I will preface what is going to be a 4 star review by saying I’ve enjoyed every Becky Albertalli book I’ve read, but they’ve never really “blown me away” or changed my life. Her latest one, Kate in Waiting, didn’t change my life either. But I laughed, and I cheered when two characters kissed, and it made me miss theatre, and that’s pretty much exactly what I needed. I don’t need a book to change my life—I just need it to make me feel SOMETHING for 300 pages.

Kate Garfield is a theatre girl, and she and her best friend, Anderson, are basically inseparable. They’re so insperable they even often have communal crushes: a guy that both of them have a crush on. Because Anderson is gay, but that doesn’t stop him and Kate from gushing over a cute boy. Cue: summer camp, the cute vocal consultant, and the eternal ‘what ifs’ because neither Kate nor Andy have the cajones to make a move.

On the first day of junior year, they’re supposed to be focused on the announcement of that year’s school musical, but they quickly get distracted when the doors open and guess who walks in? You guessed it, the cute vocal consultant, Matt. When all three of them–plus their squad a few others–get cast in the musical, things get complicated. How does a communal crush work when one of you has a scripted kiss with them? What about when he moves into your house due to a freak accident? And how do you balance friendship with flirting?

Of course, that’s not all–Kate’s a fascinating character, nerdy in the best ways but still a bit judgemental, who finds herself having to re-evaluate the “f boy” label she’s been applying to all of her brother’s jocky friends, because maybe he, and one friend in particular, aren’t as bad as the label may imply.

This book was CUTE! The school does Once Upon a Mattress–which is adorable, and it was fun knowing the show as it plays out on the page! Kate’s a fun character, even if I kind of hated Anderson at times. IDK, the friendship overlap felt exploitative to me at times. Like he didn’t like Kate growing into her own. Obviously, It all works out in the end, but there were times where I rolled my eyes a lot.

I won’t reveal who kisses who, but there was some real SWOONING throughout. Loved some cinnamon roll moments, ya know?

This book is a sweet little love letter to theatre and friendship and crushes, and I give it 4 stars!

This book was adorable. Kate and Anderson are friendship goals, and their interactions were honest and hilarious. Albertalli did a great job of creating teen characters that actually behaved like teens. Kate and Anderson's relationship with each other and their families felt realistic while being entertaining. Kate and Anderson's romantic adventures are perfectly written to make the reader root for the couples while given enough misdirection that it wasn't obvious from the beginning who the final pairings would be. The book is a fast-paced, fun, and funny read that I can't wait to recommend.

Disclaimer: I was a pretty big theatre nerd in high school, so I might have some deep bias about this book.

I LOVED this book. I don't remember the last time that I have stayed up late reading a book because I simply had to finish it. It is very rare for me anymore. Rarer still: I would read this again.

I thought the character development, setting, themes, emotional range, dialogue and just about everything felt accurate and realistic. And it was frankly refreshing to just have a book with a happy ending-I needed a happy ending. I shall stop my comments here so I don't descend into spoilers.

Side Note (possible SPOILER warning-or an un-spoiler): I'm apparently becoming a bit of nervous while reading YA books. At the end, when Anderson and Kate get in the car together, I was totally expecting a car crash/death. I think the more 'harsh' YA authors have broken my spirit.

For Libraries: Yes-please buy it!

This book brought me right back to being a theater kid in high school-it's clear that Becky Albertalli was also a theater nerd because everything about this book was just so realistic and relatable, and I loved it so much.

Granted, I'm not a teen myself anymore, but I've always thought that Becky Albertalli is fantastic at writing teens and teen dialogue realistically. Kate frustrated me a lot in this book, especially at the beginning when she is so judgemental about all the "f-boys" and everyone else in her school who isn't involved in the arts-but I know my dumb teenage self also had a lot of those same thoughts. Her character develops really well and really realistically throughout the novel, and I absolutely adored her friendship with Anderson.

Another one of Albertalli's strengths is writing romances. The two in this book were so adorable, and I honestly couldn't get enough of Kate's LI.

Definitely pick this one up when it's released!

*Thanks very much to the publisher for providing my copy of the book in exchange for my review!*

This book was wonderful, with a diverse cast of characters this one was hard to put down. I loved every second of it and although I think that the love triangle was adorable and new. Even though who don't generally like love triangles will have a hard time not loving this one. I do think that a few of the characters could have been better developed but overall it was still a wonderful story that I could not put down. I hope to find more stories like this one!

