I really wanted to get to this one, as it seemed interesting. The downfall was that I requested so many ARCs that I could not get to all of them before the book was archived. If I can find this somewhere for a reasonable price, I will try to get it!

The idea of writing a novel based on a music video is cool. I've read better lesbian YA novels, so I think you need to know the author to fully appreciate the story.

It wasn’t bad, but it was kinda weirdly paced. I have a feeling the audiobook is way better because the cast is amazing.

Girls Like Girls is a heartwarming and relatable story about love, acceptance, and self-discovery. Kiyoko's writing is honest and engaging, and she captures the complexities of teenage life with sensitivity and insight. The book is also a celebration of LGBTQ+ love, and it will resonate with readers who are looking for a story that reflects their own experiences.

Here are some of the things I loved about the book:

The characters are well-developed and relatable. Coley is a likable protagonist who is easy to root for. Sonya is also a complex and interesting character, and I appreciated that Kiyoko didn't shy away from exploring her flaws.

The plot is engaging and easy to follow. I was hooked from the beginning, and I couldn't put the book down until I had finished it.

The writing is beautiful and lyrical. Kiyoko has a real gift for language, and her prose is both moving and thought-provoking.

Overall, I highly recommend Girls Like Girls to anyone who is looking for a heartwarming and relatable coming-of-age story. It is a must-read for LGBTQ+ readers, and it will also appeal to anyone who has ever struggled with their own identity.

It took me so long to read it because Iwas it in parts. I liked the relationship between the leads but my favourite relationship was bonding between father and daughter.
I had high hopes for this book as I have always loved Hayley's music, but unfortunately this book was not what I expected. It was hard to get into the book and seemed instalove.
Thank you netgalley and publisher for giving me an Arc of Girls like Girls.

I wanted to love this book, but it was so difficult to get through. It wasn't very well written or edited, with clunky dialogue, poorly developed characters, and a story I just couldn't get invested in.

This was one of my most-anticipated books of the year, and I love Hayley Kiyoko's music as well as the music video that this is based on. Unfortunately, I found the writing clunky and very difficult to get into, so I sadly DNFed this after the first chapter.

I still remember hearing the Girl Like Girls song for the first time and feeling so connected to it. When I found out Hayley Kiyoko was writing a book based on the music video, I just knew I had to read it.

The book's main character Coley, is new to town. She doesn't know anyone, not even her dad, who she is now living with. When she meets Sonya, Coley begins to officially process why she has felt so different from everyone else. The book is one of acceptance of oneself and others. It touches on topics like coming out, bullying, suicide, forgiveness, and drug use. I do believe that this book will be an excellent question starter for someone who may be trying to figure out who they are or for anyone who has lost a parent.

I do feel like the book was a bit rushed. There were some scenes that seemed pieced into the story that I felt could've warranted more elaboration. I think the AIM sequences will raise some questions amongst the current teens who will be reading this story (though that isn't a bad thing!). I do wish that Coley had more time to love herself and put herself back together before the ending. I just wanted to give her a big hug and take away all her hurt!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for the eARC!

This novel is not what I expected. It's more about a father and daughter reconnecting than romance. It's also a throwback to AIM and flip phones, this doesn't take place in the 2020s. I think the ending was rushed, however.

Trigger warning for death by suicide mentioned, and suicidal ideation discussed. There is also slurs and hate crime type events on page.

There is also positive abortion representation. And one mention of Lesbian Jesus.

Loved Coley and Sonya. Loathed Trenton. I wish it wasn't so much of an instalove but I can dig it. There was a lot of growing up with the Coley and Sonya. They learned to dig deep and see how they can help themselves.

This book takes on a lot of topics that are very much TW. Loss of a parent, suicide, homophobia, etc. Please check the warnings before reading.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4ish stars

My overall impression of this book was positive. I didn’t love everything about it, but I did enjoy the setting, much of the writing format/style, and some of the major characters. This one was a “like,” not a “love” for me, but it’s definitely worth a read if you enjoy queer YA.

This story was about so much more than a new relationship. It was trauma and grief and healing and finding yourself and a way back to happy. I adored the multiple layers and interesting characters.

