Not my usual type of book, but enjoyed this mystery book abt a popular student


A month before graduating from Willowgrove Christian Academy, the principal’s perfect daughter, prom queen Shara Wheeler, kisses Chloe Green and vanishes.

On a furious hunt for answers, Chloe discovers she’s not the only one Shara kissed. There’s also Smith, Shara’s long-time sweetheart, and Rory, Shara’s bad-boy neighbour with a crush. Thrown into an unlikely alliance, Chloe, Smith and Rory follow Shara’s trail of annoyingly cryptic clues, and Chloe starts to suspect that there might be more to this small town – and to Shara – than she thought.

5⭐️

This was so fun and nothing like what I was expecting. The only way it could have been even fractionally better is if there was some actual murder, but I get that’s not what this story was supposed to be. It took me a little while to get into it but the more I read the more I loved it.

One of my fave quotes was:

“The problem has always been this: When I look at you, I taste lime, and I see light on water.”

Content warnings: homophobia, religious homophobia, misogyny, racism, religious trauma.

4.5 stars!!

After reading One Last Stop and dnf'ing half way through, I was extremely apprehensive about giving this book a whirl. So many people loved OLS and I felt like the odd one out. BUT, this book blew me away!! I am so glad I picked it up!

This book is an exemplary coming of age story that focuses deeply on the growth of queer communities in schools. It's about being young, queer, and afraid. It's about understanding that it's okay to not know who you are. It's about building a support network with those around you. It's about realising you're not not alone.

The no.1 strength in this book was without a doubt the characters. Chloe Green - the fierce and determined MC. Shara Wheeler - the mysterious and intriguing popular girl. And not to forget the many side characters - Smith, Rory, Georgia, Ash, etc etc. All of the characters just felt so REAL. They were all so likeable each in their own way and their flaws and imperfections just exasperated that even more. The way their unlikely friendships blossomed throughout their quest to look for Shara. It was so clear that these friendships never would've happened if they weren't all thrown into this situation together. The way they all helped eachother navigate their identities and their feelings together gave me so much joy.

As always, the rivals to lovers dynamic was just *chefs kiss* (my fave). Watching their romance slowly blossom was so entertaining and so beautifully constructed. Yeah, it was predictable for sure, but it's the way that it's executed that matters and boy oh boy, was this done extremely well.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Casey McQuiston, and Macmillan Childrens Books for an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed <i>Red, White and Royal Blue</i>, and absolutely adored <i>One Last Stop</i>, so I was really excited for something else by Casey McQuiston, and this did not disappoint.
As in their other novels, Casey's characters felt very real, and well thought out; each with believable story arcs, and all the many facets that make up real teenagers.

Chloe Green is 'forced' to go on a wild treasure hunt to find the most popular girl in school, Shara Wheeler, who kisses her and then disappears. There are many twists and turns as we follow Chloe finding notes Shara left for not only her, but also Smith (Shara's quarterback boyfriend), and Rory (Shara's neighbour who is 'totally not jealous' of Smith and Shara's relationship), but holding the story together is a common thread of self-discovery for every character.
Each queer experience was brilliantly handled and even though I didn't love every character, I didn't hate any of them either (Principal Wheeler aside!).

A perfect one for teenagers and adults alike, a book I wish I had been able to read 10 years ago!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Since moving to Alabama from California, Chloe Green has been at the top of her game. A perfect GPA, member of the theatre club and on course to be valedictorian. The only thing standing in her way is Shara Wheeler. Popular, prom Queen, dating the star of the football field, and the principles daughter too. She's Chloe's nemesis. Until Shara kisses Chloe and vanishes right before graduation, leaving behind a trail of pretty pink clues. As Chloe searches for Shara, she soon discovers she's not the only one Shara kissed, and she might not be as perfect as everyone thinks.

