah decides to send a text blast to all of his contacts to let them know what went down (from his point of view). Now Chloe refuses to talk to Jess (not even allowing her to give her side of events) and some of her classmates have begun labeling her a “slut.” Jess blames herself for what went down and falls into a serious depression. She tries her best to make things right with Chloe, but it lands on deaf ears. To combat the unkind words being said Chloe decides to create her own blog that lists her failures and life letdowns to truly give them something to talk about. While exploring reasons to hate her, Chloe confronts her Autism and the events of her life where she gains clarity on what really went down with Noah and if she really needs Chloe’s friendship.

Author Susan Metallo tells this tale through a series of blog posts that explores the themes of friendship, Autism, sexuality, consent and so much more. Readers will find themselves entranced, turning pages to find out Chloe’s own reasons for why someone should actually hate her (valid or perceived). Plus, you’ll learn more about happened between Noah and Jess’ from BOTH perspectives. And, might I add, it highlights whether forgiveness and friendship have limits.

Reasons to Hate Me is a great read for high school students. Gossip has a way of getting around and it is never more damaging than at that age. Young women, especially, will gain a lot of insight from this book about themselves, self esteem and the bonds and boundaries of teenage besties.

[YSBR · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a disastrous break with her best friend at the end of her junior year, Jess Lanza (white) decides to set the record straight with the bullies of Stone Bridge High School who would see her labeled a slut.  In doing so, she creates a blog with all the reasons she’s actually the worst person in the world.

This is a very relatable coming-of-age story with an autistic main character who’s just trying to repair the relationship with her ex-best friend while also navigating the very real hurdles of being a senior in high school.  Jess and Chloe Barton (Black) were best friends, and Chloe was dating another student, Noah, who also worked with Jess in the theatre department. While rehearsing lines at the end of junior year, Noah kissed Jess without her consent and invaded her personal space.  He told everyone in school about the incident, framing Jess as the instigator.  At the start of the novel, told from Jess’s perspective, we also believe she was at fault—because that’s the story Jess tells herself. As the novel unfolds and she begins to unpack her memories of the incident, the truth gradually comes to light.

I love how Jess learns how to love herself, accept responsibility for her own actions, and recognize when things aren’t actually her fault.  She also learns to show up for the people who care about her and to set boundaries for her own well-being.  There are some really great lessons here about change (particularly when it comes to friendship), and a lot of readers will see themselves in this character and her journey. 

I loved this book and its representation of and conversations about autism and neurodivergence.  As someone who is neurodivergent, this is the kind of book I would have wanted growing up.  I know there will be a lot of teen and young adult readers who feel incredibly seen while reading this. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Roo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in two days.

And then I picked it up and read it again, and again, and again.

There are some books that surpass any kind of ability to articulate the praise they deserve, and why exactly they're so special. This is one of those books. It's got everything. A laugh-out-loud riot of a main character, with a narrative voice more compelling than I have read in years, crashing her way through a story that's unafraid to dive into the hard stuff.

Susan Metallo's character work was meticulous and captivating. There's no good guy or bad guy, and everyone has their own side of the story. Watching Jess maneuver her way through it all, trying to figure out who she was, and who she wants to be, and who she could be, and who she IS, was, frankly, dazzling.

Reasons to Hate Me is a rare, shining example of why we read, and why we need authors and books like this. It captures the turmoil of how it feels to be a struggling teenager, when you're angry, and young, and not quite sure what happened to you. Tender, vicious, deeply emotional, and explosive.

This is the book I wished I had when I was seventeen.

[Jessica O'Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is something so life affirming about finding the perfect book at the right time. I think this might be my religion: the world will sometimes send you a hug in the form of a pitch perfect story.

And also, the main character’s name is Jess. So the universe really wanted me to be clear about our parallel life experiences.

This is a YA novel about a a teenage autistic girl whose dark humor and trauma will win over the best of readers. Told in a series of blog posts, Jess reveals why everyone at school hates her. She parcels out and reckons with her backstory slowly, much like how many of us struggle with mistakes, trauma, and shitty circumstances. The author equips Jess with a few steady, loving, and understanding side characters to keep the book from turning too morose.

I loved this book; I loved Jess ❤️

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reps: White, Black, Straight, Ace/Aro, Autism
TW: sexual assault, PTSD, flashbacks
Sex and swearing: minimal

According to Chloe's boyfriend Noah, Jess came onto him. According to the whole school, Jess is the cheating slutbag who tried to steal her best friend's boyfriend. According to Jess, she doesn't even know how that day happened or how to make it right between her and Chloe. What starts out as a blog to combat the cyberbullies' narrative turns into a journey of self-discovery and acceptance. I loved Jess's supportive friends. I loved the nerdiness. I loved the ASD rep. I loved the adults who realized something bad had happened and it couldn't be fixed with one conversation or in one day.

Highly recommend for HS.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. Jess, the protagonist, is wonderfully flawed--because she realizes her mistakes, learns, and grows from them. I loved watching her mature as the story progressed. The banter was fun, and Jess's internal monologues via blog posts were at times clever, at times deeply introspective.

I appreciated the book's representation of neurodivergence, as well as a range of sexualities and gender identities. The best part of this for me was that these identities were mere facets of well-rounded characters that I found myself caring about and rooting for.

