From the Bookshelf of Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge…
Find A Copy At
Group Discussions About This Book
No group discussions for this book yet.
What Members Thought

I really enjoyed this one! Leila is a teenaged Iranian-American and she's gay - and hasn't told anyone. The book deals with her second major crush (which takes place at her private school as opposed to summer camp), navigating friendships and family, and trying to find her place at school - you know, just easy breezy stuff. ;)
Much of the book deals with the crush/friendship with a manipulative girl - it was actually great to see a toxic friendship so accurately portrayed.
I enjoyed getting a lit ...more
Much of the book deals with the crush/friendship with a manipulative girl - it was actually great to see a toxic friendship so accurately portrayed.
I enjoyed getting a lit ...more

Good teen novels, such as this one, are like candy. Sweet and not too complicated, so you just want to keep eating/reading. Leila's voice is funny and real. Although this is a coming out story, I like that it starts with her already knowing she's gay and seeming pretty comfortable with it --at least for herself. Sharing that part of her identity with private school friends and Persian family is another thing. At the same time, Leila is figuring out other parts of who she is, like what her intere
...more

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

Funny, sweet queer romance. Hilarious portrayal of theater kids as well as a thoughtful look at race & class at a fancy private school, while somehow not seeming too "issue-y."
Pretty clean content--some underage drinking and discussion of others having sex, but nothing from the narrator. ...more
Pretty clean content--some underage drinking and discussion of others having sex, but nothing from the narrator. ...more

A coming of age story and a coming out story from the perspective of an Iranian-American teen in a private high school. Most of the characters seemed a little unrealistic and the dialogue was clunky and forced. Additional demerits for some awkward stereotype references (researching Ani DiFranco and other folk singers to know the music of her "people") and for making a joke out of the possibility of prescribing anti-depressants to a teenager who has lost her brother to an accident. Bonus points f
...more

Jun 10, 2014
Gayle
marked it as to-read

Jun 25, 2014
Caitlin H
marked it as to-read

Mar 16, 2015
Felicia
marked it as to-read

Oct 18, 2015
Rachel
added it

Jan 20, 2016
Kirstin
marked it as to-read

Feb 22, 2016
Lisa
marked it as to-read

Mar 24, 2016
Mandy
marked it as to-read

Jun 06, 2016
alana
marked it as to-read

Jun 29, 2016
Cherie
marked it as to-read


Jul 04, 2017
Karianne
marked it as to-read

Sep 19, 2020
gremlinkitten
marked it as to-read