I liked the discussion on racism, bullying and parental pressure. these are themes that YA should definitely cover but everything else fell flat for me. there really was no motivation behind stealing the journal and Quinn didn't work enough to get it back either. the romance was kinda cute but I have to admit it started out abrupt and I didn't like how Quinn and Carter reconciled. and the story behind the blackmail was predictable and anti-climatic to be frank.

I think the best part about the book was Olivia. I loved how she and Quinn became friends. we love seeing Black girl friendships and I do think this book and its characters will be relatable for Black teen girls.

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Collins for the ARC.

I appreciated Quinn's use of lists in order to get her mind clear, and, even though I think pieces of the narrative were predictable, I still enjoyed watching her work through her myriad issues. Goffney tries to do a lot within the novel in terms of examining different facets of Quinn's life, and is generally successful. I think that for the students in my class, this novel would work well to show them a kind of Black experience they may not be familiar with.

Let's be honest: I don't exactly love this book, though I do like it more than I expected. The love story element is exactly what we expect. Quinn and Carter hate each other but that hatred is built on assumptions and is covering up attraction. Having to work together forces them to face their true feelings, etcetera etcetera. The mystery of the blackmailer is pretty straightforward as well. And I found Quinn to be not entirely sympathetic. She's pretty self-centered and her lies are stressful (not to mention hard to believe - how was she going to explain away her fake acceptance letter?). Two things make me give this book a second thought. 1) The resolution isn't all smooth and happily ever after. It's a way forward, the notion that once you face the things that have troubled you there is a potential for things to get better. 2) There are bigger issues addressed. Race and financial privilege are interwoven into the plot. They don't get a lot of page space but they are essential elements that affect the love story and the character's friendships.

Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry is the debut young adult contemporary of Joya Goffney. It follows Quinn, a high school senior, who carries a journal with her everywhere she goes to write down her thoughts and feelings. One day, the journal winds up in the wrong hands, and suddenly Quinn is being blackmailed to accomplish items on her “to do” list.

As you follow, Quinn accomplishing items on her “to do” list, you are also following her as she learns more about herself, confronts her past, makes new memories, makes new friends, and catches a bit of romance along the way. Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry is the pitch perfect tone for a young adult book. There were a couple of times where I found myself annoyed with Quinn, where I had to remember she’s a senior in high school, and those are really messy times. Plus, she’s bottled up many of these emotions in the journal and now they’re being opened up and exposed to the world when she hasn’t even fully reasoned with them yet. It’s alot for her to take in, and there is a great arc of character growth for her which I appreciated as a reader.

Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry also does a really good job of tackling racial issues within the scope of a teenage world. Quinn is a black student in a predominately white school. She is smart but struggles academically. When the other students make jokes regarding skin color and affirmative action, she realizes that she is not as welcomed as she might believe. She also realizes that these other students are blinded by their own privileged and unawareness about the world. While I am unable to fully relate to this due to my own skin color, I really did appreciate how Joya Goffney wrote Quinn’s internal and external conflict, and the new friendships that she made which allowed her to be more in tune with her true self and her environment.

Although being blackmailed and cyber-bullied were traumatic experiences for Quinn, they were also experiences which forced her to open her eyes and grow as a person. She discovers that she can open her mouth and express her feelings just as well as she can write them down, that the truth is always better than a lie that will eventually catch up with you later, and that you will find friendship and romance in the least likely of places. I liked how all of this was written, and would have actually liked to spend more time in the world of Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry with Quinn, her family, and her friends. I feel like there are more stories that can be told within this environment.

This was a solid story that focuses on a lot of relevant topics for today’s teen: bullying, race, college, pressure from family etc. Really good.
Loved it.

Quinn, the 17 year old protagonists, has recently lost her diary, and she is kind of freaking out about it. The bad news: whoever has it in their possession has started blackmailing her. The good news: she finally has to face her fears; some of which have been plaguing her for quite some time. This romantic comedy deals with issues surrounding authenticity; and, touches on experiences unique to youth of color in a "post-racial" society.

Wow! This book explored the intersectionality of race and class in a fun and charming manner. Then, I find out that this is Goffney debut novel. I definitely look forward to reading more of her work (hopefully in the very near) future.

