Five stars for positivity. Loved all the characters. Having read and loved One Last Stop I was expecting more. Even though this is YA, I still felt like it could have gone a bit deeper into some of the issues that were raised in the book, especially in light of all the anti LGBTQ+ legislation happening, particularly in the South. Fun, light read.

3.5 stars

This was absolutely one of my most anticipated YA reads of 2022. I love McQuiston; both earlier books are favs, especially _One Last Stop_. That's why I'm shocked that this one fell a little short for me.

Chloe, the m.c., is rad. She's a high achieving, out queer individual whose moms transplanted her from California to Alabama (one mom's hometown). Though Chloe has been in the south for quite a while, she still struggles with feeling somewhat out of place, particularly at her private Christian high school where her identity and the identities of most folks who are close to her are not accepted. In the midst of all of this, Chloe shares an unhealthy rivalry with the titular Shara Wheeler. Thanks to the title, there's no spoiler in the concept that we're looking at enemies (or at least solid rivals) to lovers here.

While I love Chloe, this book felt remarkably disjointed to me. As noted in the description, Shara goes missing. The entire time folks are trying to figure out where Shara is/why she is gone/what it all means, I was...ready to move on to the next plot point. This whole section (like more than 60% of the novel) seemed very slow to me. Once the focus shifts, characters start doing things that did not make sense to me based on their previous presentations. It also became extremely difficult for me to root for some of the central characters because they were so unlikeable over time. There were no surprises, very few warm feelings, and the odd inclusion of a (somewhat) recently ripped-from-the-headlines motif that either needed to be excluded or WAY more developed. Overall, the pacing, balance, and character arcs all felt off to me.

While this was clearly not my favorite McQuiston joint, it's still a better-than-average YA contemporary. I will recommend it to students with some caveats. More importantly, I will continue to jump at the chance to read McQuiston's work.

I am happy to report that I was not disappointed by McQuinston's newest book!

I don't know if it was the YA ease of the story or the nostalgia of being at the end of my senior year that really sucked me in, but I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. McQuiston did a great job crafting lovably flawed characters who felt incredibly normal. How could they not when they eat Taco Bell multiple times throughout the book!?

To me, the overall theme of this book was less about finding the MIA Shara Wheeler, and more about the characters finding themselves, about shedding off expectations and being authentic people.

I also appreciated that while religion / Christianity is a thread that binds the story together, it wasn't too heavy one way or another. It was there, as a driving force, but I didn't feel like the plot got tripped up on it.

Speaking of plot...there were some parts that were a little bit convoluted but worked well enough in the long run. I also felt that were one too many plots going on, which is why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5. But overall this was a really enjoyable novel full of great representation.

I cannot wait for others, especially the current youth, to read this book.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the ARC gods for gifting me with Casey McQuiston's latest masterpiece! I absolutely adored this book and all of its messy, complicated characters. This is the kind of book that will make its target audience feel so seen and loved and I'm so happy that it exists in the world. I refuse to give any plot details for fear of giving any of the fantastic twists and turns away. Just read it and thank me later.

CW: underaged drinking, homophobia

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for sending me an ARC for this book! Last year, I read One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston and fell head over heels in love so I was so pumped to read their YA debut. I was not disappointed. I Kissed Shara Wheeler is super fun while still talking about heavier topics like homophobia and the effects of being raised in an uber-religious town as a queer person. The main character, Chloe ends up on a hunt for the town's golden girl (Quentin from Paper Towns eat your heart out!). Similar to One Last Stop, IKSW has a great cast of supporting characters who have their own exciting plots outside of the main story. I loved all of the little pieces of memorabilia from the "burn pile" at the beginning of each chapter that show a bit of the world outside of the main plotline. I loved that Chloe, the main character, is a kind of grouchy and unapproachable but still incredibly sympathetic. I loved how Casey McQuiston turned the beloved golden girl trope on its head too. Overall, this was a fun romp with some really sweet romance and a good discussion around queerness and religion.

Shara Wheeler has it all. The popularity, the brains, the money, and the fully developed spirituality. However, she deliberately disappears leaving clues to where she is for only those in the “I Kissed Shara Wheeler” club. This book follows this club through the various clues through their graduation day.
Despite my low score I would still recommend this book. It is a contemporary young adult book that runs the gamut of representation.
What I loved about the book: Casey McQuistion has a flawless way of writing about potentially sensitive issues. That is one of the many reasons why I requested the ARC of this book. I appreciate how they talk about gender identity, LGBTQ+ and racial representation, and even issues with religion. Every time I read something by Casey, I learn more about these underrepresented groups.
What I disliked about the book: I had a really hard time liking Shara Wheeler. I felt like the many relationships she had with others were easy to forgive and forget. She is a spoiled girl who had no issues getting her friends or family in uncomfortable situations, like it was no big deal! I felt like she was entirely unlikable and toward the end I started to feel the same way about Chloe. I kept wanting to tell Chloe to stop and look at what she was doing!

