Becky Albertalli is such a master at writing queer stories and this is no exception. I loved this one so much. Imogen was so relatable especially in terms of her coming out storyline and was such a fun character to read about. I loved the romance as well which felt really cute and realistic.

I absolutely adored this book. The characters were so real and I could see myself as well as people I knew in them. I applaud Albertalli because the way she took her own personal experience and weaved it so beautifully into the story was masterful. You could tell she was trying to convey a deeper meaning in regards to identity both hers and in general without it being preachy or discourse-y. I have never highlighted so many funny and/or heartfelt hit the point quotes before. All in all I loved this book.

The ideas this book explores about queerness are so important. I'm really glad that there's now more space for queer stories that don't present being queer as something you just always know, or even that you always recognize in yourself the first time you come face to face with it. A lot of readers are going to see themselves in Imogen.

CW: biphobia, forced outing of a queer character, underage drinking

This was such a beautifully queer story. I loved that it took place mainly on a college campus and I felt like the characters could have all given me a hug and I would have stayed forever. Imogen's friendship with Lilli was so meaningful and so sweet. I loved Imogen's monologues and her realness and vulnerability. Her journey as a young and unsure queer person was probably so incredibly validating and I loved reading her story. I also loved that the all the characters were queer. I also loved that Tessa was Jewish and openly talked about it. Becky's stories always feel so comforting and this one was no different. I also thought it delved into so many important topics including identity and how people navigate that. I could definitely tell there was a personal aspect here and the discussions around queerbaiting were done with so much care and this story truly was incredible. I loved these characters. I loved the conversations, I loved the texting threads, I loved everything about this and Becky absolutely nailed it. Huge thank you to Harper Collins and Netgalley for sending me an e-ARC of this book to read and review!

I first discovered Becky Albertalli with the release of Kate in Waiting. I am usually pretty picky when it comes to YA books, as it's not my preferred genre, but I loved that book! It was interesting, engaging, and had great pacing. The characters felt very real and authentic.

Based on that experience, I was excited to read Imogen, Obviously, and it did not disappoint! It definitely had a plot and message different from any book I had read before. It explored concepts and topics I had never considered surrounding queerness. I love that it opened my eyes to a human experience I had previously known nothing about.

I find Albertalli's writing to be fast-paced, easy to read, and very engaging. You get drawn into the character's stories and develop a connection with them. Albertalli writes characters very well - showing the diversity among them, while giving each of them their own arc. And I love that her dialogue feels smooth and real. I sometimes get frustrated with books that have dialogue or even characters that aren't believable, but I did not have that issue at all with this book.

One thing I liked about this book is that it wasn't predictable. I mean, yes, as the story progressed, you could definitely see where Imogen's story was going. But without giving any spoilers, there was a particular part of the plotline where I thought, "Oh okay, I see what's going to happen...", and what I expected was for it to follow a very common and predictable plotline. But the book surprised me when it didn't do that, and I appreciated that so much.

If I had one critique, it's that it took me a little while to understand who each character was in relation to Imogen (the main character). The book starts with a group of teenagers conversing, but it felt like it took several chapters to get a good grasp on who each of those characters were and how they related to Imogen. Once I got that sorted out, it became easier to read - but I think if it had be more clear from the start, that would've enhanced the reading experience even further. And if it was clear to everyone else that reads it, then it's possible I missed some key details that would've clarified it from the start, but I just know that it felt like it took me a while to understand who the supporting characters were.

That all being said, I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to seeing what Becky Albertalli writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Children's Books for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

This is a very cute story. I had a fun time reading it. The plot line was interesting enough and it was easily enjoyable.

In Albertalli fashion this is a highly-readable and digestible fun, thought provoking, and interesting read. Main character Imogen struggles with sexual identity and what it means , but more importantly, the theme of being stuffed into small unforgiving and horrible boxes by society, friends, “friends,” and family is what is explored.

