Amelia Westlake Was Never Here by Erin Gough

Mar 09, 2019 Lola rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: lgbt, feminism, high-school, 2018-publications, love-hate-relationships

If you’re looking for a smart YA contemporary featuring calculated plans to denounce sexist, misogynistic, homophobic and overall discriminatory behaviours at an elite private school as well as a slow-burn romance between the two female leads, this is the book for you. It will grip you from the very first sentence and the strong presence of the two female narrators will stimulate your interest.

After reading MOXIE by Jennifer Mathieu, I was on the lookout for more powerful stories that can inspi ...more

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Apr 23, 2019 Jessica rated it it was amazing

Shelves: teen-novels, feminism, romance, lgbt-queer

I received this book for free from The NOVL in exchange for an honest review.

I give this book 4.5 stars which rounds up to 5.

This book was so good!

First off, the premise is absolute genius. Creating a fictional student named Amelia Westlake to fight school injustices was such a clever idea. The injustices were a wide range of issues such as sexual harassment, homophobia, and elitism in private schools.

The pacing of the book was spot on. Everything happened at appropriate times and nothing felt ...more

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Oct 23, 2017 ✨ jamieson ✨ marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: anticipated-2018

AN F/F ROMANCE WITH "an unlikely pair embarking on a grand feminist hoax"

SOUNDS LIT IM IN

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Apr 11, 2018 Kelly (Diva Booknerd) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: hardie-grant-egmont, bookgasm, loveozya

Rosemead Grammar is a prestigious girls college in the affluent lower north shore of Sydney, achieving academic excellence for young women of the wealthy and elite community. It is imperative of students to preserve the sanctity of the Academy and Harriet Price is the epitome of exemplary students. Harriet is an achiever, an enterprising young woman immersed within the community, a virtuous prefect representative of the academy. Wilhelmina Everhart is a social and political activist, challenging Rosemead Grammar is a prestigious girls college in the affluent lower north shore of Sydney, achieving academic excellence for young women of the wealthy and elite community. It is imperative of students to preserve the sanctity of the Academy and Harriet Price is the epitome of exemplary students. Harriet is an achiever, an enterprising young woman immersed within the community, a virtuous prefect representative of the academy. Wilhelmina Everhart is a social and political activist, challenging the archaic, nepotism of the administration of the Rosemead Grammar. Conspirators responsible for Amelia Westlake.

Amelia Westlake is a pseudonym, conceived to emphasise the predatory behaviour of a member of the teaching facility, a former Olympian and esteemed member of the community. The sexualised and indecent commentary of student bodies, innuendo and suggestive expression are disparaged, Rosemead Grammar absolved of their responsibility as the student concerns are disregarded.

The allegations of sexual intimidation and predatory behaviour are a significant component of the narration and encourages conversations surrounding boundaries, consent and abuse. The girls of Rosemead Grammar are conditioned to tolerate the behaviour, including Harriet Price. Harriet's awakening is admirable. Superficially, Harriet is a sheltered, wilfully ignorant young woman of wealth. Beneath the naive, effervescent facade is a compassionate, intelligent woman, exploited for her appetite for gratification. Their unequivocal attraction engenders an incident of unintentional unfaithfulness, each young woman is in a respective, female relationship, each concealing their alliance from partners.

Amelia Westlake is representative of young women who remain unheard, casualties of a patriarchal dominated society. A rudimentary and fundamental introduction to feminism, challenging socioeconism, elitism, chauvinism, institutional homophobia and ineptly, racism on several occasions towards a character of Asian appearance that was challenged belatedly within the narration.

Reiterating the importance of the overwhelming necessity to create inclusive, affirming environments, Amelia Westlake encourages dialogue and camaraderie, sharing ideologies and empowering young women.

Erin Gough, you are magnificent. ...more

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Feb 23, 2018 Natasha rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: lgbtqiap-lesbian, arcs-and-review-copies, aus-lit, lgbtqiap-f-f, lgbtqiap-all

Review also on my blog • Twitter • Bookstagram

Rep: lesbian mcs, f/f romance, side Vietnamese character

Trigger warnings: initially unchallenged racism

I was sent an arc from the publisher in exchanged for a free and honest review

Initially, this book sounded really promising. Two girls pulling off a hoax whilst developing a romance? Sounds great!

