I have read and loved all of Casey McQuiston's books and I Kissed Shara Wheeler is one of them. This book had a John Green feel to it, but is its own important and real look into high school life. There are so many beautiful moments and conversations in this book that will speak to many. The conversation between Ash and Smith in Chapter 13 is so moving and important and will definitely help so many identify with themselves.

This is such a moving book set in a high school where students are on a scavenger hunt of sorts to find the ultra popular Shara Wheeler who kissed three of her classmates and vanished. Chloe, Smith and Rory each receive a kiss from Shara and then join together to find out where she went. These three would not normally hang out since they are in different cliques in school but they are brought together through Shara's little pink envelopes with clues inside.

A wonderful coming of age story that focuses on LGBTQ+ youth realizing how not only navigate high school but their own authentic selves in a very religious school.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

A Must Read!

This book is like a new, updated, gay-er version of John Greens Looking for Alaska or An Abundance of Catherines. I absolutely adore it. I think this book is the best book by Casey and look forward to bringing into my classroom. This book peaked my interest and held it throughout the entire book. One of the best reads of 2022 for me!

4.5/5

Chloe Green is close to winning the title of valedictorian at Willowgrove Christian Academy. After moving from California to Alabama, Chloe decided to shake things up, while also doing well in school. She just has to figure out where her rival, Shara Wheeler, ran off to after their prom. Winning by default will simply not do.

But there’s this whole issue: Shara kissed Chloe just before she ran off. And as it turns out, Chloe also kissed her longtime partner, Smith, and her next door neighbor with a crush, Rory. Shara left notes for all of them and it’s up to them to piece together the evidence. Throughout the process, Chloe begins to realize that she might have been too quick to judge her new town.

Between each chapter, readers get to read excerpts from the “burn pile.” Notes between classmates, scrapped versions of Chloe’s valedictorian speech, and even more to help bring the characters to life.

Casey McQuiston handled so many issues SO effectively, including self-discovery, what it’s like to feel like an outsider at a (specifically) Christian school, and how you don’t know what other people are struggling with. But this is not a hard-hitting contemporary by any means. This book is fun and it celebrates being a young queer person with some realistic drama sprinkled in.

My one complaint is that it took me a little while to get invested in this book, but once I did, I had a great time!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press (Wednesday Books) for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I Kissed Shara Wheeler is the book that elevated Casey McQuiston from a ‘love and adore’ to the rarest tier of ‘auto-buy forever and ever’ author for me. I picked this novel up and didn’t put it down until I had finished it hours later on the same day, compelled by queer girls who are allowed to be messy, sharp, driven, ambitious, and imperfect along with a flawlessly executed rivals to lovers romance. McQuiston’s YA debut is infused with mystery, tension, drama, and most of all, heart—including the lovable cast of secondary characters that is a perpetual draw for me with their novels, and it’s one you don’t want to miss.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advance review copy. All opinions are my own.

The following review will be posted on Tuesday,May 3rd, the day of publication. It will be shared on Twitter and Instagram on that day, but the review has already been posted on Goodreads. The blog post includes links to pre-order the books and to its Goodreads page, so readers can add it to their to-be-read books.


“How can that be possible, to feel estranged from a place where everyone loves you? To owe your life to a place and still want to run?”

Genre: YA, LGBTQIA
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Content Warnings: Homophobia, religious bigotry, and bullying.

“I Kissed Shara Wheeler” follows Chloe Green as she tries to solve her archnemesis’, Shara Wheeler’s, disappearance. Joined by Rory, Shara’s neighbor, and Smith, Shara’s long-term boyfriend, Chloe is set to find Shara and beat her to Valedictorian fair and square—if only her feelings of burning hatred won’t get in the way.

If you’re only reading this because you liked “Red, White, and Royal Blue”, don’t. Yes, there is queerness in this book too, but the plot is nothing like Casey McQuiston’s debut novel, and I say that as a fact, not as a good or bad thing… just a thing.

