Everything about this book seemed perfect for me—which is why I’m so disappointed. I’m not going to be able to finish this book. I tried, but the writing felt so stilted to me and I was really struggling. I liked the concept, but I just really felt that it fell short. It also didn’t read like a teenage voice.

I also am very uncomfortable when stories involve a character forcing or pressuring another character to come out or be more visibly queer....I really don’t like it.

This was really cute! I liked the characters and I enjoyed the plot! It did a great job of showing what high school is like with all the awkwardness and figuring out who you are.

There's a lot going on here. The book has the title and description to wow the reader, to entice us in with very high expectations for the perfect book to break us out of a slump. I wanted so badly to be as swept away by this book that I KNOW this author can do. But that didn't happen. There was just...too much going on. At times, it felt like the author was trying to hit a certain number of SEO topics within the narrative, and that's where she lost me. But I'll still look for this author's other books and future books because she writes characters well. I liked it, didn't love it, but I see a lot in this author. I'll catch the next one.

I was hoping for more from this book and kind of felt disappointed overall. While it was fun at parts, I mostly found myself feeling frustrated at Alison’s behavior and her refusal to communicate with people. While I generally cut characters in YA novels some slack for being immature (they are high schoolers after all) some of this felt like a bit too much even for me.

More so than that, my biggest problems with this book came from what had me excited in the first place - the LGBT relationships. While the characters are diverse and there is a range of sexualities represented, there was a lot of focus on characters feeling like they have to come out at someone else’s pace other than their own. Also, isn’t it time to get rid of the trope where the closeted gay kid overcompensates with hyper masculinity?

I appreciate the opportunity given to me by both NetGalley and the publisher for access to the eARC of this text. I think it will be a fun read for younger high school students, but it just was not the text for me.

This is a novel set in a high school as the primary protagonist, Allison, is suddenly burdened with being the producer for the school play. The novel follows the course of the play through the school year. Allison is a lesbian who is out to a select few people at the start of the play.

I wasn’t quite sure how to review this one - but then I read an article the author wrote about coming out at 39 through the writing of this book ( https://mamanloupsden.com/2020/08/21/the-year-shakespeare-ruined-my-life/ ). This helped me understand parts of the book that were hard for me.

I felt like Allison, a very scholastically driven teenager, had a lot of internalized homophobia that she was trying to address but I actually didn’t feel like it ever was addressed. At one point, when discussing how awesome her parents are, Allison says they told her they’ll love her no matter what. In my opinion, this is not true acceptance because they are saying that there is something that makes them hesitate, there is a big negative “what”, but they love her despite this terrible “what”. This is just one small example. I also think there was oversimplification in the coming out of another character. Additionally, the pressure throughout the book being placed on everyone to come 100% out to everyone feels borderline unsafe. There are situations where someone can’t come out, especially in high school, due to unsafe home situations.

I now understand, through the authors article linked to above, that she has struggled with internalized bi- and homophobia and found her way out of it through writing this book. In my critiques above I want to point out, I am not criticizing the authors journey in anyway, and I’m glad she found this process so freeing. Coming out is hard at any age. And it is great that writing this novel helped Jansen.

Aside from the above, I felt the characters fell a little bit flat. I felt like Allison came off as a very self absorbed person who wasn’t all that kind to her friends. Maybe it was just the overplayed drama of the whole thing.

Thanks so much to the publisher and netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I was really excited to read this, but then just found it kind of disappointing. Everyone just seemed really stereotypical with no depth or characterization. I started to get annoyed by the main character too. So, a quick read with some cute parts, but you could probably find much better YA rom coms to pass the time.

In her quest to become valedictorian, Alison agrees to produce the school production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, along with the many disasters that come with it.

Not gonna lie, this was rough. The experience of reading this book was endlessly frustrating, with so many tiny annoyances that I started getting angry about every little thing. The characters didn’t act or talk like real people, let alone real teenagers, and the main character had a serious case of not-like-the-other-girls syndrome.

The most frustrating part of reading this, though, was that there was no life to it. There was no depth, nothing happening underneath the surface, no reason for me to care what was going on. Things just happened, like they were plot points to check off a list, and I could not bring myself to care about any of it.

Not to mention there were a lot of weird messages about coming out, with characters guilt tripping each other, saying that you can’t really be in a relationship if you’re not out, which was uncomfortable. Also, Shakespeare had nothing to do with anything. The play could have been replaced with literally anything else and nothing would have changed.

