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Just Juliet
The coming out story that will completely change the way you look at love, now available for free on Kindle Unlimited.
Juliet represents the road less traveled. Will Lena take it?
Lena Newman is 17, her best friend’s a cheerleader, her boyfriend’s a football player, and as far as everyone is concerned, her life is sorted. But that’s before she befriends the new girl. Juliet is confident, slightly damaged, drop-dead gorgeous and a lesbian.
Lena realizes that her interest goes beyond just friendship. She sets off on a path of self-discovery where the loyalty of those closest to her will be tested.
"It feels real without being tedious, and heart-warming without being sappy. It's not all roses, and it's not all doom and gloom. It's great.” - Jon
"Just Juliet is the story I wish I could have given to my parents to read when I was 16 so that they knew what I was going through." - Caro M.
Juliet represents the road less traveled. Will Lena take it?
Lena Newman is 17, her best friend’s a cheerleader, her boyfriend’s a football player, and as far as everyone is concerned, her life is sorted. But that’s before she befriends the new girl. Juliet is confident, slightly damaged, drop-dead gorgeous and a lesbian.
Lena realizes that her interest goes beyond just friendship. She sets off on a path of self-discovery where the loyalty of those closest to her will be tested.
"It feels real without being tedious, and heart-warming without being sappy. It's not all roses, and it's not all doom and gloom. It's great.” - Jon
"Just Juliet is the story I wish I could have given to my parents to read when I was 16 so that they knew what I was going through." - Caro M.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2016
About the author
Charlotte Reagan
5 books233 followersPlease note that books written by Charlotte Reagan and published by Inkitt will no longer be available for purchase.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 393 reviews
December 30, 2016
The opening of Just Juliet was so stellar I would've rated it four stars. We have a cute f/f pairing where the readers could actually see them as a couple. There's also an older teen m/m couple who has a healthy functional relationship.
What made this an incredibly disappointing read is the terrible characterization of the supporting characters of color.
Lacey is the best friend of the protagonist, Lena. She's black, carefree, liberated and are often painted as the "unlikable bitch" because of her strong persona. We also have another teen of color who is Asian. She's so bland, a fade into the background character. I cant remember her name, though I faintly recall she's Japanese. (dont quote me on this) Sounds familiar? This reminds me of that dumbstruck Asian character in Pitch Perfect.
This isn't the icing on top. Lacey was seen several times saying homophobic things. While the Asian!character is also lowkey homophobic. I'm not saying homophobic poc doesnt exist. My point; however, is given how this is being promoted as progressive, I hoped the poc would get a decent treatment. Nope, they were botched.
Aside from the lack of LGBT of colors, the narrative also implied that the white characters are inherently more socially aware than poc. They are here to teach us a lesson. This is white savior complex and I noticed it's damn right thriving in this genre. You can't hide this thinly veiled racism.
Verdict: This is an LGBT book written for white readers, not readers of color. I'm not recommending this to anyone.
What made this an incredibly disappointing read is the terrible characterization of the supporting characters of color.
Lacey is the best friend of the protagonist, Lena. She's black, carefree, liberated and are often painted as the "unlikable bitch" because of her strong persona. We also have another teen of color who is Asian. She's so bland, a fade into the background character. I cant remember her name, though I faintly recall she's Japanese. (dont quote me on this) Sounds familiar? This reminds me of that dumbstruck Asian character in Pitch Perfect.
This isn't the icing on top. Lacey was seen several times saying homophobic things. While the Asian!character is also lowkey homophobic. I'm not saying homophobic poc doesnt exist. My point; however, is given how this is being promoted as progressive, I hoped the poc would get a decent treatment. Nope, they were botched.
Aside from the lack of LGBT of colors, the narrative also implied that the white characters are inherently more socially aware than poc. They are here to teach us a lesson. This is white savior complex and I noticed it's damn right thriving in this genre. You can't hide this thinly veiled racism.
Verdict: This is an LGBT book written for white readers, not readers of color. I'm not recommending this to anyone.
September 25, 2017
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Wowza, this book was awesome!
Lena is a high school senior who has sort of drifted through life so far, unsure of what she wants to study, unsure of why she doesn't love her boyfriend, and unsure what her future looks like. But all of that is before she meets the new girl, Juliet, who makes her realize the one major way her life isn't what it seems: that she's bisexual.
What I loved about this book is that it was so real. Often, LGBT romances are either very dark or very warm and fuzzy. While those both have their places, it's something like this book that I found most important growing up because I can actually relate to the characters.
Lena was an awesome MC. Getting to explore her development of her sexuality was the main plotline of the book, but everyone around her was just as fascinating to read. Her best friend was a lovable jerk, Juliet's live-in-cousin was sassy but not a stereotype, and Juliet, oh Juliet! What a perfect romantic lead! She was an edgy, artsy, Jack-Skellington-wearing manic pixie dream girl, but isn't that exactly what we all would have fallen for back in high schoool?
Not to say that there wasn't seriousness to the story or that Lena's journey was a cake walk, but it was a refreshing change to see an LGBT book that had engaging characters and not just a political agenda. I look forward to seeing more from this author!
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Wowza, this book was awesome!
Lena is a high school senior who has sort of drifted through life so far, unsure of what she wants to study, unsure of why she doesn't love her boyfriend, and unsure what her future looks like. But all of that is before she meets the new girl, Juliet, who makes her realize the one major way her life isn't what it seems: that she's bisexual.
What I loved about this book is that it was so real. Often, LGBT romances are either very dark or very warm and fuzzy. While those both have their places, it's something like this book that I found most important growing up because I can actually relate to the characters.
Lena was an awesome MC. Getting to explore her development of her sexuality was the main plotline of the book, but everyone around her was just as fascinating to read. Her best friend was a lovable jerk, Juliet's live-in-cousin was sassy but not a stereotype, and Juliet, oh Juliet! What a perfect romantic lead! She was an edgy, artsy, Jack-Skellington-wearing manic pixie dream girl, but isn't that exactly what we all would have fallen for back in high schoool?
Not to say that there wasn't seriousness to the story or that Lena's journey was a cake walk, but it was a refreshing change to see an LGBT book that had engaging characters and not just a political agenda. I look forward to seeing more from this author!
Read this review at:
September 22, 2016
(Free copy provided by the publisher for an honest review)
I knew from page one that I was going to enjoy this book. I didn't know the storyline or anything about the characters but Charlotte Reagan's style of writing is like slipping on your favourite pair of jeans, you don't know what the rest of the outfit is going to be but you don't really care because you feel comfortable. There are many authors who fail to find that sweet spot in their writing and have you cringing with how awkward their writing is but Reagan doesn't have that problem.
