What do you think?
Rate this book
Thinking About Her
Clare is seventeen, a popular straight-A student, and has her daily life completely determined by her controlling mother. Outwardly it appears she has everything figured out, but silently she feels lost in someone else’s life. Her only escape is behind the lens of her camera.
Hilda is forced to move back to the US and is looking to escape a painful past relationship and start over. Her alternative look and rough exterior don’t do her any favors as she struggles to be accepted by her peers and restart her athletic career.
When the two girls meet for the first time, something clicks. New and conflicting emotions stir within Clare that force her to question who she is and what she wants out of life. Hilda, being suddenly thrust into the spotlight of Clare’s popularity, fears that to fit in, she’ll need to hide her feelings of affection, which has never been her strong suit. Will the two be able to navigate the uncharted waters of their passion, or will they drown in a sea of their own expectations?
Hilda is forced to move back to the US and is looking to escape a painful past relationship and start over. Her alternative look and rough exterior don’t do her any favors as she struggles to be accepted by her peers and restart her athletic career.
When the two girls meet for the first time, something clicks. New and conflicting emotions stir within Clare that force her to question who she is and what she wants out of life. Hilda, being suddenly thrust into the spotlight of Clare’s popularity, fears that to fit in, she’ll need to hide her feelings of affection, which has never been her strong suit. Will the two be able to navigate the uncharted waters of their passion, or will they drown in a sea of their own expectations?
- GenresYoung AdultLGBTLesbian
233 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 21, 2020
24 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
November 23, 2020
Overall good book.
I received a published copy of this book through BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
I'm usually quite hesitant to read Lesfic YA books because the first half is always about denying and denying followed by a defiant need to hook up with a random boy just to prove a point. Its always so heartbreaking to see the feelings of one side being played. So I'm glad to see that this book is less about self discovery and more about coming out.
On top of having to come to terms with her newly discovered sexual orientation, Clare has to deal with bible thumper Catholic parents and a girlfriend who wants more.
To be honest, I had some difficulty figuring out the kind of person Hilda was. She was crazy at times, and other times perfectly sweet. But overall seemed a little too rebellous for innocent Clare. But the author did show us glimpses of her vulnerable side and how much she loved Clare. So in the end she won me over.
An overall good book. I hope young adults who are thinking of coming out can find solace in this book.
I received a published copy of this book through BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
I'm usually quite hesitant to read Lesfic YA books because the first half is always about denying and denying followed by a defiant need to hook up with a random boy just to prove a point. Its always so heartbreaking to see the feelings of one side being played. So I'm glad to see that this book is less about self discovery and more about coming out.
On top of having to come to terms with her newly discovered sexual orientation, Clare has to deal with bible thumper Catholic parents and a girlfriend who wants more.
To be honest, I had some difficulty figuring out the kind of person Hilda was. She was crazy at times, and other times perfectly sweet. But overall seemed a little too rebellous for innocent Clare. But the author did show us glimpses of her vulnerable side and how much she loved Clare. So in the end she won me over.
An overall good book. I hope young adults who are thinking of coming out can find solace in this book.
November 2, 2021
When an author who is older than her younger subjects writes about them there seems to be a sameness to the characters and they remind me of other YA books I've read. Also, I wish these fanatical Christians, like the girl's mother, had some qualities which were amusing or intriguing or just not suffocating and simplistic. That said the author hasn't lost me yet.
Then, the genre did. I don't enjoy YA anymore. I don't enjoy reading about crazy religious parents (Is it always the mother?). Is the book aimed at my age group? No. Is any of this the fault of the author? No. I wish her the best.
Then, the genre did. I don't enjoy YA anymore. I don't enjoy reading about crazy religious parents (Is it always the mother?). Is the book aimed at my age group? No. Is any of this the fault of the author? No. I wish her the best.
April 16, 2022
This was unexpected, far more explosive and full on than I had imagined.
Clare is 17, living with her parents, the mother being very controlling and religious. Clare is popular at school, a good student and just breaking up with her boyfriend Max, but she has a close knit group of friends. So when Hilda shows up one day, just moving back to the US from living in Germany with her Olympic caliber parents, things start to happen.
This YA romance had a lot going for it, good issues, good characters and an interesting storyline. It's hard to accept Clare's constant lying, to her parents, her friends and herself, but it seems she had little choice.
Good stuff.
Clare is 17, living with her parents, the mother being very controlling and religious. Clare is popular at school, a good student and just breaking up with her boyfriend Max, but she has a close knit group of friends. So when Hilda shows up one day, just moving back to the US from living in Germany with her Olympic caliber parents, things start to happen.
This YA romance had a lot going for it, good issues, good characters and an interesting storyline. It's hard to accept Clare's constant lying, to her parents, her friends and herself, but it seems she had little choice.
Good stuff.
April 19, 2021
Clarissa's a good character who grows into a great character throughout the book. Not only do we see her face and stand up to the many challenges she encounters, but we also see growth in her friends too.
I dig it.
I dig it.
April 11, 2021
This was really great and came out of nowhere!
I had never heard of this book or writer before, but after grabbing a different book on KU yesterday, this one was advertised to me as similar. And it looked unfamiliar- which was odd as I tend to recognize a lot of books in lesfic at this point- especially those in KU. And I decided to give it a shot.
