The Upside of Unrequited

I'm conflicted about this book. I loved Simon vs the Homo Sapiens agenda and I was happy to have that world extended. The writing in this book is good and I enjoyed the family dynamics. Also, hooray for queerness being a casually accepted thing (with acknowledgment that not everyone is going to be on board and you can still be happy without them).
But. The fat girl stuff. I'm so tired of stories about girls who are insecure about their weight and then get love in spite of their size. I would have preferred it if the confident sister was the fat one and the thin willowy sister was insecure because she was quiet and shy and thought everyone liked her sister better, not because of her size. Hell, she could even have body issues herself! show more This would have served to both show weight as a non-issue and unrelated to confidence and to highlight that body issues often have nothing to do with a body's actual size. Disclaimer: Written as a fat girl who was insecure about lots of things in high school and who's insecurity was incorrectly attributed to my weight. I did not appreciate "Some men like bigger girls" when I was depressed about other things, like being a closeted queer girl who didn't want men's attention anyway! Even if I WAS stressing about my body, I don't want to be a fetish! Also, I have a skinny beautiful sister and she doesn't like people talking about her body any more than I do. It actually happens to her way more than it happens to me with "joking" comments like "skinny bitch" or "of course you can eat what you want" and assumptions that she can't have any negative feelings about her body because it's "ideal". How's that for a rant? show less

G-D this book was absolutely adorable! After all the negativity of the current news cycle, this light read was exactly what I needed to lift my spirits and make me want to go out and read all the books again. Ironically, the book may read like fluff, but Albertalli tackles a lot of serious real-world issues in her stories, and I really appreciate that she makes the effort to do so. We can enjoy what we’re reading as well as learn to grow at the same time! In this story we follow Molly, who like most teenage girls is obsessed with romance, figuring out how to navigate growing up, and trying to find out who she really is. Molly’s twin sister is her exact opposite, so we know from the outset that some of the book’s tension is going show more to come from their changing relationship. Molly’s sister gets her first real girlfriend as well as a whole new group of friends, and while Molly definitely enjoys these new people she ends up in some very tricky situations as she gets pressured to date Will (her sister’s gf’s bff) and tries to integrate herself into this new social clique. To complicate matters further, Molly has a new job where she meets the very much unexpected Reid, who in the long term winds up being her real love interest. As readers we can definitely see their attraction from the get go, but Albertalli draws out the tension and narration beautifully while keeping it absolutely real as Molly and Reid try to figure out what kind of relationship they need. For those of us who are also obsessed with the characters from Simon vs. the Homosapien’s Agenda, this book also gives us a few choice cameos, since the story is set in the same world, so that was a lovely little bonus for readers. I may be well past the age where teenage drama is happening in my actual life, but somehow I can’t help but love these well-written, hilarious, and contrite novels! show less

Molly Peskin-Suso has had a lot of crushes, but has never even held hands with a boy. She’s surrounded by love – her moms are getting married, her best friend moved to Atlanta and got a boyfriend, her other best friend has a long-term boyfriend, and now even Molly’s twin sister Cassie is in love with a girl they met at a concert. When will it be Molly’s turn?

A little underwhelming. There’s nothing wrong with this book but it wasn’t very surprising and I didn’t feel like it had much else to say. I was kind of expecting a profound lesson about fully participating in society instead of watching it passively via a crush, but no. (They didn’t even discuss the fact that one of the crushes on Molly’s list is Lin-Manuel show more Miranda, a 35yo man she’s never met…that’s a little different than a cute boy at summer camp.) Even any points that could be made about how Molly feels about her weight seemed to fall flat. I enjoyed all of the characters but I found Molly to be kind of annoying at times. It was weird how judgmental Molly was of Reid being a “nerd” when she openly states that she has a crush on Lin-Manuel Miranda? All Reid does is wear two LOTR shirts and a Game of Thrones shirt, which is not at all nerdy by current standards. All of the bits about DC/Bethesda/Tacoma Park were overly detailed and annoying. (I also find people from Tacoma Park kind of annoying in real life so that does not help.) It was a fine book overall and I enjoyed reading it but it wasn’t special like Simon vs. show less

Molly and her twin sister Cassie are seventeen. They live in Takoma Park, Maryland, with their moms and their baby brother, Xavier. Cassie falls hard for Mina, and Molly is left behind, without even a crush (at the moment; she's had twenty-six to date, twenty-five of which were not Lin-Manuel Miranda). Cassie and Mina try to set Molly up with Mina's friend Hipster Will, and Molly does think he's cute, but has a hard time believing he's interested in her. Molly might be developing a crush on someone else, anyway - her co-worker Reid. Will she finally put herself out there, or will this crush be like all the others? (Spoiler: she does put herself out there.)