Just Juliet isn't just a sweet coming of age young adult book, it is an honest and real representation of a modern day teenager. Some who might read that will automatically think 'angst' and 'self pity' but they would be wrong because this book has none of that but that doesn't mean that it is just a shallow fluff piece either. This story deals with real issues that many youth face and the issues range from extremely serious to trivial but all of it is handled excellently by the author.
The characters in this book are written in such vivid terms that it is not difficult to start building a picture of them in your mind as you read. A well developed character is essential to a good story because it allows the reader to become attached to the characters and fall in love with their stories, Reagan has done a fantastic job in this regard and her story isn't just good, it is excellent. She has created the b!%@#y best friend that you just love to hate and hate to love, the socially awkward gay boy who is sassy and smart without being a walking stereotype, the sweet puppy-dog gay boy who just happens to be a jock and the best main characters in Lena and Juliet to join this band of misfits.
At first I knew I was going to give this book 5 stars because anything that has me laughing out loud and sitting with a stupid grin on my face is definitely 5 star material, but then I started having doubts because the euphoria wore off and although I still thoroughly enjoyed the story I wasn't feeling that extra something anymore. I hate when that happens because it usually just goes downhill from there and there is just no going back. I expected the same to happen here but instead of getting worse the story maintained its same level of entertainment throughout and although it wasn't as good as the fantastic start, I was coming to terms with having to give it a four and move on but then something unexpected happened... Yup that's right Just Juliet earned it's 5th star.
The last few chapters had me on a euphoric high only to throw me in a nose dive that had me wanting to cry while a more rational side of me was saying ,"they did the right thing.", I didn't want to be rational and I didn't want them to be rational but that is what is so amazing about this book. The characters don't do what we have come to expect from the stereotypical fictional teen, they do what most real teens do which is funny because you just don't expect it.
The epilogue was the cherry on the cake and although I would love to know a bit more about Juliet and Lena's futures, I didn't feel like I had been left hanging because although it was only seventeen chapters and an epilogue, the emotion and connection you build with these characters makes it seem like so much more.
I knew from page one that I was going to enjoy this book. I didn't know the storyline or anything about the characters but Charlotte Reagan's style of writing is like slipping on your favourite pair of jeans, you don't know what the rest of the outfit is going to be but you don't really care because you feel comfortable. There are many authors who fail to find that sweet spot in their writing and have you cringing with how awkward their writing is but Reagan doesn't have that problem.
Just Juliet isn't just a sweet coming of age young adult book, it is an honest and real representation of a modern day teenager. Some who might read that will automatically think 'angst' and 'self pity' but they would be wrong because this book has none of that but that doesn't mean that it is just a shallow fluff piece either. This story deals with real issues that many youth face and the issues range from extremely serious to trivial but all of it is handled excellently by the author.
The characters in this book are written in such vivid terms that it is not difficult to start building a picture of them in your mind as you read. A well developed character is essential to a good story because it allows the reader to become attached to the characters and fall in love with their stories, Reagan has done a fantastic job in this regard and her story isn't just good, it is excellent. She has created the b!%@#y best friend that you just love to hate and hate to love, the socially awkward gay boy who is sassy and smart without being a walking stereotype, the sweet puppy-dog gay boy who just happens to be a jock and the best main characters in Lena and Juliet to join this band of misfits.
At first I knew I was going to give this book 5 stars because anything that has me laughing out loud and sitting with a stupid grin on my face is definitely 5 star material, but then I started having doubts because the euphoria wore off and although I still thoroughly enjoyed the story I wasn't feeling that extra something anymore. I hate when that happens because it usually just goes downhill from there and there is just no going back. I expected the same to happen here but instead of getting worse the story maintained its same level of entertainment throughout and although it wasn't as good as the fantastic start, I was coming to terms with having to give it a four and move on but then something unexpected happened... Yup that's right Just Juliet earned it's 5th star.
The last few chapters had me on a euphoric high only to throw me in a nose dive that had me wanting to cry while a more rational side of me was saying ,"they did the right thing.", I didn't want to be rational and I didn't want them to be rational but that is what is so amazing about this book. The characters don't do what we have come to expect from the stereotypical fictional teen, they do what most real teens do which is funny because you just don't expect it.
The epilogue was the cherry on the cake and although I would love to know a bit more about Juliet and Lena's futures, I didn't feel like I had been left hanging because although it was only seventeen chapters and an epilogue, the emotion and connection you build with these characters makes it seem like so much more.
September 17, 2016
I was contacted by the publisher, and was provided a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
Lena is a senior in high school, and she’s pretty satisfied with her life: she has a boyfriend who’s sweet, has friends she loves and unproblematic parents. But when Juliet James, the new girl, comes whizzing into Lena’s life, everything she thought she knew about herself is turned upside down. Lena is immediately drawn to Juliet, and finds herself feeling things that she has never felt for her own boyfriend. Lena knows she’s falling in love with Juliet, but she also knows that she likes boys too. Friendships and familial relationships are tested on Lena’s journey of self-discovery and love.
Just Juliet was my first read with a bisexual main character, and I’m glad that it was my first. Reagan touches on some important topics often brushed aside and labeled “social justice warrior drivel” by bigots. Topics such as the dangers of heteronormativity, the prevalence of token diversity (the term “token heterosexual” is used throughout the novel), and how many books utilize an entirely heterosexual cast of characters, only adding one LGBTQ character and then try to pass the story off as “diverse.” Just Juliet plays with these tropes intelligently. Here, we have a cast of main characters mostly from the LGBTQ community, with minor characters who are straight. The reversal of roles was both refreshing and eye-opening; refreshing because I’ve never seen it done before, eye-opening because my experience with one book is perhaps how LGBTQ individuals feel with most books.
Having said that, I did not enjoy this book as much as I thought I would. For starters, despite an interesting, diverse cast of characters, none of these people were fleshed out enough to seem real. Reagan introduces characters with their outward appearances, describing their physical features and how they dress. To me, that is the least efficient way to introduce a character since it leaves no room for movement in the reader’s mind. This is perhaps personal preference, but if characters are introduced with their mannerisms, gestures and facial expressions instead of appearance-facts, that – in its own – adds a layer of dimension to them. Moreover, none of the main characters seemed to have flaws, which is a huge pet peeve of mine. People are imperfect, and that should be reflected in stories. The minor/side characters were another point of contention for me: Lacey, particularly.
