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Where You See Yourself
Where You See Yourself combines an unforgettable coming-of-age tale, a swoon-worthy romance, and much-needed disability representation in this story about a girl who's determined to follow her dreams.
By the time Effie Galanos starts her senior year, it feels like she’s already been thinking about college applications for an eternity—after all, finding a college that will be the perfect fit and be accessible enough for Effie to navigate in her wheelchair presents a ton of considerations that her friends don’t have to worry about.
What Effie hasn’t told anyone is that she already knows exactly what school she has her heart set on: a college in NYC with a major in Mass Media & Society that will set her up perfectly for her dream job in digital media. She’s never been to New York, but paging through the brochure, she can picture the person she’ll be there, far from the Minneapolis neighborhood where she's lived her entire life. When she finds out that Wilder (her longtime crush) is applying there too, it seems like one more sign from the universe that it’s the right place for her.
But it turns out that the universe is full of surprises. As Effie navigates her way through a year of admissions visits, senior class traditions, internal and external ableism, and a lot of firsts--and lasts--she starts to learn that sometimes growing up means being open to a world of possibilities you never even dreamed of. And maybe being more than just friends with Wilder is one of those dreams...
By the time Effie Galanos starts her senior year, it feels like she’s already been thinking about college applications for an eternity—after all, finding a college that will be the perfect fit and be accessible enough for Effie to navigate in her wheelchair presents a ton of considerations that her friends don’t have to worry about.
What Effie hasn’t told anyone is that she already knows exactly what school she has her heart set on: a college in NYC with a major in Mass Media & Society that will set her up perfectly for her dream job in digital media. She’s never been to New York, but paging through the brochure, she can picture the person she’ll be there, far from the Minneapolis neighborhood where she's lived her entire life. When she finds out that Wilder (her longtime crush) is applying there too, it seems like one more sign from the universe that it’s the right place for her.
But it turns out that the universe is full of surprises. As Effie navigates her way through a year of admissions visits, senior class traditions, internal and external ableism, and a lot of firsts--and lasts--she starts to learn that sometimes growing up means being open to a world of possibilities you never even dreamed of. And maybe being more than just friends with Wilder is one of those dreams...
320 pages, Hardcover
First published May 2, 2023
70 people are currently reading
7492 people want to read
About the author
Claire Forrest
1 book118 followersClaire Forrest is a novelist and essayist who holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University. Where You See Yourself is based on her lived experience as a wheelchair user who has cerebral palsy. As an undergraduate at Grinnell College, she was a consultant for the Disability Services and Admissions offices, working directly to address the concerns of incoming college students with disabilities and their families.
She lives in Minneapolis, where when she’s not writing, she spends her time swimming and planning where to travel next. Find out more about her on Instagram and Twitter at @claire4est.
She lives in Minneapolis, where when she’s not writing, she spends her time swimming and planning where to travel next. Find out more about her on Instagram and Twitter at @claire4est.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 516 reviews
August 23, 2024
THIS BOOK! AAA! I'm a Disabled teen about to go live at college, and it's so hard to see myself in romance and YA books! This did it! I'm so happy! This gives me hope that I can survive and thrive and love and make a difference! I even share the same disability as the protagonist! I can't even!!! This book came into my life at just the right time! And it's so relatable and comforting ☺️ I bought it before I read it. I never do that. I was banking on it being amazing! And it was more! It's just... I don't have words to describe it!! I'm so glad I gave it a chance!
March 30, 2024
Let me tell you why this story is important to me.
Half-way through my senior year, in the span of 30 mins, I went from a “normal” teenager to unable to walk, and a whole slew of other things. Ill spare you all the details, but I went from working as a CNA 30+ hours a week, being an academic weapon, and so many other things, to bed bound and unable to move anywhere without assistance, in the span of 5 days. At seventeen, I lost all autonomy, and I do mean all. My energy was rationed for using the restroom, and eating, and my parents had to assist me with both of these things. I still look back at those initial months and know I wouldn’t have made it without my family and God.
Over three years later, I’m better. Along with my initial diagnosis, I received a whole slew of other medical conditions (wdym ppl’s joints don’t feel like they are being blowtorched 24/7?) that basically sums up to, I will have to live my life in a disabled body. While I won’t be in a wheelchair permanently forever, I still have an incredibly long way to go in my recovery.
I would be a senior in college this year, if I had been capable of going. Two years into my diagnosis, my dad took me to tour a college, and I was so exited…until I wasn’t. For an “accessible” place, it would take most of my energy in a day to ge to one class, much less several and take on homework and other extracurricular stuff. It was so unfair that I had to put my dreams and life on hold because my disability was an afterthought.
One thing my diagnosis has taught me is how to stand up for myself (you would not believe the amount of doors people have closed on me when they saw me rolling.) It sucks, because, why the heck do I have to tell you that my aids aren’t “lucky.” They are to get me by in a world that is not built for those that do not abide in perfectly functioning bodies.
This book means so much to me. I cried (I am NOT a crier) watching Effie fight to navigate in a world that makes her feel like an inconvenience. The part where she traveled in an airplane? I felt so seen.
College is something that should be wonderful, and that’s it, for Effie. Instead of picking a college based on what she wants and desires, she is forced to foremost look at how much of an afterthought she is on campus.
