Surprisingly this is my first Becky Albertalli book and I am so happy that I got an arc of this book. IT IS SO CUTE!! It is the kind of book that I wish I had when I was in junior high and high school. I love the queer representation, the friend group, the discussion of being a “celebrity” and the lack of privacy you are given. The book was a little slow for me at the beginning, but once it picked up it went so fast! The romance is short and sweet and it is just so cute!

Thank you so much NetGalley and HarperCollins for the arc!

Becky always has amazing books and this one is another to add to the list. The way she is able to bring you back to the early 2010's with youtuber meet ups and more. Amelia captured my heart from the moment i started reading, i saw 15 year old me in her. I hope we see more of her even if its little appearances like Kate did in this book. Highly recommend reading.

After being utterly obsessed with Imogen, Obviously I had very high expectations for this book and they were not disappointed. I loved the main character Amelia, she was very relatable in many aspects to me, especially her fear of change was something that I could relate to on many levels.

I also really liked Natalie and Amelia’s banter and loved seeing the friendship turn into something more. The only slight issue I had was that I couldn’t really see any romantic chemistry between the two of them at first but that got better throughout the book.

What I found really interesting was the aspect of celebrity crushes and how sometimes you can feel like you know a person just by watching their movies/videos and this book kind of made you realize that you don’t actually know those people at all, but you can still feel such a connection to them like they are your real life friends.

This book was very fast paced and I kinda wish it would’ve been a tiny bit longer because the romance felt a little bit out of nowhere to me. Yes, there were moments when you could tell that the two main characters were already in love before they admitted it, but overall it still kind of felt a bit fast going from not even knowing that you’re in love with your best friend to saying that you’ve been in love with them since kindergarten in the span of like two chapters but otherwise it was really fun. I enjoyed the slow burn and I will continue to eat up anything Becky Albertelli writes.

Thank you so much Netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early.

Amelia, If Only follows Amelia and her friend group as they take a road trip to go see her favorite YouTuber as she realizes that the person she’s in love with is actually closer to home.

I was really excited for this book because Imogen, Obviously changed my life and it didn’t disappoint! I found the banter between Amelia and her friends incredibly realistic and a delight to read. I loved the reintroductions of characters from Imogen’s book and how their continuing stories wove so easily into Amelia and her friends’ stories. It also was so easy to tell that Amelia and her friends had known each other most of their lives and it was so fun stepping into their world for a bit; I never wanted to leave!

The only issue I really had with the book was how long the slow burn was. Amelia doesn’t even realize her feelings until very very close to the end and there wasn’t a lot of time to actually see them together. But there were enough clues throughout about Amelia’s feelings that were so incredibly obvious I couldn’t put the book down.

Thank you HarperCollins Children's Books and NetGalley again for the chance to read this early.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Becky Albertalli has done it again! I don't read much YA these days, but I always keep my eye out for her new releases, and <i>Amelia, If Only</i> did not disappoint! Such an absolutely delightful book.

I've always loved the humor in Albertalli's books, but I think this might be the funniest?? Amelia is an incredible protagonist, always armed with a quip and a witty nickname. She's so quick, and loud, and expressive. But there are also quieter moments in her narration that really stuck out to me - when she's reflecting on her journey with her own sexuality or how she navigates change. Albertalli does an incredible job putting such specific feelings into words.

The focus on parasocial relationships and how that dehumanizes celebrities (even smaller scale ones) was so deftly handled, as well. The Reddit threads and twitter arguments and comment sections - I've seen that all play out in real life, and Albertalli captured it perfectly here. The speculation around Walter and Hayden felt very Dan and Phil/Harry and Louis.

The romance was very sweet, and the supporting cast gets their moment as well (which I adored).

Such a wonderful read!

This was overall a sweet story, though not my favorite Albertalli novel. The characters were well developed, relatable, and realistic, though I felt the pacing of the story was a bit off - the first half felt like I was never going to get anywhere and the last quarter felt rushed. Even so, I’d love to see more from this quirky group of friends.

This one just didn't work as well for me as Imogen, Obviously. The first half was a bit slow, and the social media stuff was distracting from the main plot line. I also was very done with the MILF jokes, there were just way too many of them for my preference. Also, I really wanted more scenes between Amelia and Natalie. The scenes of the two of them together were super cute, and I wanted to see more of them! I still enjoyed this book, and it was a fun read. Also, loved seeing some characters from Imogen, Obviously.

