So, I really loved this for the most part and am so glad it was by first Becky Albertalli book.

Everyone in the friend’s group was a gem and I could honestly read more about them all. Imogen was precious and I just wanted her protected at all costs. And Tessa! Oh my. What a sweetheart. If only everyone could have their first crush/significant other be like Tessa.

I think just about every queer person can sympathize with Imogen and what she’s going through. However, I also sympathized with the overbearing gatekeeper of this story. She’s a teenager and has been dealing with homophobia for a long time. So, although she’s wrong about a lot and goes about things the completely wrong way, I felt like there should’ve been a better ending for her as well.

I recommend this, especially to teenagers. Even though I don’t agree with everything I do think this is a good place to start some important discussions about queerness and gatekeeping.

I received an ARC from Harper Collins Children’s Books / Balzer+Bray via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Imogen Scott may be hopelessly heterosexual, but she’s the greatest ally to her queer sister and two best friends. She’s such a great ally that when her friend Lili admits she’s told all her college friends that Imogen and Lili used to date, Imogen agrees to go along with the lie. And just like that, none of Lili’s friends know that Imogen is a raging hetero—not even Tessa. Of course, the more time Imogen spends with chaotic, freckle-faced Tessa, the more she starts to wonder if her truth was ever all that straight to begin with.

I just can't support such a story. While the queer reprsentation was mostly great, I absolutely hated Imogen and her two best friends. One criticizes other queer experiences, one lies. and one goes along with the lie. Not a great look for my community.

I love that Imogen, Obviously is out here to show the spectrum of journeys that one can experience when questioning and coming into their own sexual identity - I feel like this book would really resonate with a lot of my students. I felt like Albertalli tried to cover a lot of ground, which did make some of the myriad plot points not feel super explored/resolved, but I thought the romance was very sweet and I was really rooting for Imogen on her journey!

This was so cute! Even though Becky Albertalli is a famous YA author, this was my first book by her and I really enjoyed it. I loved how this book portrays that queerness isn't a race and people don't have to know by a certain time if they're queer. Imogen was also adorably insecure and I really liked her chemistry with Tessa.

I love all of Becky Albertalli's books, yet this one is my favorite yet. Not only are the characters wonderful, the story fun, and writing witty, but this book also tackles the realistic journey many teens face in coming to terms with their sexuality and the influence others' opinions can have on an individual's journey. Can't wait to recommend this to every teen looking for a fun queer romance.

Imogen, Obviously, textually, has the exact same vibes as the cover. If you picked this up off the shelf hoping for pink and butterflies, Becky Albertalli, as always, delivers. Imogen is extremely lovable and relatable, and this story is an eternally-needed representation of queer teen womanhood.

Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli is a beautiful story about identity, sexuality, queerness, and self discovery, with complex realistic characters and all the witty banter💗.
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I loved reading about that sort of chaotic freedom of being away at college, an adult for the first time. When I read Albertalli’s writing, everything comes to life. The characters are so real and three dimensional. I can hear the pitch of a voice, the cadence of a laugh. There’s the beat of a song, the smell of sweat, energy. The room, the people, they all come to life in a way I don’t always see.
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The relief and catharsis I felt at the end pushed this to a 5⭐️ for me. Not only was this a beautifully written book, it’s an important book. Thank you to @balzerandbray and @netgalley for this digital ARC.
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Imogen, Obviously- Becky Albertalli
5/5⭐️
Pub Date- 5/2/23

This was an automatic read for me because bisexual realization stories are my heart. Imogen is so pure intentioned and I love this about her. I generally enjoy books full of major plot turns and twists, so because of that the book was a little slow to start for me, but if you're a fan of general YA romance, then it will be perfect for you.

This book...it is my everything, now. It's gorgeously crafted, so emotionally resonant, and utterly brilliant. It means the world to me to see thoughts I've had about myself on the page -- and refuted, in a triumphant acknowledgment that queer is queer. I love this book so much.

