Okay but the way this book is kinda great and STOLE MY HEART?! Love to see it.

I didn't realise that I was flying through this book and so invested in all of these characters until like 50%, which by then it was too late and !!!!!

Becky Albertalli is such SO GOOD. I absolutely LOVE her writing style. I love how it's quick and fun, but not pretentious or cheesy. It's just easy and flows well. The dialogue was also great, and I was laughing out loud on many an occasion. And LOVED all the cute nicknames omg *insert heart eyes*

The teen representation is also SPOT ON and in my opinion, very accurate. They're not fake and they actually felt LIKE TEENAGERS. I find that in a lot of more recent YA contemporaries, teenagers are written as... less intelligent. Idk if I'm making much sense or if you understand what I mean. But they seem really off?? Anyways, I loved the portrayal of Gen Z teens in this book. Pop culture references included *wink wink*

The plot was... rather slow. Which I absolutely don't mind in contemporaries. I love just following along with the characters and having a fun time. The book is very easy to fly through as the chapters are all quite short. They also all end on a note that just makes you want to keep reading aka MY FAVE KIND.

I LITERALLY LOVED ALL THE CHARACTERS OMG!! They're just so easy to love and you become so invested. I loved the theatre aspect of the story and I literally felt like I was going to star in a musical. I also LOVED how easy the diversity was slipped in, there's a Black MC as well as a trans SC, amongst various other queer characters.

But what stands out most are THE RELATIONSHIPS. Specifically the platonic friendship between Kate and Andy. The two of them are just,,, goals. They're the bestest and I was so in love with them. I love how easy it was between them and how even though there's romance, the main relationship is the love between the two best friends. And though, there is a kind of a love triangle (LOVE that it's between a straight girl and a gay guy), it wasn't annoying in my opinion. Yes, it was complicated and messy, but I liked that. It was a huge plot element but it was never over-dramatic. Becky is a genius.

Did I mention the friendships?? Because they were great.

But also the romances were ADORABLE. I don't want to spoil anything for you but lemme just say I kinda loved Noah. Obviously loved literally all of the characters but also,,, Noah. And also the sibling relationship! Looovvveeed that and also very much related!!

This book was like... a warm hug. The book has so many layers that all just worked so well together. It deals with all of these kinds of relationships whilst also being about navigating teenagehood. I seriously related to Kate and her whole experience. Highly recommend this YA contemporary packed with diversity and wonderful relationships.

Kate and Anderson are best friends. They do everything together. They drive to school, are in the school play . . .I mean musical, together . . they are in every part of each others lives.

During summer theatre camp they both have a crush on the same chap. No big deal. That's happened before. In fact, Kate finds herself actively going off guys before when Anderson doesn't feel the same vibe.

But now, Matt (the camp crush)has turned up, out of the blue at their school. He's in some of the same classes as Anderson which sucks for Kate, but he's cast in the musical as Kate's lover - which sucks for Anderson.

So, although romance is a big part of this book, it's mainly about friendship. How Kate and Anderson are determined not to let their feelings for Matt come between their friendship.

Supporting characters are great. Ryan, Kates' big brother who is about to leave for college, Ryan and Kates parents who are divorced and share custody of both the children and the two dogs, Charles and Camilla.
Noah is a schoolfriend but also neighbour on the nights that Kate and Ryan are staying at their dads house.

It's so difficult to write more of this review without spoilers so I think I'm going to stop now but I really loved this book.

I don’t read contemporary YA very often (and recently unhauled a lot of YA contemporary books) but despite that I always find myself gravitating to a few select YA contemporary authors. Becky Albertalli is one of those authors.

Simon Vs. and Leah on the Offbeat are two of my favourite YA contemporaries of all time, and I have recently found myself obsessed with Love, Victor. So a new Albertalli read seemed like the perfect thing to pull me out of the book slump I have found myself in recently. And it worked!

Kate in Waiting is an emotional read at times, it deals with some difficult subjects and heart wrenching storylines, but at the same time, it’s also light-hearted and fun.

Becky knows how to write good characters, time and time again she’s blown me away with the people she creates. Every single character in all of her books has a purpose, personality and a backstory. Each one feels real. And I think that’s one of the reasons I’ll always keep coming back to her books, they have so much depth.

In this book, we follow Kate, and her best friend Anderson, who share everything, including their crushes. This just spelt out disaster to me. A weird best friend love triangle sounded like it would make for some awkward (in a good way) storylines. It’s a grab your popcorn kind of book and I loved it!

