[Early copy from Netgalley. This doesn’t affect my opinions/review.]

I’ve followed Racquel on social media for years, as she worked on this book in various stages, so it’s exciting to see Ophelia After All as a finished book. Not only that, it’s an amazing book from cover to cover, simultaneously a lighthearted, refreshing story that makes you smile and an emotional, impactful one that will undoubtedly make so many teens feel seen.

I loved Ophelia and all of her friends. They’re a bunch of flawed teens doing their best to cope with all the ways their lives are about to change as high school graduation approaches, yet each one also felt well-rounded and genuine. I would’ve loved hanging out with a group like this when I was in high school.

When I started reading, I thought this book featured a sapphic romance. That’s not the case. Instead of romance, the story focuses on self-discovery, and the realization that there’s more to life than what happens in high school, no matter how all-encompassing those things seem. Despite my misconceptions, I still liked the book, and ultimately, I think this was the right choice to make.

If I had one complaint, it would be that I would’ve liked just a little bit more from the ending. Specifically, I wish we’d gotten to see prom night, since a decent amount of the book involves the group discussing and planning for it. Don’t get me wrong, the ending wraps everything up nicely and is quite satisfying, but still.

Overall, though, I thoroughly enjoyed and would definitely recommend Ophelia After All. It’s a brilliant debut across the board, and I can’t wait to see what Racquel does next.

Representation