*4.25*

I absolutely loved this book and everything it stood for. There were so many great themes and ideas explored in regard to politics and activism alongside an adorable romance with a diverse cast. My only main critique would be that I found the ending a bit abrupt and think the story could have really benefited from an epilogue of some kind. Though, this didn’t impact my enjoyment too much and I would still highly recommend this book. I only wish I was able to read it when I was in high school!

First of all, the characters are my favourite thing about this book! I also think that the representation within this book was also fantastic.
The story felt so meaningful and the romance was adorable.

Of course I loved this book, Becky Albertalli is a YA Queen. I love how well rounded the characters are in this book and as always, there are some great themes explored throughout. Anytime I read one of her books I wish I was still in high school because while there are so many larger lessons, there are also some smaller ones scattered throughout that I feel many of us could've benefited from as a teen - self acceptance anyone? With an adorbs romance, a diverse cast and a nicely paced story, Yes No Maybe So is an easy read you can chip away at over a few days. 4 stars.

Overall I found Yes No Maybe So to be an uplifting read but it didn’t grab me straightaway. I felt that it was drawn out in some sections, particularly at the beginning, however I enjoyed the diversity within this book and the look at American politics. Young Adult fiction is a genre that I read often and believe can be enjoyed by all ages but I found the dialogue was quite young in this particular book, which is perfect for the target audience, but wasn’t a good fit for middle-aged me!

I loved the takeaway message for teens that everyone has a part to play in effecting change, no matter how young and I think that Yes No Maybe So would be a highly enjoyable read in the right hands.

Huge thanks to Simon & Schuster Australia & Netgalley for providing a copy for review

3.5 stars

I totally flew through this adorkable story of first loves and politics and two teens standing up for what they believe in. That is actually a hard thing to do -- like stand your ground when being gaslit, either for your emotions or your political views. And the book did weave in this amongst a loudly loving story with crushes and awkward anxious moments and messy families and the heartache of friendship breakups (plus there's super fun banter and dialogue). It didn't come across too preachy, so I appreciated liked that.

While I really love Becky Albertalli (I must read more of Aisha Saeed's work!) I honestly have 2% of a clue what the US is doing with their politics and it works VERY differently to here. Some of the deeper parts about the bills and legislations went over my head...and to be honest I was just getting through their canvassing chapters to get back to the cute everyday-life-moments. I really was here for the characters. (Probably wouldn't...have picked it up if it wasn't authors I already liked.)

The characters really make the book! Oh they are lovely. Like we have two genuinely lovely people, although Maya knows how to stand up for herself and protect herself, while Jamie is a total marshmallow who gets pushed around. They accidentally get volunteered to go door-knocking; they used to be childhood friends but now they're awkward 17 year old strangers with piles of problems of their own and they really don't want to be doing this together... Except. Actually maybe they need each other?

Maya: I loved her so much! She's Muslim and the book starts off while Ramadan is on, so I humbly appreciated learning more about that. She's kind of reserved, she has the One Best Friend (Sara) who is leaving for college soon, so that causes so much anxiety. Plus her parents are having a trial-separation and Maya is super distraught over it. It takes her a bit to open up to Jamie, but then they fall into this easy friendship where they both really need each other.

Jamie: he is like the ultra soft Hufflepuff of awkwardness. He's REALLY loveable. He has a super affectionate and caring relationship with his exuberant little sister, and he gets really passionate about politics and helping people. He is Nice. He's also Jewish and there's also a lot of Jewish culture here too.

And they both proceed not to confess they like each other the entire book!!!

It had all the good contemporary moments too! Lots of eating out (once Ramadan finished!) and they gushed over chocolate cake. The soft ease of their friendship was so lovely and made my heart ache. I loved the family moments! The banter, the quips, every time Sophie was just way over the top. The friendship breakup that Maya went through with Sara absolutely hit home for me because relatable. There were just so many satisfying little subplots, it was easy to be invested. And despite the page count, I really flew through it!