Lacey is Juliet’s best friend. She is a black character, who I was immediately drawn to because she was fierce and opinionated, and I wanted to see how Reagan maneuvered around her headstrong personality and gave her some development. But much to my dismay, Lacey was reduced to the school “bitch,” without any reasoning, without any motivations for her bitchy behavior. We were told she was a bitch, and we were supposed to take that as fact. The problem of telling-not-showing was constant throughout the entire novel: we were told Lena and her friends are sarcastic, but that sarcasm is never shown. Juliet was described as someone who had dark humor, but that never showed. Lacey’s character was a caricature, and the fact that the “angry black girl” stereotype is something that’s so prevalent made it a little hard to digest the scenes where Lacey was lashing out for no apparent reason. Also, phrases like “She had gone so pale she could almost pass as Caucasian” just made me cringe- was that necessary? That wasn’t the only offensive thing in the book either. Lena decides to make a snap judgment about a character she has never seen before, who is only present in the book for two pages, but is called a “Skank Princess” for no reason. This was a more glaring form of slut-shaming, but micro aggressions – such as calling sexually active females “whores” – were common throughout.
You may know this about me, but I very rarely like contemporaries. That’s usually because contemporaries claim to be realistic, but turn out to be some of the most unrealistic books out there. Contemporaries should be wholesome and cohesive. We are rounded creatures, whose lives involve more than one or two aspects at any given point in time. Just Juliet falls prey to one of the most common pitfalls of the contemporary genre: it focuses too much on one thing, and ignores the others. I have no idea who Lena’s parents are- and they only come into play towards the end, which made their interactions with Lena seem inauthentic. I know Lena has friends, but her friendships were used as filler rather than important aspects of her life. What were Lena’s dreams and aspirations? What did she want to do after graduation? Focusing too much on romance (which was also too perfect considering Juliet and Lena had zero problems in their relationship) and ignoring the many other aspects of someone’s life makes for an incomplete story, in my opinion.
I had many issues, but despite all my reservations, I admit that Just Juliet is an important book. I don’t regret having read it. In fact, I would recommend it to anyone who’s looking to diversify their reading, simply because it touches on so many important topics in an intelligent, sometimes brutally honest way. But it’s also not something that I will re-read or rave about in the future.
Lena is a senior in high school, and she’s pretty satisfied with her life: she has a boyfriend who’s sweet, has friends she loves and unproblematic parents. But when Juliet James, the new girl, comes whizzing into Lena’s life, everything she thought she knew about herself is turned upside down. Lena is immediately drawn to Juliet, and finds herself feeling things that she has never felt for her own boyfriend. Lena knows she’s falling in love with Juliet, but she also knows that she likes boys too. Friendships and familial relationships are tested on Lena’s journey of self-discovery and love.
Just Juliet was my first read with a bisexual main character, and I’m glad that it was my first. Reagan touches on some important topics often brushed aside and labeled “social justice warrior drivel” by bigots. Topics such as the dangers of heteronormativity, the prevalence of token diversity (the term “token heterosexual” is used throughout the novel), and how many books utilize an entirely heterosexual cast of characters, only adding one LGBTQ character and then try to pass the story off as “diverse.” Just Juliet plays with these tropes intelligently. Here, we have a cast of main characters mostly from the LGBTQ community, with minor characters who are straight. The reversal of roles was both refreshing and eye-opening; refreshing because I’ve never seen it done before, eye-opening because my experience with one book is perhaps how LGBTQ individuals feel with most books.
Having said that, I did not enjoy this book as much as I thought I would. For starters, despite an interesting, diverse cast of characters, none of these people were fleshed out enough to seem real. Reagan introduces characters with their outward appearances, describing their physical features and how they dress. To me, that is the least efficient way to introduce a character since it leaves no room for movement in the reader’s mind. This is perhaps personal preference, but if characters are introduced with their mannerisms, gestures and facial expressions instead of appearance-facts, that – in its own – adds a layer of dimension to them. Moreover, none of the main characters seemed to have flaws, which is a huge pet peeve of mine. People are imperfect, and that should be reflected in stories. The minor/side characters were another point of contention for me: Lacey, particularly.
Lacey is Juliet’s best friend. She is a black character, who I was immediately drawn to because she was fierce and opinionated, and I wanted to see how Reagan maneuvered around her headstrong personality and gave her some development. But much to my dismay, Lacey was reduced to the school “bitch,” without any reasoning, without any motivations for her bitchy behavior. We were told she was a bitch, and we were supposed to take that as fact. The problem of telling-not-showing was constant throughout the entire novel: we were told Lena and her friends are sarcastic, but that sarcasm is never shown. Juliet was described as someone who had dark humor, but that never showed. Lacey’s character was a caricature, and the fact that the “angry black girl” stereotype is something that’s so prevalent made it a little hard to digest the scenes where Lacey was lashing out for no apparent reason. Also, phrases like “She had gone so pale she could almost pass as Caucasian” just made me cringe- was that necessary? That wasn’t the only offensive thing in the book either. Lena decides to make a snap judgment about a character she has never seen before, who is only present in the book for two pages, but is called a “Skank Princess” for no reason. This was a more glaring form of slut-shaming, but micro aggressions – such as calling sexually active females “whores” – were common throughout.
You may know this about me, but I very rarely like contemporaries. That’s usually because contemporaries claim to be realistic, but turn out to be some of the most unrealistic books out there. Contemporaries should be wholesome and cohesive. We are rounded creatures, whose lives involve more than one or two aspects at any given point in time. Just Juliet falls prey to one of the most common pitfalls of the contemporary genre: it focuses too much on one thing, and ignores the others. I have no idea who Lena’s parents are- and they only come into play towards the end, which made their interactions with Lena seem inauthentic. I know Lena has friends, but her friendships were used as filler rather than important aspects of her life. What were Lena’s dreams and aspirations? What did she want to do after graduation? Focusing too much on romance (which was also too perfect considering Juliet and Lena had zero problems in their relationship) and ignoring the many other aspects of someone’s life makes for an incomplete story, in my opinion.
I had many issues, but despite all my reservations, I admit that Just Juliet is an important book. I don’t regret having read it. In fact, I would recommend it to anyone who’s looking to diversify their reading, simply because it touches on so many important topics in an intelligent, sometimes brutally honest way. But it’s also not something that I will re-read or rave about in the future.
