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The Paper & Hearts Society #2
Read with Pride
The much anticipated second book in The Paper & Hearts Society series by Booktuber Lucy Powrie. Will you be the next recruit for The Paper & Hearts Society book club? For fans of Holly Smale and Super Awkward.
Olivia Santos is excited for her last year at secondary school. But when a parent complains about LGBTQ+ content in one of the books, the library implements a new policy for withdrawing books. Olivia is distraught - she's demisexual and knows how important it is for all readers to see themselves represented.
Luckily, she's the mastermind behind The Paper & Hearts Society book club, and she knows exactly what to do: start a new club, find ways of evading the system, and change the policy for good!
With two book clubs to run, exams to prepare for, and a girlfriend, just how long will it be before Olivia burns out? After all, creating a book club and trying to get the #ReadWithPride hashtag to get noticed is going to take a lot of energy.
Sometimes, when you're in too deep, it's up to your friends to look out for you ...
Olivia Santos is excited for her last year at secondary school. But when a parent complains about LGBTQ+ content in one of the books, the library implements a new policy for withdrawing books. Olivia is distraught - she's demisexual and knows how important it is for all readers to see themselves represented.
Luckily, she's the mastermind behind The Paper & Hearts Society book club, and she knows exactly what to do: start a new club, find ways of evading the system, and change the policy for good!
With two book clubs to run, exams to prepare for, and a girlfriend, just how long will it be before Olivia burns out? After all, creating a book club and trying to get the #ReadWithPride hashtag to get noticed is going to take a lot of energy.
Sometimes, when you're in too deep, it's up to your friends to look out for you ...
234 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 28, 2020
9 people are currently reading
766 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Powrie
4 books5,488 followersLucy Powrie is the author of The Paper & Hearts Society series, published by Hodder Children’s Books. Her latest release, Bookishly Ever After, is out now.
Lucy is also known for her YouTube channel, lucythereader, where she discusses her favourite books. To date, she has over 40,000 subscribers, and in 2020 founded the #ClassicsCommunity.
She lives in the South West of England, with her three dogs and small herd of guinea pigs, and is currently studying towards a degree in History with the Open University.
Lucy is also known for her YouTube channel, lucythereader, where she discusses her favourite books. To date, she has over 40,000 subscribers, and in 2020 founded the #ClassicsCommunity.
She lives in the South West of England, with her three dogs and small herd of guinea pigs, and is currently studying towards a degree in History with the Open University.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
May 9, 2020
The Paper & Hearts Society: Read with Pride is the second book in the Paper & Hearts Society series for teenagers (12+) and follows Olivia Santos as she tries to show everyone the importance of reading with pride after her school library restricts access to books with LGBTQ+ content.
It’s about fighting for what you believe in, finding people who understand you like nobody else, and what happens when you take too much on and don’t know how to cope. There’s also a Book Olympics and lots and LOTS of ice cream.
As well as the return of your favourite Paper & Hearts Society members, there are a host of new characters who join Olivia on her quest to read with pride. I can’t wait for readers to meet Nell, Rocky, Alf, Oscar, Morgan, and Saffy - and hope they’ll love them just as much as I do!
You don’t have to have read the first book, The Paper & Hearts Society, to understand Read with Pride - although, as the author, I’m sure I’m inclined to say it is best if you have read it! Or, if you’ve read Read with Pride but not The Paper & Hearts Society yet, you can still get just as much out of either story.
Read with Pride is a book that is very close to my heart and explores what it means to be a queer teen navigating school, friendships and new relationships. Ultimately, I wanted to write a book that would help young teens understand themselves and each other - and I hope Olivia’s story will resonate with many.
Happy reading! 💕
It’s about fighting for what you believe in, finding people who understand you like nobody else, and what happens when you take too much on and don’t know how to cope. There’s also a Book Olympics and lots and LOTS of ice cream.
As well as the return of your favourite Paper & Hearts Society members, there are a host of new characters who join Olivia on her quest to read with pride. I can’t wait for readers to meet Nell, Rocky, Alf, Oscar, Morgan, and Saffy - and hope they’ll love them just as much as I do!
You don’t have to have read the first book, The Paper & Hearts Society, to understand Read with Pride - although, as the author, I’m sure I’m inclined to say it is best if you have read it! Or, if you’ve read Read with Pride but not The Paper & Hearts Society yet, you can still get just as much out of either story.
Read with Pride is a book that is very close to my heart and explores what it means to be a queer teen navigating school, friendships and new relationships. Ultimately, I wanted to write a book that would help young teens understand themselves and each other - and I hope Olivia’s story will resonate with many.
Happy reading! 💕
May 2, 2020
I JUST REALISED I DID NOT LEAVE A REVIEW FOR THIS BOOK?!
I was lucky enough to be able to emotionally blackmail the author into giving me an early look at this book, and pals, let me tell you, YOU ARE IN FOR A TREAT. I will keep my review vague, plot wise, because I don't want to spoil.
I loved this book honestly so damn much. I freaking love the Paper & Hearts Society gang and loved hanging with them in book 1. I am pleased to say that book 2 contains even more book shenanigans, more donuts, and best of all, MORE ED. Ed is the best and we must protect him at all costs, okay?
However - there are NEW PEOPLE! Le gasp! I was very wary of being introduced to a new group of characters, worried they would try and take the space of my beloved Ed, but alas that was not the case. I think it's a real talent to be able to handle so many characters and for it not to get confusing or overwhelming. Lucy manages to get the balance just right. You end up rooting for the new characters while still getting to follow your faves from book 1.
Olivia Santos is the POV we follow in this book. And her mind is a very...familiar place to be. I related so much to Olivia's worries, her stresses, her need to please. I felt so very close to her, and so when THINGS HAPPENED *eyes emoji* I was on the edge of my seat, reading.
It's obviously no secret that this book is about LGBTQ+ issues, and I honestly feel like this book is going to be a warm hug to LGBTQ+ readers. There's such diversity in sexualities represented, and it is always done with sensitivity and thoughtfulness. I truly feel this book will be a lifeline for many young teens.
OKAY, I'LL SAY IT - I THINK THIS BOOK IS BETTER THAN BOOK 1... (although I freaking LOVED Book 1, so I'm sure I'll change my mind soon).
I cannot wait for the world to read more of Lucy's words. She is such a smart, insightful, and caring person, and this entirely shows in the way she writes about these characters and their struggles. This book has obviously come from a very special place in her heart, and I'm so proud of her for writing this book!
Last thing - Ed is the best character - I'll fight anyone who says otherwise.
I was lucky enough to be able to emotionally blackmail the author into giving me an early look at this book, and pals, let me tell you, YOU ARE IN FOR A TREAT. I will keep my review vague, plot wise, because I don't want to spoil.
I loved this book honestly so damn much. I freaking love the Paper & Hearts Society gang and loved hanging with them in book 1. I am pleased to say that book 2 contains even more book shenanigans, more donuts, and best of all, MORE ED. Ed is the best and we must protect him at all costs, okay?
However - there are NEW PEOPLE! Le gasp! I was very wary of being introduced to a new group of characters, worried they would try and take the space of my beloved Ed, but alas that was not the case. I think it's a real talent to be able to handle so many characters and for it not to get confusing or overwhelming. Lucy manages to get the balance just right. You end up rooting for the new characters while still getting to follow your faves from book 1.
Olivia Santos is the POV we follow in this book. And her mind is a very...familiar place to be. I related so much to Olivia's worries, her stresses, her need to please. I felt so very close to her, and so when THINGS HAPPENED *eyes emoji* I was on the edge of my seat, reading.
