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Smash or Pass
For 16-year-old Ellie, beach volleyball camp is a disaster until she's paired with Sierra, an athletic prodigy who teaches her that volleyball...and love are about taking the right shot in this sporty sapphic romance.
Ellie dates the Right Guy, says all the Right Things, and acts the Right Way to avoid being ridiculed for her autism. When that Right Guy unceremoniously dumps her right before they're supposed to go to beach volleyball camp together, Ellie's perfectly curated world comes crashing down and she's labeled the boring, weird girl.
Desperate to regain her good reputation (and yeah, sure, the boy...), Ellie goes to Camp SMASH, which is nothing like she expected. There, she's paired with Sierra, a mysterious, standoffish volleyball legacy who makes Ellie's quest to get her boyfriend back even more complicated...
Dive into this sporty summer romance full of the classics: a ragtag group of friends, a tense game of capture the flag, and a swoon-worthy sapphic love story.
Ellie dates the Right Guy, says all the Right Things, and acts the Right Way to avoid being ridiculed for her autism. When that Right Guy unceremoniously dumps her right before they're supposed to go to beach volleyball camp together, Ellie's perfectly curated world comes crashing down and she's labeled the boring, weird girl.
Desperate to regain her good reputation (and yeah, sure, the boy...), Ellie goes to Camp SMASH, which is nothing like she expected. There, she's paired with Sierra, a mysterious, standoffish volleyball legacy who makes Ellie's quest to get her boyfriend back even more complicated...
Dive into this sporty summer romance full of the classics: a ragtag group of friends, a tense game of capture the flag, and a swoon-worthy sapphic love story.
256 pages, Audiobook
First published May 12, 2026
About the author
Birdie Schae
2 books288 followersBirdie Schae had big dreams from the moment she was born in a small town in Belgium. Now an author and student in the Netherlands, she spends most of her time writing love stories, analyzing all sorts of fiction through tears, or listening to a truly concerning amount of music.
Smash or Pass is her debut novel. Her second YA novel, Hit or Miss, is scheduled for Fall 2027.
You can find Birdie online as @birdienotabird or at birdieschae.com.
Smash or Pass is her debut novel. Her second YA novel, Hit or Miss, is scheduled for Fall 2027.
You can find Birdie online as @birdienotabird or at birdieschae.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 633 reviews
May 20, 2026
Smash or Pass is a very sweet YA story about an autistic sixteen-year-old, and the autistic rep was what stood out for me the most.
Ellie has rules. That’s the only way she can survive at school, among her friends, everywhere actually. Because if she shows who she really is, an autistic girl, people might find her weird. Boring. So she masks. And follows her rules all the time. Until her boyfriend breaks up with her and she goes to a beach volleyball camp and meets Sierra, and all those other awesome characters.
I guess that’s the thing about fitting in. The key to it isn’t to be exactly like everyone else. It’s just to make them believe you are. In all the right ways, at least.
Some parts of this story hit close to home, like the quote above. I loved how Ellie found her people at that summer camp. 16-year-old me could have learned something from her. I also really liked the side characters, even though they could have been fleshed out a little more. Noah, Ellie’s twin, was my favorite. What a cute cinnamon roll he is.
And I loved this comparison to being different:
”When the sun is shining, nobody tells it to shine less brightly, right? We just squint our eyes and adjust. That’s what people should do with others more, too.”
Even though I really enjoyed reading this short contemporary romance (more contemporary than romance, btw), I found the writing a bit telling at times and the ending a little rushed. It could have benefited from 20-30 pages more. Just to flesh out that ending.
But overall, I think this is a really important story for teens, and that’s why I round my 3.5-star rating up to four.
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Ellie has rules. That’s the only way she can survive at school, among her friends, everywhere actually. Because if she shows who she really is, an autistic girl, people might find her weird. Boring. So she masks. And follows her rules all the time. Until her boyfriend breaks up with her and she goes to a beach volleyball camp and meets Sierra, and all those other awesome characters.
I guess that’s the thing about fitting in. The key to it isn’t to be exactly like everyone else. It’s just to make them believe you are. In all the right ways, at least.
Some parts of this story hit close to home, like the quote above. I loved how Ellie found her people at that summer camp. 16-year-old me could have learned something from her. I also really liked the side characters, even though they could have been fleshed out a little more. Noah, Ellie’s twin, was my favorite. What a cute cinnamon roll he is.
And I loved this comparison to being different:
”When the sun is shining, nobody tells it to shine less brightly, right? We just squint our eyes and adjust. That’s what people should do with others more, too.”
Even though I really enjoyed reading this short contemporary romance (more contemporary than romance, btw), I found the writing a bit telling at times and the ending a little rushed. It could have benefited from 20-30 pages more. Just to flesh out that ending.
But overall, I think this is a really important story for teens, and that’s why I round my 3.5-star rating up to four.
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November 1, 2024
dare i say... smash?!
November 2, 2024
autistic sapphics we BALL!!!!!!
November 2, 2024
hit smash so hard i broke my phone
January 13, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ rounded up
“Nobody has the right to make you feel like you have to become smaller. You have as much right to take up space as everyone else.”
What an incredible read! I am truly so surprised with how much I liked this book. I knew going in it was going to be a YA, a genre I tend to not read, but I am so thankful I picked this up. This is one of my top coming-of-age books!
Ellie is an autistic girl who just got broken up with before going to a summer camp with the same boy who ended things with her. Her plan? Winning him back and proving to everyone she’s not the boring girl that her ex-boyfriend talked about in front of a crowd.
The kicker? She enjoys spending more time with her teammate than trying to get back with her ex. Within two weeks, Ellie has come to learn who she truly is and wants to be, not the mold that others want her in.