Yeah, not so much.

First and foremost, I hated Will. She seemed like the authors attempt to write an 'edgy' character but didn't seem to really know how

Review also on my blog • Twitter • Bookstagram

Rep: lesbian mcs, f/f romance, side Vietnamese character

Trigger warnings: initially unchallenged racism

I was sent an arc from the publisher in exchanged for a free and honest review

Initially, this book sounded really promising. Two girls pulling off a hoax whilst developing a romance? Sounds great!

Yeah, not so much.

First and foremost, I hated Will. She seemed like the authors attempt to write an 'edgy' character but didn't seem to really know how to do that, so she made her this bitchy girl, and actually had her put in a social media bio "bios are fake"????? She just got on my nerves a lot. She complained about attending this really good, and really expensive, grammar school. In contrast, Harriet complained about people who did this. I get it, it's meant to show their differences or whatever but it just made Will come off as really ungrateful, and it highlighted that. Will was just a brat, that's it. And I don't get their romance, they were too opposite. It kind of felt out of nowhere, especially since Harriet had a girlfriend for most of the book (who we only see in person once). Oh, and there's cheating. Kind of. Will kisses Harriet when Harriet still had a girlfriend. Will sort of had a girlfriend, but it was a little confusing if whether or not they were just kissing or if they were actually a couple.

More with the larger issues though, there's racism that doesn't get called out until closer to the end, and it was called out by the girl experiencing it. A girl called a Vietnamese character, Natasha, a racist term and... Harriet did nothing. She didn't even have a "what the fuck? that's shitty" thought. She didn't even react to it. And when it gets called out by Natasha it's very clear it's been going on for a while. It should've been called out sooner, especially when these characters are presented as being politically aware. Calling out the racism was the barest minimum.

Another thing that bothered me was that bi people were referred to as "swinging in different directions" instead of using the word. That was really annoying.

I didn't really expect much at all from this book if I'm being honest, I didn't like the Flywheel (released in the US as Get It Together, Delilah) and I hadn't heard the best about this. So less of a disappointment and more of a book that went below the low expectations I already had. ...more

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May 10, 2019 Vicky Who Reads rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I really enjoyed this!!! Plus a v cute ship!!!

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Dec 12, 2016 Amanda rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: lgbtqiap, dual-pov, i-have-a-copy, favourite-author, high-school, 2018-release, sydney-or-nsw, aussie, diverse, contemporary-fiction

This was so flipping good! I want to read it all over again.

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Dec 22, 2018 K. rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, lgbtqia-narrator, omg-that-cover, setting-australia, audience-young-adult, australian, diverse-author, library, loveozya, 2018

Trigger warnings: sexual harassment, racism, cheating, incident resulting in a fear of flying (in the past), toxic/abusive relationship, homophobia, absent parents.

So here's the thing: I really wanted to like this book because it sounded GREAT. But ultimately, I found it to be sort of aggressively average. Harriet was a total wet blanket of a character who's being walked all over by her girlfriend. In contrast, Will was just sort of...a brat. I mean, I get it. Kids who are at snobby private sch ...more

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Jan 02, 2019 Mary-ellen rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I enjoyed this book!

Erin Gough does a great job with voice in this YA novel set in an elite girls school.

Will and Harriet, unlikely co-conspirators, find themselves partnering up to make a statement about injustices at their school. They mastermind a hoax to draw attention to the issues, but struggle to navigate their turbulent friendship as momentum picks up around their hoax.

I read recently that teens say their number one issue is that they’re not listened to. This insight comes to life in thi ...more

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Jun 18, 2018 J rated it really liked it · review of another edition

It’s one of those books that I feel the need to finish in one sitting. ‘witty and artistic’, full of surprises, charming, sweet but not at all corny or typical coming-out kind of lgbt books.
in short, I love it!