It's obviously no secret that this book is about LGBTQ+ issues, and I honestly feel like this book is going to be a warm hug to LGBTQ+ readers. There's such diversity in sexualities represented, and it is always done with sensitivity and thoughtfulness. I truly feel this book will be a lifeline for many young teens.
OKAY, I'LL SAY IT - I THINK THIS BOOK IS BETTER THAN BOOK 1... (although I freaking LOVED Book 1, so I'm sure I'll change my mind soon).
I cannot wait for the world to read more of Lucy's words. She is such a smart, insightful, and caring person, and this entirely shows in the way she writes about these characters and their struggles. This book has obviously come from a very special place in her heart, and I'm so proud of her for writing this book!
Last thing - Ed is the best character - I'll fight anyone who says otherwise.
July 5, 2020
4.5 ✨
It was, once again, AMAZING. Would HIGHLY recommend.
It was, once again, AMAZING. Would HIGHLY recommend.
June 29, 2020
I was so excited to read the sequel to
The Paper & Hearts Society
, and Lucy Powrie does not disappoint. Read with Pride is another perfect blend of young adult drama, social awareness, and of course, a shameless love of books.
Olivia Santos (confirmed demisexual, woo!) learns at the start of Year Eleven that her school now requires parental permission to borrow books from the library—all because one parent complained about her son having access to LGBTQ+ themed material. Boo. Olivia, who, if you read The Paper & Hearts Society you’ll know, is a diehard bookworm will not stand idly by. I think this exchange between her and the school librarian clearly sums up Olivia’s character:
That last line made me laugh out loud when I read it. It’s so Powrie, of course—a love of books is foundational to her and her prose, something I’ll get to in a bit. More importantly, this is the exchange that sets up the rest of the book.
Olivia Santos is a fundamentally different protagonist from the shy, anxious Tabby of The Paper & Hearts society. She is a gregarious, extroverted individual who isn’t afraid to take charge and keep on top of everyone. She is, in short, the perfect person to start a revolution after the school’s draconian measures radicalize her.
And make no mistake: Read with Pride is about being radical, a call to action to its readers to *do something* when you see oppression and injustice rather than just sit by and be passive. There is a stereotype that we readers are passive people, that we experience the world vicariously. That we speculate and ponder and pontificate from our armchairs. Olivia and her fellow queer and allied conspirators challenge that notion. They also challenge the idea that 16- and 17-year-old kids are shiftless, lazy, or unable to contribute in a meaningful political way.
Because when you go back to that quotation above, the last line is intended to be funny, but the first line—where Miss Carter advises Olivia that she should “play by the rules” is the most telling. I taught high school in the UK for 2 years, and one of the least enjoyable things about that system was exactly the kind of ruthless conformity enjoined on our students. Conform to the uniform code. Sit still and don’t speak out of turn. Memorize your Shakespeare quotes. Get a good grade on those mock exams. This is a form of state violence against our youth, and it is not only a squandering and betrayal of their potential and their humanity, but it’s a direct contradiction of our exhortations to “change the world.” We urge our children to grow up and become brilliant climate scientists, or inventors, or artists. Yet the moment they stand up and say something original, the moment they take a stand for their beliefs when those beliefs conflict with the establishment and authority, they are summarily punished and told that they are too young, that they aren’t ready, that they don’t know enough.
Powrie replicates this experience in Read with Pride in quite a deft way. Olivia’s group pressures the school leadership with just the right vectors that will be familiar to today’s teen reader—they harness social media, get some press out there about their cause, etc. The message here is clear: you can do something; you can have a positive effect. It won’t always be easy and it won’t always happen the way you envision, but you don’t have to stand by while injustice occurs.
But when you take a stand, you have to be careful with burnout. That’s the flip side of Read with Pride. Olivia takes on way too much, and it comes at the expense of her mental health as well as some of her relationships. The conflict between her and Cassie, for example, while quite predictable is nevertheless extremely realistic. There is one scene in particular, where she and Cassie have a knock-down-drag-out argument over how little time Olivia is spending with her, and it is *so realistic*. I swear, I’ve had a similar conversation at least once in my lifetime with some of my platonic friends. I think adult readers of YA often forget that teens are not fully-formed adults yet—and even adults behave way irrationally at times, so how should we expect teens to? Olivia’s behaviour is so understandable given her age, the stress she puts herself under, and her obsession and passion for her activism. Fortunately, she has some kickass friends—both old and new—to help her out.
I wish we had spent more time with the rest of the Paper & Hearts group. To be fair, Powrie provides some character development for some of them, particularly Ed. The club features prominently in this book, both in its actual manifestation of its meetings as well as each friend’s role in helping Olivia through her crisis. Nevertheless, if there’s a critique to be found of Read with Pride, it’s that its perspective focuses so squarely on Olivia that we miss out on some of the charm of Tabby, Henry, Ed, and Cassie.
That being said, I’m certain in declaring this a superior sequel. It demonstrates such growth in Powrie’s writing, both in style and in substance. If The Paper & Hearts Society is Powrie’s love letter to how reading can improve one’s personal mental health, Read with Pride is her love letter to how reading can improve society. All of these characters discussing their favourite books—their favourite queer books, often enough, books that inspired them or helped them—are great. Like, you can’t turn a page without one character or another dropping another title, and it’s such a joyful experience to share as a reader. Additionally, Powrie includes at least one character who is self-professedly not a reader (although that perhaps changes), and I appreciate that she acknowledges this perspective (and that Olivia et al do not shun this person).
By the way, that same person is trans, and I love how Powrie handles the pronouns here. Earlier in the book when we meet Rocky, who is non-binary, Powrie has Nell use Rocky’s “they/them” pronouns when talking to Olivia before we learn why those are being used. When we meet Morgan, Powrie carefully avoids using any pronouns to refer to Morgan until she finally confides in the group that is a closeted trans girl. It’s quite deft and easy to miss if you aren’t looking for it (which, you know, I kind of am these days).
Indeed, it’s important to note and shoutout the diversity of queer experiences Powrie includes in Read with Pride which is, ultimately, a book entirely about the importance of supporting our queer youth. Non-binary, gay, bi, trans, demisexual, aromantic … the list goes on, and Powrie does her best to demonstrate the vastness of the LGBTQ+ umbrella. (There is also a fantastic moment where the group reassures one kid that it’s ok that he wants to participate in their resistance movement but stay in the closet—closeted queer people are hella valid, and I love that Powrie included this scene.) I did tear up a little reading all the various #ReadWithPride stories that people submit to the group, culminating, of course, in Olivia’s own story. Those moments resonated deeply with me, as someone who has known she’s asexual and aromantic for a very long time but has only recently come out to herself and others as trans. I’m watching the Disclosure doc on Netflix (review on my blog to come), and it just makes me think about how maybe if trans representation in TV and movies (and books) had been better when I was growing up, maybe I would have realized sooner.
That is, ultimately, what Read with Pride is all about. It is a clarion call of the importance of supporting our queer youth, and of nurturing them, and of listening to them when they try to tell us what they already know. It is an unapologetic assertion that books can change people’s lives for the better, and as Olivia demonstrates from cover to cover, books are worth fighting over. In an era where our youth are literate but older generations seem to be content to swim in a sea of fake news and questionable sources, it is so, so important that we remember this, and that we keep fighting, and that we always read with pride.
Olivia Santos (confirmed demisexual, woo!) learns at the start of Year Eleven that her school now requires parental permission to borrow books from the library—all because one parent complained about her son having access to LGBTQ+ themed material. Boo. Olivia, who, if you read The Paper & Hearts Society you’ll know, is a diehard bookworm will not stand idly by. I think this exchange between her and the school librarian clearly sums up Olivia’s character:
“Olivia …” Miss Carter warned. Olivia could see the worry in her eyes. “Don’t do anything that will get you into trouble. It’s an important year to play by the rules.”
