Thank you so much to the publisher, the author, and netgalley for sending me an e-ARC to read. I gave this book four stars.

This was a cute and fun read. A perfect fast paced YA contemporary. I’d definitely recommend for fans of the genre. The only thing that bothered me a little was the length, it seemed a little drawn out in the middle and I definitely think it could’ve been cut down and been just as good if not better.

I haven’t read a Becky Albertalli before but I found this one to be really sweet and a lovely story. I really think these two authors mesh well together and I loved this!

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

When the election comes up for a state representative, both Jamie Goldberg and Maya Rehman are volunteered, by their mam's, to work on canvassing and getting the message out there for the Democratic nominee. They used to be friendly when they were kids, but have grown apart, and their different family lives, religions, and experiences, have changed them. But, after getting over a few hiccups, they rediscover the bond between them, and soon find themselves enjoying being involved in the political process, but especially doing it together. Can being on a political circuit lead to love?

This was a book I didn't know what to expect. I've read one of Becky's previous books, but none of Aisha's, and being British, wasn't sure how much I would understand about the American political system. I am very interested in politics, and followed the 2020 US election, but other than a presidential election, I don't really know the voting system or process - it is quite different to how we elect MPs. I really enjoyed learning about the process, and seeing how teens can be involved in politics, even before they are eligible to vote. Also, the way both of the main character's religions and backgrounds were explored was really good. Because of when the election was scheduled, it's during Ramadan, and when the Goldbergs are planning Sophie's Bat Mitzvah. The world has changed a lot recently, especially since the 2016 election, and a lot of hard hitting topics were discussed in this book. I think it's a fantastic way for teens to start addressing the racism and prejudice they might face in real life, and see that there are small actions they can take to push back.

I got a few chapters in and just found that I wasn't enjoying it. Such a shame because I generally love Becky's work but this one just didn't captivate me.

I had different expectations for Yes No Maybe So, but I'm happy to say those expectations totally meant that I was more interested in this than I thought I would be. I ended up really liking this book. Yes No Maybe So was a funny, heartwarming story about two people with two very different and misunderstood religions, who are fighting their own silent battles and find all the ways in which they're related and how passionate they both are about fighting discrimination and religious freedom. I really liked their love story and how it slowly unfolded and the cast of people surrounding them.

I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with Becky Albertalli's books and I really didn't enjoy this one. I couldn't connect to the characters and found it a little juvenile for my tastes.

In the midst of a post-Brexit Britain and an ongoing Trump administration, I have to admit that it is hard not to question how such beacons of hostility even get a foot through the door - never mind a majority. This pandemic has shown time and time again that to save the collective (and address the realities of our society), we must stop prioritising the needs of the individual. This is something that also comes through loud and clear in Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed's newest collaboration. Set in the southern state of Georgia, Yes, No, Maybe So convincingly navigates the election campaign of a local state Democrat through the efforts of two plucky teenagers. Whilst also learning about one another's religious backgrounds, protagonists Jamie and Maya, illustrate how, no matter your age, your voice still matters - now more than ever!

I'd like to just highlight that this book has very noble intentions. Not only does it serve to inspire young people to take an interest in politics but it attempts to shed some light on the values and traditions that form other cultures. I, personally, found the insight into the rituals that surround bat mitzvahs and Ramadan incredibly interesting and I liked how these religious occasions also gave way to some beautiful character progressions. Of course, that's not to minimise these events and claim their only significance is to contribute to character (not at all!) but to acknowledge that these are sacred celebrations and, as such, they would realistically impact the decisions and emotions of those practising their faith. Whilst the romantic ending of this title felt far-fetched, I empathised entirely with the gut-wrenching disappointment that arose with an undesirable political outcome. The sad truth is that change is slow and I believe that this was realistically depicted.

I will not profess to speak on behalf of anyone else on the authenticity of this book's depiction of Islam or Judaism. I will, however, state that the whole ending felt a little whitewashed and sexist. Whilst I think it is exceptionally important to release discourse on different religions and cultures, I think that authors need to be careful of inadvertently doing a disservice to those they wish to empower. It is always better to tackle one issue thoroughly than too many superficially. Sadly, the fact of the matter is, this title was simply not intersectional enough. Sure, it depicted minority characters but they felt more for show than for substance. Maya at the beginning of the title has such strong religious values and then by the end she is willing to rebel against them for a cute boy she met a few weeks ago? I mean, c'mon! Similarly, though Jamie needs some brave moments in order to become the man he hopes to be, the whole process of this happening stank of white saviourism - not to mention sexist.