I gave this book 4 stars because I liked the writing and the ending, but the getting there was a bit boring and I was never able to empathize with Chloe Green, the main character of sorts. I was tired of the whole Shara-scavenger-hunt when I was 20% into the book but they don’t find her until well past 60%. So I guess you can see how this book was a bit boring for me. I had read the summary of the book but still, I was not expecting Casey McQuiston to write a mystery YA book.

I would recommend this book to actual YA readers, not new adults who read YA. “I Kissed Shara Wheeler” is a bit childish, but it’s entertaining and engaging, so don’t hesitate to grab it off the shelves as its release date is today!!!

If you click here, you’ll be redirected to Goodreads, so you can add the book to your TBR list.

Or you could click here, and be redirected to Amazon, so you can order the book.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: May 03, 2022

“Love God first, love Shara Wheeler second.”

“Because this is what Shara does (…) It’s like… little hints. She can’t just let you in. You have to figure out your way there.”

This is a delightful book. Part romantic comedy, part coming of age, and a bit of a mystery, all working together to make this one a fun and touching read. The story is set at a Christian High School, the author's story centers around the students who are weeks away from graduation. I appreciated the diversity and representation of the students, many of whom are still figuring out who they are. Our title character Shara Wheeler is the principal's daughter and is beautiful and smart. We get to know Shara through the eyes of other characters in the story because when the story starts, she has disappeared. This is what brings together our three main characters. I loved Chloe who is smart and tenacious and is in a fight for valedictorian with Shara. She is the driving force in the plot. Smith is Shara's long-time boyfriend. He is sweet and kind as well as a football player who was scouted to play in college. Finally, Rory, the bad boy underachiever who lives across the street from Shara. He writes music and was once Smith's best friend.

I think part of the reason I liked this book so much is that there are so many other students that the author fully develops. Best friends and friend groups round out a complex group. The author plays with our perceptions of a person based on who they are friends with and what their extracurricular activities are. The story touched on the idea of our own personal prejudices and judgments that we pass on to others assuming good or bad motivations. Specifically how we judge their actions from feelings or misunderstandings or incomplete facts. The reader is given the opportunity to see behind the curtain as Chloe spends time with Rory and Smith and her long-held opinions change. Perhaps the best part of the characters, is that they are all so relatable.

I was immediately drawn into the story and could not wait to see how the story unfolded. While the story starts with a mystery, it is not the ultimate drive of the plot. In fact, the mystery is solved well before the end of the book.

Thank you Netgalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC to review.

I went in thinking it would be a story I've heard before. The story of Paper Towns mixed with the manipulative nature of Gone Girl and One of Us is Lying. It was all of those things, but it was also a refreshing take on relationships of ALL kinds.

The beginning of the story grated on me a bit. Chloe was so hyper-fixated on Shara that I could see the storyline playing out exactly as it did... losing friendships, losing focus, and the rollercoaster of inner turmoil we experienced on behalf of Chloe.

I wish we would have gotten multiple POVs. I would die to know what my babies Smith and Rory were thinking. I also wanted to know what Benji, Ace, Ash, and Georgia were up to while Chloe was tunnel visioning her way toward Shara!!

Chloe finding the letter from Shara that was for "Chloe's eyes only" was when I really bought into the rest of the story. What really shook me was when Shara showed up 70% of the way through. There was so much novel left!!!! I was a little confused about what kind of book this was supposed to be. Were we reading a mystery that needed to be solved, were we reading a rom com, we we reading about teenage rebellion and changing the narrative around queer relationships and the church? I wasn't quite sure which direction we were going at any point. Not saying a novel has to be one or the other or cannot be a combination of all of these things, but I felt like they were all only 3/4 flushed out.

THINGS I LOVED:
The conversations around pronouns and names and how all of the kids were so open to learning from each other. I think the fact that Chloe was the only person out at her school, yet students willingly had discussions about gender identity, sexual orientation and pronouns was a beautiful statement to safe spaces within unsafe environments.

