Review: Kate in Waiting by Becky Albertalli

Contrary to popular belief, best friends Kate Garfield and Anderson Walker are not codependent. Carpooling to and from theater rehearsals? Environmentally sound and efficient. Consulting each other on every single life decision? Basic good judgment. Pining for the same guys from afar? Shared crushes are more fun anyway.

But when Kate and Andy’s latest long-distance crush shows up at their school, everything goes off script. Matt Olsson is talented and sweet, and Kate likes him. She really likes him. The only problem? So does Anderson.

Turns out, communal crushes aren’t so fun when real feelings are involved. This one might even bring the curtains down on Kate and Anderson’s friendship.

It has to be said that I have never read this author's most famous book, Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda, therefore I had no idea what to expect from her with this book.

That being said, I love a good theatre book. I have rewatched Wicked like 300 times on Youtube, and I know all of the good musical songs (even though I can't sing to save my life) and I have always enjoyed a bit of Glee, so this was a fun book that I had to throw myself into blind.

I loved it.

Okay, so maybe loved is a tiny bit of a strong word. After all, Kate in Waiting doesn't really offer anything too out of the box - aside from solid LGBTQ+ representation and inclusivity better than a lot of other books that try and offer it - but it was so fun that I really didn't care at all. I loved Kate and her friends, and whilst at times I didn't like Andy a lot, I've come to the conclusion that had the book been written from his POV I would have felt the same about Kate. The friction between the two of them at certain points was so well written and I love the way Albertalli tackled the tension in their friendship. It was warm and lovely, and having Brandie and Raina in the background through that just improved it.

Every time Noah showed up, I immediately knew that it was going to be a fun scene - I loved him and I am so glad the book ended how it did for him. By far he was my favourite character.

I also really liked the fact that Kate has a lot of confidence issues to deal with, and watching her bloom through this book and get over the baggage that she has was a treat. The back story added some depth that this book would have otherwise been lacking, and it made me care a lot more about Kate than I thought I would to start with.

Overall, I really enjoyed Kate in Waiting - a lot more than I'd expected, in fact. This book is Glee, but with a more natural inclusivity message. It's High School Musical meets High School Musical The Musical: The Series. I loved the characters and the story and the writing was so fun and relatable.

Book released  20th April 2021 by Balzer + Bray

Book received from the publisher/author in exchange for an honest review

Review: XOXO by Axie Oh

Cello prodigy Jenny has one goal: to get into a prestigious music conservatory. When she meets mysterious, handsome Jaewoo in her uncle’s Los Angeles karaoke bar, it’s clear he’s the kind of boy who would uproot her careful plans. But in a moment of spontaneity, she allows him to pull her out of her comfort zone for one unforgettable night of adventure…before he disappears without a word.

Three months later, when Jenny and her mother arrive in South Korea to take care of her ailing grandmother, she’s shocked to discover that Jaewoo is a student at the same elite arts academy where she’s enrolled for the semester. And he’s not just any student. He’s a member of one of the biggest K-pop bands in the world—and he’s strictly forbidden from dating.

When a relationship means throwing Jenny’s life off the path she’s spent years mapping out, she’ll have to decide once and for all just how much she’s willing to risk for love. 

I am unapologetically a K-Pop fan.

I am also quite obviously a YA book fan.

It was always pretty obvious I was going to devour this book, and boy did I. I finished this book in a matter of hours, because I was so engrossed in my two worlds colliding that I just couldn't help but want more more more of it.

Look, XOXO was never going to be the deepest read. Any sort of YA book with teenage superstars always ends up superficial, reading like a Disney Channel Original Movie. That's okay though, because that's what this genre is about and I love it. For me, XOXO read just like a cheesy Korean Drama, complete with the wrist grabs and the swoony leads and the background friends who always seem to be the characters that I like the most. 

I really love Jenny, she was a fun character to read, though she did come across as too perfect at times and I wish that she had just done something wrong somewhere in the book. Jaewoo has all the depth of a K-Drama hero, which is to say not a lot. It's okay though because he had the romantic lines and somehow that made him acceptable.

As far as the background characters go it was a bit of hit and miss. I liked Angela and Gi Taek, I really like Nathaniel and Sori - I wish their story had an ending because at times I was more invested in that than Jenny and Jaewoo. That being said, there were some characters that simply didn't seem to find their place in the story. Ian, for example, shows up towards the start of the book then turns up for like a blink of an eye later on but doesn't really contribute anything definitive to the book.

As for the story, I actually have to say that I did enjoy it solely for the fact that I love hallyu culture, so that aspect of it got me. That being said, I'm not sure how I would have felt had I not been a k-pop fan, as the story didn't seem to throw much out in the way of conflict or drama.

Overall, XOXO was a fun read personally, as it combined two of my loves. That being said, I can admit that the story and characters were sometimes shallow and I don't think it's going to stand out as memorable for me.

Book released  13th July 2021 by Harper Teen

Book received from the publisher/author in exchange for an honest review