Ollie had an amazing summer romance with a boy named Will that he met while visiting his aunt in NC over the summer. But his aunt isn't doing very well and his parents decide to move to NC to help take care of her. This would be great news - except Will hasn't been responding to any of Ollie's messages and Ollie is starting to feel rejected. When school starts up, Ollie falls in with a group of girls (Juliette, Lara, and Niamh) and starts to feel like he's got a foothold in his new life - until he realizes that Will goes to his new school and that Will isn't "out" yet. Instead, Will is the antithesis of what Ollie expected, a jock, a class clown, wildy popular. And Will stands by as his friends make gay jokes and continues ignoring Ollie. Eventually, Will starts reaching out to Ollie, but wants to keep their friendship (And eventually their relationship) a secret. Ollie is hurt by Will's refusal to stand up for him or their friendship

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I really enjoyed the LGBTQ+ representation inside of a YA contemporary romance. There was not just the gay representation with Ollie/Will but also a bisexual character as well. I think it's important for stories to have diverse representation and this book dealt with these topics well. There were characters both out and not out, the idea of being "gay" didn't feel cliched or forced but felt like a natural part of the characters instead of just thrown in for appearances. I also think that the characters in general were diverse and well rounded and found the cast of characters to be overall fun to read and learn more about. 

The writing was well done and balanced the serious aspects of the story with more lighthearted ones. The characters dealt with difficult things - illness, acceptance, school stress - in believable ways but the story never felt overall down or depressing. It felt like there was a good balance between the different elements of the story and that they all worked well to blend into a cohesive story line.

First of all a big thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with an E-ARC copy of this book.
Ok I’m still debating if it’s a 4.5⭐️ or a 5⭐️ read because let me tell you, it was AMAZING!! I loved all the characters, specially Lara (she’s so sassy and sarcastic and I love that about her character!) It was a beautiful experience for me; reading this book and I couldn’t be more glad that I did. I specially adored Will even though some of his behaviors were inexcusable and most of the times he was a complete as*hole (sorry for swearing) but in the end he figured everything out and got what he wanted all along (a happily ever after!). But Will is a cinnamon-roll in disguise so I forgave his behavior the moment he did THAT! (sorry can’t spoil the ending!)
Ollie, omg he is adorable and cute and I loved his character development the best (Will’s character development was even better but hush let Ollie have this moment). At the beginning of the book Ollie was pinning hard on Will but then after a certain scene in the book he realized that if Will cannot give him what he wanted then he had to stop going after him. He grew as a character and decided that Will’s behavior was something he couldn’t excuse. So he decided to let go and what happened next is for you people to find out; seriously grab this book as soon as it comes out it’s AWESOME 👏🏻 
I loved the ending because it was a Hollywood ending and I’m a sucker for those kind of endings. 
I loved how this book dealt with a lot of serious topics like: coming out, death, moving to a new place, etc.

What a wonderful coming of age story. I adored Ollie's character. He was real and it was refreshing to read about him and his last year of high school. Sophie Gonzales tackled very real problems in a sincere but sweet way. Young adults can easily identify with all the characters in the book. What I enjoyed most was that the angst was derived from real life problems that weren't over the top or overly cliche for a YA book and that the characters had realistic reactions. Gonzales did not "Disneyfy" the story with the whole all problems are magically solved in one event which made for a sweet but real HEA. 
What i did find a little distracting in the beginning is how Sophie Gonzales shifts scenes or time frames-- it just happens in the next paragraph without a space between the paragraphs to give us a heads up that it is shifting. It took  couple of chapters for me to get used to and after that it was fine. That's more a formatting thing than a writing thing.
I would definitely read another book by Sophie Gonzales as she delves into fictional characters with very real lives that are relatable, hopeful and endearing.
D 4/5

Even without the synopsis mentioning it, it is impossible not to think about Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda when reading this book. However, I found Ollie more likable than Simon, and I enjoyed reading this so much more.

While I've seen complaints that the central M/M story wasn't always the #1 focus of the book, I thought that felt like it reflected the reality of teenage life. There were several things going on, with an undercurrent of the relationship and family problems that were affecting Ollie.

