Thanks to Wednesday Books for sending me this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Set the scene: a closeted queer SuperWhoLock fanfic writer meets a secret nerd lesbian beauty queen when the pageant and “Sherlock” convention are held at the same hotel.

CW: being outed, bullying

Everything about this book was my high school dream. As a former superwholocker and tumblr kid, going to a convention and meeting a gorgeous girl would have been incredible! But if I have to settle for just reading about it, I’ll take it.

This book covered so many real issues in the queer community and fought stereotypes about the pageant world as well. The writing was engaging and well done. The story was, of course, adorable! All of the side characters provided a perfect and complementary balance to Teagan and Kay.

For my queer romcom loving friends, this is the book for you!

What happens when a teen beauty pageant and a fandom convention both book the same hotel? Kaylee, a fanfic writer attending the convention, has three goals for the weekend: 1) try out they/them pronouns, 2) wear a masculine-presenting cosplay, and 3) kiss a girl. Teagan is a pageant contestant who really needs the $25,000 scholarship that comes with the Miss Cosmic Teen USA title.

This book was fun and engaging. I read the entire thing in one sitting. I really liked both of the characters and enjoyed their interactions.

The book did a great job of discussing both the positives and negatives of pageants. That was one of my favorite parts of the book. I wish that the book would have also addressed fandom spaces. Only the positive sides of fandoms were shown, with barely any acknowledge of the problems- there was one throwaway line about the issues with mlm fetishization in popular fandoms, but that was about it. The book discussed the problems with racism and fatphobia in the pageant world, but them acted as though those same issue don’t exist in fandoms, which is simply not true.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC!

A beautiful and heartwarming story for the coming of age queer lovers. From an adorable meet cute to nonbinary happiness, this story was everything and more.

I absolutely adored this book from start to end! It has everything I'm looking for in a story and more. At points, this book reminded me of elements of Miss Congeniality and Whip It. Remi K. England is the Irishtea to my Kay. I am so excited to explore the world of fan fic and cons, and I can't wait for readers to go on their own journey as they read this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC!

While I know I’m a bit out of the age group this one was probably intended for, but it definitely hit me with warm feelings, reignited my love of fandoms, and was nice to read about main characters that are nonbinary and gay.

I’m not big on beauty pageants, but this book gave a lot more behind the scenes (in a good way) and it was fun following Teagan (Miss Virginia) since I’m also from that state, and actually live very nearby where she does in the story!

Kaylee was super lovable and I thoroughly enjoyed hearing about their writing side of fandom and fanfic as I have a lot of online friends I met the same way. Through their writing, not mine.

This book packed on a lot of feels, and I recommend it if you want a cute YA story.

This was an absolute delight! I've read a lot of beauty pageant story lines of late--total coincidence--and this on is my favorite I do believe, focusing on inclusion and seeing the nuance behind these events. And of course, the fandom storyline was beautiful, as well as Kay's discovery and celebration of queerness. Highly recommend!

4.25 stars for this beautiful and heart warming story about self acceptance and discovery of self.

When Teagan and Kay meet, one is a pageant contestant and the other is at a fandom convention… and the events just so happen to be at the same place on the same weekend.

I am a sucker for a great meet cute and this book for sure had it. I loved both Kay and Teagan!! I loved seeing what they were individually going through and feeling. One is trying out some pronouns they feel more comfortable with and wanting to experiment with girls… the other wants to use this weekend as an opportunity to secure a chance at a different future. Both Teagan and Kay have a lot in common, especially their mutual foe.

This book had everything. Dealing with some heavy topics, this book did it with perfection! I loved the growth and the acceptance of self. And the absolute nerd-out is a must! I thought The One True Me and You was a wonderful read with a whole lot of heart and the sweetest romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a sweet, fluffy story, that I liked a lot! The only real issue that I didn't enjoy much (and this might be just me) was that sometimes one of the main characters, Kaylee, was kind of hard to like and relate to, like how they generalized all pageant people and how they generalized people that wear makeup as bad, shallow people, but I thought that they showed growth, which was nice. Other than that, I think that this was a sweet story that I enjoyed. 4.5/5 stars from me.

