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Noah Can't Even #2
Noah Could Never
Noah and Harry are now officially boyfriends, but is Noah ready to go all the way? It's no help that a group of cosmopolitan French exchange students have descended on Little Fobbing - including sexy Pierre Victoire, who seems to have his eye on Harry! Meanwhile, Noah's paired up with a girl ... who, most outrageously, is not even French. But that's not all: the police are monitoring Noah, and he can't tell if it's because his dad and secret half-brother, Eric, have made off with his gran's fake diamonds; because his PE teacher is receiving mysterious cash infusions from Russia; or because drag queen Bambi Sugapops is hiding out at Noah's house in the midst of a knock-down, bare-knuckled drag feud. Will Noah ever catch a break?
403 pages, Paperback
First published June 7, 2018
112 people are currently reading
1515 people want to read
About the author
Simon James Green
22 books769 followersSimon James Green grew up in a small town in Lincolnshire that definitely wasn’t the inspiration for Little Fobbing – so no-one from there can be mad with him, OK? He enjoyed a classic British education of assorted humiliations and barbaric PE lessons before reading Law at Queens’ College, Cambridge, where he further embarrassed himself by accidentally joining the rowing team despite having no upper body strength and not being able swim. When it turned out that being a lawyer was nothing like how it looks in Suits or The Good Wife, and buoyed by the success of his late night comedy show that involved an inflatable sheep, he travelled to London to pursue a glamorous career in show business. Within weeks he was working in a call centre, had been mugged, and had racked up thousands of pounds worth of debt. Finding strength and inspiration in the lyrics of "Tubthumping" by Chumbawumba, he eventually ended up working on a range of West End shows and UK tours, co-wrote a feature-length rom-com for the BBC and directed Hollyoaks for C4 / Lime Pictures. After trying really, really hard, he also managed to write Noah Can’t Even. If you are interested in stalking him, he still lives in London, where he spends a lot of time telling people that Noah Can’t Even is only partly autobiographical, and his mum has definitely never done a Beyoncé tribute act.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews
August 15, 2018
While many of Noah's escapades in this second book were very funny, there was just something about him that I found it hard to actually 'like'. :- /
I loved Harry, who was non-stop awesome, but this second story was a bit too over-the-top at times, with so many irons in the fire that it felt a bit unfocused and began to frustrate me.
I would have preferred if a few of the book's many, many sub-plots had been eliminated and focused more on the actual relationship between Noah and Harry.
I do admit that I did enjoy the story much more once the road trip to London happened, plus I did really like the ending.
I'd rate this one at around 3.25 stars overall, mostly due to the comedic aspects taking center stage and feeling a bit too in-your-face for my liking.
Think a YA version of TJ Klune's "Tell Me It's Real" on steroids.
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March 27, 2021
4 Stars
Noah Grimes is back with more adolescent mayhem and misfortunes, in this very British sequel to Green’s delightfully amusing debut, Noah Can't Even.
There’s a lot going on in Noah’s life, for which I do not envy him, but thankfully he’s still got always-best-friend and now-new-boyfriend Harry to keep him (mostly) grounded. Noah’s family are still bonkers and his personal neuroses are full on flaring, especially when a drag queen moves into Noah’s house and a student exchange program sees Harry paired with sexy French boy named Pierre for far longer than Noah is personally comfortable with.
Add to this, Noah is increasingly worried about his dear nan’s declining health and for some strange reason Noah is certain he’s being followed by some shadowy adults in and around his small British town of Little Fobbing.
His relationships get challenged and his personal insecurities get put to the test, but through all the silly, often downright hilarious antics, Noah comes out personally stronger for it, and hopefully he and sweetheart Harry do too.
This was fun, funny and heartfelt. I like Noah more and more as I read on, even when so much of what he says and does makes me cringe or shake my head in frustration or embarrassment at times. He’s such a fabulously flawed character and I love watching him grow into a wiser, emotionally stronger boy—even if things sometimes seem hopeless.
This series still very much reminds me of TJ Klune’s funnier toned books and also of the hilarious Netflix show Sex Education, so if you’re partial to either of these you’ll probably have a good laugh here.
I think I may have enjoyed this second book an itty bit better than its predecessor, which is always a great feeling to come away with, as sequels so rarely top their originals. I’d even be open (and eager) to see this rounded out as a trilogy, I truly like Noah and Harry that much. <3
Noah Grimes is back with more adolescent mayhem and misfortunes, in this very British sequel to Green’s delightfully amusing debut, Noah Can't Even.
There’s a lot going on in Noah’s life, for which I do not envy him, but thankfully he’s still got always-best-friend and now-new-boyfriend Harry to keep him (mostly) grounded. Noah’s family are still bonkers and his personal neuroses are full on flaring, especially when a drag queen moves into Noah’s house and a student exchange program sees Harry paired with sexy French boy named Pierre for far longer than Noah is personally comfortable with.
Add to this, Noah is increasingly worried about his dear nan’s declining health and for some strange reason Noah is certain he’s being followed by some shadowy adults in and around his small British town of Little Fobbing.
His relationships get challenged and his personal insecurities get put to the test, but through all the silly, often downright hilarious antics, Noah comes out personally stronger for it, and hopefully he and sweetheart Harry do too.
This was fun, funny and heartfelt. I like Noah more and more as I read on, even when so much of what he says and does makes me cringe or shake my head in frustration or embarrassment at times. He’s such a fabulously flawed character and I love watching him grow into a wiser, emotionally stronger boy—even if things sometimes seem hopeless.
This series still very much reminds me of TJ Klune’s funnier toned books and also of the hilarious Netflix show Sex Education, so if you’re partial to either of these you’ll probably have a good laugh here.
I think I may have enjoyed this second book an itty bit better than its predecessor, which is always a great feeling to come away with, as sequels so rarely top their originals. I’d even be open (and eager) to see this rounded out as a trilogy, I truly like Noah and Harry that much. <3
June 9, 2018
“There is no one better, Noah. No one will ever be like you. There is only different. And in the future, everything is different. So you can choose to live in the anxious misery of what might be, or you can choose the glorious comfort of the here and now. I would pick the now. Tomorrow could be anything.”
I love Noah to pieces and I love how twisted and random his little brain is. What I don't love is how mess somehow mixes in his everyday life; my boy can't catch a break. Between freaking out about taking his relationship with Harry to the next level, the French exchange students, a drag queen on the run, a car following his every move, and his half-brother being shady as hell, Noah really doesn't know how not to lose his mind. And he barely succeeds in not doing so.
This book is the usual hilarious rollercoaster, one hell of an adventure. It messed up with my feelings. I felt so much for Noah and how his overthinking was going to ruin everything good he had going on in his life. The feelings were really strong. I was happy, then mad, then worried (so much worried), then I cried a bit, worried a little more, then I finished the book and exhaled a long sigh of relief.
“I meant what I said. Let’s not be interested in the rest of the world when we’re each other’s worlds.”
Noah and Harry have been boyfriends for two months; they’ve been kissing like crazy, but Noah is scared to take things to a sexier level. He thinks there is something wrong with him because he is a teenager, so he should be thinking about sex at all times, and he isn’t. He is just too worried about what this means, about what that can changed the perception Harry has of himself. He doesn’t think he is enough for Harry; he is not manly enough, he hasn’t got abs, he worries about the most random things, and his life has so much going on that it’s a miracle Harry found Noah interesting in the first place.
