I loved Red, White, and Royal Blue so I was super excited to pick up I kissed Shara Wheeler. However, I did not care for Shara or Chloe as characters, I tolerated Shara at best and Chloe annoyed me. As I read and Shara's motivations came to light it helped and I understood her actions better but she still annoyed me greatly. I found her to be highly manipulative. Luckily I found that Chloe's character growth was redeeming enough for me. I loved that she wasnt a perfect character, that she was flawed and messy. I also loved that SHE learns about herself in the process and comes to realize some of her own flaws. I thoroughly enjoyed the friendship that Chloe, Rory, and Smith forged; to be honest that was my absolute favorite part of the story and the reason I kept reading. I loved as these characters became friends and you watched their story unfold as they grappled with who they were and whether or not that was "ok".

I do think this story is important, especially for people growing up and living in the south or any where with a strong stigma against LGBTQIA+ culture. As someone who grew up in Southern California but now lives in the deep south of Mississippi I truly appreciated this story. It rings true and has great heart. I ultimately gave it 4 stars and would recommend everyone give this story a chance.

I think the premise of I Kissed Shara Wheeler is extremely interesting. Truly, who doesn't love a scavenger hunt of sorts, while keeping the plot moving. Of course, the LGBTQIAP rep was fabulous and written in a way that was a great exposure for kids in communities similar to the book setting.

However, around two hundred pages in, I felt the story lagged, and at the same time, Chloe our MC, was extremely hard to root for. My husband and I go round and round on this. I hate unlikable characters in media, whereas he feels it's proof of good writing/acting. We are never owed a likable character, and we all have people in our lives who are hard to love.

While these pros and cons really mentally balance out, there's a big factor I can't critique. It's YA, and I am far, far, far, from a teen.

Any librarian will tell you, teens is by far the HARDEST to program for. By the time you have an idea to advertise, their interests have already evolved. While, I was reading I found there were a ton of current references, including them being the class of '22. I found myself wondering how quickly this will start to "dated" in the eyes of teens, instead of focusing on the book

I like this! I liked it more than One Last Stop but not more than Red White and Royal Blue. I do think I’ve outgrown YA for the most part, but I can see this being very popular and important for younger kids especially those in places where they feel unsafe with being who they are.

This fucking book y'all. First of all, HAPPY PRIDE MONTH! 💗💜💙

I stayed up 'til 2am and missed a morning walk on the beach for this book and I'm not even mad about it. Growing up in a small town, I never heard the word gay unless it was a slur. I was called names and slurs for a week after I kissed a friend on the cheek. Small towns suck. I didn't know I was bi for such a long time because we didn't talk about it. No one was out. No one was openly queer.

I wish I had had this book. The wit and heart that Casey McQuiston pours into this book creates pure queer magic. The romance, the rivalry, the clues, THE KISSES. There is one 💋 that will truly make you gasp and had me cheer/screaming into my pillow. Casey McQuiston won me over in so many ways and with so many perfect pages.

I loved it so damn much. Hopefully you will too. Queer stories are important. We are important. You are important. 🏳️‍🌈

I Kissed Shara Wheeler follows competitive Chloe Green who desperately wants to win valedictorian. Her only competition is Willowgrove Christian Academy’s very own royalty, Shara Wheeler. A month before graduation, Shara kisses Chloe, and disappears right before being crowned prom queen. While on a hunt for answers, Chloe discovers that she’s not the only person Shara kissed and dipped, leaving behind cryptic notes on monogrammed pink stationery in her wake — there’s Smith, Shara’s boyfriend and school quarterback, and Rory, Shara’s neighbor with a crush and a bad boy attitude. The three of them team up to decode Shara’s notes, piece the clues together, and find her. For Chloe, finding Shara’s the only way she’ll win valedictorian fair and square.

From the first synopsis, I Kissed Shara Wheeler reminded me of John Green’s Paper Towns, where a boy, Q, pieces together clues to find his longtime crush and childhood friend, Margo, after she disappears. I had my reservations with I Kissed Shara Wheeler for this very reason — I couldn’t connect with Margo in Paper Towns, and I struggled to empathize for why she left, as well as why Q would spend all that time looking for her. Whereas Margo didn’t particularly want to be found, Shara did, and I found her notes and clues to be a little … manipulative.