Some of the side characters were a little flat, so this was not an absolute homerun for me, but by the end I did feel invested enough to get emotional about how some things turned out.

Received an eARC from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher for sending me an e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review!

If you've ever seen Grease you know this story. Ollie had an amazing summer romance with Will who proceeded to ghost him by the end. In a simple twist of fate Ollie is staying in North Carolina to help his parents take care of his Aunt Linda while she goes through her cancer treatment and who does he bump into at a school party? Will. Turns out Will seemingly doesn't want anything to do with him and almost refuses to acknowledge Ollie in any way.

I seriously have mixed feelings about this book. Ollie is out, but Will isn't which in turn causes Will to act like an asshole to Ollie (Which is fairly true to Grease), but the issue for me is that Ollie is kind of being insensitive as he's slowly getting close to Will. I can see why Will would be concerned about coming out to his friends and importantly to his parents when we hear of some less than pleasant remarks they made about sexual orientations.

it's important to explain sexuality and show everything in a positive light because IT IS PERFECTLY NORMAL, but also important to not romanticize the grand reveal so to speak of someone coming out to their parents with little to no consequence, when it's been hinted at in the first 2/3 of the book from his family and friends would have a problem or be insensitive.

There is also a lot of conversation about cancer and it's progression showing how it takes a toll on a family and the outcome. If you are sensitive to these subjects, I think you should skip this one at least until you're in a better place mentally and emotionally. It was really hard for me to read as someone who recently lost a family member. The subject was done very well, showing stages of grief, but was really hard to read. Also, as soon as the couple chapters were over it was kind of forgotten until the final few pages of the book.

It tried desperately to be an inclusive book with lots of body positivity and explanation of certain illnesses, but at times I felt it did lay it on a little thick. 

Still, after all this. The story was fairly cute. Just keep in mind that there is a bit of homophobia, light fat shaming and a character lashes with a little girl-hate. If you're cool with all this and want to read a refreshing and very inclusive Grease inspired story. Check it out.

I absolutely adored this book. Between this book and Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston, I can't seem to get enough of LGBT romantic comedy novels. The writing style was wonderful, the characters were believable, and the plot was the right amount of angst and hilarity. This truly felt like Grease but absolutely, wonderfully LGBT. Despite receiving this ARC, I plan to purchase a physical copy when the book comes out - which is my best defining compliment on just how much I loved a book.

ARC provided by St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Only Mostly Devastated is a delightful queer romance, loosely inspired by Grease  which I watched halfway through the book and I kind of hated it  written by Sophie Gonzales.

Our main boy is Oliver, best known as Ollie-oop, a music enthusiast who is visiting his family in North Carolina for summer vacation. In NC, he meets sweet, adorable, kind Will and they spend all summer together. A family emergency forces Ollie to move to Collinswood and to enrol in the local high school for his senior year. Unbeknownst to him, Will is also a student there and Ollie discovers that the idea he has of the guy he met over summer is rather wrong. High school Will is a closeted, douchey class clown and not at all the Disney Prince he dreams of.

I really liked Sophie Gonzales’ writing style. The plot flowed effortlessly and I didn’t expect to be carried off in such a tornado of emotions, which I loved. The characters were all relatable and well-developed. The only exception: Will. I liked and hated him simultaneously and it may be because he reminded me of a perpetual crush I have.

Only Mostly Devastated has an assured place in my go-to list of queer books to recommend.

I had to read on this book many times to be able to complete it. I am not sure why, but I just could not get interested enough in it. It is well written, but lacking in the interest department.

Thank you Netgalley for sending me this arc. I will be reviewing this book in the near future with an honest rating and review.

Thank you, Sophie Gonzales and St. Martin Press for giving me an advance copy of ONLY MOSTLY DEVASTED from Netgalley.