DNF. Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for this early copy! I decided to not keep reading this one, it was not for me. Thanks!

This was such a fun book! I loved the issues brought up and I loved the pacing. It was a fun take on a Shakespeare story!

Thank you, NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this novel! It was a nice, easy and fun read!

First of all, I'm all about LGBT representation, especially when it comes to books for young readers. I'm not sure I would describe this as a teen/YA book. It read more like a middle grade/upper middle grade to me but there's nothing wrong with that.

There was not a single character (except the main one, sadly), whom I didn't like. They were fun and felt real, I would have loved to learn more about them. I loved to see them interact and come together.

In the book, you are following Alison, a young girl, who is all about achieving big things and in order to get them, she agrees to co-produce a school play. Nothing, literally nothing, goes as easy as she would like, whether it is in regards to the play or her personal life and you are watching her deal with one problem after another. Some problems could have been easily prevented, some she couldn't really do much about. Either way, it seemed like I was just reading to her complaints and whining more often than not, which I honestly found a little bit annoying.

I was a little bit disappointed with how little of the f/f relationship was explored, but there was also a different queer relationship I did not see coming, which was nice.

I went into this thinking that i would love this but this just didn't work for me. The premise was interesting but i didn't Allison that much and just felt that as a character she needed to be rewritten to be less irritating overall. The plot could have been explored better and the book didn't really deliver on the queer element even though it was promised.

As a self-confessed theater nerd, I never want to miss opportunities like this, where I am exposed to stories revolving around another thing that I love. Just by the title alone, I knew that this read will be about organizing a play, and with that alone, I was sold.

In this story, we dive into the life of Alison. In her quest to reach valedictorian, she ended becoming the producer for her school’s presentation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream – without having any prior experience! I loved this concept, as I, too, had to produce and direct Romeo & Juliet in 10th grade.

This book is a truly fun read – and if you’re looking for something light and fluffy this is the read for you. The author does not bombard their readers with heavy drama and just normal teenage problems like friendship and crushes.

It also touches the story of being a teen lesbian. She is out to people close to her but not to the entire school. And now that she is crushing on someone, she is contemplating the concept of being “out” and labeling her sexuality.

Another thing I have to admit, she can be frustrating at times with the decisions that she makes. But at the end of the day, I had to credit it to the fact that she is still young – and we all did stuff that we regret at that age, too.

My concern in this story is that it seems to follow this formula on creating characters, so it felt like they are just flat and cliche. The books is also slower in pacing and I think that it could’ve given a better story if the F/F romance was allowed to flourish a little early on.

Final Thoughts: For Lovers of Fluff

Overall, this is a quick and fun read perfect for the younger YA audience and anyone looking to have a break from heavy reads.

My Book Rating Breakdown

Blurb: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Main Character:🌟🌟🌟☆☆
Significant Other: 🌟🌟🌟☆☆
Support Characters:🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟☆
Writing Style:🌟🌟🌟☆☆
Character Development:🌟🌟🌟🌟☆
Romance: 🌟🌟🌟☆☆
Pacing: 🌟🌟🌟☆☆
Ending: 🌟🌟🌟☆☆
Unputdownability: 🌟🌟🌟☆☆
Book Cover:🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Final Rating: 🌟🌟🌟 (3.5/5)

I really liked this book! The jokes were fun, the writing as well and I adored the characters!
The plot was also very entertaining and the awkward moments were perfection.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I had a lot of mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I absolutely flew through it. On the other hand, it wasn't actually . . . good? Which isn't even to say I don't recommend it—it's an over-the-top, fluffy, vaguely trashy sapphic read, and if that's what you go into it expecting I doubt you'll be disappointed. The fact is, whatever else you say about it, it's fun.

I don't have a lot of coherent thoughts about this book, so let's just dive into a list of things now:

- the writing is . . . truly horrible? Maybe I'm being a bit harsh (and it does get better as the book goes on), but I almost DNFd this within like three chapters because I was so deeply not here for it. It was just . . . sort of really juvenile and rough, like something you'd find in a high school creative writing assignment from someone who didn't really want to be doing this. I do understand that's an ARC, and it's possible that the final copy is written better, but . . . it didn't feel like the base was there—this wasn't just rough from lack of polishing, I don't think.