“Would I ever break the rules?” Olivia replied sweetly.
“That’s what worries me. When it comes to books, I don’t know what you’ll do.”
That last line made me laugh out loud when I read it. It’s so Powrie, of course—a love of books is foundational to her and her prose, something I’ll get to in a bit. More importantly, this is the exchange that sets up the rest of the book.
Olivia Santos is a fundamentally different protagonist from the shy, anxious Tabby of The Paper & Hearts society. She is a gregarious, extroverted individual who isn’t afraid to take charge and keep on top of everyone. She is, in short, the perfect person to start a revolution after the school’s draconian measures radicalize her.
And make no mistake: Read with Pride is about being radical, a call to action to its readers to *do something* when you see oppression and injustice rather than just sit by and be passive. There is a stereotype that we readers are passive people, that we experience the world vicariously. That we speculate and ponder and pontificate from our armchairs. Olivia and her fellow queer and allied conspirators challenge that notion. They also challenge the idea that 16- and 17-year-old kids are shiftless, lazy, or unable to contribute in a meaningful political way.
Because when you go back to that quotation above, the last line is intended to be funny, but the first line—where Miss Carter advises Olivia that she should “play by the rules” is the most telling. I taught high school in the UK for 2 years, and one of the least enjoyable things about that system was exactly the kind of ruthless conformity enjoined on our students. Conform to the uniform code. Sit still and don’t speak out of turn. Memorize your Shakespeare quotes. Get a good grade on those mock exams. This is a form of state violence against our youth, and it is not only a squandering and betrayal of their potential and their humanity, but it’s a direct contradiction of our exhortations to “change the world.” We urge our children to grow up and become brilliant climate scientists, or inventors, or artists. Yet the moment they stand up and say something original, the moment they take a stand for their beliefs when those beliefs conflict with the establishment and authority, they are summarily punished and told that they are too young, that they aren’t ready, that they don’t know enough.
Powrie replicates this experience in Read with Pride in quite a deft way. Olivia’s group pressures the school leadership with just the right vectors that will be familiar to today’s teen reader—they harness social media, get some press out there about their cause, etc. The message here is clear: you can do something; you can have a positive effect. It won’t always be easy and it won’t always happen the way you envision, but you don’t have to stand by while injustice occurs.
But when you take a stand, you have to be careful with burnout. That’s the flip side of Read with Pride. Olivia takes on way too much, and it comes at the expense of her mental health as well as some of her relationships. The conflict between her and Cassie, for example, while quite predictable is nevertheless extremely realistic. There is one scene in particular, where she and Cassie have a knock-down-drag-out argument over how little time Olivia is spending with her, and it is *so realistic*. I swear, I’ve had a similar conversation at least once in my lifetime with some of my platonic friends. I think adult readers of YA often forget that teens are not fully-formed adults yet—and even adults behave way irrationally at times, so how should we expect teens to? Olivia’s behaviour is so understandable given her age, the stress she puts herself under, and her obsession and passion for her activism. Fortunately, she has some kickass friends—both old and new—to help her out.
I wish we had spent more time with the rest of the Paper & Hearts group. To be fair, Powrie provides some character development for some of them, particularly Ed. The club features prominently in this book, both in its actual manifestation of its meetings as well as each friend’s role in helping Olivia through her crisis. Nevertheless, if there’s a critique to be found of Read with Pride, it’s that its perspective focuses so squarely on Olivia that we miss out on some of the charm of Tabby, Henry, Ed, and Cassie.
That being said, I’m certain in declaring this a superior sequel. It demonstrates such growth in Powrie’s writing, both in style and in substance. If The Paper & Hearts Society is Powrie’s love letter to how reading can improve one’s personal mental health, Read with Pride is her love letter to how reading can improve society. All of these characters discussing their favourite books—their favourite queer books, often enough, books that inspired them or helped them—are great. Like, you can’t turn a page without one character or another dropping another title, and it’s such a joyful experience to share as a reader. Additionally, Powrie includes at least one character who is self-professedly not a reader (although that perhaps changes), and I appreciate that she acknowledges this perspective (and that Olivia et al do not shun this person).
By the way, that same person is trans, and I love how Powrie handles the pronouns here. Earlier in the book when we meet Rocky, who is non-binary, Powrie has Nell use Rocky’s “they/them” pronouns when talking to Olivia before we learn why those are being used. When we meet Morgan, Powrie carefully avoids using any pronouns to refer to Morgan until she finally confides in the group that is a closeted trans girl. It’s quite deft and easy to miss if you aren’t looking for it (which, you know, I kind of am these days).
Indeed, it’s important to note and shoutout the diversity of queer experiences Powrie includes in Read with Pride which is, ultimately, a book entirely about the importance of supporting our queer youth. Non-binary, gay, bi, trans, demisexual, aromantic … the list goes on, and Powrie does her best to demonstrate the vastness of the LGBTQ+ umbrella. (There is also a fantastic moment where the group reassures one kid that it’s ok that he wants to participate in their resistance movement but stay in the closet—closeted queer people are hella valid, and I love that Powrie included this scene.) I did tear up a little reading all the various #ReadWithPride stories that people submit to the group, culminating, of course, in Olivia’s own story. Those moments resonated deeply with me, as someone who has known she’s asexual and aromantic for a very long time but has only recently come out to herself and others as trans. I’m watching the Disclosure doc on Netflix (review on my blog to come), and it just makes me think about how maybe if trans representation in TV and movies (and books) had been better when I was growing up, maybe I would have realized sooner.
That is, ultimately, what Read with Pride is all about. It is a clarion call of the importance of supporting our queer youth, and of nurturing them, and of listening to them when they try to tell us what they already know. It is an unapologetic assertion that books can change people’s lives for the better, and as Olivia demonstrates from cover to cover, books are worth fighting over. In an era where our youth are literate but older generations seem to be content to swim in a sea of fake news and questionable sources, it is so, so important that we remember this, and that we keep fighting, and that we always read with pride.
July 14, 2020
A warm-hearted, intensely compassionate look at a group of queer teenager bookworms fighting for equality in their school library. This is aimed at ages 12+, and is going to help so many people learn about sexuality and diversity. I love the book club so much, and it was so nice to see how far they've come since the first book in the series (though this can be read as a standalone). Ed is my favourite character, and I'm so excited to see where they all go next. Lucy is a star of UKYA.
June 6, 2020
I was late to the party for The Paper & Hearts Society, but fell in love with the cast of characters as soon as I read it, so knew that I needed Olivia's story when it was released. In Read With Pride, we follow Olivia Santos as she navigates year 11 and all the difficulties that entails. After being supported by her friends when she told them she was demisexual, and finding Cassie returned her feelings, she didn't think anything could bring her down, but her school has brought in a new, archaic policy, basically restricting pupils from reading LGBTQ+ books after one parent complained. Olivia knows how important it is for everyone to see themselves represented in books, and soon she plans to change the school policy. While doing so, she starts a new book club, Read with Pride, and meets so many others in school who are against the policy, and want to be open about their sexualities without feeling ashamed. Juggling both her book clubs, her revision and exams, and her fledgling relationship, Olivia soon finds herself spiralling out of control.