Where I Kissed Shara Wheeler fell flat for me is simply Shara Wheeler herself. We spend a good half of the book only knowing her as someone who is held up on a pedestal. She’s perfect and untouchable. No one really knows her. She’s gorgeous and blonde and rich and white. It’s all things that we’ve seen before. And so, I simply wasn’t compelled to follow along for why she disappeared, or where she went. I had my suspicions for why she disappeared, but it wasn’t until those suspicions were confirmed that she started to grow on me. Unfortunately, we don’t really get to know Shara for who she is until the halfway mark, which ultimately made it hard for me to connect to her. It’s too little, too late, in my opinion. Shara’s arc not only reminds me of mirrorball, but the Why She Disappeared poem by Taylor Swift. While I Kissed Shara Wheeler is mostly Chloe’s story, I loved reading about Shara standing up for herself, shredding her inauthentic bits, and coming into her own. But even still, there was something about Shara Wheeler that I struggled with — perhaps, it’s simply the privilege that someone could disappear from her life for a month with no consequences.

As our main character, Chloe Green is more tenacious, dedicated and stubborn than I’ll ever be. Chloe, Shara, and the ensemble cast of I Kissed Shara Wheeler were so messy and raw in a way that only high schoolers are, and I truly loved that. Even when they made mistakes, they tried to learn and grow from them. Each character was on their own journey to figuring out who they were, and where they fit into not just Willowgrove, but the world outside of it as well. Something that McQuiston always excels at is writing the most wonderful friend groups. There’s The Super Six in Red, White and Royal Blue, the roommates in 6E+6F in One Last Stop, and Chloe Green’s friends here in I Kissed Shara Wheeler. Whenever I read one of McQuiston’s books, I know that I’m in for a friend group that is simply so comforting. I always end up feeling like I know these characters myself, and that I’m part of their friend group.

I also love how McQuiston incorporates other “media” into their books. Where Red, White and Royal Blue has letters and emails, and One Last Stop has tweets, Craigslist listings, I Kissed Shara Wheeler has letters, transcripts, and clues. I loved getting that insight into the characters’ own lives, and enjoyed seeing how the pieces fit together at the end.

Despite my criticisms of the character of Shara Wheeler herself, I did find myself sucked into the story, and finishing it all in one sitting. Once I started it, I couldn’t put the book down, and was determined to figure out where she was, and what happened next. I truly did find the book enjoyable, and loved reading about Shara and Chloe — I just wish there was more growth, and that we could’ve spent more time with the two of them. McQuiston once again crafts a beautiful and complex love story, filled with charming characters and a story that will capture your heart.

What happens when you cross an 80s high school movie like The Breakfast Club with a teen mystery drama like Pretty Little Liars? You get I Kissed Shara Wheeler, Casey McQuiston’s first teen/YA novel.

I KISSED SHARA WHEELER STARTS AS A FUN MYSTERY BUT ITS REALLY ABOUT A GROUP OF TEENS FINDING LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE IN EACH OTHER

Introducing Shara, Chloe, Smith, and Rory as illustrated by @peaches.obviously on Instagram.
When Shara disappears right after prom, Chloe cannot let it go. With the help of Shara’s boyfriend, Smith, and neighbor, Rory, Chloe dedicates all her energy and free time to hunt down her academic rival before finals week and graduation, an obsession fueled by the notes Shara left for each of them with clues to her whereabouts.

“Why does she care? Because she and Shara have both spent every day of their high school careers dedicated to the singular goal of graduating valedictorian, and the only thing Chloe has ever wanted as much as that title is the satisfaction of knowing Shara Wheeler can’t have it. Because Shara Wheeler has everything else. Because if Shara’s really gone, that’s forfeit, and Chloe Green does not win by default.”