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Jan 13, 2018 Libby Armstrong rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: beachside-bookshop-favs

So much to love about Gough’s new novel. First, thanks for giving us Harriet Price. The peppy and latent subversive HP is a fantastic foil for the snarky Will Everhart. And then I love the creative and credible pranks Amelia Westlake enacts to provoke her cohort to action. So much conscious raising. The romance is hot, and there is plenty of nail biting plot twists that threaten to out Amelia. Well worth the wait!

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Dec 28, 2017 Jes Layton rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Hmm, okay so, up front I heard about this book at a YA showcase last year, was intrigued by the premise and then was lucky enough to receive an ARC copy from the publisher. I'm very thankful for this and would love to pass my ARC copy along to someone in Australia (more details on my Insta @a_geek_with_a_hat)

So, you're probably looking at my rating of AMELIA WESTLAKE and thinking, wtf? This book sounds awesome, it's queer, #LoveOzYA, a contemporary feminist heist and yeah, it sounds perfect.

It' ...more

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Jan 07, 2018 Megan Maurice rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Brilliant from start to finish, I could hardly bear to put it down. Erin Gough has created a fascinating world within this elite private school, filled with diverse and interesting characters. So much of the politics in the school took me back to my own school days - it so realistically portrayed the way young girls interact with each other and the power of female friendship.

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Jan 12, 2018 Trisha rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: geeky, 2018fav, australian-ya, dual-narrators, contemporary, romance, diversity-in-ya, family, friendship, lgbt

Update: I just wrote a longer review at my blog Trish Talks Texts.

A thoughtful exploration of topical issues wrapped in a delicious package of surprising twists and messy relationships. It all worked.

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May 12, 2018 Danielle rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

Review to come on my blog

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May 08, 2019 Sue (BeautyBookCorner) rated it really liked it

There are a lot of elements to this book that tick my YES boxes:

- elite private school setting
- strong message about speaking up
- feminist girls
- hate-to-love romance trope
- hijinks and mischief

All these things added so much fun to the book, but what I think made it all work was the flawed but likable characters we find in Harriet and Will. These two girls are stereotypes of two different high school students: the perfect goody-two-shoes and the rebel punk. The book starts off with these two gir There are a lot of elements to this book that tick my YES boxes:

- elite private school setting
- strong message about speaking up
- feminist girls
- hate-to-love romance trope
- hijinks and mischief

All these things added so much fun to the book, but what I think made it all work was the flawed but likable characters we find in Harriet and Will. These two girls are stereotypes of two different high school students: the perfect goody-two-shoes and the rebel punk. The book starts off with these two girls coming off as caricatures, but it's only because we are seeing from each of their perspectives. Each chapter flips between Harriet and Will, and they do not get along in the beginning. They are at odds with each other and have a lot of preconceived notions about one another.

But one day in detention, they end up talking and learn that they may actually have some common values underneath their very different personalities. And so we get Amelia Westlake, fictional student, the two girls create to sign off on a series of pranks and mischief at their elite school. There is a lot of unethical and downright illegal actions from administration and teachers that have been swept under the rug or left unchallenged. Amelia Westlake is going to challenge all of that and bring it to light.

"This is what Amelia Westlake is all about. Changing how this place operates. It's not about protecting Rosemead's values, like you pretend it is. Rosemead's true values are rotten to the core. And things are only going to change if people learn to stand up for themselves. Right now, we're all being crushed."

We all know this hoax can't last forever. I'm not going to spoil anything surrounding the unraveling of the Amelia Westlake persona, but I felt like everything played out realistically.

When I was reading, I was really hoping they would become best friends, instead of romantic partners. They just seemed too different. However, I knew going in they would get together. It's not a spoiler since the synopsis clearly states this. I thought their romantic development was good. There was enough angst between them, and I loved how they don't change each other for the other. I love that, despite their totally different image and approach to life, they share the same values, priorities, and moral standards.

Overall, the book was clever and funny. It was refreshing to see these two girls wake up their fellow classmates to speak up against all the unfair, hypocritical, and illegal practices of their school; all the while, they learn about themselves and who they want to be and be with.