The only real negative I have about this book is the lack of time we see The Paper & Hearts Society together. They definitely take a back foot in this book, though Cassie is still important. I love how Cassie and Olivia are together, but there were a few moments that were so full of angst that could've just been solved by a quick conversation, and the unnecessary drama would've gone. That being said, I can kind of see why that was there, because it highlighted Olivia's burnout even further. The new cast of characters were wonderfully diverse, and seemed so real and true to modern teens. All of them come together to fight for a noble cause, but honestly become the best of friends, and we couldn't ask for any more. This book was perfect, especially for LGBTQ+ teens, and I'm even more excited for book 3!
The only real negative I have about this book is the lack of time we see The Paper & Hearts Society together. They definitely take a back foot in this book, though Cassie is still important. I love how Cassie and Olivia are together, but there were a few moments that were so full of angst that could've just been solved by a quick conversation, and the unnecessary drama would've gone. That being said, I can kind of see why that was there, because it highlighted Olivia's burnout even further. The new cast of characters were wonderfully diverse, and seemed so real and true to modern teens. All of them come together to fight for a noble cause, but honestly become the best of friends, and we couldn't ask for any more. This book was perfect, especially for LGBTQ+ teens, and I'm even more excited for book 3!
May 31, 2020
Love love loved it. In 1 zit uit!
Enige opmerking is dat Olivia zichzelf burnt-out noemt maar na 2 weken rustig aan doen weer prima gaat. Das niet een burn-out 👀 maar verder helemaal top ❤️❤️
Enige opmerking is dat Olivia zichzelf burnt-out noemt maar na 2 weken rustig aan doen weer prima gaat. Das niet een burn-out 👀 maar verder helemaal top ❤️❤️
May 7, 2021
may 2020: "I #ReadWithPride to reinvent the meaning of happily ever after and to show the world that I deserve mine too, even if it doesn't look like it does in the movies."
I loved this! It was so wholesome but important and it just made me very happy. I would recommend that everyone reads this book, but please read the first book, The Paper and Hearts Society, first! It helps you to understand more about the characters and overall, is a great book which I also loved!
Olivia's (and the rest of Read With Pride's) journeys in this book were beautifully written and their stories were all very inspiring!
In conclusion, read this series!
may 2021: ew i can't believe i wrote reviews like that last year ... i stand by it but still ... ew
I loved this! It was so wholesome but important and it just made me very happy. I would recommend that everyone reads this book, but please read the first book, The Paper and Hearts Society, first! It helps you to understand more about the characters and overall, is a great book which I also loved!
Olivia's (and the rest of Read With Pride's) journeys in this book were beautifully written and their stories were all very inspiring!
In conclusion, read this series!
may 2021: ew i can't believe i wrote reviews like that last year ... i stand by it but still ... ew
June 10, 2020
Read with Pride is the sequel to The Paper & Hearts Society, but following Olivia rather than Tabby from the first book. This series is about a group of teens who love books and so have formed their own bookclub, the Paper & Hearts Society. One thing I would say about the characters in these books is they actually act their age, you believe they are 16-18 because they are written so well and like real people.
The highlight of this book for me was how inclusive of LGBTQIA+ characters it is. The campaign Read with Pride is started as a retaliation against the school library needing a permission slip to withdraw any books featuring LGBTQIA+ themes. Olivia and her new friends band together to try and stand up against their school in their own protest. We meet so many characters that are both discovering and are confident in their sexuality.
I think this book could really be a lifeline for teens in school struggling to understand their own sexuality. I know it's just a book, but the solidarity shown in it and community can't help but make you feel a little less alone in your own thoughts and feelings. I love that Lucy's books always centre around some greater cause and she brings attention to her passions in her writing so well.
Olivia is taking on a lot of work in this important year of school and we see the pressures getting to her. I think this really reflects well on what it is like to be a teen at this stage in school life. Lucy Powrie captures the stress and over-whelming feeling of anxiety and pressure that comes with this stage in education. She made me feel like I was right back in school with her descriptions of Olivia's feelings. She's so relatable which makes her a great main character to read about.
Read with Pride is a story of friendship, of the LGBTQIA+ community and their rights and also about fighting for what is right. Olivia is passionate about so many things and wants to fight for so much and do so much good. She's a ray of sunshine and I love reading about her adventures in this book.
The highlight of this book for me was how inclusive of LGBTQIA+ characters it is. The campaign Read with Pride is started as a retaliation against the school library needing a permission slip to withdraw any books featuring LGBTQIA+ themes. Olivia and her new friends band together to try and stand up against their school in their own protest. We meet so many characters that are both discovering and are confident in their sexuality.
I think this book could really be a lifeline for teens in school struggling to understand their own sexuality. I know it's just a book, but the solidarity shown in it and community can't help but make you feel a little less alone in your own thoughts and feelings. I love that Lucy's books always centre around some greater cause and she brings attention to her passions in her writing so well.
Olivia is taking on a lot of work in this important year of school and we see the pressures getting to her. I think this really reflects well on what it is like to be a teen at this stage in school life. Lucy Powrie captures the stress and over-whelming feeling of anxiety and pressure that comes with this stage in education. She made me feel like I was right back in school with her descriptions of Olivia's feelings. She's so relatable which makes her a great main character to read about.
Read with Pride is a story of friendship, of the LGBTQIA+ community and their rights and also about fighting for what is right. Olivia is passionate about so many things and wants to fight for so much and do so much good. She's a ray of sunshine and I love reading about her adventures in this book.
July 6, 2020
I need to write a full review and blog post shortly, but this is just as cute as the first with an important message behind it!
*** Thanks to the publisher for my review copy, in exchange for the honest review that will be on its way shortly! ***
*** Thanks to the publisher for my review copy, in exchange for the honest review that will be on its way shortly! ***
June 29, 2020
These books are super cute, and definitely good 3 stars. I've had a lot of fun reading this one, but I just thought the writing style left something to be desired and the dialogues were pretty cringy at times. I did love how inclusive this was though, and how the book managed to deal with serious topics but still manage to stay uplifting.
August 24, 2022
Rezension: (kann Spoiler enthalten)
Band 1 mochte ich bereits so sehr und ich habe mich deshalb total auf Band 2 und das Wiedersehen mit Tabby, Henry, Cassie, Olivia und Ed gefreut. Schade nur, dass Mrs. Simpkins nicht dabei war, ein Auftritt von ihr kommt aber sicher mal mindestens, da der nächste Band von Ed handelt.
Olivias Perspektive fand ich sehr interessant, ich mochte ihre Liebe zu Büchern, aber auch ihr Verlangen danach, für sich und das Richtige einzustehen.
Als heterosexuelle, cis Frau will ich zwar nicht behaupten, zu wissen, wie die LGBTQIA+-Community richtig repräsentiert wird, doch für mich waren die Geschichten der einzelnen Mitglieder von ReadwithPride sehr schlüssig und verständlich erklärt. Das Buch hat viele Perspektiven gezeigt, auf die queere Repräsentation in dem Medien, Büchern, aber auch im Leben generell und auf die Probleme dabei. Für mich hat das Buch sehr gut gezeigt, wie wichtig es ist, sich mit diesem Thema richtig auseinanderzusetzen, ebenso, Bücher mit queeren Charakteren auf dem Buchmarkt zu haben, und eben auch, einzusehen, dass man sich selbst im Hinblick darauf weiterentwickeln kann. Die bunte Mischung aus Mitgliedern von ReadwithPride gefiel mir dabei ganz besonders, weil jeder eine so unheimlich einzigartige Geschichte hatte, die jede für sich wichtig war.
Zudem wurde hier auch wieder das Thema Mental Health thematisiert, in diesem Band vor allem in Kombination mit Burn Out. Das fand ich wirklich gut, denn gerade Burn Out ist ein Thema, das tatsächlich recht wenig präsent ist im Vergleich zu vielen anderen aus dem Bereich Mental Health. Doch Olivia hat uns gezeigt, wie schnell es passieren kann, dass man sich übernimmt und wie wichtig es ist, Pausen zu haben. Das ist auch für mich, die bisher keinen Burn Out hatte, immer wieder eine wichtige Message.
