I wish Casey Mcquistion was able to write books like this at lightning speed. That way I could have a never ending supply of her books lol.
I loved this book 10/5

Ten out of ten loved reading I Kissed Shara Wheeler. I now recommend it as a fun first read for anyone who hasn't read anything by Casey McQuiston.

I Kissed Shara Wheeler was absolutely delightful. A story to bring comfort and hope to the queer kids that experience religious trauma in the most fun and clever way possible. It gave me Looking for Alaska vibes for sure, but with the Casey McQuiston charm that all their books are filled with.
I would read anything they write, and I’m glad they gave teens a story to enjoy unapologetically.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me access to this book.

Casey McQuiston dabbles in young adult fiction and it's truly delightful. Her characters charm with their oddly specific interests and the ensemble cast captures the readers' hearts as they go through their own coming of age story. It centers on the disappearance of popular, Shara Wheeler, a month before graduation. On that day, she kisses her nemesis, Chloe Green, and starts leaving pink envelopes with clues for her to decipher.

Obsessed with beating Shara Wheeler, Chloe's life is taken over by the hunt to find the next pink envelope. She, however, is not the only one receiving pink envelopes. Shara left one for her boyfriend, Smith, and her neighbor, Rory, who has had a crush on her since childhood. This journey brings Chloe closer to people she has never spoken to before and she quickly learns that despite their differences in popularity that they all struggle with the same things.

Ultimately, this is a story about coming to terms with one's identity and fully embracing it. Set in Alabama at a religious school, there are environmental and societal factors that challenge these characters, but McQuiston somehow portrays it without too much negativity. It also isn't hard to fall in love with all of the characters as they grow and find themselves despite these circumstances. McQuiston really has a gift for creating loveable characters that feel realistic and unique. Do not miss this book!

I'm a huge Casey McQuiston fan, but I have conflicting feelings about this venture into YA. While I loved the pace and plot of this book, the characters felt very reminiscent of some characters in John Green's books; the tone felt a little removed from actual teens. I'm curious what teens themselves think of this book. I will certainly recommend this book to teen readers looking for mystery, romance, and queer representation.

I will read anything Casey writes and this was the epitome of a YA Casey story. The story was fun and the characters were full of emotion and I was rooting for all of them.

McQuiston's YA debut is a phenomenal standout in the genre and in Casey's small but surely growing catalog. I loved the characters in this and the story made me feel like I was watching a teen rom-com unfold in front of me. From Chloe's snarking wit to the blooming romance between Rory and Smith, this is one of the best YA books to come out in the genre in a long time and I am incredibly fortunate to have had the chance to read it early.

Thank you for the ARC!
What can I say about this book that hasn't been mentioned a hundred times already? Not much. It was cute and angsty, but way too long in my opinion. I knew going into it that it was a YA novel, but I wasn't expecting to feel that the whole time. If I read this 15 years ago it would have been a 5 star, but here and now it just didn't hit for me.
I wasnt bought in to any of the characters, unfortunately.
All vibes, no thoughts. But with that said, I still had a pretty good time reading it.

I had been interested in reading this novel because I enjoyed Casey McQuiston's two adult LGBTQIA+ novels. While the premise of I Kissed Shara Wheeler was interesting, I felt like it went a bit long.

I liked the scavenger hunt for Shara's notes and how Chloe, Rory, and Smith were able to figure out her cryptic clues. I also liked how everyone came together to support one of the characters after an unjust situation took place. And I'm glad to see that the villain in the story got what was coming to them.

My concern aside from the story going a bit long was that writing it in third person made me feel detached from Chloe. I've read many books in third person where this isn't an issue, but this time around I felt like I would have been more connected to her if it was in first person.

Overall, a thoughtful story that I think young adults who live in small, repressive towns will appreciate and identify with.

"I Kissed Shara Wheeler" by Casey McQuiston is a touching and emotionally resonant young adult novel that delves into themes of love, self-discovery, and the complexities of navigating relationships. McQuiston's storytelling expertise shines as they craft a tale of friendship, romantic exploration, and the journey to understanding one's feelings. The book's relatable characters and heartfelt plot create an immersive reading experience that resonates with LGBTQIAP+ teens and young adults. McQuiston skillfully explores the emotions of discovering one's identity and the intricacies of affection, adding depth to the narrative. "I Kissed Shara Wheeler" is a heartwarming reminder that love comes in many forms and that embracing one's true self can lead to meaningful connections and personal growth, leaving readers with a sense of empathy and a greater appreciation for stories that celebrate diverse experiences and relationships.

it's a silly romantic teen comedy full of fun queer characters and ridiculous dramatic moments, it hums with life and is so earnest. just what i've come to expect from casey mcquiston.

Great book- good story telling
The characters were a little unbelievable, but enjoyable nonetheless

YA romance is hard for me to rate and review because the characters are immature, as they should be considering their age. That being said, I read this one because the author is one of my favourites and they did as well as expected. A fun plot and age appropriate romance.

Red, White and Royal Blue is one of my favorite books of all time, and I'm not sure why I didn't connect to this YA novel about a kiss and run, likely because of the mystery element, which I am just not a fan of. Great writing, just not my cup of tea.

“I Kissed Shara Wheeler” has all the qualities of a good Casey McQuiston book: likeable characters, sense of humor, and a plot that keeps you guessing while it warms your heart. It is a stellar YA debut and it shows Casey’s growth as a writer since their first book.

I’m going to start off saying I absolutely love Casey McQuiston. I devoured both Red, White & Royal Blue and One Last Stop in one sitting and was super excited to read I Kissed Shara Wheeler.

Maybe it’s because it’s YA that I just really struggled to get even 1/3 through this one but I just couldn’t do it. The main character Chloe just wasn’t even remotely likable and I had no love for the others either,

Really sad to finally give up on this one because I’m sure it has fans but I just can’t.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Casey McQuiston's first Young Adult book felt as good as their two other novels. This deliciously queer tale set in a small, religious town is different from anything else I've ever read. The plot is as enigmatic as the titular character, so thrilling and exhilarating. This book takes John Green's successful book "Paper Towns" and makes it a million times better and gayer.

"I Kissed Shara Wheeler" was nothing like I was expecting. Every character arc and every interpersonal dynamic surprised me. Casey McQuiston has done it again, but this time they've tried a new genre and turned it around completely. I highly recommend this book to everyone who thinks they're tired of reading YA and high school stories like me. I'm so glad I gave it a chance!

As much as I loved RWRB, I just…wasn’t as big of a fan of this one? Don’t get me wrong, it was fine. But, the intro really reminded me of Paper Towns by John Green. It was good though!

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. The beginning of this novel drops you into the life of Chloe Green who is attending a high school in Alabama where she doesn't feel like she fits in. It's senior year and she's so close to becoming valedictorian but her competition Shara Wheeler has gone missing. She's on a quest to find out where Shara is so she can achieve her valedictory status fair and square. The read was easy and the mystery makes it a bit of a page turner but I found that I didn't really connect or empathize with any of the characters until much later in the book. All of the high school characters are keeping secrets only revealed very late in the book to survive in the very superficial world of high school and the rigid expectations of a conservative Christian high school. I really enjoyed the author's other books but this one didn't work for me.

Sadly disappointing in the face of McQuiston’s other books— a fun and enjoyable read for sure, but my expectations were quite high.