I ADORED this book. It was incredibly powerful to watch these two young women get drawn to one another, deeply bonded by their passions and experiences, while also navigating their own social pressures and coming out experiences. There were plenty of pageant and fandom shenanigans to keep things light, and I loved the supporting cast. This book would've meant a lot to me as a teen, and still does today!

LGBT+ rep:
questioning nonbinary afab mc (they isn’t sure whether they’re bi, pan, or lesbian)
lesbian mc
“lady-preferring bisexual” f sc
wlnb

Other rep:
Black sc
fandom culture
mental health advocation
feminism

CW:
parent suicide mentioned
public outing
homophobia
racism
fandom drama

Y’all this is officially my favorite contemp ever, aaahhh 💛

This book was such a beautiful, big, warm, queer hug. Both main characters (we love dual POV!!!) are so relatable and well fleshed-out, and the lessons learned by them are so incredibly valuable no matter who you are or what stage of life you occupy. I absolutely adored everything about this book! I work in fandom organizing and produce a queer book club and I cannot wait to plug this to everyone I know.

4.5 stars

‘The One True Me and You’ is the kind of book I want to put in everyone’s hands. It’s a beautiful slice of a coming-of-age and a coming out story that’s as impactful as it is important. But, beyond that, it’s just a delightful novel about friendship, first love, and the things in life that inspire us.

Fanfiction writer Kaylee Beaumont is excited to participate in her first GreatCon, and to try out they/them pronouns for the first time. Pageant queen (and current Miss Virginia) Teagan Miller has her sights set on the $25,000 scholarship for winning Miss Cosmic Teen USA. Then she can live her life at college completely out and proud. When Kay and Teagan happen to cross paths because both groups are staying at the same hotel? Sparks instantly fly. When they realize they both share a nemesis? It bonds them even closer. But, as they both navigate how to be themselves in their respective orbits, will they be drawn closer together, or completely split apart?

Author Remi K. England presents readers with a story that hits you right in all of your feels. They are especially adept at creating two strong, but beautifully adolescent protagonists coupled with an amazing group of secondary characters. No one in the book feels like a caricature, even Miss North Carolina, who feels like the kind of bully you’d encounter in high school. The feelings captured throughout feel really genuine and universal in a way that teens today, and those much older, can relate to. This is the kind of book that resonates well beyond its genre, but I’m so glad it exists in that particular niche. More stories like these, pretty please.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for generously providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What a delightfully adorable book! I loved the setting, the cast of characters, the romance, the conflict, and the representation through and through. There’s something about a pageant called fandom convention dichotomy that really does a fantastic job of pitting two opposite worlds together to highlight contrasting lives. That did such a wonderful job of setting up Teagan’s and Kay’s backstories without repetitive detail.

I loved the breakdown of the good and bad of both worlds, the mature take on layered existences, and the open and honest discussion of queerness and the decision to wilfully exist without being out to the public.

I was oddly appreciative of the lack of main cast adult presence in the books because it allowed these children to mess up and fix their issues of their own accord and come to moral understandings through their own experience instead of through some wise old owl sermon.

A wonderful work of YA literature!

I already know, this is going to be a a fan-fav on bookstagram and some other book-centric social media communities. This is such an adorable love story and ode to being your authentic self, whether that is a feminine pageant queen or a fandom loving, fan-fic writing individual going through their own gender identity development and discovery.

I'm usually hesitant to read books where the relationships are built over a weekend and the reader is expected to believe this strong connection is lasting - but this is such an adorable coupe and the book truly speaks to how communities and safe spaces are so important for those exploring their own identities.

I was given an e ARC of this book from NetGalley.
Overall the book was great however I found some parts to really drag on. Other than that I enjoyed the book. I found the characters to be a little annoying at times but overall a great read.