The long and complicated quest for Shara brings to the surface truths and feelings for many of the characters, and Shara’s selfish disappearing act ultimately helps bring people together. But their journey is not only about accepting their truth, it ultimately becomes a fight against the oppressive and conservative structure of a small town catholic school in Alabama. (I was much more into this second half of the story. Love, acceptance, and bringing down oppressive and archaic structures are always my jam.)

A BEAUTIFUL STORY, BUT I STRUGGLED WITH ITS EXECUTION
I could barely make it through the first half of the book. I didn’t like Chloe’s obsession with finding Shara or Shara’s mind games. I only kept reading because One Last Stop, Casey’s previous book, was one of my best reads last year. I wanted to fall in love with each character’s beautiful quirks and funny one-liners, just like I did with OLS. But the truth is I Kissed Shara Wheeler dragged with its overly detailed world-building, multiple plotlines, and numerous characters. It gets better once Shara reappears because this is when we start seeing character development and growth. It’s really almost a completely different story at that point.


However, I suspect this story will resonate with the young adult audiences it’s meant for. Ultimately, McQuiston does a beautiful job creating complex and relatable characters and storylines representative of the teen experience during high school. Much like The Breakfast Club, St. Elmo’s Fire, Sixteen Candles, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and all those other movies I’ve watched hundreds of times, the story is about belonging and acceptance, and it’s so important for teens coming of age have these stories. I’ll definitely recommend this book to the tweens and teens in my life.

Casey McQuiston is normalizing the story of LGBTQIA protagonists and capturing the hearts of all readers. She writes relatable characters in funny, charming, and honest ways. I Kissed Shara Wheeler is another great hit that is sure to have new and repeat readers picking her up.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy! I’ve never been more jealous of anyone’s high school experience. I absolutely loved this. McQuiston can do no wrong, even with a debut YA novel. Dare I say I like this better than One Last Stop?!
5 stars!

Fantastic and well-written story. Such a fun story that kept me engaged throughout.

Thank you for the copy in exchange for a fair review.

I didn't love this one as much as McQuiston's previous books, but it was amazing nonetheless!! The all-over rep was spot on as usual and just super entertaining!

A great Young Adult book with Casey McQuiston’s unique style. They perfectly capture the Voice and emotional whirlwinds of Gen Z in a way that inspires empathy and compassion in the reader. The secondary characters were even more endearing than the main character, and really started to shine in the second half. A must-read add to any queer YA shelf.

This book is incredibly intriguing, and has a lot of nuance and exploration of character dynamics for a YA novel—love Casey McQuiston's work.

*Arc provided by Netgalley and Wednesday Books in exchange for an honest review.*

Chloe Green moves from California to a very puritanical Alabama town and Christian academy. With weeks left until graduation Chloe is counting the days until she is hopefully declared valedictorian and can get out of that stuffy place. Only one thing stands between Chloe and her goal, Shara Wheeler the principle's daughter, and resident popular girl. Things seem pretty cut and dry until Shara kisses Chloe then vanishes. Now completely thrown off Chloe teams up with Shara's boyfriend Smith, and her next door neighbor Rory (both people she's also kissed before disappearing) to follow a set of clue's to Shara's whereabouts.

When the opportunity came up to read another Casey McQuiston book I had to jump at the chance as I loved Red, White, and Royal Blue. I Kissed Shara Wheeler though wasn't really what I was expecting. I haven't read John Greene's Paper Towns, but I knew immediately that was the book Chloe references, and that threw me off a bit referencing a book with such a similar plot. I didn't find Chloe to be a likeable protagonist and Shara an even less likeable love interest. This one just wasn't for me unfortunately, I would say it's probably good for Pretty Little Liars fans and most likely fans of Paper Towns.

DNF at 44%. I just didn't care about the characters...they were actually pretty annoying to be honest. Thanks to Net Galley for giving me this in exchange for an honest review.

I was not able to finish this book in time, but my library has purchased it. I hope to revisit and review when I have a bit more time. I'm a big fan of Caset McQuiston's work in general :)

Interesting and unique, I Kissed Shara Wheeler mixes suspense and mystery with teenage romance, as Chloe tries to figure out what happened to Shara Wheeler and why she--and two others--were kissed by her and left with notes.

