What a gorgeous novel full of loveable characters and a storyline that I couldn't put down. This one is a must read!

Thank you NetGalley, Balzer + Bray, and Becky Albertalli for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I originally wanted to request this one because the cover is GORGEOUS and I'm happy that I ended up enjoying it! It follows Imogen as she visits one of her best friends, Lili, at college and realizes that her friend has told people that they used to date and that she is bisexual. Imogen believes that she is heterosexual and doesn’t know how to feel about pretending to be bi, especially when she starts to become close with Tessa, someone that she met through her friend. This is a really sweet coming-of-age story that explores sexuality, finding out who you are, and growing older. I really enjoyed the friendships in this one and seeing how complex they are. Her friendship with Gretchen, who is also one of her best friends, is a tricky situation and shows how complicated friendships can be. I also really liked her blooming relationship with Tessa and thought that it was really cute. Overall, I enjoyed this one, but my one complaint is that I think I’m a little too old for it. I think someone a little younger than me, probably high school age, would really enjoy this one. Thanks again for allowing me to read it!

i loved this book. the romance, the new experiences, the flow of the writing. all of it was chef’s kiss. i for real was hooked from the first page.

imogen is a character that is so easily relatable. the comphet she faces makes readers like me feel seen. so many people figure out that they’re gay when they’re young like at 7 years old, but she proves that you are valid no matter when you figure out your sexuality. it doesn’t matter if you figured it out as a kid, teenager, or even into your adult years. not only that, but imogen also has a lot of social issues when in new environments, and it is done so well in this book. i feel like sometimes in media, introverts aren’t expressed correctly. it never covers the overthinking and mind-blankness that comes with being introverted, but albertti describes it in depth and doesn’t miss even the more minor aspects of it.

as a queer person myself, i have lost friends due to them invalidating my identity or pushing me out after my coming out. gretchen, while you could argue both sides, was the most unlikeable character in the book, and i like to think that that was intentional. she plays the role of the friend that truly makes it hard to come out. while not all coming out stories need that character to create struggle, it highlights the fact that a lot of people lose friends due to coming out. but honestly, i really did want to punch her the entire book.

i really did love this book. it’s a nice coming-of-age and coming-out book. sometimes those are overdone, but this one was worth the read. five stars.

'Imogen, Obviously' is a beautiful coming-of-age story about the difficulty and struggle of figuring out who you really are and who you are meant to be. Imogen is a senior in high school, and she is an ally to her queer little sister, Edith, and her two queer best friends, Lili and Gretchen. Imogen attends Pride Alliance meetings, and she is very supportive to her friends. She sometimes feels like an outsider, and she worries about putting herself into spaces that are not meant for her. Her friend, Gretchen, is very opinionated, and she speaks her mind, but she has a way of hurting others with her words and opinions. Lili has been friends with Imogen since they were little kids, but they haven't seen each other in a few months because Lili is a freshman in college.

When Imogen goes to visit Lili at college, she finds out that Lili has told her new group of queer friends a lie about their relationship. Lili tells her friends that Imogen and Lili used to date, but they are still friends after the breakup. Because of Lili's lie, Lili's friends think that Imogen is bi, but Imogen identifies at straight. The more time she spends on campus, Imogen begins to question if she really is straight when she starts to think more and more about Lili's friend, Tessa. Tessa and Imogen have a connection, and they spend a lot of time texting with each other. Could Imogen have a crush on Tessa? Imogen has never dated or kissed anyone, so she isn't sure what she should be feeling.

I really enjoyed this book, but I didn't like the character of Gretchen. Gretchen came off as too preachy, and I thought that the parts of the book with her were really drawn out and boring. I kept thinking that I couldn't be friends with someone like her. Other than that, I loved all of the other characters in the story.

I think that the book brought up really important issues about gender and sexual identity, and it was all handled in an appropriate manner. I work as an English and Reading teacher assistant at a high school, and I think that my students would love to read this book. I plan to purchase it for my classroom library when it comes out in May.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Children's Books for an ARC of this book.

Reviewed for NetGalley:

Imogen heads to spend the weekend with her best friend, who is a freshman in college. Nervous to see Lili after not visiting her for some time, she I suprised to learn Lili has told all her friends that the straight Imogen is her ex.

Sweet, coming of age story of finding and learning about who you truly are.

Thank you to Harper Collins Childrens Books for sending me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Where the heck was this book when i was in high school? I swear as i was reading Imogen's inner thoughts, it felt like alot of my own. her questioning, the anxiety and even taking the quiz to see if she was bi. ALL ME. I've never found something that depicts a bisexual main character so accurately at least for me.

that cover is what drew me in and I was so glad I was able to read this. I really enjoyed what was going on in the story and it did a great job in telling a romance. The characters did a great job in feeling like people, it was a great job and I was glad I was able to read this. Becky Albertalli has a great style for the young adult novels and was what I was hoping for. Becky Albertalli has a great writing style and I look forward to more from Becky Albertalli.

"And that’s not even opening the whole living-with-your-parents can of worms. Imagine being used to the privacy of dorm rooms, only to be stuck frantically buttoning your shirt back up because your girlfriend’s mom knocked on the door. “Imogen?” My mom knocks on my door. Honest to God, I practically jump out of my skin."