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winemakerssister's review against another edition
4.0
Oh the teenaged angst! But in a really sweet way.
cwright43's review against another edition
5.0
Can I give this book 10 stars? It totally deserves 10 stars. I laughed, I cried, I loved every minute of it. Becky Albertalli does it again!
natibns's review against another edition
5.0
Omg !!! I love this book soooo much! This is definitely my favourite contemporary book (tbh I haven't read many but still)
ihateprozac's review against another edition
5.0
THIS IS THE CUTEST THING I’VE READ ALL YEAR.
The Upside of Unrequited tells the story of Molly, a chubby Jewish girl who’s had 26 crushes to date and 0 boyfriends. Her twin sister is living her best sex-positive hoe life while Molly is left feeling like the kid who gets picked last in gym class. She’s not sure that any of her crushes will ever be reciprocated, and as much as she wants to have the “normal” teenage experience, she’s not sure if any of that applies to fat girls.
I’m pretty sure it’s impossible to finish The Upside of Unrequited and not have a giant smile on your face. It’s super diverse, super funny, super helpful, super cute, and it’s everything I want from a contemporary! It spoke to both teenage-me and 27-year-old-me on a molecular level, and I found something I could relate to in just about every character on the page. I just wanted to reach into the book and give everybody giant hugs!
There were so many lovely lessons in this book, the most important of which were that you’re worthy of love regardless of what you look like, and that there are no time limits on reaching milestones. These are still things I struggle with even as I get closer to age 30, and it makes me happy to think that young readers will pick up this book and learn something about themselves through Molly’s experience.
There’s such a wonderfully strong family element woven through this novel, which stands in stark contrast to a lot of YA where the absence of family is used as a device to propel the plot or protagonist’s character development forward. Molly’s twin sister and two moms are very present in her life, and even as someone who doesn’t have a great relationship with their family, this was super relatable and heartwarming to read.
The Upside of Unrequited also features possibly the most diverse cast I’ve ever seen in YA: we have a Jewish female protagonist with an under-represented body type and medically diagnosed anxiety; a lesbian twin sister; two moms; a pansexual Korean-American female love interest; Jewish male love interest with an under-represented body type; sexually and culturally diverse side characters; and mentions of asexuality. And the best part? None of this ever feels tokenistic!
And the dialogue is SO GOOD. There are so many millennial geeky witticisms that made me laugh, and I was losing my mind that Becky Albertalli dropped the word “labia” in conversation multiple times within the first fifteen pages. I question how some of the dialogue and popculture/tech references will age over time - particularly for those living outside the Western pop culture bubble - but dammit it’s all so cute and funny!
Overall: I can see why every Booktuber and their mum is raving about this book, because it’s the CUTEST DAMN THING. This is a cute, diverse, heartwarming contemporary that teaches important life lessons in an awkward and yet strangely elegant way, and it’s impossible not to find something to relate to in Molly’s experience. I immediately want to reread this and I rarely reread anything!
The Upside of Unrequited tells the story of Molly, a chubby Jewish girl who’s had 26 crushes to date and 0 boyfriends. Her twin sister is living her best sex-positive hoe life while Molly is left feeling like the kid who gets picked last in gym class. She’s not sure that any of her crushes will ever be reciprocated, and as much as she wants to have the “normal” teenage experience, she’s not sure if any of that applies to fat girls.
I’m pretty sure it’s impossible to finish The Upside of Unrequited and not have a giant smile on your face. It’s super diverse, super funny, super helpful, super cute, and it’s everything I want from a contemporary! It spoke to both teenage-me and 27-year-old-me on a molecular level, and I found something I could relate to in just about every character on the page. I just wanted to reach into the book and give everybody giant hugs!
There were so many lovely lessons in this book, the most important of which were that you’re worthy of love regardless of what you look like, and that there are no time limits on reaching milestones. These are still things I struggle with even as I get closer to age 30, and it makes me happy to think that young readers will pick up this book and learn something about themselves through Molly’s experience.
There’s such a wonderfully strong family element woven through this novel, which stands in stark contrast to a lot of YA where the absence of family is used as a device to propel the plot or protagonist’s character development forward. Molly’s twin sister and two moms are very present in her life, and even as someone who doesn’t have a great relationship with their family, this was super relatable and heartwarming to read.
The Upside of Unrequited also features possibly the most diverse cast I’ve ever seen in YA: we have a Jewish female protagonist with an under-represented body type and medically diagnosed anxiety; a lesbian twin sister; two moms; a pansexual Korean-American female love interest; Jewish male love interest with an under-represented body type; sexually and culturally diverse side characters; and mentions of asexuality. And the best part? None of this ever feels tokenistic!
