⭐⭐⭐⭐
A young adult novel about discovering one’s own sexuality
and coming out. This is realistic romance, so the struggles with self-discovery
and homophobia are integral elements. This is an excellent book, second only to
Nancy Garden’s masterpiece, Annie On My Mind.
Holland Jaeger is
an all-round achiever – student body president, A+ student, in a steady (and
very sexually active) relationship with her boyfriend and a couple of best
friends. She is a few months away from graduations and her mother (and the world)
is nagging her about her next step – college. Narrated from Holland’s
point-of-view, you get the feeling that she has an acute case of ennui with
life. Enter a new student, Cece Goddard, an out and open
lesbian. Holland’s interest is immediately piqued and she finds herself more
and more drawn into Cece, which then has her questioning her own sexuality.
Holland’s growing attraction to Cece,
her tentative steps towards acting on her inexplicable want to know the girl, she
slow outgrowing of her current circle – are all beautifully captured. Her
acceptance of her gayness and starting and embracing her love for Cece are
heartwarming. The fallout she has to face including being thrown out of her
house (given only two minutes to pack) has us distraught. Her eventual
struggles to make her way on her own in the world has us solidly rooting for
this loveable, honest and feisty girl.
While Cece is nice enough, she somehow
seems a tad less involved in the whole relationship than Holland, who literally
gives up everything for love.
Nevertheless, the book is a wonderful
read for all lesfic readers.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
