Wow! This book was amazingly written and a much needed addition to the fiction that is finally becoming more prevalent focusing on LGBTQ+ issues and identities. As the parent of two teenagers, and a teacher of upper elementary age and early middle school age students, I have learned how imperative it is for others to learn about pronouns, types of sexuality and identities, and acceptance. I have known students as young as fourth grade who have questioned their gender and/or their sexuality. A lot of them become depressed because they don't feel that there is anyone to talk to about it. The lack of literature with LGBTQ+ representation has also further impacted their feelings that they don't fit into society.

This novel is told in alternating viewpoints by two teenagers. The first is a teenage girl named Teagan, a beauty pageant contestant who has to hide the fact that she is queer from the pageant world. The second is an individual named Kaylee (Kay for short). Kay is into writing fan fiction and is beginning to use they/them pronouns. They think they like girls, but aren't sure yet. Teagan and Kay meet when they are staying at the same hotel and form a connection. Of course, things are complicated. You'll have to read the book to find out more.

Even though this novel focuses on a character who writes fan fiction, and another who participates in beauty pageants, I was able to follow the storylines with limited prior knowledge of either of those things. If you read the book as an adult and have any questions, just ask a middle or high school age child. I will be recommending this read to many students and especially teachers and parents of middle school and high school age students!

Thank you to #NetGalley and #WednesdayBooks for an ARC of #TheOneTrueMeandYou by #RemiK.England in exchange for an honest review.

I received an advanced copy of The One True Me and You from Wednesday Books so I could share my review with you!

Content Warning: Gender Dysphoria, Death of a parent by suicide (off-screen, before the story), homophobia, transphobia, forced outing, bullying discussion of racism and colorism in the world of pageantry.

Teagan needs one last pageant win to secure enough scholarship money to be able to afford four years at her dream college. She might have to hide pieces of herself (her sexuality, and her love for all things nerdy) to win, but it will all be worth it if she can escape to college. Kaylee is attending GreatCon, a fan-run convention dedicated to their favorite TV series, The Great Game. Though Kaylee has never had the chance to be surrounded by people who share their interests, for this one weekend, that will change. But, when the Miss Cosmic USA pageant competition and GreatCon book the same hotel for the weekend, worlds are bound to collide. Teagan and Kaylee have a chance encounter when Teagan sneaks away from her pageant responsibilities to catch a glimpse into the convention. Sparks fly between the two, but embracing their attraction could have consequences beyond just this one weekend.

You can get your copy of The One True Me and You on March 3rd from Wednesday Books!

This story of queer love and acceptance was the balm my soul needed during this difficult time of discrimination and political oppression of LGBTQ+ lives. Watching policies being created that are specifically designed to hurt queer people pass into the world has been incredibly difficult for me (as it has for countless others), but one thing I have found that helps me make it through the day is reading stories of queer joy. The One True Me and You was precisely what I needed to read right now. I devoured the entire book in a single sitting, falling easily into Teagan and Kaylee’s stories. I loved the fan-con/beauty pageant dynamic, and the ways the story empowered different forms of self-expression and gender presentation. I have been following Remi K. England’s writing career avidly, since their debut, as they write some of my all-time favorite science fiction novels! I wasn’t sure what to expect from their first contemporary novel, but I think I somehow loved it even more!

My Recommendation-
If you’re in need of a pick-me-up story with a solid blend of romance, humor, and relatable fandom feels, you need to grab a copy of The One True Me and You right away! I would especially recommend this book to fans of Fangirl and Ship It!

I received a galley for this book from NetGalley.

I plowed through this book it was so good and perfect for the plane ride home from vacation. It sucked me in from the start and had a ton of representation. For a YA love story this was well written and addresses a number of issues like outing of a character with a lot of sensitivity which I appreciate. I also really enjoyed the fact that it shows cons in a very accepting light and normalizes it for young readers so they can feel more confident in their decisions with fandom (as we all know it can come with a lot of judgement from outsiders). I think the author does an amazing job overall and I can't wait to read more from them.