Finding your people, the ones who love you for who you are and not what they want you to be, is one of the most fulfilling feelings there are. This book gave me so many warm, fuzzy feelings, and the representation for autism was incredibly done. We’re all just people at the end of the day trying to fit in, but why should we when we should just be ourselves and everything else follows?
I loved all of the characters, I loved their little group, I love the message that this book gave. Be yourself, and who cares what anyone else thinks?
I read this book within 24 hours and two sittings, it never felt boring and it had me sucked in the whole time.
So this one time at volleyball camp… Ellie fell in love.
Thank you NetGalley and the author for the ARC!
“Nobody has the right to make you feel like you have to become smaller. You have as much right to take up space as everyone else.”
What an incredible read! I am truly so surprised with how much I liked this book. I knew going in it was going to be a YA, a genre I tend to not read, but I am so thankful I picked this up. This is one of my top coming-of-age books!
Ellie is an autistic girl who just got broken up with before going to a summer camp with the same boy who ended things with her. Her plan? Winning him back and proving to everyone she’s not the boring girl that her ex-boyfriend talked about in front of a crowd.
The kicker? She enjoys spending more time with her teammate than trying to get back with her ex. Within two weeks, Ellie has come to learn who she truly is and wants to be, not the mold that others want her in.
Finding your people, the ones who love you for who you are and not what they want you to be, is one of the most fulfilling feelings there are. This book gave me so many warm, fuzzy feelings, and the representation for autism was incredibly done. We’re all just people at the end of the day trying to fit in, but why should we when we should just be ourselves and everything else follows?
I loved all of the characters, I loved their little group, I love the message that this book gave. Be yourself, and who cares what anyone else thinks?
I read this book within 24 hours and two sittings, it never felt boring and it had me sucked in the whole time.
So this one time at volleyball camp… Ellie fell in love.
Thank you NetGalley and the author for the ARC!
May 22, 2026
These gays are just out there healing my woes ✨
I’m in the UK and this was sold out everywhere when I looked so I went with the audiobook. I will be getting my hands on a physical copy ASAP because this was EVERYTHING!!
I loved everything about this, especially each characters journey through finding their place in life. I think this is a debut? So I was suprised just how well the characters and plotline were developed.
YA can be pretty hit and miss for me, but this was a massive hit (or spike?)
Rep// Lesbian MC, Lesbian Demiromantic Autistic MC, non binary lesbian SC, sapphic SC, and more LGBT+ SCs. Central romance is sapphic / WLW.
TW// homophobia, struggles with mental health, panic attacks, toxic friends/ex.
I’m in the UK and this was sold out everywhere when I looked so I went with the audiobook. I will be getting my hands on a physical copy ASAP because this was EVERYTHING!!
I loved everything about this, especially each characters journey through finding their place in life. I think this is a debut? So I was suprised just how well the characters and plotline were developed.
YA can be pretty hit and miss for me, but this was a massive hit (or spike?)
Rep// Lesbian MC, Lesbian Demiromantic Autistic MC, non binary lesbian SC, sapphic SC, and more LGBT+ SCs. Central romance is sapphic / WLW.
TW// homophobia, struggles with mental health, panic attacks, toxic friends/ex.
March 19, 2026
LETS GO VOLLEYBALL LESBIANS
January 19, 2026
I loved everything about this book. Ellie is an autistic high school student who attends a volleyball summer camp, where she learns not only more about the sport but also how to love herself and embrace who she truly is instead of trying to conform. There was a lot of LGBTQ+ representation, which was really nice to see, and the side characters were just as engaging as the main storyline. Overall, this was a cute and very enjoyable read.
Thanks NetGalley and Random House Children’s Books for this arc. All opinions are my own.
Thanks NetGalley and Random House Children’s Books for this arc. All opinions are my own.
June 29, 2026
Dit was zo’n ontzettend fijn boek, hier was ik echt heel erg aan toe.
Queer volleybal zomerkamp lovestory met een norse overachiever (Sierra) als love interest en als hoofdpersoon (Ella) iemand met autisme die zichzelf allemaal regels voorhoudt zodat de mensen in haar omgeving niet doorhebben dat ze autistisch is. Hiermee laat ze echter totaal niet zien wie ze echt is en leeft ze eigenlijk als een constante people pleaser. Deze zomer is de perfecte kans om daar verandering in te brengen op een beach volleybal zomerkamp, en haar teamgenoot Sierra moet haar daarbij helpen.
Dit boek was heel moeilijk om aan te kant te leggen. Door de manier waarop het is geschreven vlieg je er in een sneltreinvaart doorheen en wil je gewoon weten wat er met Ellie gaat gebeuren. De persoonlijke ontwikkelingen van Ellie waren zo mooi om te zien. Ze leerde steeds meer zichzelf open te stellen voor anderen en zichzelf te zijn, en they loved her for it. De boodschap die hiermee wordt overgebracht is zo belangrijk: je bent goed zoals je bent, je bent niet “te veel”, en je mag jezelf zijn. De juiste mensen zullen je er voor accepteren.
Daarnaast was het boek ook op een fijne (en niet belerende) manier educatief over onderwerpen als autisme en comphet. Echt heel goed dat hier aandacht aan werd geschonken!!
