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And Other Mistakes
A Black teenage girl has something to prove in And Other Mistakes, a debut Young Adult coming-of-age novel by Erika Turner about first loves, broken friendships, family tension, and what it means to run toward your future instead of running from your past.
Aaliyah's home life has never been great, but she thought she'd survive her last years of high school with at least her friendships and cross-country stardom intact. That is, until junior year she got outed by a church elder and everything came undone ― including Aaliyah.
Now, senior year is about to start and she is determined to come back faster and wiser. No more letting other people define her. No more losing herself to their expectations.
Except... well, with new friends, old flames, nosy school counselors, and teammates who don't trust her yet, the route already feels rough. And what's with the new girl, Tessa, who gives Aaliyah butterflies every time she looks at her? Regardless, everything is fine. She'll be fine. Because this is the year to prove to everyone―and most of all, herself―that she's more than her mistakes. After all, even Aaliyah can't outrun everything.
Aaliyah's home life has never been great, but she thought she'd survive her last years of high school with at least her friendships and cross-country stardom intact. That is, until junior year she got outed by a church elder and everything came undone ― including Aaliyah.
Now, senior year is about to start and she is determined to come back faster and wiser. No more letting other people define her. No more losing herself to their expectations.
Except... well, with new friends, old flames, nosy school counselors, and teammates who don't trust her yet, the route already feels rough. And what's with the new girl, Tessa, who gives Aaliyah butterflies every time she looks at her? Regardless, everything is fine. She'll be fine. Because this is the year to prove to everyone―and most of all, herself―that she's more than her mistakes. After all, even Aaliyah can't outrun everything.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published February 14, 2023
16 people are currently reading
2190 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
April 25, 2023
I loved this book. I am a little tired of the teen lesbian experiences homophobia after coming out/being outed story, and it would be nice to have more representations of happy queer teens, but these are very real things that happen and I'm happy that people like Erika Turner are writing about them. Aaliyah was an incredibly frustrating character, both because she refused to see what was right in front of her in terms of the feelings her best friend had for her and because of her obsession with her ex best friend, but it felt real. This is the way teenagers feel and the way they act. They're messy and dramatic and they take everything very personally and hold on to past hurts and grudges. The way she treated her first girlfriend was pretty terrible, but again, I understood where she was coming from. Who could have expected more from her under the circumstances?
I also found Aaliyah's mother beyond frustrating for her refusal to do anything about her alcoholic husband and his emotional abuse toward her and her children. I've never been in that position, though, so I can't say how I would handle it if I were. I never want to blame anyone for their own abuse, it just feels different when there are kids involved. Either way, the moments when she danced around with them and sang along with their music were so heartbreaking because they showed that she once had more spirit, and that she still loved Aaliyah even if she had forgotten how to talk to her.
There was nothing I really disliked in this story and a whole lot I loved. It all felt so authentic and heartfelt and I enjoyed every second of reading it. I might have wished for a different ending, but even that wasn't enough to detract a star. It was realistic.
I also found Aaliyah's mother beyond frustrating for her refusal to do anything about her alcoholic husband and his emotional abuse toward her and her children. I've never been in that position, though, so I can't say how I would handle it if I were. I never want to blame anyone for their own abuse, it just feels different when there are kids involved. Either way, the moments when she danced around with them and sang along with their music were so heartbreaking because they showed that she once had more spirit, and that she still loved Aaliyah even if she had forgotten how to talk to her.
There was nothing I really disliked in this story and a whole lot I loved. It all felt so authentic and heartfelt and I enjoyed every second of reading it. I might have wished for a different ending, but even that wasn't enough to detract a star. It was realistic.
February 6, 2023
“I’m not angry, but I think I deserve just one minute. To remember that I really do f*****g deserve this second chance; that I am worth more than anyone’s disappointment, and anyone’s expectations about who they thought I was, or should be.”
