I loved this cute LGBTIQA+ story, centralised on Ollie, a 17yo guy who moved from his hometown to Collinswood, North Carolina for his senior year.

I loved the aspects of Grease that were retold in this contemporary coming of age story, and it is beautifully complicated and full of life- high school drama and all.

I love that it was not only just the main character that was gay, but one of the side characters identified as bisexual, and I love that kind of representation!

Rating: 4/5

(This review will feature on my blog of Feb 18, 2020!)

a grease inspired lgbtq+ book? SIGN ME UP! i'd never read anything inspired by grease before and it was so fascinating!

i loved everything about this book. i loved ollie. i really liked how juliette befriended him and took him into her circle despite not knowing each other. i loved how supportive they all were to each other.

this book covered certain topics that i'm sure the lgbtq+ folks deal with on a daily basis, and i honestly believe the way the author portrayed it was pretty well done. my heart goes out to those that are still too afraid to be themselves for whatever reason, you are still valid.

this book really pulls at your heartstrings one way or another and at some point i couldn't even see past my tears but still. i. loved. this. book.

Only Mostly Devastated by Sophie Gonzales

I have been excited about this book since I first heard about it, so needless to say, I was thrilled to pieces when I finally got my (digital) hands on a copy.

“Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda meets Clueless in this boy-meets-boy spin on Grease”

Um, yes please!

Ollie had an amazing summer fling with Will, but their relationship came to a natural end because Ollie was supposed to go back home at the end of the summer. But circumstances changed, and his family ends up moving to the area to support his aunt while she battles cancer. Ollie texted Will, of course, but he didn’t text back—no big deal, Ollie has enough to deal with.

But then Ollie *sees* Will at his school, and he realizes that Summer Will is a completely different boy. School Year Will is a jock, a bit of a jerk, and most definitely not out of the closet.

So Ollie is left trying to start over at a brand new school and babysitting his cousins to help his aunt. He doesn’t have time for a boy who says one thing when they’re alone, and acts completely different when they’re in public.

This was an amazing book, and I loved every minute of it. It’s sweet, and funny, and poignant. My high school years are far behind me, but I think we can all relate to having someone in our lives— whether it’s a friend or romantic partner— who sends mixed signals like Will does with Ollie.

One of the biggest themes of the book is living authentically, and while it’s not difficult to empathize with Will’s fears about revealing his preferences to his friends (and family), he doesn’t consider the impact his behavior with his friends has until Ollie points out the hypocrisy.

But of course, the readers’ sympathies are going to lie with Ollie, who serves as narrator. He is the one who has been wronged; he is the one whose cute summer boyfriend is a poster boy for “bro culture” and the toxic masculinity that accompanies it. And Ollie is just trying to be a regular kid and figure all this out, and as much as he doesn’t want to give Will another chance, it’s hard to say no.

Ollie is supported by a strong cast of secondary characters who help create a well-rounded narrative. His new friends have different personalities, and issues of their own, presenting an interesting cross-section of adolescence.

I would absolutely recommend Only Mostly Devastated. This is a story about growing up, coming to terms with who you are and what you want out of life. It’s a story of second chances, but not unconditional forgiveness. The tropes employed have been done before in YA fiction, but what sets this book apart is that the protagonists are queer, and so it *is* a new story, and it is a delightful one. I am looking forward to reading more from Gonzales in the future.



I received a copy of this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

ONLY MOSTLY DEVASTATED is a delightful, sweet, and compelling story of love, identity, and grief. The comparisons of "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda meets Clueless, inspired by Grease" are right on the money. I think it's an important book for teens to read because it gets at the heart of challenges facing high school students: first love, friendships (good and toxic), family relationships, sexuality, bullying, and grief.

After spending summer vacation at a lake in North Carolina, Ollie falls for the charming and caring Will but Will goes MIA after leaving the lake. Because of Ollie's Aunt Linda's cancer, his parents decided that they'll move to Collinswood, NC during Ollie's senior year to help his aunt and her family. On the first day of school, Ollie gets taken in by a friend clique of Juliette, Niamh, and Lara. At a back-to-school party, Ollie discovers that he and WIll go to the same school. Yet the Will as Collinswood High is not the same Will from the summer where he is popular, a class clown, and allows his basketball team friends get away with saying homophobic comments. Ollie is understandably hurt and doesn't understand how this is the guy he fell for over the summer. Throughout the school year, Ollie and Will keep orbiting one another and both struggle with what their new relationship - if it's even possible - will be.

