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What Happens When
For Molly Kennan, senior year is already an epic disaster. It feels like the whole school knows she made out with Lily at that party, and now she’s accidentally outed herself as a lesbian. Her ex-best friend is trying to ruin her life, and school generally sucks. All she wants is to drown her sorrows in sweet potato fries, but she finds herself tongue-tied by the diner’s new waitress, Zia. Zia is way out of Molly’s league. Older, beautiful, and definitely way more sophisticated. It’s probably just wishful thinking, but Molly can’t help wondering if maybe Zia is flirting with her. Despite Zia’s always-there boyfriend, Molly falls hard for her, and Zia says she feels the same way. So then why doesn’t Zia break up with her boyfriend, and why does she keep so many secrets? Then there’s Lily, who she can’t seem to stop accidentally kissing. When your head and your heart are saying two different things, which one should you listen to?
240 pages, Paperback
First published March 12, 2019
3 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
Samantha Boyette
12 books26 followersI live in Upstate New York and when I am not writing I work in the wine industry. My short stories have been featured on various websites and one appeared in "The Last Man Anthology". I was the Co-winner of the 2010 Textnovel.com contest. My books Morning Rising and Darkness of Morning are available on multiple formats while my Novella Voodoo is only available on the Kindle at this time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
February 19, 2019
3.50 Stars. To be completely honest I was going to skip this book. I did not really care for either of the two other books I have read by Boyette. I figured her style of writing wasn’t really for me. However, after reading some of the early reviews I decided to take a chance on this and I’m glad I did. This was a sweet YA lesfic book and I’m glad I read it. In my opinion this is the best book by Boyette so far.
I’m not what you would call a big YA fan. I tend to enjoy YA fantasy books but YA books that take place in high school are not my favorite. I find that either the teenagers seem way older or they feel immature. I was glad I didn’t feel that way in this book. This felt like a book written in a realistic teenage voice, so I have to give Boyette props for that.
I was also a little concerned about the bullying. This book is about a girl, going into her senior year, that outed herself publicly over the summer. Things are not easy for her a she quickly becomes a target of bullying. I don’t like to read about teenagers being bullied. I mean who does?! And while I even found myself tearing up once, there are a lot of good feelings in this book too. There is a lot of acceptance and people trying to be decent human beings that it made the bulling much easier to swallow. This book was sweet and it gave me a little hope.
The only part I didn’t care for was the main’s relationship/crush she has on an older girl. It felt a little odd to me like it almost didn’t fit into the rest of the tone of the book, but I really enjoyed all the other parts.
If you are looking for a sweet YA read, I think this is a good choice. I’m far from an expert on YA, but this felt authentic to me. Plus the sweetness put a big smile on my face when I was finished reading so that’s always a positive in my book.
An ARC was given to me by BSB for a honest review.
I’m not what you would call a big YA fan. I tend to enjoy YA fantasy books but YA books that take place in high school are not my favorite. I find that either the teenagers seem way older or they feel immature. I was glad I didn’t feel that way in this book. This felt like a book written in a realistic teenage voice, so I have to give Boyette props for that.
I was also a little concerned about the bullying. This book is about a girl, going into her senior year, that outed herself publicly over the summer. Things are not easy for her a she quickly becomes a target of bullying. I don’t like to read about teenagers being bullied. I mean who does?! And while I even found myself tearing up once, there are a lot of good feelings in this book too. There is a lot of acceptance and people trying to be decent human beings that it made the bulling much easier to swallow. This book was sweet and it gave me a little hope.
The only part I didn’t care for was the main’s relationship/crush she has on an older girl. It felt a little odd to me like it almost didn’t fit into the rest of the tone of the book, but I really enjoyed all the other parts.
If you are looking for a sweet YA read, I think this is a good choice. I’m far from an expert on YA, but this felt authentic to me. Plus the sweetness put a big smile on my face when I was finished reading so that’s always a positive in my book.
An ARC was given to me by BSB for a honest review.
March 10, 2019
I received an advanced copy of this title from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
3 1/2 stars.
I didn't expect to like this book as thoroughly as I did. In the beginning of the book, the premise is interesting and engaging, but then things start to seem a little bit morally corrupt.
I'll just clarify now, that some things in this book seem very uh, questionable, to put it lightly, and I and I'm sure many others were wary of reading the rest of the story because of it. But after finishing it, I can safely that this is for the purpose of character development and teaching a moral lesson than being an edgy fictional teen story. The purpose of that particular event in the book is apparent upon finishing, where I was worried it was just there to make the story interesting and intense, I feel like it actually serves a purpose towards the development of our main character and the story in general. After finishing the book, I can say that I enjoyed it.
I didn't really read a lot of concern over it in other peoples' reviews, which I found relatively concerning, but maybe they didn't think it was a big deal after finishing the book or not worth mentioning thus so as a concern, which I can understand. While I was reading, I was highly concerned that nobody was talking about it because I was so shook over it.
I really enjoyed the relationship between Molly and Luke. I don't often get to see such close bonds between brother and sister in novels I read, and I felt that this one was written really nicely and realistically, it was definitely a highlight of the book for me.
Honestly, and I'm gonna be real here, I think the only thing that saved this main character for me was how relatable most of her inner dialogue was. Being a lesbian myself, I found so many things she struggled with relatable to my own life. But other than relating to her on a really personal level, I didn't really like her that much. She was a gigantic douche, which of course is the reason the whole character development takes place in the first place and is basically the entire plot of the book, I was glad to see her realizing her mistakes, but I found it hard to forgive her for them, and therefore enjoy her more than on the grounds of civility.
Lily is a godsent in this story. I love her so much, she's so pure. Protect her.
This is a pretty crucial book to read if you're a girl who loves girls, honestly. I hope this book garners much fame as I feel it has the potential to do.
3 1/2 stars.
I didn't expect to like this book as thoroughly as I did. In the beginning of the book, the premise is interesting and engaging, but then things start to seem a little bit morally corrupt.
I'll just clarify now, that some things in this book seem very uh, questionable, to put it lightly, and I and I'm sure many others were wary of reading the rest of the story because of it. But after finishing it, I can safely that this is for the purpose of character development and teaching a moral lesson than being an edgy fictional teen story. The purpose of that particular event in the book is apparent upon finishing, where I was worried it was just there to make the story interesting and intense, I feel like it actually serves a purpose towards the development of our main character and the story in general. After finishing the book, I can say that I enjoyed it.
I didn't really read a lot of concern over it in other peoples' reviews, which I found relatively concerning, but maybe they didn't think it was a big deal after finishing the book or not worth mentioning thus so as a concern, which I can understand. While I was reading, I was highly concerned that nobody was talking about it because I was so shook over it.
I really enjoyed the relationship between Molly and Luke. I don't often get to see such close bonds between brother and sister in novels I read, and I felt that this one was written really nicely and realistically, it was definitely a highlight of the book for me.
Honestly, and I'm gonna be real here, I think the only thing that saved this main character for me was how relatable most of her inner dialogue was. Being a lesbian myself, I found so many things she struggled with relatable to my own life. But other than relating to her on a really personal level, I didn't really like her that much. She was a gigantic douche, which of course is the reason the whole character development takes place in the first place and is basically the entire plot of the book, I was glad to see her realizing her mistakes, but I found it hard to forgive her for them, and therefore enjoy her more than on the grounds of civility.
Lily is a godsent in this story. I love her so much, she's so pure. Protect her.
This is a pretty crucial book to read if you're a girl who loves girls, honestly. I hope this book garners much fame as I feel it has the potential to do.
February 14, 2019
'What Happens When' is an edgy young adult story.
Molly is forced out of the closet by her alter drunken ego by making out with a girl during a summer party before her senior year. She is dreading school because she knows she is going to face ridicule. This is her senior year journey of gaining acceptance from others and also being able to accept herself..
The level of bullying was pretty outrageous. I'm so naive that I just assume we have progressed far enough that this type of behavior doesn't exist anymore. I'm well enough removed from High School that I can admit that I likely don't have a clue, but it makes me sad if this type of homophobia still happens.
