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bbyrose's review
2.0
2.5 stars
Honestly, this book felt like pulling teeth. I wanted so bad to love this book. I saw this pretty black girl that looked like me, chubby and dark skin, and the whole time she was insecure, judgemental and unmotivated. I know at the end she is supposedly better, I still fell like this book was a let down. I think it was random and didn't have a real plot to it. The book was supposed to be about this big lie, so I thought maybe this lie would turn into her becoming a real activist or at least challenging herself to do better in her community, but that really wasn't the case. Plus at the end, it dragged on. She had already resolved her issues with the guy and it could have ended there, but instead it dragged and dragged. And those last chapters did not drive the story. The story was too repetitive, all they did was eat and complain and the activitist activities were just eating events and handing out flyers. I expected protests and social media videos to try to spread awareness. All in all, this book was dry and was sold and promoted as a book it was not. I would not recommend at all. It felt too much like a watt pad book and another insecure black girl. And though I liked the family parts, it should have been promoted as a family book and not a romance because that wasn't the main part of the story.
Honestly, this book felt like pulling teeth. I wanted so bad to love this book. I saw this pretty black girl that looked like me, chubby and dark skin, and the whole time she was insecure, judgemental and unmotivated. I know at the end she is supposedly better, I still fell like this book was a let down. I think it was random and didn't have a real plot to it. The book was supposed to be about this big lie, so I thought maybe this lie would turn into her becoming a real activist or at least challenging herself to do better in her community, but that really wasn't the case. Plus at the end, it dragged on. She had already resolved her issues with the guy and it could have ended there, but instead it dragged and dragged. And those last chapters did not drive the story. The story was too repetitive, all they did was eat and complain and the activitist activities were just eating events and handing out flyers. I expected protests and social media videos to try to spread awareness. All in all, this book was dry and was sold and promoted as a book it was not. I would not recommend at all. It felt too much like a watt pad book and another insecure black girl. And though I liked the family parts, it should have been promoted as a family book and not a romance because that wasn't the main part of the story.
haileydodson's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
danilatrice87's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
5.0
Absolutely beautiful! This book wasn’t just a love story—it was a celebration of self-love, identity, and finding your voice. I couldn’t help but adore Nala. Her journey felt so real and relatable, especially as she navigated her insecurities and learned to love herself for who she truly is, not who she thought she needed to be to fit in or impress others.
Renée Watson has such a gift for creating characters that feel like people you know. Nala’s relationship with her family, her friendships, and her crush on Tye were all so authentic. The layers of community activism and self-discovery added so much depth to the story without ever feeling heavy-handed.
I loved the message of learning to accept yourself first before seeking validation from others. Nala’s story is a reminder that love—whether romantic or platonic—starts with how we treat and see ourselves. By the end, I felt so inspired and uplifted.
This book was empowering, joyful, and full of heart.
Renée Watson has such a gift for creating characters that feel like people you know. Nala’s relationship with her family, her friendships, and her crush on Tye were all so authentic. The layers of community activism and self-discovery added so much depth to the story without ever feeling heavy-handed.
I loved the message of learning to accept yourself first before seeking validation from others. Nala’s story is a reminder that love—whether romantic or platonic—starts with how we treat and see ourselves. By the end, I felt so inspired and uplifted.
This book was empowering, joyful, and full of heart.
samiamlibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
Loving yourself really is a revolution. What a relatable book! Trying to figure out who you should or need to be to fit in, to make others like you, to like yourself. It was hard to watch Nala's self destruction, but as you see with the other characters we are all guilty of it, it's just how you bounce back.
queenchivs's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
h0lly_07's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
fast-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
4.25
doyiiiin's review against another edition
3.0
cute simple read, i wish there was more drama around her lies though
mbrazz's review against another edition
5.0
Quick read but a good one. A book about self love is something refreshing in the YA scene. It was very relatable to parts of my own life at that age so I enjoyed it.
happyharvee's review against another edition
5.0
This book was adorable. I appreciate that each character was flawed. They all learned but didn't really get "unflawed" by the end. Watson did a good job of making realistic teens. The main character definitely game me anxiety at some points, but I didn't find her unlikeable. I don't read much YA anymore, but this was a fun, quick read.