In a social media graphic for the book, the author describes Imogen as having "queer discourse brainworms", which is a good way to put it. She tries to educate herself about queer issues, but just ends up thinking that there’s only one right way to be queer. She doesn’t feel the same way about girls as she does in her crushes on guys, so she concludes that means she doesn’t like girls at all. Even when faced with obvious evidence to the contrary, she convinces herself that she’s just trying to be bisexual for clout and that she’s a bad person for appropriating queerness.

i adored this book so much. i felt so seen and imogen’s struggle with understanding herself was so relatable. she was me. sometimes crushes aren’t always easy to pin point and sometimes we don’t even recognize we have them. everyone’s queerness is different and i think that’s beautiful. i loved the chemistry between tessa and imogen and the friendship between imogen and lili. would recommend this to everyone, whether they’re questioning or out or straight. this book is for everyone.

Becky Albertalli's "Imogen, Obviously" is funny, sweet, and mind-opening. Imogen's growth throughout the story does not rely on her coming out journey. She also learns to recognize that she is ready to move away to college and that some friendships need to be put on pause. Albertalli deftly uses two main settings—college and Imogen's home—as spaces where Imogen can try on new identities and question which ones are no longer serving her. It's easy to root for Imogen because she is always ready to support others. Once she identifies what she wants, readers will be happy to cheer her on.

Thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the ARC of IMOGEN OBVIOUSLY!

Rating: 5/5 stars

Brief synopsis; Imogen is straight, an LGBTQ+ ally, and always supportive of the queer people in her life. However, after hanging out with her best friend’s group of queer college friends and having to pose as her friend Lili’a ex-girlfriend, she realizes that she might not be so straight after all.

Oh my lord, this is the queer coming out story I needed when I was in high school/my first year of college. I absolutely ADORED this book with all my heart. I was so hesitant because the first chapter didn’t have me totally hooked, but by the time we meet the rest of the cast of characters and the love interest, I. Was. EXCITED.

Imogen’s coming out process felt authentic, and the experiences she has leading up to the big moment of her realization made me feel seen and made me feel for her. Gretchen’s attitude reminded all too well of some former friends of mine and I wanted to throw her off a balcony. The entire book I was thinking of how to protect Imogen the whole time if I were in that group of friends. I was so angry at Gretchen (and still am tbh).

I loved the college setting and how everyone was so unique in their personalities and in their identities. Their dynamics really made this novel exceptional; it reminded me of my first college friend group, and how close we all were in our supportive little group. Everyone was so well-rounded and the humor and perspectives that they all shared were balanced and realistic.

I legit have nothing more to say about this book other than the fact that I love it so much and will be thinking about it forever. That’s it that’s the review.

Big props to Becky Albertalli for writing another amazing book (and Becky if you’re reading this, come close to New Hampshire so I can meet you and have a copy of IMOGEN signed plz and thank you I love you)

I am choosing to DNF this at a little more than 30%. It is hard to read this book, as the main character has so much anxiety about her every move, and we are put in her shoes. I thoroughly salute Albertalli for this work and for her own journey of sexuality, which I know has resonated with many readers.

I absolutely adored this book. The bisexual rep was incredible, and I really loved that Becky took all her experiences with the book community and the discourse around "queerbaiting" and made something out of it. I've been so angry for her for ages and this really made something beautiful and important out of it. I know there will be readers who won't like it, but they're the Gretchen's of the world.

Anyway, this book was incredible, reminded me why I loved Simon Vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda so long ago. It made me really, really happy.

And yeah, sure, it also reminded me of myself. That too.

Truly a slam dunk of a novel, and so grateful to have gotten an advanced e-copy.

Soooo cute! I love Becky Albertalli anyway (although, not so much her last one, but I am thinking I might give it another chance now), but this one was my favorite. Like ugh, be still my heart! Imogen is so relatable, so easy to adore, so earnest about everything . . . she's the kind of character that seems like they would be annoying, and maybe sometimes you're like GIRL, get out of your head, but she really isn't annoying. She's just sweet and cute and real. And the Clea DuVall crush? I feel so seen! She's like me when I was young, Loved this book.

A deep dive on what it means to find yourself. I haven't ever read a YA LGBTQ story like this before so it was a very refreshing take. It really gets you into Imogen's head as she struggles to understand her feelings. A little long for my taste, but enjoyable to read.

I received this book for free from netgalley for an honest review.

Definitely lived up to the hype for me great great book. I can't wait to get it on hardback as well.

Even though I enjoyed this book, I didn't fully appreciate it until I learned some about Becky Albertalli's personal journey. Still not my favorite of hers, but enjoyable and I'm glad I read it.