Ollie meets Will during summer break while visiting his sick aunt. The boys have a summer fling, but Ollie doesn't go back to Southern California as they expected. Ollie ends up staying in North Carolina to help out his aunt and her family, with the hopes of continuing his relationship with Will. Except Ollie finds out that Will isn't the guy he got to know during the summer. Will is in the closet, pretends to not know Ollie, and avoids him so his friend don't find out what was between them.

I really enjoyed this book. Despite the author making very old references that today's teens would have no clue as to what they mean, I think the emotions and relationship dynamics are spot on. I laughed, I cried, and I felt like a teen again. Which is exactly why I read YA Contemporary.

Absolutely perfect in every way. In case the synopsis doesn't convince you than allow me to do the honors: this book is phenomenal. It's got that summer-lovin' vibe that makes romcoms blush, a cast of lovable but realistically broken and flawed characters, all with a dash of music and culture clash.

What more could you want??

Oh my god, this was so cute! I would take a bullet for Ollie! He’s so sweet, but I got the feeling that he was being taken for granted quite a lot. I’m so glad that people around him realised what a gem he is. I confess I was a tiny bit sceptical at first. After reading the synopsis, I was dubious about Will and his redeeming. Praising the Lord, Will’s growth was amazingly written! It was devastating yet understandable about the way he acted. Growing up in North Carolina his only reprieve was that one summer where he let go of the blanket covering him and allowed Ollie see him for who he truly was.

"Then we really looked at each other, and it was like being locked into place."
(Cue me being shot with an arrow.)

The Roses were surprisingly marvellous, especially Lara and Juliette, but I missed Niamh's contribution. She wasn't as developed as I would have liked, she just kind of floats.
But overall, it was perfect! The words in this story are masterfully composed into a relaxing cup of tea that will always smell delicious, always be smiled upon being touched by the welcoming warmth. At times it was heartbreaking, but mostly it was sweet, cute and heartening. It was a gorgeous read and I’m so grateful that I was able to read an advanced copy and experience this fluff of a book. Highly recommended!! I'm definitely re-reading this when it's officially released!

Such a fun book! I really loved the romance. I'm looking forward to the next release from Sophie Gonzales - hopefully another contemporary romance?

This was such a cute book! It touched on a lot of serious issues but still managed to have a lighthearted vibe. Very enjoyable read!

In his senior year, Ollie transfers to a new highschool. His summer fling Will, who Ollie thought he’d never see again, attends the same school. Will is popular and acts differently around his friends. While he initially ignores Ollie, Will begins to appear more in his life, confusing him. Meanwhile, Ollie makes new friends and struggles with a family situation.

Ollie is an interesting protagonist. He begins the story insecure, but gradually gains confidence. It took me longer to like Will, but he’s an interesting character as well. Their romance is cute.  

While I won’t elaborate to not spoil the plot, the “family emergency” mentioned in the summary was handled well. The emotions of the characters were portrayed realistically. 

I also liked how developed the side characters were, particularly Ollie’s friends Juliette, Lara, and Niamh. He had a unique dynamic with each girl, and they had their own individual problems to overcome.

Ollie’s personality shines through the narration. However, I didn’t find the writing style compelling because of the lack of detail. For example, settings aren’t described much and Ollie’s appearance is vague. My only other issue is that Ollie’s bandmates weren’t developed. However, the strong elements of the book outweigh the lacking areas.

Overall, I really liked this novel.

I do have a soft spot for high school romances, especially the one involving a coming-out story. Oh, not that I miss school days😬 . . .  just prefer the adult life without the worries of exam grades and revisions. All the same, glad to receive a copy of this book through a wish in netgalley.
      The novel progresses through the perspective of Ollie (yes, our devastated hero). Brave and caring, he manages to win our hearts from the very beginning. There are no usual teenage tantrums as we expect, instead, we are shown to the life of a mature boy (partly owing to his upbringing) who steps in to help his aunt in the time of need.  
      And that brings me to the next character: Aunt Linda. She may not have that many appearances, but her influence permeates throughout; some sad and some inspiring. It could be because I am on bed rest with a herniated disk that her plight drew me in. It is not anywhere near cancer, but she gave me the much-needed catharsis. There are sometimes in our lives, we are confronted with some unexpected and unsurmountable barriers, and that in turn make us realise how much we are going to miss some ordinary things. So the way Linda approached her deadly illness, reminds one of the importance of little things.
      Will, Ollie's Disney prince, has his own demons to fight. Unlike his lover, his parents and friends are not open to his sexuality. His problems could be the usual ones, but the author way of dealing it is quite refreshing. Well, some scenes are quite unoriginal but that didn't stop me from shouting out with glee (internally, of course).
      Altogether a beautiful, heartwarming story that will make you weep and smile till the blissful end. Surely something to mark your calendars for in 2020.