Consequently, this title's downfall was its inability to follow through with its progressive claims. It cemented itself too heavily around the classic YA tropes of years gone by. If you want to do something that's never been done, you have to do something that's never been done.

Love in a time of Politics - unusual YA setting and pairing.

Unusual maybe, but all the more refreshing for it.

A Jewish introvert who looks forward to volunteering for his local representative even less than speaking at his sister's Bat Mitzvah.
"I just stammer and blush and can barely form words. But they, better that than the alternative... which, as I now know, involves phlegm, a touch of vomit, and State Senator Mathews' black Oxford shoes."

A Muslim girl with only one friend (who's leaving for college) who's not happy about being 'made' to volunteer at the campaign office. Will anyone place a bet on what might happen?

I jest. While you may feel you know what's likely to occur, the unique setting for this YA story brings a fresh feel to the well-worn story of opposites attracting. Jamie brings us the Jewish family angle, his fear of speaking in public. A cute little sister (slightly underused). A powerhouse of a tech-friendly Grandma. Maya is key to the plot, with her Muslim background (working mother who puts on a headscarf to answer the door) and whose best (and only) friend is a year older and moving on in life as she prepares for college.

The political story, I really enjoyed. Talk of candidates and their agendas, the work of the volunteers, it was a second plot within the YA 'romance'/friendship one. I found Jamie and Maya a rather adorable and empathetic pairing, both real-feeling articulate young people.

It feels very up-to-date, with references to The Good Place (a new favourite of mine) and Donald Trump. There is a racist incident that feels a little too neatly tied-up, but does form part of the overall story of Islamophobia that the story hovers round.

Sweet romance story at the centre of a small political drama. And a great way to spark a little teenage interest in the elections they will very soon be allowed to take part in. And should care about - Jamie and Maya's actions here prove that.

Nothing unsuitable here for young teens, recommended for ages 12 and over.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing an advance reading copy.

Yes, No, Maybe So is a beautiful and hopeful story about first love and activism, not your usual combination but the authors have created a poignant political love story. Maya and Jamie might be the sweetest characters I have ever read about, they were honest and awkward teenagers who made as many mistakes as they did triumphs.

I've never read a novel that followed a political election so closely, and although this is fiction, it definitely gives readers a taste of true activism in America. The authors managed to include both the highs and the lows of campaigning, the weight of failure as well as the hopes of success and in particular the motivation to continue. It's so easy to give up on a project or hobby if it starts to look difficult or even impossible, persevering is always the hardest part of learning a new skill and Maya & Jamie journeyed this road together.

The story was rather slow, so this definitely won't appeal to fast-paced action fans, it's much more of a real life slow burn that tackles common teen problems such as friendship issues, divorce and first kisses. Becky Albertalli always manages to write contemporary YA fiction that is very modern and relevant to the time we're in, with Aisha Saeed's introduction of a Muslim character the story integrated a new and diverse narrative that focused on religious aspects such as the very real ban on hijab and how this affects Muslims.

I've read each of Becky Albertalli's novel and unfortunately as much as I loved Yes, No, Maybe So it didn't blow me away as much as her previous work. I haven't read either of Aisha Saeed's books so far, though they are on my TBR, but I could definitely see myself enjoying her writing style, she created a fierce heroine in Maya who wasn't afraid to voice her opinions. My only issue with the writing of this novel is the narrative of each character felt the same, there wasn't enough of Maya and Jamie's individual personalities on the page to differentiate between the chapters. If I didn't take notice of the named character at the beginning of the chapter it was almost impossible to guess who was the narrator, the characters felt too similar.

All in all, I really enjoyed Yes, No, Maybe So, it was a refreshingly simple love story based around a fascinating election campaign. I would love more political love stories and will definitely be moving Aisha Saeed's books higher up my TBR. A definite recommended read for any YA fan looking for a cute romance with added activism.

I was excited to read this book because I love everything by Becky Albertalli and this was my first Aisha Saeed read. I thought this book was just going to be a cute YA romance but this book was relevant, romantic and realistic. The romance took a back seat to the friendship and political aspects, which I loved.



I really loved how timely everything in this novel was from their pop culture references of The Office, rideshare services and Target to the political climate. I loved that these authors put their own experiences in this book and so it came out to be something that is incredibly true to life. Because of this the book isn't always sunshine and happiness so acre should be exercised before you pick this one up.



I liked the characters in this novel, their friendship with each other and their relationship with their families and I could see both of them reflected in pupils that I have taught over the years. I would loved to hear more from these characters, perhaps to find out where they go from here.