The most interesting theme in this book, however, is who gets to own, comment, or judge a lived experience? And what duty do we have as a society to not force people into boxes or out of closets

The book and character development are right up there with Albertalli’s books. The reason for 4 stars - it seemed the main character had a lot of stream of consciousness moments that thought while good at showing an internal struggle could have been tightened up more. Loved it overall. And as always: am so glad young people (and all) get to live in a world with literature like this.

So SO cute! I absolutely ate this up and will be recommending to everyone!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!

I read this book back in January and have finally come back to post my official review now that Harper Collins came to an agreement with the Union!

This is actually my first Becky Albertalli read, but after reading the author’s note, I understand how this was such a personal book for the author and brought up some really interesting dilemmas in regards to queerbaiting and compulsory heterosexuality (comphet).

Imogen’s dismissal of her very real, suppressed queer feelings are sad as they are sometimes sweet at the same time:

Chap 4 - “I’ve always loved hair like that, though, especially when it wings out at the ends a bit, like Tessa’s does. I mean, if I were really bi, I bet I’d fall for her based on hair alone.”

Chap 5 - “Queerness recognizing queerness. It’s kind of beautiful when you think about it. I really do wish it was mine sometimes.”

Chap 15 - “There must be thousands of girls with crushes on Tessa. I mean, I’d be losing my mind over Tessa if I were queer.”

Gretchen is really the worst and I think she invalidates so many of Imogen’s real feelings while gatekeeping queerness. Although, I did still giggle a tiny bit at the term “sweet heteropotamus.”

Chap 59 - “I could ask her why she gets to decide what counts as questioning. And who counts as queer. And when she talks about the queer community, who does she mean? Who gets let in? Who gets shoved out? And what do you do with the fact that no two people seem to do queerness in quite the same way?”

One of the things I absolutely adored in this book were all the pop culture references:
- To the author Casey McQuiston (“TM: Can you explain to me why you have three identical copies of One Last Stop? … IS: Oh I mean … One’s signed, one’s my reading copy, and one’s for emergencies”)
- All the music (I made a <a href= “https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7mhSkzWZmQj8wAGF5cEXZM?si=Bl1l5357Tr6h4U9ZdrAAgQ&dd=1” >Spotify playlist</a> bc there were just so many excellent artist/song references that I needed to gather and listen to!)
- Just enough references to queer stereotypes (the Subaru Outbacks, cuffed jeans, and not being able to sit in a chair properly) while also showing all the different ways to be queer that don’t fit into those boxes.

This book also takes place local to me, in the Penn Yan / Finger Lakes area, and it was so fun to see references to some fave places, including Keuka Lake, Wegmans, the Windmill, and a very popular ice cream shop (shoutout Seneca Farms!).

I loved this story of identity, friendship, and belonging that warmed my heart, made me laugh, and brought a smile to my face! Thank you Netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Genre: YA Romance
TW: Homophobia, Biophobia
Spice: Closed Door
Review written by: M
Release Date: May 2, 2023
*Thank you NetGalley & HarperCollins Children's Books for this eArc in exchange for an honest review*
 
Plot:
Imogen Scott has the title of “World’s Greatest Ally” in her pocket, never missing a Pride meeting and always creating a safe space for anyone. That includes her queer sister, and best friends Gretchen and Lily.
 
She would do anything for her friends, even bending the truth, just a tiny bit. When Imogen visits her newly out best friend Lily on campus for a weekend, Lily admits to her that she had told a small white lie; Lily and Imogen used to date. None of Lily’s college friends know that Imogen is as straight as an arrow and being the best friend she is, Imogen agrees to go along with Lily’s lie.
 
During her stay, Imogen meets Tessa, one of Lily’s best friends. As the weekend progresses, Lily not only begins to grapple with the guilt of lying about her sexuality to Tessa, but also beings to question if the truth about her sexuality, was ever as straight forward as she thought it was.
 
Thoughts:
 
This book was a cute & wholesome YA book about the struggles of questioning sexuality and coming to terms with the fact that life is not always black or white.
 
I believe this book will be very relatable for people who are grappling with the ever-mounting pressure to check a certain box when it comes to your sexuality, and then feeling the pressure that once the box has been selected it can’t change. It also shed light on the fact that even people who have a support system around them, people can still internally struggle with their choices and figuring out who they are.
 