I found this book creative, amusing, and meaty. It gave me some food for thought and also made me smile. I look forward to more works by this author!

[Hilary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jess's senior year of high school is not off to a great start. Her former best friend will no longer speak to her .... or even listen to her apologies. Others in the "friend" group use this as an excuse to bully her. So Jess decides to give them what they want: a blog where she writes out all of the reasons they should actually hate her. We as the reader get a clearer picture of Jess than she has of herself. As the blog continues, we see things in a different light than they were originally presented to us.

I love that there are good, supportive adults in the story and that Jess is a flawed but likeable character who learns to have compassion for herself while holding herself accountable for the way she treats others.

Important topics are covered with a deft hand.

[Libriar · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's senior year, and Jess is navigating a broken friendship and rumors after she was shamed about making out with her best friend's boyfriend on a blog. Told in blog posts, the format didn't work for me, perhaps because the blog posts didn't seem like blog posts. There's also a lot of extra stuff going on in this book - Jess is autistic and possibly asexual, her former best friend is Black and also autistic, and the other relationships in the book (mom, sister, dad, neighbor) are complicated. I felt this book tried to do too much, and therefore, the main message got lost. ARC courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute standout debut featuring Jess, an autistic, theatre loving teen girl who is struggling in the aftermath of a traumatic experience that cost her her best friend. The author does SUCH a wonderful job showing a relatable, autistic experience, from stemming, masking and trying to fit in. There's also an important bullying/slut-shaming aspect and EXCELLENT therapy rep. It was great on audio and I HIGHLY recommend it for fans of authors like Jackie Khalilieh, Elle McNicoll and Jen Wilde. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Teresa Greene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book in a single day. The narrative voice is funny and poignant, and the story is unraveled slowly in a way that a lot of other books don’t pull off very well. I’m an adult—not the target audience of teen readers—and while there were a few times where I definitely could tell that it was geared toward a much younger audience, it never felt like it was talking down to the audience or making things simpler than they needed to be.

This is a book that I wish I’d had when I was a teenager. Having been through some things similar to what Jess goes through in the book, it really felt like the author stepped into my soul and not only put into words things I couldn’t articulate, but also had characters in the book tell Jess the things that I still needed to hear. All while not ever feeling preachy.

I highly recommend this book for fans of witty dialogue, complicated and messy relationships, friendship over romance, and musicals. I also recommend this for teens (and former teens) struggling with questions of identity, trusting their own perceptions, tumultuous friendships, and sexual assault.

[Laura P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great characters, great plot line, SO FUNNY! It's a tough time for Jess, a high school senior. She's lost her best friend, is being cyber bullied, had a traumatic experience, has lost her inspiration, and is trying to truly figure out her identity. But—the way the story is told is funny and heartwarming. Readers will laugh with Jess as she works toward self-acceptance and finds ways to repair her relationships. The story is told through blog posts and scripts, making it a unique and fun experience for the readers.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

To quote a show I've never seen before: "Wait... is this fucking play about us???" I feel personally victimized by this book and I loved it. I loved Jess because she had my exact same flaws and was obsessed with theater and I may never get a formal autism diagnosis but after this book I fear I may not actually need it because this sealed it for me. I liked how the friendship ending wasn't fully resolved and I loved the narrative around just because you are autistic doesn't mean that you can't be an asshole. Cam...that baby boy was too good to be true but omg I loved him so much.

[Mariangela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved, loved, loved this. The beginning opened slowly for me, which I think was important to pick up all the ways being a young adult is different than when I was one.

And then bam, flash - I couldn't put it down. I was reading late in the evening and through tears; the growing realization of the larger story had me so completely gripped.

And what a wonderful ending. Paid off in every way one would want, without any easy gimmes that make it feel cheap. Just a wonderful read all around.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me a while to get into, but then I was hooked and tore through the second half. This is a great read for neurodivergent teens or anyone curious about what it might be like to have autism as a teenager. Conversations around consent, mental health, bullying, and racism are handled gently and with care.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A phenomenal debut that covers a year in the life of an autistic high schooler grappling with events that led to a catastrophic break with her best friend. Told in searing, heartfelt blog posts and snippets of plays, this is a fantastic look at all the ways we tell stories--about our friends, our family, and ourselves--and how we can rewrite their endings.

[Lauren M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cyberbullying, Autism, and Fine Arts, oh my!

I thought this was a great novel all-around; the writing, the story, the way the autistic characters weren't written as giant cliches. Theater kids will love the references throughout, for sure! Important conversations regarding consent and exploration are also had.

Both YA and adult audiences will enjoy this book!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a fantastic look into the mind of today’s youth. I loved reading from Jess’s POV as she worked through some really tough issues that even adults struggle with. If you’re a YA reader looking for an insightful, funny, and enjoyable read, look no further!

[Sophia Vahdati · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing YA book that deals with important themes and also had me laughing like a fool. Excellent narrative voice. Masterful pacing and plot progression.

This won't disappoint!

[An · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one. The neurodivergent rep was fantastic, the structure of the book was unique and well done, and the characters were endlessly lovable. Highly recommended.