10/10 Recommend! A touching and amusing YA romance featuring Quinn, a teen girl who uses lists and journal writing as an outlet for all of her fears and anxieties. However, when her journal goes missing and her most personal lists gets exposed for all the students at her school to see, she is forced by her blackmailer to complete a list of her greatest fears, with it leading to her not only finding love in a special someone, but most importantly within herself.

I would definitely recommend this title for all teens as it explores the themes of questioning friendships, confronting one's own biases, and feeling disconnected from one's own racial identity.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins YA for offering me this opportunity to read this debut author's book. Wow! I moved this to the top of my list per the suggestion of my Sales Rep and I am glad I did. I am absolutely stunned by how wonderfully written this story was and how much I liked Quinn and her friends. This storyline offered a full breadth of what teenagers are navigating today: bullying, racism, first love, the confusion/scariness of leaving high school, fear of disappointing parents and so on. This is a great book for hand-selling, book club reads and school libraries. I look forward to reading more from this author down the road.

<i>"I wasted so much time living in fear that I thought I was comfortable, but I was writhing in a cage that I didn't know existed, making lists of all my worries with no intent to do anything about them.
Making lists of all my fears kept me from ever facing them."</i>

Plot Points: High-school senior Quinn confides everything in her trusty journal -- managing (what I saw as) her anxiety through lists, from silly (Best Movies to Rewatch) to serious (Things To Do Before She Graduates). On the outside, she seems to have it all: accepted into Columbia, best friends, a crush on The Soccer Player Next Door, a well-off family with Doctor Dad and Lawyer Mom. But when Quinn's journal is stolen, the shiny, happy facade falls off as Quinn is blackmailed & cyber-bullied with the threat of having her deepest secrets exposed. At first, it seems as if Quinn loses a lot -- but it turns out, what she lost wasn't really worth saving, and what she gains (friends, honesty, self-acceptance, confidence) is worth more.
Love Triangle: Yes...ish? It's more of a Lust Triangle, at first -- but the triangle aspect fades pretty quickly, IMO.
Diversity: Yes! Quinn is Black -- as are Carter and Olivia -- and navigating life in a predominantly white, upper class school/neighborhood
<s>New</s> Favorite Characters: Livvy (+ Auden) -- I'm rooting so hard for this fictional couple.
Slow Sequel Syndrome: N/A

Full Disclosure: there was a part of this book that made me full-on ugly cry. Like, it's almost midnight and I am sobbing on my couch so much that the dog comes to check on me.
There's a subplot involving Quinn and her grandmother, Hattie, and if you know me, you that stories involving a granddaughter and her grandmother are my Kryptonite. Especially if the grandmother's time is short and the grand-daughter has to say goodbye but the strength of their memories and relationship prevail. (I'm looking at you, <i>Moana</i>.)

I definitely enjoyed this book more than the last book I read -- but not quite as some of my favorites from last summer (<i>The Voting Booth</i> and <i>The Black Kids</i>.) I could easily see myself rereading those and while I'll most likely purchase a copy for my kids to read someday, I'm not sure I'd reread this one. (Which is the mark of a 5-star book for me.)

Super-minor, *extremely* personal thing: my son's name is Carter, so it was *really* weird for me to read a book with the MC's love interest as a Carter -- because, well. Obvious reasons. But NOT a detraction.

One of the things I appreciated about this book was Quinn's lists. In the beginning, they're presented as Quinn's way of managing her emotions -- without her journal/lists, she even says she's "bursting," because she can't contain them -- and, as someone with anxiety, this really spoke to me. I'm not sure if that's what Goffney intended, but regardless, that resonated with me. The idea of getting thoughts and events and fears out of your head and onto paper really does help contain them and manage them -- but in a healthy way. Here, especially in the beginning, they do seem to limit Quinn, to contain her too much. By shutting the journal, she can effectively shut them out and not have to acknowledge them -- which isn't good.

While most of the story does deal with Quinn getting her journal back, it's also about her learning to let it go and not need it. Instead, she learns to face her fears and say what's on her mind rather than swallowing it down. I suppose that Quinn's journey, since it's fictional, can happen so quickly; I feel in real life, it would be a lot harder to let go of those listing tendencies and embrace change.

