Imogen, Obviously: New for 2023, from the bestselling author of Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda

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Obviously this book is one of the most anticipated and absolutely the best YA fiction/ romance novels of 2023 with realistic LGBTQ representation! Good god, the yearning, the nervous yet hopeful anticipation of seeing Tessa again. I could feel it myself.

This also applies to Imogen. The entire book is about how you can't infer sexuality from stereotypical traits someone has and that being bi doesn't have a certain lookI love everything about this,” I say, settling onto Lili’s bed. “Ha—thanks.” Lili plops down beside me. Then she stares straight ahead for a moment without speaking. “Okay, we gotta talk,” she says finally. No, for real,” Gretchen says. “It’s a thing. I mean, I honestly get the hesitation. You get a lot of straight girls pretending to be bi, which makes a lot of lesbians think we’re all faking it.” I promise I’m not. I’m just saying, you have a right to be kind of unsettled by this. I don’t even mind if you blow my cover. I mean, I mind. But if you want to set the record straight, we totally can. I get it.” I let out a laugh as soon as Lili opens the door. “So when you said it’s the size of a closet, you meant Kylie Jenner’s closet.”

I don't think Gretchen is a very nice person over all and she hurt Imogen and all of that is quite horrible, but it makes me feel weird that every other character gets at least some grace and leeway for shitty behaviour and Gretchen is given none. She's supposedly one of Imogens closest friends, yet Imogen talks shit about her every time she isn't around. Albertalli balances sizzling romance and emotional coming-of-age with ease here, I wouldn’t change a thing! The chemistry between Imogen and Tessa is palpable from their very first meeting and builds seamlessly throught the book, I mean come on, THE CLOSET SCENE!?!?! A little on the nose I’ll admit, but my God you could cut the tension with the knife! Tessa as a love interest was perfect; both for Imogen and this story. It’s a pet peeve of mine when authors give the romantic partner the personality of a paper towel, but Tessa was funny! She was complex! You could relate to her! I am obsessed! This one’s for the girls with anxiety, for the chronic people pleasers, for anyone who worries if they’re trying too hard or not enough, for the ones still figuring it out. A big-hearted, deeply-vulnerable, love-bubbly tumble through self-discovery.” –Casey McQuiston, author of #1 New York Times bestselling I KISSED SHARA WHEELERLili shakes her head. “How are you not freaked out? Like, you have to be wondering if I’m secretly in love with you, right?” A little personal – I am someone who came out over 20 years ago *coughs* (shhhh, I know). I came out as lesbian when I was 16, and non-binary 17 years after that. This stuff isn’t linear. This is worse than normal lying. It’s queerbaiting. Or at the very least, I’m appropriating queerness. Not even just the aesthetics, either. Apparently, my brain thinks queerness itself is some kind of thought exercise. Me: a certified asshole straight girl who sees a lesbian existing and thinks it’s a love declaration.

I think just about every queer person can sympathize with Imogen and what she’s going through. However, I also sympathized with the overbearing gatekeeper of this story. She’s a teenager and has been dealing with homophobia for a long time. So, although she’s wrong about a lot and goes about things the completely wrong way, I felt like there should’ve been a better ending for her as well. I wish this book had been even longer! I didn't want it to end. It was so cosy and comforting and important, it has claimed such a special place in my heart. Although not everyone wants to read those stories, there are people out there going through that every day and books about how confusing and weird that can be are relatable to them (and hey, even me, who went through that several years ago could reminisce on some of Imogen's confused feelings and that-wasn't-a-crush-we're-just-friends-right?-ness). I feel like the fact that Imogen was surrounded by so many LGBTQ people in her life and constantly just believed herself to be straight -- and was told by all those people that she was -- but was a proud ally to them and trying her best to learn about their unique issues added something to her journey of self-discovery.the romance in this is one word: soft. imogen starts having these feelings for tessa, which she finds difficult to interpret at first because it’s towards another girl, but she comes to grasp them and unconsciously accept them. the development felt smooth and natural enough. it’s teenage love, after all, but i found myself hopeful. it’s sweet and emotional, tender due to the first experience imogen is having. there’s a few doubts, a little bit of misunderstanding, and a heap of love. the shy glances, tentative touches, and uncertainties felt so open and vulnerable. i loved seeing how imogen came to accept her feelings, even if she started doubting and questioning towards the end. tessa is respectful, consenting, and in no rush. while she’s experienced, she understands the situation imogen is currently facing. i don’t blame imogen because i, too, have a crush on tessa. because this is ya and has more than romance focusing on the story, there isn’t anything graphic, but i can’t begin to state my appreciate and adoration for this girl.

There will be spoilers below this point, but I'll mark them as I see fit. Still, read at your own risk since our definitions of spoiler may not match up. tessa is downright funny, supportive, and kind. her adhd mind spirals a lot and boats out random things, making reading the text messages very entertaining. she’s a joyous person, trying her best to lighten the mood. we don’t get her pov, but i didn’t think it was missing it either. we learn a lot about her from imogen, and the necessary information is given. i loved her character from the beginning. she’s mature, intelligent, and always finding a solution for problems. along with that, the other side characters (who are her friends too), were a fantastic addiction to this. we don’t learn almost anything about them besides the very basics, but again, considering this is a coming of age story of imogen and finding her new love, it didn’t feel necessary, or like something was missing. i will admit, sometimes the group did fit a tad bit too young, as if they weren’t the college students they were, and i’m not sure if that comes from not knowing who they really are, or if that’s just how they really are. I mean, admittedly, I do wonder sometimes what queer girls think of me. But it’s just the occasional fleeting thought. Definitely not a you-love-me kind of thing. Tessa’s so close, but I press in closer, and she lets out the softest-edged sigh. Her hands trail the hem of my waterlogged shirt, and I swear it feels like taking off sunglasses. Clarity and brightness.

Are you kidding?" She springs out of the driver's seat and around the front of her car, closing the distance between us with one last bounce of a step. "Underlined, bold, giant-font yes." It's like there's this idea that you have to earn your label through suffering. And then you have to prove it with who you date, how you dress, how other people perceive you. I was so excited for them to get together, and because of the way the book was set out, it didn’t feel rushed or anything. Which is also fantastic. So adorable, so wholesome - I couldn't deal, I can't. Deal. I could go on for quite some time, about how Albertalli nails certain aspects of the queer experience, but we'd be here forever. I'll mention this one though.