3 stars

Like most people whom I assume will pick up this novel, I have read the whole Albertalli list. Sometimes, I find these novels SO moving and charming. Other times, I find them just...charming. This one falls into the second camp for me.

Kate, the m.c., enjoys the thrill of communal crushes with her best friend, but - as EVERYONE might imagine - this isn't so fun when people catch feelings. While the romance/crushing parts of this novel were less gripping for me, I really liked the friendship explorations, especially those that arise from this horrible communal crush(ing) scenario.

For me, this was tougher to get invested in than I expected. Honestly, it wasn't until about 75% when I really started to wonder/be concerned with what was coming, and for obvious reasons, that was a bit frustrating.

I know there are some die-hard theater-in-YA-is-life folks, and I think this group of readers will be way more fired up about chapters and chapters of theater, drama, and show references than I was. This is not a bad book by any means, but it wasn't my favorite from Albertalli (whose work I will still always be excited to devour).

Kate and her best friend, Anderson, share everything: rides to school, an intense love for musical theater, and even crushes on cute boys. Some might call them codependent, but it works. Until they fall for the new guy at school, Matt, who seems like a real possibility for them both. They try to set ground rules to prioritize their friendship, but how will they handle getting what they really want when it means breaking the heart of the person they love the most?

Becky Albertalli's writing is SO fun to read. It's quick, it's funny, and it's really conversational and chill. Her characters are all pretty introspective, usually (with the exception of a few blind spots), and it's entertaining to go along for the ride as they figure things out. There's so much representation in all her books, too, which is fresh and important.

My only complaint here was the repetitive use of the term "f-boy" throughout. I'm not sure if that's something that will be addressed by the time the book is published, but yikes. If I'd been playing a drinking game and doing a shot every time someone was called an f-boy, and f-girl, or the whole group was referred to as f-force...I wouldn't have made it out of the first chapter of the book. Maybe not even past the first few pages.

That small quibble aside, this was a fun read. It basically feels like you're slipping into an episode of a high school TV show with characters you'd actually be friends with, with problems that could probably be mostly avoided with a well-timed, honest conversation but ya know...who does that in high school? :) A great balance of fluffy and real. Albertalli has become one of my favorite YA authors.

**Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollin's Children's for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!**

This book feels so YA slice of life, a perfect example of contemporary teen lit, while never falling into a stale moment. Kate brings you into her world without any fanfare but keeps firm grasp on you, and you're happy to take the ride.

Kate herself feels like a character very much of her time. She's both easy to get to know and get along with, and fully herself. She's got a quality to her that while not exploding off of the page definitely does feel real, and impossible not to want to follow. She has presence in the way a lot of protagonists in books like these just don't.

The problem at the core of this story- the sudden reality of a genuine crush, how to navigate it, and the strain it causes on her friendship- surprisingly never felt over the top or easy to fix. While there are choices that may have made things easier for everyone involved it all feels organic to Kate's character, and everything that happens is fresh enough to never be able to just follow a thread and wind up at the obvious ending.

This is book was compelling enough for me to easily read in one sitting and genuinely really care about the outcomes of just about every issue at play in Kate's life. I think often too much time with a character, particularly when dealing with high school problems/drama, it's easy to get fed up with them and have the problems become a bit eye-roll worthy. But that doesn't happen here, because the book never stops being fun, and it never makes the stress feel unbelievable.

I also love the representation here, even with a straight & White main character- though it's important to note that Kate is also Jewish, as is Matt. Anderson is POC and gay, and Raina is trans- something only mentioned offhandedly twice and never used as a point of conflict or tragedy. It's always great to see causal rep, as well as it being great when it's pointed out as a little social commentary on privilege, which we also get a scene of.

What I didn't love about this book mainly comes down to Kate's arc not feeling complete. She is very reliant on Anderson, and while that's touched on in a surface level way it goes far beyond being something that can be fixed with a simple "don't worry about it". She thinks about Anderson's feelings 24/7 and feels guilty constantly, and I wanted that examined and talked about so badly. I need this girl to have a serious conversation with her best friend, and maybe a therapy session.