Ollie is a complex protagonist; he's incredibly witty, helpful, and is also dealing with two sets of heartache: Will and his aunt's cancer. I thought Gonzales did an excellent job of how Ollie tries to cope with his love interest being a jerk around his jock friends, supporting his family by watching his little cousins, witnessing Aunt Linda's decline, and trying to navigate a new school and social ecosystem. Many readers will be able to connect with Ollie: his disappointment in a person he cared about and respected, the fear and anger over a family member's illness, and the uncertainty of what comes after high school. Ollie and Will also learn throughout the course of the novel that love isn't just about grand gestures but about the small moments of hearing your partner and recognizing their needs and feelings matter just as much as your own.

In many ways, ONLY MOSTLY DEVASTATED takes on problematic themes found in Grease and makes impactful corrections for a 2020s audience. Characters confront issues on toxic masculinity, homophobia, unhealthy/problematic friendships, and bullying. ONLY MOSTLY DEVASTATED is hilarious, heartfelt, and honest and will be a great addition to any high school library's shelves.

3.5 stars

alright pals, time for another review of another cute ya rom-com that i really enjoyed! i feel like it's impossible not to enjoy a book that's marketed as "love, simon meets clueless in a queer spinoff of grease". i mean, if this book wasn't meant for me, i'm not sure what book is.

meet oli, a boy who fell in love at the lake with will the summer before their senior year. what was supposed to be a summer fling becomes complicated when oli's aunt gets sick and his family decides to stay in north carolina for the year. but then will won't talk to oli at school -- even pretends he doesn't know him. cue grease-style DRAMA.

the plot of this book was fab. we had some great main characters with issues relevant to coming out in high school and insecurity and small town mindedness regarding homosexuality. plus we had some fun, sassy side characters, and the emotional family side plot mixed in with the budding romance. it's a good time, let me tell you.

what i didn't love was oli's inner monologue narration style. it just felt a little too... juvenile? stream-of-consciousness? i feel like the author could have easily removed some of the unnecessary internal banter, as it slowed the pacing of the book down at times.

overall, a quick fun read!

thanks to netgalley and wednesday books for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review!

Only Mostly Devastated by Sophie Gonzales explores the real-life complications of high school relationships, which become even more complicated when you are the new openly gay student and have a relationship with a guy who has not come out yet. This isn’t your preachy, in your face “let love reign” type of book. Gonzales explores family dynamics, friendships, and being the new kid all at once. Her characters include a mix of races without feeling forced or too contrived; it is natural. She weaves several story lines seamlessly without making the reader feel overwhelmed with extra characters. You truly care about each one. The take away: have patience and faith in your family and friends. Sometimes we think the worst because of where we are coming from, but if we take time to understand others’ points of view, we will find we are all human and simply want to be accepted for who we are. This is a read we all need. #OnlyMostlyDevastated #NetGalley Published: March 3, 2020

I went into this book with no idea what to expect (other than that it was LGBT+ and would follow the roundabout storyline of Grease), and WOW.

I read this in under twenty four hours, and Sophie Gonzales’ writing blew me away. The story follows Ollie, a seventeen year old boy in high school who is uprooted to a new school following his summer romance with Will - only to find out that he will now be attending the same high school as Will, who has not yet come out to his friends and family and wants it to remain that way. I’ve never read a book like this, and I found my heart breaking for both Ollie and Will throughout. Lara’s storyline (one of the friends Ollie’s makes) and her experience of coming out before she is ready, was sensitively written and her character was one of my favourites. The subplot of family and grief was so raw and well developed; I could well imagine Ollie’s family and all of their quirks.

This novel tackled some really tough issues - love, grief, toxic masculinity and coming out to a world you fear will not accept you. I am moved by this story and I think it’s important that young people read this, to experience through literature what it is like to be in someone else’s shoes. I think this novel will have a really positive and compassionate impact.