I thought this book was well written and enjoyable. It covered a lot of important topics with depth and nuance. The downside however, was the pacing as it did feel a little slow at the start.

Being Australian, the American politics in this book was totally boring to me.
However Becky can always make contemporary YA fiction fantastic. Aisha is a fantastic author as well, this story is a slow burn, again not my favourite.
Coming from a country that has compulsory voting the whole political activism is very foreign as is the racial / religious feel, I was not impressed by the one sided feel of the feel of the story.
This may be a best seller in the US but it isn't going to work internationally.

Firstly, how amazing is the first sentence in this book. It really sets the mood and overall feel for the book going in. In typical Albertalli fashion, she has made it feel warm and inviting, like we are reading something from one of our friends.

I am loving but also not loving this book. It is so politically heavy that I am skipping paragraphs to avoid it and I'm not missing any of the important content. I love Maya and Jamie's relationship. They are both so sweet and overcoming their own family and personal issues. But the politics drowns out anything good. It is so heavy.

I totally understand what the authors are trying to do, I get it. Awareness is the first step towards change. But this probably isn't the way to go about it. Unless you are way into politics, this book might be too much for you.

As much as this book was loaded with politics, racial issues and family problems, just to name a few. It was a good read. I feel as though the authors may have tried a little too hard to squeeze in so much diversity, that the plot itself got lost in the mix.

Well written and easy to read, it is impossible not to fall for Jamie and Maya.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the review copy.

"I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review"

YES
Jamie Goldberg is cool with volunteering for his local state senate candidate—as long as he’s behind the scenes. When it comes to speaking to strangers (or, let’s face it, speaking at all to almost anyone), Jamie’s a choke artist. There’s no way he’d ever knock on doors to ask people for their votes…until he meets Maya.
NO
Maya Rehman’s having the worst Ramadan ever. Her best friend is too busy to hang out, her summer trip is canceled, and now her parents are separating. Why her mother thinks the solution to her problems is political canvassing—with some awkward dude she hardly knows—is beyond her.
MAYBE SO
Going door to door isn’t exactly glamorous, but maybe it’s not the worst thing in the world. After all, the polls are getting closer—and so are Maya and Jamie. Mastering local activism is one thing. Navigating the cross-cultural romance of the century is another thing entirely.

Can I just start off this review by saying that this was a book where I kept saying just one more chapter and ended up finishing the book in a day. I was so invested in the story and loved reading about these characters.

I have to say when I read that it was about a political campaign I was a little worried I wouldn't like it as much because I am Australian and the process is a little different, but it became something I really liked about the book because it taught me so much about voting in American. This book touches on real life issues and it is done in a way that can educate young people without being boring or pushy. Another thing I was worried about was the size of the book and if it would drag on but I can understand why it was longer than a normal contemporary. If it was any shorter I don't think the story would of worked.

This book also taught me a lot about the Muslim faith and the Jewish faith and I am now wanting to educate myself even more, so this book is a fun way to learn about a lot of important issues that people face everyday. The characters I really liked and enjoyed both of them so much even when they did a couple of things that I thought where annoying. All round this book was amazing and I am so glad I read it and I am sad that it is over. Now all I need is there to be a book about Jamies sister when she is a little bit older because I need to read more of her.

I ended up rating this book 4.5 Stars and I recommend that everyone reads this book as soon as they can. Becky Albertalli has me hooked yet again with another amazing book and Aisha Saeed I can not wait to get some of your books to read now.

Hiya bookish people!

Yes No Maybe So is the best RomCom I’ve read in 2020 so far! *Yes, this is the only RomCom I have read so far*. Maya and Jamie, our teenage lovebirds, are so perfect together in this novel, but the awkwardness that Jamie exhibits throughout the entire novel is also super duper adorable. He makes their relationship super wholesome. This novel is filled with so much relevance to today that I don’t know how this is going to be received. All I can tell you is that I loved it (bar from a few grievances, but when are they ever fully gone) and that this review needs to be considered.

