Well, That Was Awkward - Rachel Vail

⭐ 10.0/10

(Originally written by Rebecca)

This book was SUCH a delight. This is definitely a book aimed at middle schoolers, centering around a group of 13-14 year olds, but I found it just as wonderful as an adult. I was kind of hesitant when Maggie suggested reading it out loud together, because it totally just seemed like an average book about kids with crushes on classmates, but it was genuinely so funny and so charming and so engaging.

I absolutely loved the main character, who felt realistically young without feeling TOO young to relate to--and I related to her a lot, with her sweatiness and compulsive joke-making and love for tortoises. And I loved all of her friends, and that the book accurately portrayed the way friend groups intermingle at school. I loved the themes of friendship and love, and I BAWLED at some of the parent-child stuff. I cried you guys. While Maggie read to me.

I loved that it was such an enjoyable, laugh-out-loud read, but also still so moving. I felt like I grew along with the main character. (That being said--parents who are sensitive about losing a child, you might want to give this one a pass.) And the romance was really, REALLY sweet. I was giddy about it. I know children's lit doesn't get much love, but I highly recommend it. And I'm not just saying that because Maggie will read this review.