I would recommend it if you like cute, queer relationships, are cool with a fair amount of social media stuff in your books, and have enjoyed Becky Albertalli's books before.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins Children's Books for this arc!

I basically squealed and straight up giggled my way through this entire book. Like literally. It was just so FUN! And funny! And also made me think a lot about my own "fangirl" moments. I love Becky Albertalli and I was obsessed with Imogen, Obviously so I knew I'd enjoy Amelia, If Only as well -- and I proved myself right!

We follow Amelia and her friends -- Natalie, Zora, and Mark -- as they travel to a local college to meet Zora's long-distance girlfriend, Edith, and also attend a speech/Q&A with Amelia's favorite YouTuber, Walter. She's a little bit obsessed with him (read: a lot), her friends joke she's in love with him, and she doesn't exactly deny it!

There's a lot of really great commentary in here about the nature of fandom and parasocial relationships. I think everyone is a fan of something, but there's a point where it can cross over into inappropriate. I think this is a very timely conversation as the word "parasocial" becomes more commonplace. Amelia questions her own obsession as the book progresses. The between-chapter social media posts I really enjoyed as they add sort of another layer to the story. The comments and tweets and Reddit posts are so accurate, it's impressive.

This book was also just so funny. I was cracking up. Also: I hate you too, Claire! Maybe you're actually a nice girl, but man Amelia had me convinced! Was some of it a bit unrealistic? Perhaps. But I didn't even care.

I'd also be remiss not to mention the familiar faces who pop up. No specific spoilers, but let's just say I was very excited to hear some names mentioned! All of the characters are well-written, with goals and flaws and personality quirks that make them more interesting to read about. I'd like to also add I was rooting for Mark and a certain someone from their first interaction so I felt pretty satisfied about that ending!

Speaking of romance -- friends to lovers will always get me, y'all. What can I say? The relationship was sweet and felt earned. Some people might have a problem with the pacing/build-up (or -- what I could see as interpreted as -- a lack thereof) but it worked for me.

I do feel like the college aspect was a little rushed, but that wasn't the main focus of the book, so I get it. I also wish we saw more of Zora and Edith together because they were cute! I also didn't fully understand Amelia's issues with her mom. I know there were a few brief things mentioned, but I wish they'd been explored more because, from the reader's perspective, her mom seems a little overbearing but still nice!

Overall, I really enjoyed this. It was chaotic, fast-paced, and laugh-out-loud funny. I devoured this in one sitting and was very satisfied with the ending! To reiterate again, while this is a fun book, it also touches on a very real and prevalent occurrence in our current online world. I think it does so gracefully and with care, being respectful to the fans, but also to the real people behind what we see portrayed online.

4 stars

“Amelia If Only,” by Becky Albertalli is a slow-burn YA novel about a Jewish high schooler, Amelia, who drags her friends on a road trip to meet her favorite YouTuber. Though she thinks she has a crush on him, she ends up meeting and befriending him and realizes her crush is her best friend, Natalie.

By slow-burn, I mean she doesn’t realize her crush until way into the book (at least 80%). Though interspersed throughout the book are her subtle thoughts of her actually falling for Natalie. The book is a sweet YA novel that has an adorable group of friends who are all queer and deeply care for each other. Amelia is a jokester and as the book is in first person, the humor comes across on the page even in her thoughts.

I enjoyed this book and recommend it to any readers looking for a YA romance, especially if looking for bisexual or Jewish representation.

I was lucky enough to receive this as an ARC through NetGalley especially as I love Becky Albertalli’s books.

With that said, I was really excited to read this but it ended up being a 2.5 stars read for me. The book just didn’t hit, even though I’m bisexual myself and was glad to read about more representation. But it just was so slow, it was a lot of baffling with not really any plot. For me personally it was sadly just disappointing. :(

Amelia, if Only

Amelia and her group of friends just graduated high school. She finds out a YouTuber she is obsessed with is making an appearance six hours away. She convinces her friends to go with her to see him.