From an external POV, the racism directed towards Maya, a Pakistani-American muslim teenage girl living in America, is written extremely well. Now, don’t freak out, I am in no way condoning this behaviour. What I want to say is that it is written so well that it upsets me to know that this happens every day, every hour to someone who almost definitely doesn’t deserve it. That makes the writing that much better - to force me to feel so upset on Maya’s behalf. Even better, Albertalli & Saeed have shown teenagers as more than just mindless creatures who sit with their phones in their hands all day, doing nothing. I cannot properly express how happy this makes me, that stereotype annoys me so much.
The primary characters in this book are also so willing to learn, which makes them that much better. Jamie is Jewish, and Maya is Muslim, and they are both willing to learn about each other in order to accept them more. However, the secondary characters are very 2d, there isn’t any background to them and I feel like they should’ve been fleshed out more if they were going to be featured the way that they were.

Now, I’m sure you are thinking, EMMA WHY IS THIS ONLY FOUR STARS?! THERE SEEMS TO BE NOTHING WRONG WITH IT! Yeah, my only other issue with this book is that it ended. And it ended so abruptly. Where’s the epilogue? Because it sure needs one.

To conclude (yes this is a school essay now, sue me), read it. That’s it. Read it.
Byeeeee

“We might give it our all and crash and burn. But we might win. We might actually change things. And that maybe makes it still worth going for, don't you think?”

representation: Pakistani-American Muslim MC (I believe this is own voices?), Jewish MC (own voices), m/m side relationship, queer side characters.

[trigger warnings are listed at the bottom of this review and may contain spoilers]

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 3 . 5 s t a r s *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

I so desperately wanted to love this because I love Becky Albertalli and I've heard great things about Aisha Saeed, but it just didn't blow me away. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that this book is mainly for American readers and as an Australian who doesn't know the ins and outs of American politics, I felt a little bit disconnected from it. Of course we have similar things happening over here with racist political parties and stuff, but I just felt kind of out of the loop?

MINOR SPOILER - I think I'm also growing out of YA (especially contemporary), because the petty miscommunication towards the end really pissed me off. It really grinds my gears when miscommunication is used as the main climax towards the end of a book, but maybe that's my old age speaking XD

While I liked both Jamie and Maya as characters, I honestly didn't really feel the chemistry between them. They just felt like best friends to me?

But I massively appreciate and applaud Becky and Aisha for addressing the things that they did in this novel. It's so timely and relevant for American readers and can perhaps give some hope in what is a dark time for a lot of people.

trigger warnings: broken families, divorce, xenophobia, racism, anti-Semitism, racist political policies.

Thank you so much to NetGalley & Simon & Shuster Australia for the review copy!

Yes No Maybe So is the latest book by author of Simon V the Homosapien Agenda, Becky Albertalli, and upcoming author, Aisha Saeed. I adored Simon and found myself to really connect with Albertalli’s authentic characters so was excited when I was kindly provided with an e-arc from the publishers. My expectations were set high and I was keen to immerse myself into another contemporary with raw issues at the forefront.
The synopsis:
YES
Jamie Goldberg is cool with volunteering for his local state senate candidate—as long as he’s behind the scenes. When it comes to speaking to strangers (or, let’s face it, speaking at all to almost anyone), Jamie’s a choke artist. There’s no way he’d ever knock on doors to ask people for their votes…until he meets Maya.

NO
Maya Rehman’s having the worst Ramadan ever. Her best friend is too busy to hang out, her summer trip is canceled, and now her parents are separating. Why her mother thinks the solution to her problems is political canvassing—with some awkward dude she hardly knows—is beyond her.

MAYBE SO
Going door to door isn’t exactly glamorous, but maybe it’s not the worst thing in the world. After all, the polls are getting closer—and so are Maya and Jamie. Mastering local activism is one thing. Navigating the cross-cultural romance of the century is another thing entirely.