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March 24, 2017
The young adult authors are really knocking their books out of the park...Siera Maley, Zoe Reed, Kelley York, and now Charlotte Reagan.
This was a really well written romance about two girls in their senior year of high school. Lena falls for Juliet and is forced to explore and comes to terms with her bisexuality.
The story takes place in the recent past in a setting that isn't super conservative so there are a lot of resources available to Lena. In other words, it's not a dire, self-hating, how could this be?, 'I'm gay and on my own', 'everyone will hate me' type of narrative. There's a lot of compassion Lena receives from different characters and, despite any darkness the story touches on, there's a really kind and loving feel as you read.
Lena is strong in knowing herself and there are a good number of players in the story that are all well defined. Reagan was skilled enough to make the entire story feel immersive and true to life.
This one stands out for having a bisexual lead, religion without condemnation, several gay characters with different experiences, non-gay characters with their own struggles, no shame, slow but natural evolution in the Lena/Juliet relationship, and an overall maturity for everyone involved.
Really well done. Recommend.
This was a really well written romance about two girls in their senior year of high school. Lena falls for Juliet and is forced to explore and comes to terms with her bisexuality.
The story takes place in the recent past in a setting that isn't super conservative so there are a lot of resources available to Lena. In other words, it's not a dire, self-hating, how could this be?, 'I'm gay and on my own', 'everyone will hate me' type of narrative. There's a lot of compassion Lena receives from different characters and, despite any darkness the story touches on, there's a really kind and loving feel as you read.
Lena is strong in knowing herself and there are a good number of players in the story that are all well defined. Reagan was skilled enough to make the entire story feel immersive and true to life.
This one stands out for having a bisexual lead, religion without condemnation, several gay characters with different experiences, non-gay characters with their own struggles, no shame, slow but natural evolution in the Lena/Juliet relationship, and an overall maturity for everyone involved.
Really well done. Recommend.
October 1, 2016
This is basically a coming out story. A very long (unnecessarily) coming out story. Unfortunately, very little happens in this book... until the epilogue. 2.5 stars rounded to 2.
August 2, 2021
So, this was the re-edited version recently added to Amazon. I haven't read the previous version so I can't do a comparison.
This wasn't a bad read but honestly it was pretty average. It's definitely YA and feels it. It's a pretty sweet coming out story with found family. There's a m/m couple that plays a large role too and they were entertaining. Not much else happens until the epilogue where I then had a wtf moment. I don't know if it ends the way it does so I'll read the sequel but I wasn't thrilled.
This wasn't a bad read but honestly it was pretty average. It's definitely YA and feels it. It's a pretty sweet coming out story with found family. There's a m/m couple that plays a large role too and they were entertaining. Not much else happens until the epilogue where I then had a wtf moment. I don't know if it ends the way it does so I'll read the sequel but I wasn't thrilled.
November 1, 2021
2.5 marked down a bit because of the misuse of passed whenever past should have been used, petty I know. 'I walked passed the door.'
This could have been so much better, but nothing ever really developed or happened, just following four gay teens in their final year of high school and its aftermath. Nice characters, some good issues, but ultimately a waste of space I found.
This could have been so much better, but nothing ever really developed or happened, just following four gay teens in their final year of high school and its aftermath. Nice characters, some good issues, but ultimately a waste of space I found.
June 28, 2019
This was such a cute f/f romance!
I really wasn't prepared for how much I'd enjoy this one. Not only did I love Juliet and Laney but I loved all the secondary characters too. I was especially soft for Scott and Lakyn who are so freaking cute together I need to read their book because I fell in love with them.
As per the usual in f/f, things did seem to move kinda fast in terms of the "oh snap I have a huge crush on this girl" department but for some reason it didn't bother me as much in this book. I think it has to do with the author's writing style, which I really enjoyed. This book also handles talks about coming out, figuring out your sexuality much more and I thought it was all handled really well and I think that this book would be so important for any teenager or person trying to figure out where they fit in with their sexuality, telling the people you care about, etc.
The reason for 4 stars and not 5 is the epilogue. I get why things happened the way they did but I was so disappointed that it took so long for them to get together and also I needed more then an open-ended ending that leaves things up to the imagination of the reader. I really don't like those kind of endings but I know some people do so this is just my personal preference.
November 29, 2016
This entire book was 5 stars all the way through until the epilogue, where it quickly shot down to two stars. And then the last two pages shot it right back up to five stars. At one point I was so depressed that I was crying and felt physically ill (which is not a good look while attempting to work), but thankfully Reagan fixed it all or I was going to be absolutely pissed.
This is one of the best "Teen LGBT" novels I have read.
This is one of the best "Teen LGBT" novels I have read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2016
Highly Recommended
September 23, 2016
GOD. This story was so great. I liked the writing style because it made me forget that I was reading a book. Lena was someone I could connect with and I actually found her and her friends endearing. House of Night and college pretty much got me used to the fact that yes, people do indeed call each other cursory names. And yes, they can be forms of endearment. Experience says so.
These bunch of teens were a rougher group in high school, so their language and various personalities really weren't so shocking. It made things interesting, and in all honesty, for once I actually enjoyed mundane things like their lunch periods or the James' sleepovers. My usual reads are urban fantasy, which should show you that this book- which blew me away emotionally by the way -is really something to check out. The LGBT community is such a huge thing to think about, whether you belong in it or not, solely for the reason that it does exist, and it is here to stay. I loved that the author showed how normal it is, and I also loved that she showed the different ways people react to it, accept it, discourage it, etc. You really get the whole experience, in my opinion.
It was a sweet and light read because of Lena's first love experience, but a very intense read because it was with the same sex, something that was new to her, let alone the people in her life. Watching her take it in stride and heart made for a beautiful romance, the kind I enjoy devouring. Juliet's family more than made up for the darker side of coming out, and I adored them. Their relationship and the way it turned out was not something I'd expected, mainly because I was more than content with being lead as a reader. The epilogue, thank goodness, was nice and long because it ended the way it did, I think I would've just sat in my room and cried lol.
I definitely recommend this. It's listed for Teens, and though there is soft intimacy and crude language, I personally don't see anything wrong with high school kids reading it. If you think you'd be uncomfortable or find such things inappropriate for teens, then you're thinking of immature ones who have no business reading such material in the first place. Let's be mature, people, and face the fact that this is a really sweet and romantic tale of first love with a lot of sad things that life gives us when people disagree with what makes us happy. I wish I'd read something like this when I was in high school, if only to feel a little better about one's sexuality and that it's. Totally. Normal. And okay. And beautiful.