I think that personally I was looking for a little more romance in this book when I came to it but that was just my personal choice at the time and I perhaps would have preferred there to be a little more romance between other characters but I really did enjoy the political aspect of this storyline and would even have liked for that to be even more prevalent than it was.



Let's have more authors taking risks like this in terms of putting both politics and pop culture in their books and also highlighting friendships during pivotal times in our lives.

Another book I was really looking forward to and it held up!

I liked actually seeing a book involving politics especially in YA and the fact we see different religions in this as well.

It did take me a while to get into this as I personally found it slightly slower paced, but I did enjoy it overall!

*3.5 Stars*

This was okay. The characters were layered, the plot was well paced. The whole political background was interesting and entertaining. But I also found this pretty predictable. Also, some things annoyed me greatly. Both along the characters but also with american laws. I still flew through this book and was very entertained.

From bestselling authors Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed comes a beautiful and timely new novel about politics and first love. Starring an interracial romance, loveable and realistic characters and important discussions about race, religion and politics, this book will capture your whole heart.
So first of all, these characters. I would absolutely love to marry Jamie. Or Maya. They're both so awesome and so real and relatable! Jamie is sweet, if slightly awkward. He's deeply loving for his family and friends, he's smart and stubborn. It was awesome to see a proud Jewish boy front and centre. Jame is so real and relatable! He was flawed, for sure, but in the best way!
Maya was kickass and awesome. She was determined and brave, smart and kind. Similarly, it was absolutely great to see a Muslim girl starring! I actually learned some things about Muslim culture I didn't already know, which is always great. Maya was awesome and funny and fiercely intelligent.
Of course, these two TOGETHER. All their interactions warmed my heart, and their blossoming romance was ADORABLE. I swear I was just smiling broadly and all squishy inside near the end! I love how supportive of each other they are, and how clearly made for each other they are.
This book discusses so many important topics and I am HERE FOR IT! It's one of the only political-focused YA books I've ever read and I WANT MORE. It discusses antisemitism and islamophobia in a witty and realistic way from two #ownvoices authors, with humour and love. There are themes of feminism too, and activism runs the whole way through. This book also portrays the ignorance those not affected by certain issues and prejudices can have, without being bad people, which I LOVE because it's something I see around me every day. One of my favourite things and that resonated most with me, was the fragile hope the main characters had before the election, that thought that maybe this time, finally something better could happen, that maybe we finally stand a chance.
The writing style was awesome. It flows so easily and kept me hooked so I never got bored, without being too simplistic at all! Aisha and Becky portray their characters SO well through their prose, and their emotions fell right through the page into my HEART! I swear I was feeling anger and sadness and love and loss along with Jamie and Maya.
Yes No Maybe So is at once heartwarming and heart wrenching, a beautiful story of how activism can connect us, of hope and healing. It approaches important subjects with wit and care, in a humorous, adorable and deeply enjoyable story that will remind teenagers and adults alike to fight for change and love.

After reading a collection of 2 and 3 star books I was feeling the need for a book that I could just be swept away with the characters. Luckily for me this book came along at exactly the right moment.

Yes No Maybe So follows two teens who get coerced by their families into canvassing for the local election. The book then follows their growing friendship as well as their political involvement,

As a British person it was interesting to see the American politics side of the book. It is obvious where the authors sit on this situation. I was happy following both of the character perspectives and really liked the side characters, including the Instagramming gran!

Overall this book was lots of fun.

An adorable collaboration from Albertalli and Saeed, which is surely going to be a hit amongst the community. But sadly, I found it rather uninspiring and quite frankly, a bore to read.

Yes No Maybe So tells the story of teens Jamie and Maya who are volunteering to help out with a local Democrat's campaign. They door knock to try to get people's commitment to go out and vote.

The story is inspired by Becky and Aisha's own experiences dooknocking for local campaigns as well as their fears and the microagressions they both experience om a post-Trump election world, as Jewish and Muslim women.

I think this book did a great job of showing that it does still matter what you think even if you personally can't vote. And there are other ways you can make change in your community.

The love story was believable and rather sweet. There were some misunderstandings and things they kept from eachother, but it didn't become unbearable angst. And I felt that the conclusion was satisfying.

Yes No Maybe So - Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saheed

A Jew and a Muslim go out canvassing together... While that might sound like the beginning of a joke with a questionable punchline it is a good basic summery of the plot line of Yes No Maybe So, which is as delightful as you might expect for something with Becky Albertalli's name attached to it. Also weirdly, this is the second book about politically active teenagers canvassing for a Jewish candidate standing against racists. That wasn't intentional and if I'm honest. This was the better of the two.