I absolutely flew through this in under a day, completely wrapped up in the initial mystery of where Shara had gone and why, but ultimately also just enjoying the ride. There were twists and turns galore, and even a few laugh out loud moments as Chloe becomes increasingly desperate and slightly obsessed with Shara and trying to beat her at her own game. Her journey with Rory and Smith is great too, with each of them discovering a little bit more about themselves as they start to open up with each other and becoming a found family. This is a classic case of no one being what they seem, and that no one should be taken at face value.

There's also diversity galore, and it was always dealt with sensitively and with respect and understanding and I loved it. I wish a book like this had been around when I was a young adult, first exploring my own identity. To also set this within Alabama also raised some timely and interesting discussions about small town communities in the bible belt, and what it means to be queer in a community that may make you feel like an outsider.

What made this work so well is these characters, but especially the relationship between Chloe and Shara. They're rivals, yet also two sides of the same coin. Ambitious, ruthless and sometimes even a little bit mean. They're both incredibly driven, and this often means that they clash as they both want to be the best. As a result their chemistry is off the charts. It's the self loathing, the obsessing and wanting to be cruel to each other that is just so, so good to read about and it really ramps up the sexual tension. I was waiting with baited breath for the show down between them, and it didn't disappoint.

If I had to nitpick, I would say that the pacing slowed a little bit too much in the middle and dragged out some scenes that I just wasn't interested in (the clues started to get a bit repetitive) however this didn't last too long, and I loved the direction the final third of the book went especially. This felt very fresh and comforting to read. I do love Casey McQuiston's writing, and I think this is her best novel to date.

Casey McQuiston’s previous two books have been some of Sophie’s absolute favorite reads of the last two years, so she was very excited to pick up I Kissed Shara Wheeler, the author’s first YA novel. Unfortunately, she didn’t enjoy this one nearly as much.

Chloe Green is a queer teen approaching the end of senior year at Willowgrove Christian Academy, providers of a “Christ-Centered Education” in Alabama. Since transferring from liberal California, Chloe has focused on academics with just one real goal: beating the principal’s perfect daughter Shara Wheeler to the title of valedictorian. But the day before prom, Shara found Chloe alone and kissed her then staged a disappearing act the very next night, minutes before being crowned prom queen – and Chloe has no idea why.

Now, Chloe is determined to find out where Shara Wheeler is and why she kissed her. She ropes in Shara’s quarterback boyfriend Smith and her next-door neighbor Rory (whom Shara also unexpectedly kissed) and soon the trio is led on a scavenger hunt across town following notes left by Shara on perfect pink stationery. Chloe wants to drag Shara back in time for finals so she can beat her fair and square, but as the hunt progresses, Chloe realizes there’s more to every player in this drama than she ever suspected.

The idea behind I Kissed Shara Wheeler was a great one, but Sophie just never got on with this book. Firstly, the setting felt too unbelievable. Willowgrove is such a fundamentalist school that it doesn’t even have an official prom (dancing is a sin) yet is apparently fine with the drama department throwing an annual gender-swapped performance of the senior play complete with the male students wearing dresses, makeup, and copious amounts of glitter. She also found the main characters largely unlikeable and was often confused by who was who from the overly large cast of supporting characters, few of whom were fleshed out enough to be memorable. Finally, Sophie felt that there was more chemistry between the dishtowels hanging in her kitchen than between the two main love interests.

Sophie was extremely disappointed by this one, but then not every book can be a hit no matter who the author is.

It took me a while to get into it and to see where things would go but I ended up really liking it. The mystery elements were so great, all the notes and clues had me as obsessed as Chloe, I needed to know where they lead and what they meant!
Chloe and Shara are so insufferable in a loving way. I saw someone compare them to Faberry in Glee and I so get the comparison! They’re both so determined and goal oriented and nothing and no one will stand in their way. Which isn’t always easy to deal with for their friends, but you definitely grow to love them. I very much wish I could have been has confident and fearless as them in high school!
My favourites though were the other two main characters, Smith and Rory are such sweethearts and I adore them so much! I loved the relationships between them and Chloe, from reluctant allies to friends. How they work together and get to know and love each other. I just love stories about friendships.
And everyone’s coming of age journey was so heartwarming. The second half of the book really had me tear up a few times and the ending made me very happy.