So yes, read this if you're into first loves and sweet light reads with heady and deep topics. Teens are teens, they're immature and newbies at life, still finding what works for them and what they truly want. All I can say is it left me shedding a few sad and happy tears within the same chapter (last chapter really) and I'm happy I read it. It's been too long since I've found something that was able to wrap its arms around me.
These bunch of teens were a rougher group in high school, so their language and various personalities really weren't so shocking. It made things interesting, and in all honesty, for once I actually enjoyed mundane things like their lunch periods or the James' sleepovers. My usual reads are urban fantasy, which should show you that this book- which blew me away emotionally by the way -is really something to check out. The LGBT community is such a huge thing to think about, whether you belong in it or not, solely for the reason that it does exist, and it is here to stay. I loved that the author showed how normal it is, and I also loved that she showed the different ways people react to it, accept it, discourage it, etc. You really get the whole experience, in my opinion.
It was a sweet and light read because of Lena's first love experience, but a very intense read because it was with the same sex, something that was new to her, let alone the people in her life. Watching her take it in stride and heart made for a beautiful romance, the kind I enjoy devouring. Juliet's family more than made up for the darker side of coming out, and I adored them. Their relationship and the way it turned out was not something I'd expected, mainly because I was more than content with being lead as a reader. The epilogue, thank goodness, was nice and long because it ended the way it did, I think I would've just sat in my room and cried lol.
I definitely recommend this. It's listed for Teens, and though there is soft intimacy and crude language, I personally don't see anything wrong with high school kids reading it. If you think you'd be uncomfortable or find such things inappropriate for teens, then you're thinking of immature ones who have no business reading such material in the first place. Let's be mature, people, and face the fact that this is a really sweet and romantic tale of first love with a lot of sad things that life gives us when people disagree with what makes us happy. I wish I'd read something like this when I was in high school, if only to feel a little better about one's sexuality and that it's. Totally. Normal. And okay. And beautiful.
So yes, read this if you're into first loves and sweet light reads with heady and deep topics. Teens are teens, they're immature and newbies at life, still finding what works for them and what they truly want. All I can say is it left me shedding a few sad and happy tears within the same chapter (last chapter really) and I'm happy I read it. It's been too long since I've found something that was able to wrap its arms around me.
July 21, 2017
The beginning of this book had me smiling, it has a warm and welcoming vibe that inflicted fuzzy feelings. Lynn's inclusion to a lifestyle and family that is without judgement is definitely the best part of this read. That said, it feels a little uneventful. It has the usual bits of coming out and self realization that leads to self acceptance, but mostly a lot of mundane day to day living. It doesn't have a lot of drama, nor any great perils. It perhaps seems more real life like that way, definitely more this-day-and-age normative, which I really liked.
What I did find unrealistic, was these teenagers inhumane ability to resist sexual attraction. Its just strange, is Lynn bisexual or asexual? Even now I would have difficulty summoning that sort of willpower, much less with raging teenage hormones. This, especially given how much time they spend together and share beds. This book has no sex, not even fade to black or the morning after. It also has teenagers afraid of saying "I love you," which found very strange, if not way too mature. On that note, it also felt like the deep connection of love just weren't there, like something lacked, maybe I got the feeling Lynn is only lightly bisexual, Juliet is definitely all out gay.
The pace goes slow almost day by day the year Lynn meets Juliet, which is nice as you see them really get to know each other. But the ending felt out of place and rushed, like the author had a change of heart at the last couple of pages and decided "to heck with it!" The author choosed to slam 3-4years together in an instant, it moves all too fast with no time for reconciliation and both Lynn and Juliet turn out just like they were before anyway. Weren't the point that they were supposed to evolve, so we can see the necessity of maturity?
There would have been no time to discover the difference in their maturity anyway, as its literally spread out on the last couple of pages, way too rushed and incredibly pointless.
For a book naming itself after Romeo&Juliet, the bond of love sure isn't that strong or important. Their relationship is even a minor one as it lasts barely a year and easily given up. Juliet's other relationships (in this book mind you,) last twice as long and is twice as serious. Apart from the ending, it's a good YA book.
What I did find unrealistic, was these teenagers inhumane ability to resist sexual attraction. Its just strange, is Lynn bisexual or asexual? Even now I would have difficulty summoning that sort of willpower, much less with raging teenage hormones. This, especially given how much time they spend together and share beds. This book has no sex, not even fade to black or the morning after. It also has teenagers afraid of saying "I love you," which found very strange, if not way too mature. On that note, it also felt like the deep connection of love just weren't there, like something lacked, maybe I got the feeling Lynn is only lightly bisexual, Juliet is definitely all out gay.
The pace goes slow almost day by day the year Lynn meets Juliet, which is nice as you see them really get to know each other. But the ending felt out of place and rushed, like the author had a change of heart at the last couple of pages and decided "to heck with it!" The author choosed to slam 3-4years together in an instant, it moves all too fast with no time for reconciliation and both Lynn and Juliet turn out just like they were before anyway. Weren't the point that they were supposed to evolve, so we can see the necessity of maturity?
There would have been no time to discover the difference in their maturity anyway, as its literally spread out on the last couple of pages, way too rushed and incredibly pointless.
For a book naming itself after Romeo&Juliet, the bond of love sure isn't that strong or important. Their relationship is even a minor one as it lasts barely a year and easily given up. Juliet's other relationships (in this book mind you,) last twice as long and is twice as serious. Apart from the ending, it's a good YA book.
September 21, 2016
An amazing love story!
I loved this very well-written book. The characters are real and the love portrayed is wonderful! Kudos to the author.
I loved this very well-written book. The characters are real and the love portrayed is wonderful! Kudos to the author.
December 10, 2017
I enjoyed this book much more the first time I read it. The beginning was nice as the attraction with the main characters, Lena & Juliet, develops but then becomes a "telling" not "showing" kind of thing for me and very much a simple description of the characters day-to-day activities. The story became somewhat tedious with the grand unfolding of Lena's eventual coming out. If I were asked to describe Juliet fully I would be unable, forced to rely mainly on her appearance. Even Lena, as the main character was not fully developed enough.
I felt I knew or understood the two male charcters better. Scott's personality and emotions were much more described in words and actions. The man with the big yellow hat, Mr. James was a heartwarming character with his openess and decency.
