I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'm not the demographic for YA which plays into how I feel about this book.

I like the story of the Importance of Being Earnest and as an adoptee I was curious about the book. While we learn a bit about Janey and her life, it felt a little superficial to me. There's not a whole lot about her feelings around her family and adoption.

The rest of the book feels fairly true to high school. The story is so short I would have liked more time to get to know the characters.

It's a fairly short read that I can see why other people would enjoy this retelling.

I really liked the main character's relationship with her best friend.
Not sure if I can see how this was based on Oscar Wilde's play (was it based on that? I'm just assuming BC of the title) but it was a cute and funny story

Epically Earnest by Molly Horan is a genderbent, LGBTQ+ retelling of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest. While I have never read or seen the play it did not lessen my enjoyment of this book.

Horan's debut is a perfect example of simple book being great. There is no overly complex plot here. Jane was found abandoned in a bag at the train station, earning her the name Bag Baby. After being adopted by her rescuer Jane lives a normal life with a happy family, but there is also the thought in the back of her mind of wanting to know more about where she came from. Epically Earnest delves into those feelings behind family, identity and loving someone.

I really enjoyed reading Jane's journey. I thought it was meaningful as it explored the family you chose, the family who choses you and the family that exists only in blood. The cast of characters were diverse and fun, each person jumping off the page with their unique personality. I would love to read a sequel or spin-off with Cecil and Algie. I also really really enjoyed the little obituaries that Jane writes throughout the book, I thought they were an excellent touch.

The ending was a little surprising. This book very much reads like a slice of life episode. There is not much resolution when it comes to Jane searching for more information about her blood relatives and this is not an ending with a huge punch. But honestly I was okay with that. It was an ending that reminded me you can want more out of life or you can be okay with what you have for the moment.

Overall Epically Earnest was a quick, easy read that had LGBTQ+ and adoption representation, that I really enjoyed reading and would definitely recommend to others. Would love to read whatever Molly Horan writes next.

Epically Earnest follows Jane Grady, a high school senior living a relatively average life where her biggest problem is working up the courage to ask her long-time crush to prom. Well, that and the fact that she was one of the internet's first viral sensations, the #bagbaby, who was found by her adoptive father in a Gucci bag in a train station at only one year old. When Jane's best friend, Algie, steals her spit to complete a DNA test that links her to a biological cousin, she must decide how to best be honest with her parents about the part of her that longs to know where she comes from, and what happened in her first year of life.

This book was very wholesome, and so casually queer with very likeable characters. The mystery of Jane's origin kept the story moving forward wonderfully, and I really enjoyed the progression of her relationship with Gwen, her friendship with Algie, as well as the romance between Algie and Cecil. The way the author chose to wrap everything up felt perfectly imperfect to me, as did the characters. This was a messy story with a bit of a messy ending, and what is life (especially teenage life), if not messy?

I received this ARC via NetGalley for my honest opinion. Epically Earnest took me a while to get through and to comprehend. The writing style is unique in my opinion and caused the story to more than what it act actually was. This book would have probably been mediocre if it wasn't for Horan's uniques writing style. The plot could have honestly been a game changer but the way Horan went about it cause me to dislike the carry out of the book.

This was so, so sweet and I can't stand it. It wasn't at all the book I thought it would be, but it was absolutely perfect.

I expected a romcom that would really focus on the romance and the mistaken/faked identity comedy of The Importance of Being Earnest. I forgot that Wilde's play is also hugely about finding your family. Epically Earnest has the romance, but that's not the plot, it's not the complication. The hurdle in Janey's life is—not even finding her bio family, but finding out if she wants to. It's about being on the edge of a huge change in your life and figuring out if you're going to continue to be the same person, or if that's even possible. Whether to dig in your heels against change or embrace it, and believe that it will be for the better.