Although this book has romance too, (which is downright swoon-worthy, and yet, realistic) it’s mostly about platonic relationships, and I adore that. It’s about the love between friends, between siblings, between families, and yes, between romantic partners too, but it’s the platonic friendship that Kate and Andy share that won me over straight away. This book doesn’t go down the path of Naomi and Eli’s No Kiss List, and instead, the two characters are just so genuinely and platonically in love with each other, and so supportive of each other’s choices. And then there’s Kate’s relationship with her brother Ryan, that had me littering my kindle with notes saying ‘awwwww’.

Unlike Simon Vs. and the Creekwood books, although this book does have LGBTQ+ characters, and storylines, it’s not the whole focus of the book. Kate in Waiting is really diverse with Jewish representation, Black representation, LGBTQ+ characters and non-traditional families (Kate and Ryan’s parents are divorced and co-parenting).

I also want to mention that I love how this book handles stereotypes. A lot of YA films and books like to put people into categories, Nerds, Jocks, Drama Geeks etc. And this book handles it all so different from anything else I’ve read, and I feel like some of the messages here about stereotyping could be really important for younger readers.

Finally, on a fun note, I really want to just mention how I loved all the references in this book. It really felt like a book from 2021, with references to Animal Crossing and Hamilton, but there was also Kate’s love for Tangled (which is also one of my favourite Disney movies too!), and a small reference to Simon Vs. (which had me squealing when I spotted it). It was a true delight to read, and the perfect book to help me get over my slump.

SUMMARY

Becky knows how to write believable, loveable characters. I adored every moment of Kate’s story, her crushes, friendships and the adorable relationship she shares with her brother. Read this if you want something light, funny, and beautifully put together. This book is just a delight to read from start to finish.

CAWPILE: 9.50

Albertalli has once again written a novel that manages to capture the adolescent experience in all it's toe curling angst. The protagonist Kate has a clear voice and drives the narrative along with her supporting cast. The astute observation of teenage relationships and concerns ensures that the dialogue and scenarios feel authentic and un staged. YA readers will be able to relate to the characters experiences, the grudges, the pointless misunderstandings, the total devotion amongst friends and the constant labelling of 'type'. Although the conclusion may be a little too neat this in no way should detract from what is an absorbing read. The takeaway message is that there is much more to all of us then that which appears on the surface, labels can and should evolve and should never define us.. For anyone who remembers their first all encompassing friendship.

Anderson and Kate are best mates, they go through everything together and even have the same crushes. When one of their mutual crushes ends up joining their school it could end their friendship as they both want to be the one to date Matt, knowing it could leave the other heartbroken.

A light, heart warming ya read that took took me back with all the little groups you find in high school. The F-boys, theatre group etc.
I enjoyed the dynamics of the squad : Raina, brandie, Kate and Anderson are little theatre squad.

I raced through this read and managed it in a day, Becky has a way with words that keeps you entertained and reading. A highly enjoyable read.

(4.5 stars rounded up)

I enjoyed this book very, very much. Initially, I was worried that I would hate it because love triangles are my least favorite trope of all time. Fortunately, Becky Albertalli handled this in such a profoundly amazing way that it actually didn’t bother me at all.

The book focuses on two best friends, Kate and Anderson, who are both crushing on the same new guy in town. Kate and Anderson are well-known for having what people declare is a co-dependent relationship. They tell each other pretty much everything and are known for often harboring crushes for the same guy. This is just the first time that either of them might have a chance with him. It doesn’t take long before the unattainable communal crush turns into a “friendly” competition that threatens to ruin their friendship.

The reason this book worked so well is that Kate and Anderson care a lot about each other. They are both so focused on trying to make their friendship work during this love triangle that it’s pretty endearing. And while a lot of their plans to make the situation less awkward don’t always work out, their hearts are clearly in the right place. Rather than rooting on any romance to happen in the book, my mind was solely focused on just making sure these two best friends made it out together.

My favorite part about this book, however, was its focus on trying to show teenagers what a healthy relationship looks like, whether it be familial, platonic, or romantic. The book explores Kate’s relationships between every one of those categories, and I think there are many beautiful lessons that readers will be able to take away from it.