I didn't enjoy this book, and actually found it a bit of a slog to get through. I found the plot way too convoluted, with too many elements and characters being dropped in. The admissions scandal at the end was semi-unresolved, and I found the relationships all too convenient. Very unrealistic, and unlikable characters too. Always nice to have LGBTQI+ representation, and books about making your own community in places where there is rampant -phobia is essential, especially right now. But this one wasn't for me.

Like all other Casey McQuiston books I absolutely adored all the characters and the friend group. They’re just so wonderfully written and all so real and flawed and fantastic. Particularly Chloe, Rory and Smith as a group. It was so interesting to see the way that they were thrown together and how they interacted with each other when the only thing they had in common, at least at the start, was their relationships with Shara.

Chloe and Shara were both incredibly flawed, and honestly not that likeable for most of the book, but I really loved that element and the way we looked at how some people are almost ‘idolised’ and showing the way that we project expectations on others, that they can never really live up to! So good!

I loved the almost treasure hunt style of this story, waiting for each clue, seeing how it linked in with an important memory and trying to figure it out in the hope that it would lead them to Shara. It was really reminiscent of Paper Towns by John Green (which is reference in the book, so I think it was maybe inspired by that) but it’s a modern day, LGBTQ+ retelling (and fantastic!)

I loved the conversations around religion, particularly in small towns and looking at the incredible strong influence that this has on students, particularly regarding their identity and sexuality. It’s interesting that we get to experience all this through Chloe, who grew up in LA, with lesbian Mum’s, and so isn’t as influenced as all of this as some of the others, but we also see the way her friends struggle with this as people who have grown up in this town and never known anything else, and I think this is all dealt with really well!

This book was about friendships, self discovery and growing up, which I really enjoyed. (Plus there were a bunch of musical references which I always enjoy!) It’s definitely different from McQuiston’s other books, but definitely worth picking up!

After reading Red, White and Royal Blue I knew I was going to be a fan of Casey McQuiston's writing. I Kissed Shara Wheeler did not disappoint.

I loved the mystery and the amount of representation this book had! It was fast paced, fun and takes you on an adventure as to where Shara Wheeler has disappeared to and why she's leaving all these notes.

Whilst I did enjoy this book I did have trouble liking Shara and at times the main character Chloe, who becomes almost obsessed with finding Shara. I felt frustrated at times with Chloe but on the plus side I loved all the side characters, especially Rory and Smith!

Overall a good read and I'm looking forward to picking up more of McQuiston's books.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't get on with this one unfortunately. I struggled to connect with it from the outset and never finished it

I Kissed Shara Wheeler is the type of book I wish I had was a teen when I was struggling with my sexuality. So many people will find themselves represented in this book, and it was beautiful to read. Casey McQuiston writes beautifully with such stunning metaphors and pop-culture references, which I know aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I personally love.

Set in a small town in Alabama, here we follow Chloe, who is kissed, out of the blue, by the most popular girl in school; Shara Wheeler. After this kiss, Shara goes missing, and Chloe finds out that she is not the only person who Shara kissed running up to her disappearance.

“Red, White and Royal Blue” is one of the books that made me fall in love with reading romance, so I REALLY wanted to read this one, and I enjoyed it so, so much. If you enjoyed John Green growing up, you will love this book. It really reminds me of Looking For Alaska (if everyone in that novel was queer).

I would definitely recommend this one to anyone who loves romance with a little bit of a mystery!

“If there’s one thing Chloe knows, it’s the danger of being yourself at Willowgrove, in False Beach. […] You hide things that matter most before anyone can use them against you.”