I felt I knew or understood the two male charcters better. Scott's personality and emotions were much more described in words and actions. The man with the big yellow hat, Mr. James was a heartwarming character with his openess and decency.
July 11, 2019
This is the sweeter type of lesbian story I was looking for when I read Keeping You a Secret. The characters were more relatable to me and I loved the added addition of the adorable m/m couple. Juliet's dad is an awesome character and definitely the kind of person I aspire to be if I ever become a parent. How wonderful that he would open his heart and home to Lakyn and Scott, and be so accepting of his daughter. It really warmed my heart. I don't usually care for most contemporary romance but this one won me over.
January 31, 2021
This was peddling to be a three star read with a lot of small things I just didn't care for adding up, which included the pacing, but the last chapter and epilogue kinda really irked me to the point where this is a one star.
April 22, 2021
Accidentally read this book twice- should say a lot about how rememberable it was lol
April 24, 2020
3/04/20 - Available to read for free at https://www.wattpad.com/story/8486053...
Tw/Cw: Use of "f" word (in a bad dream & in a memory); use of the "d" word; mentions of past homophobia (rough back stories with parents); mentions of a trans character's suicide in the past; mentions of past self-harm; bff outs mc to other friend; romantic interest's brother outs her to mc because allosexual & romantic people always have to assume there's something going on between you and ppl they think you'll be attracted to
Currently out of print, this is a review of the wattpad version. In need of editing, just a psa for those who can't stand that. I'm not complaining, as the author said they're working on it atm.
Sapphic Romance. Bisexual mc. Lesbian love interest. Gay couple. Black bff. Teen mom character.
This is a self-discovery story, as well as a coming out story. This is a story about falling in love for that girl, the one who makes everything more intense and beautiful.
The main group of friends are all fun. I love Mr. James, he's such a cool loving dad.
Nobody's perfect and some reactions are far from perfect, be it from the other teens or the adults, yet it makes it a bit more realistic, without the drama or the hate (except the forgettable dude who wasn't even an ex, just a Summer fling, tipo cada macaco no seu galho dude, remete-te à tua insignificância). People don't always have bad intentions, they're just ignorant. (Although, yes. I'd like it if Lena's parents didn't say/ask such moronic stuff wtfrog)
But this isn't supposed to be an angsty story for Lena, so the other characters carry all the emotional garbage, and they're hum mentors into the terrible things that may happen to someone LGBTQ+. They're also the ones helping the mc find her way, the "guides". Take that as you will.
There's no teen mom shaming - actually sad Georgina wasn't explored more but I guess the girl is busy with school & work & her baby girl. No sl*t shaming.
"Lacey believes sex is a social construct," I answered. "That as long as two parties are consenting and safe, there isn't a reason why they shouldn't enjoy their time together."
The epilogue is a clusterf* of information and time travel, yet it is an open end, leaving opportunity for a sequel.
Tw/Cw: Use of "f" word (in a bad dream & in a memory); use of the "d" word; mentions of past homophobia (rough back stories with parents); mentions of a trans character's suicide in the past; mentions of past self-harm; bff outs mc to other friend; romantic interest's brother outs her to mc because allosexual & romantic people always have to assume there's something going on between you and ppl they think you'll be attracted to
Currently out of print, this is a review of the wattpad version. In need of editing, just a psa for those who can't stand that. I'm not complaining, as the author said they're working on it atm.
Sapphic Romance. Bisexual mc. Lesbian love interest. Gay couple. Black bff. Teen mom character.
This is a self-discovery story, as well as a coming out story. This is a story about falling in love for that girl, the one who makes everything more intense and beautiful.
The main group of friends are all fun. I love Mr. James, he's such a cool loving dad.
Nobody's perfect and some reactions are far from perfect, be it from the other teens or the adults, yet it makes it a bit more realistic, without the drama or the hate (except the forgettable dude who wasn't even an ex, just a Summer fling, tipo cada macaco no seu galho dude, remete-te à tua insignificância). People don't always have bad intentions, they're just ignorant. (Although, yes. I'd like it if Lena's parents didn't say/ask such moronic stuff wtfrog)
But this isn't supposed to be an angsty story for Lena, so the other characters carry all the emotional garbage, and they're hum mentors into the terrible things that may happen to someone LGBTQ+. They're also the ones helping the mc find her way, the "guides". Take that as you will.
There's no teen mom shaming - actually sad Georgina wasn't explored more but I guess the girl is busy with school & work & her baby girl. No sl*t shaming.
"Lacey believes sex is a social construct," I answered. "That as long as two parties are consenting and safe, there isn't a reason why they shouldn't enjoy their time together."
The epilogue is a clusterf* of information and time travel, yet it is an open end, leaving opportunity for a sequel.
October 21, 2016
Originally posted on A Frolic Through Fiction
RATED 4.5/5 STARS
*I received this book in exchange for an honest review
I don’t even know where to start with this review.
I know! I’ll explain the situation of me first. Because it needs to be noted for my later reaction.
So, I’m not one of those girls who adores romance stories. Sure, if it’s in a fantasy book or something and isn’t the main storyline, I’ll probably like it, but romance books just aren’t my thing. I cringe. A lot.
Now, if you were to judge this book purely from it’s cover (which of course we bookworms NEVER do *looks around shiftily*), it’s the exact sort of thing I wouldn’t like. The cover itself makes me cringe – I don’t like models being on the cover, especially when they’re in a pose that just screams romance like that. And there’s also a stamp that literally says “1st in swoon”. I DON’T SWOON. I flick people on the foreheads and tell them to quit it.
So what made me accept this book? Well, I wanted to read some diversity. And knowing this was about a lesbian relationship, I accepted.
I’M SO GLAD I DID.
This book brought out all those cutesy emotions that I keep locked away at all times. And honestly, I think it’s because this book is generally a happy story.
Of course, there’s bad times in the book. Every story needs it’s “problem” phase. Every story has it’s dark times. But…there was just an overall feeling of happiness surrounding the characters in this book, and the characters themselves are so lovable and realistic, I couldn’t help feel happy along with them. And by the end, I was reduced to a grinning mess.
