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A review by madeline
I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
Shara Wheeler kissed Chloe Green at prom last night. And then Shara Wheeler disappeared. Perfect Shara Wheeler, daughter of the principal of their ultra-conservative Christian high school, neck and neck competitor with Chloe for valedictorian, haver of flawless hair and neatly glossed lips Shara Wheeler. And Chloe'll be damned if she lets her get away with it.
I love Casey McQuiston - I think they're one of a very few writers who can pull off third person present, their books are always full of unique and interesting characters, and they never fail to make me full body sob like a baby. IKSW just... didn't get there for me.
McQuiston's writing usually feels really propulsive and charged, thanks to the tense. We still get the gorgeous, gorgeous prose we're accustomed to, but the book lacks the same energy as their previous work. And to be honest, I was more interested in Chloe's friend group than in Chloe or Shara or Chloe and Shara - I would have preferred to read about literally anyone else in this orbit than these two.
I really, really struggle with books where we see characters making bad decisions against all logic, and that's what happens here. I want to be clear that this is personal preference and not a failing of the book. It's so, so important to see imperfect queer people on the page, because that's how people are! Imperfect! And it's particularly important in the context of what this book is attempting to do for its YA audience. It just hurts my heart. Chloe and Shara keep picking options destined to hurt people, and in my opinion, Shara just isn't fully redeemed. Thus, the emotional payout isn't there for me, because I found it tough to root for Chloe and Shara, separately or together.
There's a lot to delight in about this book: a full cast of nuanced, diverse, queer teens discovering who and how they are, some really great points about the Phantom of the Opera (he <i>does</i> have Christine's career goals in mind, Chloe is totally right), and a really thoughtful understanding of the complexities of growing up religious in the South. I wholeheartedly recommend it.
Thank you St. Martin's and NetGalley for the ARC!
I love Casey McQuiston - I think they're one of a very few writers who can pull off third person present, their books are always full of unique and interesting characters, and they never fail to make me full body sob like a baby. IKSW just... didn't get there for me.
McQuiston's writing usually feels really propulsive and charged, thanks to the tense. We still get the gorgeous, gorgeous prose we're accustomed to, but the book lacks the same energy as their previous work. And to be honest, I was more interested in Chloe's friend group than in Chloe or Shara or Chloe and Shara - I would have preferred to read about literally anyone else in this orbit than these two.
I really, really struggle with books where we see characters making bad decisions against all logic, and that's what happens here. I want to be clear that this is personal preference and not a failing of the book. It's so, so important to see imperfect queer people on the page, because that's how people are! Imperfect! And it's particularly important in the context of what this book is attempting to do for its YA audience. It just hurts my heart. Chloe and Shara keep picking options destined to hurt people, and in my opinion, Shara just isn't fully redeemed. Thus, the emotional payout isn't there for me, because I found it tough to root for Chloe and Shara, separately or together.
There's a lot to delight in about this book: a full cast of nuanced, diverse, queer teens discovering who and how they are, some really great points about the Phantom of the Opera (he <i>does</i> have Christine's career goals in mind, Chloe is totally right), and a really thoughtful understanding of the complexities of growing up religious in the South. I wholeheartedly recommend it.
Thank you St. Martin's and NetGalley for the ARC!