A delightful, heartwarming, beautifully queer romcom! I loved this dive into fandom culture, gender, cliques, and love. The author's voice lends itself so well to contemporary romance, so while I love their sci-fi books as well, I hope they continue in this genre too!

This YA book was well done and had a great opposites attract trope! I loved what each character was going through and the respect they had for each other. I would definitely want this in a high school library; very well written for upper middle/high school students.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of The One True Me and You by Remi K. England.

I adored this book. Absolutely adored it. I loved the characters, while I really liked Teagan and Kay I thought that the background fandom characters Ami, Lady, and Cakes where absolutely amazing. I loved the references and the changing of names to things I was familiar with and everything about this book made me extremely happy.

I also really appreciated Teagan's choices at the end of this book. I would have thought, based on how it seemed that this would have been the last thing to happen with Teagan. The same thing happened with Kay and her mom in the end, I loved the idea that sometimes the idea is worse from anticipation than what it actually ends up being which was something that Kay struggled with throughout the whole story.

Overall I adore this story and the way that it is told. I am aware that it isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea but it definitely was mine.

Fandoms in a con setting work for me so well. The shorter format also helped me out especially with with a meet-cute.

Happy Publication Week to The One True Me and You by Remi K. England

Thank you @ Wednesday Books for my eARC copy of The One True Me and You.

What is this book about?:
The One True Me and You by Remi K. England follows fanfic author, Kaylee Beaumont who is internally screaming at the chance to finally meet her fandom friends in real life and spend a weekend at GreatCon. They also have three goals for the weekend: try out they/them pronouns to see how it feels, wear more masculine-presenting cosplay, and kiss a girl for the first time. It’s a lot for them and Kaylee wants to lie face down on the hotel floor especially when their hometown bully, Miss North Carolina, shows up in the very same hotel. But there’s a con-sponsored publishing contest and the chance to meet their fandom idol and then, there’s Teagan.

Pageant queen Teagan Miller (Miss Virginia) is at the same hotel that Kaylee is at for the GreatCon and has her eyes on the much-needed prize: the $25,000 scholarship awarded to the winner of the Miss Cosmic Teen USA pageant. She also has secrets: she loves the dresses but hates the tiaras, she’s a giant nerd for everything GreatCon and she’s gay.

If Teagan can just keep her secrets wrapped up tight for one more weekend, she can claim the scholarship and go off to college out and proud but if she’s caught, she could lose everything she’s worked for and Miss North Carolina would be happy about that.

When Teagan and Kay bump into one another the first night, sparks fly. Their connection is intense as is their shared enemy. Both Kaylee and Teagan have to decide if embracing their true selves and their feelings is worth it.

Overall Thoughts:
Overall, The One True Me and You was a delight as it brilliantly intertwined the fandom convention with the pageant, featured well developed characters, explored gender identity and sexuality, had believable chemistry between Kaylee and Teagan, featured an accurate portrayal of fandom, fanfic and friendships within fandom. 5/5

Who would like this?:
Anyone who enjoys queer YA books about fandom, pageants and/or both.

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was adorable. Just straight up sweet. I loved every single minute of it. A non-binary fan fic writer trying out their new pronouns for the first time attending a fandom convention and a lesbian beauty queen competing in her last pageant for college money have a meet-cute and insta-love connection at the hotel where their events are being held? Oh, and they have an enemy in common that's also at the hotel that weekend? Yes, please. Sign me up.

I was already of fan of Remi K. England after I read their dystopian YA sci-fi "The Disasters" so when this became available to review, I was sold on the author alone.

Seriously, this book is super fun and the perfect quick feel good read.

There are definitely a few content warnings for this one, especially bullying, cyber bullying and homophobia so be careful if those are triggers for you.

I originally rated this to five stars, but I've lowered it to four. It was one of the best books I read in February, but I'm not sure how much it will stick out in the long run.

This was such an adorable book! I went in hoping for a feel-good story, and I wasn't disappointed. Teagan and Kay deserve all the happiness and acceptance. I honestly don't have much to say on this one, other than I really enjoyed both the fandom and pageant components, and I highly recommend it. (This is a smaller detail, but as someone familiar with the archive, it was cool to see it used in a book!)