And once I started I kept on reading and couldn't stop! I read most of it last night until I fell asleep with my Kindle- oops. Then finished it this morning. I was super into it and the characters.
I was surprised there was a lot of religious elements and angst in the book as it wasn't in the blurb, but for me that only drew me in more. I've written before how I tend to enjoy books that deal with religious elements, both dealing positively and negatively, because of my complicated past with religion and Christianity. So I always latch on to characters dealing with similar elements very hard.
God I loved Clarissa. She was such a wonderful character to see this world through. I loved her soul, her intentions, and how strong of a person she was to shoulder all of the burdens of her world. She deserves the world and happiness. She isn't a perfect person but I loved her so much. Hilda was interesting as well. She was like this mysterious enigma that I just wanted to learn more about as the book went on. That kept me really engaged. I loved seeing them interact too, they were ridiculously cute and I could just see them in my head together.
This isn't the easiest read. Clarissa is dealing with some serious issues at home and the book won't gloss over them. I really loved the romance in the book, but this isn't just a fluffy read.
I would have loved an epilogue (or a sequel) about how Clare and Hilda are doing in college, how Hilda's athletic career is turning out and Clare's photography.
One criticism I have of the book is I couldn't understand why Clarissa's dad, who seemed to be a decent guy, turned a blind eye to her mother's actions and then didn't leave her when it was finally put in his face. That seemed a little off to me. Also I wasn't wild about the character of Lin, even if she came around in the end.
This book definitely deserves more attention. It's really good, especially as a debut from a new writer. I'm definitely keeping Alexander in mind and will be looking out for her future books. 4.25/5
CWs: parental abuse, religious trauma, underage drinking, references to characters faking sexuality for attention
I had never heard of this book or writer before, but after grabbing a different book on KU yesterday, this one was advertised to me as similar. And it looked unfamiliar- which was odd as I tend to recognize a lot of books in lesfic at this point- especially those in KU. And I decided to give it a shot.
And once I started I kept on reading and couldn't stop! I read most of it last night until I fell asleep with my Kindle- oops. Then finished it this morning. I was super into it and the characters.
I was surprised there was a lot of religious elements and angst in the book as it wasn't in the blurb, but for me that only drew me in more. I've written before how I tend to enjoy books that deal with religious elements, both dealing positively and negatively, because of my complicated past with religion and Christianity. So I always latch on to characters dealing with similar elements very hard.
God I loved Clarissa. She was such a wonderful character to see this world through. I loved her soul, her intentions, and how strong of a person she was to shoulder all of the burdens of her world. She deserves the world and happiness. She isn't a perfect person but I loved her so much. Hilda was interesting as well. She was like this mysterious enigma that I just wanted to learn more about as the book went on. That kept me really engaged. I loved seeing them interact too, they were ridiculously cute and I could just see them in my head together.
This isn't the easiest read. Clarissa is dealing with some serious issues at home and the book won't gloss over them. I really loved the romance in the book, but this isn't just a fluffy read.
I would have loved an epilogue (or a sequel) about how Clare and Hilda are doing in college, how Hilda's athletic career is turning out and Clare's photography.
One criticism I have of the book is I couldn't understand why Clarissa's dad, who seemed to be a decent guy, turned a blind eye to her mother's actions and then didn't leave her when it was finally put in his face. That seemed a little off to me. Also I wasn't wild about the character of Lin, even if she came around in the end.
This book definitely deserves more attention. It's really good, especially as a debut from a new writer. I'm definitely keeping Alexander in mind and will be looking out for her future books. 4.25/5
CWs: parental abuse, religious trauma, underage drinking, references to characters faking sexuality for attention
August 17, 2020
A surprisingly good book from a debut author.
The story is told from the point of view of Clare, a senior at high school and part of the popular crowd. She dreams of using photography as her way out of her small town and constricting life. Hilda enters her life as a transfer student from Germany, returning to her hometown and forces Clare to examine all that she knows about herself.
This is the second book I've read recently that included controlling religious parents, and I thought the tone of this book was done really well so that it had impact but was appropriate for a YA novel.
There a lots of characters in Clare's friend group, something that can be a little hard to keep track of at times. As you'd probably expect there is quite a bit of angst in this book - both from the main characters and those around them, but for the most part it works well within the narrative.
The book keeps a hopeful tone, especially in the ending, but doesn't promise anything. All in all this kind of book I wish had been around when I was a teenager.
I received an e-ARC via BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
The story is told from the point of view of Clare, a senior at high school and part of the popular crowd. She dreams of using photography as her way out of her small town and constricting life. Hilda enters her life as a transfer student from Germany, returning to her hometown and forces Clare to examine all that she knows about herself.
This is the second book I've read recently that included controlling religious parents, and I thought the tone of this book was done really well so that it had impact but was appropriate for a YA novel.
There a lots of characters in Clare's friend group, something that can be a little hard to keep track of at times. As you'd probably expect there is quite a bit of angst in this book - both from the main characters and those around them, but for the most part it works well within the narrative.
The book keeps a hopeful tone, especially in the ending, but doesn't promise anything. All in all this kind of book I wish had been around when I was a teenager.
I received an e-ARC via BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
February 16, 2021
I am a sucker for a good coming-of-age story. When the subject matter is relatable to me it makes the meaning of the story even more impactful.
Thinking About Her is book about a 17-year-old girl, Clare, learning to navigate high school and taking the next steps to college. However, she lives by the strict hands of her overbearing and religious mother. When a new girl, Hilda, comes to town her world is turned upside down by her immediate attraction to her.