And I can’t help but feel like there’s so much to applaud this book for, diversity-wise. It was the ultimate “don’t judge anyone” book. There were different races within the friend group. Different skin colours. There were straight people, gay people, bisexual people. There were people in all different situations: a girl who was a teenage single mother, another who casually slept around a lot. There was even a point made that having sex isn’t all that important in a relationship, even as a teenager. You just have to wait until you’re ready, and that’s OK. The general feeling of “as long as you’re not harming anyone, you do you. Why would it be a problem?”is everywhere in this book, and I love it. There were just so many different situations and types of people in this book, I feel like I need to applaud for eternity. All this, in just over 200 pages. *Claps for years*
And though I don’t relate to the main character’s situation, it was so interesting to read about. To bulk out my understanding that little bit more. And not to mention, it was such an entertaining read! The teenagers in this book actually sounded like teenagers, which is surprisingly uncommon.
This is the sort of book where I want more, but I also don’t. I don’t, because it felt so complete by the end. To drag it out anymore might have ruined that bittersweet feeling it left me with.
As you can probably tell, this is close to being a new favourite of mine. I don’t really know why it’s not quite there, but it’s pretty high up on the scale anyway. And for that, I rate it…
4.5/5 stars!
May 24, 2017
This is a young adult novel and though I am far from that age I enjoyed it anyway. Sweet, sweet love story for romantics.
September 9, 2016
It must be a current trend at the moment, but lately I have found myself reading quite a few teen books where the main characters are GLBT , more often than not the characters are female and lesbians. In Just Juliet we meet Lena who reminded me alot of Emily from Pretty Little Liars as she is at the beginning dating a football player and appears straight but then her attention is diverted to the new girl - Juliet. Whereas in Emily's case it was Maya. Lena welcomes Juliet into her group of friends and soon starts to hang out with Juliet and her family more and more. Juliet's family , I felt were like a haven and the family you would want to represent what a welcoming and embracing GLBT family should be like as her family were so accepting and loving of one another. As we discover that Juliet's older cousin is also gay. During Just Juliet, we read as Lena's relationship with Juliet unfolds through the stages of friendship to possibly more . Will Lena though be accepted by her friends when she announces that she is a lesbian ? Will her family accept her when she decides to come out of the closet and reveal herself ? One of the things I did like about this book was that it wasn't just an instant love and automatic HEA , as most of us know we fall hard for our first love and then more often than not our first loves can break our hearts terribly. We then get the guts to move on and try with others , but no matter how hard we try - we can never forget them . As the years go by, we might meet someone fantastic and new who will help us get over them or that first love of yours - like mine did, might come back for a second chance which will eventually lead possibly into a HEA .
For an awesome read, that doesn't shove the GLBT in your face and for a book that you can easily read and enjoy - Just Juliet is the book for you.
For an awesome read, that doesn't shove the GLBT in your face and for a book that you can easily read and enjoy - Just Juliet is the book for you.
April 5, 2017
Oh, what to say about this book. It's wonderfully sweet and cute. It's well written. The rhythm of the prose is excellent, and Lena's internal dialogue is witty and engaging. I enjoyed reading the words so much.
I had thought to myself through the book that it seemed to lack conflict. That's okay, I told myself, sometimes we just need the sweet stories. What I wasn't expecting, wasn't at all prepared for, was the introduction of completely believable, yet completely surprising conflict in the last few pages of the last chapter. Conflict that was ultimately resolved in an epilogue that tells us everything and shows us nothing.
In some ways, that's okay. A lot of what we needed to be shown we had already seen in the rest of the book. And the epilogue is well written and enjoyable. However the ending of this book feels a little like whiplash and doesn't quite match up with the first 95% of it.
I still loved it. I still want to read more from this author.
I had thought to myself through the book that it seemed to lack conflict. That's okay, I told myself, sometimes we just need the sweet stories. What I wasn't expecting, wasn't at all prepared for, was the introduction of completely believable, yet completely surprising conflict in the last few pages of the last chapter. Conflict that was ultimately resolved in an epilogue that tells us everything and shows us nothing.
In some ways, that's okay. A lot of what we needed to be shown we had already seen in the rest of the book. And the epilogue is well written and enjoyable. However the ending of this book feels a little like whiplash and doesn't quite match up with the first 95% of it.
I still loved it. I still want to read more from this author.
October 29, 2016
Very sweet story
This is a very sweet story and would have been a 5 star had the ending been more complete. Ms Reagan did leave it with a happy ending but it is a very open ending and left me wondering if Juliet and Lena get their forever with each other.
This is a very sweet story and would have been a 5 star had the ending been more complete. Ms Reagan did leave it with a happy ending but it is a very open ending and left me wondering if Juliet and Lena get their forever with each other.
March 31, 2017
Eh, fan fiction much...I have a feeling the author's better off creating a love story between the side characters Lakyn and Scott, because even though the girls declare their love often enough I saw no chemistry. Good for m/m romance fans but definitely not my type.
September 29, 2016
Okay, to be honest I've prepared myself with an angst filled book. I'm really surprised, it's easy going. This is from the POV of Lena, and I like the way she thinks.
Yes, there's still angst but bearable.
A lot of great characters, from Scott I think he's everyone's favorite, down to Lakyn, Lacey, Mr.James and of course Juliet.
Actually, I'm also torn on my rating. I'll read this one again soon and I'll see if I'll change it.
I feel bad for Scott and Lakyn. I think majority of angst came from them, and In the end they deserved all the happiness that they've got.
I also like Lacey and Lena's friendship. It's rock solid, unlike some YA books that I've read that once they met their soon to be girlfriend the relationship with their bff suddenly melts away.
It's like, it's so hard to have bought.
You can really feel that Lacey is Lena's bestfriend, and also she came out to her first.
It's also adorable when Lacey is pissed because she questioned Lena on why she's not attracted to her cause you know she's BI or a lesbian.
A nice coming out book. I wish there's always a Mr. James somewhere. He is a perfect father anyone can ask for.
Everything went fast at 3/4 of the book. It's too perfect that's why I know something will surely happen.
The epilogue made my heart race, like everything is squeezed there. I was really sure to rate this 4, but I felt all the emotions, especially on the boys' wedding. There is a time gap. And I'm really happy that they still manage to end up together.
Yes, there's still angst but bearable.
A lot of great characters, from Scott I think he's everyone's favorite, down to Lakyn, Lacey, Mr.James and of course Juliet.
Actually, I'm also torn on my rating. I'll read this one again soon and I'll see if I'll change it.
I feel bad for Scott and Lakyn. I think majority of angst came from them, and In the end they deserved all the happiness that they've got.
I also like Lacey and Lena's friendship. It's rock solid, unlike some YA books that I've read that once they met their soon to be girlfriend the relationship with their bff suddenly melts away.
It's like, it's so hard to have bought.