This Grease inspired story stars Ollie, a gay high school student who falls in love over his summer vacation with a local boy while visiting his ill aunt and her family in North Carolina. As his aunt's illness becomes more serious, the family decides to stay in N.C. for the school year. Unbeknownst to Ollie, his love interest attends the same high school that will become his new school. To complicate matters, Will, his summer love, has not yet told his family or his basketball buddies that he is gay. What unfolds is a coming of age story for Ollie, who learns about love, loss, friendship and the need to be good to oneself. While I didn't always love the comical tone that the author chose for the protagonist, and I sometimes wanted him to narrate less and emote a bit more, his struggles to belong are real, and anyone who has been a high school student that didn't always fit in will find a bit of oneself in Ollie.

I loved this book so much! As an avid lover of Grease, when I saw this book I was desperate to get my hands on it but also nervous because what if it didn’t live up to my expectations? Fortunately, it went above and beyond my expectations. I adored all of the characters, each one of them had flaws that were addressed which made them so likeable. The romance between Ollie and Will was great, and the story as a whole left we with a warm feeling in my heart. One thing I was not expecting was to cry like an absolute baby whilst reading this book! Ollie’s aunt having cancer brought lots of discussion of death and mourning which just got me and it’s very rare that I get so emotionally involved in a book to the point that I’m crying at 2am. So, overall I would recommend this book to absolutely everyone, it’s very sweet, the characters are infinitely loveable, and it definitely brings the indescribable Grease feeling.

There aren't many books that can make me laugh and cry within the span of 30 minutes, but this book sure did the trick. The story is told by Ollie, a 17 year old gay boy who had to move to North Carolina so his family can help with his aunt who has cancer. During the summer, he met Will and they had a very Grease-esque summer fling. Or more according to Ollie who stopped hearing from Will as soon as Will went back home. Ollie thought he was going to go back to California, but no such luck. His family moves and he begins his senior year at a new school. He meets some nice girls who immediately bring him into his circle. He goes to a party and lo and behold, who should be there but our disappearing Prince Charming - Will! 

Ollie soon discovers that Will isn't out to not only his family but his friends as well, and acts like a general heterosexual douchebag when he's around his friends. Ollie makes his mission to forget Will and do his own thing which is join a punk band and become BFFs with Juliette, Lara, and Naihm. Lara has got her own stuff going on, so she's basically a bitch to everyone because that's her defense mechanism. At first you're not entirely sure about her, but as you read through the book, you learn more about her, and her and Ollie develop this understanding of each other. They aren't instant friends, but they soon warm up to each other, realize they have each other's backs, and form a very strong bond. Their friendship was one of my favorite things about this book. Well, Ollie and his friendships with the girls. 

My favorite character was probably Aunt Linda, and I'm not going to go into too much detail about her. She kind of gives Ollie the kick in the ass he needs with regards to Will. He begins to realize towards the end that he has demanded a lot out of Will, but has not actually given. There's growth, and although we see it through Ollie's perspective, we can still see the changes in all the characters. 

This book was genuinely a great book. It was funny, sweet, sad, and leaves you with this warm fuzzy feeling at the end. I loved the hell out of it, and I would definitely buy the physical copy once it's out. If you want a sweet contemporary romance along with great friendships and strong family bonds, this book is for you. 

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC for an honest review.

I was not the biggest fan of this book. I did enjoy the author's writing style though so I believe that I will give her another chance.