I don't have a ton to say for this one! It was a quick, easy story with likable characters! The writing was fine (though I'm not the biggest fan of first person, past tense but that's a personal thing that I didn't factor in to this review). I liked Algie the most of all the characters. He was a lot of fun and just the tiniest bit dramatic. He was also a surprisingly good friend even if he did push the boundaries of Janey's tolerance haha. He was definitely the standout character for me. However, I also really liked Janey as the MC as well. She was relatable as a young girl trying to learn more about herself and where she came from but also trying to find that balance of being happy with what she has.

I think what didn't work for me was the relationship between her and Gwen. I liked Gwen a lot and Janey too, but their growth together had a strange progression and I think I would've liked to have seen it slow down some to really get the full effect of their connection. Which brings me to my point of what didn't work as well for me in this book and that's just the odd balance of some things taking far too long to get through and others happening super fast. Overall, this book was nice and I think a lot of people will love it! It wasn't the perfect 5 for me, but I have no doubt it will resonate more with others!

*ARC provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review* 3.5/5 stars - Epically Earnest by Molly Horan is a sapphic romance filled with comedy and relatability that leaves readers feeling like they've been wrapped in a warm hug. The novel is perfect for anybody who is a fan of Oscar Wilde this is a retelling of one of his famous plays entitled "The Importance of Being Earnest." One of the important pieces of this story is the fact that it deals with adoption and looking for family where you can, while embracing the people that you already have in your life. The writing feels suited for teens navigating High School, or anyone just looking for a more lighthearted time. The story does not grapple with any darker themes and focuses on the more fun stresses of adolescence like prom. While I am someone who enjoys more serious topics being explored, I really enjoyed the fun ride Horan provided. Epically Earnest brings to the table writing that is refreshing and charming to see! Be sure to look out for this novel hitting shelves in June.

I love The Importance of Being Earnest so I was very intrigued when I came across this book. This YA, LGBTQ+ rom-com was cute.
There wasn't much of a build up to the relationships. It all happens quickly. This story focuses on themes of love, adoption, friendship, and found family. I thought the living obits was really creative. I also enjoyed the way an Oscar Wilde quote was used at the beginning of each chapter.


Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Beyond a few nominal nods to character names and social standings, Epically Earnest bears little resemblance to the Oscar Wilde play that inspired it. Algie does share the rakishness and devilish wit of Wilde's Algernon Moncrieff, and heroine Jane does share Jack Worthing's origin story of being an abandoned baby. But all of Wilde's madcap plot points, particularly the hilariously incredulous notion that both heroines in his play have such a love for the name Ernest, have been stripped away. 

The result is a much less biting, much more, well, earnest and sincere young adult romance. Epically Earnest is delightfully unrestrained in the adorableness of its central love stories. Jane has nursed a secret crush on her best friend Algie's cousin Gwen for years; with high school graduation just around the corner, she's desperate to shed her sweaty palms and dorky witticisms and muster the courage to ask Gwen to prom. Everything about Algie turns Jane's younger cousin Cecil into a heart-eyes emoji, yet Algie is notorious for wanting nothing more than a good time. At least until a mishap at a bowling alley reveals Cecil's courage and heroism, and while Algie continues to speak of their dates as being all about fun, it's pretty clear there's more heart-eye-emoji stuff going on than Algie cares to admit.

Both couples are adorable; both romances are just really sweet. With such unabashed, fluffy joy throughout, I was surprised to see the author's narrative restraint in detailing the big, splashy climax scene in Central Park, and the grand finale scene at prom. Part of me wishes she had gone all out in those scenes as well -- I wanted to enjoy every last bit of giddy cheesiness from those moments. Yet another part of me is also glad that she did pull back when describing the spectacle -- rather, the scenes focused on the emotions Jane experiences, and the ways in which her connection with Gwen deepens. If this were a movie, the spectacle around Jane and Gwen would turn fuzzy, and music would swell as the cameras zoomed in to focus on the characters. As an artistic choice, it's smart, and a move that reminds us of the humans at the heart of these moments.

