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Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry
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Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry by debut author Joya Goffney is the story of an overly enthusiastic list maker who is blackmailed into completing a to-do list of all her worst fears. It’s a heartfelt, tortured, contemporary YA high school romance with epistolary elements. Fans of Jenny Han’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and Kristina Forest’s debut I Wanna Be Where You Are
...more
ebook, 368 pages
Expected publication:
May 4th 2021
by HarperTeen
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Start your review of Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry

I enjoyed Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry. The story is interesting, and I liked how race was discussed in this book. Quinn starts the story without any black friends. Throughout the book she makes some black friends and talks about how nice it is to have friends that understand what you are going through. Quinn has made a lot of mistakes and all of them are written in her notebook. However, I still really liked Quinn. She is trying to do her best and make everyone happy. I liked reading about her tr
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Have you ever lied about something and hope to God no one ever found out, but you wrote it down in a journal thinking your secret’s safe? That was Quinn’s cooked up recipe for powder keg. Her world was turned upside down when her list journal went missing and fell into the wrong hand. The perpetrator told Quinn to complete a set of tasks and threatened to expose her secrets if she fails. When she protested, the blackmail began, and some of the secrets got leaked in her school.
This book covered q ...more
This book covered q ...more

I first wanted to say thank you to the author for giving me an arc of this book on NetGalley!
I didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I did since the description sounds a bit cheesy, but it was anything but. It had great characters, and believable hardships they had to go through. I wasn't expecting the book to delve as deeply as it did into racism and how difficult and confusing it is to be a Black person around mostly white people and how it feels to be an outsider. I found myself actual ...more
I didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I did since the description sounds a bit cheesy, but it was anything but. It had great characters, and believable hardships they had to go through. I wasn't expecting the book to delve as deeply as it did into racism and how difficult and confusing it is to be a Black person around mostly white people and how it feels to be an outsider. I found myself actual ...more

I was lucky enough to listen to an audiobook arc in exchange for review courtesy of Harper Audio and made a list in honor of the list format of this book on why you should read it.
Reasons You Should Read Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry
Black Girl Lead navigating a predominant white school
Black Teen Enemies to Lovers Romance
Black Girl Friendships
Complicated parent relationships
Journal Writing
See full review here
https://womenofcolorreadtoo.blogspot.... ...more
Reasons You Should Read Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry
Black Girl Lead navigating a predominant white school
Black Teen Enemies to Lovers Romance
Black Girl Friendships
Complicated parent relationships
Journal Writing
See full review here
https://womenofcolorreadtoo.blogspot.... ...more

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry was a pretty good book to dive into. In it, you will meet Quinn. She tends to write almost anything and everything in her journal. Some uncover the truth to her lies.. and other things are a bit more personal. So in a way, this journal is her everything and her life turns upside down when it goes missing.
Quinn was a pretty likable character. I wouldn't necessarily say relatable to me, personally, ...more
Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry was a pretty good book to dive into. In it, you will meet Quinn. She tends to write almost anything and everything in her journal. Some uncover the truth to her lies.. and other things are a bit more personal. So in a way, this journal is her everything and her life turns upside down when it goes missing.
Quinn was a pretty likable character. I wouldn't necessarily say relatable to me, personally, ...more

A thought provoking young adult contemporary brimming with humor and heart. Joya Goffney’s debut addresses issues such as racism and bullying with a thoughtful and gentle hand. Quinn is a list maker. She has a list for everything in her journal -The boys she wants to kiss, the bad things she has done, the things she wants to do before she graduates high school, her hopes, her dreams.... When Quinn‘s journal goes missing she is convinced it must be Carter (a boy she’s not sure of) who has it, af
...more

July 02, 2020: CAN'T WAIT. Teen loses journal and is blackmailed to tick off a list of her greatest fears....AND....wait for it...falls in LOVE on the way YAYAAYA
...more

Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry is being compared to To All the Boys I've Loved Before and while I understand it, I can't help but think that I enjoyed this book a lot more than the one it's compared to.
In this book, you'll follow Quinn, a girl who writes list just about everything in her journal. From all the days she ugly cried, to her to-do list before graduation but also all her fantasies about her friend who she's been in love with for a while now. So when her notebook goes missing, everything ...more
In this book, you'll follow Quinn, a girl who writes list just about everything in her journal. From all the days she ugly cried, to her to-do list before graduation but also all her fantasies about her friend who she's been in love with for a while now. So when her notebook goes missing, everything ...more

I adore this book! The characters are well written and the plot is engaging. I love the information given about respecting the black community for the people they are and not who the white population seems to want to make them. It also calls upon the angst of being teenager while dropping important life lessons. This is a wonderful book that I would gladly recommend to book groups and school libraries!

i can't believe that it took me this much time to find this story bUT I WANT THIS BOOK SO BAD OMG
...more

Dec 13, 2020
Zemira (Kylo Ren fangirl) Warner
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
edelweiss,
contemporary
I'm so grateful for getting this audiobook for review purposes even though it's not the final product. I loved every minute of it. The overall theme of the book was hella entertaining, characters were charming, their chemistry was palpable, writing was stellar. I just couldn't stop listening.
Can't wait to read more from Joya Goffney in the future. ...more
Can't wait to read more from Joya Goffney in the future. ...more

This was a great read! It explored so many things like racism, bullying, and the pressures teenagers face from their parents. I also loved that Quinn wasn't perfect and as she conquered some of her fears, she matured and became a strong person.
One of the fun parts of this book are Quinn's lists. She makes them for guys she likes, fears she has, and things she wants to accomplish. They change throughout the story and are a good gauge of how Quinn is evolving. One of the lists is used to blackmai ...more
One of the fun parts of this book are Quinn's lists. She makes them for guys she likes, fears she has, and things she wants to accomplish. They change throughout the story and are a good gauge of how Quinn is evolving. One of the lists is used to blackmai ...more

Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry in exchange for an honest review.
There is so much I loved here, but only real complaint is that I wish it was longer.
On the outside, Quinn's life looks like its perfect. She and her friends are popular. The whole school knows that she got into her dream college. She is the picture perfect American teenager. Inside though, Quinn is a mess of the lies she tells herself and others and the dreams she won't let herself achiev ...more
There is so much I loved here, but only real complaint is that I wish it was longer.
On the outside, Quinn's life looks like its perfect. She and her friends are popular. The whole school knows that she got into her dream college. She is the picture perfect American teenager. Inside though, Quinn is a mess of the lies she tells herself and others and the dreams she won't let herself achiev ...more

I would like to thank Harper Audio and Netgalley for the audiobook arc of Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry in exchange for an honest review. First, I am a journal lover so I understood first hand the pain Quinn felt when she lost her precious journal. Although the main focus of the book was about Quinn being blackmailed I was more intrigued by the topics of racisms. Quinn and her family all struggled with identity with their blackness. I enjoyed seeing Quinn grow and build friendships with Carter and
...more

Quinn loves lists. Well, maybe “love” isn’t the right word. Quinn hides behind lists. There, that’s better.
Everything she doesn’t say out loud gets put into her journal. Every lie she’s told. And there have been some big ones.
Every fantasy she’s had. Regrets she’s had. They’re in there too. Why she ghosted her best friend. There are even hints of thoughts and opinions in that journal that even Quinn isn’t wholly aware of … yet.
“Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry” is described as an “own voices story,” w ...more
Everything she doesn’t say out loud gets put into her journal. Every lie she’s told. And there have been some big ones.
Every fantasy she’s had. Regrets she’s had. They’re in there too. Why she ghosted her best friend. There are even hints of thoughts and opinions in that journal that even Quinn isn’t wholly aware of … yet.
“Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry” is described as an “own voices story,” w ...more