Sometimes, having something really nice in your life was worse than not having it, because it made you worries you were going to lose it. And losing something is worse when you know just how wonderful that thing is.
I knew that Noah’s insecurities were going to bring problems to his relationship. I worried so much about their happiness you’ll think they were my best friends. Noah overthinks and by overthinking he makes one mistake after the other. I was on edge all the time; I was on edge even as I was laughing my butt off at the hilarity of the situations Noah finds himself involved.
This might be London, and it might all be very hip, but they’d forgotten about the one thing that was always en vogue: good grammar.
I love Noah so much: his quirks and love for things done the right way! He always tries his best even when life seems to be doing everything to throw things in his way. He might think he is very unlucky in a lot of things, but he doesn’t see just how lucky he actually is, how many people are on his side and love him just the way he is.
“When you next see me I will have thwarted a criminal endeavour and been to London. I will be a changed person. Take a long hard look at the boy, for he will return a man.”
I can’t write how many things are going on at the same time because, trust me, there are a lot of things going on in this book. I guess you just need to read it and find out!
I love Noah to pieces and I love how twisted and random his little brain is. What I don't love is how mess somehow mixes in his everyday life; my boy can't catch a break. Between freaking out about taking his relationship with Harry to the next level, the French exchange students, a drag queen on the run, a car following his every move, and his half-brother being shady as hell, Noah really doesn't know how not to lose his mind. And he barely succeeds in not doing so.
This book is the usual hilarious rollercoaster, one hell of an adventure. It messed up with my feelings. I felt so much for Noah and how his overthinking was going to ruin everything good he had going on in his life. The feelings were really strong. I was happy, then mad, then worried (so much worried), then I cried a bit, worried a little more, then I finished the book and exhaled a long sigh of relief.
“I meant what I said. Let’s not be interested in the rest of the world when we’re each other’s worlds.”
Noah and Harry have been boyfriends for two months; they’ve been kissing like crazy, but Noah is scared to take things to a sexier level. He thinks there is something wrong with him because he is a teenager, so he should be thinking about sex at all times, and he isn’t. He is just too worried about what this means, about what that can changed the perception Harry has of himself. He doesn’t think he is enough for Harry; he is not manly enough, he hasn’t got abs, he worries about the most random things, and his life has so much going on that it’s a miracle Harry found Noah interesting in the first place.
Sometimes, having something really nice in your life was worse than not having it, because it made you worries you were going to lose it. And losing something is worse when you know just how wonderful that thing is.
I knew that Noah’s insecurities were going to bring problems to his relationship. I worried so much about their happiness you’ll think they were my best friends. Noah overthinks and by overthinking he makes one mistake after the other. I was on edge all the time; I was on edge even as I was laughing my butt off at the hilarity of the situations Noah finds himself involved.
This might be London, and it might all be very hip, but they’d forgotten about the one thing that was always en vogue: good grammar.
I love Noah so much: his quirks and love for things done the right way! He always tries his best even when life seems to be doing everything to throw things in his way. He might think he is very unlucky in a lot of things, but he doesn’t see just how lucky he actually is, how many people are on his side and love him just the way he is.
“When you next see me I will have thwarted a criminal endeavour and been to London. I will be a changed person. Take a long hard look at the boy, for he will return a man.”
I can’t write how many things are going on at the same time because, trust me, there are a lot of things going on in this book. I guess you just need to read it and find out!
June 27, 2018
So I really love Noah. He is a mess of a person, but he is so precious. Poor, poor boy.
This book is very good. I don’t think it was as funny as the first, but it still had its moments. There is some British humor that I don’t think I quite caught, but that’s my fault as an American.
I really enjoyed the overall theme of this book being self acceptance and getting past what other people think of you. Noah is a self conscious 16 year old boy. He is worried about the way Harry might view his body, he is insecure about why Harry likes him. He’s worried about the new “perfect” French exchange student who is staying with Harry swooping in and stealing Harry. I think he’s still pretty insecure about being gay as well. He’s also dealing with the craziness that is his family life. Poor boy. I feel so bad for his family life. His mom is fairly useless and his dad is a piece of trash. The only family member who seems to really, truly care about him his slowly subsuming to dementia. His half brother is overall scum. And they have no money.
Noah’s imagination is a bit out there. He sees drama and mystery in everything. And although sometimes he is right, a lot of the time he is far off base. I love his do good personality and I love that Harry loves him for it.
Harry, oh Harry. How I love Harry. I love being in Noah’s head, but I do wish we could get into Harry’s head. I wish we got to see more of Harry and Noah’s relationship in this book, but Noah is so focused on EVERYTHING else that he loses sight of their relationship (which is kinda Harry’s point late in the book).
Overall a great book, but if you were hoping that this focuses more on Noah and Harry’s relationship you might be a little disappointed. Yes there is a great deal focus on certain parts of their relationship, but not quite the way I think most people would be looking for initially. It’s done well though I promise.
This book is very good. I don’t think it was as funny as the first, but it still had its moments. There is some British humor that I don’t think I quite caught, but that’s my fault as an American.
I really enjoyed the overall theme of this book being self acceptance and getting past what other people think of you. Noah is a self conscious 16 year old boy. He is worried about the way Harry might view his body, he is insecure about why Harry likes him. He’s worried about the new “perfect” French exchange student who is staying with Harry swooping in and stealing Harry. I think he’s still pretty insecure about being gay as well. He’s also dealing with the craziness that is his family life. Poor boy. I feel so bad for his family life. His mom is fairly useless and his dad is a piece of trash. The only family member who seems to really, truly care about him his slowly subsuming to dementia. His half brother is overall scum. And they have no money.
Noah’s imagination is a bit out there. He sees drama and mystery in everything. And although sometimes he is right, a lot of the time he is far off base. I love his do good personality and I love that Harry loves him for it.
Harry, oh Harry. How I love Harry. I love being in Noah’s head, but I do wish we could get into Harry’s head. I wish we got to see more of Harry and Noah’s relationship in this book, but Noah is so focused on EVERYTHING else that he loses sight of their relationship (which is kinda Harry’s point late in the book).
Overall a great book, but if you were hoping that this focuses more on Noah and Harry’s relationship you might be a little disappointed. Yes there is a great deal focus on certain parts of their relationship, but not quite the way I think most people would be looking for initially. It’s done well though I promise.
August 16, 2018
Maybe 2.5.
(This is a fairly critical review. With that in mind, I would just like to say that I am always happy to see well written YA LGBTQ+ fiction, and that this book, despite its issues, is exactly that. I genuinely think that the writer is talented and that this book will probably make many people happy. Nice.)
Noah Could Never is playful, funny, and (surely) well intentioned, but more than that it feels unconfident in itself - to the point that Noah and Harry's relationship, the thing that returning readers probably most came back for, plays second fiddle to an over-inflated, ludicrous mystery adventure that, although ambitious, is filled to the brim with tired sitcom stereotypes and unexciting twists.
Noah, the protagonist, is frustrating and often unlikable, going out of his way to be an absolute asshat to the people around him, boyfriend included. And once he said, "Oh phooey," in total sincerity. This is an unforgivable crime. I think he said it specifically to upset me. Harry, on the other hand, is a total sweetheart. He is guilty of nothing but laying his affections on his selfish, pompous, undeserving best friend. I love you, Harry. Forgive me for trashing your bae. (I know you won't. It's ok.)
