
Reach for this book when your teenager is feeling the pressure to put themselves into a box or feels like a 'fake' for not having their identity perfectly figured out. It is a compassionate resource for kids who are high-achieving 'people pleasers' and struggle with the boundary between being a supportive ally and discovering their own truth. The story follows Imogen, a self-proclaimed straight girl and ultimate ally, who visits her best friend at college and finds herself caught in a lie: everyone there thinks she is queer. As she spends time with a girl named Tessa, she begins to realize that her identity might be more fluid than she ever allowed herself to believe. This is a gentle, secular, and deeply validating look at the nuances of the LGBTQ+ spectrum, perfect for older teens navigating social labels and the fear of getting it wrong. It normalizes the idea that self-discovery has no expiration date.
Includes kissing and discussions of romantic attraction/crushes.
Depictions of college parties where drinking is mentioned or occurring.
None.
A high-achieving 16-year-old who feels like they have to be an expert on everything before they are allowed to experience it. It is for the 'people pleaser' who is so afraid of 'invading' a space or being a 'fake' that they have suppressed their own curiosity.
This book can be read cold. Parents may want to be aware of the nuanced discussions regarding 'discourse' and the social politics of queer spaces, as the book touches on how online communities can sometimes make identity feel like a test. A parent might reach for this when their child expresses anxiety about 'not being queer enough' or feels like they are a fraud because they haven't had a specific romantic experience yet.
Younger teens will focus on the fun college setting and the 'fake dating' rom-com elements. Older teens will resonate more deeply with the nuance of identity fluidity and the fear of coming out 'late' or 'wrong.'
Unlike many coming-out stories that focus on the external struggle against homophobia, this book focuses on the internal struggle of a person who is already a supportive ally but is afraid to claim the identity for themselves. It brilliantly addresses the specific anxiety of 'imposter syndrome' within the LGBTQ+ community.
Imogen Scott is the ultimate ally. She is secure in her identity as a straight girl who shows up for her queer sister and friends. However, when she visits her best friend Lili at college, she finds herself swept into a white lie: Lili has told her new friends that she and Imogen used to date. As Imogen plays along, she meets Tessa, a chaotic and charming girl who makes Imogen question if her 'straightness' was actually a shield for her own internalized fears. The story focuses on the internal process of questioning one's sexuality and the social pressure of community gatekeeping.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
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