If you’re wondering what life is like for those with disabilities, I urge you to pick this up. Yes in a lot of ways, it’s very YA, but that’s as it should be. Effie’s condition does not mean she should be incapable of having the high school experience. She should be allowed to be a kid instead of having to navigate basic rights for herself.
Anyways. I’m rambling. Thank you so much Claire Forrest for making me feel so seen.
(if this review makes no sense it’s past midnight i’m so sorry)
Half-way through my senior year, in the span of 30 mins, I went from a “normal” teenager to unable to walk, and a whole slew of other things. Ill spare you all the details, but I went from working as a CNA 30+ hours a week, being an academic weapon, and so many other things, to bed bound and unable to move anywhere without assistance, in the span of 5 days. At seventeen, I lost all autonomy, and I do mean all. My energy was rationed for using the restroom, and eating, and my parents had to assist me with both of these things. I still look back at those initial months and know I wouldn’t have made it without my family and God.
Over three years later, I’m better. Along with my initial diagnosis, I received a whole slew of other medical conditions (wdym ppl’s joints don’t feel like they are being blowtorched 24/7?) that basically sums up to, I will have to live my life in a disabled body. While I won’t be in a wheelchair permanently forever, I still have an incredibly long way to go in my recovery.
I would be a senior in college this year, if I had been capable of going. Two years into my diagnosis, my dad took me to tour a college, and I was so exited…until I wasn’t. For an “accessible” place, it would take most of my energy in a day to ge to one class, much less several and take on homework and other extracurricular stuff. It was so unfair that I had to put my dreams and life on hold because my disability was an afterthought.
One thing my diagnosis has taught me is how to stand up for myself (you would not believe the amount of doors people have closed on me when they saw me rolling.) It sucks, because, why the heck do I have to tell you that my aids aren’t “lucky.” They are to get me by in a world that is not built for those that do not abide in perfectly functioning bodies.
This book means so much to me. I cried (I am NOT a crier) watching Effie fight to navigate in a world that makes her feel like an inconvenience. The part where she traveled in an airplane? I felt so seen.
College is something that should be wonderful, and that’s it, for Effie. Instead of picking a college based on what she wants and desires, she is forced to foremost look at how much of an afterthought she is on campus.
If you’re wondering what life is like for those with disabilities, I urge you to pick this up. Yes in a lot of ways, it’s very YA, but that’s as it should be. Effie’s condition does not mean she should be incapable of having the high school experience. She should be allowed to be a kid instead of having to navigate basic rights for herself.
Anyways. I’m rambling. Thank you so much Claire Forrest for making me feel so seen.
(if this review makes no sense it’s past midnight i’m so sorry)
August 30, 2023
An important ownvoice book that sheds light on the obstacles a teen wheelchair user experiences in her school life and whilst considering which university to attend. She faces abelism, both casual and systematic, on a daily basis. Look, this is not the most wonderfully written book but it was a real eye opener as you know it would be an authentic exploration of how different Effie's experiences are from her non-disabled friends and classmates. The lack of inclusivity from the institutions is appalling and undoubtedly reflects real life attitudes and environments. The romance was cute and a number of reviewers were excited to see themselves represented on page having these wonderful romantic moments. A thoroughly enjoyable and interesting book which was educational but not didactic.
December 29, 2023
5/5 stars
“He clears his throat. ‘I do hope you know that you could’ve let me know about your obstacles, and I would’ve been happy to meet you anywhere else.’ An obstacle is a traffic cone, a hurdle, a mild inconvenience that you sail over and continue on your way. A human being shouldn’t be called an obstacle. It’s a disability. Just say the word; it isn’t a curse word."
I was completely open to love this book, but I didn’t expect to relate this much to the representation of being a disabled teen and college student.For better or worse; I did relate to it that deeply, and know I’m not alone in that experience. Claire Forrest has penned a deeply powerful and uplifting debut, about a life-experience I’ve never seen explored in young adult fiction before. I wish this book had been around when I was 18, but will happily take it now...
We follow Effie during that quintessential “choices-period” of life, that is your senior high-school year. Everyone is making big choices about what colleges to apply to, where to move once they leave the house, who to take to senior prom and how to spend the next summer. So is Effie, only she has some other factors to take into consideration. Effie is a fulltime wheelchair-user due to cerebral palsy, and where her current hometown is adapted to her (and she to it!), the upcoming changes in setting provide a complete new challenge. Between campus- and city-accessibility, adaptive dorm-living, parental- and peer-pressure, and her own preferences, Effie’s choice comes down to a two-way: her dream-college of Prospect NYC, or the “safer” and closer-to-home in her hometown. One of them being clearly less willing to adapt to her needs than the other…
Although the disability-representation was what spoke to me the most in this book (I’ve never seen the challenges of college-life explored this well before!), there’s far more to Effie’s story than just her disability. In fact, that’s what sets this book apart as a great, authentic and own-voice narrative. Claire Forrest depicts the disability aspects ánd the realities of “regular teen-life”, side-by-side without making one seem more profound or important over the other. She allows Effie the joys, hardships and drama of a full teen-life, experiencing first love, friendship, family-relationships, hobbies, academic pressure and more. All of these elements are equally formative to her identity; her disability being only one of them. I’m hoping this makes sense, but if you’ve read a bunch of bad-disability-writing you might understand why this is so unique in a genre where the disabled person is often so completely defined by their handicap, that they’re more of “a vessel for disability” than a full person in the narrative.