De reden dat het niet een 5 sterren boek is voor mij, is de classic third-act “break up” door miscommunicatie. Het einde kwam ook een beetje abrupt, IK WIL MEEEER!! Geef mij meer Ellie en Sierra plssdssss
Queer volleybal zomerkamp lovestory met een norse overachiever (Sierra) als love interest en als hoofdpersoon (Ella) iemand met autisme die zichzelf allemaal regels voorhoudt zodat de mensen in haar omgeving niet doorhebben dat ze autistisch is. Hiermee laat ze echter totaal niet zien wie ze echt is en leeft ze eigenlijk als een constante people pleaser. Deze zomer is de perfecte kans om daar verandering in te brengen op een beach volleybal zomerkamp, en haar teamgenoot Sierra moet haar daarbij helpen.
Dit boek was heel moeilijk om aan te kant te leggen. Door de manier waarop het is geschreven vlieg je er in een sneltreinvaart doorheen en wil je gewoon weten wat er met Ellie gaat gebeuren. De persoonlijke ontwikkelingen van Ellie waren zo mooi om te zien. Ze leerde steeds meer zichzelf open te stellen voor anderen en zichzelf te zijn, en they loved her for it. De boodschap die hiermee wordt overgebracht is zo belangrijk: je bent goed zoals je bent, je bent niet “te veel”, en je mag jezelf zijn. De juiste mensen zullen je er voor accepteren.
Daarnaast was het boek ook op een fijne (en niet belerende) manier educatief over onderwerpen als autisme en comphet. Echt heel goed dat hier aandacht aan werd geschonken!!
De reden dat het niet een 5 sterren boek is voor mij, is de classic third-act “break up” door miscommunicatie. Het einde kwam ook een beetje abrupt, IK WIL MEEEER!! Geef mij meer Ellie en Sierra plssdssss
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2026
4,5 ⭐️
This book was so cute and sweet! I loved the way their relationship grew and the character development they both had. The writing was good and made you feel connected to the characters. I also really appreciated the autism representation as it's not very often that authors include it or they portray it poorly, but this made me understand more things about autistic people's thinking process. Overall this was a fantastic and cute book that I totally recommend to people who love contemporary romances.
This book was so cute and sweet! I loved the way their relationship grew and the character development they both had. The writing was good and made you feel connected to the characters. I also really appreciated the autism representation as it's not very often that authors include it or they portray it poorly, but this made me understand more things about autistic people's thinking process. Overall this was a fantastic and cute book that I totally recommend to people who love contemporary romances.
June 10, 2026
cute but i cannot read teenagers anymore #Unc
May 12, 2026
I seriously could not put this down!!! This has been one of my most anticipated reads this year and it did not disappoint. I quite literally teared up a few times reading this because I saw myself in Ellie in ways that really hit me in a deep way. This is the kind of book I wished was around when I was younger, living my life in the same way Ellie does at the beginning of the book - careful so as not to draw attention and be as palatable as possible to the people around me. As an adult, this was very healing to read and I'm glad this exists for other young, queer, autistic youth.
April 20, 2026
3.5 🌟
Smash or Pass is a fun summer romance at a beach volleyball camp, all about learning to be yourself and finding the people who will uplift that real version of you.
I really loved seeing Ellie’s journey toward embracing her true self and allowing herself to grow closer to others. Her relationship with her autism diagnosis and finding a group of people who don’t expect her to mask her real personality. Her blooming friendship, and eventual romantic relationship, with Sierra was very sweet and exactly what she needed. I think her brief hesitations over choosing to be out with Sierra versus going back to her old life was a very realistic fear and added a lot of depth to her character. I also thought Ellie and Noah’s sibling relationship was really sweet.
I do wish Sierra was a little more fleshed out. It felt more like we were told outright about her life and her tendency to close herself off in the narration, rather than it being a natural thing revealed through action and conversation. I do wish we got MORE volleyball considering we are at a volleyball summer camp! We blew through the final competition with only a few sentences of description. I wanted to see more of how Ellie and Sierra worked as teammates.
I really liked the chaotic friend group Ellie and Sierra fall into, but it felt like the side characters sometimes took up space that could have been used to delve deeper into Sierra’s character. Also the over use of “Gen Z” slang made some of the banter feel inorganic. Like why are we unironically telling someone they’re “a man written by a woman?”
Overall a super quick and cute coming-of age-romance that will be perfect for summer!
Thank you NetGalley and Knopf Books for the ARC
Smash or Pass is a fun summer romance at a beach volleyball camp, all about learning to be yourself and finding the people who will uplift that real version of you.
I really loved seeing Ellie’s journey toward embracing her true self and allowing herself to grow closer to others. Her relationship with her autism diagnosis and finding a group of people who don’t expect her to mask her real personality. Her blooming friendship, and eventual romantic relationship, with Sierra was very sweet and exactly what she needed. I think her brief hesitations over choosing to be out with Sierra versus going back to her old life was a very realistic fear and added a lot of depth to her character. I also thought Ellie and Noah’s sibling relationship was really sweet.
I do wish Sierra was a little more fleshed out. It felt more like we were told outright about her life and her tendency to close herself off in the narration, rather than it being a natural thing revealed through action and conversation. I do wish we got MORE volleyball considering we are at a volleyball summer camp! We blew through the final competition with only a few sentences of description. I wanted to see more of how Ellie and Sierra worked as teammates.
I really liked the chaotic friend group Ellie and Sierra fall into, but it felt like the side characters sometimes took up space that could have been used to delve deeper into Sierra’s character. Also the over use of “Gen Z” slang made some of the banter feel inorganic. Like why are we unironically telling someone they’re “a man written by a woman?”
Overall a super quick and cute coming-of age-romance that will be perfect for summer!
Thank you NetGalley and Knopf Books for the ARC
June 29, 2026
(ENGLISH BELOW)
Veel dank aan Volt Kinderboeken voor het recensie-exemplaar!
Buiten de lijnen verdient zeker een plekje op je TBR voor de zomervakantie!