Delightful and, like Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (which I now want to show more re-read), diverse in a way that doesn't make a big deal about it. I would have loved this as a teen.

Quotes

And suddenly, I feel like crying, but not in a bad way. More like in the way you feel when someone gives you a perfect present - something you'd been wanting, but thought you couldn't ask for. It's that feeling of someone knowing you in all the ways you needed to be known. (Molly with Nadine, 100-101)

There's a lump in my throat. That's another thing about me. If someone says I'm sad, or asks me what's wrong, or tells me not to cry, it's like my body hears: NOW CRY. Like a command, even if I'm not actually sad. But maybe there are always tiny sad pieces inside me, waiting to be recognized and named. Maybe it's like that for everyone. (114)

"We like who we like. Who cares if someone else doesn't get it? That's a good thing. That's less competition." (Cassie to Molly, 211)

There's just something terrifying about admitting you like someone. In a way, it's actually easier when there's no chance of anything happening. But there's this threshold where things suddenly become possible. And then your cards are on the table. (211)

It's finding out the door you were banging on is finally unlocked. Maybe it was unlocked the whole time. (316)

I think every relationship is actually a million relationships. (335) show less

"And it's the end of the world and the beginning of the world and we're seventeen.
It's an awesome thing."

This line is such a perfect summation of what this book is about. This book is about change, particularly at a time where there are really big changes going on, and about trying to navigate it and figure out if it is good or bad. And I feel like Molly, the protagonist, comes to realize that perhaps it can be both at the same time. It can be both the end of something but also the beginning of something. And growing apart from someone doesn't mean it has to be for forever. As molly surmises, "I think every relationship is actually a million relationships."

Becky Albertalli's The Upside of Unrequited beautifully tells the story of a 17 show more year old girl. Worried about not having a boyfriend like everyone else, worried about how she looks, worried about worrying too much. Trying to put herself on the line, trying to make the change yet trying to keep what she has now. At that age, I felt exactly the same. And that is one of the most beautiful things about this book, it is one of the most relatable books I have ever read. Incredibly so. I even have an anxiety disorder like Molly and I have always been insecure about my weight, particularly in school when people try to use that against you. I also didn't have a boyfriend at a time when it seemed like everyone else I knew did. And I distinctly remember that at that time, when everything was changing and when life just felt really really difficult and like the end of the world my mom would always tell me that when I look back on all of this later I will realize how short of a time I am in school compared to the rest of my life and basically, "this too shall pass." And, I held on to that and made the best of the present and couldn't believe how true my mom actually was. The world didn't end. In fact, I realized it was only the beginning.

Outside even of these more distinct similarities though, I feel like this character is very relatable for people within this age group. Another factor that makes this story feel so realistic is the language itself- the diction. I feel like a lot of times when someone who is no longer a teen tries to go back and remember how a teen talks and feels for a book, they can't get it quite right and it comes out awkward and off. I really didn't get that feeling in this book. Each of the characters seemed well developed and unique and in tune with each other at the same time. Of course I'm no longer part of this age group, so I'm probably not the best judge of it anymore myself, but I still get that off feeling in YA books where teens just seem not quite realistic enough.

Something else to love about this book? Molly's family is actually present and a big part of the story! There are so many YA novels where the family is conveniently not present that it honestly feels unique at this point to have them be such a backbone to the story. And furthermore to have LGBTQ characters represented, and as a family unit, was really awesome and something I have actually not come across before in a book. I loved the parallel story lines of Patty and Nadine, Molly and her twin sister's moms, preparing for a wedding that has finally been made legal where they live and Molly taking her own steps forward. I felt like the whole family moved forward individually and yet together. They all progressed in different ways, and yet all at the same time and trying their hardest to stay connected through all the change.

Also, the romance aspect was just so cute! And I liked that it also carried the message that you know, you don't have to feel bad about wanting to be with someone, you don't have to feel like that just makes you desperate. It's ok to have tons of crushes and it's ok to like who you want to like and not like who you don't want to like. And each of the women represented had relationships as different from each other as the characters themselves were. They weren't all the same, we certainly don't all love the same way, and that is ok. That is more than ok. show less

A raging 5 stars for this brilliant novel!!!! Hands down my favourite by Becky Albertalli!