This debut by Alexander hit some good marks for most of the duration of the book. However, I found it rather unbelievable at times. In a perfect world, all the right things would happen, and all would end well. I think this book was written with a bit of naivety in some areas and had some parts that could have been more well developed. For example, more details or a time lapse is needed to make the ending of this book more believable.
This book is a good debut attempt by Alexander, and I commend the author for hitting some tough subject matter for young adults. Many of the opinions with regards to religion and sexual orientation I completely agree with. This topic will resonate with young readers, who is the target audience for this book.
Thinking About Her is book about a 17-year-old girl, Clare, learning to navigate high school and taking the next steps to college. However, she lives by the strict hands of her overbearing and religious mother. When a new girl, Hilda, comes to town her world is turned upside down by her immediate attraction to her.
This debut by Alexander hit some good marks for most of the duration of the book. However, I found it rather unbelievable at times. In a perfect world, all the right things would happen, and all would end well. I think this book was written with a bit of naivety in some areas and had some parts that could have been more well developed. For example, more details or a time lapse is needed to make the ending of this book more believable.
This book is a good debut attempt by Alexander, and I commend the author for hitting some tough subject matter for young adults. Many of the opinions with regards to religion and sexual orientation I completely agree with. This topic will resonate with young readers, who is the target audience for this book.
October 24, 2020
First, I want to thank BookSirens for giving me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
I liked the two main characters and several of the side characters. I also liked the idea of the story and plot. However, in many ways the version I read felt more like a 2nd or 3rd draft, rather than the ARC. Sometimes the words and/or actions of characters felt out of character. In addition, there were times when things did not logically make sense. For example, at one point 3 characters were at Point A and eventually all ended up at Point B, but one of those characters went out of their way to get only one of the other characters to the new location. Logically, the 3rd character was not needed, so felt forced as a way to bring that other character into the scene.
I also felt like one aspect of the story the author tried to do a slow reveal of information, while giving hints. But, the execution of it made it feel more like lots of inconsistencies for the characters involved.
Finally, while I don’t typically like it when authors over explain things, I did feel like in this book sometimes the author went too far in the other direction and there wasn’t enough explanation to fully understand the context the characters were in.
Even though I feel there is a lot that could be improved for this book, I still cared about the characters. So that’s why I feel like this author has a lot of potential and I would be curious to read something else by them in the future.
Content Warning: physically and emotionally abusive relationships
I liked the two main characters and several of the side characters. I also liked the idea of the story and plot. However, in many ways the version I read felt more like a 2nd or 3rd draft, rather than the ARC. Sometimes the words and/or actions of characters felt out of character. In addition, there were times when things did not logically make sense. For example, at one point 3 characters were at Point A and eventually all ended up at Point B, but one of those characters went out of their way to get only one of the other characters to the new location. Logically, the 3rd character was not needed, so felt forced as a way to bring that other character into the scene.
I also felt like one aspect of the story the author tried to do a slow reveal of information, while giving hints. But, the execution of it made it feel more like lots of inconsistencies for the characters involved.
Finally, while I don’t typically like it when authors over explain things, I did feel like in this book sometimes the author went too far in the other direction and there wasn’t enough explanation to fully understand the context the characters were in.
Even though I feel there is a lot that could be improved for this book, I still cared about the characters. So that’s why I feel like this author has a lot of potential and I would be curious to read something else by them in the future.
Content Warning: physically and emotionally abusive relationships
August 30, 2020
I will be honest I didn’t like the book at first but as I read it more, I realised I was wrong. At first I thought it was too slow. And I read the starting three chapters twice just to maintain a pace. But it turns out that I actually enjoyed reading this book. This is the first LGBTQ book I have ever read and after a long time I read a Young Adult Fiction and this book truly took me by surprise.
I liked the characters but what I truly liked was how the author showed the exact issues that so many go through after they come out or they realise they are gay! I liked how Hilda, Hilda’s father and even Nicholas was so supportive of Clarissa.
This is an absolutely beautiful, supportive and an encouraging read.
If you are looking for a light-hearted, feel-good, must read it! ♥️♥️ 👭
I liked the characters but what I truly liked was how the author showed the exact issues that so many go through after they come out or they realise they are gay! I liked how Hilda, Hilda’s father and even Nicholas was so supportive of Clarissa.
This is an absolutely beautiful, supportive and an encouraging read.
If you are looking for a light-hearted, feel-good, must read it! ♥️♥️ 👭
November 3, 2020
I received an ARC for this book through BookSirens.
I read the excerpt through a search for Young Adult LGBT and found this sapphic book about a Catholic girl who doesn't actually know she's into girls, who falls for a German girl who's already out as a lesbian. I fell in love with the writer's style instantly--and wasn't disappointed throughout the rest of the book.
THINKING ABOUT HER is a beautiful, heart-breaking story of defying strict, conforming parents, exploring yourself, finding out who you are through ways that turn your world upside down as well as inside out. This had incredibly soft scenes and some very tough ones to read. I cheered for Clare, almost wept for Clare, felt for Hilda, got angry at the mother and the father for their behaviour, and absolutely cheered for Nicholas, Clare's uncle.