This one is tough to review because I really enjoyed a lot that this book had to offer, but I disliked the main character so much that it took away from the rest of the story for me.
However, to make this easier to read AND in honor of the book, I will make a couple lists:
Things I liked about this book:
- Black female lead & in general, quite a few strong, black, female characters
- Race being discussed in multiple ways (everything from how people see themselves and other people of one's own race t ...more
However, to make this easier to read AND in honor of the book, I will make a couple lists:
Things I liked about this book:
- Black female lead & in general, quite a few strong, black, female characters
- Race being discussed in multiple ways (everything from how people see themselves and other people of one's own race t ...more

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of the audiobook through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
TW : racism, blackmail, cyberbullying, chronic illness bereavement
Okay, first things first, while reading my review, keep in mind that : being an ARC, the content was generated by a synthetic voice. Which means the voice is flat even during emotional moments, and everyone speaks the same way. Which is also extremely weird when an 8 year old has the voice of an adult 😂 It took a while to get used to ...more
TW : racism, blackmail, cyberbullying, chronic illness bereavement
Okay, first things first, while reading my review, keep in mind that : being an ARC, the content was generated by a synthetic voice. Which means the voice is flat even during emotional moments, and everyone speaks the same way. Which is also extremely weird when an 8 year old has the voice of an adult 😂 It took a while to get used to ...more

I recieved an audio ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley. First of all I must say I adored everything about Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry. It feels like To All The Boys I Loved Before meeting The Hate U Give and it's just amazing.
CW: racism, bullying
Characters
They were amazing and so well developed. I loved how they had unique hobbies and amazing stories. Quinn has changed so. much through the story and that was so, so enjoyable.
Writing style
It was so beautiful. I adored it. It was so easy to re ...more
CW: racism, bullying
Characters
They were amazing and so well developed. I loved how they had unique hobbies and amazing stories. Quinn has changed so. much through the story and that was so, so enjoyable.
Writing style
It was so beautiful. I adored it. It was so easy to re ...more

I was able to listen to Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry via NetGalley. While I was able to listen to this novel earlier than its publication it was also recorded with a synthetic voice so it left a little to be desired. That being said, I enjoyed the story! I appreciated the premise of Quinn's most personal thoughts coming out in true high school fashion via mean girls and social media. I appreciated the romance -- I'm a sucker for a good romantic connection. I enjoyed Quinn's evolution the most, how
...more

A relatable book for all humans because we all ugly cry and we all have secrets we wish wouldn’t get out.
When I first picked up the book Quinn was exactly my favorite character. I found her list making to be draining but.... and a big but, they make sense. 15% in I completely understood the list making. The need to put your thoughts down in a nice clean format. And I’m going to start my own list making in hope to clear the clutter of my mind.
Excuse While I Ugly Cry is a coming of age story. It’s ...more
When I first picked up the book Quinn was exactly my favorite character. I found her list making to be draining but.... and a big but, they make sense. 15% in I completely understood the list making. The need to put your thoughts down in a nice clean format. And I’m going to start my own list making in hope to clear the clutter of my mind.
Excuse While I Ugly Cry is a coming of age story. It’s ...more

Excuse me while I leave my review..... I give Joya Goffney (3.5 rounded up) 4 birds out of 5. I'm in the middle with this book. Things I loved and things I just didn't connect with. There were times I felt like I had a clashing relationship with main character- I know what I just wrote is insane and I need to remind myself it's FICTION! I love that the main characters in this book were people of color. We need more books that highlight diversity. I had an in-depth look into what it might be like
...more

This was the cutest book. I couldnt put it down!! Quinn has a lot going on in her life. She writes lists in her journal. Even the really personal things. When her journal is misplaced and she begins to be blackmailed, she must try to figure out who has it. Whoever is blackmailing her tells her that she must do one of her lists, telling a boy she cares for him, her parents she didn't get into college, and facing the way she sees herself and how others see her.
...more