Side note: I’ve seen a few reviews complaining about the language of the book and it does use a lot of f-bombs in particular. As an American who has seen teenagers talk like this, I wasn’t at all bothered, but it could be jarring to people who aren’t used to it. I’ve also seen reviews calling the diversity of the cast a “diversity bingo”, but the characters in this book were basically exactly what the drama kids looked like at my high school, so it’s very realistic in my opinion. Ultimately I think it just all depends on what you’ve experienced in your own life. All in all, I’d definitely recommend this book.

Kate in Waiting – Becky Albertalli

Contrary to popular belief, best friends Kate Garfield and Anderson Walker are not codependent. Carpooling to and from theater rehearsals? Environmentally sound and efficient. Consulting each other on every single life decision? Basic good judgment. Pining for the same guys from afar? Shared crushes are more fun anyway.

But when Kate and Andy’s latest long-distance crush shows up at their school, everything goes off script. Matt Olsson is talented and sweet, and Kate likes him. She really likes him. The only problem? So does Anderson.

Turns out, communal crushes aren’t so fun when real feelings are involved. This one might even bring the curtains down on Kate and Anderson’s friendship.

Another auto read author for me is Becky Albertalli.
Becky Albertalli and her latest, Kate in Waiting definitely did not disappoint. It always feels like she is somehow able to enter my teenage brain and just be #relatable with everything she does. This one probably more so as I too was a theatre kid in school, so I just had all these amazing nostalgic vibes all the way through.

My only criticism though – why does every YA book in existence feels the need to name drop Lin Manuel Miranda at every turn? I get it, he’s awesome, but like is he why all the kids are into these days? That aside, Kate in Waiting was just a fun and endearing read and featured a great family dynamic and an amazing friendship group – two of my favourite things in literature.

Also, the romance? I was shipping it before Kate even realised what was happening. I kind of want a sequel just for more cuteness.

This contemporary story hooked me right from the start. I loved the way the chapters are set up as a theatre play (I’m always a fan of something a little bit different!). I never was one of the ‘theatre kids’ at school myself but I always admired them from afar, so reading about them here was super interesting for me – fascinating even!
The pacing in this novel is great, it suits the story very nicely, it just hooks you and makes you want to find out more! Even though it isn’t very unpredictable (I think this sort of book rarely is), that didn’t take away from my reading joy at all! I loved Becky Albertalli’s writing. It was quirky and light and funny, just the perfect fit for this book.

One of the things – if not THE thing – that I love most in books is when it contains a really great friendship, something that I value very highly in my life too. Becky Albertalli made such a friendship come to life on these pages, and I loved reading about Kate and Anderson’s friendship, and their big friend group too. I loved seeing their special bond develop over time, and how both characters dealt with the hurdles that were being thrown in front of them.

I have never read a book by Becky Albertalli before, but after having read Kate in Waiting, I know that I will have to change that! I found the writing style very easy to get into, and it was just like one of those books that you start and don’t want to put down again because it feels feel so natural to you, almost like reading about a close friend’s adventures.

The theatre and musical aspects were new to me, and I enjoyed reading about them immensely. I was in a way transported back to my teenage self, watching High School Musical (and obviously singing along to the catchy tunes!).

At times, I was finding myself wishing for more dialogue, because I think that’s what makes books and their characters really come to life. Some scenes could have done better with more interachtions between the characters I think, but that’s just my opinion. Furthermore, especially in the first half of the book, some teenage slang and ‘f-word’ combos were used a lot, something I didn’t really like much. I guess this is just the way young people talk these days though, so I’m a bit torn here. I prefer books without the use of these words, but I don’t think it was out of place here.

Other than that I was thoroughly enjoying myself while reading this book, and I think it’s a great read for both teenagers as well as adult readers who enjoy these kinds of stories. I can’t wait to finally read more books by the author! 4 stars from me!

Kate and Anderson’s friendship can be a bit intense for those who aren’t familiar with their close connection. After all, not many BFF’s have communal crushes, but their bond is about to be stretched to the limit when their dreamy summer idol comes back into their lives with a thundering crash. They both think they know their place in their world and the people that orbit it from a distance however this year then are about to learn that things aren’t quite what they seem.

I really enjoyed the characters of Kate & her friends and the way they interacted with one and another seemed genuine. You can tell they were created with love and affection.

With a focus on the theatre teens who like to shine in their own world away from the predictable nature of high school fakery, Albertalli has created another gem for readers who know & adore their tribe and just want to be themselves. If you are already a fan of Albertalli’s stories then you will love Kate in Waiting and if this is your first introduction to her witty, brilliant mind then prepare yourself as this novel will make you want to seek out her backlist post-haste!