I'm optimistic that Noah could develop into a more likeable, rounded person, in the future, maybe. And that's what I would hope to see in a follow up to this: a boy who gets his act together and relaxes a little bit, and who treats other people nicely. However, actions speak louder than words - this is a theme that recurs throughout the book - and through Noah's actions, it is projected that he does not intend to change, at all, and that we are here only to watch a paranoid brat alienate those around him one by one.
*some spoilers up ahead*
I want to analyse the climax now, to better explain what I mean. Harry is, rightfully, avoiding Noah, after multiple angsty blowouts. Rock-star Gran (don't ask, just read) tells Noah that he needs to make some big, grand gesture. Moreover, we know that Harry has both suggested and stated that actions are more important to him than words. A gesture of some kind probably would make things better. But some public announcement of love is not what he needs, nor does it make him comfortable when it starts to happen. This is a guy who reads body language fluently, who sees through Noah's lies, who gets upset /not/ at what Noah says to him, even if it's rude, but at what he does. He doesn't want words. He wants a gesture. An action. Not a grand one, either. Something real. Something that truly speaks.
Despite all of this, he is eventually won over by Noah admitting to his faults in an, admittedly nice, little speech in private. This feels...odd. I mean, isn't there something in between a public declaration of love and a private apology that could have been offered? Some action that would speak louder than any off-the-cuff apology could?
Well, yes. Yes there is. It just so happens that it comes from Harry. See, even though Harry was incredibly upset and angry at his boyfriend, he went ahead and dug out the *spoiler* from the bin that Noah was so desperately seeking. Even though this very thing represented what Harry was so upset about - one of the main things detracting Noah's attention from their relationship - Harry rooted around through garbage to get it for the one he loves, even though the one he loves was definitely mistreating him. And that says it all, doesn't it?
Harry is a hero. He shows how he feels not by what he says, but by what he does. This is also what he expects and needs in return. However, it is something that Noah seems unable to effectively do; something which we, the readers, were made to expect that he would work on. And this - actions > words - is a really good theme, not just for young people, but for everyone. I wouldn't be analysing the climax like this it there was nothing worthwhile in it. But the execution is bungled. Noah got lucky. Harry isn't taking him back because Noah has developed. He is taking him back because Harry is a smitten sweetheart who desperately believes in Noah, despite evidence that he, perhaps, shouldn't.
*Spoilers over*
Anyway. The pacing is quick. I was glad for this, as I often wanted scenes to hurry up and be over so that I could get to a more interesting one. The best scenes were the ones closely involving Harry and Noah. They were, naturally, in short supply, well written as they were.
Thematically, there is a lot of focus on self worth and acceptance, and about what you can and should get from your romantic relationships. These are good themes, important particularly for young people to engage in. But they're focused through a character who only seems to develop in circles, like a confused driver spiralling endlessly around a round-a-bout, instead of turning off and making headway in a positive direction.
By the way. We are given Harry and Noah's ship-name - Hoah - in the book, as if the author expects us to all shoot off to FF.net, to write up romantic scenes about them that we felt were missing from the story, with his blessing. And maybe we should. There is, after all, this sense of something being missing. And I don't just mean the payoff to the 'will they or won't they do it' subplot. These two characters - even Noah - genuinely just deserve some better cracks at romance. Ones without geese, and french cheese on barbeques, and pyramid schemes. The fanfiction community will probably be happy to oblige.
As for me? I'm going to wait for the sequel, hoping that it will settle down and magnify 'Hoah' a little more, and develop Noah a lot better.
(One more thing! As far as this being a comedy goes...I did laugh! Out loud! More then once! But there are just as many misses as there are hits. At some point it just started to get tiring, I guess. Ah, well. Until next time, Simon James Green.)
(This is a fairly critical review. With that in mind, I would just like to say that I am always happy to see well written YA LGBTQ+ fiction, and that this book, despite its issues, is exactly that. I genuinely think that the writer is talented and that this book will probably make many people happy. Nice.)
Noah Could Never is playful, funny, and (surely) well intentioned, but more than that it feels unconfident in itself - to the point that Noah and Harry's relationship, the thing that returning readers probably most came back for, plays second fiddle to an over-inflated, ludicrous mystery adventure that, although ambitious, is filled to the brim with tired sitcom stereotypes and unexciting twists.
Noah, the protagonist, is frustrating and often unlikable, going out of his way to be an absolute asshat to the people around him, boyfriend included. And once he said, "Oh phooey," in total sincerity. This is an unforgivable crime. I think he said it specifically to upset me. Harry, on the other hand, is a total sweetheart. He is guilty of nothing but laying his affections on his selfish, pompous, undeserving best friend. I love you, Harry. Forgive me for trashing your bae. (I know you won't. It's ok.)
I'm optimistic that Noah could develop into a more likeable, rounded person, in the future, maybe. And that's what I would hope to see in a follow up to this: a boy who gets his act together and relaxes a little bit, and who treats other people nicely. However, actions speak louder than words - this is a theme that recurs throughout the book - and through Noah's actions, it is projected that he does not intend to change, at all, and that we are here only to watch a paranoid brat alienate those around him one by one.
*some spoilers up ahead*
I want to analyse the climax now, to better explain what I mean. Harry is, rightfully, avoiding Noah, after multiple angsty blowouts. Rock-star Gran (don't ask, just read) tells Noah that he needs to make some big, grand gesture. Moreover, we know that Harry has both suggested and stated that actions are more important to him than words. A gesture of some kind probably would make things better. But some public announcement of love is not what he needs, nor does it make him comfortable when it starts to happen. This is a guy who reads body language fluently, who sees through Noah's lies, who gets upset /not/ at what Noah says to him, even if it's rude, but at what he does. He doesn't want words. He wants a gesture. An action. Not a grand one, either. Something real. Something that truly speaks.
Despite all of this, he is eventually won over by Noah admitting to his faults in an, admittedly nice, little speech in private. This feels...odd. I mean, isn't there something in between a public declaration of love and a private apology that could have been offered? Some action that would speak louder than any off-the-cuff apology could?
Well, yes. Yes there is. It just so happens that it comes from Harry. See, even though Harry was incredibly upset and angry at his boyfriend, he went ahead and dug out the *spoiler* from the bin that Noah was so desperately seeking. Even though this very thing represented what Harry was so upset about - one of the main things detracting Noah's attention from their relationship - Harry rooted around through garbage to get it for the one he loves, even though the one he loves was definitely mistreating him. And that says it all, doesn't it?
Harry is a hero. He shows how he feels not by what he says, but by what he does. This is also what he expects and needs in return. However, it is something that Noah seems unable to effectively do; something which we, the readers, were made to expect that he would work on. And this - actions > words - is a really good theme, not just for young people, but for everyone. I wouldn't be analysing the climax like this it there was nothing worthwhile in it. But the execution is bungled. Noah got lucky. Harry isn't taking him back because Noah has developed. He is taking him back because Harry is a smitten sweetheart who desperately believes in Noah, despite evidence that he, perhaps, shouldn't.
*Spoilers over*
Anyway. The pacing is quick. I was glad for this, as I often wanted scenes to hurry up and be over so that I could get to a more interesting one. The best scenes were the ones closely involving Harry and Noah. They were, naturally, in short supply, well written as they were.