As the synopsis suggests, the book centres around two teenagers, Jamie and Maya. Jamie is extremely socially awkward and does not like putting himself in situations beyond his comfort zone. Maya is more outgoing but has her own personal problems that are impacting her life. The two, who were close as children, are thrust back together through an election campaign. It seems like your normal young adult contemporary, but it isn’t and I will tell you why.
The book centring around an election campaign was something completely new to me. I had never read a contemporary book that was focused on a state election and found the complexity of the campaign interesting. Elections in the United States seem to differ significantly to here in Australia and it was fascinating to see this portrayal throughout the book. The politics of the book and the campaign begin to intertwine with issues which are current in the world today, thus turning this book into something politically charged. Unfortunately, this was something that I was unaware of before reading the book and thus, it was something that dimmed my experience. There was such a strong emphasis on the political opposition and their policies which took the shine away from the campaign for the candidate they were supporting. From how the book was written though, it does seem necessary to have included this but I just felt that they could have spun the plot in a different direction.
The main characters, Jamie and Maya were the focus of the book. While they started off as acquaintances, their relationship blossomed from friendship into something more. I felt that their relationship felt inauthentic and rushed, and they would have benefited from just remaining friends. They seemed to be two very different individuals and the time between them rekindling their friendship (from their childhood), to being romantically linked was not long. As the focus of the book seemed to be diversity, I felt that by pushing these two characters together that it took something away from the overall experience of the book. On another note, the diversity included was incredible. By having a Muslim and Jewish main character, the authors were able to demonstrate their ability and knowledge of two cultures which are both under-represented and falsely represented in society on a daily basis. I discovered things about both cultures which I was not previously aware of which enhanced my understanding. There were also characters who were LGBTQI which added another dimension of inclusivity. I do feel like the authors focused their attention to include so many different people from a variety of backgrounds, that the overall focus of the plot was lost.
One final thought I have about the book was the character of Maya. Maya had so much going on in her life and was true to her culture, it was fascinating to see her deal with her troubles during Ramadan where she was depleted of energy. I liked her fierceness and how she would always stand up for what she believed in. While overall she was a very strong character, I did feel like she was quite selfish. She had a new friendship developing with Jamie but constantly kept referring back to her best friend who hadn’t checked in with her for weeks. It seemed as if Jamie was her last resort as she had nobody else to hang out with. While this opportunity did allow their friendship to grow, Maya always seemed hesitant and distant and I feel like Jamie deserved more.
Overall, Yes No Maybe So was a different contemporary read for me which allowed me to immerse myself in new cultures and in the political sphere of the United States. I began to learn more about Judaism and Muslim culture, which was a highlight of the book. If you enjoy reading about social change, politics and fighting for justice with some romance in between, this book may be for you!
Thank you to the publishers for providing me with an e-arc for review!
Yes No Maybe So is available to purchase in Australia now!

In the last few months I have binge read all of Becky Albertalli’s published books. So I was so excited to be approved for Yes No Maybe So- thank you to NetGalley and the publisher. Going in I didn’t know much about the book but I have loved every one of Becky’s books so I couldn’t wait. Although, I should add here that I had never heard of the other co author, Aisha Saeed, before.

I started the book and was immediately confused. I believe that this is because I am Australian. I have no idea nor any interest in American politics. I didn’t know what the political terms and words used in the book were or if the political characters were even real people or not. Australian politics are nothing like the Americans. Liberal here means conservative!

That being said, I also found that it didn’t feel like a Becky Albertalli book to me at all. I can’t quite put my finger on why but I’m so sad to say overall I was disappointed with this book.

I rated it 3 generous stars. - it is definitely not a book for international readers nor do I think it was written with them in mind.