This is a book a lot of people can relate to. Often, sexuality isn't awoken by a celebrity or readable things. Sometimes it's a person, and you hurt them--and yourself--in the realisation of being that orientation. This book highlighted that very real situation. I adored how Clare finally stood up for herself. I love how she struggled to talk about her mother's abuse towards her, fuelled by her religious beliefs, but also thought she was just "being her mother". It broke my heart but when she fought back and did everything she had to, even if it hurt, even if it shook her world apart, she was strong and brave enough to defy her odds.
Clare had an absolutely awful support system. Really, the only person she had was Hilda and her uncle. In the end, she has Veronica and Lin, but Lin could be awful through the book, too. Her motives were explained, but she could be a real bitch. Clare's popular friends were misunderstanding to her situation, never listened to her, and only ever dragged her down further. In my opinion, neither of them--nor Clare's parents--deserved redemption ARCs but Clare got a closed, satisfying happy ending. It showed that sometimes people can come around; for me, it just read a little quickly for how they'd hurt Clare.
Overall, this book was stunningly-written and I'd recommend it to anyone.
I read the excerpt through a search for Young Adult LGBT and found this sapphic book about a Catholic girl who doesn't actually know she's into girls, who falls for a German girl who's already out as a lesbian. I fell in love with the writer's style instantly--and wasn't disappointed throughout the rest of the book.
THINKING ABOUT HER is a beautiful, heart-breaking story of defying strict, conforming parents, exploring yourself, finding out who you are through ways that turn your world upside down as well as inside out. This had incredibly soft scenes and some very tough ones to read. I cheered for Clare, almost wept for Clare, felt for Hilda, got angry at the mother and the father for their behaviour, and absolutely cheered for Nicholas, Clare's uncle.
This is a book a lot of people can relate to. Often, sexuality isn't awoken by a celebrity or readable things. Sometimes it's a person, and you hurt them--and yourself--in the realisation of being that orientation. This book highlighted that very real situation. I adored how Clare finally stood up for herself. I love how she struggled to talk about her mother's abuse towards her, fuelled by her religious beliefs, but also thought she was just "being her mother". It broke my heart but when she fought back and did everything she had to, even if it hurt, even if it shook her world apart, she was strong and brave enough to defy her odds.
Clare had an absolutely awful support system. Really, the only person she had was Hilda and her uncle. In the end, she has Veronica and Lin, but Lin could be awful through the book, too. Her motives were explained, but she could be a real bitch. Clare's popular friends were misunderstanding to her situation, never listened to her, and only ever dragged her down further. In my opinion, neither of them--nor Clare's parents--deserved redemption ARCs but Clare got a closed, satisfying happy ending. It showed that sometimes people can come around; for me, it just read a little quickly for how they'd hurt Clare.
Overall, this book was stunningly-written and I'd recommend it to anyone.
August 9, 2020
I would like to thank BookSirens and the Author for the Arc of this book. So I had high hopes for this book. I like YA books with F/F story lines and this fit the bill. It started out strong. The Characters and the writing were fine, at least the characters were fine at the start, But as we went along I found myself not liking many of the people in this book. The thing is I would dislike a character and then think oh maybe that was a one off and it would be good and then crap would happen again. By 3/4 of the way through the book I really disliked one of the mains and though she was supposed to be made to seem likeable by the end, well I was passed the point and really dont see why the 2 are even together. Overall I would give this a 3 and change rating. The writing was good and the editing was good for the most part as well, for those that freak out on that stuff. This was a worthwhile read and I am not sorry I read it. I would not hesitate to read more of Ophelia Alexander's work as I think this was her first book and I look forward to more from her. Who knows there may even be more from this couple.
August 29, 2020
I got a free copy of this book via BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
What I liked:
- It was very well written
- The characters were very dimensional
- Initially, religion had this role of being the enemy but the book ended up showing how religion does not necessarily have to condemn homosexuality.
What I didn't like:
- The premise of the book is that a good christian girl and a rebellious bad-girl help each other grow by rubbing off on each other a little bit. But at times, I genuinely felt that Hilda was a really bad influence on Clarissa.
- One of my pet peeves when it comes to romance books is when it seems like the lives of the entire world revolve around the main characters' romance. This book happens to be one of those books, this is just personal taste, though.
What I liked:
- It was very well written
- The characters were very dimensional
- Initially, religion had this role of being the enemy but the book ended up showing how religion does not necessarily have to condemn homosexuality.
What I didn't like:
- The premise of the book is that a good christian girl and a rebellious bad-girl help each other grow by rubbing off on each other a little bit. But at times, I genuinely felt that Hilda was a really bad influence on Clarissa.
- One of my pet peeves when it comes to romance books is when it seems like the lives of the entire world revolve around the main characters' romance. This book happens to be one of those books, this is just personal taste, though.
September 1, 2020
Thank you Book Sirens for providing me with a free review copy in exchange for an unbiased review, which I am writing voluntarily.
This was a really good and beautiful book. There were so many elements but the author did a wonderful job of bringing them all together.
The MC is a high school student with a strict religious mother and an ex boyfriend who doesn't seem to understand that they're done. You have the drama at home, high school drama, and then the internal drama of the MC, Clarissa, struggling with her feelings for new girl Hilda.
It was an interesting ride and I loved getting to know these characters and their stories and how everything worked out in the end.
This was a really good and beautiful book. There were so many elements but the author did a wonderful job of bringing them all together.