Where You See Yourself is simply a great YA-contemporary; it has wonderful friendship, a supportive family-dynamic (with its occasional healthy conflicts of course), campus-exploring adventures and a well-deserved romance that was actually adorable.
On a more personal note, what truly elevated this book into 5-star-favourite territory, was its message on the choice between schools, and why she chooses what she does. I won’t spoil her final decision, but I will go a bit into her motivations: don’t read ahead if you want to go in blind.
Overall a brilliant book and a new favourite for my disability-shelf that I will be shouting praise for for many years to come.
“He clears his throat. ‘I do hope you know that you could’ve let me know about your obstacles, and I would’ve been happy to meet you anywhere else.’ An obstacle is a traffic cone, a hurdle, a mild inconvenience that you sail over and continue on your way. A human being shouldn’t be called an obstacle. It’s a disability. Just say the word; it isn’t a curse word."
I was completely open to love this book, but I didn’t expect to relate this much to the representation of being a disabled teen and college student.For better or worse; I did relate to it that deeply, and know I’m not alone in that experience. Claire Forrest has penned a deeply powerful and uplifting debut, about a life-experience I’ve never seen explored in young adult fiction before. I wish this book had been around when I was 18, but will happily take it now...
We follow Effie during that quintessential “choices-period” of life, that is your senior high-school year. Everyone is making big choices about what colleges to apply to, where to move once they leave the house, who to take to senior prom and how to spend the next summer. So is Effie, only she has some other factors to take into consideration. Effie is a fulltime wheelchair-user due to cerebral palsy, and where her current hometown is adapted to her (and she to it!), the upcoming changes in setting provide a complete new challenge. Between campus- and city-accessibility, adaptive dorm-living, parental- and peer-pressure, and her own preferences, Effie’s choice comes down to a two-way: her dream-college of Prospect NYC, or the “safer” and closer-to-home in her hometown. One of them being clearly less willing to adapt to her needs than the other…
Although the disability-representation was what spoke to me the most in this book (I’ve never seen the challenges of college-life explored this well before!), there’s far more to Effie’s story than just her disability. In fact, that’s what sets this book apart as a great, authentic and own-voice narrative. Claire Forrest depicts the disability aspects ánd the realities of “regular teen-life”, side-by-side without making one seem more profound or important over the other. She allows Effie the joys, hardships and drama of a full teen-life, experiencing first love, friendship, family-relationships, hobbies, academic pressure and more. All of these elements are equally formative to her identity; her disability being only one of them. I’m hoping this makes sense, but if you’ve read a bunch of bad-disability-writing you might understand why this is so unique in a genre where the disabled person is often so completely defined by their handicap, that they’re more of “a vessel for disability” than a full person in the narrative.
Where You See Yourself is simply a great YA-contemporary; it has wonderful friendship, a supportive family-dynamic (with its occasional healthy conflicts of course), campus-exploring adventures and a well-deserved romance that was actually adorable.
On a more personal note, what truly elevated this book into 5-star-favourite territory, was its message on the choice between schools, and why she chooses what she does. I won’t spoil her final decision, but I will go a bit into her motivations: don’t read ahead if you want to go in blind.
Overall a brilliant book and a new favourite for my disability-shelf that I will be shouting praise for for many years to come.
April 13, 2023
This book was excellent. It was heartwarming and has some of the best disability representation I’ve ever read. I’m not a full time wheel chair user so though I can’t relate fully to Effie’s experience, I definitely see myself in her as another young adult trying to adventure on my own. Effie’s journey in learning to advocate for yourself and finding the opportunities that are best for your needs really rang true and this is the kind of message and story that will help younger teens feel less alone. I absolutely adored the friendships and the bits of romance. I adored Wilder and all of their scenes together - it’s a reminder to me that there are some good ones out there! Overall I definitely recommend this book especially to younger disabled readers.
March 25, 2023
A HUGE round of applause to Claire Forrest for writing the most meaningful YA coming of age novel I’ve ever read! Where You See Yourself quickly made its way into my top 5 favorite books ever, and I know I’m gonna reread this a handful of times.
The main character, Effie, has cerebral palsy & is a wheelchair user as a result. I don’t have CP, but I have a similar disorder, Friedreich’s Ataxia, and I also am a wheelchair user. I honestly can’t even put into words how relatable this was & how seen it made me feel. I had no choice but to annotate & tab all of the moments that made me say, “Me too, girl.” (There are 58 tabs) Besides relating on the wheelchair stuff, Effie & I both had a dream of going to college in the big apple, we both had 2 high school BFFs, and we both wore an emerald green prom dress! Those are small similarities, but they were like a sign to me that I’m not, & never was, alone in this big, scary, not accessible world.
Now this book isn’t solely about a girl in a wheelchair. There’s also a super sweet high school romance aspect, which made me love it that much more because I’m a sucker for a cute, innocent, young love story. This has some good ole humor sprinkled in there, as well. WYSY made me laugh. It made me cry. It made me angry. It made me smile. But most of all, WYSY made me feel strong & empowered. This book was like a friend, who knows each & every one of my thoughts & feelings & struggles, reaching their hand out to me to make sure I know they’re there.
