The representation in this book was unmatched which was to be expected.

The complexity of the relationships between the friend groups and their families, the school struggles with the daunting feeling of college, and the worries of what is next or yet to come.

I truly loved the unconditional love that Dawn, Georgia, and Edie all had for each other. They all knew they needed each other to succeed, and would go above and beyond what truly a good friend is. Those girls are family.

I honestly wish we got more of Edie and Georgia’s story. The main focus of the story was Dawn and her film, but those two went through some stuff that truly defines a character and how they move through a story.

rating: ★★★.5 rounded up

let me just start by saying…the cover of this book? so beautiful. okay with that being said, I think this was a pretty solid debut! each girl had their own issues to work through but thankfully they had each other while doing so. as always, check cw/tw!

side note: Georgia was probably my fave character lol

The Queer Girl Is Going to be Okay take you on a journey with three queer girls who are just trying to live their life authentically. The girls all go through some issues but at the end of the day they have each. This was such a cute YA read. I loved the diversity of the book, the main characters, Dawn, Georgia and Edie are all POC.
At some points in the book the pacing was a bit off for me. There were quite a bit of time jumps which left me wondering as to what the characters were doing before that.
Overal I enjoyed the book.

It was the representation for me. This was a good read and touching story. 

Here are a few statements/quotes that stood out to me.

🔴 Appreciation for her friends filled her.

🟠 Dawn held herself as if she was holding somebody she loved.

🟡 “It hurts. But I’m here, and I’m laughing about it, so it’s not an impossible hurt.”

🟢 Just say something good. Say something nice to me, please.” She hated to hear herself whine and beg like a kid. But she needed this. She needed him like he needed her.

🔵 She liked knowing the sound of her own home, so familiar with it she could feel its every movement.

🟣 You have to let yourself feel like a winner sometimes.”

🟤 Being away from her parents was easy and nice and let her try new things, new ways of being.

⚪ I want to be in love. I want the impossible. I would wait a million years for it.

⚫ “When I started making this documentary, I had no idea that I would end up here in front all of you. I thought I was making a film for a few of my friends so that I could remember who I am and where I came from. I wanted to document young queer people and their stories today. I wanted to give importance to some infinitely tiny piece of history. I’m so glad to have our stories illuminated in this huge way.”

🔴 This documentary is about representation but it’s also about a lot more than that. It’s about making queer people human. It’s about youth, it’s about a universal feeling. Everyone knows what love is. It’s nice because the definition is so different from person to person. That’s what I’m interested in. The difference. The variation. The ways love can exist in the world from a kiss to an orange peel.

The premise of this book as well as the cover + title really pulled me in! Unfortunately, it felt off to a slow start and I ultimately couldn't get into the book; I've decided to set it aside for now and try again later, perhaps in an audio format.

This is definitely a character-driven, slice-of-life book and is not super plot-heavy. I think readers who enjoy slower reads that focus more on relationships and character growth will really like this one! While it wasn't for me, I will certainly be recommending it at my library, especially to fans of Miel Moreland or Becky Albertalli.

It’s the last year of high school for Dawn, Georgia and Edie. The three girls have been best friends for years, through the good and the bad of adolescence. At the beginning of the book, Dawn is trying to finish a documentary on queer love she wants to submit to the Austin Film Festival in the hopes of getting a full scholarship to film school. Edie is the quintessential perfect student who keeps lying to her parents so she can hide her relationship with nonbinary Ben. Georgia has the coolest mom but she’s now wondering if her mom isn’t a bit too cool, as her college admission requests keep being rejected.

There’s a lot of love in this book but also lies (to others and to oneself), secrets, solidarity and hope. Be warned that there are instances of queerphobia and transphobia as part of what the characters go through but also as part of character growth, as well as sexual assault. The pacing is uneven, at times a bit slow, then rushed, but I liked that all three MCs are POC, I loved the friendship, and the ending is satisfying, especially the hope the author injects that makes all the trials worth fighting through.