Horan also expands on the subplot about Jane's parentage. While her counterpart in Wilde's play, Jack, turns out to have a family history that plays right into the outlandishness of Wilde's plot, and conveniently sets up Jack's happy ending, Horan's heroine Jane takes a much more thoughtful and realistic journey along this front. As a baby, Jane was found in a bag abandoned at a train station. The man who found her eventually adopted her, and then married a wonderful woman, so Jane got to grow up with a loving family. Still, she sometimes can't help but wonder about her birth family, particularly when she gains Internet fame as Bag Baby Babe. 

This subplot kicks off when Algie secretly sends a sample of Jane's spit off for DNA testing, and the results reveal a potential cousin. Jane's dilemma about whether or not to meet this cousin is momentous, as is the question of what to do with the knowledge if and when they actually do meet. I love where Horan takes this subplot, and how wonderfully the love and support of Jane's family plays into it. On a side note, the moment when Algie tells Jane why he sent her spit off in the first place is probably my favourite scene in the entire novel; the surprising and unexpected depth of vulnerability of Algie's true motivations tugged at my heartstrings, and made me want to give him a big hug.

Overall, Epically Earnest is a really sweet, feel good romance. Younger readers looking forward to their own proms may enjoy it even more than I did, but overall, this was a fun, fluffy way to spend a few hours.

+

Thank you to Clarion Books for an e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I received this book for free for an honest review from netgalley #netgalley

I love the diversity of the cast. A great young adult book with lots of interesting characters

This was so charming! I feel like it's hard to go wrong when Oscar Wilde is the inspiration, but even so, I just thought this was lovely and heartwarming. Janey is our main character, who is navigating potentially exploring who her bio family is after she went semi-viral as an infant being found abandoned in a train station and being adopted by the man who found her. She's also very enamored with Gwen, the cousin of her best friend Algernon, and is hoping to see if that might be something, especially as prom approaches. Meanwhile, Algernon, a relationship butterfly, is spending time with Jane's younger cousin Cecil, who might help settle Algernon into a butterfly who stays on a flower for a bit longer. (That analogy went a bit off the rails...) I really appreciated having another YA where the main character is queer and already out and fully accepted by her family. This is a low conflict, low drama, high teen angst story that was just very very sweet.

Well this was just delightful. It's a fun, low stakes, queer YA based on Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest, with all of the heart and none of the bite of Wilde's own writing. It felt fresh and modern and smart and safe.

Highly highly recommend to any queer YA lovers out there.

Thanks to Clarion and NetGalley for this ARC!

CW: adoption, abandoned baby

This was so, so sweet and I can't stand it. It wasn't at all the book I thought it would be, but it was absolutely perfect.

I expected a romcom that would really focus on the romance and the mistaken/faked identity comedy of The Importance of Being Earnest. I forgot that Wilde's play is also hugely about finding your family. Epically Earnest has the romance, but that's not the plot, it's not the complication. The hurdle in Janey's life is—not even finding her bio family, but finding out if she wants to. It's about being on the edge of a huge change in your life and figuring out if you're going to continue to be the same person, or if that's even possible. Whether to dig in your heels against change or embrace it, and believe that it will be for the better.

I still want to read a f/f Importance of Being Earnest retelling that's about the comedy and fake personas and the couples having to struggle to match up, but I don't want Epically Earnest to be anything other than what it is: gentle and safe and funny, with supportive parents and friends and first dates that go well and promposals that go even better. This book absolutely lives up to its title. It is epically earnest. It wants you to know that everything is going to be okay.

DNF @ 37%

I just couldn’t get into this book. The characters weren’t particularly interesting and I found I couldn’t really follow the story properly.

Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Epically Earnest was, at its core, a lighthearted and conflict-free book. Despite its short length and easy writing, it took me longer than I care to admit to finish it. While the writing was simple and quick, there was nothing that really drew me into the story but rather I found things that I really did not like which, in turn, kept me from wanting to read it at all.