YES
Jamie Goldberg is cool with volunteering for his local state senate candidate—as long as he’s behind the scenes. When it comes to speaking to strangers (or, let’s face it, speaking at all to almost anyone), Jamie’s a choke artist. There’s no way he’d ever knock on doors to ask people for their votes…until he meets Maya.
NO
Maya Rehman’s having the worst Ramadan ever. Her best friend is too busy to hang out, her summer trip is canceled, and now her parents are separating. Why her mother thinks the solution to her problems is political canvassing—with some awkward dude she hardly knows—is beyond her.
MAYBE SO
Going door to door isn’t exactly glamorous, but maybe it’s not the worst thing in the world. After all, the polls are getting closer—and so are Maya and Jamie. Mastering local activism is one thing. Navigating the cross-cultural romance of the century is another thing entirely.

If you take a look at the authors' note at the start of this book, you'll see that this was written as a response to the result of the US election in 2016 and the current political climate and the hostility that is being faced by certain communities thanks to the far right being validated by politicians. Its something that has been growing around the world and speaking as someone living in the UK, I've seen first hand how disgusting people are being now that it is somewhat fashionable to be a racist. This isn't all doom and gloom and politically motivated, though there is a running thread of the current political situation, at its heart this is a book about love, respect and understanding. Also, we should all know by now after Simon vs the Homosapien Agenda, Becky Albertalli is a master of cute romances. Like, serious Maya and Jamie's slow burn romance as they're out canvassing is so sweet I think its given me cavities.

Maya and Jamie are adorable. Like, so adorable. I can't even. They are our two narrators and they're both so well fleshed out that its easy to tell their narration apart. It's also wonderful to see them learn more about the religious and cultural aspects of their heritages. Maya is Muslim and the book starts during Ramadan, something that is completely natural for her, but for Jamie, though he knows it is happening, it isn't something that occurs to him. It was so nice being able to learn alongside the two of them and seeing the patience and respect that is in place when Maya reminds Jamie about how Ramadan works. Also, I love seeing teens that are politically woke. It's like my kryptonite. One of the beautiful things about this book is even if you aren't politically engaged yourself, you can still easily engage with this and I thoroughly recommend that you do.

Romance and politics aside, something else that this book does well is representing all the different types of love that we experience every day. The way these two authors have created friendships and family relationships is so good, like I am jealous of these people. Maya's family unit is falling apart, but the love and respect between her parents is still very much evident. Her friendship with her bestie also seems to be falling apart and seeing how this changes and evolves throughout the book gave me so many feels. And then there's Jamie's family, which consists of the kind of precocous little sister I've always wanted and an awesome grandmother, aka Instagramm, who is something of a social media star. His friendship group is awesome too. Like, I think groups of nerdy lads who are bffs and have group chats, play boardgames and hang out in the disney store together might be more of a kryptonite for me than teenagers who know what's going on in the world. Every single character in this book is so well rounded and fleshed out, even secondary ones like Shelby feel like real people that you could meet in every day life.

I've read Becky Albertalli before, so I kinda knew what to expect from her, but this is my first experience with Aisha Saheed and I am desperately looking for more of her books to read. Send me your recommendations!

Anyway, I've rambled on for long enough. This book is amazing, it's my second five star read of the year. Read this and Americans, take inspiration from Jamie and Maya and do what you can to make a difference. In the UK were stuck with a bumbling racist with bad hair for the next five years, but you guys have an election coming up, so do your thing.

I was sent this by netgalley back last year, but it's now out in the world so make sure to look out for it.

When I saw this on NetGalley I just had to read it! I went into it completely blind and was so surprised at the contents of this book! I never thought I'd be that into a book based around politics but it was so refreshing seeing Maya and Jamie, who can't yet vote yet, do all they can for their political party! It was fun reading about what they are doing politics wise but also see their personal lives and getting invested in them. I defintely reccomend this book!!

The combination of these two authors? Incredible.

The entire plot was very interesting and captivating. Seeing teenagers deal with family issues and reluctantly starting a friendship, but then connecting over common ground is something that I can't get enough of. Plus, the characters felt like real teenagers and most importantly, like real people.

On another note, sometimes the references to pop culture felt almost forced and they didn't always have to be included. Also, I get that some drama had to be added in, but some things felt slightly out of proportion. Finally, the story wrapped up way too quickly for my liking. So many things could have been elaborated even further and the fact that they weren't felt almost off.

Overall, I truly enjoyed reading this book and I'd highly recommend it to everyone!