The dialogue was on point for the age range of this book. It was fun, witty, and cute but more on point with the high-school drama. The author did an amazing job of getting into character for that age range, in my opinion. I am not a very big fan of the use of texting back-and-forth during books and it did get a bit irritating, but I do feel that it was an integral part of the book regardless of my personal opinions.
 
I enjoyed watching Imogen coming to terms with her sexuality and watching it all unfold. A few cons for me were the fact that the internal dialogue and drama did get a bit repetitive at time and the timeline of only a week felt a bit unrealistic for me.

Oh man, this book is like eating cotton candy, it's so sweet.

Imogen, Obviously follows Imogen who has always thought of herself as straight but begins to question things when her friend asks her to lie about previously dating each other. This gets more complicated when Imogen starts to question if her growing feelings for Tessa, her best friend's new friend, are based in friendship or something else. I loved everything about this book. It's sweet, it combats so many stigmas about bisexuals, and the main story is really about loving oneself and claiming your own identity, even if it evolves over time. The love story is also so well done and so wonderful that it's impossible not to root for Tessa and Imogen.

If you loved Becky Albertalli's other books, you're going to love Imogen, Obviously. That's just a fact. But I'd also encourage people who haven't read her before to give her a look or those who might have criticized her in the past. This book is also a statement about why judging people and forcing them to come out on anyone else's terms can be so harmful and painful. It reminds you that everyone is on a journey in their own time and that's completely fine.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to #NetGalley, Becky Albertalli and the publisher of the book for the eARC copy in echange for an honest review.

Imogen is the World's Greatest Ally! She never missed a Pride Alliance Meeting and supports her best friends and sister who identify as queer. One of her friends, Lilli, is newly out and thriving on her college campus. Imogen is thrilled for Lilli and when visiting Lilli, decides to bring her Ally A game and support her friend in any way possible. Being her ally soon means bending the truth a bit by telling a new friend of Lilli that they use to date.
As time goes on, Imogen starts to wonder if she is more than an ally.

A cute and fun YA read! Becky Albertalli never disappoints and I look forward to telling more people about this book!

I'm torn about this book. Is it a fantastic coming of age/realizing sexuality book? Yes. Did it feel like I was having to suffer through never-ending internet discourse? Also yes. It was so frustrating to read all the overthinking, but it's obviously NEEDED and makes sense. But I so badly wanted to shake Imogen and be like, DEAR GOD PLEASE YOU'RE STRESSING AND NOW I'M STRESSING. 🤣

I absolutely adore queer reads and I adore Becky Albertalli. This is 100% YA and definitely reads like it. Which, again, is the point. And I pray that it gets into the hands of the right young adult who desperately needs it. 💕

*Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for an ARC!

P.S. the cover is GORGEOUS!

Imogen, Obviously is another great Becky Albertalli book. Imogen visits her BFF Lili at the college she'll also be attending soon. Lili, a newly out pansexual has told her new friends that she and Imogen used to date. Imogen is game to keep up the pretence, but then meets the beguiling Tessa. Sparks fly, or do they?

Imogen struggles with her feelings - is she just holding to the back story or is sshenot as straight as she assumed?

Glorious queer representation, coming out stories, allocishetero assumptions, gatekeeping, positive friendships, toxic friendship, teen angst - this book covers so much.

Absolutely recommend for high school library acquisition

Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Collins, and Balzer + Bray for allowing me to read this book.

Actual Rating 4.5

Imogen, Obviously is going to positively impact those who are discovering their sexuality at all ages. I deeply connected with Imogen's story in a lot of ways, especially having people like Gretchen in my life. I honestly wish I had this book sooner, but I am really gald this book exists for people who need it.

Please check out triggers warnings before reading this book.

Full review will be upon Instagram @abookwormsgarden on April 17th.

Adorable, relatable, engrossing, and earnest. That’s Imogen, that’s this novel, that’s Albertalli’s writing style. She’s one of the few authors that writes one sitting books for me. They’re always light and fluffy with an underlying seriousness that is all too relatable.