Ja, in diesem Buch ging es um Bücher, besonders um queere, doch es ging vor allem, sehr viel mehr als in Band 1, auch um ganz andere, wichtige Themen: Um Mental Health und queere Repräsentation. Und das war gut so und gefiel mir sehr, eine klare Empfehlung für alle da draußen!
5 Sterne
Band 1 mochte ich bereits so sehr und ich habe mich deshalb total auf Band 2 und das Wiedersehen mit Tabby, Henry, Cassie, Olivia und Ed gefreut. Schade nur, dass Mrs. Simpkins nicht dabei war, ein Auftritt von ihr kommt aber sicher mal mindestens, da der nächste Band von Ed handelt.
Olivias Perspektive fand ich sehr interessant, ich mochte ihre Liebe zu Büchern, aber auch ihr Verlangen danach, für sich und das Richtige einzustehen.
Als heterosexuelle, cis Frau will ich zwar nicht behaupten, zu wissen, wie die LGBTQIA+-Community richtig repräsentiert wird, doch für mich waren die Geschichten der einzelnen Mitglieder von ReadwithPride sehr schlüssig und verständlich erklärt. Das Buch hat viele Perspektiven gezeigt, auf die queere Repräsentation in dem Medien, Büchern, aber auch im Leben generell und auf die Probleme dabei. Für mich hat das Buch sehr gut gezeigt, wie wichtig es ist, sich mit diesem Thema richtig auseinanderzusetzen, ebenso, Bücher mit queeren Charakteren auf dem Buchmarkt zu haben, und eben auch, einzusehen, dass man sich selbst im Hinblick darauf weiterentwickeln kann. Die bunte Mischung aus Mitgliedern von ReadwithPride gefiel mir dabei ganz besonders, weil jeder eine so unheimlich einzigartige Geschichte hatte, die jede für sich wichtig war.
Zudem wurde hier auch wieder das Thema Mental Health thematisiert, in diesem Band vor allem in Kombination mit Burn Out. Das fand ich wirklich gut, denn gerade Burn Out ist ein Thema, das tatsächlich recht wenig präsent ist im Vergleich zu vielen anderen aus dem Bereich Mental Health. Doch Olivia hat uns gezeigt, wie schnell es passieren kann, dass man sich übernimmt und wie wichtig es ist, Pausen zu haben. Das ist auch für mich, die bisher keinen Burn Out hatte, immer wieder eine wichtige Message.
Ja, in diesem Buch ging es um Bücher, besonders um queere, doch es ging vor allem, sehr viel mehr als in Band 1, auch um ganz andere, wichtige Themen: Um Mental Health und queere Repräsentation. Und das war gut so und gefiel mir sehr, eine klare Empfehlung für alle da draußen!
5 Sterne
September 13, 2021
This book was absolutely amazing and I loved every second of reading it. I loved reading it so much and the representation for the LGBTQ+ spectrum was stunning.
Olivia is such an amazing character and creepily like me, we have the same name and we also love Pride and Prejudice and we both like to take on too much work and burn ourselves out. I loved seeing myself in a character and I think that it just made it all the more enjoyable for me to read, plus it was super meaningful for me. And of course, I loved seeing the rest of The Paper & Hearts Society again in addition to meeting all of the new characters that entered the story. All of the characters were so wonderful and I just absolutely loved them all so much.
The plot was wonderful, I loved following the bookish escapades that everyone got up to across the book. I just loved the fact that not only was this about books it was also about being proud of who you are and campaigning for what you think is right. It just added another extra layer to the story and I loved that plotline. This book dealt with real issues whilst being whimsical and fun too. I just loved this book so much and I think that everyone should read it.
This book was just so brilliant and I cannot wait to read the next installment in this story!
Olivia is such an amazing character and creepily like me, we have the same name and we also love Pride and Prejudice and we both like to take on too much work and burn ourselves out. I loved seeing myself in a character and I think that it just made it all the more enjoyable for me to read, plus it was super meaningful for me. And of course, I loved seeing the rest of The Paper & Hearts Society again in addition to meeting all of the new characters that entered the story. All of the characters were so wonderful and I just absolutely loved them all so much.
The plot was wonderful, I loved following the bookish escapades that everyone got up to across the book. I just loved the fact that not only was this about books it was also about being proud of who you are and campaigning for what you think is right. It just added another extra layer to the story and I loved that plotline. This book dealt with real issues whilst being whimsical and fun too. I just loved this book so much and I think that everyone should read it.
This book was just so brilliant and I cannot wait to read the next installment in this story!
February 14, 2022
Sorry, am I meant to believe this character is sixteen? More like six. I've never met a single teenage girl who actually acts like this.
June 3, 2020
I describe The Paper and Hearts Society as the bookish novel all teenage bookworms have been waiting for, so I will say that the sequel, Read with Pride, is the bookish novel queer UK teens have been waiting for! Read with Pride continues to fuel us with a brilliant book club, YA novel name drops and strong friendships but also includes a wealth of LGBTQ+ characters, adding an inclusivity we’ve been missing in UKYA. If you haven’t yet read the first book in this series I would definitely urge you to, the sequel is amazing and I’m expecting many more great things from this bookish series.
The Paper and Hearts Society focused on new girl, Tabby, but the next instalment is told from the perspective of demisexual character, Olivia. Our new protagonist is an out and proud character who is in an f/f relationship with her dear friend, Cassie. Olivia is the first to shockingly discover the new lending policy of her school library, all books featuring queer characters now have a warning sticker on the cover and can only be taken out by students whose parents have given written consent. As an ex-teacher I can say that this sadly is quite possibly the reality for some students, when faced with complaints some schools take extreme measures to appease the parents, usually to the detriment of their own students. Obviously as a queer teen herself, Olivia takes great offense at the new measures making it difficult or even impossible for students to read books featuring characters like herself and her girlfriend Cassie, she decides to take action by forming a secret rebellion!
Read with Pride introduces us to many more new characters, most of them queer who join Olivia’s secret rebellion. I loved how Olivia created a safe space for LGBTQ+ teens to speak freely about how they were feeling. The characters shared their experiences, from being openly LGBTQ+ to keeping everything under wraps for fear of homophobic parents finding out. It’s important to acknowledge that for some coming out isn’t always safe and might have to wait until they’ve moved out, and Read with Pride definitely did that. The inclusivity of this novel is educational for both queer and straight teenagers, I really hope young adults who might be struggling to understand their sexuality will read this novel and realise that the way they feel is valid and okay. I hope that they might relate to a character or be inspired to search for deeper meanings to some of the terms used.
Another aspect that Read with Pride explores is the immense pressure school students put themselves under and the added (not always intentional) pressures put on by friends, family and school. Olivia really struggles with the workload she has taken on, from campaigning with the Read with Pride club, to baking a cake for a friends birthday, never mind all the homework that’s piling up in her final school year. I find that not enough YA novels discuss the pressures of school and how this can ultimately build up and up until teenagers burn out, as a teen I felt as though I was failing while everyone else was thriving, so I very much appreciated reading about this in Read with Pride.
Read with Pride is honestly everything and more I was expecting from this UKYA novel, it’s fresh and fantastic! I can’t wait to see this book with it’s beautiful cover on the shelves of book shops and libraries tempting teenagers to pick it up and Read with Pride!