The MC is a high school student with a strict religious mother and an ex boyfriend who doesn't seem to understand that they're done. You have the drama at home, high school drama, and then the internal drama of the MC, Clarissa, struggling with her feelings for new girl Hilda.
It was an interesting ride and I loved getting to know these characters and their stories and how everything worked out in the end.
November 27, 2020
Thanks to Book Sirens for providing me with an advance review copy in exchange of an honest review.
"Thinking about her" follows the story of two young girls, Hilda and our main character Claire. If well the plot has its fair share of cliches and has a few gaps, the story itself was entertaining enough that I wanted to keep reading. I laughed with the characters, cringed with them (or at them, because, well, they're teens), and rooted for them. And I might have stayed up until 3 in the morning reading. Twice.
On the other hand, as proud member of the LGBTIQA+ community, who didn't come out until her twenties, I was really invested in reading the coming out experiences in a High School environment. I was also reminded a bit of my own fears at the time, about ten years after my High School years were over. Thus, the book allowed me to reflect a bit on my own life-story.
As I mentioned before, the plot had a few issues for my taste. The characters were great, but their motivations and actions didn't always make sense. Also, I felt that the author left out scenes that were important, while keeping others not so relevant, in my opinion. Lastly, there were a couple of times where I felt like I might have skipped a chapter, as one ended with something that was about to happen, and the next started with the thing already over. Still, I do think that the author has some great ideas in mind, and will continue to improve her writing with time. I'm glad this story is out there, as it's necesary to have more stories that deal with these subjects, while helping teen realities feel represented.
For anyone interested in reading this book, I should note a few Content Warnings, such as Homophobia, Religion, Domestic violence, Alcohol, Sex, Nudity, Grief and Physical Violence in general. Sadly, these aspects are part of the life of many LGBTIQA+ teenagers, and must not be invisibilized. So thanks to the author for sharing it as it is, no sugar coating.
"Thinking about her" was published on July 21st, 2020, and is available in Amazon and other bookstores.
"Thinking about her" follows the story of two young girls, Hilda and our main character Claire. If well the plot has its fair share of cliches and has a few gaps, the story itself was entertaining enough that I wanted to keep reading. I laughed with the characters, cringed with them (or at them, because, well, they're teens), and rooted for them. And I might have stayed up until 3 in the morning reading. Twice.
On the other hand, as proud member of the LGBTIQA+ community, who didn't come out until her twenties, I was really invested in reading the coming out experiences in a High School environment. I was also reminded a bit of my own fears at the time, about ten years after my High School years were over. Thus, the book allowed me to reflect a bit on my own life-story.
As I mentioned before, the plot had a few issues for my taste. The characters were great, but their motivations and actions didn't always make sense. Also, I felt that the author left out scenes that were important, while keeping others not so relevant, in my opinion. Lastly, there were a couple of times where I felt like I might have skipped a chapter, as one ended with something that was about to happen, and the next started with the thing already over. Still, I do think that the author has some great ideas in mind, and will continue to improve her writing with time. I'm glad this story is out there, as it's necesary to have more stories that deal with these subjects, while helping teen realities feel represented.
For anyone interested in reading this book, I should note a few Content Warnings, such as Homophobia, Religion, Domestic violence, Alcohol, Sex, Nudity, Grief and Physical Violence in general. Sadly, these aspects are part of the life of many LGBTIQA+ teenagers, and must not be invisibilized. So thanks to the author for sharing it as it is, no sugar coating.
"Thinking about her" was published on July 21st, 2020, and is available in Amazon and other bookstores.
September 23, 2020
While it may sound cliché to say that "opposites attract" that was the first impression I got of this love story. Clare comes from a very strict conservative household whereas Hilda comes from a very rebellious family. As a transfer student, Hilda stood out among the people in Clare's home town of Grand Forks. As Clare and Hilda began to get to know each other through mutual friends and classes, they began to discover their feelings for each other.
One thing that stood out to me the most about this story was that it included a very relevant topic that is in dire need of discussion among today's youth; physical abuse. Although this may be disturbing for some readers, the abuse Clare experienced from her mom is not too different from what many minors still experience to this day. Hopefully sharing these scenes can help raise awareness and promote a deeper conversation about how our youth can protect themselves.
The only reason why I did not give this book five out of five stars is because I wanted more of a backstory behind how a conflict with Clare and her friend Veronica happened. I also found Clare's other friend Lin to be a very unlikable character. She was extremely disrespectful and it was unclear as to how she even ended up as part of Clare's social circle to begin with. I found myself focused more on just how much I disliked Lin than the love story behind Clare and Hilda.
My favorite thing about this story is how tastefully the erotic scenes were written with Clare and Hilda. While there certainly is a market and audience for raunchier literature, I appreciated how the scenes were written in a way that would not be considered inappropriate for teen readers. I also loved the in depth detail of Hilda's appearance, but I wanted to know more about Clare's appearance. When Clare mentioned how busty she was and how boys were always talking to her chest, I was very disappointed that there wasn't more detail given about Clare's physical appearance. Then again, I always get giddy whenever a curvy woman is mentioned so I could be biased.
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy from Booksirens.com for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
One thing that stood out to me the most about this story was that it included a very relevant topic that is in dire need of discussion among today's youth; physical abuse. Although this may be disturbing for some readers, the abuse Clare experienced from her mom is not too different from what many minors still experience to this day. Hopefully sharing these scenes can help raise awareness and promote a deeper conversation about how our youth can protect themselves.