And Other Mistakes tells the story of Aaliyah and how she deals with the after effects of kissing her best friend (who doesn’t feel the same things), the daily uncertainty of an abusive, alcoholic father and the fallout from being outted to her religious mother.
At times Aali is a typical teenager. She is on the cross country team at her high school. She spends time with her friends and has a summer job. But, during her junior year an adult at her high school tells her mom that Aaliyah is gay and her mother does not handle it with much grace. The rough reaction causes Aali to spiral. Her grades suffer, she flakes out during cross country meets and she feels unworthy.
The novel tells the story of how Aaliyah learns to navigate her feelings, her friends, her future and her family.
Unfortunately this book will 100% be banned by some organization, but it shouldn’t be. The main character is queer. Some of her friends are gay, queer, bisexual, having premarital sex, drinking underage and swearing. There are elements of abuse and abuse on children. None of it is out of context. Many children deal with all these issues on a daily basis. Ignoring or making it feel “other” doesn’t make it go away. Doing that harms children in those situations.
All people need to see themselves in stories, Maybe, especially teenagers. Many teens will see themselves or a friend in the character from And Other Mistakes.
Many teens are navigating new paths. some don’t have a light to see the way. Books can give that to them. People make mistakes as they try to figure out all the feelings and relationships and mistakes are made.
This book could be a good fit for grades 8-12 or ages 13-18.
And Other Mistakes tells the story of Aaliyah and how she deals with the after effects of kissing her best friend (who doesn’t feel the same things), the daily uncertainty of an abusive, alcoholic father and the fallout from being outted to her religious mother.
At times Aali is a typical teenager. She is on the cross country team at her high school. She spends time with her friends and has a summer job. But, during her junior year an adult at her high school tells her mom that Aaliyah is gay and her mother does not handle it with much grace. The rough reaction causes Aali to spiral. Her grades suffer, she flakes out during cross country meets and she feels unworthy.
The novel tells the story of how Aaliyah learns to navigate her feelings, her friends, her future and her family.
Unfortunately this book will 100% be banned by some organization, but it shouldn’t be. The main character is queer. Some of her friends are gay, queer, bisexual, having premarital sex, drinking underage and swearing. There are elements of abuse and abuse on children. None of it is out of context. Many children deal with all these issues on a daily basis. Ignoring or making it feel “other” doesn’t make it go away. Doing that harms children in those situations.
All people need to see themselves in stories, Maybe, especially teenagers. Many teens will see themselves or a friend in the character from And Other Mistakes.
Many teens are navigating new paths. some don’t have a light to see the way. Books can give that to them. People make mistakes as they try to figure out all the feelings and relationships and mistakes are made.
This book could be a good fit for grades 8-12 or ages 13-18.
Read
April 17, 2023Overall an enjoyable read! One note on the audiobook: one of the supporting characters is Filipino American and while performing her dialogue in one scene, the narrator mispronounced the names of some Filipino foods. While this was a very small part of the book, it was disappointing to me as a Filipino American reader that the narrator and/or those directing the audiobook did not take the time to research the correct pronunciation in order to keep the scene culturally accurate & sensitive.
June 21, 2023
and other mistakes pulled on my emotions. throughout reading it, my heart ached and i cried many times. but i also felt warmed by the happier moments and especially the way things were brought together in the end.
Read
December 8, 2025DNF 41%
March 6, 2025
4.5 Stars
January 23, 2024
no zbyt wiele tutaj luk fabularnych i wgl przemyślenia samej historii, ale niektóre wątki były ciekawe i gdyby się dłużej nad nimi pochylić pisarsko, to mogłoby być naprawdę dużo lepsze
January 26, 2023
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I requested And Other Mistakes based on the cover and premise alone, and I am happy to say I enjoyed it. It’s a great debut that explores a lot of the issues of being a teenager and coming of age.