** Thank you to The NOVL and Poppy for providing me with an ARC to review. Any quotations used are taken from an uncorrected proof and are subject to change." ...more

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Apr 23, 2019 Bethany rated it really liked it

It you are looking for a fun, f/f romantic comedy about high school girls trying to take down patriarchy and elitism, then I definitely recommend Amelia Westlake was Never Here! This is a play on hate-to-love and opposites attract tropes and I really enjoyed it. Despite a clunky start, the writing sucked me in pretty quickly through the escapades of Harriet Price and Will Everheart.

Harriet Price is rule-follower with wealthy parents. She is smart and a very talented athlete, competing in tennis ...more

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Apr 14, 2019 Toya rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, arcs

This is a fantastic YA contemporary novel that confronts issues of sexism, misogyny, homophobia, and discrimination, which are running rampant at Rosemead Grammar, a prestigious boarding school in Australia. Wilhelmina (Will) Everhart and Harriet Price are as opposite as they come. Harriet is the golden child of Rosemeade while Will is, well, the bottom of the barrel so to speak. They both tolerate each other, but they’re not exactly friends.

After Will and Harriet witness their sleazy swim coach This is a fantastic YA contemporary novel that confronts issues of sexism, misogyny, homophobia, and discrimination, which are running rampant at Rosemead Grammar, a prestigious boarding school in Australia. Wilhelmina (Will) Everhart and Harriet Price are as opposite as they come. Harriet is the golden child of Rosemeade while Will is, well, the bottom of the barrel so to speak. They both tolerate each other, but they’re not exactly friends.

After Will and Harriet witness their sleazy swim coach, Coach Hadley, make inappropriate comments (yet again) to another girl in their cohort, they decide it is time to take matters into their own hands. Together, they decide to submit a cartoon to their school paper that exposes Coach Hadley for the pervert that he is, and they fabricate a pseudonym by the name of Amelia Westlake in the process.
After the cartoon reaches instant fame status at Rosemead, Harriet and Will decide it’s time to finally expose their English teacher who arbitrarily assigns grades based on her opinion of the students rather than their aptitude. “Amelia” stays behind class and rearranges the cover sheets that contain the students’ assigned identification numbers instead of their names (this is supposed to make the grading process anonymous). When the girls receive their grades, their fears were confirmed when the grade they got was based off of the student number on their essays, which lead the entire class to descend into utter chaos.

I really enjoyed watching Harriet and Will team up to rebel against the discrimination that the students have come to accept as normal at Rosemeade. It was utterly frustrating that these teachers (especially the Principal) were allowed to get away with this type of behavior, and no one even batted an eyelash. I was surprised that the parents of a posh institution like Rosemeade didn’t mandate 24-hour security surveillance on campus, which would have exposed the abhorrent behavior much sooner.

I did enjoy watching Harriet and Will’s slow-burn romance unfold, but I did not like the fact that Harriet was already in a committed relationship while her feelings for Will were made quite clear. This may be a trigger for other readers, so that’s something to keep in mind.

Will’s strong will and independence made her one of my favorite characters. Even though she continually got the short end of the stick since she did not come from these incredibly wealthy parents, she refuses to accept the status quo at Rosemeade. Harriet’s character was a bit frustrating at first because she was the classic exemplary student that dismisses questionable behavior from trusted adults because that’s the expectation of Rosemeade. However, once Harriet is “awakened”, I fell in love with her determination to make things right.

Overall, this was a great book that really tackles the notion of standing up for justice and equality, especially when others are too afraid to do so.

Thank you The NOVL for an advanced copy of this book. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own. ...more

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Apr 07, 2019 c, rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fave-tropes, ya-contemporary, favourites, m-lgbt-side, 4-point-5, i-put-the-b-in-lgbt, non-white-characters, lgbt, f-lgbt, disabilities-disorders-illnesses

(4.5)

Rep: lesbian mcs (one with anxiety), Vietnamese bi side character, gay side characters

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Jan 10, 2018 Alison rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: ozya

A highly enjoyable read, Amelia Westlake is the kind of refreshing contemporary book that you want to read in one sitting.