The only reason why I did not give this book five out of five stars is because I wanted more of a backstory behind how a conflict with Clare and her friend Veronica happened. I also found Clare's other friend Lin to be a very unlikable character. She was extremely disrespectful and it was unclear as to how she even ended up as part of Clare's social circle to begin with. I found myself focused more on just how much I disliked Lin than the love story behind Clare and Hilda.
My favorite thing about this story is how tastefully the erotic scenes were written with Clare and Hilda. While there certainly is a market and audience for raunchier literature, I appreciated how the scenes were written in a way that would not be considered inappropriate for teen readers. I also loved the in depth detail of Hilda's appearance, but I wanted to know more about Clare's appearance. When Clare mentioned how busty she was and how boys were always talking to her chest, I was very disappointed that there wasn't more detail given about Clare's physical appearance. Then again, I always get giddy whenever a curvy woman is mentioned so I could be biased.
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy from Booksirens.com for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 25, 2020
"If you feel that this is the path He's set for you, then walk it with your head held high."
This is a very strong debut novel. I really enjoyed seeing Clarissa discover and accept her true self. I loved seeing Clarissa and Hilda's relationship develop. It was very cute.
Also, religion is a large part of this book, and I thought the author cleverly showed different perspectives on homosexuality from the religious perspective. The mother is devout and has an extreme reaction to Clarissa's sexuality, the father is in the middle, and the uncle, a pastor, shares a positive and affirming reaction. The ending of the book was quite hopeful, and I like to think everything works out well.
The only negative, and the reason why I can't give this 5 stars, is that I didn't really like the side characters throughout the book. It was the last few chapters that changed my mind. Those chapters made me feel all the emotions, and seeing everyone band together to support Clarissa was really special.
I received a free copy of this book from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is a very strong debut novel. I really enjoyed seeing Clarissa discover and accept her true self. I loved seeing Clarissa and Hilda's relationship develop. It was very cute.
Also, religion is a large part of this book, and I thought the author cleverly showed different perspectives on homosexuality from the religious perspective. The mother is devout and has an extreme reaction to Clarissa's sexuality, the father is in the middle, and the uncle, a pastor, shares a positive and affirming reaction. The ending of the book was quite hopeful, and I like to think everything works out well.
The only negative, and the reason why I can't give this 5 stars, is that I didn't really like the side characters throughout the book. It was the last few chapters that changed my mind. Those chapters made me feel all the emotions, and seeing everyone band together to support Clarissa was really special.
I received a free copy of this book from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 29, 2020
I really enjoyed this coming of age novel that entwined christianity, young love, relationships, and discovery. The chemistry between the main character Clare and her love interest Hilda was very believable. I appreciated the ups and downs of Clare’s relationships with others as she discovered herself and developed her character.
Although, there were some points in the novel where the dialogue was unnatural and unrealistic, especially in the last three chapters of the book. The peer antagonist’s motivations were unclear, and also seemed like a wholly unrealistic character. I appreciated the imagery of Hilda, but it would have been nice to have more physical descriptions of other characters. There was confusion with the relationships between Veronica and Max that took away from the story, and it seemed that there were too many characters that weren’t developed.
But overall, this was an interesting and captivating story of love and personal growth.
I received a complimentary copy from Book Sirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Although, there were some points in the novel where the dialogue was unnatural and unrealistic, especially in the last three chapters of the book. The peer antagonist’s motivations were unclear, and also seemed like a wholly unrealistic character. I appreciated the imagery of Hilda, but it would have been nice to have more physical descriptions of other characters. There was confusion with the relationships between Veronica and Max that took away from the story, and it seemed that there were too many characters that weren’t developed.
But overall, this was an interesting and captivating story of love and personal growth.
I received a complimentary copy from Book Sirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 31, 2020
The book "Thinking About Her" by Ophelia Alexander is about the strictly Christian educated Clarissa (17) and the rebellious Hilda (16). Hilda comes from Germany to Clarissa's school and the two become friends.
The book is well written and as a reader you want to know where the friendship of the two protagonists is going.
The book is about the courage to stand up for yourself and make decisions for you and nobody else.
Hilda has lived in Germany for many years and therefore uses some German words and phrases. As a German I often find that German is not used correctly in English books. Here I was happy to see that grammatically and also from the sense everything was done correctly.
As a small flaw, especially at the beginning of the book, I sometimes had the feeling that Hilda behaves older than she actually is (16). But maybe she is just very mature for her age.
I received a copy from booksirens in exchange for an honest review.
The book is well written and as a reader you want to know where the friendship of the two protagonists is going.
The book is about the courage to stand up for yourself and make decisions for you and nobody else.
Hilda has lived in Germany for many years and therefore uses some German words and phrases. As a German I often find that German is not used correctly in English books. Here I was happy to see that grammatically and also from the sense everything was done correctly.
As a small flaw, especially at the beginning of the book, I sometimes had the feeling that Hilda behaves older than she actually is (16). But maybe she is just very mature for her age.
I received a copy from booksirens in exchange for an honest review.
September 26, 2020
A great book about young lesbians and the emotions they face coming out and the pressures of family and friends. Great plot and very emotional at timesI received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Read
August 19, 2020DNF.