Aaliyah’s a wonderful protagonist that I’m sure many teens will relate to, especially if they’re Black and/or queer. She deals with a somewhat fraught home life including an alcoholic father and homophobic mother, and has recently been outed by an elder at her church. She’s also dealing with drama with a friend who kissed her, but then distanced herself. But I appreciate how she isn’t kept down by all these adversities, as she resolves to try to combat people’s expectations and preconceived notions of her. Even when she’s under so much pressure, from family drama to friendship conflicts to school to sports, she never breaks, and I admire her for that.
I love how Aaliyah’s talent for running ends up being so symbolic throughout the book. She tries to outrun her problems, but eventually it all piles up and she has to reckon with them…and that includes seeing impacts of that pressure in her poor track scores. It’s just such a well-thought out novel that uses running in such a great thematic way.
The romance with Tessa is somewhat of a weak point, in that I didn’t feel like Tessa was hat fleshed out. But I did like that Aaliyah did have someone in her life that existed to provide something more or less positive, and they do have cute moments.
This is a solid debut, and I’m eager to try more from Erika Turner in the future. If you enjoy queer YA contemporaries, I recommend picking this one up!
I requested And Other Mistakes based on the cover and premise alone, and I am happy to say I enjoyed it. It’s a great debut that explores a lot of the issues of being a teenager and coming of age.
Aaliyah’s a wonderful protagonist that I’m sure many teens will relate to, especially if they’re Black and/or queer. She deals with a somewhat fraught home life including an alcoholic father and homophobic mother, and has recently been outed by an elder at her church. She’s also dealing with drama with a friend who kissed her, but then distanced herself. But I appreciate how she isn’t kept down by all these adversities, as she resolves to try to combat people’s expectations and preconceived notions of her. Even when she’s under so much pressure, from family drama to friendship conflicts to school to sports, she never breaks, and I admire her for that.
I love how Aaliyah’s talent for running ends up being so symbolic throughout the book. She tries to outrun her problems, but eventually it all piles up and she has to reckon with them…and that includes seeing impacts of that pressure in her poor track scores. It’s just such a well-thought out novel that uses running in such a great thematic way.
The romance with Tessa is somewhat of a weak point, in that I didn’t feel like Tessa was hat fleshed out. But I did like that Aaliyah did have someone in her life that existed to provide something more or less positive, and they do have cute moments.
This is a solid debut, and I’m eager to try more from Erika Turner in the future. If you enjoy queer YA contemporaries, I recommend picking this one up!
March 25, 2023
This was a really well-done debut by Erika Turner. It gives me hope for the future of queer YA literature. The main character, Aaliyah, is a Black lesbian who was forced out of the closet during her sophomore year of high school, leading her to drop out of her passion, track and field. About to start junior year, she has to figure out how to gain back her team's trust, in addition to being a baby gay with old and new crushes colliding. Aaliyah is fleshed out and imperfect, someone who I found myself empathizing with and rooting for, while also feeling frustrated with her as she navigates maintaining old and building new relationships. As a former baby gay from a religious family, I saw myself in her awkwardness and desire to be/feel loved as herself, to feel like there was nothing wrong with her.
What I really appreciated about this book is that none of the conflicts were wrapped up in a bow at the end.
No relationships are fully put back together, but how could they be? That will take time and healing. They're teens dealing with college applications and unstable homes and relationships and sexuality and religion and the mess of life! And I think Turner captured that chaos and instability well, while also leaving the audition with a glint in their eyes-- a move towards new possibilities.
What I really appreciated about this book is that none of the conflicts were wrapped up in a bow at the end.
No relationships are fully put back together, but how could they be? That will take time and healing. They're teens dealing with college applications and unstable homes and relationships and sexuality and religion and the mess of life! And I think Turner captured that chaos and instability well, while also leaving the audition with a glint in their eyes-- a move towards new possibilities.
January 2, 2023
"Running from others is easy. Running from yourself is not."