A novel about girls, Willhemina and Harriet, who create a pysdonym to pull statement pranks at their elitist school. Somewhere along the way they fall for each other, and it's wonderful.

This book also highlights internalized rascism, elitist privlidge, sexism, and toxic relationships.

I adored reading this, thank you Erin Gough for another fantastic novel to shove in people' ...more

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Feb 27, 2018 Sarah Randall rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

What is 'Amelia Westlake'? It is a YA novel. It is a queer romance. It is a wonderful example of intersectional feminism. It's a timely novel for the #MeToo movement.

But it is also so much more than all these things. Like the Rosemead girls themselves, it is 'the glorious sum of [its] parts'. It's galvanising, and a must-read for any teenagers - or indeed, any person - who is questioning their voice and the power it has to change the world.

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Mar 22, 2018 Emmy9394 rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This is my favourite YA of 2018! Absolutely brilliant! I wish my year group at school had been this politically and socially aware of the world around them. Teenage girls will change (are changing) the world!

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Feb 20, 2018 - ̗̀ fantine ̖́- marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: 2018, arc, got-it

just went to a publishing event where they talked about this and boy o yall arent ready

-good girl vs bad girl
-hate to love
-destroying the patriarchy
-girls
-queer girls
-wide brimmed hats
- rebellious youths
-hoaxes?!

amazing

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Jan 23, 2018 Karina rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2018-books

Prepare your bodies everybody 😍

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Apr 11, 2019 Mari Johnston rated it did not like it

This review and many others can also be found at Musings of a (Book) Girl.

This has probably been my most disappointing book of 2019 so far. The hopes I had for it were sky high, but unfortunately, it fell flat pretty quick. I think I spent close to a week and a half or two weeks trying my absolute hardest to get through it and I just couldn’t. I was planning on sticking it out because that’s just what I do (DNF comes with a lot of guilt for me), but when I started finding problematic content I d ...more

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Apr 18, 2019 Sara (A Gingerly Review) rated it liked it

Shelves: physical-2019, 2019

2.5 stars

While this was a quick read I had some issues with the overall story.

Frtc

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Aug 15, 2018 storytime-reviews rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, young-and-new-adult

Gough has created an intriguing cast of characters, and brilliantly built a narrative from two perspectives, from two very different girls. Amelia Westlake works precisely because of these varying points of view, and because Harriet and Will are clearly different characters, from how they speak to how they think. I cannot count the number of novels I have read with several perspectives in which the characters sound exactly the same, yet the contrast between the two girls is obvious from the star Gough has created an intriguing cast of characters, and brilliantly built a narrative from two perspectives, from two very different girls. Amelia Westlake works precisely because of these varying points of view, and because Harriet and Will are clearly different characters, from how they speak to how they think. I cannot count the number of novels I have read with several perspectives in which the characters sound exactly the same, yet the contrast between the two girls is obvious from the start. This is indicative of good writing.

I went to a private girls school, so I can relate to part of this novel in that sense, although my school was not one of the ‘elite’ schools, and most of girls that attended were nowhere near as privileged as many of the characters in this novel. Yet many of the girls – their insecurities, their snobbery and their ambitions – felt very familiar to me, as did some of the school’s issues.

Harriet and Will are both strong in their own ways, trying not to show their vulnerability to the rest of the world. Inevitably, they reveal their vulnerabilities to each other. Harriet hides her insecurities by attempting to appear perfect, doing everything expected of her and more; Will rebels and refuses to do something simply because it is expected of her. Together, they both grow and develop into better people. Selfish in different ways, the character development throughout Amelia Westlake significantly impacts their behaviours and actions, shaping the path of the hoax. Former enemies (yes this is an enemies to friends to lovers narrative), the two learn to consider other perspectives and views of the world. I especially loved the blossoming friendship between Harriet and Will.