The Paper and Hearts Society focused on new girl, Tabby, but the next instalment is told from the perspective of demisexual character, Olivia. Our new protagonist is an out and proud character who is in an f/f relationship with her dear friend, Cassie. Olivia is the first to shockingly discover the new lending policy of her school library, all books featuring queer characters now have a warning sticker on the cover and can only be taken out by students whose parents have given written consent. As an ex-teacher I can say that this sadly is quite possibly the reality for some students, when faced with complaints some schools take extreme measures to appease the parents, usually to the detriment of their own students. Obviously as a queer teen herself, Olivia takes great offense at the new measures making it difficult or even impossible for students to read books featuring characters like herself and her girlfriend Cassie, she decides to take action by forming a secret rebellion!
Read with Pride introduces us to many more new characters, most of them queer who join Olivia’s secret rebellion. I loved how Olivia created a safe space for LGBTQ+ teens to speak freely about how they were feeling. The characters shared their experiences, from being openly LGBTQ+ to keeping everything under wraps for fear of homophobic parents finding out. It’s important to acknowledge that for some coming out isn’t always safe and might have to wait until they’ve moved out, and Read with Pride definitely did that. The inclusivity of this novel is educational for both queer and straight teenagers, I really hope young adults who might be struggling to understand their sexuality will read this novel and realise that the way they feel is valid and okay. I hope that they might relate to a character or be inspired to search for deeper meanings to some of the terms used.
Another aspect that Read with Pride explores is the immense pressure school students put themselves under and the added (not always intentional) pressures put on by friends, family and school. Olivia really struggles with the workload she has taken on, from campaigning with the Read with Pride club, to baking a cake for a friends birthday, never mind all the homework that’s piling up in her final school year. I find that not enough YA novels discuss the pressures of school and how this can ultimately build up and up until teenagers burn out, as a teen I felt as though I was failing while everyone else was thriving, so I very much appreciated reading about this in Read with Pride.
Read with Pride is honestly everything and more I was expecting from this UKYA novel, it’s fresh and fantastic! I can’t wait to see this book with it’s beautiful cover on the shelves of book shops and libraries tempting teenagers to pick it up and Read with Pride!
May 28, 2020
Read with Pride has all the charm and warmth of its predecessor but also tackles such an important issue in modern day society, the silencing of inclusivity. Read with Pride is such a brilliant book in highlighting not only the importance, but the need for inclusive literature, more-so making this literature accessible for young people especially who are on the forefront of discovering their true-selves and need to see different sexualities and identities represented in what they read. Read with Pride not only does this, but also highlights how necessary this spectrum of representation is, which paves the way for the literature of the future to be just as inclusive!
Read with Pride focuses on Olivia, and her campaign to make LGBTQ+ literature accessible after her school restricts access to these books after a complaint from a parent. Olivia meets other members of the LGBTQ+ community along the way and they team up to form the Read with Pride campaign to highlight the need for all books to be accessible to everyone. It was so lovely to hear more from Olivia in this book as the first novel was centred around Tabby. Olivia is a wonderful character and very relatable! I think we all know the struggle of managing too many projects at once and it is fun to learn more about the school lives of the Paper & Hearts Society as the first book is set over the summer prior this school year.
As well as reuniting with the wonderful members of the Paper & Hearts Society it is great to meet a wider range of characters through the Read with Pride campaign. I loved the use of the stories of the members of RwP as it only not highlights the need for more stories like theirs to be shared, but it also documents a wide range of sexualities which are so important for all readers to know about whether you are a member of the LGBTQ+ community or not.
This book highlights the importance of fighting not only for inclusivity, but what you believe in, it showcases real friendships and teamwork and most important of all is a heart-warming read that’ll sweep you up in its immersive world and characters. I cannot recommend this book (and series!) enough to everyone. It is such an important reflection on some of the restrictions seen within society today and how no matter what you must stand up for what you believe in as everyone should be free to Read with Pride!
Read with Pride focuses on Olivia, and her campaign to make LGBTQ+ literature accessible after her school restricts access to these books after a complaint from a parent. Olivia meets other members of the LGBTQ+ community along the way and they team up to form the Read with Pride campaign to highlight the need for all books to be accessible to everyone. It was so lovely to hear more from Olivia in this book as the first novel was centred around Tabby. Olivia is a wonderful character and very relatable! I think we all know the struggle of managing too many projects at once and it is fun to learn more about the school lives of the Paper & Hearts Society as the first book is set over the summer prior this school year.
As well as reuniting with the wonderful members of the Paper & Hearts Society it is great to meet a wider range of characters through the Read with Pride campaign. I loved the use of the stories of the members of RwP as it only not highlights the need for more stories like theirs to be shared, but it also documents a wide range of sexualities which are so important for all readers to know about whether you are a member of the LGBTQ+ community or not.
This book highlights the importance of fighting not only for inclusivity, but what you believe in, it showcases real friendships and teamwork and most important of all is a heart-warming read that’ll sweep you up in its immersive world and characters. I cannot recommend this book (and series!) enough to everyone. It is such an important reflection on some of the restrictions seen within society today and how no matter what you must stand up for what you believe in as everyone should be free to Read with Pride!
August 27, 2020
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for gifting me with an e-arc of this book.
After reading and loving The Paper and Hearts Society last year I was very much looking forward to a sequel. I didn’t expect disappointment and I didn’t get disappointment. This book made me feel so seen and so happy and I cried lots of happy tears.
I liked how we got to see the friendship group from another characters’ point of view; so in the first book it’s from Tabby’s point of view, but this one was from Olivia’s point of view and I loved the differences between the characters. I also liked how we got to see the characters in their normal every day lives, as the first book is over their summer holiday, but this is when they’re back into normal routine; Olivia, Tabby and Henry are in school, Cassie is in college and Ed is looking for a job. Plus we get a whole new bunch of characters with Olivia’s new book club. Olivia struggles to keep on top of things and honestly as hard as it is to read it’s so important because, speaking from experience, teenagers are made to feel like they have to be able to juggle everything and hold everything together, and books like this can show others that you don’t have to struggle through, asking for help is okay.
There’s a lot of LGBTQIA+ rep in this book and this is such an important book for people to read, especially I think for teenagers who could be in the same position as some of the characters in this. Each of the characters writes a little #ReadWithPride note and Alf’s made me feel so seen as I can really relate to what he said. It’s only been in the last few years I’ve actually felt validated in my sexuality and if this book can help people feel that at an earlier age, then that’s brilliant and I want to throw this series at everyone to read.
After reading and loving The Paper and Hearts Society last year I was very much looking forward to a sequel. I didn’t expect disappointment and I didn’t get disappointment. This book made me feel so seen and so happy and I cried lots of happy tears.
I liked how we got to see the friendship group from another characters’ point of view; so in the first book it’s from Tabby’s point of view, but this one was from Olivia’s point of view and I loved the differences between the characters. I also liked how we got to see the characters in their normal every day lives, as the first book is over their summer holiday, but this is when they’re back into normal routine; Olivia, Tabby and Henry are in school, Cassie is in college and Ed is looking for a job. Plus we get a whole new bunch of characters with Olivia’s new book club. Olivia struggles to keep on top of things and honestly as hard as it is to read it’s so important because, speaking from experience, teenagers are made to feel like they have to be able to juggle everything and hold everything together, and books like this can show others that you don’t have to struggle through, asking for help is okay.
There’s a lot of LGBTQIA+ rep in this book and this is such an important book for people to read, especially I think for teenagers who could be in the same position as some of the characters in this. Each of the characters writes a little #ReadWithPride note and Alf’s made me feel so seen as I can really relate to what he said. It’s only been in the last few years I’ve actually felt validated in my sexuality and if this book can help people feel that at an earlier age, then that’s brilliant and I want to throw this series at everyone to read.