Dale Walls captures the sliver of life between childhood/teenage years and adulthood with sensitivity and tenderness. The period between the end of high school and the first years of whatever comes next is delicate to navigate for most people and Walls write the ups and downs, the hardships and possibilities—especially for queer young adults—in a way that I think will feel relatable to many.

“the queer girl is going to be alright” follows three seniors as they deal with different difficulties together and separately. i thought this was well written and I enjoyed the character arcs but felt that it could’ve done with a bit more development. a few extra chapters could’ve gone a long way here. despite that, this was a quick queer read that I ended up really liking. the relationships were complex and tough at times but the progression was lovely.

thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

We follow three best friends as they navigate their last year of high school, and all the problems that come with it.
Dawn is trying to make a documentary about queer love for a film festival, in the hopes that she will win a scholarship for film school, all while trying to experience queer love for herself.
Edie has to figure what to do, trying to balance her nonbinary partner, her veryy religious family, and maintaining good grades.
Finally, Georgia, an aspiring poet, is struggling with trying to figure out what do for her future, as she has bad grades and few prospects for college.

I really loved this story and kept thinking about how this would look so good as a coming-of-age movie, I could really visualize all of the scenes in my head.
I grew attached to these girls and their friendhip felt very special, I wish I had the same thing when I was a teen. And their lives felt real, I could believe that they're existing out there, and I'm so happy that teens can read this and see their experiences reflected here ! I warmly recommend this to every queer person ou there, especially if you're still in high school.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"The Queer Girl Is Going to Be Okay" by Dale Walls is a book about friendship and the transformative power of queer girl bonds. Dawn Salcedo is the sole caregiver for her ill father and hoping to win a scholarship at the Austin Film Festival, but she’s having trouble finishing her documentary. Fortunately, she has great friends to help her finish up when she thinks it's all impossible. Edie and Georgia’s stories round out the book, alternating between the point of view of each of the girls which I really enjoyed.

I think maybe I was the wrong audience for this book. Normally I love YA queer fiction, but I could not get into the storyline. I think what started it off wrong for me was the very first pages where I had to re-read multiple times to understand how the character got out of the situation as I could not logically follow the progression. Never a good thing when you find yourself saying, "wait, I thought she went through the yard - what about a fence - and underwear?" It got better after that, but I just couldn't find an overall investment into the characters. I can see how this would be a great book for the right reader.

Well written and optimistic read! I really loved the characters and the unique take on getting into film school.

I struggled with this one. There was no distinction between the POVs, and one character that I really felt should have had a POV did not. The prose felt juvenile, not in a “this is targeted toward young adults” way but in a way that could not hold my attention. Thank you to Levine Querido for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

It took me a minute to get into the book, but once I was in, I was all in. While this book is about queerness and life's challenges and falling in love, it's also about the love between friends and the importance of community. Growing up, I wish I'd had a more physical queer community like Edie and Georgia and Dawn, and I hope that queer teens nowadays are able to see themselves and their friendships in the trio. I also appreciated how Edie was validated for being afraid and unable to come out to her bigoted parents, and that she finds a sort of comfort knowing she can still be herself outside of her home.

This book contains transphobia and transphobia, as well as a several uncomfortable sexual situations, so take care of yourself when reading.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This story follows 3 friends Dawn, Georgia and Edie.Dawn is working on a film about queer love which could help her get a scholarship and a fresh start. Georgia has a difficult home life and struggling to get through college admissions. Edie has to hide who she is and who she loves due to her overly religious parents.

Told from each POV we get to discover their friendship, struggles with love, and navigating their last year of high school. I loved the friendship in this book and how they supported each other. I really enjoyed having the opportunity to listen to the ALC while reading the book.

Thank you Hear Our Voices Tours, Levine Querido and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Oh, this book is an absolute gem! It has everything a reader could ask for - a heartwarming friendship between three high school girls, relatable family issues, fantastic queer representation and relationships, and school problems. But you know what shines through in every page? Love, just pure and beautiful love. It's evident that the author poured their heart and soul into the book, showcasing different types of love - queer love, love between family members, love between friends (because, let's face it, friendship is a type of love), love for one's passions, love for one's life, body, and identity. I felt all of it, and it's such a heartwarming experience.