When I first came across this book, I was excited. Another lgbtqa+ lovestory for high school studenst, what’s not to love? Because we know we need a million more of these to make up for all the time of never having stories like these. Sadly, once I got into the book, I couldn’t get IN to the book, but that isn’t to say it is a bad thing. This book is quirky and dramatic, filled with all the emotional rollercoasters expected by your every day teen, and I think that’s what happened—this book was meant for a younger crowd, and I think a younger crowd would really love this. This book tried really hard to tackle heavy topics, and I appreciated that, but I would have liked to have seen a little more depth or a little more explansion on those topics, because some things just seemed to get brushed off or not handled very well. At the end of the day, the romance and friendship is still there, and I think it could be worth the read.

Only Mostly Devastated is the current shape my heart is in after finishing this book. I laughed. I cried. I cried from laughing. I cried some more. 


“It’s okay. It’s fine. But also, it’s not okay, and that’s real. That’s real life.”


Only Mostly Devastated has been deemed a gay retelling of Grease and I definitely saw bits and pieces of the original story while Ollie and Will held their own. Only Mostly Devastated is a contemporary coming-of-age story with a diverse cast. It's messy and complicated and beautiful and full of life. My only complaint is that the book isn't longer. 

Since the book community loves to promote books by comparing books to other books, Only Mostly Devastated is the Red, White, and Royal Blue of 2020 and everyone should pick it up if they get the chance. 😌 

Also, maybe pick up Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez. It's a bit dated but it's one of my all time favorite series and Only Mostly Devastated reminded me of it. 🌈📚 

*Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Wednesday Books for providing me with a review copy.*

Ya is my fav genre I didn’t know how I would feel about a male/male romance it wasn’t That bad it was more then just about Ollie and will it had a lot of other characters and there lives also all in all it was a good story

4.5 stars

Do we still call characters cinnamon rolls? Because Ollie is the epitome of one. Despite the requisite teenage sarcasm and some cynicism, he's a fiercely loyal and supportive friend, a patient and helpful big cousin/nephew, and he makes the dorkiest jokes. He stands up for those he cares about, as well as himself; clearly he believes that people deserve happiness and to be treated with respect, and it's a belief he backs up with action. Perhaps most importantly, he acknowledges and actively tries to improve his shortcomings.

In fact, all of the characters are incredibly well-written. Each member of Ollie's social circle has distinct ambitions and personality, though even the minor characters are wholly believable teenagers, representing the best, worst, and in-between aspects of their age group: gossiping, or spouting queerphobic vitriol, or talking back to teachers. We get to see some fantastic growth of individual characters and of their relationships, not just the romance, which I loved. (Also, <spoiler>as a bi girl I am SO HERE for the love interest <i>and</i> one of the best friends being bi — especially since the latter was already comfortable with her sexuality</spoiler>.)

Although I wouldn't call the plot unique (just look at the marketing: <i>Simon vs</i> and <i>Clueless</i> and <i>Grease</i>), it's engaging. It was easy not only to follow but to engage emotionally with each scene; I found myself tearing up more than once and laughing out loud more times than I could count.

This book was a slow start for me, but than picked up. It was so much more than a gay coming out love story. There are so many different characters and their lives it was a good representation of how hard high school can be.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, I received an eArc of this book in exchange for a honest review.

Ollie has a summer fling, but when a family emergency forces him to move into the town where his summer fling lives, things don’t go as expected. In fact, Will is cold towards him. Ollie can’t figure him out, but as he makes friends he realizes that he doesn’t have to compromise himself and fall in love with the guy. Right?

First off, I want everyone to read this book the moment it comes out. It deserves so much love. I absolutely adored it. I was grinning from ear to ear while reading it, but I was also frowning and honestly I had such an amazing time reading it. I loved it. LOVED. I couldn’t be happier. I think so much was done so well in this book, and I feel as if it was real. That I was actually there. This is absolutely a five star rating. No doubt about it. I can’t wait to go out and buy this book when it publishes.

First Ollie is adorable. I think Ollie is one of those characters that is easy to like. He isn’t annoying, he doesn’t say annoying things, and the choices he makes throughout this book are all reasonable ones! I didn’t want to smack him once! In fact, I rooted for him the whole way through. He was a cute and quirky character and I loved that about him.

Will too, is a great character. Like Ollie is he is multifaceted and there is more than one side to him. It made the book more enjoyable to read that way. In fact, most of the characters had more to them than first meets the eye and I really appreciated that. I can’t express enough how much the representation in this book meant. It meant a whole lot.