TWO! MOMS! Uhg I loved Chloe's moms.

I think the setting of this novel was perfect. It's a hyper conservative Christian school where students are punished for showing an ounce of individuality and everyone takes it as law. It felt very footloose and it made the conclusion of the story all that more satisfying.

ANYWAY, thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me an ARC in exchange for my honest (yet all too wordy and messy) review.

I absolutely adored this book. Wow. What an adventure. I didn’t want it to end. Casey McQuiston is an amazing story teller. This book felt nostalgic (my paper town days) yet fresh. Gosh, I wish I could read this book again for the first time!

I received an advanced reader's copy of this from NetGalley.

It took me a little bit to get into the book - I wasn't initially super engaged in the rush to find Shara, just because she didn't seem particularly interesting. But the characters did develop quickly, and once it really got into the challenges of being different - in this case, primarily queer - in a conservative, homogeneous environment, it really had me. I also grew up in Alabama, and while I'm not queer, I do recognize what it's like to question some of what you're taught, and I recognized a lot about the community itself. I appreciate that none of the Christian kids were particularly evil, just kids who've been raised with certain beliefs and haven't gotten to the point where they've really decide whether those are their beliefs or not. Probably a little mature for my school, but I'll definitely put in a recommendation to the junior high/high school librarians.

Overall I enjoyed the book! I enjoyed the characterizations. I loved Chloe and her best friend Georgia. I was a little dissapointed in the lack of Shara's involvement in the book, she really showed up at the end only. What I enjoyed most about this book as with all of Casey's books is the formation and interaction of friend groups, I really loved Rory, Smith, and Chloe's interactions and eventual friendship.

Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god. Okay, so I loved this one SO MUCH. It is my favourite book that Casey has written thus far, and I think it is because it hits so close to home! As a queer person raised Roman Catholic, and as someone who knows many other friends who deal with religious trauma, I think that this book was just what I needed. Plus, I am a lot more like Chloe than I would care to admit, in the 'needs to get good grades above anything else' kind of way.

The relationships in this book were authentic, and beautiful, and not just the romantic ones but the platonic ones as well. There was so much love and happiness, and the book did not feel heavy despite how heavy the subject matter could be. Plus, the academic rivals to lovers?? I was dying by the end, and it just made me so happy to read. All the representation as well made me so happy.

If I could give this 10/5 stars I would.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for this eARC.

I think the kids are going to LOVE this one. Even though this wasn't a boarding school, I think it is a good rec. for anyone who loved E. Lockhart's <i>The Disreputable History of Frankie-Landau Banks</i>, because these girls are also difficult and complicated. I will say though that this was funnier than <i>Frankie</i> and than some of the John Green books I thought of when reading this (def. not a dig at those books, which I love also). One of Casey McQuiston's strengths remains writing an ensemble of great, funny characters who feel as real as the mains. I loved the ensemble here. I rarely say this about a contemporary teen romcom, but I'd love to see a sequel to this - take us to college, Casey!! (also this could toats be a teen show, but I always say that). So fun.

I've been a fan of McQuiston since their first novel was published, and couldn't have loved their first foray into YA more! After reading this book I've come to the conclusion that writing letters is, in fact, gay and that there's a something specifically queer about secret obsessions and longing and McQuiston could not have captured it better. Chloe and Shara my beloveds...McQuiston is the King of writing flawed and complexed characters, but they really nailed it with these two (who are VERY far from perfect). After the many twists and turns of this book, I was often left unsure where we could possibly go from here, and what was left for our characters. But they were truly growing and changing and revealing themselves to the last chapters, and I was hooked the entire time. I also adored all of the supporting characters, and would pay money to be in their friend group because imagine the stories you'd walk away with! Overall, McQuistion's YA debut is sure to be a smashing success for its unflinching depiction of sapphic obsession and love this fresh John Green-Manic Pixie Dream Girl mash-up full of plot twists, unexpected friendships, and explosive secrets.