The first have of this book was slow. The 2nd half improves significantly. One issue is that the book dedicates a lot of time to the online Reddit post about the you tuber Walter and his collaborator Hayden. I understand why she did this but I felt like there was too much time dedicated to these posts. My favorite parts of the book are when she focuses on Amelia and her friend group. They are smart and funny.
Thank to NetGalley and Harper Collins for providing me this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Becky Albertalli's upcoming novel, *Amelia, If Only*, scheduled for release on June 10, 2025, delves into the complexities of fandom, friendship, and self-discovery. The story centers on Amelia Applebaum, a high school senior who is captivated by Walter Holland, a moderately famous, chaotically bisexual YouTuber. Her fascination leads her to invite him to prom—a post she quickly deletes, hoping it erases the impulsive act. Convinced that a real-life connection with Walter would spark something special, Amelia embarks on a road trip with her close-knit group of friends to attend his meet-and-greet event. This journey becomes a pivotal moment before their graduation, especially for her newly single, always-cynical, guitar-playing best friend, Natalie. As events unfold, Amelia begins to question the true source of her butterflies, realizing they might not be for Walter after all.

The novel's structure, interspersed with YouTube transcriptions and social media threads, offers a realistic glimpse into the dynamics of online communities. Amelia's vibrant personality and her "unhinged thoughts" provide ample moments of laughter, while the evolving dynamics within her friend group add depth to the narrative. The slow-burn realization of Amelia's true feelings keeps readers engaged, culminating in a satisfying exploration of identity and love. Amelia, If Only is poised to resonate with fans of Albertalli's previous works, offering a contemporary tale that captures the essence of teenage life, the allure of internet fame, and the timeless journey of finding oneself.

Somehow I completely missed the fact that this is childhood friends to lovers, which is so not a trope I care for. Still, this was really cute! I really liked all these characters, and I loved all the cameos.

thanks to Harper Collins and Netgalley for the arc of my literal dreams *heart eyes*

wow.

okay i’m fully convinced @beckyalbertalli lives in my brain. every book she reads is exactly what i need to hear. i seriously wonder how different my life would be if i had these to read when i was younger.

if you know me you know that Imogen, Obviously is a book i will literally never stop talking about and as excited as i was to start Amelia’s book i was also a little worried it wasn’t going to live in the hype of my brain.

but to my absolute delight—it was everything. it gave me the same feelings Imogen’s book did. both books altered my brain chemistry in the best best way.

i could gush about this book for hours, but i don’t want to spoil anything….except….

we get to see how Immy girl again! and her cameo was just so sweet love to see her live her best life

this one is for the girlies who have too many thoughts in their head yet can’t formulate what they are feeling. who wear their emotions big and on the sleeve and sometimes worry others won’t be able to handle it. people who feel things so deeply it might cause an ache until they burst

this is me and if this is you—put this in your tbr

this one is out in June and i will definitely pick it up immediately 🙌🏻

First, I'd like to thank HarperCollins for the review copy.

Next, I'd like to thank Becky Albertalli for continuing to provide the queer community with beautiful, flawed, queer stories. As someone who first discovered her work with the movie Love, Simon when I was deep in the closet and didn't understand why it made me cry, and then read Imogen, Obviously shortly after coming out as bisexual. It is safe for me to say her work means a lot to me in my self acceptance journey. I knew when I requested a copy of Amelia, If Only I would love it, but I didn't know I would love it like this.

I intentionally took my time with this book. The pacing and characters are engaging and hilarious. Amelia is top tier funny. Most of my highlights are her absurd jokes. I could have binged this book. I could have finished it in one sitting, it's that good. I just didn't want to. I didn't want to rush my time with the characters, the story and with the queer joy I was feeling. So I took my time.

I loved the commentary on parasocial relationships. As we continue to move into a more digital and content creator driven age, I think it becomes increasingly important to discuss boundaries and respect towards the creators whether they are YouTubers, TikTokkers or authors. Interacting with someone's work is not a relationship or a perfect capsule of them as an individual. This is discussed really well with the interludes in the form of Twitter threads, Tumblr posts, Instagram comments and more to show how Walter's fans have taken ownership of the content and continue to cross those boundaries. I really loved how Amelia describes Walter's internet persona versus him in full color and in person. His internet persona is her hands close together but his full personality is them two inches apart. I think this is true for everyone, whether they're creating content or not, social media is curated and only a small sliver of reality.

As someone who has lived in Central and Upstate New York for over two decades, this story was meant for me. It's not very often I am able to read a book and picture the setting vividly. Amelia's road trip with her friends is a love letter to the Finger Lakes region and Central New York. The description of Sylvan Beach was PERFECT and took me back to my experiences at Sylvan Beach.