January 4, 2021
The concept of this book intrigued me and so, here I am. I really liked how unlike many LGBTQIA+ works, this book was less about the self discovery process and focused more on the aspect of coming out. Uncertainty about how your near and dear ones would react is definitely a theme I could relate to.
The plot is mostly enjoyable, though it does have its fair share of cliches and gaps and the pace does get slow at multiple points. I liked how fleshed out Clare's personality and background was; her place in her social circle, her school life and her family. However, while Clare's character was multi dimensional, I felt the opposite about Hilda. Honestly, her character annoyed me. Maybe this was because of my general dislike of the rebellious bad girl trope. Maybe.
But this cannot distract me from the fact that I was constantly rooting for the two. Their chemistry and fast friendship is magical and undeniable. Both of them bring out the best in each other and are the really great couple.
The underlying theme of physical abuse was well done and I appreciate the author for including it and spreading awareness. Also, while initially religion might seem like the bad guy, I was glad that it ended on the note that religion does not condemn homosexuality.
One of my biggest problems with the book was with the side characters. They were paper thin and it felt like they were peppered into a few scenes just for the heck of it. However, its understandable seeing that this is Ophelia Alexander's debut and the fact that she delivered a very well written MC and memorable couple is commendable. I am looking forward to more from her in the future:)
Disclaimer- I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The plot is mostly enjoyable, though it does have its fair share of cliches and gaps and the pace does get slow at multiple points. I liked how fleshed out Clare's personality and background was; her place in her social circle, her school life and her family. However, while Clare's character was multi dimensional, I felt the opposite about Hilda. Honestly, her character annoyed me. Maybe this was because of my general dislike of the rebellious bad girl trope. Maybe.
But this cannot distract me from the fact that I was constantly rooting for the two. Their chemistry and fast friendship is magical and undeniable. Both of them bring out the best in each other and are the really great couple.
The underlying theme of physical abuse was well done and I appreciate the author for including it and spreading awareness. Also, while initially religion might seem like the bad guy, I was glad that it ended on the note that religion does not condemn homosexuality.
One of my biggest problems with the book was with the side characters. They were paper thin and it felt like they were peppered into a few scenes just for the heck of it. However, its understandable seeing that this is Ophelia Alexander's debut and the fact that she delivered a very well written MC and memorable couple is commendable. I am looking forward to more from her in the future:)
Disclaimer- I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 4, 2021
As a member of the LGBT+ community myself, I rarely find a coming-of-age story that features some of the struggles of this community and what it can be like to figure out your true self. Ophelia Alexander did a wonderful job with this story, and I’m so glad I got to read it.
Though I may not personally relate to everything the characters had to go through in this story, I found the plot and characters truly captivating. The author did a wonderful job fleshing out the characters and even allowed some of the characters to not be the sorts of positive figures you’d hope for. Not everyone you’ll meet is going to accept you when you’re a member of the LGBT+ community, and I’m really glad the author showed that in the story, as well as the love and acceptance the main character received from others.
At times, the pacing of this story got a bit confusing for me, but I can also understand that that’s what being a teenager and going through these sorts of situations can feel like to someone. I think it would have been nice to see more interaction between the main character and her dad, but I also see that her mom had been dominating her life for quite some time, so that can perhaps be overlooked as well.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this story! I received a free copy of this story from Hidden Gems and am choosing to leave an honest review of it.
Though I may not personally relate to everything the characters had to go through in this story, I found the plot and characters truly captivating. The author did a wonderful job fleshing out the characters and even allowed some of the characters to not be the sorts of positive figures you’d hope for. Not everyone you’ll meet is going to accept you when you’re a member of the LGBT+ community, and I’m really glad the author showed that in the story, as well as the love and acceptance the main character received from others.
At times, the pacing of this story got a bit confusing for me, but I can also understand that that’s what being a teenager and going through these sorts of situations can feel like to someone. I think it would have been nice to see more interaction between the main character and her dad, but I also see that her mom had been dominating her life for quite some time, so that can perhaps be overlooked as well.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this story! I received a free copy of this story from Hidden Gems and am choosing to leave an honest review of it.
September 7, 2020
The premise of the story really drew me in-you rarely find a good lesbian YA book so I was excited to start reading. I found that the book initially started off slow and I didn't have high hopes for the rest of it, however it soon picked up and I really started to enjoy it, finishing it all in one sitting. As a lesbian myself who was raised around christian values/attending Christian schools, I related to Clarissa and her struggles with coming to terms with her sexuality and saw parts of myself reflected in her and her experience-it seemed so natural and realistic to what people may actually experience and didn't seem forced or unrealistic at all, which some other stories come across as. I loved the whole book and the story was so engaging and well written, the relationship between the two protagonists was adorable (I was literally sat there squealing at several points), and the whole thing just seemed to flow naturally.
Give this book a chance-it was such an enjoyable reading experience. Thank you to the author for this great read!
(I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily)
Give this book a chance-it was such an enjoyable reading experience. Thank you to the author for this great read!
(I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily)
December 27, 2023
Clarissa is about to enter her senior at a Catholic school in a small town. She's just broken up with her boyfriend when at an end of summer party she meets Hilda, a new girl who's been living in Germany. Hilda is like no one at the school in terms of how she dresses and acts. Clarissa is drawn to her and over time realizes that she wants more than a friendship. But Clarissa's mother is incredibly strict and abusive and coming out doesn't seem like an option.