The other aspect I appreciated -- and the reason I would buy a copy to have at home -- is the way Goffney approached race. The conversations between Quinn and her Dad, and specifically between Quinn and Carter about the role their race played in a conservative, predominantly white state (Texas) were frank and honest and effective. Obviously, I can't speak to how this story would resonate with Black readers, but as a white reader, and a mom, I appreciated the commentary on how problematic it is for white people to sing along to rap music which includes the N-word. I was guilty of that when I was younger, but I no longer do it. And I think seeing Quinn and Carter have that conversation in a print novel is a really effective way to convey that lesson. Same goes for Quinn's conversation with Destany -- who, despite being a teenage girl, is still well-intentioned. And well-intentioned people don't always get it right, but we need to learn how to do better.

Obviously, Goffney's point in writing was not to educate white people on how to act or tell them not to say every word in a rap song simply because it's part of the lyrics. But I think it does fall on white readers to take notice of those scenes, those moments, and use them to learn, to critically examine our own actions and see how we can do better.

And, of course, there are many reasons I think this book is a powerful one: Quinn is a strong, but flawed (and still likable!) protagonist; Carter is a wonderful portrayal of healthy masculinity who isn't afraid to show his emotions (his affection for his little sister) or admit when he messed up and own it; and Livvy is pretty much a fictional character I would die for. She is bad ass and, more importantly, she's an excellent friend to Quinn, and I think we can never have too many healthy female friendships, where the two support each other and lift each other up. Also, Livvy + Auden are adorable, and I hope in whatever fictional universe Goffney has created, they are happy together.

**Thank you to Netgalley and the published for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I was prepared not to like Quinn Jackson. I was so irritated with her lack of racial identity but I had to remember she was a teenager. No one knows who they are in high school.

Quinn's journal is stolen and she is being blackmailed. I'm not a fan of blackmail at all but her nemesis/crush, Carter Bennett lost the journal and decides to help her find it. Carter turned into a definite book bae. He was way too mature and self assured for someone in high school.

Quinn is forced to cross off items from her to do list. In the midst of performing these tasks, Quinn makes new friends, comes to terms with some things and she met herself.

Overall, I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would and mainly because Quinn redeemed herself at the end. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC.

The thing that I enjoyed about Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry is it deals with something a lot of us do on a daily basis; lists. We make lists for various things, whether it’s a shopping list or a to-do list, we have created one or more. Now, I have never gone as far as writing lists about people I want to kiss or lies people believe about me. That’s some super secretive stuff you don’t want anyone getting their hands on. Unfortunately, Quinn is not so lucky when some classmates take her journal.

Quinn’s journal is extremely personal and although she has done some simple lists, there are also some that reveal things she would never want anyone to ever know. Things like lying to her parents about getting into Columbia, that she’s not bothered by her white friends using the N-word around her, or that she has a crush on, and wants to kiss her classmate Carter Bennett.

Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry is about so much more than a lost journal. It involves racism, and cyberbullying which are two subjects that are often hard to talk about. When her journal goes missing and one of her lists is uploaded to an unknown Instagram account, Quinn initially suspects Carter. After a study session, he mistakenly took it home and because they don’t exactly get along, she thinks he’s doing it as a way to get back at her for being the rich black girl who has everything. He assures her that’s not the case.

Carter did have her journal but his intention was to return it to her until he lost it in one his classes. He genuinely feels awful about losing it because he can see just how upsetting it is and knowing that someone is using it to blackmail her makes him feel even worse. They both decide to work together to figure out who could have taken it to start a smear campaign against her.

I found Quinn to be such a relatable character. As a person of color, like Quinn, I’ve experienced my own set of microaggressions and it’s something that we often refuse to address outright especially when it comes from the people around us. For Quinn, writing her lists is almost like a diary where she can get her feelings about these things out. From time to time, I write in a journal so I felt how violated she did when it was stolen from her. The things we choose to write are not always things we choose to share with others.

The sad thing is, Quinn is controlled by her lists to the point she doesn’t know who she is without them. What I love about this story is that she slowly starts to realize this and work to live her life beyond what she’s allowed her lists to dictate. There’s also some romance in there which I also enjoyed. Her moments with Matt, who was her crush until Carter came along were pretty cute. They spent time hanging out on his trampoline in the backyard and it was such an intimate space for the two of them. It was a space where they could share their thoughts and feelings.