You can really feel that Lacey is Lena's bestfriend, and also she came out to her first.
It's also adorable when Lacey is pissed because she questioned Lena on why she's not attracted to her cause you know she's BI or a lesbian.
A nice coming out book. I wish there's always a Mr. James somewhere. He is a perfect father anyone can ask for.
Everything went fast at 3/4 of the book. It's too perfect that's why I know something will surely happen.
The epilogue made my heart race, like everything is squeezed there. I was really sure to rate this 4, but I felt all the emotions, especially on the boys' wedding. There is a time gap. And I'm really happy that they still manage to end up together.
October 28, 2016
It was sweet with the relationship building, but there were many things I just found confusing about the story. I am all for gay relationships and have no problem with people loving who they love. I have a problem with a family that allows teenagers have physical relationships with their knowledge and consent. It is an older person opinion I suppose. I just am not for teens being free to sleep around with males or females.
I do give credit for the acceptance they experienced. I was glad that it wasn't a family turned their back on the child book. I believe in acceptance. I just did not enjoy the looseness of the teens.
I do give credit for the acceptance they experienced. I was glad that it wasn't a family turned their back on the child book. I believe in acceptance. I just did not enjoy the looseness of the teens.
February 4, 2017
A cute coming of age story with a sweet romance.
September 3, 2019
rep: bisexual mc, lesbian li, side gay characters, f/f romance, side m/m romance
this was one of those books where it feels oddly specific to your life experiences but the writing had too much telling instead of showing that it really removed me from the story (especially in the epilogue)
August 29, 2017
Texas author Charlotte Reagan debuts with a coming-out/coming-of-age tale of a struggling bisexual teenager from a conservative household.
Seventeen-year-old Lena Newman is an intelligent, well-adjusted student and daughter of a middle-to-upper-class family. She bears all the trappings of a typical teenage existence, right down to her football-player boyfriend. As her senior year draws to a close and she finds herself on the precipice of college, the normally unflappable Lena questions her future—but when she crosses paths with the titular Juliet James, Lena begins to question everything. Outside of proclaiming her love for Princess Jasmine at the age of five, Lena has always been heterosexual. As she struggles to come to grips with her sexual identity, Lena finds solace in Juliet’s household, which is home to her live-in cousin, Lakyn, and his beloved boyfriend, Scott. Juliet’s father, Mr. James, albeit a largely peripheral character, is graciously accepting of their same-sex feelings; a sharp contrast to the prickly tolerance of Juliet’s parents and the backbiting rejection by Scott and Lakyn’s respective guardians. Juliet, while private and withdrawn, represents an untapped world of excitement and happiness that’s been sorely lacking in Lena’s life. Reagan takes readers on an intimate journey exploring the complexities of Lena’s relationship with Juliet and her path into adulthood.
Just Juliet is, at its core, a love story. While society’s intolerance of homosexuality isn’t at the forefront of the novel, Reagan acknowledges the hardships facing LGBTQ teens as well as the tribulations of adolescent identity. Just Juliet realistically depicts some of the shades and inflections of coming out, the sundry reactions by heterosexual friends, and the breadth of the spectrum between familial acceptance and disownment; however, the book would’ve benefitted from tighter editing. Reagan writes with an unrefined style that’s nearly all tell and no show; the rhythm of text flows much like a personal journal, deceptively sparse and simple, and should especially attract those teens for whom reading isn't a transformative experience. As to the more sophisticated readers, they shouldn’t be too deterred by the conversational language.
Both the novel’s tone and trajectory trill from the pages with honest and endearing characterization. The romance between Lena and Juliet is so sweet that the chemistry is felt from the imagery of their twinning hands or the absentminded tracing of fingers across one another’s flesh. Aside from garden-variety coming-out angst and conditional parental love, there’s decidedly minimal conflict. And yet, by the time audiences reach the final chapter there’s just enough emotional substance to make an impact. A rushed epilogue assures readers that the relationship between Lena and Juliet will endure the test of time. Reagan ultimately delivers a portrait of a seemingly transcendent love between two young girls who find the strength it takes to become the persons they want to be.
Seventeen-year-old Lena Newman is an intelligent, well-adjusted student and daughter of a middle-to-upper-class family. She bears all the trappings of a typical teenage existence, right down to her football-player boyfriend. As her senior year draws to a close and she finds herself on the precipice of college, the normally unflappable Lena questions her future—but when she crosses paths with the titular Juliet James, Lena begins to question everything. Outside of proclaiming her love for Princess Jasmine at the age of five, Lena has always been heterosexual. As she struggles to come to grips with her sexual identity, Lena finds solace in Juliet’s household, which is home to her live-in cousin, Lakyn, and his beloved boyfriend, Scott. Juliet’s father, Mr. James, albeit a largely peripheral character, is graciously accepting of their same-sex feelings; a sharp contrast to the prickly tolerance of Juliet’s parents and the backbiting rejection by Scott and Lakyn’s respective guardians. Juliet, while private and withdrawn, represents an untapped world of excitement and happiness that’s been sorely lacking in Lena’s life. Reagan takes readers on an intimate journey exploring the complexities of Lena’s relationship with Juliet and her path into adulthood.
Just Juliet is, at its core, a love story. While society’s intolerance of homosexuality isn’t at the forefront of the novel, Reagan acknowledges the hardships facing LGBTQ teens as well as the tribulations of adolescent identity. Just Juliet realistically depicts some of the shades and inflections of coming out, the sundry reactions by heterosexual friends, and the breadth of the spectrum between familial acceptance and disownment; however, the book would’ve benefitted from tighter editing. Reagan writes with an unrefined style that’s nearly all tell and no show; the rhythm of text flows much like a personal journal, deceptively sparse and simple, and should especially attract those teens for whom reading isn't a transformative experience. As to the more sophisticated readers, they shouldn’t be too deterred by the conversational language.
Both the novel’s tone and trajectory trill from the pages with honest and endearing characterization. The romance between Lena and Juliet is so sweet that the chemistry is felt from the imagery of their twinning hands or the absentminded tracing of fingers across one another’s flesh. Aside from garden-variety coming-out angst and conditional parental love, there’s decidedly minimal conflict. And yet, by the time audiences reach the final chapter there’s just enough emotional substance to make an impact. A rushed epilogue assures readers that the relationship between Lena and Juliet will endure the test of time. Reagan ultimately delivers a portrait of a seemingly transcendent love between two young girls who find the strength it takes to become the persons they want to be.
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