In which we meet Aaliyah, a seventeen year old queer cross country star...in the midst of her whole life plan crumbling. An alcoholic father, a homophobic mother, a charming little sister to protect, an ex-friend-who-kissed-her-first-then-ghosted, a new best friend, and a new teammate who makes her heart race; Aaliyah is going through it. But she's determined not to let her senior year be a repeat of her junior one.
Aali's only safe spaces are cross country and her friends. That is, until those things start to crumble, too. Aaliyah is very much a girl who gets caught up in her head, as most of us are at seventeen. When fights with her best friend get in the way of her running times, she knows she has to figure things out so she can get back on top and not let her teammates down again.
In this coming-of-age novel, we see Aaliyah fight to accept herself, find herself, and love herself. She has spent so much time running--literally and figuratively, that she doesn't quite know who she is outside of her friendships. She must navigate new and old relationships and decide what it is she really wants. But most of all, she has to stop running from herself.
Thank you NetGalley for gifting me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review and opinion.
In which we meet Aaliyah, a seventeen year old queer cross country star...in the midst of her whole life plan crumbling. An alcoholic father, a homophobic mother, a charming little sister to protect, an ex-friend-who-kissed-her-first-then-ghosted, a new best friend, and a new teammate who makes her heart race; Aaliyah is going through it. But she's determined not to let her senior year be a repeat of her junior one.
Aali's only safe spaces are cross country and her friends. That is, until those things start to crumble, too. Aaliyah is very much a girl who gets caught up in her head, as most of us are at seventeen. When fights with her best friend get in the way of her running times, she knows she has to figure things out so she can get back on top and not let her teammates down again.
In this coming-of-age novel, we see Aaliyah fight to accept herself, find herself, and love herself. She has spent so much time running--literally and figuratively, that she doesn't quite know who she is outside of her friendships. She must navigate new and old relationships and decide what it is she really wants. But most of all, she has to stop running from herself.
Thank you NetGalley for gifting me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review and opinion.
February 16, 2023
*4.75 Stars*
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Aaliyah's home life has always been rough but ever since she got outed to her mother, things went from bad to worse, and then her school performances took a toll too. But, at least, that year is over. She's starting over and things will improve! Well, except her dad is still an alcoholic, her mom is still homophobic, she's on probation at school and her love life is even more complicated than when her ex-best-friend made out with her then ignored her for weeks! But it will be great!!
This was messy. In the best way. The MC was flawed and layered and so interesting and the side characters were too. The plot kept my interest from beginning to end and I was rooting for Aaliyah through it all. Even when she was being a dumbass.
I was also highly entertained by the messy sentimental relationships and overall, just enjoyed this. I found the parts that weren't fun to read just as captivating. Simply put, this was great. I liked everything about this. I enjoyed the whole thing about the running competition and club, the family dynamics were captivating and also so layered. The ending was great to me too. I love books that end like this.
Basically, I could not recommend this more and I can't wait to read more by this author.
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Aaliyah's home life has always been rough but ever since she got outed to her mother, things went from bad to worse, and then her school performances took a toll too. But, at least, that year is over. She's starting over and things will improve! Well, except her dad is still an alcoholic, her mom is still homophobic, she's on probation at school and her love life is even more complicated than when her ex-best-friend made out with her then ignored her for weeks! But it will be great!!
This was messy. In the best way. The MC was flawed and layered and so interesting and the side characters were too. The plot kept my interest from beginning to end and I was rooting for Aaliyah through it all. Even when she was being a dumbass.
I was also highly entertained by the messy sentimental relationships and overall, just enjoyed this. I found the parts that weren't fun to read just as captivating. Simply put, this was great. I liked everything about this. I enjoyed the whole thing about the running competition and club, the family dynamics were captivating and also so layered. The ending was great to me too. I love books that end like this.
Basically, I could not recommend this more and I can't wait to read more by this author.
