This book is ADORABLE. I love their romantic progression. I love the bilingual (Spanish and English) dialogue. I love the characters. The FMC and MMC are both relatable and dynamic, and Jimena's mom is really well done as well.

I love how Jimena grows as a person as the stories moved forward and her relationship with the MMC flows from friendship into so much more.

The plight of the FMC is one that is an unfortunate reality for many but rarely seen and written well in fiction. If you have a problem with immigration politics, this book may not be for you. If you have compassion for those who, for one reason or another, reside in another country by illegal means, then I think you will like this book and it's outcome.

Content: "get married quick"/fake marriage "scheme" to get green card and citizenship, shady first dates between underage 17 yr old and older adult men, teen drinking, manipulation via guilt trip

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan's Children's Publishing for the advanced reader copy of this book. This review is voluntarily written and the thoughts and opinions contained in this review are my own.

The premise of the book sounded so interesting to me and I couldn't wait to read this book. When I started out the book the plot seemed so strong and like the start of a really great book. Sadly for me, the plot kind of died off and seemed like it was focused towards inexperienced people. The beginning of the book, like I said started out strong, but by the end it felt like a chore to finish the book.

This was not for me. It started out strong but the plot soon just didn’t have enough for me. But I am an adult and maybe this is one of those YA that is really for the less experienced person.

Set in the early 2000s before DACA, Jimena discovers she is an undocumented immigrant during her senior year of high school. She is scared and thinks her only option to gain citizenship is to find an American to marry. I am too young to relate to the 2000s nostalgia that so many readers loved, but I can recognize the importance of this story. Jimena’s story highlights why DACA and other immigration policies regarding children are necessary. While this YA novel touches upon important topics, the plot itself was repetitive, and at times I felt like I was forcing myself to continue reading.

I didn’t know what to expect when I started reading JUST SAY YES by Goldy Moldavsky. I saw the fun cover, read the blurb, and went with it. I ended up dual-listening and reading the book, and I was pleased with that decision. It’s always fun to read with my eyes, but this book was a delight to read with my ears.

Brenda Arteaga-Walsh is a delightful narrator who gets the sound of “ohmigoodness, my world is crashing down around me” seventeen-year-old girl just right. That’s exactly who Jimena Romas is, and I’m glad that Maldavsky didn’t stray from her age, temper, maturity, or personality. Sure, Jimena was annoying at times as a freaked-out teenager. Yes, some of the happenstances were a little fairytale-ish. (It’s a YA novel!) But the book was educational and entertaining.

The ending was a bit quirky, just like the whole book. I hope it’s not open-ended, and we’ll get a follow-up! I’m kinda excited to see what Jimena does next…

Thanks, Wednesday Books, for the arc!

Imagine thinking you’re a US citizen until you find out you’re not at 17 years old…I have had experience with the DREAM act and the immigration process through another person, so I really felt for Jimena in this book. I wish this book was maybe a little more mature, but it was still a good read and had good messages in it!

When Jimena learns that she is undocumented, it threatens to ruin her life plans. Inspired by one too many rom coms (and a trip to a lawyer who advises her it is a bad idea), Jimena sets out to find a legal citizen to marry. The voice of reason is Vitaly, Jimena’s neighbor and friend, whose continued friendship buoys Jimena as she dates her way through her pain in an attempt to find a solution that will enable her to stay. Set in the mid-2000s prior to the DREAM act, this novel has too much fluff without the fun and although it is inspired by reality, it strays too far from what is realistic. A great cover will reel readers in, but those who stick with Moldavsky’s plot through the end will be disappointed.

Thanks to Henry Holt and Co. & NetGalley for providing a copy for review!

I thought this was really insightful. Before DACA, so many people had to do whatever was necessary to pursue their version of the American Dream. It’s not absurd to think a girl who only just discovers she’s undocumented during her senior year thinks that the quickest route to her future is to get married. It’s a very important, albeit fun, read.

We love a great love story with two people who refuses to admit to each other that they love each other and then finally come together.

<i>Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.</i>

Just wonderful. Truly. This a charming, romantic YA contemporary with such genuine heart to it, balanced out with much more complex, emotional situations. Goldy Moldavsky approaches tough problems with nuance, while never abandoning the vivacious, bubbly nature of Jimena Ramos. I loved the characters, the plot, the romance, the writing, style--everything. A refreshing read!

This was mostly enjoyable overall, although not my favorite YA romance ever. I liked how the romance developed between the two main characters, and while some of Jimena's actions are a little cringy, they made sense with her character and situation. The ending was very rushed, though, and I was not a big fan of it. Cute cover though!

(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)

Adorable friends to lovers romance set perfectly in the early aughts. Captures the anxiety of being an undocumented immigrant combined with rapidly growing up at the end of high school.

This book was so heartbreaking and sweet. When Jimena learns of her undocumented status, she comes up with a plan to stay in the U.S. legally. While following Jimena on her slightly cringe journey of dating and finding love in the most unexpected of places. Overall, the end of the book left my heart happy.

Although slow to start, this book definitely picked up and gave very interesting young adult perspective into green card marriage. It is a cute love story with stances on current political issues we see today. The author did a great job of mixing these together to highlight important themes, while also telling a good story.