My one complaint is that the antagonist, Miss NC, feels pretty flat and kind of predictable. This was a short rom-com, though, so I feel like it can kind of get away with that.

Overall, this was the absolute cutest, and I recommend it!

I knew I was going to love The One True Me and You from the beginning. Queer plus nonbinary MC and LI?! Talk about a match made in heaven. Not only that, but The One True Me and You features the terror, and joys, of being seen, how expectations can take over, and the importance of friendship. Immediately this convention space made my heart so happy! At the same time, England continuously stresses the power of finding our people. Of the friendships which hold us up and give us strength.

While also never sugar coating the fears of being outted or how we have to compromise our dreams and openness for safety and opportunity. The One True Me and You is a love letter to the positives of fandom. To being united in a love of something larger than ourselves and finding a community. It's also a love story. The romance story line was seriously swoony and it made my heart so happy. I loved how Kay and Tegan's connection. How they can see each other and these pieces of ourselves we conceal.

The One True Me and You restored my faith in YA books. I had read some that annoyed me, but this one made me smile. It is a sweet story about teens from two groups who may be the most judged – the teen from the beauty pageant and the teen from the fandom convention. I loved the mix of Kay, who is trying out they/them pronouns and coming to terms with being non binary, and Teagan, who is scared to come out and ruin her chances at getting a scholarship. The two share a common bully, meet some amazing friends, and learn to embrace their true selves.

Teagan is ready to crush it this weekend. That’s what brought her to this hotel in Florida. She’s been preparing, she’s ready, and it’s her year. That $25,000 scholarship that comes to the winner of the Miss Cosmic Teen USA pageant is as good as in her bank account. She is Miss Virginia, and she is there to compete. But when she shows up at the hotel, she realizes that there is more than just the Miss Cosmic Teen USA pageant going on. There is also a convention for lovers of The Great Game, a modern-day Sherlock Holmes remake that is her absolute favorite show. Teagan wants to join in with the nerdy con fun, but she has to stay focused to win that scholarship.

Kaylee has been waiting for this convention for so long. No only is it a chance to meet some of their online friends in real life, it’s also a chance for them to talk about their fanfic and even compete to get a story into a Sherlock Holmes anthology that’s going to be published. But really, they has an agenda for the weekend. On the to-do list is three things: to ask someone to use they/them pronouns instead of feminine pronouns, to dress and cosplay in a gender-comfortable way, and to kiss a girl for the first time. Kaylee isn’t comfortable with any of that in her school, or in the town they live in, in North Carolina. But here they can be whoever they want to be.

Teagen gets through her first day of the pageant with ease. She’s been in pageants for years, so she’s become comfortable with the runway walk in her carefully chosen outfits. And she rocked her interview, talking about how she helps kids with art therapy, how finding art helped her when her mother died. She is confident, well-spoken, and hits all the points that she knows the judges will be listening for. Her pageant coach, Rhonda, will be so proud. But after a long day of competing, she’s wanting to blow off some steam. She saw that The Great Game con has some karaoke going on, and she just wants to be in the crowd, hanging out with fellow nerds, so she sneaks out of the hotel room, so the chaperones and pageant moms don’t see her out.

Kaylee has been sitting in their hotel room with their friends, enjoying the evening. Their friends want to go to karaoke. Kaylee’s first instinct is to stay in the room and work on her their fiction, and hide from their list of things they want to try out this weekend. But their friends encourage Kaylee to get out of the room and go to karaoke, to blow off some steam and hang out with their people. Kaylee agrees, and it’s there that they bump into Teagan. Literally. And when Teagan asks them to dance, Kaylee says yes, and it doesn’t take long for them to feel like they definitely want to kiss a girl, specifically, this girl.

After dancing to a couple of songs, Teagan and Kaylee head over to a quiet room where they can talk. Teagan finds a coloring sheet and gets lots in her art while Kaylee finds a loose-leaf tea bar and puts together some of their favorite combinations. As they talk and get to know each other, they find that they have a lot in common. Keylee writes some of Teagan’s favorite fanfic, and Teagan pulls up her Etsy store on her phone, showing off her hand-painted clothes and accessories, which Kaylee loves.