The situations are appropriately amateur for the age of characters. Molly is exploring her feelings for girls and as such, has a raging boy-like libido. The author does a good job of setting scenes with teenage banter to makes the reader feel immersed in a high school mindset.
I'm not so sure that I believe Molly deserved as much acceptance and forgiveness as she received from her friends and family. She was downright selfish. Her actions and decision making were sometimes cringe worthy. Her character was hard to like. She only got a pass from me for the fact that she WAS a teenager and they do stupid things.
I did genuinely like Molly's brother and friend Gavin. They were awesome comic relief throughout the book.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this. It was a very quick read as I finished it in about 4-5 hours. It had a good mix of coming out, humor, and angst. I recommend to people who enjoy high school stories, teenage angst, accepting families, gay activism, and those first-time-all-consuming-crushes-that-are-never-a-good-idea.
I received an ARC through Netgalley from Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
Molly is forced out of the closet by her alter drunken ego by making out with a girl during a summer party before her senior year. She is dreading school because she knows she is going to face ridicule. This is her senior year journey of gaining acceptance from others and also being able to accept herself..
The level of bullying was pretty outrageous. I'm so naive that I just assume we have progressed far enough that this type of behavior doesn't exist anymore. I'm well enough removed from High School that I can admit that I likely don't have a clue, but it makes me sad if this type of homophobia still happens.
The situations are appropriately amateur for the age of characters. Molly is exploring her feelings for girls and as such, has a raging boy-like libido. The author does a good job of setting scenes with teenage banter to makes the reader feel immersed in a high school mindset.
I'm not so sure that I believe Molly deserved as much acceptance and forgiveness as she received from her friends and family. She was downright selfish. Her actions and decision making were sometimes cringe worthy. Her character was hard to like. She only got a pass from me for the fact that she WAS a teenager and they do stupid things.
I did genuinely like Molly's brother and friend Gavin. They were awesome comic relief throughout the book.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this. It was a very quick read as I finished it in about 4-5 hours. It had a good mix of coming out, humor, and angst. I recommend to people who enjoy high school stories, teenage angst, accepting families, gay activism, and those first-time-all-consuming-crushes-that-are-never-a-good-idea.
I received an ARC through Netgalley from Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
February 15, 2019
This book. THIS BOOK.
I was lucky enough to receive an e-arc of this book through Netgalley so thank you to the publishers and author.
I LOVED IT. It is like the perfect fun light book that also deals with some tough subjects. One summer night Molly goes to a party wanting to have fun and boy does she have fun, with a girl. Now i’m all for it but Molly came out to everyone at once when she started making out with the girl in front of EVERYONE.
This story is Mollys journey of her senior year and her dealing with the bullies and figuring out how to come to terms with her sexuality.
It was just such a good book I loved everything about it and wanted to read more and more. And I did not realize had finished until I turned the page and I legit yelled “ WAIT NO.”
This book comes out March 12, 2019 ppl PRE ORDER THIS BABY.
I was lucky enough to receive an e-arc of this book through Netgalley so thank you to the publishers and author.
I LOVED IT. It is like the perfect fun light book that also deals with some tough subjects. One summer night Molly goes to a party wanting to have fun and boy does she have fun, with a girl. Now i’m all for it but Molly came out to everyone at once when she started making out with the girl in front of EVERYONE.
This story is Mollys journey of her senior year and her dealing with the bullies and figuring out how to come to terms with her sexuality.
It was just such a good book I loved everything about it and wanted to read more and more. And I did not realize had finished until I turned the page and I legit yelled “ WAIT NO.”
This book comes out March 12, 2019 ppl PRE ORDER THIS BABY.
February 22, 2019
You can find this review and others on my blog SleepySamReads!
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
As a lesbian I am always looking for books with good rep. Especially those geared toward teens, because there just weren't many when I was growing up. I can count on one hand how many books I read while growing up where the main character questioned their sexuality. I was hoping that this one would be a good one to add to my recommendation list, but honestly I don't think I'd recommend this to anyone, especially a young girl just figuring out her sexuality.
I liked Molly well enough, but man is the girl a mess. I totally understood her fears, but I don't really understand her actions.
I absolutely hate cheating story lines. I especially hate cheating story lines when a 'straight' girl who's in a relationship cheats on her boyfriend/husband with a girl. And for some unfathomable reason so many wlw books follow this exact story line.
I ended up really really disliking Zia. Daniel deserves better, as does Molly. I know Zia is just a teenager who is still growing up, but damn does she make such a mess of her life. And a few of those things she totally could control and been better about.
I feel like Lily deserved someone better than Molly, who strung her along the entire book and only really wanted with her when things with Zia went wrong.
I also felt like this book played way too heavily on stereotypes. I went to school in the deep south. It's about as conservative as you can get and my school never had even half as much sexuality related bullying as this book. We had several out kids and no one seemed to be super bothered by it, and if they were they kept it to themselves or within their bigoted friend groups. There was never a grape soda event or paint throwing. I feel like any questioning teen who reads these things in this novel will be scared out of their mind that that shit actually happens, when in my experience it does not.
The only thing I really liked about this book was the sibling relationship between Molly and Luke. My sister and I are also Irish twins (siblings born less than a year apart) and it was REALLY cool to see siblings similar to how we are.
I am always glad to have more representation in books, but I feel like it's time to start focusing on the quality in diverse books, as well as the quantity of them.
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
As a lesbian I am always looking for books with good rep. Especially those geared toward teens, because there just weren't many when I was growing up. I can count on one hand how many books I read while growing up where the main character questioned their sexuality. I was hoping that this one would be a good one to add to my recommendation list, but honestly I don't think I'd recommend this to anyone, especially a young girl just figuring out her sexuality.
I liked Molly well enough, but man is the girl a mess. I totally understood her fears, but I don't really understand her actions.
I absolutely hate cheating story lines. I especially hate cheating story lines when a 'straight' girl who's in a relationship cheats on her boyfriend/husband with a girl. And for some unfathomable reason so many wlw books follow this exact story line.
I ended up really really disliking Zia. Daniel deserves better, as does Molly. I know Zia is just a teenager who is still growing up, but damn does she make such a mess of her life. And a few of those things she totally could control and been better about.
I feel like Lily deserved someone better than Molly, who strung her along the entire book and only really wanted with her when things with Zia went wrong.
I also felt like this book played way too heavily on stereotypes. I went to school in the deep south. It's about as conservative as you can get and my school never had even half as much sexuality related bullying as this book. We had several out kids and no one seemed to be super bothered by it, and if they were they kept it to themselves or within their bigoted friend groups. There was never a grape soda event or paint throwing. I feel like any questioning teen who reads these things in this novel will be scared out of their mind that that shit actually happens, when in my experience it does not.
The only thing I really liked about this book was the sibling relationship between Molly and Luke. My sister and I are also Irish twins (siblings born less than a year apart) and it was REALLY cool to see siblings similar to how we are.
I am always glad to have more representation in books, but I feel like it's time to start focusing on the quality in diverse books, as well as the quantity of them.
March 12, 2019
*3.5 Stars*
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Molly is starting senior year and right before school starts, she is caught at a party kissing another girl, Lily. She wasn't even sure she was gay before but now everyone knows and sh'es definitely not ready for that. Or for Lily to transfer to her school, expecting them to pick up where they left off. Since her best friend is now leading a campaign against her, she has to find other ways to pass the time and ends up getting a job and spending most of her time with Zia, her older colleague. Feelings grow but Zia has a boyfriend, and probably isn't queer anyway...
This has some good and bad. I had a lot of trouble getting into the story at first. I didn't love the main character and she said and thought some very problematic things.
After a while I got into the story and the side characters made me care more and more. It still had a lot of issues and I wish the slut-shaming had been avoided but most of all, this was ok. Pretty light, very gay and somewhat cute at times.
I really loved Molly's brother, Luke, and Lily's friend Maria.
I also really liked the whole Queer Alliance club thing.
So basically, it had some good and some less good but it was a pretty good time overall.