The other problem I had is that while the romance is cute the lead up is inconsistent. I like Noah a lot and his feelings for Kate are both very sweet and also believable, but her feelings for him seem to pop up randomly just in time for her romantic arc not to be a bust. I wish it had been teased throughout so it didn't feel like a runner up prize.

I really enjoyed reading this book, and it's stuck with me since I finished it. If you want a good contemporary YA with minimal heaviness while also not falling directly into fluff, I definitely recommend this one!

If there’s one thing Becky Albertalli excels in writing, it’s creating a world rich with characters and stories that nestle deep inside you from the first page. That has been true of all of her books and with Kate in Waiting, she’s a star.

Kate and her bff Andy are so symbiotic that it’s impossible for them to have crushes if it is not on the same boy. The two high schooler juniors fall for Matt while at summer camp only to find that he’s transferred to their high school and will be joining them in that year’s production of Once Upon a Mattress. Let the mutual pining and crushing commence.

There is so much life breathed into these characters, and not just Kate (who is exceptional). Andy is so well thought out and written that I feel like I know him as well as Kate, and we live in her read through the narration. The cast of characters and friends are all unique and their voices and characteristics made me crave more.

So much heart is in the pages of this book that I found myself literally unable to put it down. Albertalli does a remarkable job weaving storylines and plot points together in a way that makes you eager to continue and reluctant to finish the book and say goodbye. I know we probably won’t get an entire Kate extended universe, but I can dream, can’t I? I don’t want to say goodbye to any of these characters yet.

5 stars

I am a big fan of Becky, but this book just struck out for me. I could not stand the narrator, the titular, Kate’s voice. I kept starting and stopping and couldn’t figure out why. The book is reminiscent of E. Lockhart’s Dramarama, but it just missed the mark for me. I think the codependent relationship between our leads was also problematic. I will totally jump on board with whatever Becky writes next, but this one was a hard pass. Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC.

I really enjoy the characters Becky Albertalli creates and I adored this book. Mostly.

Kate reminded me of myself at times. Her easy blushing, not wanting to be mad at anyone or hurt anyone, her love of Tangled. There was just a lot. I tend to find that in a lot of Becky's books. Even though I'm much older, I can still relate a lot. Kate and Andy have been best friends for years. They are so close that most people thought they were in a relationship. But Andy is gay. Kate and Andy have this weird thing where they crush on the same guy. It's never been a problem until their summer crush, Matt, moves to their town and goes to their school. As both Kate and Andy spend time with Matt, their crushes grow to really like. They both get jealous at times and it causes problems with their friendships. During this time, Kate's brother, Ryan, is spending a bit more time with her. So is Ryan's best friend, Noah. Noah and Kate used to be friends, but he mostly just annoys her now. Noah and Kate start spending more time together and their friendship is kind of adorable. All of Kate's friends are in theater and they're preparing for a musical. Kate, Andy, Matt, and Noah are all in the musical together.

The musical setting was cute and I loved the characters and diversity. The only reason this didn't get 5 stars from me was the overuse of the term "f-boy". I don't mind the term. It was just used so much early on in the book. Otherwise, this was a great book.

I gave this book 4 1/2 stars rounded up to 5 on Goodreads.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my review copy.

Kate Garfield and Anderson Walker are best friends who do pretty much everything together, from carpooling and making major life decisions. But when they both lust after the same cute guy, things get sticky. Can their friendship sustain a shared crush?

I love anything that Becky Albertalli does. This book was lovely. Becky always provides a log of representation for LGBTQIA+ teens. There are characters who are trans, bisexual, and gay.


I love how intentional she is about inclusion in a setting like Roswell, Georgia. This story is about Kate Garfield. She is a theater kid through and through. She has a tight knit group of friends who she spends most of her time with.

Above all else, Kate is loyal to her best friend, Anderson. Each year, they have something called "communal crushes" in which they pick a boy to obsess over when they go to theater camp over the summer. This year, it is Matt. To both of their surprise, when they get to school in the fall, Matt has enrolled as. a senior. He is in theater classes and in the musical with them as well. Things get a bit sticky as the communal crush becomes real.

The friends group known as "the squad" navigate this hiccups and others throughout the course of their junior year. They also have to contend with the f-force at the school The f-force are the popular kids and the jocks who are not-so-affectionately know as f***boys and f***girls. One f-boy, Noah, has taken a particular interest in Kate.