Vlak voor de zomervakantie wordt Ellie gedumpt door haar vriendje, met wie ze op beachvolleybalkamp zou gaan. Het is wel ongemakkelijk dat ze nu alsnog naar hetzelfde kamp gaan, waar Ellie verder niet veel mensen kent, maar aan de andere kant lijkt dit haar de perfecte manier om hem terug te veroveren. Zolang Ellie zich maar aan haar lijstje met regels houdt, en vooral niet te veel van zichzelf laat zien, kan er niks misgaan, toch?
Je leest het goed: Ellie heeft een lijstje met regels. Ellie is namelijk autistisch, en ze heeft allerlei manieren bedacht om vooral niet te veel af te wijken, zodat niemand op school haar zal veroordelen. Dit gaat zo ver dat ze niemand haar ware zelf laat zien. Zelfs thuis heeft ze afstand genomen van haar ouders en tweelingbroer.
De manier waarop Ellie continu bezig was met maskeren, vond ik zo herkenbaar om te lezen. Ellie deed me zo erg denken aan mezelf toen ik 16 was. Al haar lijstjes, alle regeltjes die ze voor zichzelf heeft bedacht, vriendschappen die niet altijd even gezond voor je zijn, het was allemaal zo herkenbaar.
Dat maakte het des te fijner om Ellie te zien groeien op zomerkamp, en om te zien hoe ze zich steeds meer leerde openstellen voor andere mensen en steeds meer ruimte durfde in te nemen. Ze bouwt mooie nieuwe vriendschappen op met mensen die haar accepteren zoals ze is, en er bloeit zelfs iets moois op met haar teamgenoot, Sierra. Zelf vond ik het vooral ook heel mooi om te zien dat ze weer meer naar haar tweelingbroer toe groeit. Dat alles maakte dit zo'n warm, lief boek om te lezen.
---
Smash or Pass definitely deserves a spot on your TBR for summer break!
Right before summer break, Ellie gets dumped by her boyfriend, but they were supposed to attend beach volleyball camp together. It's pretty awkward that they'll still be going to the same summer camp, especially since Ellie doesn't know many others there, but on the other hand, this could be the perfect way for Ellie to win him back. As long as Ellie sticks to her list of rules, and doesn't show too much of her true self, nothing can go wrong, right?
You read that right: Ellie has a list of rules. Ellie is autistic, and she's come up with various ways not to seem too different, so no one at school will judge her. She goes so far that she doesn't show anyone her true self. Even at home, she's distanced herself from her parents and her twin brother.
The way Ellie was continually masking felt so relatable to read. Ellie reminded me so much of myself when I was 16. All of her lists, all of the rules she's made up for herself, the friendships that aren't always healthy for you, it was all so relatable.
That made it all the more lovely to see Ellie grow at summer camp, and to see her learning to open up to others and take up space more and more. Wonderful new friendships develop, with people who accept her for who she is, and even a lovely romance with her teammate, Sierra. Personally, I especially thought it was beautiful to see her growing closer to her twin brother again. All of this made for such a warm, sweet read.
Veel dank aan Volt Kinderboeken voor het recensie-exemplaar!
Buiten de lijnen verdient zeker een plekje op je TBR voor de zomervakantie!
Vlak voor de zomervakantie wordt Ellie gedumpt door haar vriendje, met wie ze op beachvolleybalkamp zou gaan. Het is wel ongemakkelijk dat ze nu alsnog naar hetzelfde kamp gaan, waar Ellie verder niet veel mensen kent, maar aan de andere kant lijkt dit haar de perfecte manier om hem terug te veroveren. Zolang Ellie zich maar aan haar lijstje met regels houdt, en vooral niet te veel van zichzelf laat zien, kan er niks misgaan, toch?
Je leest het goed: Ellie heeft een lijstje met regels. Ellie is namelijk autistisch, en ze heeft allerlei manieren bedacht om vooral niet te veel af te wijken, zodat niemand op school haar zal veroordelen. Dit gaat zo ver dat ze niemand haar ware zelf laat zien. Zelfs thuis heeft ze afstand genomen van haar ouders en tweelingbroer.
De manier waarop Ellie continu bezig was met maskeren, vond ik zo herkenbaar om te lezen. Ellie deed me zo erg denken aan mezelf toen ik 16 was. Al haar lijstjes, alle regeltjes die ze voor zichzelf heeft bedacht, vriendschappen die niet altijd even gezond voor je zijn, het was allemaal zo herkenbaar.
Dat maakte het des te fijner om Ellie te zien groeien op zomerkamp, en om te zien hoe ze zich steeds meer leerde openstellen voor andere mensen en steeds meer ruimte durfde in te nemen. Ze bouwt mooie nieuwe vriendschappen op met mensen die haar accepteren zoals ze is, en er bloeit zelfs iets moois op met haar teamgenoot, Sierra. Zelf vond ik het vooral ook heel mooi om te zien dat ze weer meer naar haar tweelingbroer toe groeit. Dat alles maakte dit zo'n warm, lief boek om te lezen.
---
Smash or Pass definitely deserves a spot on your TBR for summer break!
Right before summer break, Ellie gets dumped by her boyfriend, but they were supposed to attend beach volleyball camp together. It's pretty awkward that they'll still be going to the same summer camp, especially since Ellie doesn't know many others there, but on the other hand, this could be the perfect way for Ellie to win him back. As long as Ellie sticks to her list of rules, and doesn't show too much of her true self, nothing can go wrong, right?
You read that right: Ellie has a list of rules. Ellie is autistic, and she's come up with various ways not to seem too different, so no one at school will judge her. She goes so far that she doesn't show anyone her true self. Even at home, she's distanced herself from her parents and her twin brother.