Thematically, there is a lot of focus on self worth and acceptance, and about what you can and should get from your romantic relationships. These are good themes, important particularly for young people to engage in. But they're focused through a character who only seems to develop in circles, like a confused driver spiralling endlessly around a round-a-bout, instead of turning off and making headway in a positive direction.
By the way. We are given Harry and Noah's ship-name - Hoah - in the book, as if the author expects us to all shoot off to FF.net, to write up romantic scenes about them that we felt were missing from the story, with his blessing. And maybe we should. There is, after all, this sense of something being missing. And I don't just mean the payoff to the 'will they or won't they do it' subplot. These two characters - even Noah - genuinely just deserve some better cracks at romance. Ones without geese, and french cheese on barbeques, and pyramid schemes. The fanfiction community will probably be happy to oblige.
As for me? I'm going to wait for the sequel, hoping that it will settle down and magnify 'Hoah' a little more, and develop Noah a lot better.
(One more thing! As far as this being a comedy goes...I did laugh! Out loud! More then once! But there are just as many misses as there are hits. At some point it just started to get tiring, I guess. Ah, well. Until next time, Simon James Green.)
June 10, 2018
I'm leaning towards 3.5*. It was my hugely anticipated sequel and, to some extend, it disappointed me, but not too badly. I'll explain :)
My one and only complain is that we don't get to see much of Noah and Harry and their developing new relationship. Instead, most of the first half of the book they barely get any scenes together, which was very disappointing. In the second half of the book there's finally more Harry in it, and we see more of their relationship.
As this was supposed to be the book about 'will they or won't they', it was barely about that. I thought I was going to get some awkward first intimate experiences, but instead there were just a couple of those scenes (though well written, I must say).
Instead, there's A LOT going on in this book and I was wondering was all of it even necessary. I wish the author would have cut some of the 'drama' out and added more Harry and Noah scenes. When the thing with the goose happened, I literary had to stop reading, I rolled my eyes really hard and took a deep breath. And only then I continued. It felt too much and too cartoonist. I wonder if this is all because of the 'cringe' aspect of the book? If that's the case, Noah and Harry's relationship was sacrificed in order to add so much of the cringe stuff and the drama happening around Noah.
But every scene Harry was in, I loved it. Actually, I found that I enjoyed all scenes with Harry above all others. I find Harry a very gentle, caring, yet a little cheeky character. He is my absolute favorite (gran is great as well), and I melt every time he appears on the page. So (I probably repeat myself) I wish we had more of him.
On the whole, I enjoyed the book, it was my weekend read and it did get me to laugh at some places. I liked the french boy arc (it's not big, but I was surprised by the small things he did and said at the end), I love gran a lot (she is so loving and has the best advice ever!). Noah was overboard in the sequel. I feel like he was just in pieces, getting himself in stupid, unnecessary trouble all the time.
I feel like the first book was better thought out, had longer scenes that were more grounded in the moment. The sequel flew by and we barely stopped at the more important and serious scenes, just touching up on them. I felt like more focus was placed on the crazy/weird stuff happening around Noah and Noah being completely off the charts.
I also feel like I'm not sure why Harry likes Noah, because Harry doesn't say much until the end. I wish we got more of his mind. He says he likes Noah being weird and crazy (I don't remember the exact quote), but we don't get to see why, we don't get to see scenes where they are doing weird, crazy things together, and enjoying it.
But the end was good, Harry showed so much maturity, I was quite surprised. And when he hurt, it tugged at my heart as well...
It's a long review and I think it shows how much I care about the book. The sequel did not live up to the hype I created for myself, but I still enjoyed it, and still love Noah and Harry. I will say that the second half of the book I liked more than the first, but on the whole, it was great to see how the boys got along after they got together, and to know what happens to them.
I think we now need the last book where they're together in university and Noah finally gets his shit together, there is less weird stuff happening around him and more of Harry! :) But if it's the end for the boys, the last sentence of the book is all I need to know about their future! :D
Edit: Also, I feel really bad for not giving it a 100% positive review and 5*. I'm being honest, but I also feel like the author is a really nice person and I'm just not being very nice in return...
My one and only complain is that we don't get to see much of Noah and Harry and their developing new relationship. Instead, most of the first half of the book they barely get any scenes together, which was very disappointing. In the second half of the book there's finally more Harry in it, and we see more of their relationship.
As this was supposed to be the book about 'will they or won't they', it was barely about that. I thought I was going to get some awkward first intimate experiences, but instead there were just a couple of those scenes (though well written, I must say).
Instead, there's A LOT going on in this book and I was wondering was all of it even necessary. I wish the author would have cut some of the 'drama' out and added more Harry and Noah scenes. When the thing with the goose happened, I literary had to stop reading, I rolled my eyes really hard and took a deep breath. And only then I continued. It felt too much and too cartoonist. I wonder if this is all because of the 'cringe' aspect of the book? If that's the case, Noah and Harry's relationship was sacrificed in order to add so much of the cringe stuff and the drama happening around Noah.
But every scene Harry was in, I loved it. Actually, I found that I enjoyed all scenes with Harry above all others. I find Harry a very gentle, caring, yet a little cheeky character. He is my absolute favorite (gran is great as well), and I melt every time he appears on the page. So (I probably repeat myself) I wish we had more of him.
On the whole, I enjoyed the book, it was my weekend read and it did get me to laugh at some places. I liked the french boy arc (it's not big, but I was surprised by the small things he did and said at the end), I love gran a lot (she is so loving and has the best advice ever!). Noah was overboard in the sequel. I feel like he was just in pieces, getting himself in stupid, unnecessary trouble all the time.
I feel like the first book was better thought out, had longer scenes that were more grounded in the moment. The sequel flew by and we barely stopped at the more important and serious scenes, just touching up on them. I felt like more focus was placed on the crazy/weird stuff happening around Noah and Noah being completely off the charts.
I also feel like I'm not sure why Harry likes Noah, because Harry doesn't say much until the end. I wish we got more of his mind. He says he likes Noah being weird and crazy (I don't remember the exact quote), but we don't get to see why, we don't get to see scenes where they are doing weird, crazy things together, and enjoying it.
But the end was good, Harry showed so much maturity, I was quite surprised. And when he hurt, it tugged at my heart as well...
It's a long review and I think it shows how much I care about the book. The sequel did not live up to the hype I created for myself, but I still enjoyed it, and still love Noah and Harry. I will say that the second half of the book I liked more than the first, but on the whole, it was great to see how the boys got along after they got together, and to know what happens to them.
I think we now need the last book where they're together in university and Noah finally gets his shit together, there is less weird stuff happening around him and more of Harry! :) But if it's the end for the boys, the last sentence of the book is all I need to know about their future! :D
Edit: Also, I feel really bad for not giving it a 100% positive review and 5*. I'm being honest, but I also feel like the author is a really nice person and I'm just not being very nice in return...
January 4, 2025
I think this might be one of my favourite.
I LOVED the first volume and I think this was even better. Noah is an amazing character; he is funny and cute, clueless and crazy. This book made me smile and laugh so many times I couldn't even count.
Moreover, compared with the first one, I think "Noah Could Never" had a bigger conflict - > Pierre.
I hated Pierre since he first made an appearance and I was SURE something wrong was going on with him.