I Kissed Shara Wheeler is a good YA contemporary. It’s definitely not perfect and I had a couple of issues with it but overall, I can see a lot of YA readers enjoying this.

This book felt a little too much like a John Green book to me but I think McQuiston’s characters were a lot more enjoyable. I did find it difficult to believe that Chloe, a character who we keep getting reminded of just how brilliant and smart she is, seems to be a little clueless about a lot of things. The other characters were fabulous, though. They felt more real than Chloe.

I think McQuiston did a fantastic job at writing what it feels like to live in a small town. The ways teens find things to do to entertain themselves because the town doesn't have much to offer them and that longing to leave the small town as soon as you can.

I think this book will do great with readers who are looking for a not-typical YA contemporary and definitely will be a pleaser with those who loved her previous two books.

One of the things I always look for in a YA novel is -- does it capture the teen age voice. I think this one does; Chloe and her friends seem very real, and this is a romp through the side of high school kids hide from their parents and teachers.

Chloe is forced to move from LA to False Beach, Alabama, because her grandmother is ill. Her Mom is not too excited about moving back to her home town, but there they are. Chloe has decided to focus on being the valedictorian, and , as their Senior year nears its end, she thinks she's going to make her goal. The only thing in her way is Shara Wheeler, the principal's perfect daughter.

Than Shara disappears.

Chloe is sure she can also solve the mystery, but where will the clues take her?

The characters are well drawn, the drama of high school is well portrayed, and the is a quick, fun read, with a lot of ironic humor.. Recommended for YA. #NetGalley #SLJDOD #IKIssedSharaWheeler

I went into this book expecting a simple romance, I can gladly say I was completely blown away by this book. I am so happy I was able to get an ARC (I am a huge fan of Casey and knew she would not disappoint.) I really enjoyed the main romance but the subplots as well were incredible. I also related heavily to Chloe’s feelings towards Willowgrove as someone who had to go to school in a smaller town. If you are someone who enjoy young adult literature that includes academic rivals, enemies to lovers, lgbtq+ romances, teenage sleuths, and serious rom com vibes, this is the book for you.

Stars

I Kissed Shara Wheeler is a coming of age story full of characters that are complex, deeply flawed, and trying to find out who they are compared to who they think they are while trying to find their place in the world. Casey McQuiston had a realistic approach to growing up as a queer teenager in the Bible Belt and the conflicting feelings that come with it. There were certain things that were executed incredibly well, however there were others that caused me to take away some stars. I found Chloe to be incredibly obtuse and could not fathom why she kept up the hunt for Shara. Long story short, I just didn't connect well with the mystery of the missing Shara Wheeler.

While this book wasn't my favorite, I would recommend it if you are looking for a LGBTQ+ romcom or if you enjoyed Paper Towns by John Green. Highly Recommend the audiobook version narrated by Natalie Naudus, it is very well done. I'm looking forward to reading whatever Casey McQuiston writes next.

I want to say thank you to St. Martins Press, Wednesday Books and MacMillan Audio for allowing me access to an ARC via Netgalley.

I would highly recommend this book for any of my high school students struggling to fit in. (Isn't that allow of them?) The author was able to suck me in and I could feel like I was back in high school. Occasionally, I felt a character may have been too dramatic, then I would remember that it IS high school, and so it tracks. I'm ready for a sequel with all of these characters for what happens after high school.

Well it took three books, but I’m finally aboard the Casey McQuiston bandwagon. And oddly enough, it’s coming in the form of her YA contemporary debut - the one genre I connect with the least at this point in my life.