Thank you @HarperTeenCollins for my #ARC
Publication Due: May 2021
Definetly has Jenny Han's To All The Boys I've Loved Before vibes but has wonderful moments that really got me thinking... the more I read #ownvoices the more I appreciate the diversity I'm exposed to (I'm from a very homogeneous white community). I had never paused to consider that black people may not feel black-enough. Or be uncomfortable in their own skin. This was eye-opening to me and well done. ...more
Publication Due: May 2021
Definetly has Jenny Han's To All The Boys I've Loved Before vibes but has wonderful moments that really got me thinking... the more I read #ownvoices the more I appreciate the diversity I'm exposed to (I'm from a very homogeneous white community). I had never paused to consider that black people may not feel black-enough. Or be uncomfortable in their own skin. This was eye-opening to me and well done. ...more

Jan 01, 2021
VL
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
advance-reader-books,
ya
Goodness what a striking book. Highly recommend

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.

Stars: 5 ⭐️
Steam: 1 🔥
Audiobook: N/A
This book was everything. I enjoyed it so much! The writing was incredible and the characters are so lovable!
This book was the perfect coming of age story that I needed as a teen. Being able to see these social situations through the eyes of someone with a different perspective is so necessary.
Watching Quinn grow and learn to love herself was beautiful. She is such a strong character. I loved seeing her burst through her comfort zone and become a strong young ...more
Steam: 1 🔥
Audiobook: N/A
This book was everything. I enjoyed it so much! The writing was incredible and the characters are so lovable!
This book was the perfect coming of age story that I needed as a teen. Being able to see these social situations through the eyes of someone with a different perspective is so necessary.
Watching Quinn grow and learn to love herself was beautiful. She is such a strong character. I loved seeing her burst through her comfort zone and become a strong young ...more

I came into this book knowing nothing except that I liked the cover. I'm happy to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of this book. The characters are nuanced and they develop over the course of the book. I especially liked the frank discussion of racism and micro-aggressions that black people still have to deal with daily.
I had an advanced audio copy, which was a computer generated narrator. Despite this not being the final audio version, I was impressed by how few flaws there wer ...more
I had an advanced audio copy, which was a computer generated narrator. Despite this not being the final audio version, I was impressed by how few flaws there wer ...more

Audiobook ARC kindly provided by Harper Audio/Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Joya Goffney’s new book welcomes us with Quinn Jackson, a black high school girl that puts her life into her journal. All her fears, goals, list of kissable guys, confessions, and much more are there. The problem starts when she loses her journal, and someone blackmails her. Lucky her, she has Carter by her side!
This book grabbed my attention, and I couldn’t let it go. I listened to the audiobook, and I con ...more
Joya Goffney’s new book welcomes us with Quinn Jackson, a black high school girl that puts her life into her journal. All her fears, goals, list of kissable guys, confessions, and much more are there. The problem starts when she loses her journal, and someone blackmails her. Lucky her, she has Carter by her side!
This book grabbed my attention, and I couldn’t let it go. I listened to the audiobook, and I con ...more

First, thank you to HarperCollins and Net Galley for this audiobook ARC of Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry!
I love, love, love, LOVE this book! I’m extremely excited for the release day so I can buy my physical copy!
This book is about Quinn, a young woman who’s a senior in high school. Quinn has a compulsion to make lists about the things in her life and when her journal falls into the wrong hands, she is at the mercy of her blackmailer. What I loved most about this book is Quinn’s blackness as defi ...more
I love, love, love, LOVE this book! I’m extremely excited for the release day so I can buy my physical copy!
This book is about Quinn, a young woman who’s a senior in high school. Quinn has a compulsion to make lists about the things in her life and when her journal falls into the wrong hands, she is at the mercy of her blackmailer. What I loved most about this book is Quinn’s blackness as defi ...more
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Challenge Corner: Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry by Joya Goffney --> Starting December 13th, 2020 | 30 | 7 | Dec 24, 2020 12:13PM |
Joya Goffney grew up in New Waverly, a small town in East Texas. In high school, she challenged herself with to-do lists full of risk-taking items like ‘hug a random boy’ and ‘eat a cricket,’ which inspired her debut novel. With a passion for black social psychology, she moved out of the countryside to attend the University of Texas in Austin, where she still resides.
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