rating:4.75 stars

this. was. so. cute.

i absolutely loved this book. and i think the no romance aspect (as in, the main character didn't fall in love with the main boy or something) made it so much better because then we could actually focus on the real issues and problems in the plot.

let me just say straight off the bat that the representation in this book was incredible. you have a main character that is bisexual and black (with a white mom so we get to explore that aspect as well), a demi sexual boy (with mother/family issues (for once it's not the dad?)), a gay korean boy and a lesbian girl. like wow. and their sexualities actually play a part in the book. and it's not harmful representation. and... it's just great.

not to mention that all the characters were so loveable and relatable?

Spoiler

the whole plotline of aled not wanting to go to university and hating it there was so heartbreaking. and i felt it too because being someone who might be thinking the same way, it hit me. and raine? getting options from carys about not going to university because she did that and still got a job and was still financially stable? it gave me hope. and i loved it. it was nice to hear that there are more out there than doing the stereotypical going to university thing.

Spoiler

another mini rant but i also loved how frances thought she had to go to post secondary because it was required and she wanted to go into a certain field because she was good at it. and then the growth of her realizing that she didn't need to do that? incredible. the development and relatively was so good it made my heart hurt.

the plot overall was adorable. the podcasts and everything, the way i could feel the joy radiating from the characters through the pages at universe city and the world they built, it was so beautiful. everything about this book was beautiful really, and that's why i loved it so much. my only minor problem was that the climax felt like it happened halfway through the book and the rest was just resolution/falling action. the end fell a little shorter for me than the build up but i still loved the book nevertheless.