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.

I will be including this book in my personal classroom library, but I am not in love with it. While I’m actually a huge fan of both of McQuiston’s other works, this one was not it for me. It was boring and I couldn’t feel invested and while McQuiston does make reference to it, the whole beginning feels like a less interesting and compelling rip off of John Green’s Paper Towns. The only thing better about this book is that it’s queer.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

McQuiston has done it again! They write about the queer community in a way that is unashamedly for us. Being set in high school, this one comes with the bonus of highlighting the process of self-discovery. Very Paper Towns meets 13 Little Blue Envelopes but gay, which is exactly the niche I've been waiting to have filled.

I wanted to like this book more than I did, which makes me sad considering I love all of McQuiston's other books. But this one didn't do it for me.
Firstly, I found Chloe to be an unlikable character. She wasn't horrible, she just wasn't that great either. Sure, I guess she grows a bit by the end, but I didn't buy it.
Secondly, the mystery felt contrived and pretty anti-climactic.
Thirdly, Shara was THE WORST.
Finally, Chloe and her love interest should have NEVER gotten together. They're going to be such a toxic couple.

Also, I found the sheer number of queer kids in this Alabama Christian private school to be absolutely unrealistic. Write the world you wish you had, I suppose, but it felt disingenuous to the reality of queer people as well as to Chloe's character.

I love Casey McQuinston so it's no surprise that I loved this book. The characters in this story feel so fleshed out that it feels like they're real people. This is funny, charming, and full of heart. Definitely recommend it for any YA reader.

I so wanted to love this book and don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed it and am recommending it to all my friends but it just didn’t hit the same as Red White and Royal Blue or One Last Stop. The entire time I kept thinking Paper Towns and I know it was somewhat marketed that way but it was difficult to feel a draw/investment to keep reading. The characters are really the ones who made the story for me. McQuiston has always been a pro with characters and that makes up why they are one of my favorite authors. The work and dedication they put into thinking of every aspect of their characters life is incredible and drew me in more than the plot.

One month before graduation, Shara kisses Chloe and vanishes. On a furious hunt for answers, Chloe discovers she’s not the only one Shara kissed. There’s also Smith, Shara’s longtime quarterback sweetheart, and Rory, Shara’s bad boy neighbor with a crush. The three have nothing in common except Shara and the annoyingly cryptic notes she left behind, but together they must untangle Shara’s trail of clues and find her.

This was ridiculous and unbelievable, but I liked it fine. It's not my favorite Casey McQuiston book, but I think I've just grown out of YA books. The audiobook narrator was great!