{My thoughts} – When I started reading this book I walked into it with a sort of expectation. I assumed it would be mushy and I probably would have zero interest in finishing it. However, I couldn’t have been more wrong. It did take me until halfway through the book to want to find out the outcome though. A warning that it truly has a slow build up.

Vanilla and Hunter have been friend since Middle School. They’d been exploring their sexual identity throughout that time period through to nearly the end of High School. They had their ups and downs but remained together as a couple for the most part throughout it all.

They had the same small circle of friends. Some that completely understood them and some that didn’t. They had the support of their parents for the most part allow when their parents are discussed it seems they only supported to ensure that the two boys were happy. However, that’s a better outcome then most would o could expect.

Towards the end of the book I was back to wondering why I was still reading, but it did have a nice little story wrapped up in its pages. I found some of it to appear realistic and logical, whereas, other parts I was thinking I don’t think that’s really how it would work out in real life. The truth is honestly I don’t know how it would work out, but to me it just seemed too simple within the pages of the book.

I recommend this book for anyone questioning their identity, for anyone that enjoys poetry and for anyone that is simply curious about how things could be if things were viewed differently for them. ( )

{My thoughts} – When I started reading this book I walked into it with a sort of expectation. I assumed it would be mushy and I probably would have zero interest in finishing it. However, I couldn’t have been more wrong. It did take me until halfway through the book to want to find out the outcome though. A warning that it truly has a slow build up.

Vanilla and Hunter have been friend since Middle School. They’d been exploring their sexual identity throughout that time period through to nearly the end of High School. They had their ups and downs but remained together as a couple for the most part throughout it all.

They had the same small circle of friends. Some that completely understood them and some that didn’t. They had the support of their parents for the most part allow when their parents are discussed it seems they only supported to ensure that the two boys were happy. However, that’s a better outcome then most would o could expect.

Towards the end of the book I was back to wondering why I was still reading, but it did have a nice little story wrapped up in its pages. I found some of it to appear realistic and logical, whereas, other parts I was thinking I don’t think that’s really how it would work out in real life. The truth is honestly I don’t know how it would work out, but to me it just seemed too simple within the pages of the book.

I recommend this book for anyone questioning their identity, for anyone that enjoys poetry and for anyone that is simply curious about how things could be if things were viewed differently for them. ( )

Literary Merit: Low
Characterization: Poor
Recommended: no
Level: High school

Vanilla is about the growth of the relationship between Hunter and Vanilla. They have been boyfriends from a very young age and as they start to grow up and explore what their own views of sexuality and how different those views are.
This book explores different forms of sexuality, one of which is asexuality. This is not a topic very often focused on, especially in YA books, but it doesn't come across as very positive or helpful in it's exploration.
A teen who is asexual may be happy to see that reflected in a character, but I personally feel like it is almost harmful in some of the ways it is discussed and criticized by some of the other characters in the book.
Vanilla is also a book in verse, which may attract fans of Ellen Hopkins and the likes but I'm afraid they will be sadly disappointed. The writing felt very choppy, was hard to follow at times and left this reader having a hard time connecting to the story and characters. ( )