Carter on the other hand is much different than Matt. First off, Carter is black and Matt is white. While Quinn and Matt get along, it’s clear that Quinn feels more comfortable around Carter and he’s the first black guy she’s been into at her school. They’re from different backgrounds but the more they spend time together, the more they realize how much they actually have in common.

While I loved Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry, my only issue was that Quinn stopped being friends with Destany without even telling her why. I get that she was bothered by some of Destany’s actions that were racially insensitive but, I really felt like she should have talked to her about them instead of ghosting her. Our friends make mistakes quite often but we should be able to tell them when they are acting in a way that makes us uncomfortable. I get that Destany should have known better but, there is nothing wrong with us providing that much needed education from time to time.

One of the other things I wish Quinn had done early on was tell her parents about the cyberbullying. I think if she had told them from the beginning they could have put a stop to the whole thing. I do understand the difficulty of having to face her parents because if she did go and tell them about the cyberbullying, it would have opened the door for a lot of questions. Her parents would want to know why it was being done and then she would have had to come clean about everything on the list.

I really do think that anyone can enjoy Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry because it’s a story that teaches us to respect people’s boundaries, the ramifications of cyberbullying, and that it’s okay to express our feelings out loud. That’s one of the biggest lessons that Quinn learns because for the longest time her lists defined everything about her.

All in all, I really liked Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry. It was a creative story with a relatable plot and it had some fun and sweet romantic moments as well.

This debut novel is about Quinn, a girl who avoids facing the things she most fears or desires by listing them in her journal instead. When her journal is lifted by a blackmailer threatening to expose her unless she does everything on her “before I graduate” to-do list (like, tell her parents she faked her college acceptance, visit her grandmother with Alzheimer’s disease, tell her former best friend the real reason she dumped her, etc.) Carter, the guy inadvertently responsible for her journal’s loss, volunteers to help. The predictable rom-com thing happens, but with more honest conversation than is typical of a teen rom-com.

As a romance and a who-done-it, this novel works well, building romantic tension and suspense from page one. It does a solid job of developing Quinn’s character as she confronts white friends’ racist attitudes, conquers fears, develops courage, makes new friends, and falls in love.

For me, this novel doesn’t work quite as well on the deeper issues. For example, while Quinn’s new friend Olivia readily (too readily?) forgives her participation in bullying/character assassination, Quinn is stingy when it comes to forgiving her former friend of 10 years (Destany), despite Destany’s apology and desire to work at their relationship. That Quinn spends almost no time grappling with the forgiveness she received but didn’t give isn’t addressed. That Carter’s hotness seems a big piece of Quinn’s forgiveness of lies he told her isn't acknowledged. Neither is Quinn's easy acceptance of her mother's solution to her waitlist problem. Bottom line: I felt the author could’ve acknowledged and addressed more of the subtle but serious aspects of the story. Had she done so, I would’ve given this story at least 4 stars. But as is, I give it 3.5.

Joya Goffney's Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry is a page-turning rom-com that will have you guessing and leave you full of excitement by the time the book comes to an end. The world that Goffney created is a relatable one, filled to the brim with characters you'll love and ones that you hate - just like being back in high school (and really, anywhere to be honest). Goffney doesn't hold anything back when it comes to these characters, particularly the protagonist, Quinn. Many readers will find in Quinn something that is similar to themselves and it's that part of her that keeps you rooting for her throughout. While you may not always like Quinn's choices or why she did what she does, readers will likely find themselves understanding the reason behind her decisions.

The hardships that Quinn experiences are very real and while there is heartbreak, there is also hope. As one delves further into the story, you are truly gifted to see Quinn's journey. In the beginning, Quinn is on the shy side but as the book goes on, Quinn really comes into her own and shows her courageous side - even if that means standing up for herself and letting her voice be heard when not everyone wants to hear it.

Everything in this book is a testament to Goffney's well-written dialogue, likeable and relatable characters, and a plethora of important topics (including, but not limited to racism, cyberbullying, dementia, marriage/divorce - among many others) that do not at all feel rushed. Goffney makes sure to touch on each topic with extreme care and it is this realism that readers will resonate with.

Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry is a book for anyone who is looking for that extra push to trust in themselves, have courage, embrace love and above all, speak their truth.