Thank you NetGalley, Casey McQuistion and St. Martin's Publishing Group for the ARC.

I am a huge fan of McQuiston's two adult novels, and was not surprised at all by how much I loved their YA debut! I Kissed Shara Wheeler is a funny, heartwarming story of a delightful bunch of teens trying to figure themselves out. I enjoyed the mystery aspect, the romance, and the humor!

First thing's first- McQuiston sums their book up perfectly with this quote:

"Of course Shara cast herself as the main character of her own personal John Green novel."

1000% accurate.

I was already a fan of McQuiston's, but I picked this book up when I did because I needed a palate cleanser after a lot of heavy fantasy reading. It worked perfectly. The timing was also a little funny as I had just watched the movie Turning Red- so I felt like I was immersing myself into a lot of teenage nostalgia. Get ready for an onslaught of quotes that I loved and probably make absolutely no sense out of context. One of my favorite things about reading IKSW was just laughing at the dialogue. I haven't been a teenager in almost 20 years, but I feel like McQuiston nailed it. I was cackling.

A judgment:
"Rory blinks. 'You know your whole deal is, like … exhausting, right?'"

On a school principal:
"'God, why is he still here? What is he doing? There’s no way his job is that hard. All he does is cut the arts budget and misinterpret the Bible. How many hours can that possibly take?'"

Who on NetGalley does not feel this:
""You get horny for books—"
'Very reductive way to describe being interested in literature,' Chloe points out hysterically, reaching for the ceiling with numb hands."

Just.....perfection:
"Shara, apparently short on options, crams the card into Chloe’s mouth. Chloe recoils, choking it out onto the grass—the cardstock slices the corner of her mouth, which is perfect, really, what is Shara if not a papercut in the mouth corner of Chloe’s existence—and with a feral sort of yowl, she bites Shara’s finger."

Some other writing that was either just lovely or made me feel a lot of nostalgia:

"The look on Rory’s face is a blinking cursor at the top of a blank Word document, so Chloe takes the opening."

"But she thinks she’s starting to understand what it means to be from here, because she could swear the bright red burn of artificial cherry is the best thing she’s ever tasted."

"She didn’t have time to prepare what she was going to say. She feels like the spine of a book about to crack and spill out all the love story guts."

I am not the intended audience for this novel, but I am really glad it exists in the world exactly FOR its audience. There is a lot of excellent rep that is presented without need for overbearing commentary, which is my favorite kind of rep.

And for me, lastly, the part that had me in tears and will stick with me forever:

"Chloe,
I promise I will let you go wherever you want to go, as long it makes you happy. I promise I will stand up for you against anyone who tries to make you feel small, but only if you ask me to. I know you prefer to take care of yourself, and I believe that you can.
Show them you’re not someone to fuck with.
All my love,
Mom"

Thanks so much to the Wednesday Books (killing it as usual) and NetGalley for the review copy!

4.5 Stars. Casey McQuinston creates the coolest characters including Chloe Green and Shara Wheeler. Shara Wheeler is the Queen of Willowgrove Christian Academy and everyone kisses the ground she walks on, except Chloe Green, a California transplant to this small Alabama town and the only one to give Shara Wheeler a run for her money academically. During prom Shara kisses Chloe and then disappears leaving behind clues in pink notes to her, Shara's boyfriend, Smith, and Rory, Shara's neighbor who's been in love with her for years. The three of them follow this trail of clues, revealing that they might know Shara nearly as well as they thought.

This young adult novel was funny, hopeful, and just a wonderful time to read. Every character is learning who they are and who they want to be as they graduate from a deeply Christian high school. There are so many wonderful side characters and I loved them all. One of my favorites for this year so far.

This may be my favorite McQuiston novel yet. Shara and Chloe are both very complex characters, who, frankly, aren't all that likable. Despite their flaws, their annoying tendencies, their attitudes... you still root for them both. This book kept me on the edge of my seat in the only way a lower-stakes mystery can. You want to know what's going to happen, but you certainly don't mind the journey to get there.

Chloe Green has spent her entire high school career at Willowgrove Christian Academy doing two things: anything and everything to upset the administration and fighting to secure Valedictorian. The only thing standing in the way of her Valedictorian dreams is Shara Wheeler, the picture perfect daughter of the principal and Chloe's nemesis. When Shara goes missing after homecoming, Chloe's world is turned upside down by a scavenger hunt of notes left behind by Shara. With the help of Shara's neighbor and boyfriend, Chloe is determined to find her and win the title as she knows she should.

This book was a whirlwind! The mystery of where Shara has gone and the scavenger hunt kept me guessing from page to page. I love a good mystery. However, the best thing about this book is the heart of it and the representation. The main character is queer, her friends are queer. There are nonbinary characters in important roles and characters figuring themselves out.

High school is a messy place and teens are always trying to figure things out and this book perfectly portrays that. The main character spends about half of the book thinking she's perfect and Shara is a villain only to discover that perhaps they're both a bit villainous and a bit virtuous and that no one is perfect. I would highly recommend this to teens and adults alike. It's a wonderful read if you want to understand what the high school experience can be like and what it's like for queer kids in an unaccepting place.