October 8, 2022
I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes; this in no way influences my review
Content notes:
Gosh, I love messy teenage feelings, even as I’m so glad I’m no longer at that stage of my life. This book so perfectly encapsulates the messy queer experience of liking friends, not knowing if they like you back, and not wanting to ruin friendships with those Big feelings, all while Aaliyah is also dealing with her alcoholic father and the abuse and anger filling her house. She and her new best friend Marissa have trauma-bonded and because of Aaliyah’s experience with her previous best friend, Yasmin, kissing her, she’s completely unable to realize that Marissa has a crush on her. And Other Mistakes is a story full of emotion and love and friendship, and one I absolutely adored.
Content notes:
Gosh, I love messy teenage feelings, even as I’m so glad I’m no longer at that stage of my life. This book so perfectly encapsulates the messy queer experience of liking friends, not knowing if they like you back, and not wanting to ruin friendships with those Big feelings, all while Aaliyah is also dealing with her alcoholic father and the abuse and anger filling her house. She and her new best friend Marissa have trauma-bonded and because of Aaliyah’s experience with her previous best friend, Yasmin, kissing her, she’s completely unable to realize that Marissa has a crush on her. And Other Mistakes is a story full of emotion and love and friendship, and one I absolutely adored.
July 18, 2024
Erika Turner's debut YA novel, "And Other Mistakes," delves deep into the life of Aaliyah, a Black teenage girl navigating the aftermath of being outed to her church-going mother. Set against the backdrop of familial tension and personal turmoil, Aaliyah strives to rebuild amidst the shards of her fractured world.
The narrative unfolds over a year, during which Aaliyah grapples with the complexities of identity, from navigating breakups to balancing academics and college aspirations. Turner's writing paints a raw and poignant picture of Aaliyah's journey, capturing the harsh realities of an unsafe home life and the struggle to define herself as a queer teen.
"And Other Mistakes" doesn't shy away from addressing tough issues faced by teens today. It's a story that resonates, not only for its realism but also for its portrayal of resilience and the search for acceptance. Turner skillfully weaves together themes of friendship, family dynamics, and personal growth, making this a recommended read for anyone navigating their own path of self-discovery.
The narrative unfolds over a year, during which Aaliyah grapples with the complexities of identity, from navigating breakups to balancing academics and college aspirations. Turner's writing paints a raw and poignant picture of Aaliyah's journey, capturing the harsh realities of an unsafe home life and the struggle to define herself as a queer teen.
"And Other Mistakes" doesn't shy away from addressing tough issues faced by teens today. It's a story that resonates, not only for its realism but also for its portrayal of resilience and the search for acceptance. Turner skillfully weaves together themes of friendship, family dynamics, and personal growth, making this a recommended read for anyone navigating their own path of self-discovery.
March 3, 2023
This book is very much a character-driven story, mostly about the ways that teenagers lives can get messy. And the fact that they make mistakes, and it's okay. It's not world ending. This is Turner's debut novel, but she's got a talent for writing authentic teenage voices. I will happily read another book by her, if and when it happens.
So many teenagers will likely to relate to Aaliyah's story, whether they're struggling with similar things at home, trying to figure out dating/their sexuality, and still trying to maintain friendships when everything else seems like it's falling apart. Aaliyah is a strong protagonist for this book, with an authentic voice, surrounded by characters who are just as fleshed out as her. It's one of the main reasons I was so drawn into the story. Character-driven books are my jam.
Overall, this is definitely a strong debut, and I can't wait to see what Erika Turner comes up with next.
So many teenagers will likely to relate to Aaliyah's story, whether they're struggling with similar things at home, trying to figure out dating/their sexuality, and still trying to maintain friendships when everything else seems like it's falling apart. Aaliyah is a strong protagonist for this book, with an authentic voice, surrounded by characters who are just as fleshed out as her. It's one of the main reasons I was so drawn into the story. Character-driven books are my jam.
Overall, this is definitely a strong debut, and I can't wait to see what Erika Turner comes up with next.