I recommend this book to everyone! First & foremost, I think other wheelchair users will adore this story, just as I did. However, I also think able-bodied people of all ages (above maybe 12) should read this book. Not only will it give you insight & awareness on disability, it’s also simply a good story.
Thank you x100 to Claire Forrest for sending me an ARC & for writing this amazing novel!
The main character, Effie, has cerebral palsy & is a wheelchair user as a result. I don’t have CP, but I have a similar disorder, Friedreich’s Ataxia, and I also am a wheelchair user. I honestly can’t even put into words how relatable this was & how seen it made me feel. I had no choice but to annotate & tab all of the moments that made me say, “Me too, girl.” (There are 58 tabs) Besides relating on the wheelchair stuff, Effie & I both had a dream of going to college in the big apple, we both had 2 high school BFFs, and we both wore an emerald green prom dress! Those are small similarities, but they were like a sign to me that I’m not, & never was, alone in this big, scary, not accessible world.
Now this book isn’t solely about a girl in a wheelchair. There’s also a super sweet high school romance aspect, which made me love it that much more because I’m a sucker for a cute, innocent, young love story. This has some good ole humor sprinkled in there, as well. WYSY made me laugh. It made me cry. It made me angry. It made me smile. But most of all, WYSY made me feel strong & empowered. This book was like a friend, who knows each & every one of my thoughts & feelings & struggles, reaching their hand out to me to make sure I know they’re there.
I recommend this book to everyone! First & foremost, I think other wheelchair users will adore this story, just as I did. However, I also think able-bodied people of all ages (above maybe 12) should read this book. Not only will it give you insight & awareness on disability, it’s also simply a good story.
Thank you x100 to Claire Forrest for sending me an ARC & for writing this amazing novel!
October 5, 2023
Thoroughly enjoyed this one! It just didn't WOW me. I do feel like it's an important book and is a great book for people who are making the transition from high school to college. If you're overwhelmed by balancing every little thing life has to offer, you'll find yourself relating strongly to the main character.
January 26, 2023
I am a bookseller and received an ARC of this book — IT WAS SO GOOD!!
While romance does play a role, this story is first and foremost a disability coming of age story. Effie’s senior year is a quest to develop her self-advocacy skills, both in terms of disability & accessibility, and in terms of speaking up for herself in general. She needs to figure out where she wants to go to college, how she’s going to make college work as a wheelchair user, what she might face living away from home for the first time in her life, and what she wants for her future in general, all while navigating her final year at a high school that is not accessible, tension in her high school friend group, and of course, a budding relationship with her crush.
I’ll admit, I was nervous to see how Effie could possibly figure everything out by the end of the book in a way that was both satisfying to her and to readers, but believe me when I say - Claire Forrest sticks the landing.
Without giving too much away, things I loved about this book:
- the complex disability rep. I really loved that even though Effie is aware of disability politics, her thoughts and feelings on disability are not one-note. She still has a lot to unpack and a lot to learn. Effie’s relationship to disability is one I found very relatable in a way I think will speak to other disabled readers.
- Effie’s Parents. Too often I think parents in YA are either (1) invisible (2) awful or (3) awesome, but come off extremely fake. Effie’s parents are the rare awesome-yet-believable-in-their-flaws, YA parents.
- Effie’s sister’s boyfriend. I won’t elaborate on this one you just gotta read it
-Effie!!!! We really get to see her grow into herself over the course of the book and I’m legit proud of her! She rocks!
- THE ENDING seriously I cannot say enough how satisfying the ending was
I think the transition from high school to college is difficult more often than not, and something often overlooked in YA (though within recent years that has been changing). This story is a great addition to the world of YA-college-stress books, and also does a great job of examining some of the ways in which the transition to college can be especially hard for disabled students. I can’t wait for others to read Where You See Yourself and to see what Claire Forrest does next!
While romance does play a role, this story is first and foremost a disability coming of age story. Effie’s senior year is a quest to develop her self-advocacy skills, both in terms of disability & accessibility, and in terms of speaking up for herself in general. She needs to figure out where she wants to go to college, how she’s going to make college work as a wheelchair user, what she might face living away from home for the first time in her life, and what she wants for her future in general, all while navigating her final year at a high school that is not accessible, tension in her high school friend group, and of course, a budding relationship with her crush.
I’ll admit, I was nervous to see how Effie could possibly figure everything out by the end of the book in a way that was both satisfying to her and to readers, but believe me when I say - Claire Forrest sticks the landing.
Without giving too much away, things I loved about this book:
- the complex disability rep. I really loved that even though Effie is aware of disability politics, her thoughts and feelings on disability are not one-note. She still has a lot to unpack and a lot to learn. Effie’s relationship to disability is one I found very relatable in a way I think will speak to other disabled readers.
- Effie’s Parents. Too often I think parents in YA are either (1) invisible (2) awful or (3) awesome, but come off extremely fake. Effie’s parents are the rare awesome-yet-believable-in-their-flaws, YA parents.
- Effie’s sister’s boyfriend. I won’t elaborate on this one you just gotta read it
-Effie!!!! We really get to see her grow into herself over the course of the book and I’m legit proud of her! She rocks!