Even in the past when I haven’t absolutely loved McQuiston’s books, I could recognize how exceptional she was at writing fully realized characters - people I felt like I could run into at the grocery store, or sit next to on an airplane. They aren’t the generic outlines of a person with a motive and a few hobbies. They have histories, and quirks, and specific habits that only an author who has spent time piecing together little bits of the real people around her can capture in a character. I Kissed Shara Wheeler has done that to the n-th degree from the main character Chloe’s group of queer drama-kid friends to her diamond-encrusted crucifix-wearing prep school classmates.

Chloe is a sharp, acerbic narrator that is quick to make immediate and broad-sweeping judgements on the people of False Beach. She wants to categorize people as generic stereotypes of the ultra-conservative environment they were raised in, even admitting she finds her “group” and deems them the only people worth knowing in this small Southern community. It’s a character that could come across as incredibly unlikeable if it wasn’t so apparent from page one that she has the capacity to want to understand these people. She sees herself as open-minded, but her entire character arc is her learning how to actually reserve judgment before jumping to conclusions.

But as much as this book is a coming-of-age story, it’s also a romance. A romance, with a mystery at the center - or maybe it’s the other way around. We learn as Chloe does how Shara was not the perfect, bible-thumping Harvard-bound girl the entire town thinks she is. But she’s also not the monster Chloe has tried to paint her to be as her one rival for valedictorian. This had me re-living visceral flashbacks from my own much less romantic saga of battling out for valedictorian in high school. Casey Mcquistion just gets it. And she did it in a series of pink envelope clues Chloe spends the book digging up across town with her quarterback and E-boy sidekicks.

If I were to nitpick anything in this book, it’s the big grand finale speech Chloe delivers - which was in fact a literal speech - that came across a bit campy to me. But even this aligned with the general tone and outrageousness of the rest of the plot and didn’t feel out of place in the story. It just gave off very strong Tumblr “and then everyone clapped” vibes.

But anything negative I have to say about this book is completely overshadowed by the way I completely connected with the way McQuistion captured the strange nuances of a small town. She’s got it down to a science - from the way aimlessly wandering the local Walmart becomes the thing to do after school, to the unreasonable fixation around the only Olive Garden in town. But she also understands how to write about this environment, and point out its many flaws, without disparaging the people who are a product of these communities. There is no black and white here, and I Kissed Shara Wheeler captures that in a way that acknowledges this balance.

I don’t know if this book is going to be as much of a universal crowd-pleaser as Casey McQuiston’s adult romances were. But for all the overachieving Gen-Z readers who aren’t far from that time when high school felt like the entirety of their world - or young adult readers who are living that now - I think this is a guaranteed win. McQuiston’s delivered my perfect YA contemporary romance, a series of four words I never thought I could string together.

Thank you to the publisher St. Martin’s Press for providing an ARC via NetGalley for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this. 4.5/5 stars.

"Chloe, we're gay, we can't do math" to "Oooh nooooo, look at my poor exposed and vulnerable arteries"...this book was everything I expected and more from Casey McQuiston. The zingers, the one liners, the pop culture references, the banter, THE STORY! It was beautiful. While composed within a story of a highly, highly religious school (like...footloose...), it tells a beautiful story of finding out who you are, identity, LGBTQ discoveries, and more.

The premise brings together Chloe, Smith, and Rory who somehow find themselves in some sort of love quadrilateral (also, thanks McQuiston for that one too) while trying to find Shara after she leaves them notes (and also kissed Rory and Chloe while dating Smith). Chloe, who is in denial about liking Shara, is determined to find her academic rival and prove that she is the best. Oh, and also, it's the end of their senior year, everything is going wrong, and there are always new curveballs.

While I liked the romance of Shara and Chloe, I did get annoyed at how hyperfixated Chloe was. I also wish there was a mental health rep with both Shara and Chloe's attitudes and behavior -- especially with how they describe their need to be perfect. Hence the 1/2 star deduction. Also, just, Smith...what a cinnamon roll. I love him.

10/10 recommend. I'm also going to be picking up a copy for my classroom.