I still like the relationship between Noah and his gran. The chapters with them were funny and sad in the same time, giving a complicated mood. Still enjoyable, though. The pursuit part of the book was another thing I really enjoyed. It felt like a crime novel with suspects, criminals and people are not what they seem to be.
I want more books about Noah and I will hold my fingers crossed for a third volume. Maybe? Please?
I LOVED the first volume and I think this was even better. Noah is an amazing character; he is funny and cute, clueless and crazy. This book made me smile and laugh so many times I couldn't even count.
Moreover, compared with the first one, I think "Noah Could Never" had a bigger conflict - > Pierre.
I hated Pierre since he first made an appearance and I was SURE something wrong was going on with him.
I still like the relationship between Noah and his gran. The chapters with them were funny and sad in the same time, giving a complicated mood. Still enjoyable, though. The pursuit part of the book was another thing I really enjoyed. It felt like a crime novel with suspects, criminals and people are not what they seem to be.
I want more books about Noah and I will hold my fingers crossed for a third volume. Maybe? Please?
June 13, 2023
To chyba będzie najgłupsza przeczytana przeze mnie książka tego roku. Jej idiotyczny humor to pomieszanie "Dziennika cwaniaczka" z komediami z Adamem Sandlerem. Ale zjadłam. Zjadłam i mi się podobało. Można by było zrobić z tego bardzo spoko durnowaty film (niby coś tam w 2018 przebąkiwano o ekranizacji, ale minęło pięć lat, więc myślę, że chyba nie wyszło).
November 25, 2019
If you have the humour of a 12 year old boy (just like me) this book will be perfect for you. Noah is so awkward and there’s so much second hand embarrassment, I laughed my ass off!
And that’s what this book intends to be I think, just a funny story for young readers to enjoy. It’s not a story to educate.
If that’s enough for you, I think you can enjoy it. I read both books on my holidays and they were a perfect easy and funny read!
Some situations were a bit over the top, but over all I totally fell in love with our weird bean Noah and I felt really sorry for him on many levels.
I liked the first book a little more than the second one, but only because I‘m not a huge fan of miscommunication as a huge part of the plot.
I absolutely loved though, that it showed, that boys can have insecurities and body issues either! Also that it showed how everyone has their own definition what ‘perfect’ means.
And that’s what this book intends to be I think, just a funny story for young readers to enjoy. It’s not a story to educate.
If that’s enough for you, I think you can enjoy it. I read both books on my holidays and they were a perfect easy and funny read!
Some situations were a bit over the top, but over all I totally fell in love with our weird bean Noah and I felt really sorry for him on many levels.
I liked the first book a little more than the second one, but only because I‘m not a huge fan of miscommunication as a huge part of the plot.
I absolutely loved though, that it showed, that boys can have insecurities and body issues either! Also that it showed how everyone has their own definition what ‘perfect’ means.
February 22, 2022
Noah and Harry are back in another hilarious book !
Noah stumbles headfirst in several crisis, his family is more of a mess than ever, his decision making remains questionable, and his insecurities about himself resurface, and cause trouble in his relationship with Harry.
Harry remains a cinamonn roll who deserves the best!
A rogue drag queen, a petty-criminal father, potential Russian mafia deals, a pyramid scheme, stolen diamonds and a French charmer stand between Noah and Harry. Or do they?
Noah stumbles headfirst in several crisis, his family is more of a mess than ever, his decision making remains questionable, and his insecurities about himself resurface, and cause trouble in his relationship with Harry.
Harry remains a cinamonn roll who deserves the best!
A rogue drag queen, a petty-criminal father, potential Russian mafia deals, a pyramid scheme, stolen diamonds and a French charmer stand between Noah and Harry. Or do they?
September 29, 2020
What could possibly go wrong?...
Everything goes wrong for Noah. That’s what makes him such a likable character. Pure, not quite innocent, and precious. Throw in a boyfriend, crazy family life and a hot French foreign exchange student and the mix becomes perfection. Nicely done Simon. 4.5 for singing grans.
Everything goes wrong for Noah. That’s what makes him such a likable character. Pure, not quite innocent, and precious. Throw in a boyfriend, crazy family life and a hot French foreign exchange student and the mix becomes perfection. Nicely done Simon. 4.5 for singing grans.
August 12, 2018
Review Taken from The Pewter Wolf & Book was given by UK publisher, Scholastic, in exchange for an honest review.
I can't do cringe. I've said this before. I can't watch reality talent contests like Britain's Got Talent or The Voice/X Factor, as I just can't handle the people who think they can sing but can't - I cringe and get embarrassed on that person's behalf. I can't watch certain hidden camera shows due to certain elements. I can't watch certain comedy programmes or films due to the the tone of the humour. I just can't do cringe.
So, me wanting to be read this is a big contradiction. I mean, I read Noah Can't Ever last year, and I knew this sequel was going to make me cringe like heck, but I have been so excited to read this since finishing Noah Can't Even because it made me laugh. Do you know how rare it is for a book to make me laugh? I preordered a copy but Scholastic were super nice and sent me a copy of Noah Could Never for review. I squealed when I discovered it on my doormat and started reading it that very day (that's how excited I was!)
Noah and Harry are now dating. And now only is Noah trying to find his footing with what this could mean, a French exchange is happening and it includes the sexy and very gay Pierre Victoire, who might be having his eye on Harry, and Eva, a girl who dislikes Noah. And there are strangers beginning to follow Noah. Noah has no idea why - expect it could be his dad and half-brother doing something dodgy with his gran's fake diamonds OR that a drag queen is staying at his house due to a drag feud OR Noah maybe getting involved in a pyramid scheme linked to protein powder?
Can Noah get a break?
Yes, this book is cringe-worth - I knew that when I went in - but this is still hugely funny (maybe more so than Noah Can't Even, as I knew how Noah would react to certain things) and big hearted.
Ok, let's get the things I don't like out of the way first. Like I said, I can't do cringe that well and this book - no, this series - has a lot of cringe moments. If you don't like cringe, you might not like this. While there are a few cringe moments that made me want to curl up into a ball, there was a few I laughed at. The one that made me have the strongest reaction was on page 345, where I threw the book on the other side of the sofa then spent next ten or so minutes trying to uncurl my fingers and toes while going "MY EYES!!! MY EYES!!!"
Another thing I didn't warm to was the pyramid scheme storyline. Ok, I get it. I understand why it's here - it feeds into two/three other storylines - but whenever it cropped up, I just wanted to skim it. But seeing why Noah got involved and the fallout was really interesting, but I never warmed to this plot.
But I hugely enjoyed reading this. I read it in just under a week - that's fast for me. I enjoyed the humour in it and I enjoyed Noah trying to come to terms with everything (which, most of the time, was terrible and I wanted to shake him!). I hugely enjoyed a new character called Mike or, when "I got me hair on", Bambi Sugapops, and I hope that if there is a third book, Noah gets more of a relationship with Mike and Bambi.
And I liked how certain subjects are tackled. In this, Noah is worried about his relationship with Harry - is it going too fast or not fast enough - but also, he's worried about why Harry wants to be with him. He's worried that he's doesn't fit a gay template that he sees on the Internet and TV shows. That he's not jock or twink enough. And I get this - I struggled with this when I was coming to terms with my sexual identity and when I started dating. So the fact Simon talks about it and pokes fun at it is refreshing and makes Noah more relatable.
Maybe I cringed while reading this as Noah was me when I was in my teens. Only he's more extreme in his reactions than me...
