This book was a little too cutesy for my liking but I enjoyed the plot. I thought the author did a good job of conveying the message. I think readers of Stephanie Perkins will really enjoy this book.

I wanted this to be this week’s post because this is the perfect time to review it because of the upcoming election! The issues that it touches on are also very important and whether you are of the age to vote or not are things that people should be aware of.

How hard it is for marginalized groups of people to vote is an upsetting and all too common reality for many. I am not going to sit here and get all political on you guys because it is not my place to do so. It is my job to let you know if a book is worthwhile or not to purchase and read. Not to tell you my opinion on the subject matter itself.

I do suggest that you pick up this book and read it! Not only will you learn more about issues facing those wanting to vote, but you will also meet very likable people. Marva and Duke meet by chance and spend an entire day getting to know one another. You would not think much could happen during the course of one day, but you’d be wrong! Have you read this novel? What did you think?

Such a timely book to be published in 2020! This is a thoughtful and provoking examination of voter suppression from the point of view of a first time voter.  The main characters' stories are effortlessly intertwined and I feel like I could speak to them if I ran into them in line to vote.  Fantastic book!

The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert - 4/5 stars

Trigger Warnings: Animal running away, miscommunication, political anxiety

I received a free copy of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This novel was so cute! My first foray into Brandy Colbert's writing was such a success. This novel was impactful and adorable and I really loved it!

I thought that this novel was handled very well. It felt accessible for a bit of a younger age group to get to see a novel surrounding politics. There were lots of good conversations about participation, using your right to vote, surrounding yourself with people who find importance in similar things that you do, and differing political views while still having such an adorable friendship to romance.

In The Voting Booth, I really appreciated how some of the conversations about politics were handled. One that I really enjoyed was a conversation between Duke and his younger sister. Duke told his sister that he thinks he is pro-life, not pro-choice, and his sister explains why that is disrespectful towards her and other people who can get pregnant. Whether or not someone gets an abortion should not be the decision of anyone other than the person who is pregnant, and Duke's sister educates him on that. Duke is receptive to the discussion, too, and doesn't just shrug it off. I also appreciated how the situation between Marva and her boyfriend was handled. He decided not to vote and to protest against voting and that broke Marva's heart. She - and many other groups of people - doesn't have the opportunity to protest against voting because that would mean the opposite candidate winning. Marva couldn't understand why her boyfriend wasn't voting and he couldn't understand why Marva cared that he wasn't. It was interesting to watch how Marva handled that situation and I liked the outcome a lot.

I thought that the romance in this novel was adorable. The Voting Booth takes place over the course of one day, and yet the romance still managed to feel slow burn rather than insta-lovey. It was sweet and really based on their chemistry and personalities.

Overall this was a really good book! I listened to the audiobook and that was a great choice for me. I recommend this!

I thought this book was a good intro to the importance of voting, especially for a younger audience! I loved Marva's passion. However, the 24-hour time window in which this book was set didn't quite do it for me. It delved into a lot of important topics but only skimmed the surface on many of them. I had this same issue with The Sun Is Also A Star when it was published, and I feel that it didn't quite give all the characters the time to develop.

Marva is excited to vote in her first election--she's even first in line to cast her ballot. Duke has felt pressure from his family to vote as his deceased brother was an activist. When Duke is turned away from the polls, Marva makes it her mission to make sure Duke gets to cast his vote.
A great story about voting and why it's important, especially for people of color. There were several nuanced converstations about voting and other timely topics (such as the relationship between people of color and the police) that were done well, but the main plot wasn't the most exciting. Overall, this was an underwhelming story.

“Like, I knew I had to start working to make sure things change, or I'd never be able to forgive myself. I can't just sit back and watch this world go to shit, you know?”

Apparently, this is the month I'm reading multiple Brandy Colbert books and honestly, I'm not at all sad about that. Brandy Colbert does an incredible job of capturing the everyday life of Black teenagers and I am here for that. It felt timely to read this book a few weeks before our Presidential Election and know there are a handful of teenagers out there who care as much about this election as Marva does.

The Voting Booth follows a day in the life of Marva and Duke, two high school seniors who are all set to vote on Election Day. Marva is the teenager who has been canvassing for weeks, helping people get registered to vote, and going all in for the election. Duke is part of a family who strongly believes in voting but he isn't as enthusiastic as he knows his mom wants him to be. Duke and Marva meet at their polling place early in the morning. Marva was one of the first people in line but Duke's name doesn't appear on the registered voters list. When Marva steps in to help Duke find his correct polling place, what follows is a wild day driving around the city learning about how different life is just a few blocks away. There's also an Instagram famous cat, which is pretty comical to visualize.