I got the ARC for this the day before its pub date, hence why this review is a couple days late. But honestly I’m so happy I got to get my hands on this book at all. I haven’t really had much of an inclination to YA contemporary romance in a while, and I honestly thought the summary was a bit cheesy but this book was so good, it made me fall in love with the genre all over again. This was such an amazing journey with strong characters about growth and finding yourself.

From the beginning, the plot has a strong set-up. We see the divide between Quinn and Carter, and we get an understanding of Quinn’s position as one of five Black students in a majority white school. Quinn just felt so real throughout this entire book. She had embarrassing thoughts and things she was ashamed of and scared of and it was just so genuine and understandable. I also liked that she isn’t particularly booksmart and does poorly in school, but how that doesn’t take away her worth. I loved her voice, and I just felt for her so much. The bits about her relationship with Hattie, her grandmother, in particular hit me really hard and made me cry at multiple points. And I was rooting for Quinn throughout and felt like I was experiencing everything on her list with her.

And really all the characters and relationships in this were so great. The friendships were just so pure, I loved Carter and Olivia and Auden. It was so great to see Quinn find herself with them and be seen. And then her relationship with Carter - oh my gosh, it was so adorable. The chemistry and banter was written so well and I just loved how they grew comfortable with each other and how their initial attraction became a genuine relationship. (Also, we love a big brother who is doing his best for his baby sister.)

I was just dreading a third-act misunderstanding as this genre tends to have, but that was handled well, too. I loved how Quinn reconciles with Olivia and how supportive and forgiving Olivia is because she understands the position Quinn was in and how she’s grown. And I love how believable Carter’s mistake was, and how he understands why it was so bad. And overall, the approach this book took to forgiveness and growth was just so amazing. I loved that multiple characters did have to apologize, but they did it with grace, and they got to learn from it. And even though it took time to heal those relationships, and some aren’t entirely healed at the end, it was believable and really nice.

I was a bit disappointed with who took the journal since it seemed a bit predictable, but I really agree with the choice, eespecially when Carter’s mom comes down to the school to threaten a discrimination case. That was such a cathartic moment, and I just loved how Quinn’s race and identity and everything that came with it was considered throughout and given weight. And it extended beyond her too, so she considers her family's and friends’ Black identities, too, which really spoke to the sense of community and understanding that having a shared marginalized identity has.

I think if I have any complaints, it was that I felt there was not really proper closure with Matt. Their final conversation was so short and didn’t seem to resolve anything. He just sort of fell off, and I don’t really know if Quinn will continue to be friends with him the same way she was before, or if he’ll try to get to know her new friends (I’m assuming he won’t).

That aside, though, this was such a great story full of amazing moments and characters who blossomed and I just could not put it down. I definitely recommend it. Thank you to the author and NetGalley for an ARC of this book for an unbiased review.

Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry by @joya.goffney 💙
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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We are back with another @bookswithsyd made me do it read 💕 I actually requested from NetGalley a while ago but Syd gave me the push I needed to read it.
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What a beautiful book! This story took on so many important topics: coming of age, losing people you love, not meeting parents’ expectations, divorce/separation/parental fighting, falling in love with the person you least expect to, and so much more.
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Every character in this story was so well developed without taking away from the plot. You quickly learn to either really love a character (Olivia, Carter, Auden, Hattie) or really hate a character (Destany, Gia, and *sorry not sorry* Matt)
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If you want a beautiful written YA book that will warm every inch of your heart, I will forever recommend this story.
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Also, be an Olivia. Don’t let racist people get away with saying racist shit. Beat them up (preferably with words but if you wanna go physical Olivia’s got your back).
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Thank you @netgalley @joya.goffney and @harperteen for this advanced readers copy.
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Excuse Me While I Cry is now available for purchase as of 5/4/21! 💙

As someone who to this day carries notebooks around with them (and would be in a panic if I lost any of them) the premise of this one really intrigued me from the start. Quinn's notebook comes across more as a journal, so that would make losing it all the worse. It's apparent pretty quickly that Quinn has lots of areas where she could grow, her notebook contains a lot of things she's scared about, dreams about and more and without it she has to learn how to gain courage and sometimes take chances to face her fears.