Cringey, funny and big-hearted - I can't wait to see what Simon writes next.
I can't do cringe. I've said this before. I can't watch reality talent contests like Britain's Got Talent or The Voice/X Factor, as I just can't handle the people who think they can sing but can't - I cringe and get embarrassed on that person's behalf. I can't watch certain hidden camera shows due to certain elements. I can't watch certain comedy programmes or films due to the the tone of the humour. I just can't do cringe.
So, me wanting to be read this is a big contradiction. I mean, I read Noah Can't Ever last year, and I knew this sequel was going to make me cringe like heck, but I have been so excited to read this since finishing Noah Can't Even because it made me laugh. Do you know how rare it is for a book to make me laugh? I preordered a copy but Scholastic were super nice and sent me a copy of Noah Could Never for review. I squealed when I discovered it on my doormat and started reading it that very day (that's how excited I was!)
Noah and Harry are now dating. And now only is Noah trying to find his footing with what this could mean, a French exchange is happening and it includes the sexy and very gay Pierre Victoire, who might be having his eye on Harry, and Eva, a girl who dislikes Noah. And there are strangers beginning to follow Noah. Noah has no idea why - expect it could be his dad and half-brother doing something dodgy with his gran's fake diamonds OR that a drag queen is staying at his house due to a drag feud OR Noah maybe getting involved in a pyramid scheme linked to protein powder?
Can Noah get a break?
Yes, this book is cringe-worth - I knew that when I went in - but this is still hugely funny (maybe more so than Noah Can't Even, as I knew how Noah would react to certain things) and big hearted.
Ok, let's get the things I don't like out of the way first. Like I said, I can't do cringe that well and this book - no, this series - has a lot of cringe moments. If you don't like cringe, you might not like this. While there are a few cringe moments that made me want to curl up into a ball, there was a few I laughed at. The one that made me have the strongest reaction was on page 345, where I threw the book on the other side of the sofa then spent next ten or so minutes trying to uncurl my fingers and toes while going "MY EYES!!! MY EYES!!!"
Another thing I didn't warm to was the pyramid scheme storyline. Ok, I get it. I understand why it's here - it feeds into two/three other storylines - but whenever it cropped up, I just wanted to skim it. But seeing why Noah got involved and the fallout was really interesting, but I never warmed to this plot.
But I hugely enjoyed reading this. I read it in just under a week - that's fast for me. I enjoyed the humour in it and I enjoyed Noah trying to come to terms with everything (which, most of the time, was terrible and I wanted to shake him!). I hugely enjoyed a new character called Mike or, when "I got me hair on", Bambi Sugapops, and I hope that if there is a third book, Noah gets more of a relationship with Mike and Bambi.
And I liked how certain subjects are tackled. In this, Noah is worried about his relationship with Harry - is it going too fast or not fast enough - but also, he's worried about why Harry wants to be with him. He's worried that he's doesn't fit a gay template that he sees on the Internet and TV shows. That he's not jock or twink enough. And I get this - I struggled with this when I was coming to terms with my sexual identity and when I started dating. So the fact Simon talks about it and pokes fun at it is refreshing and makes Noah more relatable.
Maybe I cringed while reading this as Noah was me when I was in my teens. Only he's more extreme in his reactions than me...
Cringey, funny and big-hearted - I can't wait to see what Simon writes next.
June 29, 2018
I could not stop laughing reading this book. Noah is so adorable, relatable and hilarious. His life is so messy and cringe-worthy and Simon's writing is so funny. I cannot wait for the third book - I mean...I'm assuming there's gonna be a third one, there has to be.
4.75 stars
4.75 stars
January 4, 2019
Probably 2.5 stars. I really really enjoyed the first book in this series, however in this one I just found Noah so unlikeable and annoying with absolutely no redeeming qualities. I know he’s supposed to be awkward, but some of his actions were just irritating. It has reminded me how amazing and lovely Harry is though. I thought the plot was okay but slightly ridiculous. I would have liked more Noah & Harry moments. There were some laugh out loud moments and I do love that this is an LGBT YA story set in the UK.
June 25, 2018
Once again, Noah Grimes is hilarious and bumbling and so very endearing. A drag queen war, a diamond heist and French exchange students?! Will Noah and Harry ever “bow chicka wa wa?!” Will any of Noah’s friends stop using American slang?! Another wonderfully entertaining tale by Simon James Green.
August 12, 2019
2.75☆
Vicende ai limiti dell'assurdo a parte, devo ammettere di aver notato un miglioramento verso la fine del libro, in cui vengono affrontate tematiche come l'importanza di accettare se stessi non solo nel modo di essere quanto fisicamente, mettendo da parte i canoni di "bellezza perfetta" che i media cercano di propinarci in ogni modo possibile, fregandosene di come ciò possa influenzare gli spettatori, specialmente in un momento delicato come l'adolescenza ma non solo, contribuendo al diffondersi di un sentimento di ineguatezza nei confronti della società in cui viviamo.
Detto questo si è però trattato solamente di un paio di capitoli su 50 circa di cui è composto il libro, quindi non me la sento di dare più di 2.75☆.
Ora non mi resta che affrontare la novella conclusiva!
Vicende ai limiti dell'assurdo a parte, devo ammettere di aver notato un miglioramento verso la fine del libro, in cui vengono affrontate tematiche come l'importanza di accettare se stessi non solo nel modo di essere quanto fisicamente, mettendo da parte i canoni di "bellezza perfetta" che i media cercano di propinarci in ogni modo possibile, fregandosene di come ciò possa influenzare gli spettatori, specialmente in un momento delicato come l'adolescenza ma non solo, contribuendo al diffondersi di un sentimento di ineguatezza nei confronti della società in cui viviamo.
Detto questo si è però trattato solamente di un paio di capitoli su 50 circa di cui è composto il libro, quindi non me la sento di dare più di 2.75☆.
Ora non mi resta che affrontare la novella conclusiva!
September 13, 2022
Uśmiałam się do łez
July 7, 2022
I definitely enjoyed this one more the second time around. Though I noticed exactly why I would have given up last time. Noah is really insecure and whiny in this one, and his jealousy got a bit much. I think he devolved as a character once he was in a relationship. (It redeems itself at the end). There’re a few continuity errors in here (like Noah didn’t drink tea before, now he does) but nothing of particular relevance. It’s full of the same sorts of shenanigans you’d expect, but not a lot of page time with Noah and Harry. Obviously there’s ridiculous hilarity and crazy circumstances too, because that’s just what Simon James Green does. And I love it.
It clicked in this one for me too: Bambi Sugarpops! She’s in Gay Club! too. You’d think with a name that obvious I’d remember it, but nope, book two to finally realise the connection.
It clicked in this one for me too: Bambi Sugarpops! She’s in Gay Club! too. You’d think with a name that obvious I’d remember it, but nope, book two to finally realise the connection.
August 12, 2018
AWWWW... *sniff*
That about says it all! *grin*
That about says it all! *grin*
August 9, 2020
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Despite having to suspend my disbelief for some quite frankly bizarre goings on this book made me feel warm and cosy and also made me laugh out loud plenty of times. Noah is insufferable at times, but his heart is in the right place along with most of the characters in this tale.
Despite having to suspend my disbelief for some quite frankly bizarre goings on this book made me feel warm and cosy and also made me laugh out loud plenty of times. Noah is insufferable at times, but his heart is in the right place along with most of the characters in this tale.