My thoughts










Narrative and Plot













Kate in Waiting is one of those YA contemporary books, that wins your heart with its sweet charm and wit. There's a very thin line between being cool and obnoxious. Sometimes you see narrators go overboard and condescending with their humor and hate the character for it. But Kate narrates the story with such an ease and self deprecating manner that it is hard not to smile. If you want to lift your spirits , go for it.




The plot is not overtly complicated even if it handles delicate issues and all that awkwardness of the teenage days. You can see where it is going but that doesn't stop you from turning the pages.












Characters and Conflicts










The innocence of teenagers, on one hand , is quite relatable to a young adult but if you're an adult like me, it will bring back the nostalgia of teenage world and how every single thing in your life looked like a mountain to cross. It is the formative years told in a heart warming manner.


Kate reminded me of the early day Sophie Kinsella heroines with her humour and outlook. I mean it in a very positive way as in she didn't resemble any one character but could induce that warmth while reading.


Anderson on the other hand is a sweetheart. Matt too, but hey, Anderson is our boy. The emotional situations could have tipped towards dramatic but somehow there was a perfect balance of not going too cheesy.

Noah - I knew he was upto something. The sibling relationship is always a soft spot for me and Ryan made me wish once again I had a brother , although my sister does count as one affectionate sibling.












Conclusion













I went into this with the least of expectations. All I knew was this was a YA love triangle situation. But the moment I started it , I knew I was going to love this one. And maybe save it to pick me up on a rainy day.

If you're on board with reading YA fiction and haven't read this yet, you are missing out. Go figure!

This book was such a lovely read. The story follows the relationship between Anderson and Kate and how they navigate their mutual feelings towards Matt, who they both met at summer camp. When Matt turns up at their school things get a little complicated!
I found it was easy to draw similarities between Kate in Waiting and High School Musical due to the different factions and the high school setting, but it is a more diverse coming of age story where friendship wins the day.

Overall a book I would recommend!

Thoroughly enjoyable read - hence the rating. It’s not without its flaws but I read it in a day and enjoyed *almost* every moment of it.

The term “f-boy” is one I generally hate and I found it over used in the narrative but I was won over by the characters, as I always am in Becky’s books.

The romance was very obvious, and inevitable from the moment the character was introduced but I enjoyed their dynamic. The sibling relationship was also lovely to see!

Kate in Waiting is a charming, hilarious, and fun read. When I sat down last Sunday to read this book, I never expected to laugh so much while reading it. This book grew on me as I kept flipping the pages. If there’s something I look for in YA stories, it’s a combination of a good plot, characters, representation, and development. This book was a mix of everything I was looking for. As far as teen romances go, this had its charm splashed with witty characters and strong friendship goals. I mean, Anderson and Kate have a portmanteau. If that’s not adorable, I don’t know what else is! To all those dying to read a YA romance this summer with an animated plot and characters, Kate in Waiting is the perfect book.


(All opinions are my own, unbiased and honest. Thanks to Penguin UK, The Write Reads team, NetGalley, and the author for this eARC.)

I had so much fun reading this book!

As someone who spent the better part of her high school career as a certifiable musical theatre geek, this book felt so nostalgic to me, in the best way. There’s just something so magical about putting on a high school musical, and Albertalli really captured that feeling in this novel. It made me long for my old musical days.

(Side note: as a Jewish reader I found Albertalli’s inclusion of a Jewish main character really enjoyable. It was just so comforting to read all the familiar references to Cantors and Hebrew School, etc. And it was something I never knew I was longing for in a book before now?)

The heart of this novel – and what I think makes Kate in Waiting so great – is the relationships between the characters. I loved them all honestly; Kate and Anderson, Kate and Ryan, the “squad,” even Matt.

I really appreciated how even though this was a romance, the main relationship at play, at all times, was the friendship between Kate and Anderson. It was really nice to see these characters place equal, if not more, importance on their platonic relationships than they did their romantic ones. So often healthy, long-lasting friendships get swept under the rug in romance novels and books about high schoolers in favour of drama and a focus on the love interest. But never once in this novel was Anderson and Kate’s relationship put on the back-burner.

I also loved Kate’s relationship with her older brother, Ryan. It just felt so authentic. And again, sibling relationships can be such a hit or miss in romance novels, but I liked that their’s was included here. It helped round out both of them as characters.

ALSO – I won’t go into details about the romance because of spoilers(!), but it was very sweet and heartwarming? It had my chest all tight and my stomach all fluttery more than once.