“A perfect mix of beauty pageant and fanfic, this gem of a book, The One True Me and You, is about the sometimes scary path to finding yourself and the need to take bold risks for happiness. Be ready for your heart to melt over Kay and Teagan.”

When you think of beauty pageant you may be having that cringe worthy, no thank you I don’t support the objectification of girls/women. And I get where your train of thought is going. Though, England's version of beauty pageants is a much more tamed and slightly more inclusive one than what we’ve seen in the past.

Yes, there is still that one girl (North Carolina) that you want thrown out of the competition the moment her mouth opens, but England gives a new image for the competition itself. And having Teagan in the lead role, makes the reader step back and look at this from a new and refreshing lens.

One that makes it more about the overall person not their body. Though, England does not sugar coat beauty pageants. Readers will still be very much aware there is still a lot of progress to be made regarding inclusivity, diversity, body positivity, among other things. But I like how England makes it a point that this is something girls can enjoy.

Likewise, we see the beauty of the fanfic community.

I felt the joy, the love, and the sheer family of all those involved. From Kay’s friends to the fanfic writers and panelists themselves. It was this infectious energy everyone created, like a new born sun, radiating this warmth you can’t help but want to be part of. It’s a place that feels like a home. A place that makes you feel like you belong.

And most importantly, it is Kay’s own personal self-discoveries that makes this novel such a compelling read.

Empowering, inspiring, and a romance readers will eat up, you definitely won’t want to miss this book.

Happy Reading – Cece

This is an excellent novel for smashing stereotypes. Beauty Queens, fangirls, these labels don't matter anymore. The One True Me and You shows that LGBTQ+ teens are present across all social groups, and that the sooner this becomes common knowledge, the better.

Thanks to Wednesday Books for the free book.
I inhaled this book. I LOVED IT! Ah, this book was one of my 2020 favorites. It mixes a teen pageant and fandoms, friendship and exploring identity. And it takes place over a weekend. Teagan, the pageant contestant, struggles with keeping her identity a secret because of fear of backlash from the pageant committee. Kay is finally in a place where they can explore their identity. I just loved the openness and acceptance the friends provide to these main characters. They showed what friends should truly look like - which is so important for teens/young adults to see. This book explores what it means to apologize, forgive, trust, take chances, and have fun. I cannot wait for teens to read this - it’ll be such a great book for all readers, really, to have.

Loved it! The One True You and Me is a romantic romp with heart, humor, and such wonderfully unapologetic enthusiasm for fandom that reading it feels like a warm hug. I adored the complex friendships and how the two main characters are coming together from very different places (Beauty Pageants! Fandom!) and get to grow from meeting each other, with being a book where the beauty queen bashes the "nerd" or vice versa, which would have been such an easy trap to slip into. Instead, the characters approach each other and their respective worlds with so much loving care and respect. It made my heart so happy and I know there are so many teen readers who will hold this book close and read it over and over again.

Thank you so much to Wednesday Books for sending me an ARC!

The One True Me and You by Remi K. England is a story of finding a space to be yourself and letting others have their space too, even if it doesn't match yours.

Teagen is a beauty queen, having been competing in pageants since she was little, the entire world is old hat to her. The Cosmic Miss Teen USA pageant, however, is the most important one yet. She's hoping to win the scholarship prize to help pay for her tuition. When she sees that GreatCon, a con surrounding a popular fandom, is at the same hotel, she years to slide in with her people and not have to hide her sexuality and nerdiness for once. Kaylee is at the con, ready to try on they/them pronouns and be free with her people. When the two happen to meet, sparks fly, but they also clash.

If you're in fandom or write fanfic or have been to cons, this is such a great story to read. It really gives us that feeling of belonging and kinship that can be found in making friends that get you, while also pointing out some of the more toxic traits of fandom. It was really great to see Kaylee able to feel like she's being true to herself by asking people to use they/them pronouns and meeting her online friends IRL. I even enjoyed the pageant parts, which surprised me. There was a great theme here of accepting diversity, but also accepting conventionality if that's what someone chooses for themselves.

A cute and quick read!