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Molly is starting senior year and right before school starts, she is caught at a party kissing another girl, Lily. She wasn't even sure she was gay before but now everyone knows and sh'es definitely not ready for that. Or for Lily to transfer to her school, expecting them to pick up where they left off. Since her best friend is now leading a campaign against her, she has to find other ways to pass the time and ends up getting a job and spending most of her time with Zia, her older colleague. Feelings grow but Zia has a boyfriend, and probably isn't queer anyway...
This has some good and bad. I had a lot of trouble getting into the story at first. I didn't love the main character and she said and thought some very problematic things.
After a while I got into the story and the side characters made me care more and more. It still had a lot of issues and I wish the slut-shaming had been avoided but most of all, this was ok. Pretty light, very gay and somewhat cute at times.
I really loved Molly's brother, Luke, and Lily's friend Maria.
I also really liked the whole Queer Alliance club thing.
So basically, it had some good and some less good but it was a pretty good time overall.
April 6, 2019
An easy read, great book to pick up when in a slump. It has its issues, cheating etc but I like the fact it deals with messy issues and shows life and relationships aren’t perfect, characters are good some more relatable than others I didn’t connect with the MC that much but did with others
A good story and enjoyable read
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
A good story and enjoyable read
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
May 31, 2019
Previously reviewed on The Good, The Bad, and The Unread:
One thing I like about Young Adult romance is its unpredictability compared to more grown-up subgenres. Sometimes I can get almost to the end before knowing how things will work out for our main protagonist, and that was very much the case here. One week before she’s due to go back to school after the summer, Molly Kennan accidentally outs herself as a lesbian by getting drunk at a party and making out with the host’s cousin. Although Molly’s parents and younger brother are supportive of her, Molly’s best friend – the daughter of a preacher – no longer wants anything to do with her and does her utmost to turn everyone else against Molly too. Just to confuse things further, Lily – the girl Molly made out with – has transferred to their school, having had a rough time since coming out of her own accord at her previous place.
Feeling cut off from everyone, Molly skips her usual after-school activities and applies for a job at the local diner. There, she meets Zia, a more experienced waitress and a few years older than Molly, and is instantly smitten. Zia seems keen to hang out with Molly, and soon the pair are sharing secrets – and more – although Zia is keen to keep what she does and talks about with Molly separate from what goes on between her and her boyfriend, who seems strangely unaware of Zia’s past as told to Molly.
Back at school, Molly is being bullied by her former friends, and Lily has set up a Queer Alliance group. Suddenly Molly has a whole bunch of new friends right across the LGBT+ spectrum, not to mention allies that include her brother and his friends, as well as a very supportive teacher. The group decide to raise awareness and money for a charity supporting queer teens by holding a same-sex danceathon, much to the annoyance of their detractors. Soon, though, lots of kids are signing up to take part, especially after a fight breaks out between the Queer Alliance kids and the bullies. The event looks like being a success, if only they can avoid it being stopped by a small group of hostile parents, led by the father of Molly’s former best friend.
Molly, through it all, is still torn between her feelings for Zia and those she’s developing for Lily. I really couldn’t see how things were going to end, although the finale to the story was just perfect. I loved this book even more than the previous one I read from the same author and can’t wait to find out what she has in store for us readers next.
One thing I like about Young Adult romance is its unpredictability compared to more grown-up subgenres. Sometimes I can get almost to the end before knowing how things will work out for our main protagonist, and that was very much the case here. One week before she’s due to go back to school after the summer, Molly Kennan accidentally outs herself as a lesbian by getting drunk at a party and making out with the host’s cousin. Although Molly’s parents and younger brother are supportive of her, Molly’s best friend – the daughter of a preacher – no longer wants anything to do with her and does her utmost to turn everyone else against Molly too. Just to confuse things further, Lily – the girl Molly made out with – has transferred to their school, having had a rough time since coming out of her own accord at her previous place.
Feeling cut off from everyone, Molly skips her usual after-school activities and applies for a job at the local diner. There, she meets Zia, a more experienced waitress and a few years older than Molly, and is instantly smitten. Zia seems keen to hang out with Molly, and soon the pair are sharing secrets – and more – although Zia is keen to keep what she does and talks about with Molly separate from what goes on between her and her boyfriend, who seems strangely unaware of Zia’s past as told to Molly.
Back at school, Molly is being bullied by her former friends, and Lily has set up a Queer Alliance group. Suddenly Molly has a whole bunch of new friends right across the LGBT+ spectrum, not to mention allies that include her brother and his friends, as well as a very supportive teacher. The group decide to raise awareness and money for a charity supporting queer teens by holding a same-sex danceathon, much to the annoyance of their detractors. Soon, though, lots of kids are signing up to take part, especially after a fight breaks out between the Queer Alliance kids and the bullies. The event looks like being a success, if only they can avoid it being stopped by a small group of hostile parents, led by the father of Molly’s former best friend.
Molly, through it all, is still torn between her feelings for Zia and those she’s developing for Lily. I really couldn’t see how things were going to end, although the finale to the story was just perfect. I loved this book even more than the previous one I read from the same author and can’t wait to find out what she has in store for us readers next.
February 25, 2019
Despite not being a huge fan of young adult stories, I thoroughly enjoyed 'What Happens When.' I'm also not generally a fan of first person, present tense but the author did such a great job I barely noticed.
Within a few pages, I was immersed in Molly's story. Her brother, Luke, was an equally delightful character, and by the end of the book, I felt like I knew these characters personally.
There's a good deal of cheating, which might put a few readers off, but it adds a lot of depth and mystery to the story. For a long time, I had no clue who Molly was going to end up with...if anyone. At times, I didn't feel like she deserved to find love, but I'm equally happy she did.
This is the first book I've read front to back, without once being tempted to skim read, therefore I couldn't possibly give it less than 5 fat stars.
Brilliant.
Copy provided by the publisher, Bold Strokes Books, via NetGalley.
Within a few pages, I was immersed in Molly's story. Her brother, Luke, was an equally delightful character, and by the end of the book, I felt like I knew these characters personally.
There's a good deal of cheating, which might put a few readers off, but it adds a lot of depth and mystery to the story. For a long time, I had no clue who Molly was going to end up with...if anyone. At times, I didn't feel like she deserved to find love, but I'm equally happy she did.
This is the first book I've read front to back, without once being tempted to skim read, therefore I couldn't possibly give it less than 5 fat stars.
Brilliant.
Copy provided by the publisher, Bold Strokes Books, via NetGalley.
January 4, 2020
Ok so I am a YA fan and I liked this book. This is the first book by this Author I have read and until she releases more it will be the last as frankly by reading the blurbs for her other books they have not appealed to me. So there are some questionable choices made by the Lead character in this book and you know that is odd right..cause young people [and old] never make bad choices. All in all I liked pretty much all the players of the book and it was time well spent..,PG rating and no real sex {ithink]. I await for her to release more. 4..maybe plus stars as I ate this book up
February 27, 2019
This is a pretty solid young adult book that focuses on a young woman who accidentally outs herself at a party over the summer. With it comes all the big feelings, and a heaping helping of being shot down the social hierarchy. Molly, our lovely messy protagonist, also gets herself into a bit of a love triangle.
One of the more uncomfortable things that I thought about when starting the book was what the bullying was going to entail. It was pretty bad, but Molly was lucky enough to have a great support system around her to help her through the bullying. The worst of the bullying for Molly was that the leader of the group of bullies was her former best friend, Cameron. She could handle the other aspects of what was being done to her, but the about face of Cameron was a betrayal that she felt throughout the book.
The romance between Molly and Lily, the girl Molly kissed at the party, is just so sweet that I wished the author spent more time with them. Unfortunately, Zia, the older girl Molly meets and is instantly attracted to at the diner, feels too close to being the sly, manipulative bi character than I am comfortable with. Zia also explains her attraction to Molly but is still in a relationship with a really sweet guy. There are a lot of societal pressures that Zia feels like she can't be with Molly, so she felt like she was using Molly as a fling. I thought Zia could be a good character, and she does have some layers to her that were a little unexpected, yet I felt like her relationship to Molly was too predatory to me. Also, Zia is just not as likable as a character.