It isn't that Jamie Goldberg is painfully shy, he's awkward and isn't a fan of social interactions after once vomiting during a conversation. Volunteering for the Jordan Rossum campaign suits Jamie just fine, he's happy to work behind the scenes, relishing his role as the official provider of snacks along with younger sister Sophie. Sophie is preoccupied by her upcoming bar mitzvah, his mother either working long hours or party planning for the event of the season, while Jamie finds solace wandering through his favourite store Target, contemplating life in the patio department.

Maya Rehman just can't catch a break. Her best friend Sara is preparing for college with her roommate, her parents are on a trial separation and all during the month of Ramadan. Two homes, no friends and no car. When Jamie and the Rossum campaign visits Maya's iftar feast to celebrate the holy month, Maya and Jamie are volunteered by their mothers to canvas for the campaign, knocking door to door to ensure democratic votes in the local election to fill a vacant seat.

What begins as two teens and former childhood friends reconnecting during the campaign, turns out to be a passion for change, to represent marginalised communities and push back against racist ideals of the conservative party. Such a timely read. With many conservative governments holding power within the western world, now more than ever we need books that emphasise the blatant racism and discrimination by our governments and how the smallest of actions can inspire change.

Jamie comes across as quite sullen, he's socially awkward and although he dreams of one day representing his community and becoming a senator, he can't imagine speaking in public without his lunch making a reappearance first. Although Jamie's parents are separated, his father rarely seeing Jamie and his sister Sophie now he's living in the Netherlands, his mother is a force to be reckoned with. She too works long hours for the local senator and involved in every aspect of her children's lives. Jamie is awestruck by Maya's beauty and her tenacity to fight for equality and although he's reluctant to meet new people by canvassing for the campaign, relishes the opportunity to spend time with Maya.

Maya is the more likeable character of the two. Although she's having a terrible time of it lately, she still tries to remain upbeat and positive. Hopeful that her parents trial separation is only a temporary measure. Maya's parents have one rule, no dating, her education is first and foremost. Being Muslim, Maya is also a character of faith and shares her experiences of racism and discrimination, more so of her mother who wears a hijab. In the local election, a racist conservative plans to introduce a new bill which would see head and face coverings banned and deemed as a security risk, the bill targeting Muslim women in particular who choose to wear the hijab. Maya's anger is palpable and with Jamie's support, the two teens petition the local office of the conservative senator to oppose the blatantly racist bill.

Yes No Maybe So isn't about the end result, it's about the journey we take to get there. Both Jamie and Maya are from marginalised backgrounds, essentially fighting against the conservative vote who encourage discrimination against marginalised communities, often hiding hate speech behind their Christianity. For many diverse communities in western countries, this is their reality. Even though both Jamie and Maya's concerns are dismissed by the local conservative candidate, it was interesting to see how tolerable both teens were of those with strong conservative beliefs. I'm not sure I could have extended such kindness. This is such a wonderful introduction to political activism for teens, start small and don't be afraid to set boundaries, it also reiterates the importance of how even the smallest of victories are still a positive step towards change.

Yes No Maybe So is a thoughtful novel that encompasses a broad range of topical issues, wrapping them in a deliciously cute romance that will appeal to fans of Simon versus the Homo Sapien Agenda, which let’s face it, is practically every living teen on the planet right now. Albertalli’s novels reflect the concerns and celebrate the inclusiveness of this generation, and Aisha Saeed’s contribution to this one will ensure it continues.
Basic plot is simple, but effective. Socially awkward, Jewish white boy, Jamie fears public speaking which is does not bode well for his dream of becoming a politician. Maya, an American-Pakistani Muslim girl, finding herself at a loose end for the summer, for a variety of awful reasons, is encouraged (more like blackmailed) into canvassing for Jordan Rossum, the democratic candidate for her local district election. Her reward at the end? A car. Jamie and Maya were best friends at childcare, over 10 years ago, and when their mothers reconnect and push them together, only one really is keen – Jamie. Maya is on board for the car. Not that she tells Jamie that. Unfortunately.