But on their way back to their respective hotel rooms, the new friends are almost seen by Miss North Carolina, Madison. She is one of Teagan’s competitors in the pageant, but she’s one of the most cutthroat girls in the pageant, so Teagan doesn’t want Madison to see her because she would definitely rat her out to the chaperones. But Kaylee freezes up too when they see Madison. Madison goes to their school and bullies them mercilessly. If Madison were to find out about their fanfic, or about how they are exploring their gender identity and sexual identity this weekend, Kaylee would never hear the end of it when she goes home.

Now that Teagan and Kaylee have found each other, they want to keep hanging out together. But will Teagan’s pageant and Kaylee’s insecurities get in the way of their new relationship, not to mention Miss North Carolina? Or will they be able to find ways to express themselves, their truest selves, and maybe even find love during this crazy weekend in Florida?

The One True Me and You is a book filled with acceptance and compassion for anyone who doesn’t fit in the usual categories. It’s an ideal read for nerds or LGBTQ+ individuals who are wanting to find their people or who want to celebrate finding their own place. Author Remi K. England draws from her own experiences as a teenager, and it shows in the depth of emotion that comes through these pages. The struggles of Kaylee and Teagan can be felt through these pages, and you just want to keep reading to make sure things turn out okay in the end.

I thought this was a really beautifully told love story. I’ll be honest—the pageant storyline had me questioning whether this was the right book for me. But the pageant girls are warm and supportive, and there is a strong emphasis on the charity work and the scholarship opportunities. There is Miss North Carolina, who is clearly a mean girl, but the other contestants are interesting young women, and I learned a little something about my own judgmental attitudes. The One True Me and You is a really exceptional book about growing up, finding your own voice, and creating a space for yourself and your people where you can be your best self. Loved it!

Egalleys for The One True Me and You were provided by Wednesday Books through NetGalley, with many thanks.

I adored this YA queer love story between a lesbian beauty pageant queen, Tegan and Kay, a nonbinary cosplay and fanfic writer who meet at a hotel hosting both events. Full of supportive queer friends and well developed characters finding the courage to embrace their true selves. I loved the friendship that develops between Kay and Tegan and how each learns to overcome their initial prejudices. Highly recommended and really great on audio too. Much thanks to NetGalley and the Wednesday Books for my advance review copy.

TW: homophobia, bullying, grief (death of a parent off page)

This book was a quick, sweet read, and gave me all the feels. At its core it has all the makings of a fun teen romcom. Two sassy leads, an exciting meet cute, a cast of supportive friends, and a villainous mean girl ready to burn it all down. However, on top of the typical tropes is a story of queer self-discovery and fandom culture.

Teagan and Kay crosspaths in an Orlando hotel on the same weekend. The first ready to claim the last pageant crown of her career and the scholarship money to afford the college of her choice, where she can finally live her out and proud life. The second is at their first con. Ready to experience their online life irl, meet the friends they have only on FaceTime, and maybe kiss a girl for the first time. Teagan’s thrown off when her pageant life meets her secret fandom life, but a chance to experience a moment in the community is worth the risk.

I felt for both characters in this book, but really related to Teagan. I was never a pageant girl, but I’ve always been pretty feminine. No one typically guesses I’m gay from across the room, and I spent a large chunk of my teen life hiding how nerdy I was. But I spent hours, and do to this day, reading fanfiction and going cons. Fighting for and figuring out my place in a community that when I was still a teenager was virtually invisible. This book showcases a real view of the power of fandom, the good and bad parts.

What a sweet coming of age story! Kay and Tea are both 17 and navigating how to share who they really are with the world. Their worlds collide when a hotel is hosting a fandom con and a Miss Teen pageant on the same weekend.

Tea is there to represent Virgina in the pageant and Kay is there for a writing competition at the con. These two accidentally meet while they are each on their own weekend missions. Tea needs to win to secure her college money and Kay wants to try out they/them and maybe kiss a girl. Kay can't be their self at home in small town North Carolina and this is the chance to see who they could really be and explore that.