This book was so fun! I think it's perfect for those readers who don't always want a ton of /romance/ romance, but still enjoy reading about relationships. Also great for readers who enjoy lovably unlovable characters, mystery-fueled romps, and complicated feelings about their hometowns. So fun, so gay, so good. Loved it.

3.5 stars, rounded up.

Okay, this was weird and fun and had me cackling. I couldn't put it down. More than anything, though, it mostly just reinforced what we all already know: Casey McQuiston books are masterclasses in writing. Casey could write anything and I would read it. Not only do they write ensembles extremely well, but they craft characters and settings with such authenticity. The stories feel real and exciting and fun. I *felt* like I was in high school again, and while it lost a bit of steam for me around 65-70%, I was still invested in the story and its characters until the end. A super fun read.

A thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

I liked the idea of this book. 3 people who have all been kissed by the same person, going on a wild goose chase to find said person.

I was expecting more of shock factor into why Shara had left. Overall, cool concept. Definitely geared more towards teens

For total transparency, I’m usually not the biggest YA fan (boo, I know). However, after reading One Last Stop in 2021 I trust Casey McQuiston with my life and I knew I’d have to read IKSW regardless of genre.

Y’all… I enjoyed every second of it. I know there’s a lot of hype about the romance in this story (which I deeply enjoyed!) but for me, the most interesting aspects were the friendship dynamics. It made me think back to high school when it feels like your friends are the most important people in the whole world, and that it’ll stay that way forever. The friendship bonds are just so strong, and it was heartwarming to feel the characters love each other so much and know each another so well. CMQ always finds a way to make me just as invested in the side characters as the main characters somehow, I adored all of them. I didn’t expect to end up loving Rory and Smith as much as I did, and now I would die for either of them, thank you very much.

Often times when reading dialogue between teens, it seems like the author has never met a teenager probably ever. They usually just plug in some trendy buzz words and call it a day, but these conversations both face-to-face and in letters/texts were totally believable and authentic. Like, Georgia responding to a text from Chloe and all she sends is a key-smash?? That’s realistic.

Growing up in the south, I’m extremely picky about the portrayals of small town life just because I know it can be so easily muddled by stereotypes. It was so easy to tell that CMQ lived the experiences of growing up in the south with just how accurate the tiny details of teen life were. Going to Sonic and Taco Bell after school because the only alternative is the Walmart? Having to deal with everyone’s weird prioritization of the local football team over quite literally everything else?? What comes along with that, though, is how thoughtfully and carefully CMQ addresses homophobia/religion as it applies to their characters in the small town, Christian private school setting. We get to see so many different perspectives on coming out, coping with an environment that doesn’t welcome you, and what it means to be religious.

CMQ made me laugh out loud at several points throughout the story; I love and appreciate their humor endlessly. I couldn’t stop thinking about this story between reading periods and I think it’s a fantastic summer read!! It would be perfect to take on a vacation since it’s quick and sweet.

***Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for giving me an eARC in exchange for my honest review.***

I LOVED this one! Such a great depiction of high school, figuring out where you fit in and figuring out who you are. An absolute must read that flew by.

This book was so good! I love reading Casey McQuiston’s books because they always make my heart happy. I loved all of the characters in this book and how they learn and grown both by themselves and with each other. I do admit there were times where I wanted to smack Chloe upside the head to get her to look at what was right in front of her but in the end it all worked out and I am glad for the way that it happened. Overall a fantastic book.

I think my more mature 6th graders are really going to enjoy this novel. I have already recommended it to one of them! I will be purchasing for my classroom library. The first half of the book felt like a more inclusive Pretty Little Liars, while the second half promotes themes of finding yourself and friendship. This is a must-add for my library. I am a huge fan of Casey McQuiston's adult novels, and am thrilled to share one of my favorite authors with my students now!

3.5

I don't know what it was about this book but this book was not for me. I didn't enjoy this anywhere near as much as I anticipated. I thought the main character was very bland and found myself enjoying the side characters more, I also did not really care for the romance in the story either, the plot was also very dull. I thought everything would be more fun and not as dragged out however, that wasn't the case. I liked all of the students getting together in the end and some of the begging of the book but as a whole? I was very bored. Casey wrote one of my favorite books "Red White & Royal Blue" however, I have found myself liking their books less and less each time, here's hoping that book number four is better.

In so many depictions of high school, characters fit neatly into stereotypes -- the jock who likes to party; the sardonic smart girl; the dramatic theater kid; the perfect popular girl who has it all. And for many who are actually in high school, it's sometimes easier to define yourself and especially your peers by these roles. But in reality, people contain multitudes and no one fits neatly into one single box. I loved "I Kissed Shara Wheeler" for its portrayal of these lovable, complicated teens who gradually learn to embrace the more complicated identities for themselves, their friends, and even their enemies. Highly recommend for everyone, but especially fans of McQuiston, fans of the 2019 film Booksmart.