The way Ellie was continually masking felt so relatable to read. Ellie reminded me so much of myself when I was 16. All of her lists, all of the rules she's made up for herself, the friendships that aren't always healthy for you, it was all so relatable.
That made it all the more lovely to see Ellie grow at summer camp, and to see her learning to open up to others and take up space more and more. Wonderful new friendships develop, with people who accept her for who she is, and even a lovely romance with her teammate, Sierra. Personally, I especially thought it was beautiful to see her growing closer to her twin brother again. All of this made for such a warm, sweet read.
July 6, 2026
this book made me feel so seen in a way no book has ever made me feel seen!
thank you so much birdie for writing this i adored it <3
thank you so much birdie for writing this i adored it <3
July 7, 2026
Woman talks about not wanting to be put in boxes continues to put all her characters in boxes...
May 17, 2026
(rounded up from 4.5)
This was wholesome as all heck. I love that we get these lower angst romances for the YA bracket about being who you are and finding yourself and your people. Every character in this (aside from the obvious villains) are delightful, the relationships are super wholesome, and I love that Ellie gets to come to terms with her autism in a supportive environment and even find love! Wholesome, full of sunshine vibes, and a good time!
This was wholesome as all heck. I love that we get these lower angst romances for the YA bracket about being who you are and finding yourself and your people. Every character in this (aside from the obvious villains) are delightful, the relationships are super wholesome, and I love that Ellie gets to come to terms with her autism in a supportive environment and even find love! Wholesome, full of sunshine vibes, and a good time!
June 29, 2026
"When the sun is shining, nobody tells it to shine less brightly, right? We just squint our eyes and adjust. That's what peoople should do with others more, too."
As a queer, autistic woman who loves volleyball, I feel incredibly seen 🥹 Thank you, Birdie, for a writing a story that so many people, whether they're queer, autistic, or not, can see themselves in 💖
"I guess that's the thing about fitting in. The key to it isn't to be exactly like everyone else. It's just to make them believe you are. In all the right ways, at least."
The struggles Ellie experienced every single day due to her autism were so relatable for me. I appreciated how several of her struggles were subtle and not made a big deal out of; she occasionally mentioned how she constantly felt the sand between her toes and at one point described how she tried to cover her ears because the sound of a whistle was too much for her ears to take. While autism may seem like a big thing, it's really a series of small experiences that come together to form a slightly different way of thinking and experiencing the world. The frustration of having difficulty reading people and rushing to clarify when you think your words could be interpreted as offensive were so on-point, Ellie's thought processes felt incredibly realistic and emotional!
"It started with letting in one person who didn't judge me. They saw so many parts of me I was ashamed of, and then they showed me that . . . that maybe, it doesn't really matter if some people think of me as wrong, undeserving, or broken. Because I also have people who see me for who I really am - people including myself."
I greatly admired Sierra, the love interest, for pulling Ellie out of her shell and teaching her that her authentic self is the best version of herself that she can be! They had so much chemistry and their relationship was more dependent on emotional connection than physical touch, which is something I always look for in a good romance! I loved how Ellie's journey of pushing through compulsive heterosexuality led to her discovering that not only was she a lesbian, but she was also demiromantic. We need more representation of demiromanticism and demisexuality, who's with me?!
"Nobody has the right to make you feel like you have to become smaller. You have as much right to take up space as everyone else."
Aside from Sierra, I developed so much love for all the side characters! Noah, Ellie's twin brother, was undoubtedly one of my favorite characters! Although he and Ellie initially struggled to reconnect after being distant for so many years, their love for and loyalty to each other was evident from the beginning! He was one of the first people to encourage Ellie that being herself may not be comfortable at first, but would be very rewarding because of how free and joyful it would make her! The friends she made at camp further encouraged and proved this because they never treated her differently because of her autism! The welcoming environment and the strong bond they created together as a group was so heartwarming, I related to Ellie and Noah's feelings of not wanting to leave something so precious behind!
"I want all of me to be able to breathe, and I sincerely hope that you'll let me."
The only thing I would add to this masterpiece of a novel is a more fleshed-out ending. I wanted to see how Ellie's parents reacted to her coming out and also how her life at school changed after she returned home from summer camp. But this was not significant enough to affect my rating, because I loved every other aspect of this book and I want everyone to read it and see themselves in it!
"After all these years of longing for it, I think I finally know what belonging somewhere feels like. It's knowing that even when things aren't perfect, everything has fallen right into place. It's realizing that despite and because of everything, you wouldn't change a single piece of the puzzle. Not really."
As a queer, autistic woman who loves volleyball, I feel incredibly seen 🥹 Thank you, Birdie, for a writing a story that so many people, whether they're queer, autistic, or not, can see themselves in 💖
"I guess that's the thing about fitting in. The key to it isn't to be exactly like everyone else. It's just to make them believe you are. In all the right ways, at least."
The struggles Ellie experienced every single day due to her autism were so relatable for me. I appreciated how several of her struggles were subtle and not made a big deal out of; she occasionally mentioned how she constantly felt the sand between her toes and at one point described how she tried to cover her ears because the sound of a whistle was too much for her ears to take. While autism may seem like a big thing, it's really a series of small experiences that come together to form a slightly different way of thinking and experiencing the world. The frustration of having difficulty reading people and rushing to clarify when you think your words could be interpreted as offensive were so on-point, Ellie's thought processes felt incredibly realistic and emotional!
"It started with letting in one person who didn't judge me. They saw so many parts of me I was ashamed of, and then they showed me that . . . that maybe, it doesn't really matter if some people think of me as wrong, undeserving, or broken. Because I also have people who see me for who I really am - people including myself."