Shara Wheeler disappears they day of her graduation and the only people looking for her are a gothic nerd, a cool musician and Shara’s jock boyfriend. And what do they have in common? Shara kissed them all. Together they will find the clues Shara has left behind in order to find her. But does Shara really want to be found?

In this book we meet Chloe, Rory and Smith, three teenagers with nothing in common besides from the fact that Shara kissed them and left clues for all of them. In their search they will create a unique friendship and perhaps even more than that.

Although the premise of this story didn’t surprise me and I didn’t find it very original, I did enjoy the development of the plot and the characters. At first it reminded me of the Pretty Little Liars or John Green books, but I think halfway through the book it becomes its own thing, the author finds a more defined tone and the plot becomes more surprising. However, I still think this is clearly a character-driven novel where the plot is secondary.

Regarding the characters I could say many things but I don’t want to spoil the book too much so I’ll just say that Chloe Green is everything I wish I had been at her age: a confident, badass and smart girl who can be reckless and messy at times but who also has a big heart.

Shara Wheeler on the other hand is a completely different matter. I have known people like Shara, people who would step on their own friends to get what they want. But that isn’t all there is to people like Shara. When you meet someone like her: an it girl, the prettiest, most popular girl in school, you often find they’re as lonely as you are or perhaps even more. It is a very complex and morally grey type of character and I think Casey McQuiston did a great job writing it.

One of the things I enjoyed about this book is the pop culture references. At one point it mentions Paper Towns by John Green and even suggest that it has drawn inspiration from it, and I right there and then I realized the novel doesn’t take itself too seriously and I started to enjoy it even more.

However, the thing I liked the most about this book wasn’t the novel itself but the thank you section where Casey McQuiston says they want every queer kid in Republican, conservative states to have the same representation in books straight kids have. Because queer kids also need romcoms and I really hope they turn this book into a Netflix movie or show because it would be amazing and Shara Wheeler would become the new Regina George.

Casey McQuiston writes books about queer joy: they’re comforting, lovable but also intriguing and thrilling; characters struggle to achieve certain things but they don’t end up unhappy, perhaps in a different place but they always end up satisfied and I will continue to support Casey and authors like them who are creating these wonderful novels where people like me (and the lost queer teenager I once was) can find a safe haven and a place to belong and dream.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5
Rep: (L)(G)(B)(T)

Holy moly! This book is so good! This is McQuiston's debut YA book and it exceeded my expectations. I loved everything about it from the relationships to the mystery asepct. I fell in love with everyone and now I just want more!!

My heart! <3

This book was just amazing! I absolutely adore Casey’s writing, and this was no exception. Their books just feel like a big old warm gay hug and that’s the best feeling tbh! Casey is 100% an autobuy author for me

It didn’t go in the direction I expected and I really enjoyed that, especially Rory and Smith’s characters at the very end!

The only things I can think to criticise is that there was a little bit less romance than I had hoped and at times the chase was a bit OTT and ridiculous (which was kind of the point?! But not necessarily my vibe!)

I loved the mixed media elements, it made the book feel more real, and also the slow slow burn of some of the relationships in this book was just super sweet :)

Chloe’s mom’s are the coolest and I want them in my life

4.5 stars

Thank you so so so so so much to Panmacmillan and NetGalley for my e-ARC of this book! You will never understand how grateful I am xxx

Words cannot describe how powerfully important I feel this novel is. Stories like I Kissed Shara Wheeler are why I love literature and work in film-making. Casey McQuiston weaves a coming of age story of acceptance and self-discovery with mystery and verve that is deeply engaging while being beautifully inclusive. I wish this novel had existed when I was inn high school as I know so many people will benefit from the honest, compassionate representation of its characters and be charmed by its fizzing sass. I couldn't put it down and sincerely hope someone adapts this asap because I'd love to see this on screen and spend more time with the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book.

WOW! What a story, about beautiful, honest, flawed characters who are truly beginning to find their own identities in a place that so often rejects them. I loved the friendships that formed throughout this book, and the journeys that the characters were forced to embark on. I also loved that each character had their own individual ends, bittersweet, happy, uncomfortable.