And the dialogue is SO GOOD. There are so many millennial geeky witticisms that made me laugh, and I was losing my mind that Becky Albertalli dropped the word “labia” in conversation multiple times within the first fifteen pages. I question how some of the dialogue and popculture/tech references will age over time - particularly for those living outside the Western pop culture bubble - but dammit it’s all so cute and funny!
Overall: I can see why every Booktuber and their mum is raving about this book, because it’s the CUTEST DAMN THING. This is a cute, diverse, heartwarming contemporary that teaches important life lessons in an awkward and yet strangely elegant way, and it’s impossible not to find something to relate to in Molly’s experience. I immediately want to reread this and I rarely reread anything!
jennc's review against another edition
4.0
I love Becky’s books. The way she writes, the characters she creates. I love that Abby was in this. It was sweet and funny.
ceceewing_'s review against another edition
4.0
Ok, I'm ready to write a full review of this now. Maybe. So many good things to say, so little time.
Before I get into the quality of the book, let me just give you a breakdown of the diversity represented here because it was honestly incredible and this is the exact world that I want to see in YA contemporaries from now on.
-Pansexual (on page) side character who is also Korean-American
-Multiple lesbian side characters
-Bisexual side character
-Minor gay characters
-Jewish main character, side characters, and love interest
-Main character has two moms
-Multiple black side characters
-Although there were no on-page asexual characters, asexuality was still included as a thing that exists
-Fat main character
-Main character also has a history of anxiety which she is on medication for and this is brought up A LOT along with how going to parties works differently for her because of the dangers of mixing her medication with alcohol
There are so many more but LOOK AT THIS LIST. None of these characters were shoe-horned in. It was the most natural collection of people who made up this growing community for the main character and it honestly made me want to cry a couple of times because this is the world I live in and I was seeing it so naturally represented in what is going to be a highly sold YA contemporary. But now let me talk about everything else great going on here.
Reading this book felt like eating one of Molly's mason jars of egg-free cookie dough and ice cream. I couldn't be mad while I was reading it. It was the most pleasurable reading experience and I spent most of my time grinning from ear to ear. Molly is a fabulous main character who struggles in such an authentic way to deal with low self esteem and feeling like everyone around her is growing up faster than she is. It was something I really identified with, remembering myself at 17. Her concerns, and the round-about way that she rationalizes how she feels left behind was excellently done and supremely authentic, in my own experience. Also, her constant struggles with self-image were really well done and she felt like a character I hadn't seen before, but one I have wanted to exist for so long now.
The sister relationship. Sorry, let me rephrase that. THE SISTER RELATIONSHIP!!!!! I spend a lot of time being sad about books that don't feature siblings or close family relationships and boy was this a balm to all of that. The ups and downs with Molly and Cassie were so similar to a lot of the ways I interact with my own sister. They know exactly what words to use to hurt each other if they need to, but they will also kill absolutely anyone who so much as looks at their sister the wrong way. They can have a conversation in a glance but they can also have days where they don't know how to communicate at all. And they also have a really great relationship with their moms, who are an active part of the story. That's right, not only do they have two moms but they are participating in their daughters' lives and in the story itself! They don't vanish into whatever wasteland YA parents sometimes go while they teenage children are having life struggles! Plus, they are well-developed, live their own lives, and are honestly hilarious.
My only qualms with this book come in the form of communication stuff. First of all, it seems like some of the issues in the plot could have been so easily remedied if Molly had just spoken up. I know this is often linked to the anxiety she feels and the worry that whatever she says will be shut down, but by the time I got closer to the end of the book it felt more and more like she just needed to say ANYTHING to her sister or best friend and all would be well. Also, this had an odd habit where characters would be having a really essential or meaningful conversation and it would just... stop. Molly would have some thoughts about what was being said and then we would never hear how the conversation ended. This happened a few times throughout and it did frustrate me because I thought those were really important conversations happening and I wanted to know how they ended.
This was one of the most joyful books I have read in a long time. The characters talked like teenagers and constantly texted or brought up social media. They were funny and self-conscious and loud and confused. I'm sure you all already have this on your anticipated releases list, but if you somehow don't already: put it on there. Don't worry, Albertalli's second book doesn't disappoint. In fact, it is more than worth the wait.
Now, here's hoping that the Simon movie does incredibly well so we can get a movie of this one too.
*Thanks to Harper for sharing an eARC of this book with me to review*
Before I get into the quality of the book, let me just give you a breakdown of the diversity represented here because it was honestly incredible and this is the exact world that I want to see in YA contemporaries from now on.