September 30, 2020
'Read with Pride' is such a lovely book! I definitely prefer this book over the first one, because I have always liked Olivia, so I was very glad she was the protagonist. Olivia is a bubbly and cheerful person, hardworking and high-spirited which is easy to relate to. Olivia, who is demisexual, has a strong support network during the journey of this book: her close and loyal group of friends - The Paper and Hearts Society, her supportive parents, and her new friend group - Read with Pride.
In the book, Olivia was infuriated about the library's new rules of giving a 'warning' for LBTQ+ books, hence she was determined to start a new group called 'Read with Pride' with several new friends to persuade the library to change its LBTQ+ book borrowing rules, as Olivia is against discrimination. I believe this has a unique climax, rather than the typical YA issues, that being the significant message conveyed for equality for all people, whether LBTQ+ or not. The complications that evolved due to Olivia's ambition and hardworking includes not studying for assessments well, losing her other friends and issues with her girlfriend, Cassie.
In the book, Olivia was infuriated about the library's new rules of giving a 'warning' for LBTQ+ books, hence she was determined to start a new group called 'Read with Pride' with several new friends to persuade the library to change its LBTQ+ book borrowing rules, as Olivia is against discrimination. I believe this has a unique climax, rather than the typical YA issues, that being the significant message conveyed for equality for all people, whether LBTQ+ or not. The complications that evolved due to Olivia's ambition and hardworking includes not studying for assessments well, losing her other friends and issues with her girlfriend, Cassie.
Read
June 8, 2020RTC
I was a massive fan of the first book and this one is no exception.
I loved the focus on pride and the hopeful nature of the book although Lucy still does tackle the subject of burn out, something which I definitely experienced as a teenager but had no idea about. I, therefore, connected so much to Olivia as a character and sympathised with her. I also liked that the book gave voices to a lot of different pride voices in the book but especially asexuality, especially demisexuality, which definitely needs to be explored more.
I also loved the rest of the new additions to the book in terms of characters and I love the rest of the Paper & Hearts gang, especially Ed, and it was interesting to see how this linked into school life.
Basically, I really enjoyed it and everyone should always read with pride!
I was a massive fan of the first book and this one is no exception.
I loved the focus on pride and the hopeful nature of the book although Lucy still does tackle the subject of burn out, something which I definitely experienced as a teenager but had no idea about. I, therefore, connected so much to Olivia as a character and sympathised with her. I also liked that the book gave voices to a lot of different pride voices in the book but especially asexuality, especially demisexuality, which definitely needs to be explored more.
I also loved the rest of the new additions to the book in terms of characters and I love the rest of the Paper & Hearts gang, especially Ed, and it was interesting to see how this linked into school life.
Basically, I really enjoyed it and everyone should always read with pride!
August 3, 2020
3.5
I definitely enjoyed this book the more I read.
I think at the beginning I found there to be a few too many pop culture references and that everything seemed to be explained more than necessary (though that could be a result of the age target of this book).
But I still really enjoy these characters and love reading about them (particularly Ed) and I think the messages within this book are extremely important and need to be promoted.
I definitely enjoyed this book the more I read.
I think at the beginning I found there to be a few too many pop culture references and that everything seemed to be explained more than necessary (though that could be a result of the age target of this book).
But I still really enjoy these characters and love reading about them (particularly Ed) and I think the messages within this book are extremely important and need to be promoted.
September 28, 2020
Mnohem lepší než první díl! A co je fakt super, je, že se to dá číst jako samostatná kniha, bez znalosti předchozího dílu, takže opravdu doporučuji si přečíst alespoň tuto knihu.
Co od ní dostanete? Parádní LGBTQIA+ diverzitu (najdete tam snad skoro všechno!) a aktivismus za volný přístup k lgbtq+ knihám ve školní knihovně. Je to také první YA kniha, ve které jsem se setkala se syndromem vyhoření.
Co od ní dostanete? Parádní LGBTQIA+ diverzitu (najdete tam snad skoro všechno!) a aktivismus za volný přístup k lgbtq+ knihám ve školní knihovně. Je to také první YA kniha, ve které jsem se setkala se syndromem vyhoření.
October 1, 2020
Where do I even start with this book? It was so amazing and I enjoyed it thoroughly! I was a huge fan of the first book and I think I liked the second book even more! Seeing everything through Olivias perspective and the struggles she was going through provided for great character development. I loved seeing the hard work of the the Read With Pride Club and how hard they thrived to make a difference as well as watching Cassie and Olivia’s relationship grow. One of the best reads of the year!
September 15, 2022
I enjoyed the book heaps. Throughout the book Olivia encounters many real life issues that are relatable to many people. Throughout the book you get to see how Olivia’s character has developed and stood up for what she thinks is right. This is an amazing book and I definitely recommend checking out this series!
August 13, 2020
I loved this!
The first one in the series was one of my favorite books that I read this year, and this one deserves those 5 stars as well. I would love to be a part of their bookclub and their friendship is amazing.
The wat they all come together for the same cause had me rooting for all of them from the beginning.
The first one in the series was one of my favorite books that I read this year, and this one deserves those 5 stars as well. I would love to be a part of their bookclub and their friendship is amazing.
The wat they all come together for the same cause had me rooting for all of them from the beginning.
April 14, 2023
4.5* 🌈
December 12, 2020
I started reading the Kindle edition of Read With Pride by Lucy Powrie three days after my reading of The Paper and Hearts Society. I loved The Paper and Hearts Society because it was the first book in the series and Lucy evidently spent more time writing it, but I certainly saw Lucy improving as a writer in Read With Pride. At the surface, Read With Pride is the story of a group of queer teenagers resisting the policy and fighting for change together.
Read With Pride revolves around Olivia Santos as she commences her final year of secondary school, studying for GCSEs. On the first day of school, she discovers that the school library has restricted access to books with LGBTQ content. Olivia is dejected because she is demisexual and feels trapped at the idea of diverse sexualities being berated and pointedly ignored. Her parents willingly sign the permission slip to allow her to withdraw any of the library books of her choice, but countless other students are suffering because they are not accepted by society and are kept away from literature representing them. Olivia is an immigrant from the Philippines and she is not straight; she feels that her school's population mainly represents those that are white and cis. Olivia encounters Nell, Rocky, Oscar, Morgan, Alf, and Saffy and decides to start a #Readwithpride campaign. The Read With Pride movement starts with book drops and poster drops but eventually becomes a social media page where everyone can share their personal stories of why they read with pride. Olivia finds kindred spirits and enchanting relationships in the Read With Pride group. In the midst of running The Paper and Hearts Society book club, Read With Pride campaign, studying, working towards her ambitions of becoming a book editor, and spending time with her girlfriend, Cassie, Olivia burns out. She forgets to bake a cake for Ed's birthday, fails a physics test, and experiences a great many sleepless nights. In the initial chapters, there is a bookmark designing competition and Book Olympics with The Paper and Hearts Society. Alongside the Read With Pride group, Olivia elucidates how literature can be of comfort and bliss because Morgan is a transgender girl who does not enjoy reading. Tabby starts to overcome her anxiety as she develops her relationship with Henry, Ed is on a quest to find a job, and Cassie aids in the healing of her mother's mental health, while studying art in college. As a result of love, determination, and ardent passion, the Read With Pride page goes viral and the petition is signed by numerous individuals. Olivia starts to let go of the pressure she has been putting on herself and the Read With Pride campaign ultimately leads to the victory of the school policy being amended for students able to withdraw all books. Olivia's parents and her sister, Kimberley are supportive. Even when the Head of the Year wants the Read With Pride group to cease all their doings, the results blossom, and the school librarian, Miss Carter is delighted.
