The Upside of Unrequited

by Becky Albertalli

I don’t entirely understand how anyone gets a boyfriend. Or a girlfriend. It just seems like the most impossible odds. You have to have a crush on the exact right person at the exact right moment. And they have to like you back. A perfect alignment of feelings and circumstances. It’s almost unfathomable that it happens as often as it does.

You would matter. That’s the thing. I get into this weird place sometimes where I worry about that. I’ve never told anyone this—not my moms, not even Cassie—but that’s the thing I’m most afraid of. Not mattering. Existing in a world that doesn’t care who I am.

“Oh, and Lin-Manuel Miranda. That’s a major one.”

literally ME

So maybe Max is one of those guys who only wants to befriend girls he thinks are hot (see also: guys who wear fedoras) (see also: guys who say “NO FATTIEZ”).

He and Will are kinda assholes tho I hope they develop

I’ve had crushes on twenty-six people, twenty-five of whom are not Lin-Manuel Miranda.

I've had crushes on four people, three of whom are not Lin-Manuel Miranda.

cannot believe u would do something like this. i will never forgive u, God will never forgive u, u will probably burn in hell but no hard feelings!!

My mom to me:

They kind of perch there for five minutes, until Cassie says she has a book she needs to find for Mina. Funny how this task seems to require both of them. Even funnier how they come down half an hour later, with no book.

Funny

Hey! Sorry—this is Simon. Abby fell asleep. Want me to wake her up?

YES ITS THE PLATONIC LOML SIMON

“Okay, I get that you’re feeling really, really sorry for yourself,

Shut the HELL up

“Do I want to kiss you? Yes. Do I want to do more than kiss you? Yes. But am I willing to take it slow? Yes. And do I want to be your boyfriend?” His voice cracks slightly, but the word comes out emphatically. “Yes.” “Okay.” “Okay to what?” He actually looks nervous. “To all of it.”

AHHHHHHHHH