- THE ENDING seriously I cannot say enough how satisfying the ending was
I think the transition from high school to college is difficult more often than not, and something often overlooked in YA (though within recent years that has been changing). This story is a great addition to the world of YA-college-stress books, and also does a great job of examining some of the ways in which the transition to college can be especially hard for disabled students. I can’t wait for others to read Where You See Yourself and to see what Claire Forrest does next!
July 3, 2023
I read this in public and kept tearing up awkwardly (happy tears tho)
May 23, 2023
And I’m crying 😭 this was like watching a character do everything that I’ve been trying to do for years!! Effie is wonderful and fantastic and her muscles do ALL the same things mine do. I honestly can’t really explain it but THIS BOOK IS EVERYTHING ❤️
Update: hours later and I started crying because I love Effie k thanks this book makes my heart EXPLODE 🤯
Update: hours later and I started crying because I love Effie k thanks this book makes my heart EXPLODE 🤯
October 1, 2024
4.5⭐️. pretty much finished this book in one sitting and i absolutely adored every second of it
July 20, 2025
★★★★★
This Book Gave Me:
🦽 A Disabled teen girl navigating senior year with heart and humor
🏙️ Big dreams of NYC and a body that moves differently
📚 Cerebral palsy rep that mirrored my own life experiences
🎓 College lists color-coded with access needs in mind
🚪 Broken automatic doors and limited ramps (as always 🙄)
📝 IEP violations and admin gaslighting
📣 A promposal, a protest, and a girl learning to use her voice
💗 A first kiss, floral wheelchair decor, and friends who just get it
👩🏾🦱 A mom who’s fierce, overbearing, and fiercely right
🌉 A decision between what’s accessible and what’s not — I felt that
🧁 Feeling beautiful in a prom dress, in a chair, in your own skin
🏡 A sweet trip to Berkeley that brought real life full circle
This was one of the most relatable and affirming reads I’ve had. Effie’s journey through an ableist school system, inaccessible college options, and the messy joy of growing up while advocating for oneself made me tear up and cheer for her every step of the way. I related hella to her body, her frustrations, her wins — all of it. This book is filled with moments that made me pause and feel understood, from shortened names to ramp detours to elevator thoughts. Her story mirrored parts of mine I’ve never seen in fiction before. 🫶🏾🧑🏾🦼➡️
The NYC versus Berkeley college debate? Way too real. I live right near UC Berkeley and have deep ties to Brooklyn. This book felt like it was written for girls like me, and I am so grateful it exists.
Read for Disability Pride Month. Borrowed from Libby and listened to the audiobook on Everand.
More thoughts coming soon to my blog!
Giovanareadshere.com 📚💗🦽📣
This Book Gave Me:
🦽 A Disabled teen girl navigating senior year with heart and humor
🏙️ Big dreams of NYC and a body that moves differently
📚 Cerebral palsy rep that mirrored my own life experiences
🎓 College lists color-coded with access needs in mind
🚪 Broken automatic doors and limited ramps (as always 🙄)
📝 IEP violations and admin gaslighting
📣 A promposal, a protest, and a girl learning to use her voice
💗 A first kiss, floral wheelchair decor, and friends who just get it
👩🏾🦱 A mom who’s fierce, overbearing, and fiercely right
🌉 A decision between what’s accessible and what’s not — I felt that
🧁 Feeling beautiful in a prom dress, in a chair, in your own skin
🏡 A sweet trip to Berkeley that brought real life full circle
This was one of the most relatable and affirming reads I’ve had. Effie’s journey through an ableist school system, inaccessible college options, and the messy joy of growing up while advocating for oneself made me tear up and cheer for her every step of the way. I related hella to her body, her frustrations, her wins — all of it. This book is filled with moments that made me pause and feel understood, from shortened names to ramp detours to elevator thoughts. Her story mirrored parts of mine I’ve never seen in fiction before. 🫶🏾🧑🏾🦼➡️
The NYC versus Berkeley college debate? Way too real. I live right near UC Berkeley and have deep ties to Brooklyn. This book felt like it was written for girls like me, and I am so grateful it exists.
Read for Disability Pride Month. Borrowed from Libby and listened to the audiobook on Everand.
More thoughts coming soon to my blog!
Giovanareadshere.com 📚💗🦽📣
June 25, 2023
What a great book for any college looking student who is struggling on deciding where to go. Our main character Effie has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair. She struggles between keeping her friends and her life all while obstacles test her every step of the way. The intro was a tad too long but once you understand where the book it going it makes sense
December 28, 2023
2023 reads: 394/350
disclaimer: the publisher gifted me a finished copy of this book. this did not affect my rating/review.
effie galanos is now entering her senior year, but she’s been thinking about colleges for years. she needs one that’s not only great academically, but also one that’s accessible to her as someone who uses a wheelchair. her dream is to go to a college in new york, one that sounds even better when she learns her crush is applying there. however, for her parents to be comfortable with her going away for college, effie has to learn to stand up for herself.
though it’s been a minute since i was a high school senior myself, i had no trouble thinking back on this time to relate to effie’s college search. her in-depth research regarding colleges’ accessibility really had me thinking about how privileged i am to have been able to pick a college without all of these factors in mind. i loved the way effie’s disability was handled and how this book addressed both internal and external ableism, while also having lighthearted moments.
i highly recommend this book to ya readers!
disclaimer: the publisher gifted me a finished copy of this book. this did not affect my rating/review.
effie galanos is now entering her senior year, but she’s been thinking about colleges for years. she needs one that’s not only great academically, but also one that’s accessible to her as someone who uses a wheelchair. her dream is to go to a college in new york, one that sounds even better when she learns her crush is applying there. however, for her parents to be comfortable with her going away for college, effie has to learn to stand up for herself.
though it’s been a minute since i was a high school senior myself, i had no trouble thinking back on this time to relate to effie’s college search. her in-depth research regarding colleges’ accessibility really had me thinking about how privileged i am to have been able to pick a college without all of these factors in mind. i loved the way effie’s disability was handled and how this book addressed both internal and external ableism, while also having lighthearted moments.
i highly recommend this book to ya readers!
July 26, 2023
*libby app *
April 27, 2024
What a beautiful book! I can’t wait to read more books with disability representation like this one!
January 6, 2025
They say you can’t be what you don’t see. Well, i just saw it. So i can have that too.
I'm still too in my feels to write anything particularly coherent but this book was beautiful start to finish. The writing, Effie's character arc, caputruing the reality of living with disability.
In prepping for leading a disucssion on this for book club, I found an interview Forrest did in which she said:
“What I found was that stories by non-disabled authors tended to examine disability through the medical model, which argues that disability is something that should be fixed or changed, rather than simply accepted or celebrated. When disabled authors are allowed to tell our stories on our own terms, we are allowed to celebrate our existence, and the stakes are more satisfying and far richer.” Reference
And story this was rich, beyond measure.
CN: ableism
December 9, 2023
A beautiful portrayal of disability and going after your dreams. The story is relatable, romantic, and necessary. Definitely wish this book was around when I was growing up. My kids will absolutely be reading this.
July 28, 2024
Ohio Digital Library Copy
Effie (whose full name is Euphemia, which is constantly mispronounced) is starting her senior year in high school in Minneapolis. It's been a struggle to get the high school to accommodate her wheelchair use, and the year starts out with her second locker being cleared out because a staff member hasn't registered it properly. Wilder, a classmate who is on some committees with her and on whom she has a crush, helps her out. Effie's mom isn't happy, but Effie thinks it's time to try to stand up for herself, even though she is a little disappointed when she accepts the staff member's apology. She also has to deal with unfair treatment when it comes to leaving the campus for lunch, and smaller injustices like students kissing on the wheelchair ramp. She's looking into colleges, and is interested in Prospect's Mass Media and Society Program. It seems like her dream college, especially since Wilder is also interested in it. When she visits the college in New York City, however, she finds out that not only is it fairly inaccessible, but that the college has only ever had one student in a wheelchair... and he went to another program. She eventually visits UC Berkeley, where she is given a tour by another student in a wheelchair, and finds out that the college has a good track record with students with disabilities since the 1960s. Happy to find a community who understands that the grades of the sidewalks are important, she decides to attend there instead of Prospect.
This is the senior year Young Adult book I've been looking for! There was something about it that touched on all of the topics that are interesting even to middle school students, AND it had lived experience details about navigating different challenges with cerebral palsy and wheelchair use. So many books about high school seniors delve into more mature topics and don't really address the intricacies of finding a college that is appealing. Considering that I read this after picking up two 1950s career romances, and I STILL really liked it means a LOT.
There was one tiny scene where Effie ponders if her CP would pose any challenges with sex, but that's all the information that we get, along with a question about how alcohol use might affect spasicity.
I really liked this, so I will purchase a copy for my middle school library, for students who really want to get a sneak peak at college applications. Doesn't hurt that Wilder is awesome, and even gets a tailor made corsage for Effie's wheelchair and encourages her to speak up when people get her name wrong!
Effie (whose full name is Euphemia, which is constantly mispronounced) is starting her senior year in high school in Minneapolis. It's been a struggle to get the high school to accommodate her wheelchair use, and the year starts out with her second locker being cleared out because a staff member hasn't registered it properly. Wilder, a classmate who is on some committees with her and on whom she has a crush, helps her out. Effie's mom isn't happy, but Effie thinks it's time to try to stand up for herself, even though she is a little disappointed when she accepts the staff member's apology. She also has to deal with unfair treatment when it comes to leaving the campus for lunch, and smaller injustices like students kissing on the wheelchair ramp. She's looking into colleges, and is interested in Prospect's Mass Media and Society Program. It seems like her dream college, especially since Wilder is also interested in it. When she visits the college in New York City, however, she finds out that not only is it fairly inaccessible, but that the college has only ever had one student in a wheelchair... and he went to another program. She eventually visits UC Berkeley, where she is given a tour by another student in a wheelchair, and finds out that the college has a good track record with students with disabilities since the 1960s. Happy to find a community who understands that the grades of the sidewalks are important, she decides to attend there instead of Prospect.
This is the senior year Young Adult book I've been looking for! There was something about it that touched on all of the topics that are interesting even to middle school students, AND it had lived experience details about navigating different challenges with cerebral palsy and wheelchair use. So many books about high school seniors delve into more mature topics and don't really address the intricacies of finding a college that is appealing. Considering that I read this after picking up two 1950s career romances, and I STILL really liked it means a LOT.
There was one tiny scene where Effie ponders if her CP would pose any challenges with sex, but that's all the information that we get, along with a question about how alcohol use might affect spasicity.
I really liked this, so I will purchase a copy for my middle school library, for students who really want to get a sneak peak at college applications. Doesn't hurt that Wilder is awesome, and even gets a tailor made corsage for Effie's wheelchair and encourages her to speak up when people get her name wrong!
April 15, 2023
Many thanks to @hearourvoicestours and Scholastic for sending me an e-ARC of this book. I'm a disabled bookstrammer who loves reading and reviewing books with disabled characters by disabled authors. When I saw this on a release list early this year, I immediately put it on my list because it seemed like it would be right up my alley. I was not wrong. I loved this book so, so much. While Effie and I don't share the same disability (though we do both have very visible physical disabilities), I found SO much of this book relatable. I am an adult, but this book made me feel seen in a way that few books, whether YA or adult, do. One of the strengths of this book is that it does a REALLY good job of illustrating in a variety of ways how just about every aspect of Effie's life is impacted by her disability. And how many things able bodied people do and take for granted that she has to carefully plan for. Disabled readers will likely really identify with that aspect of the book and non disabled readers will learn a lot seeing the world through Effie's experiences. And while the disability rep in this book is excellent, disability rep alone does not a good book make. Luckily, Forrest has nailed a really solid YA plot, which she deftly weaves together in a way that makes the characters relatable to disabled and able bodied readers alike. This book comes out May 2nd and I highly recommend it!
June 27, 2023
This is a really great addition to the often same-feeling landscape of YA realistic fiction. I really appreciated that Effie's parents weren't regressive barriers or pointless creators of conflict, and while I found Effie's close friends mostly undeveloped, I did like a lot of the tertiary characters--her sister, her college hosts, etc.
Effie is a dry, funny protagonist. Sometimes she felt a little young or naive (she's surprised when one of her classmates says the f-word), but that's not the worst thing. It means the book would be totally fine for a much younger audience, which can't be said about a ton of realistic YA these days. Overall it's a fun, quick read from an under-heard perspective in the genre.
Effie is a dry, funny protagonist. Sometimes she felt a little young or naive (she's surprised when one of her classmates says the f-word), but that's not the worst thing. It means the book would be totally fine for a much younger audience, which can't be said about a ton of realistic YA these days. Overall it's a fun, quick read from an under-heard perspective in the genre.
April 2, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
OH MY GODDDD!
best bits👇🏻
♿️ disabled rep!!! and an ambulatory wheelchair user too! this is so so rare, and even though we have different conditions, i feel SEEN as an ambulatory wheelchair user too 🥹 we exist!!
♿️ wholesome romance and subtle queer rep
complaints👇🏻
🫂 maybe could have had more romance for us romcom lovers, but overall still enjoyed it all
i absolutely adored this read!!! i can't express how much it makes my heart beam to read about disabled main characters who are successful and loved 💖 i can see myself in parts of her and i know so many other disabled teens/people will too! highly recommend x
OH MY GODDDD!
a high school fiction about a disabled teen navigating the transition to university/college as a wheelchair user with cerebral palsy 🩷
best bits👇🏻
♿️ disabled rep!!! and an ambulatory wheelchair user too! this is so so rare, and even though we have different conditions, i feel SEEN as an ambulatory wheelchair user too 🥹 we exist!!
♿️ wholesome romance and subtle queer rep
complaints👇🏻
🫂 maybe could have had more romance for us romcom lovers, but overall still enjoyed it all
i absolutely adored this read!!! i can't express how much it makes my heart beam to read about disabled main characters who are successful and loved 💖 i can see myself in parts of her and i know so many other disabled teens/people will too! highly recommend x
May 8, 2025
Well written, simplistic, book about disability and the day to day of living it. Aimed at Young adults but worth a read. Recommended.
August 16, 2023
There are not enough books with a main character that has a disability. I think this may have only been the second or third book that I have read with a disabled main character, which is a real shame, because the shift in perspective can teach you so much.
This book nailed the disabled main character’s point of view beautifully. The author has the same disability as the character and you can tell that it’s an authentic account within a fictional story.
The book hits all the big issues people with disabilities run into (ableism, people thinking they’re helping when they’re not, having to advocate for yourself all the time for the most basic things, etc.) but it does so without becoming preachy. The story itself is simple but enjoyable. I loved going through a “normal” high school senior year experience (with young love and deciding on a college) through the eyes of someone in a wheelchair. And the main character is also a fun and upbeat person. It was a joy to spend some time with her.
This book nailed the disabled main character’s point of view beautifully. The author has the same disability as the character and you can tell that it’s an authentic account within a fictional story.
The book hits all the big issues people with disabilities run into (ableism, people thinking they’re helping when they’re not, having to advocate for yourself all the time for the most basic things, etc.) but it does so without becoming preachy. The story itself is simple but enjoyable. I loved going through a “normal” high school senior year experience (with young love and deciding on a college) through the eyes of someone in a wheelchair. And the main character is also a fun and upbeat person. It was a joy to spend some time with her.
January 7, 2025
oh that was the sweetest thiiiing!! so much to love about this. loved everything i learned about the ongoing struggle to make this world more accessible for everyone. loved effie and her character growth!! the romance with wilder was adorable. and the fact that the audiobook was narrated by ali stroker!! being super familiar with ali’s story made everything hit so much harder in her voice. 💖
February 25, 2024
file under: stories i wish i had when i was in high school
June 21, 2023
Wonderful characters and story. Very fast read. Great summer reading option for young teens.
April 29, 2025
Real Rating: 2.5
I wanted to like this a lot more than I did. The main character, Effie, just annoyed me so much. She became less annoying when she finally started standing up for herself but only by a little bit. Other than that, some things just didn't make sense to me and I wished we got more information than we did.
I wanted to like this a lot more than I did. The main character, Effie, just annoyed me so much. She became less annoying when she finally started standing up for herself but only by a little bit. Other than that, some things just didn't make sense to me and I wished we got more information than we did.
January 1, 2024
I really enjoyed reading about disability awareness and how ableist our society is. Effie gives us insight into a lot of things we don’t consider about accommodations. Effie really gave me a new perspective on things when making big life decisions.
(Okay I didn’t care much for Wilder — what kind of name is that 💀 — but the aspect of her exploring and thinking about romantic challenges was enlightening).
(Okay I didn’t care much for Wilder — what kind of name is that 💀 — but the aspect of her exploring and thinking about romantic challenges was enlightening).
July 13, 2023
Where You See Yourself is a fabulous story with great disability rep. It's written by a disabled author, which is great, as we need more of those.
Being physically disabled myself, I had the honor of being a part of the Hear Our Voices tour for this novel. I didn't relate to everything Effie experienced as I am not a wheelchair user. But I did relate to many things. Such as needing to contact the Disability Services for college in order to get accommodations and ask about accessibility. I intend to go to college this fall, and those are both things I need to do soon.
I found Effie to be a really likeable character. Very seldom do I read a book where the main character doesn't annoy me at least once. Effie didn't. I liked Effie. She was a relatable protagonist who had character development throughout the novel, and I loved that.
The romance in this novel was also really cute. Many of the scenes between Effie and the love interest were amazing and adorable. He was supportive and saw Effie as a person. He didn't ignore her disability, but he didn't focus on it either. He acknowledged it, worked with it, and that's what made his character so great.
I also loved the family dynamics in this book. I loved Effie's sister in particular. Her parents were also very good and supportive. I also like that her parents are actually there, as parents often disappear in YA books, even contemporary ones. There was a bit of drama and conflict, but it wasn't overdone, and it was realistic. The pacing was also very good.
I also liked the discussions surrounding ableism. Both types of ableism. Both types often go underrepresented in disability novels by non-disabled authors. Either internalized ableism or external ableism--or both--aren't portrayed much in novels by non-disabled authors, much less portrayed accurately.
Most of the time internalized ableism is expressed as "Woe is me, I'm worthless now, I must focus on motivating everyone else around me because that's all I can do." This book shows a much more nuanced and realistic example of internalized ableism, and it is done fantastically well.
Books that accurately and positively represent disability are incredibly difficult to come by, but this one succeeds in ways many others don't. I'm glad I was given the opportunity to read this book. It is definitely on my list of all-time favorite YA Contemporary novels, joining Sick Kids In Love.
I would for sure recommend this novel to anyone who wants a book with good disability rep, and I would definitely read another book by Claire Forrest if she ever wrote another one.
I wrote my creative content for this tour on my blog: Musings of an Arthritic Artist
Being physically disabled myself, I had the honor of being a part of the Hear Our Voices tour for this novel. I didn't relate to everything Effie experienced as I am not a wheelchair user. But I did relate to many things. Such as needing to contact the Disability Services for college in order to get accommodations and ask about accessibility. I intend to go to college this fall, and those are both things I need to do soon.
I found Effie to be a really likeable character. Very seldom do I read a book where the main character doesn't annoy me at least once. Effie didn't. I liked Effie. She was a relatable protagonist who had character development throughout the novel, and I loved that.
The romance in this novel was also really cute. Many of the scenes between Effie and the love interest were amazing and adorable. He was supportive and saw Effie as a person. He didn't ignore her disability, but he didn't focus on it either. He acknowledged it, worked with it, and that's what made his character so great.
I also loved the family dynamics in this book. I loved Effie's sister in particular. Her parents were also very good and supportive. I also like that her parents are actually there, as parents often disappear in YA books, even contemporary ones. There was a bit of drama and conflict, but it wasn't overdone, and it was realistic. The pacing was also very good.
I also liked the discussions surrounding ableism. Both types of ableism. Both types often go underrepresented in disability novels by non-disabled authors. Either internalized ableism or external ableism--or both--aren't portrayed much in novels by non-disabled authors, much less portrayed accurately.
Most of the time internalized ableism is expressed as "Woe is me, I'm worthless now, I must focus on motivating everyone else around me because that's all I can do." This book shows a much more nuanced and realistic example of internalized ableism, and it is done fantastically well.
Books that accurately and positively represent disability are incredibly difficult to come by, but this one succeeds in ways many others don't. I'm glad I was given the opportunity to read this book. It is definitely on my list of all-time favorite YA Contemporary novels, joining Sick Kids In Love.
I would for sure recommend this novel to anyone who wants a book with good disability rep, and I would definitely read another book by Claire Forrest if she ever wrote another one.
I wrote my creative content for this tour on my blog: Musings of an Arthritic Artist
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