Other than that complaint I really enjoyed this book. Molly felt like a teen who just found her hormones. She could be this really mature person, but is still given to being a teen who just woke to her sexuality, which was refreshing. I wished there was more focus on Lily and Molly and not Zia, yet I know that's what the author was going for. We're supposed to be rooting for Lily even if Molly can't seem to really get over her first crush as an out lesbian.
I recieved this ARC from Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
One of the more uncomfortable things that I thought about when starting the book was what the bullying was going to entail. It was pretty bad, but Molly was lucky enough to have a great support system around her to help her through the bullying. The worst of the bullying for Molly was that the leader of the group of bullies was her former best friend, Cameron. She could handle the other aspects of what was being done to her, but the about face of Cameron was a betrayal that she felt throughout the book.
The romance between Molly and Lily, the girl Molly kissed at the party, is just so sweet that I wished the author spent more time with them. Unfortunately, Zia, the older girl Molly meets and is instantly attracted to at the diner, feels too close to being the sly, manipulative bi character than I am comfortable with. Zia also explains her attraction to Molly but is still in a relationship with a really sweet guy. There are a lot of societal pressures that Zia feels like she can't be with Molly, so she felt like she was using Molly as a fling. I thought Zia could be a good character, and she does have some layers to her that were a little unexpected, yet I felt like her relationship to Molly was too predatory to me. Also, Zia is just not as likable as a character.
Other than that complaint I really enjoyed this book. Molly felt like a teen who just found her hormones. She could be this really mature person, but is still given to being a teen who just woke to her sexuality, which was refreshing. I wished there was more focus on Lily and Molly and not Zia, yet I know that's what the author was going for. We're supposed to be rooting for Lily even if Molly can't seem to really get over her first crush as an out lesbian.
I recieved this ARC from Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
February 16, 2019
I liked this book to a certain extent, but I feel as though it could have been executed better than it was.
The story's plot primarily relies on a love triangle, and that in itself isn't something I usually love in a book. But disregarding that, I just found that the romantic relationships were poorly developed. The book starts off right after the night Molly, our MC, drunkenly makes out with Lily, one of her potential love interests, at a party. The next day, she finds herself immediately attracted to Lily and longing to be close to her once more... This is fine and all, but it's rather strange to read since we really don't know either of these characters that well yet. I wish the author would've left a little more room for the much-needed development in their relationship before she pulled the whole romantic tension card.
Another thing I disliked about this book was the constantly used LGBT+ stereotypes. Characters in the book are always talking about how someone doesn't "look" lesbian or how that haircut makes them look "totally gay". Ughhhhh. Can we stop acting as if sexuality is determined by the style of one's hair? Thanks.
But I don't mean to make this book out as bad. I appreciated the overall theme of it. Molly and her friends don't let bullying and discrimination get to them, and they stand up for the rights of all individuals, including LGBTQIA folks, who are unrighteously shunned and mistreated in our world today.
I think that this book certainly has its' flaws, but I can't deny that I found it inspiring and motivating. It's an enjoyable contemporary read that shines light on important problems found in present society. I'd definitely recommend it if you are looking for a fluffy piece of LGBT+ fiction to make your day a little brighter! (;
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC!
The story's plot primarily relies on a love triangle, and that in itself isn't something I usually love in a book. But disregarding that, I just found that the romantic relationships were poorly developed. The book starts off right after the night Molly, our MC, drunkenly makes out with Lily, one of her potential love interests, at a party. The next day, she finds herself immediately attracted to Lily and longing to be close to her once more... This is fine and all, but it's rather strange to read since we really don't know either of these characters that well yet. I wish the author would've left a little more room for the much-needed development in their relationship before she pulled the whole romantic tension card.
Another thing I disliked about this book was the constantly used LGBT+ stereotypes. Characters in the book are always talking about how someone doesn't "look" lesbian or how that haircut makes them look "totally gay". Ughhhhh. Can we stop acting as if sexuality is determined by the style of one's hair? Thanks.
But I don't mean to make this book out as bad. I appreciated the overall theme of it. Molly and her friends don't let bullying and discrimination get to them, and they stand up for the rights of all individuals, including LGBTQIA folks, who are unrighteously shunned and mistreated in our world today.
I think that this book certainly has its' flaws, but I can't deny that I found it inspiring and motivating. It's an enjoyable contemporary read that shines light on important problems found in present society. I'd definitely recommend it if you are looking for a fluffy piece of LGBT+ fiction to make your day a little brighter! (;
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC!
April 6, 2019
4.5 🌟 I really loved this book! It got me out of my reading slump! Thank you netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. I know this book had problems (cheating , problematic characters and more) but I just really loved how easy it was to read, I definitely don't like cheating tropes and it made me cringe and get frustrated at the characters but I just really enjoyed this book and I really liked the character of lily, I did not like Zia and I didn't connect with the MC very much but her brother was wonderful and constantly made me laugh or smile the friendship between them both was just wonderful and I love brother/ sister friendships but just overall this book just made me feel things whether it was anger or sadness or joy or frustration it just really helped me out of my reading slump and I haven't found an LGBTQ+ book I've enjoyed in a long time and I'm just so glad of the lgbt alliance storyline in the book and it made my heart swell and the support the students eventually received just made me so happy and made me wish real life schools had more of this support. Thank you to the author for this book I can't wait to read more of your books now and will be definitely checking out all of your future books!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2019
The story follows a girl named Molly who isn't sure if she's lesbian or not until she kisses the hot Lilly at a schoolparty. People found out and Molly got bullied in her high school because of her being gay. Even her best friend turned against her. Then she meets Zia and Molly falls in love with her. The big question is: did she choose Lilly or Zia?
I have to say that this YA book is predictable, but it wasn't bothering me at all. This is the perfect read if you want to read a sweet and easy read about LGBT+ book. I did had to get into the story, the beginning wasn't really smooth to me, but overall I really enjoyed reading this book.
The writing style is really easy to read and before you know it, you're at the last page of the book.
The plot was too predictable for me, but it didn't bother me because it's nice when an author for once doesn't make a huge plot twist.
I gave this book a three out of five stars and I recommend it if you want to read an easy story about a girl struggling with her feelings for other girls.
I have to say that this YA book is predictable, but it wasn't bothering me at all. This is the perfect read if you want to read a sweet and easy read about LGBT+ book. I did had to get into the story, the beginning wasn't really smooth to me, but overall I really enjoyed reading this book.
The writing style is really easy to read and before you know it, you're at the last page of the book.
The plot was too predictable for me, but it didn't bother me because it's nice when an author for once doesn't make a huge plot twist.
I gave this book a three out of five stars and I recommend it if you want to read an easy story about a girl struggling with her feelings for other girls.
February 19, 2019
ARC provided by Netgalley, so thank you for that! This is my honest review.
The book has great things: some of the secondary characters are amazing (Molly’s brother and his best friend are the best!) and the plot, the fact that the queer kids get so much sh*t for being themselves at school... well, I didn’t like reading that part but it’s what sometimes happens in real life, so the facts that these kids are fighting against that, raising awareness among their peers... it was super nice!
But there were a lot that I didn’t like, specially the main character. I know that Molly’s a teenager, but her feelings seemed way too fickle even for that age. One day I’m head over heels for this girl and the next I’m over her and I want to date this other one? Hmmm... I wish there would have been more depth to those feelings and the situation. I wanted to like her, but I just couldn’t.
Personally, I would have liked the book a lot more if it hadn’t dealt with the whole Zia situation.
The book has great things: some of the secondary characters are amazing (Molly’s brother and his best friend are the best!) and the plot, the fact that the queer kids get so much sh*t for being themselves at school... well, I didn’t like reading that part but it’s what sometimes happens in real life, so the facts that these kids are fighting against that, raising awareness among their peers... it was super nice!
But there were a lot that I didn’t like, specially the main character. I know that Molly’s a teenager, but her feelings seemed way too fickle even for that age. One day I’m head over heels for this girl and the next I’m over her and I want to date this other one? Hmmm... I wish there would have been more depth to those feelings and the situation. I wanted to like her, but I just couldn’t.