Slowly, over the summer, they begin to share their fears, but not only that, as Rossum’s campaign gathers momentum, their optimism grows that they might be contributing to a brighter future. They also develop feelings for each other as they reconnect and support each other through family and friendship breakdowns. As you would imagine, they both make terrible mistakes towards the end, hurting each other. But of course, we all know that once they sit down, hash it out, and actually take some risks, everything will be okay.

Look, it’s adorable.

But more than, it’s a call to arms. Albertalli and Saeed break down American’s political system into digestible chunks that will inform as well as entertain young readers. Other countries don’t have the exact systems of the US, however, connections can be made and parallels drawn, so that readers can see how corruption and power make it almost impossible for marginalized groups to be heard. The authors are having none of that. They make it clear that individuals can all do his or her (or their) bit to defeat racists, bullies, homophobes, or whoever else stomps on the rights of others. It’s inspiring stuff, and it never sounds preachy. The two main characters always feel like teenagers—awkward, powerless, and prone to impulsive acts and words—so their insights and observations feel true. They genuinely realise that helping local communities, uniting under a common belief despite differences, and working towards a single purpose is uplifting and exciting.
There are many complications that aren’t even touched on here. Messy family situations, the role of the media and the lasting impacts of social media, the additions of terrific animals, and the eventual realization of strong feelings make Yes No Maybe So an engaging and triumphant reading experience. I have no doubt any teenager will love its message and the way the message is delivered.

Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for advanced copy. I believe it’s out everywhere on February 4th. Highly recommended for contemporary book lovers, who enjoy well developed characters bumbling around trying to be their best self. Who love inclusive stories that don’t shy away from tackling big subjects, but in a readable manner that isn’t heavy handed. I found it really hopeful and loved the way it presented options for teenagers who might be feeling overwhelmed by the constant barrage of negativity offered by mainstream media outlets.

The longer you put things off, the longer they’re there waiting for you.

3 stars

YES
Jamie Goldberg is cool with volunteering for his local state senate candidate—as long as he’s behind the scenes. When it comes to speaking to strangers (or, let’s face it, speaking at all to almost anyone), Jamie’s a choke artist. There’s no way he’d ever knock on doors to ask people for their votes…until he meets Maya.

NO
Maya Rehman’s having the worst Ramadan ever. Her best friend is too busy to hang out, her summer trip is cancelled, and now her parents are separating. Why her mother thinks the solution to her problems is political canvassing—with some awkward dude she hardly knows—is beyond her.

MAYBE SO
Going door to door isn’t exactly glamorous, but maybe it’s not the worst thing in the world. After all, the polls are getting closer—and so are Maya and Jamie. Mastering local activism is one thing. Navigating the cross-cultural romance of the century is another thing entirely.


Initial Thoughts
Not my cup of tea. I found this book really cute and informative, but I felt like it wasn’t done how I expected it to be? The political aspect didn’t hook me as much as I would have liked it to, and unfortunately I felt it distracted from everything else in the book. I understand that the political aspect was THE major theme of the book, but I thought it wasn’t done amazingly and unfortunately made the book really lack for me.

High Points
Overall, the book was quite cute, and I enjoyed how it talked about politics in a way that I haven’t seen done in a YA book before. I found it really interesting that the authors decided to focus more in the “insides” of working in politics; the canvasing and what not. I found Jamie to be likable as a character, and his first-person perspective was written quite well; we really had the opportunity to make a connection with his awkward self and get to see him become more outgoing through, not only his own eyes, but through the eyes of Maya as well.

Low Points
It felt, at times, that the writers where trying to put as much meme culture unto the book as they could to make it more relevant, it honestly was really cringe and made some parts of the book really unenjoyable. Secondly, I found the romance to be lacking, which is really impressive because it begins right near the start of the book and DOES NOT STOP. I found the argument that the characters had to be somewhat toxic, in all honesty. I didn’t find it cute at all, I just saw many red flags. Unfortunately, I did not like Maya as much as I liked Jamie. There was just something about her character that had me rolling my eyes at most things that she did.