Harriet’s naivety is particularly understandable. For someone who has always got what she works for, she seems to think that it’s the same for everyone, unaware of her privilege compared to others. Importantly, the Amelia Westlake hoax allows her to finally acknowledge this discrepancy, and how unfair the system is. Both she and Will are relate-able, three dimensional characters, whose strengths and weakness are explored throughout the novel. Not only are the characters well written, the unfolding hoax plot generated an absolutely thrilling narrative. This storyline was engaging, particularly as the girls discussed and reacted to various school issues that affected students.

What stood out most to me towards the end of the novel was all of the year 12 girls standing together, proclaiming that they are all Amelia Westlake. It was a beautiful reminder of the importance of solidarity, but also indicated some character development for some of the supporting characters. A year that was often divided, was at once united for a cause, for the good of all. The novel ends with various girls standing up to complain about sexual harassment and assault after Harriet’s complaint, and emphasised the main themes of the book – to stand up to injustice, and to stand strong together.

I highly recommend Amelia Westlake – for the brilliant writing, fascinating characters and intriguing plot development. ...more

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Sep 19, 2018 Em The Reading Challenge Challenge rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: standalones, young-adult, loveozya, favourites, lgbt-books, mental-illness

"She has failed and despaired and learned and loved and triumphed. She is the glorious sum of her parts. She is one girl, containing multitudes."

You know how Love Simon came out and we had a wonderful mlm rom-com and then To All The Boys I've Loved Before came out and we had a wonderful straight rom-com and now everyone's looking for a wlw rom-com? I reckon Amelia Westlake could be it.

This is a stunning book all about girls working together to support each other and stop misogyny in its tracks,

"She has failed and despaired and learned and loved and triumphed. She is the glorious sum of her parts. She is one girl, containing multitudes."

You know how Love Simon came out and we had a wonderful mlm rom-com and then To All The Boys I've Loved Before came out and we had a wonderful straight rom-com and now everyone's looking for a wlw rom-com? I reckon Amelia Westlake could be it.

This is a stunning book all about girls working together to support each other and stop misogyny in its tracks, all with the help of the mysterious Amelia Westlake. But who is she? Where did she come from? What is her ultimate purpose? Will Everhart and Harriet Price might know. Will is an outspoken artist and Rosemead Grammar's resident discontent. Harriet is the golden girl who will always lend a hand (or just do it herself). But when they both witness the swimming coach harassing another girl, they reluctantly come together to put a stop to their school's rampant misogyny.

I loved Will and Harriet so much. Will is so funny and I felt an immediate connection with her - I was Will when I was at high school, just way less sure of myself. Harriet took some warming up to but I loved her completely by the 100-page mark. I hated watching how everyone walked all over her and I'm so glad she learned how to stand up for herself. Will's character development was less overt but I was so happy when she was able to open herself up to her friends and family.

All the different ways they called out Rosemead's sexism and elitism and racism were excellent. I'm so glad that Nat Nguyen was there to steer Will towards a more intersectional kind of feminism. But it did drive me nuts that Gough wouldn't just call Nat bisexual - always saying instead that she swings both ways or is just into guys at the moment. It was accurate but it would've been better to just call her bisexual. And there was a glaring lack of disabled characters - Will and Harriet both have anxiety but it would've been nice if one of their classmates was mentioned as using hearing aids or crutches or something.

What Gough does really well though is never hesitating to treat the teachers and administration as what they are - bigoted, nasty, self-serving and just flat-out evil. There were a few occasions where a teacher would do or say something and I'd flinch because how could they do that and think they'll get away with it? But then I'd remember stuff that went down at my own school and I'd remember how teachers often got away with awful behaviour. And I wasn't at an elite private school like Rosemead.

I loved everything about this book and I would highly encourage anyone looking for a wlw romance or some feminist YA to look into it. Get to know Amelia Westlake and remember - play the power, not the game.