Jimena Ramos is about to get the most shocking news of her life.
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It’s 2007 and seventeen-year-old Jimena gets brought home by the cops after throwing a party. No big deal, they let her off with a warning, but when her Peruvian mother tells her she has to be more careful because she’s undocumented, it throws Jimena into a tailspin. She used to throw caution to the wind, now she’s overly cautious to the extreme for fear of someone finding out about her illegal alien status and sending her to a country she barely knows anything about. The idea of a green card marriage sounds appealing, but after many disastrous online dating and personal ad attempts have her coming up empty, Jimena keeps asking her neighbor, Vitaly, to marry her. Because he plans to go to Oxford for college, he keeps refusing. The more time they spend together though, it gets harder for Vitaly to turn her down.
👰🏽
If you’ve ready @goldywrites YA books before you know she’s a thriller author…usually. This title has her switching genres to YA romance and I’m so here for it! While this cover is adorable and the romance is definitely there, I think it’s important to note that this novel was set in 2007 for a reason. The DREAM Act went into effect in 2010 and continues to be challenged by certain administrations and members of Congress. It’s so important that we don’t forget that immigrants are people and many need the safe haven that the U.S. can provide for them. This issue is still an ongoing argument and will be in the next election. As a Texan we have many DREAMERS and I wholeheartedly believe they should be allowed to be citizens. I’d love a sequel!

CW: immigration issues, deportation, unwanted touch

I ended up enjoying this so much more than I thought I would (not that I thought I wouldn't like it)! A teenage girl dead-set on getting married in order to obtain citizenship is not a typical YA plot, but it worked so well. Jimena is honestly such a character and I loved her character arc from a somewhat stuck-up and self-centered teenage girl to someone who is really aware of the difficulties a lot of people, especially Latine people, face.

While this book is serious and does touch on some important immigration policies and the hardships undocumented people face, it's also funny and a really good time. I found myself tearing up at moments AND bursting out laughing (all at Jimena's antics). There's a really good balance between the reality of finding out you're undocumented unexpectedly as a teenager and the hilarity of the whole marriage "scheme."

This is not contemporary—it's set in the early 2000s and uses some outdated language like "illegal alien" (and honestly outdated fashion lmao). There is a really nice scene between Jimena and her friend that explains how people can't be illegal or alien, even if they are undocumented, which I appreciated.

Quick note that I love how *technically* untranslated a lot of the Spanish scenes with Jimena's mother are. Even if you don't understand the language, you'll still be able to follow along!

This is sweet and heartfelt; I appreciate Jimena's vulnerability in what is, undoubtedly, a horrifically stressful situation, but I also loved the banter and realistic development of her and Vitaly's relationship (well, except for the ending...which feels rushed and slightly dissatisfying). Also, I'm a big fan of the Spanish dialogue remaining intact; I think it'll help a lot of YA readers see themselves in Jimena.

I have not read anything by this author before, but I will definitely be looking out for their work in the future. I loved seeing the story unfold and seeing the characters grow.

This is the third title from Moldavsky that I've read and it is my favorite by far! Jimena is dreaming of college, but the revelation that she is undocumented puts an end to that unless she can find a way to stay in the U.S. legally. She decides the quickest way is to get married. We follow her as she navigates what her life is now that she knows she is undocumented and dates prospective husbands. We have a slow romance with her friend that is just so sweet. Jimena really feels like a Latin teen, struggling with such a large issue. This book handles DREAMers in such a good way. It didn't feel preachy. It was one girl's experience, where her status is one part of her life, along with school , friendships, and relationships. Strangely enough, I liked the ending. It was giving The Graduate, but with added hope. The 'what now' of so many previously closed opportunities now open, but also of two kids making a desperate decision to get that hope.

A coming of age, Heart warming book. A story of finding out you no longer fit where you thought you did in the world.

I enjoyed this one! It had all the components of a good book. It was a slow start for me, but I loved the writing style and grew to love the characters💖

This book is by a new to me author, and is the first book I’ve ever read by her!

I’ve read a TON of romcoms, lots of YA, and few contemporaries. But I’ve never read a book that focuses on the topic of immigration! And what I loved about this, is not only is it an extremely important topic to be educated on, and to approach sensitively and with care, it is also presented in an entertaining way that will keep you rooting for the main character and hoping for the best for her!

It threw me off at first that parts of this book were in Spanish (only because I do not speak it personally), and I feared I was going to miss out on a lot of the storyline by my lack of understanding. However, the author did a good job of re-expressing the thoughts and dialogue in Spanish again in English, by making it seem more like the main character was processing it and asking questions in her thoughts in the language she was accustomed to (English).

I’ve heard of getting married for a “green card”, and the only other book/ movie I’ve seen with this topic was The Proposal, and that has much more of an enemies to lovers vibe and is quite different.

Friends to lovers is a favorite trope of mine and it was expressed great in this book. The story had lots of emotion that had my feelings switching from laughter, to sadness, to excitement, to suspense, and all over a rollercoaster! And I loved all the highlights referencing to stores and popular things in America during the year this was based (2007). I remember that time myself and the book does a pretty accurate job of setting that scene and the generation’s interests and trends!

I recommend this book to any who want a unique and interesting read with a splash of romantic comedy and a good message.