Trigger Warnings: mentions of suicide, grief, loss of a parent, homophobia, underage drinking and drug use

It’s the summer of 2006 and 17-year-old Coley has been forced to move to rural Oregon after losing her mother. She’s in no position to risk her already fragile heart - but then she meets Sonya, and everything she’s tried to keep down goes flying. Both girls have a lot to figure out and realize before they can step up.

Based on Hayley Kiyoko’s hit song and music video with the same title, Girls Like Girls is about young, queer love between two girls.

The writing of this isn’t perfect, I didn’t think it would be, especially being Hayley Kiyoko’s debut novel, but it made up for it in the parts that really hit it home. Sure some parts were a bit cringey and filled with teenage dramatics, but it was also very lyrical and still realistic in parts.

Though, Tenton drove me so nuts! I understand in a way that it’s set in a small town and you don’t always have a wide selection of people to hang out with but like - come on! Sonya would continuously defend him but we never saw anything good from him.

Overall, this is a cutesy YA sapphic romance that gives a bit of a “cinematic extension” to Kiyoko’s song and music video with the same title. Don’t hold it up to high standards of regular romance, it is Young Adult - other than that, I can see quite a few people enjoying the read.

Admittedly when I found out this book was about someone losing her mom, it fell lower on my list for personal reasons. I love LGBTQ YA and hayley kiyoko, but as an adult still grieving the loss of her mom a few years ago I struggle with these narratives. Ultimately this book was fine, I did not finish because there were other books I liked more that I chose to continue reading but this isn’t like the worst book I have read or anything.

i wanted to love this book so bad because i love hayley kiyoko !!! i was absolutely obsessed with her when i came out bisexual and i love everything she has done for the community!!!! that being said this book lost me unfortunately! the writing style, the characters, and the storyline just lost me !

thanks to netgalley & publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review !!!

Girls Like Girls... HAYLEY KIYOKO YOU CAN DO IT ALL. I LOVED THIS BOOK. I was expecting it to be pretty similar to the music video that she released for the song she has with this exact same name and wow. The ending had me nostalgic and I loved it. There were parts where I was mad at a few of the main characters and I just wanted to shake them.
But overall, it was a great book and I would recommend it to anyone.

Finally the sapphic coming of age story we need! Hayley Kiyoko did a fantastic job at creating a compelling story with highs and lows to keep ay reader interested. Growing up reading novels almost purely about straight leads was discouraging. This was the book my high school self needed for sure. It's perfect for Young Adults to actual adults.I highly recommend it.

This was a really good read, I think it's so cool that Hayley Kiyoko wrote a book after being a musician for so long.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review!

I received a free copy of Girls Like Girls from Netgalley and St Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.
Reading queer and sapphic romance is different from hetero romance, especially when its setting is in the past. Girls Like Girls is set in the summer of 2006, shortly after Coley moves to rural Oregon and meets Sonya. As their love for each other grows, Sonya deals with internalized homophobia and Coley navigates a world that threatens to make her smaller as well.
The emotions in this novel were raw and beautiful, showcasing the constant struggle of young queer women navigating the world and relationships despite inherent biases. I enjoyed the rollercoaster of emotions, especially while listening to the song before and after. Now, the song makes so much more sense. It’s rare when a songwriter expands their work into a novel, and I was honoured to be able to read this one.
Based on the hit song GIRLS LIKE GIRLS by Hayley Kiyoko, this novel by the same name and author is a love song to every young queer girl wishing for love. Much like its heroines, it deserves some love.

In this coming of age romance, two teen girls find solace in each other as they discover their sexuality and navigate messy feelings.

I loved the concept of Hayley Kiyoko's music video when it premiered years ago and was very excited to pick up a novelization of it! I'm a sucker for a good queer story that explores the idea of queerness and coming into one's identity, which this definitely focuses on. I also loved how insular the story was and focused on the small town and characters, rather than making the plot too large. I was also happy to see it was set in 2010 with a lot of nostalgic references.

This book has some issues with pacing. It's quite slow to start and then has a fairly rushed ending which made it difficult to get through. I also felt like this was a true young adult novel - while I could relate to some of the aspects discussed about queerness, it also felt very young to me. I think a teen version of me would have loved it and it's message more than the adult me cared for it. While not perfect, this was an ultimately sweet book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing me a copy of this book for an honest review.