Personally, I would have liked the book a lot more if it hadn’t dealt with the whole Zia situation.
February 18, 2019
I hadn’t heard about this book at all until seeing it on Netgalley and being drawn in by the summary, and I’m so glad I decided to read it! Molly accidentally comes out to her entire class the summer before senior year, and the book is her navigating her feelings and conflicting emotions. It handles some sensitive topics really well, and the friendships really made me love the book that much more.
March 14, 2019
Thank you to Bold Strokes Books, Inc and Netgalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. These thoughts and opinions are my own.
I have recently been into LGBT fiction, so I was super excited to read this book! I also just love YA Contemporary. It is such a cute genre. I was disappointed it didn’t live up to the hype I made for it. Although this book was a three star for me, it was a very quick read. I read it over three days, but only because I was trying to finish another book for a book club.
My favorite part of What Happens When was the relationship between Abby and her brother. They’re Irish twins and are super close. Luke is there for her no matter what and I love that. I’m an only child, but if I had a sibling I hope that’s how we would be.
I didn’t like the way the LGBT kids were treated. Yes, I understand she was trying to show how bad it can be for them abuse and bullying wise. It can be bad; I’m not denying that. However, I’ve never heard of it on that scale. It almost seems a little too over the top. I went to a very conservative school in the south and the LGBT kids weren’t treated near like they were in this book.
I also didn’t like that Abby was so hung up on Zia. Maybe it’s a dumb teenage thing, always chasing after who we can���t have. But they just seemed to take it too far and Zia strung her along. The whole book I was just begging her to go to Lily who actually wanted to be with her and wasn’t afraid to show it! In the end, the MC, Molly, did show growth and maturity, which I liked. It’s always nice to see character growth.
I felt like the blurb may have been better than the book. Like I said, it was a quick read. It wasn’t awful. But I just felt like Molly was too caught up on Zia and the bullying was too over-the-top, and theatrical for reality. If you can deal with the bullying and Molly being hung up on a straight girl who may-or-may-not-be-bi and who may-or-may-not break up with her boyfriend, then you’ll probably like this book. There were good parts. I loved the ending. It was a fast read. I just wish some elements worked a little better for me.
I have recently been into LGBT fiction, so I was super excited to read this book! I also just love YA Contemporary. It is such a cute genre. I was disappointed it didn’t live up to the hype I made for it. Although this book was a three star for me, it was a very quick read. I read it over three days, but only because I was trying to finish another book for a book club.
My favorite part of What Happens When was the relationship between Abby and her brother. They’re Irish twins and are super close. Luke is there for her no matter what and I love that. I’m an only child, but if I had a sibling I hope that’s how we would be.
I didn’t like the way the LGBT kids were treated. Yes, I understand she was trying to show how bad it can be for them abuse and bullying wise. It can be bad; I’m not denying that. However, I’ve never heard of it on that scale. It almost seems a little too over the top. I went to a very conservative school in the south and the LGBT kids weren’t treated near like they were in this book.
I also didn’t like that Abby was so hung up on Zia. Maybe it’s a dumb teenage thing, always chasing after who we can���t have. But they just seemed to take it too far and Zia strung her along. The whole book I was just begging her to go to Lily who actually wanted to be with her and wasn’t afraid to show it! In the end, the MC, Molly, did show growth and maturity, which I liked. It’s always nice to see character growth.
I felt like the blurb may have been better than the book. Like I said, it was a quick read. It wasn’t awful. But I just felt like Molly was too caught up on Zia and the bullying was too over-the-top, and theatrical for reality. If you can deal with the bullying and Molly being hung up on a straight girl who may-or-may-not-be-bi and who may-or-may-not break up with her boyfriend, then you’ll probably like this book. There were good parts. I loved the ending. It was a fast read. I just wish some elements worked a little better for me.
March 10, 2019
"I'm finishing school low-key gay"
* *
2 / 5
What Happens When is about a young woman, Molly, who came out by snogging a girl, Lily, at a party. She is immediately ditched by her best friend, Carmen, who is incredibly homophobic, and is incessantly picked on by virtually everyone at school. Essentially, Lily has the hots for Molly but Molly isn't interested, because she's got the hots for Zia, a waitress at a local diner who is straight and has a boyfriend.
I'm not a fan of books with cheating plotlines, especially when the cheating seems to have zero consequences! It's the classic cliche - Molly thinks Zia is specially and that Zia really cares for her and is just waiting for the perfect moment to leave her boyfriend. Meanwhile, Molly hooks up with Lily only when Zia won't text her back, saying she can't be in a relationship because she doesn't want to be gay. Ew. Lily deserves better. The worst part was that Molly and Zia faced zero consequences for their cheating.
"Tyler and I had a fight." "Oh." Those are the best six words ever spoken
The other main aspect I disliked was that everything seemed a bit, I don't know, #that happened. Molly is having homophobic abuse yelled at her, she runs outside crying, grape juice drops on her and everybody laughs. Molly slaps someone and everyone starts shouting about how homophobia is bad. A guy tries to shut down a same-sex dance and a teenager shuts him down and everyone applauds. You get the idea, everything was just a little bit fake sounding.
What did I like? I liked how Molly has a great relationship with her mother, her stepdad (who she values a lot), and her younger brother Luke, who is a ten out of ten supportive brother. I appreciated the themes of loving yourself, standing up to bullying, and acceptance.
My thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC of What Happens When
Read more of my reviews on my blog: http://atlasrisingbooks.wordpress.com
* *
2 / 5
What Happens When is about a young woman, Molly, who came out by snogging a girl, Lily, at a party. She is immediately ditched by her best friend, Carmen, who is incredibly homophobic, and is incessantly picked on by virtually everyone at school. Essentially, Lily has the hots for Molly but Molly isn't interested, because she's got the hots for Zia, a waitress at a local diner who is straight and has a boyfriend.
I'm not a fan of books with cheating plotlines, especially when the cheating seems to have zero consequences! It's the classic cliche - Molly thinks Zia is specially and that Zia really cares for her and is just waiting for the perfect moment to leave her boyfriend. Meanwhile, Molly hooks up with Lily only when Zia won't text her back, saying she can't be in a relationship because she doesn't want to be gay. Ew. Lily deserves better. The worst part was that Molly and Zia faced zero consequences for their cheating.
"Tyler and I had a fight." "Oh." Those are the best six words ever spoken
The other main aspect I disliked was that everything seemed a bit, I don't know, #that happened. Molly is having homophobic abuse yelled at her, she runs outside crying, grape juice drops on her and everybody laughs. Molly slaps someone and everyone starts shouting about how homophobia is bad. A guy tries to shut down a same-sex dance and a teenager shuts him down and everyone applauds. You get the idea, everything was just a little bit fake sounding.
What did I like? I liked how Molly has a great relationship with her mother, her stepdad (who she values a lot), and her younger brother Luke, who is a ten out of ten supportive brother. I appreciated the themes of loving yourself, standing up to bullying, and acceptance.
My thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC of What Happens When
Read more of my reviews on my blog: http://atlasrisingbooks.wordpress.com
December 28, 2019
Not at all my type of book, and writing elsewhere. Indeed this book addresses the problem of coming out, and bullying in high school.
I did not manage to feel good about this story, and I almost gave up a few times.
The cover did not please me, too abstract by the color in the background.
This book is not for me, but can appeal to a much younger audience.
I did not manage to feel good about this story, and I almost gave up a few times.
The cover did not please me, too abstract by the color in the background.
This book is not for me, but can appeal to a much younger audience.
February 15, 2019
**Disclaimer: I received a free electronic ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
This is was such a great read!