I greatly admired Sierra, the love interest, for pulling Ellie out of her shell and teaching her that her authentic self is the best version of herself that she can be! They had so much chemistry and their relationship was more dependent on emotional connection than physical touch, which is something I always look for in a good romance! I loved how Ellie's journey of pushing through compulsive heterosexuality led to her discovering that not only was she a lesbian, but she was also demiromantic. We need more representation of demiromanticism and demisexuality, who's with me?!
"Nobody has the right to make you feel like you have to become smaller. You have as much right to take up space as everyone else."
Aside from Sierra, I developed so much love for all the side characters! Noah, Ellie's twin brother, was undoubtedly one of my favorite characters! Although he and Ellie initially struggled to reconnect after being distant for so many years, their love for and loyalty to each other was evident from the beginning! He was one of the first people to encourage Ellie that being herself may not be comfortable at first, but would be very rewarding because of how free and joyful it would make her! The friends she made at camp further encouraged and proved this because they never treated her differently because of her autism! The welcoming environment and the strong bond they created together as a group was so heartwarming, I related to Ellie and Noah's feelings of not wanting to leave something so precious behind!
"I want all of me to be able to breathe, and I sincerely hope that you'll let me."
The only thing I would add to this masterpiece of a novel is a more fleshed-out ending. I wanted to see how Ellie's parents reacted to her coming out and also how her life at school changed after she returned home from summer camp. But this was not significant enough to affect my rating, because I loved every other aspect of this book and I want everyone to read it and see themselves in it!
"After all these years of longing for it, I think I finally know what belonging somewhere feels like. It's knowing that even when things aren't perfect, everything has fallen right into place. It's realizing that despite and because of everything, you wouldn't change a single piece of the puzzle. Not really."
July 6, 2026
⤿ 3.25 stars ⭑.ᐟ
🏖️ [ reading time ] → [3/7/26] - [5/7/26] ᰋ 🏖️
🏐 [ 1 sentence review ]
→ This was such a super cute sapphic romance and honestly a great book to pull me out of a reading slump!
🍉 [ thoughts elaborated ]
☀️ "When the sun is shining nobody tells it to shine
less brightly, right? We just close our eyes and adjust" ☀️
→ I thought the writing was really charming, and I loved the main character, Ellie. She felt so relatable, and even in the moments where she wasn't, I still found myself rooting for her. I also really appreciated getting to read from an autistic perspective. I love reading books from experiences I'm not as familiar with because they help broaden my understanding, and I thought this aspect was handled really well.
→The side characters were also a lot of fun, and I desperately need a Noah book. I loved his relationship with Ellie, and as Sloane said, he really is a man that was written by a women. Also, the conversations he had about his mental health genuinely called me out and even made me tear up a little (although, in the interest of full disclosure, I am on my period ).
→That being said, I actually think this book could've been 50 pages longer. I know it's rare to complain that a romance moves too quickly, but I would've loved a little more time with the characters and to let some of the emotional moments breathe.
→Another criticism is that the messaging sometimes felt a bit too preachy. I really appreciate all the representation, but there were moments where it didn't feel completely organic to the story. At times, it felt like I was being given a mini queer studies lecture rather than letting the themes come through naturally.
→Overall, though, this book just made me happy. It's sweet, charming, and full of heart, and I'd definitely recommend it if you're looking for a cute, low-stakes sapphic romance to get you out of a reading slump.
🏖️ [ reading time ] → [3/7/26] - [5/7/26] ᰋ 🏖️
🏐 [ 1 sentence review ]
→ This was such a super cute sapphic romance and honestly a great book to pull me out of a reading slump!
🍉 [ thoughts elaborated ]
☀️ "When the sun is shining nobody tells it to shine
less brightly, right? We just close our eyes and adjust" ☀️
→ I thought the writing was really charming, and I loved the main character, Ellie. She felt so relatable, and even in the moments where she wasn't, I still found myself rooting for her. I also really appreciated getting to read from an autistic perspective. I love reading books from experiences I'm not as familiar with because they help broaden my understanding, and I thought this aspect was handled really well.
→The side characters were also a lot of fun, and I desperately need a Noah book. I loved his relationship with Ellie, and as Sloane said, he really is a man that was written by a women. Also, the conversations he had about his mental health genuinely called me out and even made me tear up a little (although, in the interest of full disclosure, I am on my period ).
→That being said, I actually think this book could've been 50 pages longer. I know it's rare to complain that a romance moves too quickly, but I would've loved a little more time with the characters and to let some of the emotional moments breathe.
→Another criticism is that the messaging sometimes felt a bit too preachy. I really appreciate all the representation, but there were moments where it didn't feel completely organic to the story. At times, it felt like I was being given a mini queer studies lecture rather than letting the themes come through naturally.
→Overall, though, this book just made me happy. It's sweet, charming, and full of heart, and I'd definitely recommend it if you're looking for a cute, low-stakes sapphic romance to get you out of a reading slump.
July 20, 2026
This was really cute but I think it's much more revolutionary if you read it when you're close to the age of the protagonists.
I've waited for a while for this book to come out and idk, I think I was just expecting more, like it was a fairly short book and a quick read, there wasn't a lot of yearning which I was expecting and the development seemed pretty insta-love. I feel like the characters were kinda underdeveloped or at least seemed so, everyone was just kinda there. Nothing was really in-depth except maybe the main character and the characterisation of her autism.
I've waited for a while for this book to come out and idk, I think I was just expecting more, like it was a fairly short book and a quick read, there wasn't a lot of yearning which I was expecting and the development seemed pretty insta-love. I feel like the characters were kinda underdeveloped or at least seemed so, everyone was just kinda there. Nothing was really in-depth except maybe the main character and the characterisation of her autism.