Warnings: references to sexual harassment, some racism and homophobia. ...more

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Mar 19, 2018 Ashleigh | Wild Heart Reads added it · review of another edition

Shelves: lgbtqia, loveozya, young-adult, ff-main

Amelia Westlake is a fun and light-hearted #LoveOzYA novel. Set in at the fictional Rosemead Grammer, a private school for the elite, Amelia Westlake tells the story of Will Everheart and Harriet Price as they work to send a message to Rosemead about its supposed values.

Will Everheart might not be one of the elite but her mother has worked hard to ensure that Will can enjoy the benefits of a private education. Harriet Price on the other hand is the epitome of privilege and reaps the benefits thi Amelia Westlake is a fun and light-hearted #LoveOzYA novel. Set in at the fictional Rosemead Grammer, a private school for the elite, Amelia Westlake tells the story of Will Everheart and Harriet Price as they work to send a message to Rosemead about its supposed values.

Will Everheart might not be one of the elite but her mother has worked hard to ensure that Will can enjoy the benefits of a private education. Harriet Price on the other hand is the epitome of privilege and reaps the benefits this affords her with little questioning. But sexual harassment, favouritism and greed lay beneath Rosemead's perfect facade and Will has had enough.

I zoomed through this book in two days and it was a witty and engaging book. This is the authors second novel but my first time reading her work but Amelia Westlake left me wanting to follow up with the Flywheel.

"Still making a fair amount of noise, I run after her, which is tricky, what with her being an elite sportsperson and me being an elite couch potato."

Something I particularly loved was that both leads and several supporting characters were queer but there was little homophobia. There was a little bit however the book wasn't about Will and Harriet dealing with homophobia which was really nice to read. Although books that deal with homophobia front on are important and I do enjoy, it is really nice as a queer reader to get a break from it.

Spoilers for some of the books events ahead......

(view spoiler)

I really enjoyed Amelia Westlake. It's a really entertaining read and I'd definitely recommend it, especially if you enjoyed books like Moxie.

★★★★

This review and more can be found at https://wildheartreads.wordpress.com/ ...more

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Apr 01, 2019 Olivia Farr rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: other-reviews

AMELIA WESTLAKE WAS NEVER HERE is a clever and fun YA contemporary with hints of romantic comedy. Will Everhart is an outside-of-the-box thinker. Her mother and father have recently divorced, and she moved with her mother, now attending a fancy private school, Rosemead. However, Will sees all the problems with Rosemead, like the fact that the Olympic medal winning swim coach sexual harasses the female students.

When she is at detention for insulting him after he made an inappropriate comment abo AMELIA WESTLAKE WAS NEVER HERE is a clever and fun YA contemporary with hints of romantic comedy. Will Everhart is an outside-of-the-box thinker. Her mother and father have recently divorced, and she moved with her mother, now attending a fancy private school, Rosemead. However, Will sees all the problems with Rosemead, like the fact that the Olympic medal winning swim coach sexual harasses the female students.

When she is at detention for insulting him after he made an inappropriate comment about another student, she finds herself annoyed by Harriet, who is pretty much Will's opposite- a prefect who doesn't get into trouble and who gets perfect grades. However, when Will confronts Harriet, she finds out things aren't as simple as they may have seemed, and together, they devise a comic to expose the less than savory practices at their school. Unwilling to sign their own names, they make up Amelia Westlake, a pseudonym for their "mis"deeds.

As Harriet and Will begin devising acts for Amelia Westlake, they find themselves spending more and more time together, and a bigger attraction grows. With clever and reasoned messages plus an overarching story of feminism and solidarity, this book is a fantastic read from cover to cover. With alternating perspectives between Harriet and Will, we get a multisided portrait of the school, which in many ways, is not so different from other schools. While other schools may not be raising thousands of dollars for a second pool, the discrimination against LGBT, harassment by teachers, racism/sexism, and unfair grading practices are problems at many schools, which can be found on the current news.

I love books that give teens a voice against things in their lives that are unjust, and this book is an excellent example. This novel is full of some great messages about standing up against wrongs and using your voice when you can. The romance that develops is icing on the cake. This book was a pleasure to read and would be great for fans of MOXIE. I highly recommend for fans of comedies, activism, feminism and/or YA contemporary.

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own. ...more

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