This book had everything I need to fall in love with a book (except maybe a touch of fantasy or dragons). The best part is that I do not hate the teenagers, lol. I think that is a common theme in the authors books. Usually, most authors get the dynamics wrong with teen characters and I end up cringing and annoyed. Becky Albertalli, on the other hand, is simply brilliant. I feel like the author has nailed it with the teenage characters. For a change, I feel like this is very normal and probably relatable, if I were a teenager in this day and age.

Coming to the book, the characters were amazing, diversity was a solid 10 in this book and the story show more worked with so many emotions. We have a plus size teenager who is surrounded by strong women who do not seem to have a problem with falling in love and her mothers are about to get married cause supreme court just legalised gay marriages.

Not only do we see the teenagers struggle with feeling strong and adequate but also her contemplation of a relationship because how can someone like her back or see past her size? I absolutely loved how she fights with her emotions and lets her strength persevere. The author hit close to home with this for me.

Apart from the MC’s character arc, we also see how new relationships can complicate the equation between siblings, the age-old issues that the older generations have with the current one (you are too fat, you cannot be gay, you need to get a partner, blah blah blah), and also how hard it is to let go and be yourself when your loved ones alienate you.

This was a power packed novel with everything you need.

BROWNIE POINTS FOR HAVING CHARACTERS FROM THE SIMONVERSE MAKING APPEARANCES.

I loved it!! Absolutely, loved it!!! show less

I cannot believe it has taken me 3 reads to write an actual review for THE UPSIDE OF UNREQUITED by Becky Albertalli. Like, I am literally questioning what I’ve been doing all these months. (In hindsight, I think I might have actually written a review on my old blog… but eh, here’s another one.)

If you’ve followed me on twitter for a while, then you know I spent a good portion of October and November begging for an ARC of UPSIDE because I have exactly zero shame when it comes to books I desperately want. Becky, in her usual sweet and ridiculously nice manner, answered my prayers (Saint Becky, anyone?) and I received an ARC in December. When the book was released in April, I read it again. Then I decided to do a traveling book show more project this summer and it only seemed fitting for UPSIDE to be that traveling book, so I just finished my third read (this time with annotations).

The first thing that hits me about this book is Molly’s unwaveringly innocent and anxious and sweet voice. While there are times that Molly calls herself a “shitty person”, she is nowhere near that. Becky has given us a character that is so real and so fleshed out that I had to remind myself several time (mostly when I was mad at how she was treated) that Molly isn’t actually real. I love reading, I love characters, but it takes A LOT to make me forget that they are actually fictional and Becky has done this in every single one of her books to date. Molly’s feelings on love, on wanting to be kissed, on crushes, and her own body felt like I was reading 17 year old Weezie’s diary. I have never in my life felt more exposed or seen after reading a book.

It’s not just Molly, though. All of the character’s in UPSIDE have their very own distinct personalities, including the parents which is SO refreshing to see in YA. Most of the time, background characters aren’t recognizable from each other but Becky has breathed life into even the tiniest character. We don’t ever meet Evan Shulmeister but I have such a clear image of him in my head and I hate him! This is a character that gets mentioned maybe a handful of times, a few lines each time and I remember his full name! I don’t think anyone understands what level of talent it takes to make someone remember a background-background character.

And we get an unconventional love interest. Reid Wertheim is a giant nerd with too white sneakers, a collection of Middle Earth t-shirts, walks his cat on a leash, and is referred to in text as “husky” more than once. This is not your typical rippling abs, athletic, sure of himself Love Interest. Reid is your impossibly adorable, Ren Faire loving pal that you slowly but surely fall in love with. To be honest, I thought I’d be rooting more for Molly’s other crush (I have a thing for hipsters, sue me) but the minute Reid was introduced, I was a goner. The whole book felt like Molly was my best friend and I was rooting for her to make the right choice in boys.

While I did love the family dynamics in the book, Molly’s twin sister, Cassie, was probably one of my least favorite characters. The relationship she has with Molly seemed very… strained and toxic. I know teenage sisters fight (BOY DO I KNOW) and maybe my hard feelings towards Cassie comes from my own conflicted feelings for my sister. Becky captures the growing pains of siblings perfectly, though, and even though I kind of wanted to kick Cassie, she does pull through for Molly in some important moments.

I have always been ok with standalones for YA contemp books. I think they are better that way. While UPSIDE does exist in the SIMON VS universe (and we see Simon, Nick, and Abby! … but no Leah which was SO SAD WHY??), it has it’s own brand new plot and characters. And while I’m ok with it being a standalone, I also desperately want a sequel involving Molly and Reid and all the amazing things come with there ACTUALLY BEING A MOLLY AND REID.

If you haven’t read this book, do yourself, your heart, your skin, and your crops a favor and pick it up! show less