A great and very easy read.

Casey McQuiston’s third novel and YA debut is a delightfully over-the-top queer coming of age story with a mystery and romance plot.

When prom queen Shara Wheeler kisses Chloe Green and then disappears, Chloe sets out to find answers. What she finds is that she wasn’t the only one Shara kissed. There’s also Smith, her long-time boyfriend, and Rory, the school’s bad boy and Shara’s neighbour. The three work together, following a trail of cryptic clues left in pink envelopes, to get to the bottom of this mystery.

I Kissed Shara Wheeler strikes a great balance of addressing serious topics , while keeping a light and humorous tone overall. It was a brilliantly entertaining read and it addressed topics such as gender identity and homophobia in a sensitive manner. While I wasn’t a particular fan of Shara, I absolutely loved Smith, and really enjoyed reading about the friendship that developed between Chloe, Rory and Smith.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Books for the eARC.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston is a young-adult rom-com set in the 'Bible belt' of America. It all starts a month before graduation when Shara Wheeler kisses our protagonist Chloe and then disappears.

I LOVED this book! It was full of twists and turns and left me smiling like an idiot on more than one occasion. I fell in love with the characters and was rooting for them all the whole way through. I found the setting to be really interesting and it definitely gave me food for thought, especially coming from a very different environment to the one in the book.

I would definitely recommend this book; it's unlike anything I've read before (in the best way!), and I will definitely be reading more of McQuiston's books in the future.

Okay, so when I got approved for an arc of the latest Casey McQuiston book, I was, well, shocked at first but then deliriously happy. I couldn’t believe they said yes. Now, I had every intention of reading it pretty much straight away, but alas, I was foolish, and, even though I had lots of time, I didn’t. Then I started training for a new job (it was far more intensive than I ever imagined) that left me with no time at all to read, and so here I am, leaving my review a week after release day. *slaps forehead* And for that, I’m incredibly sorry.

The Review.

I didn't grow up in a religious household, and diversity was in my family and friendship groups however there was a distinct lack of Lgbt representation anywhere, so books like these are phenomenal. I know it’s said a lot, but I would have been the happiest kid if books like this were around when I was growing up. It’s heartwarming knowing that kids will feel seen and understood, and I don’t want to say ‘normal’ -because “normal” is a bs societal construct- but that there isn’t anything wrong with them, and they most certainly aren’t alone.

From the very beginning, I was laughing my butt off. Chloe *chefs kiss* funny, arrogant, confident and flawed. She is such a relatable character. I’m not saying that there weren’t times when she was obnoxious and full of herself, but that added to her realism. We can all be like Chloe, even if we don’t like to admit it.
Of course, no story is complete without a stellar supporting cast, and this book is no exception. I say supporting cast, but each character is pivotal to the growth of not only the story but of each other.
A seemingly simple yet perplexing chain of events brings together a bunch of misfits that form the best kind of friendship. A friendship based on acceptance, love and the freedom to finally be who they truly are.

I’m not American and have limited knowledge of ‘the bible-belt, but for me, Casey McQuiston represented different sides of religion in a respectful and ultimately truthful way.
Religion, like sexuality, is a complex subject and can be cast in an unfavourable light, but not here.

It goes without saying (although I’m about to lol) FAB-U-LOUS LGBTQ+ Rep.

I was worried, at one particular point, that the revelation was going to be THAT obvious and predictable, but nope, It turned out to be so much more.
IKSW is a hilarious and brilliant coming-of-age story with an important message.

I enjoyed RW&RB, but it wasn’t my favourite. However, after reading this, the next time I’m at my local Waterstones, I will be buying One Last Stop along with a physical copy of IKSW ♥️

Thank you so much, NetGalley & Macmillan Children’s Books, for a copy of the ebook, in return for an honest review.
And again, my sincerest apologies for not reading and reviewing sooner.