I loved that they were in different places in their journeys to self discovery and struggled. They are teenagers and I loved the anxiety and excitement of the first kiss they share and how all their friends react. As a parent I think we need to be reading books like this to see that side of these struggles that we maybe didn't face in the way that some of our children are. I think this further helps establish us as allies for people in our lives who need more cheerleaders in their corners,

Such a great ending for both Teagan and Kay.

I got an ARC of this book.

I have not really been reading lately, despite having so many books staring at me. So I started this book with little hope that it would grab my attention at no fault of the book or the author. Just been exhausted and stressed lately. So when I looked up from my phone for the first time while reading at 40% I was beyond excited.

This book was the perfect book for me right now. I ended up reading the whole book in a day, which while it is my normal, it has not happened in months. It was just a really gentle and readable romance. It wasn’t quite fluff, but it wasn’t incredibly intense either. I wish it would have picked one and really gone for it though.

So Kay uses they/them pronouns and is questioning if they are nonbinary and queer. It was so adorable watching them go through that journey. The plot was never about how others accepted them or not. It was about Kay learning to stop being a gatekeeper of their own happiness. That being said, there was one point in the book where Tea is mentally correcting all of the misgenderings other are doing towards Kay, then immediately uses she for Kay. It was jarring. It was probably a typo in my copy, but if it makes it to the finished book I will be very sad.

I was giggling at some of the scenes. I was just so excited for all the happiness I was sure the characters would get. That was part of the fluffy of the book. It was clear there would be happiness, I never doubted they would get happily ever afters. Despite some really intense plots coming up like being outed and learning to accept yourself, it never full embraced the emotionally intense.

There were small details that really made this story exciting for me. On one panel a queer man mentions that a lot of m/m stuff is written by women for women. This has been a huge issue I have had in the m/m romance world, something I complain about all the time. My best friend from high school is a queer woman who writes m/m erotica and romance constantly. So I have seen both sides. It is just nice to see that actually get acknowledged in a fan space like the con. It was little details like that that make it clear that the author is probably into fandoms and they have found a home in it in a way that I never have, but I wish I could.

Overall, a book that I really enjoyed, I just wished it had been either more fluffy or have more intense emotions. It was straddling the line. If it had gone a little fluffier it would have been five stars without hesitation. It works so well as a fluff.

This book was so cute. I am so happy I was able to get an advance copy. I read this on my flight to NYC for pride it was the perfect choice. I felt so nostalgic reading this; one of my longtime friends is someone I met on Tumblr talking about fandoms. I also I really enjoyed the con vibes and found family aspects. I loved Teagan and Kay. Kay’s friends really pulled it out and supported them; they even supported Teagan that was amazing. I wish Teagan were just a little better to her friend, I know she comes around but it still didn’t feel like enough. I also did not enjoy how fast Kay turned on Teagan during the big drama. The coming out and into yourself aspect was great figuring out where you land on the queer spectrum is such a journey and this book displayed it so well. This book was an easy fun read!

This was such a fun and sweet quick read!

Kay is a fanfic writer heading to Greatcon for the weekend and to meet up with some fandom friends.

Wanting to test out some things outside her restrictive hometown and life.

"-Try out they/them pronouns to see how it feels
-Wear more masculine-presenting cosplay
-Kiss a girl for the first time"

Teagan is at the same hotel competing in the Miss Cosmic Teen USA pageant as Miss Virginia. She wants to win to use the scholarship to pay for college.

She loves Greatcon but hides that whole side of her along with her being a lesbian. Afraid of what the other contestants and the judges would think.

When Teagan sneaks off to check out Greatcon she bumps into Kay and they definitely feel a spark. Strangely Miss North Carolina who is Teagan's biggest competition is also Kay's school bully so they are constantly evading her.

This was so sweet and for Kay it was a self discovery as she was starting to find out her preferences.

I loved all the fanfic conference fun and running around trying not to get caught by curfew and the floor mom's.

Read if you like:
❤ Coming of Age
🌈  Fandom and pageant events
❤ Non-binary, lesbian rep

Thank you wednesdaybooks and netgalley for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.