March 27, 2023
“I’m concerned about your future. What do you want, Aaliyah?”
I huff and stare at the ceiling. “To survive.”
A really solid debut about a queer girl from an abusive home dealing with an alcoholic father and a highly religious and unaccepting mother. I really felt for Aaliyah especially in the moments where she stepped in during her father’s alcoholic episodes to take care of her little sister and keep them safe. Being the oldest and also coming from a home of addiction, those moments really resonated with me.
There sure are a lot of gay kids all in one space, but I was cool with it. I’m older, so this would have been so uncommon when I was in high school but maybe it’s more common now. Honestly, I hope it is. This was more about Aaliyah discovering herself, not only in the normal teenager way with dating fumbles and awkward encounters with friends/romantic interests, but trying to navigate all of that while also feeling lost at home.
Looking forward to future books by this author.
I huff and stare at the ceiling. “To survive.”
A really solid debut about a queer girl from an abusive home dealing with an alcoholic father and a highly religious and unaccepting mother. I really felt for Aaliyah especially in the moments where she stepped in during her father’s alcoholic episodes to take care of her little sister and keep them safe. Being the oldest and also coming from a home of addiction, those moments really resonated with me.
There sure are a lot of gay kids all in one space, but I was cool with it. I’m older, so this would have been so uncommon when I was in high school but maybe it’s more common now. Honestly, I hope it is. This was more about Aaliyah discovering herself, not only in the normal teenager way with dating fumbles and awkward encounters with friends/romantic interests, but trying to navigate all of that while also feeling lost at home.
Looking forward to future books by this author.
October 11, 2023
Content warning: physical abuse, child endangerment and neglect, alcoholism, absent parents, homophobic parents, homophobia based on religion, teens having to parent younger siblings
There are parts of AND OTHER MISTAKES that are very tough to read, Aaliyah and some of her friends live in environments no child should be forced to live in. But Turner does a great job of showing the ugly while also showing teens figuring out how to survive in their situations... and maybe finding a way through to something better. These teens are messy, they make mistakes, their emotions get in their way of acting with a level head. This is a YA where the characters actually feel like teens (which is a good thing).
Overall this was a good read and I spent most of the novel genuinely hoping that Aaliyah would figure things out and find her happy and realize she doesn't have to put her life on hold because of her parents.
Danielle B does a good job with the audiobook narration.
There are parts of AND OTHER MISTAKES that are very tough to read, Aaliyah and some of her friends live in environments no child should be forced to live in. But Turner does a great job of showing the ugly while also showing teens figuring out how to survive in their situations... and maybe finding a way through to something better. These teens are messy, they make mistakes, their emotions get in their way of acting with a level head. This is a YA where the characters actually feel like teens (which is a good thing).
Overall this was a good read and I spent most of the novel genuinely hoping that Aaliyah would figure things out and find her happy and realize she doesn't have to put her life on hold because of her parents.
Danielle B does a good job with the audiobook narration.
November 28, 2022
This instantly became one of my favorite reads this year! Aali is such a strong character and the development and growth of her through the whole book is refreshing. I have encountered way too many books lately where there is no growth. Aali is constantly put through situations that would break most and she comes out thriving. She hits a rough patch before the book starts and you slowly learn what happened. Marissa is the best friend that every girl wants. I swear I wanted to jump through the pages and have a talk with Aali’s mom for the way she was treating her, but again, the GROWTH of these characters was phenomenal. The only character I didn’t really care for was Tessa. I felt she was kind of thrown in there as a place holder to fill some of the gaps, which was good, but Tessa was just… Tessa 😂 All in all, I’m obsessed with this book and I cannot wait to make everyone read it!
