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captaincogs's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
As someone from the Nebraska Dimension (as in from the state of Nebraska), I absolutely love this story. Any book that mentions or takes place in Nebraska, sign me up, especially if it's about queer people in Nebraska.
Okay, enough about Nebraska. I don't read a lot of books with Second Chance Romance and Missed Connections tropes, but I can't pass up anything written by Edward Underhill. It wasn't a coincidence that Gabe and Arden crossed paths in Nebraska, love the same band (Damaged Pixie Dream Boi), and happen to be trans. Their connection couldn't have been more perfect.
If only they could find each other again.
This book came into my life at a perfect time. A time when I need to remind myself that everything happens for a reason and that connections are meant to be made. People will always come back to you if they are meant to be in it. Also, it's okay to not be perfect! Hard emphasis on not being perfect.
Thank you, HarperCollins, for giving me an ARC for In Case You Read This!
Okay, enough about Nebraska. I don't read a lot of books with Second Chance Romance and Missed Connections tropes, but I can't pass up anything written by Edward Underhill. It wasn't a coincidence that Gabe and Arden crossed paths in Nebraska, love the same band (Damaged Pixie Dream Boi), and happen to be trans. Their connection couldn't have been more perfect.
If only they could find each other again.
This book came into my life at a perfect time. A time when I need to remind myself that everything happens for a reason and that connections are meant to be made. People will always come back to you if they are meant to be in it. Also, it's okay to not be perfect! Hard emphasis on not being perfect.
Thank you, HarperCollins, for giving me an ARC for In Case You Read This!
literarycavy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Dysphoria
Minor: Homophobia, Transphobia, and Death of parent
kelliemw's review against another edition
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I received this book for free in return for my honest opinion.
When I saw this book was T4T I jumped at the chance to read it. Gage and Arden are adorable teens just trying to figure themselves out. Being trans, family strife, trying to make friends, and big moves are enough individually to cause someone stress. Their moment of kismet in Nebraska was enough to both give them hope in the moment and give them something to keep hoping for.
As with most books I was left wanting deeper moments. More depth from the characters, more depth from the relationships. I would have happily read a longer book to get MORE. In a time where queerness/transness are being attacked and erased I am always grateful for more books to celebrate that.
When I saw this book was T4T I jumped at the chance to read it. Gage and Arden are adorable teens just trying to figure themselves out. Being trans, family strife, trying to make friends, and big moves are enough individually to cause someone stress. Their moment of kismet in Nebraska was enough to both give them hope in the moment and give them something to keep hoping for.
As with most books I was left wanting deeper moments. More depth from the characters, more depth from the relationships. I would have happily read a longer book to get MORE. In a time where queerness/transness are being attacked and erased I am always grateful for more books to celebrate that.
lberestecki's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
revracoon's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I received this book as a DRC thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins/Quill Tree Books. All opinions are my own.
Edward Underhill has quickly become a favorite author/automatic read for me. This the third book of his that I've read, and like the others genuinely enjoyed.
This was a fun and well paced dual-POV novel. I found it engaging and exciting, and I never wanted to put the book down. I often found myself so engrossed in this book's world that I would lose track of time or forget what I was doing.
The story follows our two teen MMC's, Arden and Gabe after they meet by chance at a motel in Nebraska. As they navigate big life changes, primarily moving across the country and finding new friends and where they belong in their new cities.
Arden and Gabe have opposite yet parallel journeys as Arden is from LA moving to a small down in the Midwest, and Gabe is from a small town in the midwest moving to Pasadena CA where the school has significantly more students than his last high school.
While Gabe is trying to figure out how to make friends in a city that has so many people you could probably stay virtually anonymous, Arden is learning just how small, small towns can be.
Edward Underhill has quickly become a favorite author/automatic read for me. This the third book of his that I've read, and like the others genuinely enjoyed.
This was a fun and well paced dual-POV novel. I found it engaging and exciting, and I never wanted to put the book down. I often found myself so engrossed in this book's world that I would lose track of time or forget what I was doing.
The story follows our two teen MMC's, Arden and Gabe after they meet by chance at a motel in Nebraska. As they navigate big life changes, primarily moving across the country and finding new friends and where they belong in their new cities.
Arden and Gabe have opposite yet parallel journeys as Arden is from LA moving to a small down in the Midwest, and Gabe is from a small town in the midwest moving to Pasadena CA where the school has significantly more students than his last high school.
While Gabe is trying to figure out how to make friends in a city that has so many people you could probably stay virtually anonymous, Arden is learning just how small, small towns can be.
I loved that we got to see this dichotomy unfold throughout the story of Arden experiencing how Gabe felt growing up and visa versa. We get to see the growing pains of what it's like being the new kid at school, and the slow defrosting of how it feels to warm up to new friends.
We see meddling friends, navigating long distance friendships and relationships, tense family dynamics, and lots and lots of queer and trans joy.
I hope to see a sequel of this book. I would love to see what comes next for Arden, Gabe, and all their friends as they navigate some of them leaving for college while the rest are finishing their senior years, applying for college and deciding what next steps they want to take in life.
solenophage's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
In Case You Read This was overall a cute story and a quick, fun read.
Arden and Gabe’s romantic chemistry wasn't that strong considering it’s a driving force and focus for much of the story. Their one night hanging out together was nice; they were starting to connect, but I didn’t see the instant connection and spark. That said, I can see their bond and desire to reconnect from the non-romantic side of things — caught up in the serendipity of finding someone so like themselves so randomly and projecting all that desire to be understood and have their problems recognized onto that person.
I lost track of who's who and how they mattered to the story with some of the side characters, especially towards the end when a bunch of friends of the main characters act as the impetus to bring the two of them together when they'd not had much page time or characterization to distinguish them beforehand. More could have been done to focus their roles in the story and keep all the various conflicts and connections tied together.
yorkiepug's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This book had me at this gorgeous cover.
Adren and his mom are making the move from LA to the small Michigan town his mother grew up in. Gabe is leaving his small town in Illinois to move to California with his family. Both trans boys happen to meet at a random hotel in Nebraska and bond over this and their favorite band Damaged Pixie Dream Boi. The boys decide to have one great memory of hanging out and don't exchange any info, which they both almost immediately regret.
They both end up struggling with their new locations but eventually make new friends. They are also both trying to find each other.
This was a quick read, the story was really sweet and cute. I was rooting for these boys to find each other again. Are are a bunch of great side characters. It did a good job dealing with change and being yourself.
This was a fun, fast read!
Thanks NetGalley and Harper Collins Children's Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Adren and his mom are making the move from LA to the small Michigan town his mother grew up in. Gabe is leaving his small town in Illinois to move to California with his family. Both trans boys happen to meet at a random hotel in Nebraska and bond over this and their favorite band Damaged Pixie Dream Boi. The boys decide to have one great memory of hanging out and don't exchange any info, which they both almost immediately regret.
They both end up struggling with their new locations but eventually make new friends. They are also both trying to find each other.
This was a quick read, the story was really sweet and cute. I was rooting for these boys to find each other again. Are are a bunch of great side characters. It did a good job dealing with change and being yourself.
This was a fun, fast read!
Thanks NetGalley and Harper Collins Children's Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.