There are definite themes of racism, blackmailing, general high school pressures (including those from parents) and more. With everything that was packed into this book I almost felt like the romance wasn't needed since there was so much more to unpack, but it was still a nice addition. All in all I really enjoyed this debut and would look forward to reading more from Joya Goffney in the future. The writing style flowed really well and made it a fast paced read for me.

3.75 Solid stars but rounding up
It has been such a long time since I have read a YA Contemporary Romance book and I am so glad I jumped back into the genre with this book! I immediately connected with the main characters need to keep lists for everything! She had lists for movies to binge watch, boys she wanted to kiss, things she wanted to do before graduating, etc...
When she misplaces her journal with all of her lists she is then unexpectedly forced to complete some of the lists in her journal...which leads to a really beautiful self discovery and coming of age story.
I highly encourage everyone looking for reviews to look for own voices reviewers for this book as well.
**A more in depth review is on my blog at www.justlikegilmoregirls.com or linked down below**

I don't know what I was expecting from this book but it was an extremely enjoyable YA read.

Quinn, a senior in high school, is never away from her journal. Her journal is all of her private thoughts, her worries and fears, the lies she has told herself and others. It is beyond personal. And when it gets stolen, and Quinn starts getting blackmailed, she pairs up with Carter Bennett to not only check some things on her bucket list but find out who is holding her hostage.

The beginning of this book really pulled me in - Quinn is so lonely. As one of only a few Black kids in her high school, and a wealthy one at that, she struggles finding her place. Who is she? Who does she want to be? She goes through a significant amount of growth in this book: recognizing the biases she has against her own community, understanding the ways she used silence to fit in with white people, and realizing the restrictions she put on herself.

"Being the exception to Black stereotypes automatically means that you're not as Black."

WHEW - that is a realization I didn't have until I was post college probably. I really loved the themes of race and internalized racism in this book, although some pieces felt pretty heavy handed (Gia anyone?). I did love that there were varying degrees of racism in the book - some super overt and some where it was just silence. The latter felt super real and was difficult to read.

Lastly, the side plot of Quinn and her grandmother was beautiful and so sad. Alzheimer's impacts that Black community severely and seeing Quinn struggle with her grandmother's diagnosis was heartbreaking. There was a great back and forth between Carter and Quinn about not punishing people because they are sick, while recognizing the difficulty of watching someone you love disappear. My grandmother passed away from Alzheimer's and watching her deteriorate over 5 years is something I will never forget.

Overall, this book is a definite read, a highly recommend. A beautiful story of growth, coming of age, and what it means to be young, Black and trying to find your place.

Thank you to HarperCollins for my copy to review

I expected the themes of race and identity, overcoming fear, forgiveness, young love, and pushing toward honesty regardless of how difficult it may be would all get jumbled or fight for dominance but they didn't. The story and the various topics it handles flowed seamlessly in and out of each other.

The writing style with lists each chapter kept the story fresh and the dialogue between characters felt so real and comfortable.

Quinn, Olivia, and Carter navigate life as Black students in a predominantly white private school and the various experiences, approaches, and reactions to being othered in privileged, white spaces was real in a way that hurts. I deeply appreciated seeing how differently these three navigate that experience without one approach being perceived as "better" than the other.

The focus on truth and forgiveness made me cry. There were a lot of moments with a few characters working through personal guilt and shame that I found incredibly powerful.

Also, the romantic moments between characters had me squealing at 1am- SO CUTE

*Thank you to NetGalley and HarperTeen for an advanced copy in exchange for a fair and honest review*

Quinn's life, secrets, and inner most thoughts are all compiled in nice, neat lists. Lists that will never leave her journal or be spoken aloud. Or so she thought. When her journal goes missing and the thief begins to blackmail her into completing the items on her To-Do list, Quinn's neatly organized life is thrown into turmoil. But, it could just be the push she needs to break free of her ordered life and really start living. Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry was a pleasant surprise. A charming, thought-provoking, and sweet tale of a high school girl who comes to find her inner-strength.

I enjoyed Excuse Me While I Ugly Cried and found myself devouring page after page. Quinn is a relatable character who is wonderfully flawed and real. While I can't speak to her experiences as a Black girl, I can relate to her struggle to speak her truth.

Author Joya Goffney has infused her story with wit and heart. i was cheering for Quinn throughout the book and couldn't wait to see how everything turned out in the end. An #ownvoices book I highly recommend!