May 10, 2026
Review of arc from NetGalley
Happy publication day to Smash or Pass!
This autistic lesbian coming-of-age story was a sweet, heartwarming read. I really enjoyed how Ellie’s masking and struggles with self-worth were written as well as her journey to discovering who she is and learning how to be herself. The book also has a very diverse cast of side characters and while they aren’t featured much they all felt like real, three-dimensional people.
The romance between Ellie and Sierra was sweet and simple; drifting into feelings through friendship which I liked. I liked Sierra’s character a lot although by the end I still felt like we didn’t know her very well.
I found the writing a little slow, and some of Ellie’s reflections became repetitive, and the dialogue occasionally unrealistic, but those are fairly minor things that didn’t affect my enjoyment of the story.
I also would have loved it if there had been a little more focus on how difficult it might be for an autistic teen to be at summer camp for the first time. Ellie’s struggles around social things and a sensory issue with sand (I totally understand that one) are addressed and she has one instance of a meltdown at the end of the last day, but there’s no mention of other sensory issues or overstimulation, possible struggles with food, struggles with so much change that comes with being away from home, stimming, or any mention of possible need for comfort items beyond having a notebook she writes lists in. I know all autistic people are different so possibly the author also doesn’t deal with this stuff but I do wish she’d shown more of how completely disabling autism can be sometimes. Most of the story focuses on Ellie masking and trying to seem normal and perfect but barely mentions what she’s masking in the first place.
But despite that, this was a good book that I’m sure will be helpful to queer autistic and allistic teenagers alike in being more themselves, believing in their own worth, and unlearning people-pleasing behavior.
Happy publication day to Smash or Pass!
This autistic lesbian coming-of-age story was a sweet, heartwarming read. I really enjoyed how Ellie’s masking and struggles with self-worth were written as well as her journey to discovering who she is and learning how to be herself. The book also has a very diverse cast of side characters and while they aren’t featured much they all felt like real, three-dimensional people.
The romance between Ellie and Sierra was sweet and simple; drifting into feelings through friendship which I liked. I liked Sierra’s character a lot although by the end I still felt like we didn’t know her very well.
I found the writing a little slow, and some of Ellie’s reflections became repetitive, and the dialogue occasionally unrealistic, but those are fairly minor things that didn’t affect my enjoyment of the story.
I also would have loved it if there had been a little more focus on how difficult it might be for an autistic teen to be at summer camp for the first time. Ellie’s struggles around social things and a sensory issue with sand (I totally understand that one) are addressed and she has one instance of a meltdown at the end of the last day, but there’s no mention of other sensory issues or overstimulation, possible struggles with food, struggles with so much change that comes with being away from home, stimming, or any mention of possible need for comfort items beyond having a notebook she writes lists in. I know all autistic people are different so possibly the author also doesn’t deal with this stuff but I do wish she’d shown more of how completely disabling autism can be sometimes. Most of the story focuses on Ellie masking and trying to seem normal and perfect but barely mentions what she’s masking in the first place.
But despite that, this was a good book that I’m sure will be helpful to queer autistic and allistic teenagers alike in being more themselves, believing in their own worth, and unlearning people-pleasing behavior.
June 3, 2026
Ellie is off to Beach Volleyball camp because her socially acceptable boyfriend, who just dumped her and then cruelly mocked her at a party in front of a lot of her classmates, is going to be there and she's determined to win him back.
Okay, let's all acknowledge that given Ellie's plan for the summer, Ellie has a lot to work through, particularly regarding her self-esteem. But Ellie is autistic and she's 16 and the last thing she wants to be is different, so despite what her parents are her twin brother try to tell her about her value and how wonderful she is, she doesn't believe them.
Beach Volleyball camp changes everything for Ellie.
This book was super cute. I felt the discussions around autism were realistic and the friends Ellie meets at camp were wonderful. And the romance was adorable. But Beach Volleyball? Really?
I'll end this review with an anecdote from my life: I was sitting on my sofa over the weekend and my niece (15 years old and autistic) was at our house. I looked at my phone and saw that the library send me a notice to tell me that my hold of Smash or Pass was ready. My wife asked what the book was about and I started to read the synopsis of the story. My niece stopped what she was doing (playing Mario Kart) and wanted to know more about this story about a high school autistic girl, not unlike herself. Her excitement that this book even exists is exactly why stories like this matter, even if she never reads the book herself.
Okay, let's all acknowledge that given Ellie's plan for the summer, Ellie has a lot to work through, particularly regarding her self-esteem. But Ellie is autistic and she's 16 and the last thing she wants to be is different, so despite what her parents are her twin brother try to tell her about her value and how wonderful she is, she doesn't believe them.
Beach Volleyball camp changes everything for Ellie.
This book was super cute. I felt the discussions around autism were realistic and the friends Ellie meets at camp were wonderful. And the romance was adorable. But Beach Volleyball? Really?
I'll end this review with an anecdote from my life: I was sitting on my sofa over the weekend and my niece (15 years old and autistic) was at our house. I looked at my phone and saw that the library send me a notice to tell me that my hold of Smash or Pass was ready. My wife asked what the book was about and I started to read the synopsis of the story. My niece stopped what she was doing (playing Mario Kart) and wanted to know more about this story about a high school autistic girl, not unlike herself. Her excitement that this book even exists is exactly why stories like this matter, even if she never reads the book herself.