On the whole, I didn't enjoy this book. I wasn't crazy about either of the MCs and after a while wondered why they wanted to be together. Also, I've never heard of a Catholic school without uniforms (a minor point).
The one positive aspect is the fact that the priest, who is Clarissa's uncle, is incredibly accepting of her as opposed to her own mother. It was good to see religion depicted as more complex than entirely homophobic.
Still, I'm not sure I'd recommend this book.
On the whole, I didn't enjoy this book. I wasn't crazy about either of the MCs and after a while wondered why they wanted to be together. Also, I've never heard of a Catholic school without uniforms (a minor point).
The one positive aspect is the fact that the priest, who is Clarissa's uncle, is incredibly accepting of her as opposed to her own mother. It was good to see religion depicted as more complex than entirely homophobic.
Still, I'm not sure I'd recommend this book.
January 14, 2021
I enjoyed this book a lot. Clarissa's perfect world and the inner turmoil that she keeps fighting with is something you can only express through emotions and the author has brilliantly stiched the narrative like a smooth wool. A coming out story, a story of a young girl that you can relate to. Her sexual orientation and what she wants to say out loud often is not able to do so because she is afraid of what the others would think. The story is light, emotional and the same time so full of depth and love. The satisfaction of recognising oneself has been captured beautifully by the writer and I would recommend this book to everyone who wishes to understand the lgbtqia+ community and their struggles with their world, their friends and families.
February 16, 2021
*I received a free ecopy if this book in exchange for an honest review.*
This book was a nice change of pace from what I usually read, but I found it hard to get through.
Don't get me wrong, its a great debut book but I found it a bit ridiculous at the same time.
All the characters got on my nerves at one point or another. I can't get over the fact that her mother was abusing her, but everyone looked the other way and she is forgiving her? Her husband is for giving her? Uh, no. Especially since the mother thought she did no wrong.
The ending didn't really wrap things up for me like I felt it should, but thats okay. You get a mostly HEA.
This book was a nice change of pace from what I usually read, but I found it hard to get through.
Don't get me wrong, its a great debut book but I found it a bit ridiculous at the same time.
All the characters got on my nerves at one point or another. I can't get over the fact that her mother was abusing her, but everyone looked the other way and she is forgiving her? Her husband is for giving her? Uh, no. Especially since the mother thought she did no wrong.
The ending didn't really wrap things up for me like I felt it should, but thats okay. You get a mostly HEA.
September 19, 2025
I am always grateful to booksirens for giving me an advance copy of this book, so for that I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Although I don't really read much LesFic YA books, I still enjoyed this one. I related a lot to Clare’s struggle of living under someone else’s rules and slowly figuring out herself outside of it. And then clare forming a connection with Hilda felt so real, it was messy, intense, and sweet all at once. I loved how their relationship gave both of them the courage to face their fears.
Although I don't really read much LesFic YA books, I still enjoyed this one. I related a lot to Clare’s struggle of living under someone else’s rules and slowly figuring out herself outside of it. And then clare forming a connection with Hilda felt so real, it was messy, intense, and sweet all at once. I loved how their relationship gave both of them the courage to face their fears.
October 24, 2023
Someone wrote in a review that the mom is very controlling and religious. That's a massive understatement imho. I would say that she's a bigoted and abusive psycho bitch from hell. She might think she's on the straight and narrow, headed for heaven, but in reality she's good and well on the highway to hell where she belongs. I hated her character, because I simply can't stand bigotry and hypocrisy.
July 22, 2022
I listened to the audio book and oh god avoid that because one of the voices in the narration is the most comical and awful sounding and in general the plot was all over the joint
March 22, 2021
I loved this book! I felt sooooo represented as a catholic girl growing up suppressing my sexuality and praying to be straight and “normal.” Although more severe than my upbringing, Clarissa’s experience with struggling to figure out her sexuality while being Catholic is one I can COMPLETELY relate to. Extreme trigger warning for anyone who has dealt with religious trauma and child abuse! Otherwise, great story!
Recommendation: 10/10 for reading and good storytelling, 5/10 for representation
Trigger Warnings: Homophobia, cheating, fighting, alcohol, bullying, physical abuse, emotional abuse, trauma, religion, sex, nudity, grief, loss of a parent
Representation: Lesbian, Catholicism
A YA novel of friendship, love, identity, and secrets, TAH tells the story of two high schoolers falling in love. Clarissa, Clare, is a senior in high school who dreams of leaving her small town and never turning back. She grows up in a religious household and struggles to figure out who she is while trying to please her friends, parents, and new potential love interest, Hilda.
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy from Hidden Gems. A more thorough review has been published to my Amazon page, please contact me if interested.
Recommendation: 10/10 for reading and good storytelling, 5/10 for representation
Trigger Warnings: Homophobia, cheating, fighting, alcohol, bullying, physical abuse, emotional abuse, trauma, religion, sex, nudity, grief, loss of a parent
Representation: Lesbian, Catholicism
A YA novel of friendship, love, identity, and secrets, TAH tells the story of two high schoolers falling in love. Clarissa, Clare, is a senior in high school who dreams of leaving her small town and never turning back. She grows up in a religious household and struggles to figure out who she is while trying to please her friends, parents, and new potential love interest, Hilda.
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy from Hidden Gems. A more thorough review has been published to my Amazon page, please contact me if interested.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews