e-ARC, 352 pages
Release Date: April 21, 2020Published by: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
Read from: April 10-15, 2020Stand-aloneSource: Edelweiss (I received a copy of this book from Edelweiss and the Publisher in exchange for a just and honest review. This did nothing to influence my review.)TW: Depression, Anxiety, Suicide IdeationFor fans of: Realistic Fiction, Neurodiversity, Romance, LGBTQIAP+, YAFrom the author of Hot Dog Girl comes a fresh and funny queer YA contemporary novel about two teens who fall in love in an indie comic book shop.
Jubilee has it all together. She’s an elite cellist, and when she’s not working in her stepmom’s indie comic shop, she’s prepping for the biggest audition of her life.
Ridley is barely holding it together. His parents own the biggest comic-store chain in the country, and Ridley can’t stop disappointing them—that is, when they’re even paying attention.
They meet one fateful night at a comic convention prom, and the two can’t help falling for each other. Too bad their parents are at each other’s throats every chance they get, making a relationship between them nearly impossible…unless they manage to keep it a secret.
Then again, the feud between their families may be the least of their problems. As Ridley’s anxiety spirals, Jubilee tries to help but finds her focus torn between her fast-approaching audition and their intensifying relationship. What if love can’t conquer all? What if each of them needs more than the other can give?
*MY THOUGHTS*
When I started this book I think I was looking for it to be like Hot Dog Girl; light, funny, and super sweet. What I got was so much more than that. I love when books surprise me like this!
“And the message it send, if that’s really your concern, is that people shouldn’t have to choose between being feminine or strong, they can be both.”3%
Jubilee is the ideal student. She’s an amazing musician, she has the best friends, and the best parents. But then she meets Ridley who is everything she’s wanted. Ridley on the other hand thinks this can only go one way with their feuding family. As Ridley’s anxiety overwhelms him, can Jubilee helps him find his way and not lose herself in the process?
“Be still my heart. Maybe she’s beautiful and nice and talented. That should be illegal. It’s not fair to the rest of us drudges. But Jesus.”16%
If you’re going in to this thinking it was light and fluffy like her first one, I want to tell you, it’s not. Because I don’t read reviews or synopsis (of authors I’ve read before) I figured it was going to be a nice contemporary romance. There was a love story, but the focus was mostly on mental health. And the representation was really spot on. (For the anxiety aspect.) I definitely related to the thought spirals and the constantly saying “What if” and the “Why did I come” or “I should go.” I tried to binge read this book, but there were many times when I had to take a break from reading. Not because I didn’t like it, but because I didn’t want to spiral out myself. I mean I related so much I pre-ordered the book before I even finished it. And that’s super rare for me.
“…because every win comes with a loss for me. Everything good is also bad. Plus one with my dad means minus one with Peak.”30%
As for the characters, I loved them all. But I have to say, my favorite characters were Nikki and Jayla. lol They were some hardcore friends that were not scared to give it to Jubliee straight. And everyone needs friends like that.
“How do you go to the store, how do you eat, how do you buy toilet paper and brush your teeth and do anything other than sit inside your head with this feeling.”38%
And I always love books where I go through all types of emotions when I read a book. And this one was no different. I found myself laughing at the beginning, swooning in the middle, worried throughout the entire book and openly weeping in the end. I haven’t felt this strongly about book in a long time. Definitely was worth the late night and still having to get up the next morning to “go to work.”
“I’m just saying, don’t let one moment define you. Because there are still going to be a lot of moments to still come, no matter which way things shake out.”48%
There was so much right in this book and I loved every second of it. The writing style, the characters, the love story, everything was awesome and realistic. I do wish there was more about the comics, but that’s just because I’m me and can always use Wonder Woman or Captain Marvel.
Overall, I give this