- the characters are pretty well written, and I liked the main cast. I wouldn't say they were super spectacular characters, or that I'll think about them constantly, but . . . I liked them. I will say though, that I thought these decent-but-not-amazing characters carried the book and . . . I think that tells you all you need to know.

- I appreciated aspects of the rep, however I had an issue with the way this book discussed outness. I didn't like the way it was handled. Every queer character in this book who wasn't fully out was constantly pressured to come out, to be more out—and worse than that, it was never called out. I would love to read a book that examines the pressure to be more out than you're ready to be, however this book was definitely not that book.

- theatre! I may have found a few details a little . . . over-exaggerated . . . but overall I really loved the depiction of theatre in this book. I am weak for a theatre book, and this book delivered. Reading about theatre feels like a warm hug, and I really loved seeing that in here

- also though there was one scene, and it was just like a page or two but . . . I don't think it's okay for the white character to wish her friend, aka the token poc, would be more tactful when calling out cultural appropriation. this book clearly tried to make some points, but then it did things like this and made them fall flat

Overall? This was okay. I didn't love it, I don't exactly recommend it, but I'm going to say oh don't read it either. It was decent, fun, but ultimately deeply forgettable.

I loved the main character. She's a classic nerd, but without all those nerdy girl stereotype of many ya. Alison is determined and self-centered, but her differential is that she is super influential. I'm so tired of nerdy girls always being easily manipulated.

The points that for me were negative was the wrong way that Charlotte describes pansexuality. She said "For me, it means I’m attracted to the person, not to their gender or sex.” As a pansexual girl, I'm really sick of this stereotype. I think a little more research would have avoided this disservice.

Another point that bothered me is was Ben's come out. In the few scenes in which this was shown, I had the feeling that Ben only come out because Zach broke up with him. Come out should be something natural, something you should be ready for. It's a really complicated situation, because it's not fair with Zach being with someone closed, but it's also not nice that Ben has to come out without being ready. And I don't think he was ready, all that toxic masculinity doesn't go away with a advice on the bathroom floor. Although Ben is a side character I think this question should have been better developed.

In general I liked the story, it's fun, light and so sweet. If you liked Booksmart you will love it.

My rating: 5/5

This was a really cute book and I was invested in finding out if she ended up with Charlotte through the whole book. Really fun to read as someone who did tech theatre in high school and university (and still today haha). There were a few Harry Potter mentions which I wish weren't there since JKR is a terf. Otherwise good book!

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately I was not the target audience for this book. It’s more middle school than young adult.

I postponed reading The Year Shakespeare Ruined My Life for months, but as the publication date approached, I had no choice but to read the book. It took me around a week to get through, but if it weren't for school work, I would have finished it in a matter of hours!

The best thing about this book was by far, the plot and the course of actions. This book was one of the lightest novels I have ever read this year, and I enjoyed that. The actions few by, but at the same time, I have never found myself wondering how I got to a certain point into the book. Every chapter had a well-defined starting point and a well-defined endpoint. Each of the chapters ended up where they were supposed to end. The reason why I put so much accent on this thing is that I've read an enormous number of novels lately, and even the most well-known ones had problems with this. All I have to say is that this lady knows how to write a grabbing novel!

All of the characters had something to do with the plot, and in the end, all of them helped Alison learn a valuable lesson. There were some I liked more than others, but that isn't something out of the ordinary. Alison was the main character, and what I liked the most about her, was the fact that she was an LGBTQAI representant herself. Many novels that I've read before do not have queer characters as protagonists, and this book was a pleasant change. We get to see the story through her eyes, and I think this gave the book a more playful tone. Becca and Jack are Alison's best friends. They will be a major plot point around the first part of the book, and that is all I have to say. Charlotte was the love interest of Alison, and what I liked the most about her character is that she was the complete opposite of Alison. While she was quite open about her sexuality and very laid back, Alison was always thinking about school, how to become a valedictorian and a bit shy. Annie was Alison's sister, and I have to say, their dynamic is exactly like the relationship I have with my sister.

I have been amazed by how diverse this book has been. I mentioned before that the protagonist was a lesbian, but the author also brought to light a pansexual somebody and a gay relationship. Also, the author talked about cultural appropriation and gender as a social construct. I wish she put a lot more accent on these things, as they are huge problems in today's society, but it is still good that she mentioned them. I'm thinking of writing some articles around these subjects, so if you want to see them, comment below.