When Molly accidentally outs herself as a lesbian at a party, I was gonna expect some drama, and well, it was delivered. The bullying and harassment that ensues (led by her homophobic ex-best friend Carmen) got pretty bad. I'm glad that there were people there for Molly as she was being put through hell because of her sexuality. Because of what is going on at school, Molly seeks comfort in Zia, the waitress at a diner she frequents. I can see why Molly did what she did, but I do agree with Luke (her younger brother), that she was making a bad decision in being with her, especially since Zia was persistent in being straight. There wasn't any point in striving for something that was never going to happen, but then again, Molly wouldn't have realized her mistake unless she had made it. I'm glad the whole Zia fiasco happened because it changed Molly for the better, as she was being a selfish brat to her friends and family because of it. I didn't like that side of Molly at all because it made her an unlikeable character. Luckily, it also made her finally let go of Zia and see Lily in the glorious light that she has always been in. It made me feel all giddy inside seeing everything resolve, as I was Team Lily since the beginning.
Aside from Molly, who was an okay character in a complex situation, Luke was a great character. Sometimes I forget that he is the younger sibling, as he has quite a few wise words himself. I loved the bond between the two siblings because you can feel how much they care for one another, especially Luke, as he supported his sister since the very beginning and is always looking out for her. Also, their banter was just a joy to read. The other friends were also great characters too, like Gavin. I think we all need a chill supporting friend like Gavin.
Overall, this was an amazing read, as it focuses on the struggles with coming to terms with one's own sexuality, the public acceptance and backlash of it, LGBT activism, romance, and a whole-lot-of teenage angst.
This is was such a great read!
When Molly accidentally outs herself as a lesbian at a party, I was gonna expect some drama, and well, it was delivered. The bullying and harassment that ensues (led by her homophobic ex-best friend Carmen) got pretty bad. I'm glad that there were people there for Molly as she was being put through hell because of her sexuality. Because of what is going on at school, Molly seeks comfort in Zia, the waitress at a diner she frequents. I can see why Molly did what she did, but I do agree with Luke (her younger brother), that she was making a bad decision in being with her, especially since Zia was persistent in being straight. There wasn't any point in striving for something that was never going to happen, but then again, Molly wouldn't have realized her mistake unless she had made it. I'm glad the whole Zia fiasco happened because it changed Molly for the better, as she was being a selfish brat to her friends and family because of it. I didn't like that side of Molly at all because it made her an unlikeable character. Luckily, it also made her finally let go of Zia and see Lily in the glorious light that she has always been in. It made me feel all giddy inside seeing everything resolve, as I was Team Lily since the beginning.
Aside from Molly, who was an okay character in a complex situation, Luke was a great character. Sometimes I forget that he is the younger sibling, as he has quite a few wise words himself. I loved the bond between the two siblings because you can feel how much they care for one another, especially Luke, as he supported his sister since the very beginning and is always looking out for her. Also, their banter was just a joy to read. The other friends were also great characters too, like Gavin. I think we all need a chill supporting friend like Gavin.
Overall, this was an amazing read, as it focuses on the struggles with coming to terms with one's own sexuality, the public acceptance and backlash of it, LGBT activism, romance, and a whole-lot-of teenage angst.
April 23, 2019
I read this book in one sitting, it was written in a nice fluid style, however, the story line just didn't do anything for me. The gay/lesbian representation was good but a bit cliché. I know that in certain places, there is still a lot of awkwardness around this question and that a lot of people are scared to come out. Obviously the subject was really interesting because I think that a lot of people just blindly suspect that because marriage for all is accepted in some places, that there isn't discrimination any longer in other places. I have gay/lesbian friends and I know that it isn't the case, that a lot of people still worry about coming out and what people will think of them; so I appreciate that this book reminds people that inequalities still exist and that people are still being discriminated. I really appreciate there to be so many books speaking about this because it is only with people knowing that opinions can change.
This book follows the life of a girl called Molly Kennan who has just come out as lesbian because she was caught kissing another girl at a party and it follows her struggles through her senior year. She meets a girl at a diner and decides to work there and although the other girl is straight she wants to try her luck. During this time, the girl whom she kissed at the party really likes her and wants to be with her.
Obviously the subject matter is important and the representation was very well handled (obviously the author is lesbian so she knows) but the book just didn't do too much for me. It was a nice book to read in one sitting and I enjoyed it while I was reading it, it just isn't very memorable, for me personally but I know that a lot of other people will like it a lot more. I didn't like Zia and Molly's relationship because I found it very toxic but I really loved Molly and Luke's brother-sister relationship, and I rooted for Lily the whole way.
It was a nice, quick, fun read so I gave it 3/5 stars.
This book follows the life of a girl called Molly Kennan who has just come out as lesbian because she was caught kissing another girl at a party and it follows her struggles through her senior year. She meets a girl at a diner and decides to work there and although the other girl is straight she wants to try her luck. During this time, the girl whom she kissed at the party really likes her and wants to be with her.
Obviously the subject matter is important and the representation was very well handled (obviously the author is lesbian so she knows) but the book just didn't do too much for me. It was a nice book to read in one sitting and I enjoyed it while I was reading it, it just isn't very memorable, for me personally but I know that a lot of other people will like it a lot more. I didn't like Zia and Molly's relationship because I found it very toxic but I really loved Molly and Luke's brother-sister relationship, and I rooted for Lily the whole way.
It was a nice, quick, fun read so I gave it 3/5 stars.
February 27, 2019
What Happens When is a fast paced story about a girl who outs herself without meaning to.Molly goes from questioning her sexuality to suddenly being out as gay, and it all happened so fast. Her best friend Carmen is now her ex-best friend. She's made it her mission to make Molly's life miserable this school year.Not knowing Carmen before the outing happened, all we see is how vicious she is. To me, it felt a little unrealistic how mean she was and vindictive so quickly. However, since I have never been in this sort of situation, it's entirely possible that while it felt overdone, that it's someone's reality. Anyhow, suddenly Molly goes from no romantic prospects to two. One is Lily, the girl she made out with at the party, and the other is Zia, a server at the diner Molly frequents and now works at.Lily should have seemed like the obvious choice at first, but Molly falls hard and fast for Zia, who has a boyfriend and claims to be straight.Zia and Molly's relationship is whirlwind. That's the best way to describe it. And honestly, Zia is a mess in her own life. It was interested gaining insight into their relationship and what others thought of it. There's some perspectives shared on their relationship from secondary characters that are points I never had considered. Lily, on the other hand, is steady. She's patient and willing to wait for Molly to figure herself out. I loved the secondary characters in this story, because there was such a variety of them and they all brought interesting perspectives to the arc of the story. There's a lot that goes into this story with the main focus being Molly learning who she is, what she wants in life and how to accept those parts of herself. Overall, while I felt like this book went a little too fast, I thought overall it was a great read!
March 8, 2019
I’m pretty sure a lot of reviews for this book begin with a declaration of not being a fan of the cheating trope so I’m not going to bother with that.
Molly was a great character. I loved her and wanted the best for even though she didn’t know what that was. The homophobia in the book was a lot, I had to stop reading sometimes because whew. It was discussed at great length and Molly herself is held accountable for past mistakes by another queer classmate. I wouldn’t describe this as a fluffy f/f YA romance because it’s not. Yes there are moments of softness like when Zia and Molly were together in Zia’s apartment, the text messages between Molly and her brother, the Queer Alliance meetings but it’s very much a story that challenges bigotry and doesn’t skirt around it. So there were a lot of uncomfortable moments here.
Zia’s relationship with Molly was unhealthy and I’m glad that they put an end to it. Zia was clearly struggling with some emotional issues and not properly dealing with it. I didn’t enjoy the whole “bisexual/bicurios girl cheats on her bf” story. Bisexuality and cheating really need to stop being linked together in fiction like this 🙄
With that being said I actually enjoyed the relationship between Zia and Molly (I am made of contradictions). They weren’t a fit for each other in this universe but in another place, in another time they would have been amazing together.
I had a ton of issues with some of the side characters: Luke –was trying his best but his actions were questionable 😐 Lily – you can’t be mad at someone for not liking you back; Carmen – filthy human being. Tyler is a sweetheart and he deserves the best 🤗
The redemption arc of one of the characters towards the end felt inauthentic as if the author wanted to leave everything neat and tidy but it didn’t work for me. It was very unbelievable considering all the things that went down in the book.