February 8, 2023
It almost feels like poetry. We have a young girl struggling with her home life and a semester of mistakes trying to rebuild. She has to deal with an abusive father, a homophobic mother, and just the stress of trying to keep it all together. Now add in the typical high school experience, and you understand just a fraction of what Aaliyah is dealing with. The book is primarily character focused as Aaliyah grapples with her sexuality and dreams, but worries about her little sister Trinity. As a character, she has more things on her mind than her best friend's drama or the upcoming cross country meet and that was refreshing. We'll definitely see more of Erika Turner.
*Thank you to Feiwel & Friends for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*
*Thank you to Feiwel & Friends for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*
September 1, 2023
This book felt very realistic which made it very tense and sad — not to say I didn’t enjoy the book.
The story takes place about a year after Aaliyah was outed to her mom by someone in her church and her world fell apart. This year, she is determined to be better, but her home life hasn’t improved any, she doesn’t know how she should act or look as a queer teen, and she’s really just trying to survive.
Throughout the story, we see how she handles breakups (both platonic and romantic), an unsafe home life, trying to balance school/sports/college prep, and just trying to figure out who she is as her own person. Overall, this was a good read and highlighted a lot of issues that teens, queer or not, encounter in their everyday lives. 3.5/5⭐.
The story takes place about a year after Aaliyah was outed to her mom by someone in her church and her world fell apart. This year, she is determined to be better, but her home life hasn’t improved any, she doesn’t know how she should act or look as a queer teen, and she’s really just trying to survive.
Throughout the story, we see how she handles breakups (both platonic and romantic), an unsafe home life, trying to balance school/sports/college prep, and just trying to figure out who she is as her own person. Overall, this was a good read and highlighted a lot of issues that teens, queer or not, encounter in their everyday lives. 3.5/5⭐.
January 25, 2025
And Other Mistakes by Erika Turner is a young adult novel that tackles important topics like identity, family dysfunction, and abuse at home. While the book is classified as YA, and I’m a bit older than the target audience, I still found myself enjoying it. The story follows Aaliyah as she navigates her gap year while dealing with the challenges of her abusive, alcoholic father and a strained relationship with her mother. The themes of self-discovery and protecting loved ones are powerful, and the inclusion of LGBTQ+ elements adds depth to Aaliyah’s character.
Overall, I think this book is a solid read for young adults, especially those dealing with similar issues. It’s heartfelt and honest, though it didn’t completely blow me away. I’d give it 3 out of 5 stars.
Overall, I think this book is a solid read for young adults, especially those dealing with similar issues. It’s heartfelt and honest, though it didn’t completely blow me away. I’d give it 3 out of 5 stars.
February 11, 2023
Aaliyah's life was turned upside down when her religious mother found out that she had kissed a girl. Her friendships also changed because of it. Navigating friendships, a bad home life that includes an alcoholic father, a job, and her senior year in high school is a lot. She returns to her love of running cross country to help her cope, find solace, and maybe even a new relationship. This coming-of-age young adult novel set just outside Las Vegas should have readers feeling almost every emotion. ARC courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley.
February 14, 2023
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.
And Other Mistakes follows teen Aaliyah during her senior year of high school as she grapples with being outed, managing friendships and crushes, and a difficult home life.
This was a fantastic read, primarily because it allowed itself to be difficult. Aaliyah goes through a lot, and Erika Turner doesn't shy away from being real and realistic about the difficulties of navigating life as a queer Black teen. Aaliyah undergoes a lot of personal growth, and it was wonderful to watch her truly find herself again after significant adversity.
This book is messy, and it is hard, and it is fantastic, and it is important.
And Other Mistakes follows teen Aaliyah during her senior year of high school as she grapples with being outed, managing friendships and crushes, and a difficult home life.
This was a fantastic read, primarily because it allowed itself to be difficult. Aaliyah goes through a lot, and Erika Turner doesn't shy away from being real and realistic about the difficulties of navigating life as a queer Black teen. Aaliyah undergoes a lot of personal growth, and it was wonderful to watch her truly find herself again after significant adversity.
This book is messy, and it is hard, and it is fantastic, and it is important.