June 23, 2018
Full review at: http://www.queenofteenfiction.co.uk/2...
Listen. You have no idea how much I've been looking forward to getting my hands on a copy of this sequel. In case you didn't already know, I adore Noah Can't Even. I love it so much that I scream about it online and recommend it whenever I get the chance. You can officially consider me to be a Noah Grimes Enthusiast. So to say I was pretty damn excited for this book is a bit of an understatement.
Noah Could Never picks up a little while after the events of the first book. Noah and Harry are now officially a couple and all is going well, apart from Noah's constant self doubt, that is. Obviously, I'm not going to go into the plot too much because I really don't want to spoil any of the amazing and completely wild surprises that get thrown at the characters, so I'll keep my fangirling spoiler-free. Just know that I loved the plot very much and it's just so FUN. You literally cannot predict anything that is going to happen in this book. It's impossible. It's also a very difficult book to review because honestly all I want to do is ASDFGHJKL;
You probably don't need me to confirm for you that this book is as hilarious as the first one, maybe even more so. Honestly. I was almost in tears laughing just a few pages in. I CAN'T COPE WITH THE HUMOUR IN THESE BOOKS.
Things I have learned reading Noah Could Never:
✩ Try to avoid reading it surrounded by family who are going to question why you keep grinning down at the book in your lap like the biggest dork in the world.
✩ READ WITH CAUTION ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT. I sincerely hope the poor commuters sitting across from me on the train didn't catch me fighting back the giggles. There are just certain scenes in this book that CANNOT be read in public. IT'S JUST TOO FUNNY FOR THAT, OKAY?
You also don't need me to reiterate how much I love Noah. I can't help but adore him, even when he's making huge mistakes which you know he's going to end up regretting. I didn't expect to relate to him, but the feelings of self doubt that he has really hit home more than I was ready for! He goes through a lot of moments when he feels like he doesn't deserve Harry, and believing he needs to be a better version of himself, trying various ways to change himself to what he thinks is deemed 'perfect'. Something that I really loved about this book is how, despite all of the laughs and wild situations, there were genuinely heartfelt moments between characters, and some very real issues were dealt with in a lighthearted way. Noah Could Never has a very cute message within its pages.
Whilst I'm talking about characters. Bambi. An incredible edition to this series. Just when you think this story couldn't get any better, we get introduced to the greatest drag queen Little Fobbing has ever seen, with perfect comedic timing and a wonderful catalogue of innuendos (though Pierre might just win the title of Best Innuendo Provider).
Reasons To Love:
♡ Cutest characters you will ever meet. Honestly. How do people get through life without reading about Noah and Harry.
♡ LITERALLY THE FUNNIEST. We all need a good, funny story every now and then. No matter what genre you usually read, it's always a good idea to pick up a book that's guaranteed to make you smile.
♡ French exchange students because every good YA story needs French exchange students at some point.
♡ Millie and the Dickheads. That's all I'm saying.
Noah Could Never is the perfect sequel. It really is. After all this waiting, it didn't disappoint. From a dodgy protein shake business to a road trip with a drag queen, this book throws so many unexpected yet utterly hilarious situations at the characters, and it's glorious. Hands down my favourite book of 2018 so far. If you haven't had a chance to read the first book, Noah Can't Even, but happen to be reading this review anyway: PLEASE PICK IT UP. It's the perfect read for Pride Month, and trust me when I say that it will make you smile.
Listen. You have no idea how much I've been looking forward to getting my hands on a copy of this sequel. In case you didn't already know, I adore Noah Can't Even. I love it so much that I scream about it online and recommend it whenever I get the chance. You can officially consider me to be a Noah Grimes Enthusiast. So to say I was pretty damn excited for this book is a bit of an understatement.
Noah Could Never picks up a little while after the events of the first book. Noah and Harry are now officially a couple and all is going well, apart from Noah's constant self doubt, that is. Obviously, I'm not going to go into the plot too much because I really don't want to spoil any of the amazing and completely wild surprises that get thrown at the characters, so I'll keep my fangirling spoiler-free. Just know that I loved the plot very much and it's just so FUN. You literally cannot predict anything that is going to happen in this book. It's impossible. It's also a very difficult book to review because honestly all I want to do is ASDFGHJKL;
You probably don't need me to confirm for you that this book is as hilarious as the first one, maybe even more so. Honestly. I was almost in tears laughing just a few pages in. I CAN'T COPE WITH THE HUMOUR IN THESE BOOKS.
Things I have learned reading Noah Could Never:
✩ Try to avoid reading it surrounded by family who are going to question why you keep grinning down at the book in your lap like the biggest dork in the world.
✩ READ WITH CAUTION ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT. I sincerely hope the poor commuters sitting across from me on the train didn't catch me fighting back the giggles. There are just certain scenes in this book that CANNOT be read in public. IT'S JUST TOO FUNNY FOR THAT, OKAY?
You also don't need me to reiterate how much I love Noah. I can't help but adore him, even when he's making huge mistakes which you know he's going to end up regretting. I didn't expect to relate to him, but the feelings of self doubt that he has really hit home more than I was ready for! He goes through a lot of moments when he feels like he doesn't deserve Harry, and believing he needs to be a better version of himself, trying various ways to change himself to what he thinks is deemed 'perfect'. Something that I really loved about this book is how, despite all of the laughs and wild situations, there were genuinely heartfelt moments between characters, and some very real issues were dealt with in a lighthearted way. Noah Could Never has a very cute message within its pages.
Whilst I'm talking about characters. Bambi. An incredible edition to this series. Just when you think this story couldn't get any better, we get introduced to the greatest drag queen Little Fobbing has ever seen, with perfect comedic timing and a wonderful catalogue of innuendos (though Pierre might just win the title of Best Innuendo Provider).
Reasons To Love:
♡ Cutest characters you will ever meet. Honestly. How do people get through life without reading about Noah and Harry.
♡ LITERALLY THE FUNNIEST. We all need a good, funny story every now and then. No matter what genre you usually read, it's always a good idea to pick up a book that's guaranteed to make you smile.
♡ French exchange students because every good YA story needs French exchange students at some point.
♡ Millie and the Dickheads. That's all I'm saying.
Noah Could Never is the perfect sequel. It really is. After all this waiting, it didn't disappoint. From a dodgy protein shake business to a road trip with a drag queen, this book throws so many unexpected yet utterly hilarious situations at the characters, and it's glorious. Hands down my favourite book of 2018 so far. If you haven't had a chance to read the first book, Noah Can't Even, but happen to be reading this review anyway: PLEASE PICK IT UP. It's the perfect read for Pride Month, and trust me when I say that it will make you smile.
July 13, 2018
A sequel is never easy, and despite loving Noah for all his awkward, socially inept, self deprecation, and Harry for his devoted nature, this fell short due to predictable cliches. I liked the book, it was funny, had madcap moments like the insanity that happened in the first one, and there were some scenes between Harry and Noah I wished there were more of. Noah as the kid on the spectrum navigating dating, love, and strained family dynamics is touching, and even sweet at times. At others I slap my forehead thinking, “Noah, what are you doing?”