Imogen, Obviously is a beautiful love letter to all those who were just never sure. While not personally grappling with the issues that Imogen struggles with, she is yet another relatable all star in the Allbertalli universe. I can’t say enough good things about the way this book makes me feel because it’s so raw and open and honest. I think this is a story everyone needs to read and honestly? We all have a Gretchen in our lives. And I love the way Imogen tackled hers.

Ooo I bet writing this was cathartic for Becky Albertalli. I remember her feeling pushed to come out when so many accused her of co-opting queer space.

Ok so in the book Imogen has tons of friends and a sister who are members of the LGBTQ+ community. She’s always thought of herself as straight. At least she doesn’t meet what she thinks of as the ‘requirements’ to be queer.

But there’s always been something there. A little interest here or there. Toward girls.

While visiting her bff at college she’s asked to pretend to be bi as her bff lied about them previously dating to give herself some romantic history. Imogen plays along, but it also makes her question things even more.

She tries to talk about these feelings with her other friend, but that friend is very black and white in her thinking and protective of her role in the queer space.

This was a a great story of exploring who you are, bucking labels, leaving space for others.

Thank you to Harper Collins and NetGalley for the eArc of <i>Imogen, Obviously</i>. All opinions are my own.

Becky Albertalli is the bi Jewish queen we need right now in this age of social media, where queer people are keeping fellow queers out of the community for what, not going through as public a realization that they're queer as them? For being in a straight-appearing relationship? For not wanting to be publicly out? What Albertalli went through, a highly public forced outing of her bisexuality, is the clear inspiration for her new queer-friendly YA novel <i>Imogen, Obviously</i>. Imogen is that queer ally we all need—supportive of her queer friends and family and the first person in line for the GSA meeting at her high school. At first glance, she's like one of those fierce Mama Bears who'll protect you from the bigots during a Pride parade. Because she knows she's a good ally, she's constantly ceding to her queer friends, believing they know her better than she knows herself. Ultimately, this gives Imogen very little breathing room—until she meets someone who makes her feel like maybe, just maybe, she can carve a space out for herself in the queer community, and not just as an ally.

But eventually, Imogen has to make a decision about herself as new parts of her identity begin to unthaw and trickle down. You'd think living with such supportive parents, family, and friends that this would be simple, but what Imogen and Albertalli show us is that even in safe spaces, queer people can be made to feel...not queer enough. Imposters. Discouraged from exploring and chasing a part of themselves they hadn't realized was there...until it is very abruptly unearthed.

This book is a beautiful treatise on why the LGBTQ+ community needs to let people breathe and accept people unconditionally so they can find their own breath, their own wings to fly. As a secondary school educator and GSA advisor, I would absolutely recommend this very relatable book to my students, especially those who are questioning or doubting their identity.

Becky Albertalli has done it again! One of the reasons I love reading her work is how fluidly she capitalizes on teen culture with the insight of an adult who has "been there." I also love how intimately we get to know each character, especially the vulnerable, typically lovable main character!

Imogen is no different from any of other Albertalli's MCs. Imogen is quiet, introverted, careful with her words, and conscious of the importance of being an ally to others. It is in this particular characteristic that Imogen, perhaps, loses sight of her own self. She is so cautiously protective of the people she loves, she fails to realize important things about herself.

While I know this work comes from a deeply personal space for Albertalli, I can't help but wonder if this will resonate with so many other young people? I'm sure it is already receiving criticism, but I love Albertalli, I love her characters, and I think there is something syrupy sweet about the friendships she concocts that is honest and real!

Becky Albertalli is one of those authors who just feels connected with teenagers but also feels like she writes from the heart in all her books. I feel as if this story is probably really important to her just based on the subject matter. This book follows Imogen (obviously) who is the best ally with a queer sister and queer friends. She goes to visit her best friend at school for a weekend, hanging out with her queer friends. Those friends open her eyes to well herself. What if Imogen, the so called token straight, isn't so straight? Nothing will really ever compare to Simon because it's Simon. But this story feels so personal and I really loved the exploration of Imogen and sexuality throughout the book.