The Upside of Unrequited
by Becky Albertalli
What is it about:
Seventeen-year-old Molly Peskin-Suso knows all about unrequited love—she’s lived through it twenty-six times. She crushes hard and crushes often, but always in secret. Because no matter how many times her twin sister, Cassie, tells her to woman up, Molly can’t stomach the idea of rejection. So she’s careful. Fat girls always have to be careful.
Then a cute new girl enters Cassie’s orbit, and for the first time ever, Molly’s cynical twin is a lovesick mess. Meanwhile, Molly’s totally not dying of loneliness—except for the part where she is. Luckily, Cassie’s new girlfriend comes with a cute hipster-boy sidekick. Will is funny and flirtatious and just might be perfect crush material. Maybe more than crush material. And if Molly can win him over, she’ll get her first kiss and she’ll get her twin back.
There’s only one problem: Molly’s coworker Reid. He’s an awkward Tolkien superfan with a season pass to the Ren Faire, and there’s absolutely no way Molly could fall for him. Right?
What did Voodoo Bride think of it:
While browsing the local bookstore in hope they'd have the next book in Perkins' Anna and the French Kiss series I ran into this book. On my quest for Contemporary Romance I actually like I decided to give this a try.
And I'm in two minds about this book.
Mostly this isn't so much a romance as it is a coming of age and finding out who you are tale. Molly is close to her sister, but when her sister gets a girlfriend Molly is adrift. I liked how she's questioning herself and her world, and how she tries to cope with the changing relationship between her and her sister.
What I didn't like is the fact that when she finally finds her footing it's because of a crush that might finally be more than just a crush. Apart from the fact that I liked Reid and wanted him to have more screen time (Yes: I wanted them at the Ren Faire together), I was disappointed by this development. I'd have loved this story more if Molly's growth came from within. Although it could have been worse: at least she didn't lose weight and got a make-over that suddenly made her feel happy about herself.
And don't get me started on the sickly sweet ending where everything and everyone was suddenly full of magic, cheer, forgiveness, and happy little trees, even those who couldn't stand each other before (ok, maybe the happy little trees are an exaggeration).
All in all a nice read, but not a keeper.
Why should you read it:
It's a nice contemporary YA read.
Buy from bookdepository
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