-Pansexual (on page) side character who is also Korean-American
-Multiple lesbian side characters
-Bisexual side character
-Minor gay characters
-Jewish main character, side characters, and love interest
-Main character has two moms
-Multiple black side characters
-Although there were no on-page asexual characters, asexuality was still included as a thing that exists
-Fat main character
-Main character also has a history of anxiety which she is on medication for and this is brought up A LOT along with how going to parties works differently for her because of the dangers of mixing her medication with alcohol
There are so many more but LOOK AT THIS LIST. None of these characters were shoe-horned in. It was the most natural collection of people who made up this growing community for the main character and it honestly made me want to cry a couple of times because this is the world I live in and I was seeing it so naturally represented in what is going to be a highly sold YA contemporary. But now let me talk about everything else great going on here.
Reading this book felt like eating one of Molly's mason jars of egg-free cookie dough and ice cream. I couldn't be mad while I was reading it. It was the most pleasurable reading experience and I spent most of my time grinning from ear to ear. Molly is a fabulous main character who struggles in such an authentic way to deal with low self esteem and feeling like everyone around her is growing up faster than she is. It was something I really identified with, remembering myself at 17. Her concerns, and the round-about way that she rationalizes how she feels left behind was excellently done and supremely authentic, in my own experience. Also, her constant struggles with self-image were really well done and she felt like a character I hadn't seen before, but one I have wanted to exist for so long now.
The sister relationship. Sorry, let me rephrase that. THE SISTER RELATIONSHIP!!!!! I spend a lot of time being sad about books that don't feature siblings or close family relationships and boy was this a balm to all of that. The ups and downs with Molly and Cassie were so similar to a lot of the ways I interact with my own sister. They know exactly what words to use to hurt each other if they need to, but they will also kill absolutely anyone who so much as looks at their sister the wrong way. They can have a conversation in a glance but they can also have days where they don't know how to communicate at all. And they also have a really great relationship with their moms, who are an active part of the story. That's right, not only do they have two moms but they are participating in their daughters' lives and in the story itself! They don't vanish into whatever wasteland YA parents sometimes go while they teenage children are having life struggles! Plus, they are well-developed, live their own lives, and are honestly hilarious.
My only qualms with this book come in the form of communication stuff. First of all, it seems like some of the issues in the plot could have been so easily remedied if Molly had just spoken up. I know this is often linked to the anxiety she feels and the worry that whatever she says will be shut down, but by the time I got closer to the end of the book it felt more and more like she just needed to say ANYTHING to her sister or best friend and all would be well. Also, this had an odd habit where characters would be having a really essential or meaningful conversation and it would just... stop. Molly would have some thoughts about what was being said and then we would never hear how the conversation ended. This happened a few times throughout and it did frustrate me because I thought those were really important conversations happening and I wanted to know how they ended.
This was one of the most joyful books I have read in a long time. The characters talked like teenagers and constantly texted or brought up social media. They were funny and self-conscious and loud and confused. I'm sure you all already have this on your anticipated releases list, but if you somehow don't already: put it on there. Don't worry, Albertalli's second book doesn't disappoint. In fact, it is more than worth the wait.
Now, here's hoping that the Simon movie does incredibly well so we can get a movie of this one too.
*Thanks to Harper for sharing an eARC of this book with me to review*
johnny92m's review against another edition
5.0
I got about a third of the way through "Simon vs.", the debut novel from Becky Albertalli, and immediately went out and purchased "Upside". The vivid characters and feelings this author is able to convey are ridiculous, and that work continues here in her second novel.
I love that it is an extension of the Simon universe, the language used is so rich and undeniably how a teenager would talk, without feeling like an adult wrote these words. Every emotion is earned, every second is used to it's fullest. It's a simple story, but one you can tell comes with a lot of heart and love behind it from it's author.
I'm incredibly enamored by the book, and the author, and I cannot wait to see what comes next!
I love that it is an extension of the Simon universe, the language used is so rich and undeniably how a teenager would talk, without feeling like an adult wrote these words. Every emotion is earned, every second is used to it's fullest. It's a simple story, but one you can tell comes with a lot of heart and love behind it from it's author.
I'm incredibly enamored by the book, and the author, and I cannot wait to see what comes next!
kaygo2490's review against another edition
4.0
3.75-4 stars
Not going to lie, it's hard for me to get into books with insecure female MC, probably because it hits too close to home. It was a bit slow in the beginning but it picked up, thankfully. I really like the development the mc went through in terms of her insecurities, I just wish she didn't need validation from others to reach to those conclusions.
This book was funny, cringe worthy and sweet. It's not as good as Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda, but it's still an enjoyable read.
Not going to lie, it's hard for me to get into books with insecure female MC, probably because it hits too close to home. It was a bit slow in the beginning but it picked up, thankfully. I really like the development the mc went through in terms of her insecurities, I just wish she didn't need validation from others to reach to those conclusions.
This book was funny, cringe worthy and sweet. It's not as good as Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda, but it's still an enjoyable read.
laurellee's review against another edition
4.0
Mabye more of a 4.5? A very cute book!!! I read it so fast because it’s just one of those kind of books that make you feel happy inside :)