Ollie is desperately trying not to be consumed by his crush on Will, as Will seems to be a totally different person from the summer. But on top of that Ollie’s family is having some difficulties. And I really felt for Ollie. I honestly cried at one point in the book because it felt so personal. So many parts felt personal to me. And I loved that I connected with this book on so many levels. The plot is a slow paced one, the romance is “slow burn” and very complicated. It takes up much of the book.

The writing is also such a joy and a pleasure to read. I zipped through this book and just couldn’t stop smiling. There are some really fun feel good moments in this book interspersed with some sadder moments. This book was based in family, friendship and love. It covered all three portions of that in a lovely way. I don’t have enough good things to say about this book. In fact, I am running out of words!

Overall, I am super hyped for this book when it comes out. I love a feel good romance, and this checked all the boxes of things I could want!

I loved following the journey of Ollie and Will. This was an ADORABLE love story of one firmly in the closet and one out. The friendships were so natural and sweet.

I just loved every single page of this book. The story is really well written and connected, all the details have a meaning at the end and, for me, that is exactly what I look forward when reading a book. The main characters are simply lovable, you empathize with them from page one, which leads you to have some tears escaping from your eyes at many points in the story. Do not get confused, it is not a happy sunnyflower story (at least until the end). The title is so well picked, it summarizes the whole concept of the book in the best way, because you guys are going to suffer a little bit with this story. You will be frustrated and angry and sad and confused and at some point you will even feel like your heart is breaking into a million little pieces. All that being said, READ THIS BOOK. I think the author raises awareness on a recurring topic nowadays which is homosexuality, and she does it so beautifully. It makes you think and that is what we need right now. Again: READ. THIS. BOOK.

What a fun read! I fell in love with Ollie immediately and laughed out loud often. The characters were so real and I loved the story - even if the ending was a little too sweet and easy. I will read more by this author!

This was a cute romance novel. I never really felt for the main character so this just felt like another slight romance novel.. It was definitely entertaining and it did succeed in making me cry

This book is a literary hit and I'm loving it! You can hit that replay button on this because it is going to stick with you!
The storyline is really good, the writing style is very fluid and there is a tsunami of emotion here! Loved it!

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for a review!

It’s time to admit something to you : I’ve never watched grease, ever.

So when this book was described as “Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda meets Clueless, inspired by Grease.”, as someone who hasn’t read or watched any of those references, I wasn’t expecting anything from it, because – well, because I just didn’t know what to expect. And I think that actually helped me enjoy this book more than some other reviewers who tended to compare it a lot to those references.

Fair warning : the next paragraphs have some spoilers.

For a YA romance novel, I thought this book tackled some heavy themes, and it hit me pretty hard. For example – Ollie has to stay in that new city to help a sick relative, and the themes of illness and grief are talked about in detail in a few chapters. This hit really close to home for me : this past year, one of my closest friends passed away after a long illness – the very same one that affects Ollie’s relative in the book, and a few months later, I lost my grandfather of sudden illness.

The character’s feelings and expressions of emotion in the book resonated with me a lot, and I had to take a few breaks at some points. This quote, specifically, felt so real to me that I had to stop and cry for some time before I could start again.

"I lost it in the hallway. I pressed my back against the wall and sank to the floor, crying as quietly as I could. I didn’t want to be here in this house knowing [character name] would never be in it again. It was her house. We came here when we visited her. It’d been her house my whole life. This wasn’t right. None of it was right."

That quote echoes exactly my own feelings about grief, and about my personal losses, and I thought the author had managed an extremely just portrayal of what you can go through in that kind of situation.

The themes of fat-shaming and homophobia were also talked about in this book, and I really appreciated it.
However, I felt like some of the character’s relationships could have been developed a bit more – like Lara and Ollie, and Will and his friends. I also had some trouble getting over my initial dislike of Will on behalf of Ollie, even when the main character himself started getting over it.

Overall, this was a good book for me. I really liked reading it, even if it wasn’t as lighthearted and fun as I expected it to be, based on the cover and the description. I’d still recommend it to readers of YA contemporary books without hesitation !

This was a really cute read. The writing was easy to follow along with and I managed to finish it in one night. I enjoyed the character development, especially Lara.

I don’t usually enjoy books with second-hand embarrassment but I wasn’t really bothered, in fact, I really connected with Oliver.

Overall, super enjoyable.