Read With Pride is about following one's presentiments, love throughout the journey, and learning to see everyone as one united being amid their differences. Readers can connect to the characters and relate to the toil around the school environment. I am aware that Lucy struggled with writing the manuscript of this novel, but she somehow made it to the end and I am excited for the final book of the trilogy to be published next year.
Read With Pride revolves around Olivia Santos as she commences her final year of secondary school, studying for GCSEs. On the first day of school, she discovers that the school library has restricted access to books with LGBTQ content. Olivia is dejected because she is demisexual and feels trapped at the idea of diverse sexualities being berated and pointedly ignored. Her parents willingly sign the permission slip to allow her to withdraw any of the library books of her choice, but countless other students are suffering because they are not accepted by society and are kept away from literature representing them. Olivia is an immigrant from the Philippines and she is not straight; she feels that her school's population mainly represents those that are white and cis. Olivia encounters Nell, Rocky, Oscar, Morgan, Alf, and Saffy and decides to start a #Readwithpride campaign. The Read With Pride movement starts with book drops and poster drops but eventually becomes a social media page where everyone can share their personal stories of why they read with pride. Olivia finds kindred spirits and enchanting relationships in the Read With Pride group. In the midst of running The Paper and Hearts Society book club, Read With Pride campaign, studying, working towards her ambitions of becoming a book editor, and spending time with her girlfriend, Cassie, Olivia burns out. She forgets to bake a cake for Ed's birthday, fails a physics test, and experiences a great many sleepless nights. In the initial chapters, there is a bookmark designing competition and Book Olympics with The Paper and Hearts Society. Alongside the Read With Pride group, Olivia elucidates how literature can be of comfort and bliss because Morgan is a transgender girl who does not enjoy reading. Tabby starts to overcome her anxiety as she develops her relationship with Henry, Ed is on a quest to find a job, and Cassie aids in the healing of her mother's mental health, while studying art in college. As a result of love, determination, and ardent passion, the Read With Pride page goes viral and the petition is signed by numerous individuals. Olivia starts to let go of the pressure she has been putting on herself and the Read With Pride campaign ultimately leads to the victory of the school policy being amended for students able to withdraw all books. Olivia's parents and her sister, Kimberley are supportive. Even when the Head of the Year wants the Read With Pride group to cease all their doings, the results blossom, and the school librarian, Miss Carter is delighted.
Read With Pride is about following one's presentiments, love throughout the journey, and learning to see everyone as one united being amid their differences. Readers can connect to the characters and relate to the toil around the school environment. I am aware that Lucy struggled with writing the manuscript of this novel, but she somehow made it to the end and I am excited for the final book of the trilogy to be published next year.
October 16, 2021
This is one of my comfort reads. I am currently rereading it and can relate so much to what the characters go through. The feeling of not fitting in and of course I am a bookworm! I want people to know that the fact I love reading doesn't make me inferior to others but that is what I often feel. Fleeting remarks but that stay ingrained in me forever. I can relate to the worthlessness felt in book one of this series and book two is much the same albeit in a different way, if any of this is making sense.
I am now working towards being more comfortable with myself and this book has been the biggest part of that. I have been bullied and like Tabby didn't realise that's what it was and still is until I sit down and remember it all. This makes it a hard hitting and impactful book for me.
Like Olivia, I am a albeit new but all the same a Jane Austen fan and a classics fan. I support my LGBTQ friend and I'm exploring my own identity which this book has helped with in a way that I don't think I'll ever be able to express. I am a fan of Alice Oseman's Nick and Charlie too! I love how demisexual is represented here and I adore the way it feels like it isn't just put in there for the sake of it, as I often find the forced manner of other LGTBQ+ books.
I am constantly revisiting this book and the first Paper and Hearts Society book. I want the characters here to be my friends so, so badly!
That's probably enough of me going on but this book I think will always be a favourite. Thank you Lucy Powrie your characters mean so much to me, you will never know how much your books have helped me.
Basically, if you want a group of supportive loyal and hilarious bookish friends, The Paper And Hearts Society is here for you!
I am now working towards being more comfortable with myself and this book has been the biggest part of that. I have been bullied and like Tabby didn't realise that's what it was and still is until I sit down and remember it all. This makes it a hard hitting and impactful book for me.
Like Olivia, I am a albeit new but all the same a Jane Austen fan and a classics fan. I support my LGBTQ friend and I'm exploring my own identity which this book has helped with in a way that I don't think I'll ever be able to express. I am a fan of Alice Oseman's Nick and Charlie too! I love how demisexual is represented here and I adore the way it feels like it isn't just put in there for the sake of it, as I often find the forced manner of other LGTBQ+ books.
I am constantly revisiting this book and the first Paper and Hearts Society book. I want the characters here to be my friends so, so badly!
That's probably enough of me going on but this book I think will always be a favourite. Thank you Lucy Powrie your characters mean so much to me, you will never know how much your books have helped me.
Basically, if you want a group of supportive loyal and hilarious bookish friends, The Paper And Hearts Society is here for you!
July 10, 2020
You can‘t have enough Books and you should always read with pride.
Das sind Lektionen fürs Leben, die man hier mit bekommt 😁 Aber dieses Buch bietet noch soviel mehr, Themen wie Zensur, sexuelle Diskriminierung, Burn out und verschiedene sexuelle Orientierungen werden angesprochen und erörtert.
Die Geschichte bietet viel auf seinen ca. 350 Seiten und natürlich trifft man wieder auf die Paper & Hearts Socitey.
Ich liebe diese Charaktere, obwohl in diesem Band es hauptsächlich um Olivia ging und ihr Ziel, dass jeder in der Schulbibliothek lesen kann, wonach ihm der Sinn steht und dabei nicht durch Vorurteile eingeschränkt wird.
Ein tolles Buch was einige Denkanstöße gibt und Spaß gemacht hat zu lesen. Ich drücke die Daumen, dass bald noch ein Teil der Reihe erscheint, denn ich möchte noch einmal in diese Welt abtauchen und Zeit mit Olivia, Cassie, Henry, Tabby und natürlich Ed verbringen. Die Welt braucht mehr Geschichte über verrückt Buchpartys, Buchliebhaber und Katzen wie Mrs. Simkins 🐈
Das sind Lektionen fürs Leben, die man hier mit bekommt 😁 Aber dieses Buch bietet noch soviel mehr, Themen wie Zensur, sexuelle Diskriminierung, Burn out und verschiedene sexuelle Orientierungen werden angesprochen und erörtert.
Die Geschichte bietet viel auf seinen ca. 350 Seiten und natürlich trifft man wieder auf die Paper & Hearts Socitey.
Ich liebe diese Charaktere, obwohl in diesem Band es hauptsächlich um Olivia ging und ihr Ziel, dass jeder in der Schulbibliothek lesen kann, wonach ihm der Sinn steht und dabei nicht durch Vorurteile eingeschränkt wird.
Ein tolles Buch was einige Denkanstöße gibt und Spaß gemacht hat zu lesen. Ich drücke die Daumen, dass bald noch ein Teil der Reihe erscheint, denn ich möchte noch einmal in diese Welt abtauchen und Zeit mit Olivia, Cassie, Henry, Tabby und natürlich Ed verbringen. Die Welt braucht mehr Geschichte über verrückt Buchpartys, Buchliebhaber und Katzen wie Mrs. Simkins 🐈
June 3, 2020
My sapphic bookish heart is thriving after reading this!! It’s not everyday a book makes you cry but here we are 🥺 I love this series so much, I know RWP has only just been released but I can’t wait for the next book!!!
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