Most of all what I loved was the queer representation. Walter's coming out video, how Amelia resonated with it and the discussions of different tenses resonated with me as deep as Lake Superior. I struggled with the idea of being queer, not because I didn't want to be, but because it took me a lot longer to figure out what was right for me. The imagery of a memory being an echo of a feeling shook me to my core and I had to sit with the idea for awhile. I can't even describe how it felt to read that, just know it meant the world to me.

4.5 ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins, and Becky Albertalli for letting me read this ARC. I was so excited to read this book after loving Imogen, Obviously!

This book focuses on Amelia, a senior in high school. She is slightly obsessed with a YouTuber named Walter Holland. When Amelia finds out that Walter will be hosting a meet and greet just hours away, she needs to go. Amelia and her friends set out on a road trip that will change everything. This book is filled with self-discovery, friendship, and new relationships. ✨

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! It was so cute, and I caught myself smiling many times. Becky beautifully writes this book, and there are lots of good nuggets that I highlighted. Especially that last paragraph pulling on my heart strings. 💕 This book is perfect for those searching for a book with an amazing queer friend group going on a road trip and finding unexpected love in the process!

the bisexuals keep winning!

ok i did feel that the first half was slow; i appreciated the background blurbs of walter's online stuff and fandom related bits esp as this tackles fandom and shipping discourse, but it did slow the story down for me sometimes.

i did think this was a great portrayal and examination of "shipping" and parasocial relationships w celebrities, and some of the negative consequences like accusations of queerbaiting. by giving the reader the journey of seeing it happen, following someone who was a fan, and then getting the other side, it was a reminder to humanize the people we watch on screens.

ultimately, the latter half did really win me over. i thought the friend group was so adorable and amelia is such a character. overall, super cute story!

an honest arc review ♡

Love, Simon might be Becky Albertalli’s most popular book, but in my opinion, Imogen, Obviously is her best so far. And now, I got to read Amelia, If Only. From the moment I started reading, my hands were shaking a bit, and my heart thudded in my throat. Would this one even be better than Imogen?
 
Amelia, If Only is by far Becky’s loudest novel. Amelia is just more than a little crazy (not meant negatively). Her mind! Amelia herself calls it the Amelia brain ecosystem. It just keeps going and going and going, and sometimes, I found it hard to follow her leaps of thought. But she’s also so hilarious. I laughed out loud about all these nicknames, and Markillean Freddie Markury was the funniest (even though my autocorrect disagrees since it tried to correct the name at least five times).
 
Have you ever been a fan of someone? And wanted to know everything about them? Even to the point where you count that artist, or influencer, or athlete, or whoever it may be among your personal friends while you've never met that someone in person? Or even secretly dreamt about a romantic relationship with that person? Yep. That’s what this story is about, and Becky did a fantastic job portraying what it means to be a fan or a stan of someone and how it influences lives. In between Amelia’s story, the reader gets an insight into an insane fandom through YouTube transcriptions, Twitter-, Reddit-, and Instagram threads. And I loved reading those snippets. It was so real! Just like Amelia, I wanted to meet Walter so badly. And I have to admit, it was a slow, slow, slow burn until that first meeting. All those transcripts and threads hyped me up so much and kept me flying through the pages. 

And did you know that Imogen and Tessa appear in this story? Oh, and there's an Adib Khoram reference! I smiled so hard when I read those passages! 
 
So, is this story even better than Imogen, Obviously? Well, I loved the friend group, laughed out loud about Amelia’s unhinged thoughts, and couldn’t tear my eyes from all those transcriptions and threads. I loved, loved the overall story, and yeah, even though, I thought it wouldn’t be possible, I think I liked this story even more than Imogen’s.

Oh, and Becky? Please let those two cinnamon buns be the couple in your next story!

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

3.25 ⭐️
I found the first half of this book extremely slow and very hard to get into. A lot of time was spent on the content of Walter and Hayden, and it seemed like barely anything happened in the story. Luckily, this really picks up once you hit the 50-60% mark, and is reminiscent of a typical Becky Albertalli book in terms of being entertaining, having good character moments and introspection. Also typical of her books, this one contains a really believable and interesting group of friends. I do wish the romance felt a little less rushed, as it mostly just occurred at the very end of the book.