The diamond heist, drug deals, secret stalkers, cops coming, on stage drag queen fight, and foreign exchange students hot to trot all sound like a mix for hilarity and fun. Some of it was. Some of it felt pushed and shoved together. Some of it was type-o’s (isn’t this scholastic here?!) and a goose scene too ridiculous to be enjoyed. See my spoiler for more
I understand Noah was optioned for tv and I am excited because the first book was brilliant and these characters are great. This sequel was good fun, I liked it, but wanted more out of it.
The diamond heist, drug deals, secret stalkers, cops coming, on stage drag queen fight, and foreign exchange students hot to trot all sound like a mix for hilarity and fun. Some of it was. Some of it felt pushed and shoved together. Some of it was type-o’s (isn’t this scholastic here?!) and a goose scene too ridiculous to be enjoyed. See my spoiler for more
I understand Noah was optioned for tv and I am excited because the first book was brilliant and these characters are great. This sequel was good fun, I liked it, but wanted more out of it.
July 22, 2018
Charming and slight.
Too many cute mishaps for me but the author is very talented.
Mike.
Too many cute mishaps for me but the author is very talented.
Mike.
July 3, 2018
4/5
This book is even more kind of a Spanish dramatic soap-opera than its prequel, Noah Can't Even. Some wise words, which I really appreciated, between an ongoing drama. If you think it can't get worse it gets. This book is far away from being a serious book, though I really liked it for what it is. And to finish this awesome ride of a book I like to quote Harry: *quote* FUCK HOLLISTER MODELS *un-quote*.
This book is even more kind of a Spanish dramatic soap-opera than its prequel, Noah Can't Even. Some wise words, which I really appreciated, between an ongoing drama. If you think it can't get worse it gets. This book is far away from being a serious book, though I really liked it for what it is. And to finish this awesome ride of a book I like to quote Harry: *quote* FUCK HOLLISTER MODELS *un-quote*.
May 17, 2020
Noah's antics keep on delivering! I knew this'd be a good one when I started laughing out loud on page 3. The craziness of the plot manages to outdo the first book; it was so entertaining and everything was resolved very neatly. My personal highlights were the French seduction scene (I am French and yet in that scene I 100% am Noah), the literal wild goose chase and the head-banging moment Noah decides to excuse himself to the bathroom right in the middle of a sizzling session with Harry! Honestly that boy! What I love in Simon's books is that there's always an element of sensitivity, it's not just humour for the sake of it. Here I thought Noah's insecurities about body image and sex were really touching and certainly relatable for many teenage boys. The point is actually stated in the book that there is very little out there for gay teens who have questions or worries about sex. I'm not convinced Noah wouldn't be a disaster even if there was an encyclopedia of LGBTQ sex in every school library, but still... Oh and last thing, I LOVED Bambi the drag queen! I am so happy Simon is publishing a new novel this year, bring on August!
May 18, 2020
Firstly if you read this series expecting a lot of cute romance this is not the series for you. Sure it has plenty of sweet scenes but this book is, at the forefront, a comedy. Second if you do not really get British humour you probably won't like this book which has a lot of misfortune equals hilarity. Especially for the main character.
I found this book hilarious. Think Fools and Horses, Inbetweeners with a good sprinkle of Are You Being Served? All rolled into one. The characters are silly and over the top. Anyone who attacks this book for not being realistic has woefully missed the point. There is thankfully more and more LGBTQ+ fiction emerging on the shelves. It's nice to see representation in an over the top slapstick comedy novel as well as more serious stuff out there.
A bit of fun. Don't take this book seriously.
I found this book hilarious. Think Fools and Horses, Inbetweeners with a good sprinkle of Are You Being Served? All rolled into one. The characters are silly and over the top. Anyone who attacks this book for not being realistic has woefully missed the point. There is thankfully more and more LGBTQ+ fiction emerging on the shelves. It's nice to see representation in an over the top slapstick comedy novel as well as more serious stuff out there.
A bit of fun. Don't take this book seriously.
October 3, 2019
3.5
W życiu Noah nieustannie się coś dzieje.O tak..i to ile. Jest sprawa zaginionych diamentów i gęsi (tak te rzeczy są powiązane), jest też piramida finansowa ze sprzedażą odżywek białkowych (a przepraszam- wielopoziomowy model marketingowy;)), jest babcia z demencja zakładająca zespół rockowy, i tajemnicze przesyłki pieniędzy z Rosji. W tym wszystkim jest oczywiście Noah i Harry, których to relacja zaczyna przeżywać ciężkie.chwile bo na horyzoncie pojawia się francuski chłopiec Pierre, którego nagość to drugie imię . Ale przecież to wszytskie rzeczy nie są największym problemem Noah, bo jest nim... sam Noah. Pomimo absurdalnej historii książka i zbytniego rozdrobnienia fabuły książka dostarcza mnóstwa uśmiechów a czasem i wzruszeń. Bo w końcu Noah jest bardziej...
W życiu Noah nieustannie się coś dzieje.O tak..i to ile. Jest sprawa zaginionych diamentów i gęsi (tak te rzeczy są powiązane), jest też piramida finansowa ze sprzedażą odżywek białkowych (a przepraszam- wielopoziomowy model marketingowy;)), jest babcia z demencja zakładająca zespół rockowy, i tajemnicze przesyłki pieniędzy z Rosji. W tym wszystkim jest oczywiście Noah i Harry, których to relacja zaczyna przeżywać ciężkie.chwile bo na horyzoncie pojawia się francuski chłopiec Pierre, którego nagość to drugie imię . Ale przecież to wszytskie rzeczy nie są największym problemem Noah, bo jest nim... sam Noah. Pomimo absurdalnej historii książka i zbytniego rozdrobnienia fabuły książka dostarcza mnóstwa uśmiechów a czasem i wzruszeń. Bo w końcu Noah jest bardziej...
July 14, 2019
While I’m very keen to big up LGBT literature I must say this book is trash. It’s easy to read because it’s so badly written and the story so ridiculous. The main character is totally insufferable and treats the drag queen character terribly and we’re made to think that ‘Bambi/Mick’ is a complete mess of a person. I was glad to finish the book but I will never get back the time I spent reading it. Towards the end some of the editing was sloppy, with some grammar and punctuation being off. There’s little style to the book, demonstrated in one chapter being comprised of one line, which was a scream. I think the writer has tried hard to give relatable characters, but has instead given us characters that a middle-aged person would think a YA audience would like. The only redeeming quality of the book is that the storylines do come together at the end, even if the way there is chaotic and ridiculous. But hey maybe ridiculous is what the author was after?
January 6, 2019
Oh my god I LOVE these books. They are truly ridiculous and over-the-top and remind me so much of Louise Rennison style YA from when I was growing up - and so beautifully British, which feels rare in YA!? Yes, the things that happen to Noah are utterly unbelievable, and yes, he is a bit annoying, but that's why I loved it! It's hard for a book to be laugh out loud funny but this absolutely is, there's a bit where Noah drunkenly refers to Harry's nipple as a 'teat' that had me literally in tears and I couldn't stop laughing about it for AGES.
August 1, 2025
Leyendo este segundo libro me di cuenta de qué es lo que no me gustó del primero, y es básicamente todo lo que no es parte de la trama del romance entre Noah y Harry. El problema aquí es que eso pasa a ser solo una subtrama que toma protagonismo hasta el final, para darle más importancia a esta historia de “misterio adolescente” que bien podría ser una serie de The CW, y no de las buenas. Ah, y el protagonista es aún más insoportable, si es que era posible.
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