It is 2022 and I know avoiding mentioning things such as popular social media platforms, films and popular tv shows, and anything that is current is borderline impossible in most contemporary YA works. However, I find it very hard to get through those kinds of passages as I find them cringey. Considering the first 20-30% of the book are heavy on those kinds of references, it set me up for an unenjoyable time.

Similarly, I found Algie almost unbearable. He felt like a one dimensional caricature, and unfortunately I did not like anything about him. I would say I preferred all scenes without him.

The book was not objectively bad, but I wish Jane’s search for her biological family had been explored more deeply (whether the author leaned towards it or against it) as I think it is a topic that many adoptees would have wanted to see played out on paper. The lack of development made me feel indifferent towards it and I feel like I shouldn’t have been.

On a positive note: both the WLW and MLM relationships were very cute and something all queer teens deserve to see! Queer kids can be happy and in love and relationship conflicts are not necessary for a believable romantic story (thank you to the author for proving that!).

Overall it was an unenjoyable read with enjoyable parts. I would still recommend this to anyone looking for an easy and “awe”-worthy queer storyline.

Thank you NetGalley, Clarion Books, and Molly Horan for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Epically Earnest is a charming and sweet ya novel that explores friendship, family, and humanity with light and warmth.

Janey is a witty and caring protagonist who is balancing the end of high school with friendship, her long-term crush, and birth-family drama. I enjoyed her journey and the gentle overall tone of the book. It feels just as soft as the pastel cover and I found it very comforting to sink into that feeling. This is not a fast-paced or plot-driven story; it's an exploration of its characters and of possibilities.

Janey is joined by a hilarious and fun group of friends who bring life to this book. While I wouldn't call this a comedic book in general, I laughed out loud several times at various one-liners. This book feels breezy, sweet, and delightfully queer. I'd recommend to anyone looking for a ya contemporary to put a smile on their face.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
I went into this because I loved the concept but I wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as I did! It was so heartwarming and actually genuinely funny at times. Like I was sitting there grinning while I was reading, especially at the end I was so close to 'aww'-ing out loud lmao. I love how it captured that giddy feeling of being young and uncertain and falling in love. I also love how the characters are so clearly inspired by The Importance of Being Earnest, like if you've read/seen the play you can totally see aspects of the original characters in these new characters' personalities (especially Algie lmao). The inclusion of aspects from Earnest was done super well (Cecil keeping a diary *wink wink* like that Cecily scene). Overall it wasn't life-changing or the type of book I would get super invested in and emotionally moved by, but I had a fun time and I'm glad I read it. I'd totally recommend it to anyone who loves anything super gay, is looking for something lighthearted, and loved Earnest!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I was drawn to this book because of the cover, and then I learned it's a queer retelling of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest which I have never read. I can't say how close this book is to the source material if that's what's drawing you in but you do not need to have read Wilde to understand and enjoy Epically Earnest. It reads just like a regular YA novel.

The book follows our main character Janey as she navigates a new relationship with her best friend Algie's cousin Gwen, who she's had a crush on for years. Meanwhile Algie has just started dating Janey's cousin Cecil. Janey was abandoned as a baby and though she's been adopted by a wonderful loving family, she's started to be curious about her birth family. The result in this book is an exploration of growing up, being true to yourself, and the family and friends you choose and who choose you being the most important thing.

This book was a cute and quick read, but I wish it had been a bit longer so that the relationships themes could have been a bit more developed.

Full review posted to Goodreads and StoryGraph

4.5*

THIS BOOK.

It was such a fun read, loved the characters' humor and dynamics, and the whole found family aspect :) The writing was simple, really easy to follow so you can definitely read it in a sitting, and I don't remember ever feeling like it was boring me at all. Despite the themes it deals with, like abandonment and being an adoptee, it didn't have a gloomy vibe and it was actually quite lighthearted which I appreciated. Being someone who was abandoned by their biological father it kinda hit close to home and I think it's the reason I enjoyed Jane's journey so much. The queer love stories in this book were so so cute too!!
Only thing that saddens me is that I haven't read The Importance of Being Earnest so I didn't really get the references everyone talked about.