Molly was a great character. I loved her and wanted the best for even though she didn’t know what that was. The homophobia in the book was a lot, I had to stop reading sometimes because whew. It was discussed at great length and Molly herself is held accountable for past mistakes by another queer classmate. I wouldn’t describe this as a fluffy f/f YA romance because it’s not. Yes there are moments of softness like when Zia and Molly were together in Zia’s apartment, the text messages between Molly and her brother, the Queer Alliance meetings but it’s very much a story that challenges bigotry and doesn’t skirt around it. So there were a lot of uncomfortable moments here.
Zia’s relationship with Molly was unhealthy and I’m glad that they put an end to it. Zia was clearly struggling with some emotional issues and not properly dealing with it. I didn’t enjoy the whole “bisexual/bicurios girl cheats on her bf” story. Bisexuality and cheating really need to stop being linked together in fiction like this 🙄
With that being said I actually enjoyed the relationship between Zia and Molly (I am made of contradictions). They weren’t a fit for each other in this universe but in another place, in another time they would have been amazing together.
I had a ton of issues with some of the side characters: Luke –was trying his best but his actions were questionable 😐 Lily – you can’t be mad at someone for not liking you back; Carmen – filthy human being. Tyler is a sweetheart and he deserves the best 🤗
The redemption arc of one of the characters towards the end felt inauthentic as if the author wanted to leave everything neat and tidy but it didn’t work for me. It was very unbelievable considering all the things that went down in the book.
March 7, 2019
Check out this review and others at my blog Too Many Books!
A special thank you to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books Inc for providing a free advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was really excited to pick up a YA book with a f/f romance and the plot looked really interesting on this book as well. The plotline of the Queer Alliance and Lily's leadership within this group also made a feel good story. It was a little sad but also amazing. I wish that this plot had been the main story instead of the romance because I absolutely loved this storyline. It was sad and exciting and while maybe a little bit on the stereotypical side, unique in its own way.
I adored the sibling relationship between Molly and Luke. The siblings are incredibly close to each other and rely on the other one for guidance and support. It reminded me of how close my sister and I can be at times. This really was the highlight of the book for me and was really well written. I especially appreciated how this relationship was already built before this book was written so the relationship feels even more real.
However, I did have some issues with this book. The romance was such a stereotypical f/f contemporary romance where bisexuality is either erased or the one bi character is an awful person. Also Lily was way too good for Molly. I had some major issues with Molly as well. I am not quite sure exactly what it was, but she and Lily really don't belong together.
I absolutely loved Lily though, She was an amazing character and I loved her storyline. Everything else just kind of felt stereotypical and plain. It isn't a bad book; I definitely enjoyed reading it. I definitely recommend reading it and I think that some people would love this. The representation with Lily and some of the other characters, like Connor and Emma, is really well done. I just kind of wish the Queer Alliance was the main storyline.
A special thank you to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books Inc for providing a free advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was really excited to pick up a YA book with a f/f romance and the plot looked really interesting on this book as well. The plotline of the Queer Alliance and Lily's leadership within this group also made a feel good story. It was a little sad but also amazing. I wish that this plot had been the main story instead of the romance because I absolutely loved this storyline. It was sad and exciting and while maybe a little bit on the stereotypical side, unique in its own way.
I adored the sibling relationship between Molly and Luke. The siblings are incredibly close to each other and rely on the other one for guidance and support. It reminded me of how close my sister and I can be at times. This really was the highlight of the book for me and was really well written. I especially appreciated how this relationship was already built before this book was written so the relationship feels even more real.
However, I did have some issues with this book. The romance was such a stereotypical f/f contemporary romance where bisexuality is either erased or the one bi character is an awful person. Also Lily was way too good for Molly. I had some major issues with Molly as well. I am not quite sure exactly what it was, but she and Lily really don't belong together.
I absolutely loved Lily though, She was an amazing character and I loved her storyline. Everything else just kind of felt stereotypical and plain. It isn't a bad book; I definitely enjoyed reading it. I definitely recommend reading it and I think that some people would love this. The representation with Lily and some of the other characters, like Connor and Emma, is really well done. I just kind of wish the Queer Alliance was the main storyline.
March 6, 2019
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldstrokes Books for the ARC!
Molly Kennan’s senior year is disaster before it even begins. She got caught making out with a cute girl at a party, and her homophobic best friend has deserted her. She hopes to just lay low and make it through senior year, that is, until the cute girl, Lily, transfers to her school and wants to date her. Molly’s not sure about Lily, but she is 100% on board for Zia, the waitress at the local diner who also happens to have a boyfriend. It looks like senior year will be anything but low-key for Molly.
I finished this book in about two days. It was a quick and enjoyable read. I’m not usually one for love triangles, but I enjoyed the way this story unfolded. Molly is a total mess, and we’ve all been there. She has a cute girl who is super into her right in front of her face, but she cannot stop pursuing the straight girl who seems to be into her. Like any teenager, Molly’s make several poor decisions and has to roll with the drama they create and learn something along the way.
I was rooting for Molly, but I really loved the supporting characters. I want to be best friend’s with her brother, and all of the kids in the Queer Alliance Club were unique and awesome. I enjoyed the variety of representations and voices, and appreciated the camaraderie between the queer and straight kids.
Though its themes have been done before, I’d still recommend this romcom. It’s a delightful palate cleanser between heavier works. There’s tons of drama, sure, but there’s also some really cute relationships and tender family moments. It’s out on Tuesday, March 12, so if you like you cute and messy lesbians, check it out.
Molly Kennan’s senior year is disaster before it even begins. She got caught making out with a cute girl at a party, and her homophobic best friend has deserted her. She hopes to just lay low and make it through senior year, that is, until the cute girl, Lily, transfers to her school and wants to date her. Molly’s not sure about Lily, but she is 100% on board for Zia, the waitress at the local diner who also happens to have a boyfriend. It looks like senior year will be anything but low-key for Molly.
I finished this book in about two days. It was a quick and enjoyable read. I’m not usually one for love triangles, but I enjoyed the way this story unfolded. Molly is a total mess, and we’ve all been there. She has a cute girl who is super into her right in front of her face, but she cannot stop pursuing the straight girl who seems to be into her. Like any teenager, Molly’s make several poor decisions and has to roll with the drama they create and learn something along the way.
I was rooting for Molly, but I really loved the supporting characters. I want to be best friend’s with her brother, and all of the kids in the Queer Alliance Club were unique and awesome. I enjoyed the variety of representations and voices, and appreciated the camaraderie between the queer and straight kids.
Though its themes have been done before, I’d still recommend this romcom. It’s a delightful palate cleanser between heavier works. There’s tons of drama, sure, but there’s also some really cute relationships and tender family moments. It’s out on Tuesday, March 12, so if you like you cute and messy lesbians, check it out.
March 14, 2019
"I got enough people in my life who care about me that I don't need to care about what a few idiots think."
After Molly accidentally outed herself at a party by Lily in front of her classmates, most of the school turns on her, including her best friend Carmen.
When Carmen and other girls make her quit the track and field team, Molly gets a job at a diner. There she meets and falls in love) with her straight co worker who has a boyfriend. Meanwhile at school, Lily has started a Queer Alliance and keeps waiting for Molly to return her affection.
The characters are what made the book, in my opinion. Although one could describe most of them as a-holes, they need to be that to make the character development deliver its point. I would like to make a few comments about the bisexual representation, but I do not want to spoil the book.
I believe it has very good representation of the lgbtq community, from gay to gender questioning. There was a lot of talk about coming out and dealing with people after the fact. Aka, a lot of things I needed to hear and for that I'm thankful.
I could lie and say I loved this book. I could lie and say I was angry at this book.
To be honest, I just wanted to read a kinda fluffy, coming out of age make mistakes before finding the right path, type of book with a queer character as the main focus. This book was exactly that.
"[O]nce you tell, then people know and you know where you stand with them and you're not sitting around imagining the worst all the time."
Thank you to Netgalley and Bold S trokes Books for an earc of this book.
TW: bullying, homophobia, sexual harassment
After Molly accidentally outed herself at a party by Lily in front of her classmates, most of the school turns on her, including her best friend Carmen.