I LOVE Casey McQuiston, don’t get me wrong… but this wasn’t my favorite of hers. As always, the representation is top-notch and the writing is fantastic. I’m not sure why I didn’t really connect with this one, although I do think it was about 100 pages too long.

I cannot believe Casey McQuiston gave us another amazing book, and in the YA space. Her main characters are messy and complicated, but it was so satisfying to have a teenager think it's all about them and have that teenager be proven right. Even the side characters had a satisfying arc.

Something in this book, something I can't quite place, tugs at my heart.

Maybe it's Chloe Green, driven and cut-throat, obsessed and ambitious and fiercely focused, who never imagined this place could be home but finds it is. Or maybe it's Smith Parker, soft and tentative, with a heart wide open to the world and all its frogs (well, I prefer testudines, but I digress) in it, though nobody quite knows it. Perhaps Rory Heron, in all his yearning, quiet observation, and furtive glances towards something just beneath the surface. It might even be Shara Wheeler, hopelessly afraid of how strongly she feels, apparently perfect but mostly infuriating as she spirals, unsure of what to make of herself.

Discussing I Kissed Shara Wheeler as a love story seems inadequate. It is a messy romance between two high school academic rivals, yes, but it's also a heartfelt quest to unravel smalltown status quo, religious guilt, and homophobia. More importantly, it is the apotheosis of growing up. McQuiston writes intimately about carrying the burden of expectation that teaches you nothing of possibility. They offer us an ode to how we create joy and community for ourselves, pouring ourselves into all the cracks in the systems that try to stifle us. They remind us to revel in knowing our most authentic selves no matter how quietly we live them.

IKSW is a love letter to being your whole queer self, a promise that you deserve the world that is waiting, a validation of how we build pockets of acceptance even in the places that refuse to see us for who we are.

IKSW's strengths are its characters and depictions of queerness, resilience, and high school. Though I am not from a small town, I came into myself in white suburbia in the south, notorious for its notions of old money and status. I didn't dye my hair pink as a coming out, but I did walk into school with a pixie cut halfway through senior year, and this personally significant moment bled into a new manner of being perceived. Even if it feels performative, my school came together and infused me with hope as these characters did. The farewells as we moved our separate ways were as anti-climactic as they were emotionally wrought.

This book didn't change my life, but it made me reckon with who I am, a sopping mess splayed open to take in everything yet to come. I profoundly related to Chloe's outlook and prejudice towards False Beach, AL. When I first arrived in Georgia, right in time for high school, I didn't know if I would ever get out; to some extent, I still don't, but now I can't figure out if I want to. It's not always about finding safe cities, which is often all we can do to be our queerest selves. Sometimes, it's about taking time to build safe spaces in the places that still don't have them. This book speaks of the courage it takes for some queer people to be, and it is enough to know that queerness finds its own everywhere it needs to.

As I said, it's something I can't place. But perhaps you need this: an unbearably light pressure on your chest that imbues you with warmth and adventure and truth and hope, that promises you joy and community and wishes you resilience and affirmation in your journey. And if it is, maybe you'll find it here too.

I've read McQuiston's prveious books and I've enjoyed them to an extent, so I was really looking forward to reading their YA debut. After reading this, it's safe to say, I was quite disapointed.

Getting into the postives first, this was very quick read as I finsihed it in less than a day. I also loved the various amounts of queer represenation within the characters. With having a bisexual MC, lesbian SC, non-binary SC as well as a queer/sapphic love interest.

However, my biggest issue was with Shara as a love interest; like I couldn't understand why Chloe, Smith and Rory were so enmamored with her and why they wanted to find her in the first place. I also found her character to be quite manipulative and selfish. And Shara gave me STRONG Manic Pixie Dream Girl vibes which I'm not a fan of in the slightest.

The mystery aspect was quite disappointing as well. It only goes on for the first 60% of the book, but once Shara is found, the intrigue was lost on me after that.

Overall, this wasn't my favourite read.