A review by vinireadsbooks
I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston

5.0

talented!! brilliant!! incredible!! amazing!! showstopping!! spectacular!!

"Who you are here doesn’t have to be the same as who you are out there. And if the person you feel like you have to be in this town doesn’t feel right to you, you’re allowed to leave. You’re allowed to exist. Even if it means existing somewhere else.”

After her moms moved her to Alabama, Chloe Green has spent four years dodging gossipy classmates and a puritanical administration at Willowgrove Christian Academy. The thing that’s kept her going: winning valedictorian. Her only rival: prom queen Shara Wheeler. But before graduation, Shara kisses Chloe and vanishes. On a furious hunt for answers, Chloe discovers she’s not the only one Shara kissed. There’s also Smith, Shara’s longtime boyfriend, and Rory, Shara’s bad boy neighbor with a crush. The three have nothing in common except Shara and the cryptic notes she left behind, but together they must untangle Shara’s trail of clues and find her. It’ll be worth it, if Chloe can drag Shara back before graduation to beat her fair-and-square.

There's no way to start this review without talking about Red, White & Royal Blue and One Last Stop.

Every new Casey McQuiston book comes out at exactly the right time, exactly the moment that I need it.

RWRB was the most comforting book that I didn't know I needed. It helped me be more confident and happy in myself.

One Last Stop came out in my last year of school. I deeply related to August's journey- her trying to find what she wants to do in life, her finding a community where she feels like she finally belongs.

And I Kissed Shara Wheeler is no different. I finished school, and I'm about to start university, so this book was the most nostalgic and cathartic reading experience. It meant so much to me that I honestly can't put all of it into words.

RWRB is about history, how we can change and belong in history. OLS is about community, a celebration of found family. And Shara Wheeler is about being a young messy queer teen; it's about realizing you're not alone, finding a place to belong with people you never saw coming; it's about being afraid but also finding joy.

This book reminded me of how much I love YA contemporary. How powerful and fun it can be.

The vibes of this book were immaculate. It feels like open windows on drives, warm summer days, falling in love.

A lot of this book is about the religious trauma that comes with going to a christian high school in the south, and while I personally didn't relate, it still struck me in so many ways.

As always, the cast of characters is incredible. I loved everyone, Shara, Chloe, Ace, Rory, Smith, the rest of the gang. But Chloe stood out the most for me. She is just SO COOL! (I would love to be friends with her irl)

I don't want to say much about the romance because I feel like it's best if you experience it yourself but let me just say: It's academic rivals-to-lovers excellence!! (It kind of reminded me of Paris Geller/Rory Gilmore)

I loved this book so much. Thank you to Wednesday Books for sending me this eARC and Casey McQuiston for writing it. Y'all made my year