March 24, 2023
This was really good, but there was almost too much story crammed in. Some things got started then dropped, like Aaliya and Tessa tutoring each other in calculus and cross-country competition. They agreed, then we never saw any of it. We hear about Nessa's finish position, but nothing about Aaliyah's grades. Also, if you come in first at regional, you are going to state, but the state meet isn't in the story. Somebody who runs that much would want to run in college, too, so is she looking at scholarships, D3 schools, what?
None of these are big problems, but I wish the story had more than relationship angst.
None of these are big problems, but I wish the story had more than relationship angst.
November 17, 2023
This was a pretty good book. Felt a little slow in the beginning but it of course got better if not I probably wouldn’t have finished it so quickly. I listened to this book and really liked the reader’s voice. This book was a bit more choppy than I am use to. This would be a good one for high schoolers or mature middle school students. Yes it is LGBTQ+ but not over the top. It is about self discovery, acceptance, has a touch of conservative Christian vibes, and unstable home life. It is truly a good realist fiction book.
September 7, 2024
4.5 stars
She was good, I was waiting for her to be great.
No but in all seriousness this was and amazing book. It kept me entertained the whole way through and I related DEEPLY to the main characte. This book was so close to being a 5 star for me but the only thing that fell short was the ending. It felt rushed and unfinished which made me so sad. Like I read the last sentence and saw acknowledgements and was like "THAT'S IT?!???" but all in all really good book and would recommend if your looking for a cute sapphic coming of age.
She was good, I was waiting for her to be great.
No but in all seriousness this was and amazing book. It kept me entertained the whole way through and I related DEEPLY to the main characte. This book was so close to being a 5 star for me but the only thing that fell short was the ending. It felt rushed and unfinished which made me so sad. Like I read the last sentence and saw acknowledgements and was like "THAT'S IT?!???" but all in all really good book and would recommend if your looking for a cute sapphic coming of age.
April 28, 2023
I wish I had a book like this when I was a teenager figuring out my sexuality and making a mess out of my entire life. It is so important that kids can see themselves in the stories they read, and I know that this book would've saved me a whole lot of heartache.
Aali is a beautifully written character and while she could be *incredibly* frustrating at times (as most teenagers can be), I am so glad I got to join her story for a bit.
Aali is a beautifully written character and while she could be *incredibly* frustrating at times (as most teenagers can be), I am so glad I got to join her story for a bit.
January 12, 2023
A stunner - absolutely sparkly. Funny, smart, moving, and my very favorite genre. - queer YA fiction. I wish I had had this book as a young queer Black woman growing up. This book was a gift and a balm for my inner child, and a wonderful ride. 5/5, would recommend. This would make a terrific book for a book club.
May 24, 2023
Aaliyah is such a great and realistic character. I love how even though she messes up in the book, there are so many likable qualities of her. I appreciated her storyline with her family, especially her relationship with her father and her mother and how that changes throughout the book.
I'm not a huge fan of how the romance plays out in the end. I'm not going to spoil any of it, but I was disappointed with how it turned out. I felt like we were getting built up to something that we finally got and then it was just stripped away.
This whole romantic situation that Aaliyah was dealing with just felt like too much for this poor girl, but like what do I know?
This book, despite my complaints was actually really good and a wonderful sapphic book.
I'm not a huge fan of how the romance plays out in the end. I'm not going to spoil any of it, but I was disappointed with how it turned out. I felt like we were getting built up to something that we finally got and then it was just stripped away.
This whole romantic situation that Aaliyah was dealing with just felt like too much for this poor girl, but like what do I know?
This book, despite my complaints was actually really good and a wonderful sapphic book.
May 31, 2023
This coming of age story about falling in and out of love and finding oneself is a queer story about a girl trying to get though her senior year of high school. While deal with love, friendship and a family that is in need of help. This book could be trigger for people who grew up with an parent who was or is an acholic. With that said i enjoyed listening to this book so i gave it 4 stars
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