I know that voter suppression is alive and well, but I have never once experienced going to my polling place only to be told it was closed. I have never once had to wait in line for hours only to get to the front of the line and find out there are no more ballots. I have never once had to wait again for hours for more ballots to be delivered. All of these things are things that are so important for young people to be aware of, even if they don't experience them personally. It was eye-opening for me to read about these things that I've only vaguely heard about but getting to "experience" them through the eyes of Duke and Marva was exactly what this book needed to bring awareness to the issues surrounding voter suppression.

This is just one of a few books surrounding elections that has come out this year. While I could tell this book hinted at the current 2020 presidential election, I also appreciated that there was no direct mention of a particular candidate or issue so this book won't be dated come November 4. I applaud Brandy Colbert for joining the ranks of other authors tackling elections and voting this year.

P.S. If you don't currently have a voting plan, what are you waiting for? If these young people can vote, so can you.

TW: death of a sibling due to gang violence, anxiety, gun violence, voter suppression, racial profiling.

**Thank you to Disney-Hyperion and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**

I have mixed feelings about this book. I picked it up because I thought it was a romance, but the romance was barely there. I liked the part about the voting and how the author talked about the issues (though it did feel forced), but the other major part of the plot wasn't my favorite. It was a decent read. I just thought I would like it more.

This is a very important book about the importance of voting especially young people. It also showcases how marginalized groups are targeted and face several obstacles when it comes to voting such as moving poll sites and not giving notice. Voters not being able to get rides to the poll sites. It’s really sickening what the system does to make it difficult for us to vote. Voter suppression at its finest.  I liked both Marva and Duke and the unexpected friendship they built during this story. The dialogue about either being “too black” or “not black enough” depending on who you are around struck home with me as well.  There are many ways to be Black and we shouldn't be stereotyped or put inside a box. This is the second book by Brandy Colbert that I have read and she is quickly becoming one of my young adult author favorites!

Trigger
Death of a family member.

The Voting Booth does a really great job taking a side and being vocal about politics right now without sacrificing the story. Obviously I'm supportive of liberal politics, but I've read some books that had cardboard characters because it was all about the message and not really about them, which, even if you support the message, isn't particularly fun to read. This one doesn't do that. Though the book is short and centered on politics, both Marva and Duke are well-developed characters with other things going on outside of the election. Marva's passion is inspiring, and the read on white activists who protest vote (third party or refuse to vote in a crucial election because they don't want to choose between a rock and an even shittier rock) in the form of Marva's ex is on point.

Plot: Marva has been waiting her whole life to be able to vote in her first presidential election. Duke is voting too, but shows up at the wrong polling place.  Marva offers to help him and is determined to get him to his polling place. Over the course of the day, they run into challenge after challenge, but would not change it for the world. 

Wow I loved this one. This was my first Brandy Colbert book and I can’t wait to read everything she writes. I love books that take place over 24 hours and this one is more like 12 hours? 

So many important themes are discussed in this book Duke’s family has been personally affected by gun violence and his sister is a mini activist. His family is greieving the loss of his older brother and exploring what it means to survive without him. Marva is super adamant about voting in general and has worked so hard prior to this election. 

Marva run’s a very popular cat Instagram page and is worried that people won’t take her seriously if they find out. This is a side plot, but I still think it is very important that it is discussed. As a society we expect people to act a certain way and Marva A student and future lawyer who is serious about activism, shouldn’t also enjoy taking photos of her cat right? But, she does. Teenagers (and girls especially) do not always fit in a box and we should not judge them for their interests. If someone finds joy in something, let them. 

I am not Black, but I loved the conversations Duke and Marva had related to this. Duke is biracial and Marva has a white boyfriend and goes to a mostly white school. These conversations are important.  I also loved when Duke meets Marva’s dad and they talk about Morehouse. I’m sure Black readers would pick up much more of the nuances of their culture than I did. 

The parents! In YA parents are usually not super present, but in this one all four parents are present. I cried twice with Duke’s relationship with his dad is shown and Marva’s parents were just the best. 

I honestly do not have any complaints about this one. 

TW: gun violence & sibling death (off page)

Marva and Duke meet at their polling location, the morning of Election Day. Marva is gung-ho about it being Election Day. She has worked so hard getting  people to polls, and today she is going to see her dedication pay off. Duke is not enthused about going to vote. His older brother Julian, a community organizer, died several years ago, and this day is bringing up difficult memories. Marva was the first person to cast their ballot, and Duke... Duke doesn't seem to be registered here. Marva has one last chance to help someone vote, so she offers to drive him to the correct location. But this is just the first disaster of the day. Too soon, they are bumping into parents' coworkers, getting angry text messages from significant others, running into more voting difficulties, celebrity cats run away from home, and more. Can Marva and Duke make it through the day? 

