I love when I pick up a book at random and it ends up becoming a new favorite. It’s happened to me several times over the last couple of years, and now again with Some Girls Do, which is one of my new favorite YA contemporaries.

This is such an important story, and one that ended up being more emotional than I expected. It delves into homophobia in small towns and in the beauty pageant industry, self discovery and acceptance, and what it means for one person in a queer couple to be out and the other to still be in the closet. That last part was especially a gut punch, not because I’ve had similar experiences—I haven’t—but because I could see and understand where both Morgan and Ruby were coming from. Usually, when two characters fight, I can pick a side, but not here. I felt so bad for both girls, especially Ruby, and my heart truly hurt as I read the second half of the book.

But it’s not a sad story. Emotionally intense, yes, but ultimately it’s hopeful. Morgan’s family supports her no matter what, and her older brother Dylan is one of the best brothers I’ve seen in any book. His hopeless attempts at parenting made me laugh. Ruby’s mother is homophobic and abusive, but Ruby had support in Billy, her mom’s ex-husband, and in Morgan’s family. Billy was so sweet, one of those gruff characters with a heart of gold, and honestly, I wish I had a father figure like him.

If I have one complaint, it’s that I would’ve liked to see more of some of the side characters. Allie, Lydia, Everly and Tyler were all interesting characters, but they seemed to take the back burner in the last third of the story. I feel like there’s a bit of an unresolved situation between Allie and Lydia, and I just wanted to see more of Everly and Tyler. Both were very supportive of Ruby through everything, and I lowkey feel like they got the short end of the stick.

That aside, I just really, really loved Morgan and Ruby. From the beginning, they caught my interest, and then soon after they captured my heart. I would like to adopt them both and give them hugs and ice cream and take them to Pride parades. They were such well-written, complex and flawed characters, and I love and admire them both. I also loved their relationship dynamic* and how they had a lowkey hate to love, very much opposites attract romance. I found it amusing that so much of both girls’ early chapters was an internal monologue of how attractive the other was and “oh my god, why can’t I stop thinking about her???”. Honestly, what a mood. I too am a useless gay, so I can definitely relate. 🤪

*Their first meeting was when Ruby almost hit Morgan with her car, and then not long after, she actually hit Morgan. I’m realizing now that something similar happens in one of my favorite romances, Act Your Age, Eve Brown. Is this a new trope or something?? 😂

I’ve been piecing this review together for a few hours now and my last few brain cells are tired, so I’ll leave it at this. I know I’ll be thinking about this book for some time, and I’ll certainly be buying my own copy ASAP. Highly recommended to those who can handle the content!!!

Representation