The only things stopping me from giving this book that final star was some of the language choices and a bit of conflict between the characters. Like I’ve seen mentioned by others, there was an excessive use of the term ‘fuckboy.’ Swearing in books doesn’t bother me, but this just felt like A Lot at a certain point. There was also a fair amount of miscommunication for the sole sake of drama, which isn’t my favorite literary device and felt a little unnecessary.

Besides that however, this book was such an all around ringer for me. What a fun, lighthearted, yet emotional read!

Thank you to The Write Reads Tours and the publisher, Penguin Random House Children’s UK, for providing me with an e-ARC of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

I was given a copy of Kate in Waiting in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Penguin Random House Children’s UK and Becky Albertalli.

I absolutely devoured this book. Before picking up Kate in Waiting it took me almost two weeks to finish the last book I read, that did not happen here. I finished this book in under 24 hours and I honestly could not put it down.

The biggest reason for this was definitely the short chapters. I felt like I was making constant progress through the book and because they were so short I kept saying “I’ll just read one more” and before I knew it I was done.

As someone who is a theatre lover that also has experience with high school productions I found myself reliving my one experiences. Which I loved. Doing the musical at school was always my favorite part of the year and I loved that this is what Kate in Waiting was about.

Kate was a great main character who was aware of her flaws and would own up to any bad actions. It’s not often that a teenaged character will be so self-aware and will know when they have been a bad friend or need to own up to their actions, but Kate handled all of this well.

The idea of the ‘communal crush’ was really fun and when things started to become serious with this it made for really interesting and intense moments. The friendship and jealously side of the ‘crush’ was handled extremely well and I was happy to see that this was not a cliche straight girl and gay boy best friend type story.

At times the over-use of the term ‘f-boy’ was a little too much, however, it was definitely funny most of the time. I usually dislike the whole ‘we’re not like other people’ type of trope, but it definitely worked here. The inside jokes between Kate and her friends were hilarious and I really wish I had a friend group just like it.

Overall there was a great representation of all genders and orientations in Kate in Waiting and sensitive issues were handled extremely well. The story has its moments of highs and lows throughout, but as a whole, it is extremely uplifting. If you are a fan of musical theatre/have contributed to a school production yourself then you will love Kate in Waiting.

I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and publisher Penguin Random House Children’s UK in exchange for an honest review.

This book was an absolute delight from start to finish. Kate in Waiting is the story of Kate and her best friend Anderson. For years they have joked about their communal crushes, each of them never liking someone unless the other one does. When their summer camp crush starts attending their school though, things become a little more complicated as both Kate and Anderson fall hard for him. Is it possible to salvage a friendship when both you and your best friend want the same person? And will Matt fall for either of them?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I have actually been in a very similar situation in my real life as described by the plot of this book, and I am deeply impressed by the nuance captured here. I feel like a lot YA books write about friendships and jealousy but they tend to take rather a dramatic or antagonistic view of it. Here, you really believe that Kate and Anderson are best friends and that their friendship has the closeness that means they don't just instantly start fighting with each other. It's that weird blend of friendship, loyalty, jealousy and competition which is perfectly captured here, and it makes for a really interesting and insightful book.

Speaking of the characters, I adored them all. Kate and her friends tend to overuse the term 'f-boys' and there are a few too many pop culture references near the start of this book, but both of those things stopped bothering me as I got into the story. Kate herself is very likeable and relatable, Anderson is a pure joy to read about and I similarly liked Noah and Ryan. Everyone felt like a real person and they were people I wanted to read about and spend time with.

Overall, Kate in Waiting is a perfect example of how to write a YA contemporary book in my eyes. The plot is kept simple but is interesting enough to carry the book, and the characters help drive that plot and are what makes it really stand out. The pacing was spot-on and if you're looking for a cute, fun book which also explores some complex emotions not usually discussed in YA, you can't go wrong here.

Overall Rating: 4.5/5 stars

So, I have been excited to say the least for Kate in Waiting and let me tell you, Becky Albertalli knew what she was doing making this book set around theatre considering its been one of the biggest fandoms these past couple of years and this book features some references from different musicals, which and lover of the stage will recognise.

Each chapter of the book is separated into very short acts, which really sold the whole aspect. We don’t see unnecessary filler scenes, just the ones that make the most impact to the audience, the ones most vital to character development!