I don't normally like  24-hour stories, but Colbert has done an excellent job with this one! There is a blossoming romance, but it seems natural after all that Marva and Duke have to get through together. Things that have to  be overcome are great opportunities for feelings to bloom. And it all happens around tough topics such as sibling death, grief as a teen, voting rights, police/race tensions, and more. I am hopeful that this book will inspire teens to be even half as passionate as Marva about the upcoming election season. 

No political parties or political topics are brought up beyond voting rights and how scary it is to be an African American getting pulled over by the police.  Colbert handles both of these topics with grace. 

Diverse reads:
- Marva is African American.
- Duke is mixed race.

Thanks NetGalley for the preview!

I liked the idea of this book but really struggled with the pacing.  I felt like the main characters got together too soon after the big dramatic break-up. I think this book sets a great example about how important it is to vote and really educate yourself about the issues.  There needs to be info about how to register and where to get info about voting added so teens see it when reading.

Full disclosure, I am normally a middle grade kinda girl, the blurb for this book sucked me in. I had to read it.  Marva Sheridan spoke to my inner social justice warrior.  What is more exciting than getting to vote for the very first time in your life?  

Marva spent two years working toward registering voters, making voting plans and being sure she at the head of the line the moment polls opened.  It was there she met Duke, who was being turned away from the polls because of a mix up with his registration.  She offers to help Duke out and it results in a day neither one of them would soon forget.   

This one hits all my buttons: strong female protagonist, relevant social commentary, and engaging young people in the election process.  I love that Colbert flashes back in Marva and Duke's stories so we can see who we are more clearly than if we'd only been shown this one day.

#TheVotingBooth is the story 2020 needs.
5. The story chronicles the obstacles voters must face in order to have their voices heard from same-day registration, missing ballots, overcoming transportation and poll location awareness, and so much more. This is the cross-curricular story History and ELA classes need to be teaching this Fall.📚

4. There is a really cute political #catstagram side-plot.😸

3. The parents in this story are struggling with raising Black children and giving them the space to be free, activists, students, artists, etc. There is a conversation of kids wanting to choose their own education, private vs. public, and other modern parenting challenges, particularly for parents of Black youth. Although this is  #YA the parents’ storyline is perfect for young adults coming to view their parents as people and for parents to read along with their kids.

2. I was recently discussing what it means to “let kids be kids” with @sophiaspeaks_ particularly when kids WANT to be politically active. The female lead, Marva lets the reader know that political engagement is what brings her joy. Her parents want her to let loose and “be a kid,” while she would rather register voters and spend time spreading political awareness via social media. Meanwhile, the male lead, Duke is struggling with the awareness of the consequences that come with having a high political profile and presence. Together, they learn how to balance their interests and the importance of speaking their truths and fighting for what they believe in.

1. I was just in the stories talking about #romance lacking depth and my favorite discussion in this novel is two young people discovering the power of #BlackLove for themselves through political activism and the need for you and your partner to be politically aligned. 😻 #LOVEtoSeeIt

This is a great read - I couldn't put it down and finished it in a couple of hours! I loved the political side of the book, which didn't dumb down the importance of voting, but also didn't let go of the obstacles often faced. Yet, it remained fluffy and adorable.

A timely book for the world we are currently loving in. This takes place in a single day; two young voters meet and the book is told from their alternating viewpoints. Lots of things fall into play: an election, romance, racial inequality, and voter suppression. It’s a fun read and a great way to show young people how important it is to vote this year (and every year).

Two young first time voters meet by chance while voting for the first time. It's a book that tackles a lot of important subjects - racism, gun violence, anxiety, important life choices - and teenage romance. It's sweet and timely.

The Voting Booth tells the story of Marva, a young African American teen, who is very interested in politics & is eagerly awaiting the day she can cast her first vote. She is upset because her boyfriend has decided not to vote. This doesn't deter Marva because she knows the political stakes are high, so she heads to the voting booth. After casting the ballot, Marva meets Duke, who is also in line to vote for the first time. But there's a problem with Duke's registration & he is unable to vote. Marva decides to help Duke get everything straightened out so that he can cast his first ballot. The novel tells a fun, engaging story about the lengths Marva & Duke will go to to ensure he can participate in the election process. Brandy Colbert created relatable characters & interesting realistic plot twists. A very enjoyable read! Thank you Net Galley & publisher for providing me with a copy of The Voting Booth to review.

I really loved this book! It was hard to put down, the characters were engaging, and was very fast paced. Like her other works, Colbert doesn’t shy away from tough topics. The passion that Marva has is contagious, and it’s so great to see that passion for voting in a book geared towards a younger audience. This book deals with complex relationships, familial bonds, and an adorable, famous cat. ⁣
All around, this is an absolutely wonderful book and I’d highly recommend giving it a read. ⁣