This book is a rollercoaster ride of emotions, with the highs and lows of queer love of every kind, a sweet friendship at its core, and a hint of found family. I can already imagine this being turned into a movie - it's that good! It's an excellent read for any teen trying to navigate the world, find love, and feel accepted.

Of course, there are some uncomfortable situations in the book, but they're the realities that many people face. But then there are moments that will make you smile with tears in your eyes - it's wholesome, impactful, and an absolute joy to read.

This book really explains what it’s like being queer in the south. All of the characters felt like people I would have gone to school with. I do think that this book could have been a little bit longer however. But all in all it was a good book & I definitely recommend it!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🎞️📝👩🏽‍❤️‍💋‍👩🏽🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Ok, like this book is everything? It's about queer friendship, following your dreams, and finding out what queer love is all about.

The three main girls are:
Dawn, is a Spanish transgender girl who has had a bad run of ex-boyfriends. She becomes a finalist in a film-making competition where she has the chance to win a scholarship, which she needs so she can help her dad who has major depressive episodes and needs full-time health care at home. The book follows her journey here of interviewing queer people and doing editing. I found her story the most heartbreaking because all she wants is unconditional love, but she doesn't think she can get it because of who she is, which really broke my heart. Thank god for her filmy best friend Collin, who she meets through the competition.

Georgia, who is a Black Lesbian and in love with her girlfriend, Jill, is really worried about college and leaving behind her girl, who is a year younger than she is. She doesn't get into most colleges she applies to, so she feels like she isn't smart enough. But she does get on the waitlist for one college, which is a writing college. Georgia loves to write and has really amazing poems, and reading her love for it makes you smile. She has a moment in her life that is really heartbreaking to read too, her mother's latest date is a creep and I thought she was really strong to realize what was happening and tell someone. No girl should have to go through what she did, but she was so worried about hurting her mother. Thank god for her friends and girlfriend.

Edie, an Asian who identifies as queer, is dating nonbinary Ben. Her parents are super religious and she finds it really difficult to come out to them, so she doesn't want Ben to meet them. This makes Ben feel like they are being hidden, and they don't want that, so they go on a break. Edie is so worried about disappointing her parents, and I felt that. Her story was the closest to mine in that way.

These girls had to go through regular high school senior stuff with college worries, scholarship hassles, and releasing that their friendship wasn't going to be the same with the three of them going to different places around the USA, but they also had their own personal struggles which make you think. I wish I had this book to read when I was at that age because it would have told me I wasn't alone.

This book is heartbreaking, joyful, and amazing to read. Dale Walls has done a great job for their debut.

Thank you to Netgalley and Levine Querido for a copy of the ebook. This review is left voluntarily.

-Young female friendship
-Young and Queer love
-Follows Queer friends Edie, Dawn and Georgia as they navigate their final year of high school
-Dawn creates a documentary film about Queer love in a documentary film competition for a scholarship prize
-Queer women uplifting one another
-the setting takes place in my hometown of Houston, Texas

Thank you to RB Media, Recorded Books and Netgalley for a arc of The Queer Girl is Going to Be Okay
by Dale Walls in exchange for my honest opinion. I really enjoyed this story of three friends and the differences each one of them were facing

The Queer Girl is Going to be Okay is a fiction full of LGBTQ+ representation. The story revolves around Dawn, Edie and Georgia a trio of queer best friends in their final year of highschool. Each has their own struggles and dreams. The book focuses on Dawn, a queer trans girl who is an aspiring filmmaker. The focus on Dawn and her story, unfortunately does mean that Edie's and Georgia's stories end up feeling somewhat unfinished and underdeveloped.

A part of me wishes we'd found out about Dawn's identity sooner (because I ended up connecting to her a lot more), but on the other hand it feels like the author wanted to keep things very close to reality. Trans people shouldn't have to walk around with their identity spelled out, just for us to accept them.

All in all, a great novel with lots of queer representation.