Then there is the main character- Kate- and her best friend Anderson. I loved the relationship between these two, knowing each other so well, their habits, the inside jokes, and the constant messaging, so realistic that we can all relate to them. Then there is the communal crush which is the major plotline of the book. Both Kate and Anderson like Matt, and whilst before, the communal crushes were always fun, they weren’t real in the way they took the chance to pursue a guy. But this time it is real and oh it is everything as a reader. The development that Kate thinks she and Matt has over the course of the novel, the pain of two friends wanting the best and not wanting to hurt one another. But they both have a want to pursue this crush and we really see their friendship tested in so many ways!

This is such a bittersweet book that will tug on your heartstrings along with not wanting to put this book down at all.

If you love theatre, romantic drama or a very quick contemporary read then this is perfect for you!

I've heard such good things about Becky Albertalli books but this is actually the first I've read but it certainly won't be the last!

Kate in waiting was a combination of humour, teen angst and a good dollop of the awws!

Now I'm probably not the age range that this book is aimed at, but it didn't stop me from enjoying every minute of it!

The story follows sixteen-year-old Kate and her best friend Anderson, who share everything, even crushes. It's all fun until their summer crush Matt turns up at their school and they both fall for him hard. Their friendship comes into question all to the backdrop of their annual play.

What I loved about this book was how real the characters felt, their conversations, their friendships and even the language they used. Anderson and Kate's friendship was the kind that you want, that they know you so well it's like they can read your mind.

Reading this made me feel so nostalgic, it reminded me so much of films and TV from my own teenage years (except with a hell of a lot more inclusivity!). I also loved the theatre theme, even though I probably only got about fifty percent of the references.

I would have liked to have seen a bit more of Kate and Anderson's other friends, Brandie and Raina. I would definitely be up for reading a future book featuring those two!

Kate In Waiting is a charming read of love and friendship that honestly had me smiling throughout.

I loved this - not much happens but it's a cute, sweet, high school slice of life. I liked Kate and Anderson, and Matt was a of courses a dreamboat. I liked Noah and the fuckboys too, haha!

Being totally upfront, I absolutely adored this book. I cannot remember the last time I fell in love with a book so hard and so fast, which is absolutely appropriate considering the way Kate and her best friend Andy go through crushes. Partway through the book I even went and watched a certain musical – one I’d never even heard of before – because I really needed to see it!

Becky Albertalli is a fantastic writer, who really gets into the skin of her characters. She clearly cares about them, and it comes through so well in her writing. This book even gave me flashbacks to my own high school days. Do you ever really forget your crushes? The people who make your heart flutter just by walking past you in a hallway, or the whole reason you go watch the school musical in the first place.

Kate Garfield and Anderson Walker are best friends. Absolutely and completely, the kind who would never let anyone come between them. They even have communal crushes, which normally involves meeting some cute guy at camp and pining over him on their return to school. But when their latest crush turns up at their school, things become more difficult, as both Kate’s and Andy’s feelings for Matt Olsson deepen.

Here’s the thing – I have always loved musicals. And my high school was well known for the big productions they put on yearly. I was in one of them once, but I still managed to go see the musicals every year and, yep, my first big high school crush was one of the guys who was always in them. (Sidenote: the one I was in, I said at the start of Year 12 when asked if I’d be auditioning, “The only one I’d audition for is if they did We Will Rock You.” As if they ever would. Flash forward a few weeks later to the announcement of that year’s musical and…yep, my friends gave me pointed, well now you have to kind of looks.)

I was always kind of outside the “main” theatre kids (lack of singing ability) but I still have fond memories not just of the musical, but a play production too. When Kate talks of the comradery felt when putting on a production, the way you interact, trust each other, form friendships even if they don’t last past the final night, I understood it. And I understood the pain both Andy and Kate felt, as they try to work out which of them Matt might like more.

The relationship between them is so wonderful to see, along with all the confusion and uncertainty that comes with being a teenager, the fear of losing your friends. Another element I adored was the relationship Kate had with her brother. Ryan doesn’t exactly move in the same crowds as her, and though they have grown apart, it’s easy to see how close they once were, and how Kate still looks up to him, even if she doesn’t quite admit that to herself.

I love books like this, where teens just get to be teens, wrestle with the influx of hormones and the way everything feels both end of the world and start of the world at that age. I may be a good few years outside this age range, but this book reminded me so completely of what being a teenager meant. It’s adorable and fluffy but there are still edge of your seat and tear-inducing moments. This one comes highly recommended from me.

Thank you to Penguin for providing me a copy of this book via NetGalley.