July 29, 2026
✨Volledige review volgt later✨
July 12, 2026
Er zijn zo van die boeken waar je maandenlang naar uitkijkt, en waarvan je dan héél benieuwd bent of ze je verwachtingen kunnen inlossen. Dit is er zo één.
Buiten de lijnen is een zoetsappige en vlotlezende zomerse young adult. Het verhaal is mooi opgebouwd en dankzij de fijne personages leest het erg vlot. Het plot is dan wel niet bijster origineel of verrassend, toch slaagt Birdie Schae erin om je aan het lezen te houden. Het is dan ook voornamelijk de evolutie van de personages - met name van het hoofdpersonage Ellie - die je aan het lezen houdt.
Het is ook meer dan een romance boek zoals er zovele zijn. Door te volgen hoe Ellie omgaat met haar autisme, krijgen we ook meer inzicht in hoe het voor haar is om autisme te hebben. Ze probeert haar autisme te maskeren, maar daarmee kan ze nooit helemaal zichzelf zijn en neemt ze onder meer afstand van haar broer. De evolutie die ze meemaakt doorheen het verhaal, is dan ook mooi om te lezen. Doorheen het boek leef je daarnaast ook mee met de zoektocht naar haar identiteit, hoe hard ze ook hoopt om haar ex-vriendje terug te winnen.
Buiten de lijnen is een fijn boek over vriendschap, prille liefde en de zoektocht naar jezelf waarin de evolutie van de personages centraal staat. Door de thema's die in het verhaal verwezen zijn, is het meer dan een romance boek. Een ideaal boek dus om buiten te lezen in de zomer.
Buiten de lijnen is een zoetsappige en vlotlezende zomerse young adult. Het verhaal is mooi opgebouwd en dankzij de fijne personages leest het erg vlot. Het plot is dan wel niet bijster origineel of verrassend, toch slaagt Birdie Schae erin om je aan het lezen te houden. Het is dan ook voornamelijk de evolutie van de personages - met name van het hoofdpersonage Ellie - die je aan het lezen houdt.
Het is ook meer dan een romance boek zoals er zovele zijn. Door te volgen hoe Ellie omgaat met haar autisme, krijgen we ook meer inzicht in hoe het voor haar is om autisme te hebben. Ze probeert haar autisme te maskeren, maar daarmee kan ze nooit helemaal zichzelf zijn en neemt ze onder meer afstand van haar broer. De evolutie die ze meemaakt doorheen het verhaal, is dan ook mooi om te lezen. Doorheen het boek leef je daarnaast ook mee met de zoektocht naar haar identiteit, hoe hard ze ook hoopt om haar ex-vriendje terug te winnen.
Buiten de lijnen is een fijn boek over vriendschap, prille liefde en de zoektocht naar jezelf waarin de evolutie van de personages centraal staat. Door de thema's die in het verhaal verwezen zijn, is het meer dan een romance boek. Een ideaal boek dus om buiten te lezen in de zomer.
May 28, 2026
birdie i’m your biggest fan
April 7, 2026
4.5⭐️ love love loved the autism and the queer rep!!! i literally could not stop thinking about this book and so had to prioritize it over assignments and binge read like 70% of it today 🫣 read more on the MG side than YA!
September 11, 2026
(Maybeeee spoilers ahead but not really) This book was overall pretty cute. I knew going into it that I wasn't exactly the target audience since it is YA, but after reading it I think it's honestly geared towards almost an early middle-school aged audience. The gen-z slang used is excessive and to be honest this book made me cringe like maybe once a page.
Ellie’s perspective was actually pretty interesting to read, and I liked hearing about her struggles with autism. But I feel like she confessed her love seemingly out of nowhere at the end of the book. Like how did we skip from “I like you” immediately to “I’m in love with you,” after knowing each other for two weeks.
This is the kind of book that maybe would have been helpful for me to read as a 12 year old kid, but even then I think I would've found it a little over the top.
Ellie’s perspective was actually pretty interesting to read, and I liked hearing about her struggles with autism. But I feel like she confessed her love seemingly out of nowhere at the end of the book. Like how did we skip from “I like you” immediately to “I’m in love with you,” after knowing each other for two weeks.
This is the kind of book that maybe would have been helpful for me to read as a 12 year old kid, but even then I think I would've found it a little over the top.
June 19, 2026
all this book tells me is that im way too old for ya anymore. its a bit too. spell things out for peeps who are yet to discover things about themselves therapy speak kind of book. but i did really REALLY like the chemistry between sierra and ellie and this book gave me such violent summer camp nostalgia that it bumped it up a whole star. very cute. also i followed the author on twitter since before the book deal ever came out and im just really happy to see this book thrive after being published so that is also giving it bonus points. all in all, very cute but i would like it much more if i was like 15, which is not the book's fault at all
May 29, 2026
𓏲࣪◜ 4 stars ♡ᵎ
“When the sun is shining, nobody tells it to shine less brightly, right? We just squint our eyes and adjust. That’s what people should do with others more, too.”
This was one of my most anticipated releases of the year, and it was exactly as I'd hoped it would be.
The writing was very pleasant to read, and I was a huge fan of the story itself. The characters were so adorable, but it was Ellie who captured my heart the most. From the very first second, I fell instantly in love with her and I could see so much of myself in her. Overall i had such a great time reading this.
“When the sun is shining, nobody tells it to shine less brightly, right? We just squint our eyes and adjust. That’s what people should do with others more, too.”
This was one of my most anticipated releases of the year, and it was exactly as I'd hoped it would be.
The writing was very pleasant to read, and I was a huge fan of the story itself. The characters were so adorable, but it was Ellie who captured my heart the most. From the very first second, I fell instantly in love with her and I could see so much of myself in her. Overall i had such a great time reading this.
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