There is only one problem I had with this book. I wish it had been longer. I think that if the novel had around 400 pages instead of 300, the author would have had more time to develop Alison as a character. She was great, but at the same time, by the end of the novel, you wish you had more of her. The book had the sweetest ending, but you wish there was more. Also, I feel like the ending was a bit rushed, and I do wish there was a lot more description regarding the opening night.

Overall, the book was exactly what I needed! It was a light, high school romance, all wrapped up in a diverse read which dealt on a smaller scale with interesting subjects as gender and cultural appropriation. I would highly recommend it for high schoolers and people aged 13 and up. Also, this novel is good for adults who are quite nostalgic about their teenage years.

A fun fall read great for fans of theatrical and Shakespearean themes, "The Year Shakespeare Ruined My Life" is a quirky romance and YA contemporary with LGBT rep, fun friendship dynamics, and plenty of high school high jinks. 

When Alison decides to produce “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in an attempt to get valedictorian, she never thought it would be so hard. But as she crushes on the lead actress, butts heads with her lifelong nemesis, tries to play matchmaker to her best friends, and finds herself having more trouble than she expected getting together a good crew, the show begins to seem like one Ye Olde disaster after another.

With a heavy dose of humor and sarcasm, a flawed but relatable over-achiever main character, and lots of high school drama that doesn't take itself too seriously, "The Year Shakespeare Ruined my Life" is a great pick for rom-com lovers. A quick read with short and compelling chapters, the story has plenty of drama to keep things moving forward, and is interesting  and fast-paced enough that it can be hard to put down.  

But with an exposition-heavy beginning and the rest of the book feels rushed, the pacing of the book is overall off and the romantic tension is lost in the many other events which spring up too close together, as if the author is afraid of readers getting bored or running out of time to fit all the ideas in.

Although cute and fun, and somewhat relatable to anyone who has lived through the horrors of hell week of a high school production, the overall story doesn’t add much to the genre that other books haven’t done before and isn’t particularly original in terms of characters or plot, sometimes even sliding into stereotype territory. And, you’ll have to suspend your belief in some areas in order to stomach all the absurdities of Alison’s life, which get slightly more and more far-fetched as the story goes on.

Still, an enjoyable read for those looking for a story about friendship and high school drama with a little bit of female-female romance. I rated "The Year Shakespeare Ruined My Life" 3.5 out of 5.

Thank you to Netgalley and Second Story Press for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

**** Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me an arc in exchange for an honest review!! The Year Shakespeare Ruined My Life is out today!****

** Warning this review may contain spoilers!!**

Alison Green is a senior who is focused on one thing: becoming valedictorian. Being neck and neck with fellow student (and all around jerk) Ben for valedictorian, Alison is recruited to co-produce the school's production of A Midsummer's Night Dream (nicknamed Ye Olde Shakespearean Disaster.) Once the teacher who is supposed to co-produce the play leaves Alison to produce the show herself, she luckily gets help from drama teacher Mr. Evans, Alison has to put together a whole production team to get the show on the right track. While managing` the play, her grades, and her friendships, Alison meets Charlotte Russell who is auditions for the play. Charlotte is cool and would not seem to be interested in Alison, but seems to be showing her hints, even though Alison is not sure of Charlotte's sexuality.

What I really liked about The Year Shakespeare Ruined My Life is the amount of sexual representation. Our main character Alison is gay, along with one of the side characters who on the production team who is in charge of the costumes. One of the characters comes out before the end of the novel, in order to save his relationship that has been closeted. Charlotte is pansexual, which I thought was very interesting to have that addition. Alison's relationship with her sister and her best friend was very enjoyable too. I thought that Mr. Evans was a great character and it is always nice to see a teacher passionate about their work, even though his plans for the play weren't feasible. The pacing was good and the events of the book were well set up.

What I wished there was more of was the play itself. We are at the practices, but we don't hear much dialogue, just Alison taking notes and occasionally leading exercises. I thought that the book would be more centered around the play, but it was more focusing on Alison and Charlotte and Alison, Alison's sister, Annie, and Alison's best friend, Becca. It also focused a lot on Alison trying to set up Becca with her crush. It focused more on the high school life and relationships than the play itself.

Altogether I really enjoyed my time reading this fun and fluffy contemporary. If you are interested in an LGBT YA contemporary with a high school play involved, I think you will enjoy this book. The Year Shakespeare Ruined My Life comes out today, September 22nd, so be sure to pick up your copy!