When Carmen and other girls make her quit the track and field team, Molly gets a job at a diner. There she meets and falls in love) with her straight co worker who has a boyfriend. Meanwhile at school, Lily has started a Queer Alliance and keeps waiting for Molly to return her affection.
The characters are what made the book, in my opinion. Although one could describe most of them as a-holes, they need to be that to make the character development deliver its point. I would like to make a few comments about the bisexual representation, but I do not want to spoil the book.
I believe it has very good representation of the lgbtq community, from gay to gender questioning. There was a lot of talk about coming out and dealing with people after the fact. Aka, a lot of things I needed to hear and for that I'm thankful.
I could lie and say I loved this book. I could lie and say I was angry at this book.
To be honest, I just wanted to read a kinda fluffy, coming out of age make mistakes before finding the right path, type of book with a queer character as the main focus. This book was exactly that.
"[O]nce you tell, then people know and you know where you stand with them and you're not sitting around imagining the worst all the time."
Thank you to Netgalley and Bold S trokes Books for an earc of this book.
TW: bullying, homophobia, sexual harassment
May 1, 2019
BOOK REVIEW: (YA) What Happens When - Samantha Boyette
Description
For Molly Kennan, senior year is already an epic disaster. It feels like the whole school knows she made out with Lily at that party, and now she’s accidentally outed herself as a lesbian. Her ex-best friend is trying to ruin her life, and school generally sucks. All she wants is to drown her sorrows in sweet potato fries, but she finds herself tongue-tied by the diner’s new waitress, Zia. Zia is way out of Molly’s league. Older, beautiful, and definitely way more sophisticated. It’s probably just wishful thinking, but Molly can’t help wondering if maybe Zia is flirting with her. Despite Zia’s always-there boyfriend, Molly falls hard for her, and Zia says she feels the same way. So then why doesn’t Zia break up with her boyfriend, and why does she keep so many secrets? Then there’s Lily, who she can’t seem to stop accidentally kissing. When your head and your heart are saying two different things, which one should you listen to?
RATING: 🌟🌟🌟
REVIEW: I liked this book just fine. It was well written and I enjoyed the writing style. I didn’t feel any of the story was forced. LGBTQ 🏳️🌈 books are typically not well written in my opinion and there were some issues in here that grated on me a little. I find that this story trivializes serious issues like cheating. I also found the relationship between Zia (age 20ish) and Molly (16 or 17) slightly inappropriate because one is an adult and one is a minor. All that being said, it’s a light read and flowed easily.
Description
For Molly Kennan, senior year is already an epic disaster. It feels like the whole school knows she made out with Lily at that party, and now she’s accidentally outed herself as a lesbian. Her ex-best friend is trying to ruin her life, and school generally sucks. All she wants is to drown her sorrows in sweet potato fries, but she finds herself tongue-tied by the diner’s new waitress, Zia. Zia is way out of Molly’s league. Older, beautiful, and definitely way more sophisticated. It’s probably just wishful thinking, but Molly can’t help wondering if maybe Zia is flirting with her. Despite Zia’s always-there boyfriend, Molly falls hard for her, and Zia says she feels the same way. So then why doesn’t Zia break up with her boyfriend, and why does she keep so many secrets? Then there’s Lily, who she can’t seem to stop accidentally kissing. When your head and your heart are saying two different things, which one should you listen to?
RATING: 🌟🌟🌟
REVIEW: I liked this book just fine. It was well written and I enjoyed the writing style. I didn’t feel any of the story was forced. LGBTQ 🏳️🌈 books are typically not well written in my opinion and there were some issues in here that grated on me a little. I find that this story trivializes serious issues like cheating. I also found the relationship between Zia (age 20ish) and Molly (16 or 17) slightly inappropriate because one is an adult and one is a minor. All that being said, it’s a light read and flowed easily.
April 5, 2019
I really enjoyed this book for what it was, a cute, quick read. This young adult book should not be passed over just because of the category this one deals with a lot of important topics,and does so really well. Another thing I enjoyed about this book was the main topic is not something that I've ever read about before it it was a nice change. The story starts out with our main character (Molly) accidentally outing herself as a lesbian at a party in front of her whole school, not something she ever planned on doing. When her best friend turns on her and her whole world starts coming down she tries her best to deny that part of her even going as far as getting herself a boyfriend. When her lesbian make out partner (Lily) transfers to Molly's school that is when things really get messy, add that to her current crush on the local diner's waitress (Zia) and things go from crazy to insane. Are Molly's feelings for Zia real? Can she accept that part of her? Does she really want to? This book had everything that a good YA story needs, interesting non repetitive plot, fascinating characters with different stories that you never see coming and a simple easy to read flow that drags you in and never lets go. I think that this is not just a fantastic YA book, but it was a good book that deal with serious issues like sexuality, and had a good message properly delivered. Nice easy read that is good not just for young adults but older adults as well. Check it out if you haven't already.
February 19, 2019
What Happens When by Samantha Boyette
5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books inc for an E-arc in change for an honest review.
To start this review off I want to just say I identify as a lesbian and the representation is so beautiful written and just well put!
I LOVE IT SO MUCH! 🏳️🌈❤️
Molly doesn’t know if she should follow her heart or her head but what she does know is kissing Lily makes her feel alive, gives her these feelings of everything being right when everything else feels so wrong. She never thought she could be utterly in love with a girl until that night at the party when Molly and lily drunkly make out in front of half the senior class. Accidentally outing herself as a lesbian was the last way Molly wanted to start her senior year, one event leads to another and Molly has to figure out how to go through senior year with a target in her back.
This story was a fast read but it was also breathtaking, heartbreaking, and just utterly perfection for a coming out story. The characters are well written and the scenes in the book are also just perfect for the story!
5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books inc for an E-arc in change for an honest review.
To start this review off I want to just say I identify as a lesbian and the representation is so beautiful written and just well put!
I LOVE IT SO MUCH! 🏳️🌈❤️
Molly doesn’t know if she should follow her heart or her head but what she does know is kissing Lily makes her feel alive, gives her these feelings of everything being right when everything else feels so wrong. She never thought she could be utterly in love with a girl until that night at the party when Molly and lily drunkly make out in front of half the senior class. Accidentally outing herself as a lesbian was the last way Molly wanted to start her senior year, one event leads to another and Molly has to figure out how to go through senior year with a target in her back.
This story was a fast read but it was also breathtaking, heartbreaking, and just utterly perfection for a coming out story. The characters are well written and the scenes in the book are also just perfect for the story!
February 27, 2019
3.75/5
Molly Kennan starts her senior year having outed herself during in a party where she made out with a beautiful girl she met that night. Now, back in school, she has to face the rejection of her best friend and has to face the girl she kissed that night, as she just transferred to her school. After the first day she goes to her favourite dinner where she meets Zia, a new waitress. Molly is instantly attracted to Zia, who is a bit older and has a boyfriend. As time goes Molly has to decide between Zia and the sweet girl she made out during the summer.
This was a sweet and engaging YA book. I was a bit reluctant to read it because it was in first person but it moved at a really good pace and the author did a very good job at keeping you interested. At the end it was a very sweet story with many up and downs that tackled some serious and current issues.
The only thing was, that although I knew from the beginning who Molly was gong to end up but I wish they had had more interactions so I could really connect with the character and root for her and Molly.
This ARC copy was given to me via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Molly Kennan starts her senior year having outed herself during in a party where she made out with a beautiful girl she met that night. Now, back in school, she has to face the rejection of her best friend and has to face the girl she kissed that night, as she just transferred to her school. After the first day she goes to her favourite dinner where she meets Zia, a new waitress. Molly is instantly attracted to Zia, who is a bit older and has a boyfriend. As time goes Molly has to decide between Zia and the sweet girl she made out during the summer.
This was a sweet and engaging YA book. I was a bit reluctant to read it because it was in first person but it moved at a really good pace and the author did a very good job at keeping you interested. At the end it was a very sweet story with many up and downs that tackled some serious and current issues.
The only thing was, that although I knew from the beginning who Molly was gong to end up but I wish they had had more interactions so I could really connect with the character and root for her and Molly.
This ARC copy was given to me via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
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