This is a fun story if you are already a Becky stan, or if you want a story about friendship, crushes, and finding yourself high school.

Musical theater, friendships, family, crushes...this book has a little of everything. I loved that this was a book about relationships, all kinds of relationships, and although yes, there is a romance, the romance isn't portrayed as a more important than the friendships and the sibling relationships. I really felt for Kate as she navigated her feelings on the crush she shares with her best friend, her feelings about how her relationship with her best friend is changing, her changing feelings towards an old friend, and her evolving relationship with her brother.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me the digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Cute, fairly light-hearted story about a group of high school theater students, and what happens when two best friends fall for the same love interest. The interesting twist?? These two friends (one a gay male, the other a straight female) don't know the sexual orientation of the guy upon whom they each have a crush. An enjoyable read about the camaraderie between the kids in the high school theater group, and what lines you will or won't cross for your BFF. I rate it 3.75 out of 5 stars.
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Oh man, the theater nerd in me was absolutely rudely grabbing for this latest book by Becky Albertalli, but Kate in Waiting just fell a little short for me in a few areas.

Things I loved:
The friendship bonds, and navigating how to overcome personal slights
Shifting family dynamics, and how leaving home can create nostalgia in sweet ways
New love with someone unexpected
LGBT and Jewish Representations

Things that didn't work for me:
Excessive, constant use of "F***-boy"
Predictability of relationship pairings
Unrealistic(?) trope of two friends LOVING the same person

I adored the theater talk, the friend banter, the brotherly jesting/protection, the lessons about overcoming bullies. There are really SO many great things in this book. If these things intrigue you - give Kate in Waiting a try!

This one just wasn't a fit for me at this time.

Thanks to HarperCollins Children's Books (Balzer + Bray) for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Kate in Waiting is a love letter to theater and if follows Kate and Andy, who have tended to have the same crushes. They find it more fun to have someone to talk with. But their latest crush, Matt, moves to their school, they find out that having real feelings complicates things and night out their friendship on the line.

Matt is playing the love interest opposite Kate for the school musical, and Kate starts wondering if he’s reciprocating her feelings. But that would mean Kate would have to hurt Andy’s feelings.

To make matters worst, Kate’s brother’s best friend, Noah, had joined the musical. And he’s interested in being close friends with Kate. Andy starts to think there’s something happening between Kate and Noah.

But is Andy just trying to get Kate out of the way so that he’ll only be the one crushing on Matt. Could Kate ever see Noah like that

Kate in Waiting was a cute, genuinely funny novel. I wanted the best for Kate and was rooting for her.

I cannot recommend this book enough for YA lovers and for musical theater lovers!

As always, Albertalli has captured beautifully the life of a teenager that is often overlooked. As someone that was theater kid adjacent, I found quick connection with the story and how in high school, we're all connected, even in our personal friend groups.

High school theater geek Kate is used to playing background roles--on the stage, and in her love life. She and her best friend Anderson (Andy), have always been joined at the hip. They've always gone to the same schools, liked the same things, and--to their friends' bewilderment--always loved the same boys ever since Andy came out as gay. The latest of their communal crushes is Matt, who they meet at a summer theater camp, and who lives out of state--comfortably out of reach. But when Matt moves to their hometown and starts going to their school, Kate's and Andy's crushes grow and morph into real feelings that start to have consequences for their lifelong friendship.

Though it took a bit for me to get into KATE IN WAITING, I ultimately found it a fun and charming read. Kate's and Andy's friendship was lovely, as well as Kate's friendship with (and budding feelings for) Noah. I adored Kate's family especially--though they were secondary characters, they were all charming and loveable. This is a book I'd recommend to anyone looking for a fun romance, and a definite purchase for my library's collection!

Overall I thought this was a cute book, and a fast read.

However, I struggled with the main character. I could not get a grasp on Kate and often felt like she was all over the place. I also struggled with the relationship dynamic she had with her best friend, Anderson. I felt that they often exhibited unhealthy and codependent behaviors, and they were often unkind to each other but then it all got washed away because they said something along the lines of "I'm so sorry I love you, let's not ever do this again..." Except they did some version of "this" all over again a couple pages later.

However, I did enjoy the writing a lot, I thought the other relationships in the book and the complete cast of characters were great. I wanted to know more about everyone.

This is a quick, fun book to read, and I think fans of Becky Albertalli's other books will love this one.