Recommended For
As someone who does not generally read YA contemporary, I think this book is an okay introduction into politics as a theme in YA literature. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to extend on the genres they read within YA.

DNF at 52%. Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the eARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was super sad for me because I was loving the writing, the representation, Jamie and Maya's friendship developing and how they were helping each other getting through different situations but my god, I couldn't stand all the politics.

I'm from Australia and only understand about 2% of American politics. I'm not a political kind of reader and even though I'd likely be a democrat if I was American, I couldn't make myself continue to read this because it doesn't interest me in the slightest. I'm 100% sure that this story is great but I just didn't want to suffer through more political talk just to see how these characters are at the end of the novel.

The writing was so good, so much cohesion and the dialogue was realistic with great banter. I learnt some things about Muslim culture which was awesome and I'll look forward to reading more from these authors for sure.

I thought going in that this would be a sweet, summery romance with a little bit of political discourse sprinkled in. It was, but it was also relevant, engaging and realistic. The romance took a back seat to the friendship and political aspects, which I loved. It had something for everyone, from relatable characters, to diversity in terms of race and religion to fighting for what you believe in.

I love how this book put our characters into situations that forced them to grow and re-evaluate their beliefs. The book as a whole subverted genre expectations, causing both the characters and us as readers to amend their assumptions. It was from little things like how Jaime’s grandmother was a social media influencer, to Jaime realising his ignorance about Ramadan, and how no, Maya does not eat goldfish, drink coffee or even water during the period. I cannot comment on the representation in this book, but it is ownvoices in terms of the Jewish, Muslim and Pakistani-American rep.

➽ Jaime. Ahh my dear, sweet, awkward, target loving Jaime.
Jaime is helping out over the summer to help his cousin work on a campaign for a special election coming up for his state’s house. He is roped in (see also: forced) by his mother to canvas for the election. I can relate to Jaime in the fact that there are probably a thousand things I would rather do than go door to door to talk to strangers about something that has the aptitude to get people very heated. However, Jaime wants to be a politician one day, and figures this may be a way to learn to speak to people without embarrassing himself. Over the course of his canvassing, he becomes more and more passionate about the cause.

➽ Maya is a Pakistani-American Muslim who is going through some difficult times with her family at the moment. Her parents are taking a separation to try to sort some things out. Her world is subsequently turned upside down and all she wants to do is to have her friend be there to talk to, but Sara is eternally busy with work, getting ready for college and moving in with her new roommate. As a result, Maya feels shunned and replaced- and doesn’t have many plans for summer. When her parents offer her a car for going canvassing for Rossum, she agrees. She is initially a bit trepidatious, after all, isn’t he just another cis white guy going for office? But as she and Jaime talk more, it becomes less and less about the car and more about doing what she believes in.

The stakes are especially high for Maya when a bill is announced that directly targets Muslim people and would essentially make her mother a criminal just because of what she chooses to wear. Maya and Jaime team up to try and fight the racist bill, but nothing they say or do seems to work. Representatives they go to talk to brush off their concerns and twist their words, so it seems like the bill is there for the protection of citizens, rather than targeting them. It made my blood boil, and that was the intention.

This book felt realistic, and that was the most terrifying thing of all. I am not from the US, but it is difficult to escape American politics even from on the other side of the world. It was interesting however to see how the political climate manifests itself in forms of tension, black and white attitudes and the division of a country.

This book was not entirely flawless, at times I found it a little reference heavy, dramatic and some issues felt unnecessary. I also feel this book could have been a good opportunity to explore international politics, and thought that since Jaime was so engrossed in the political climate of the US he probably would have been more interested in that of of other countries- but that did not diminish my enjoyment enough to lower the rating. The things I loved far outweighed those I didn’t.

As someone who is currently too young to vote, I loved how the authors depicted teenagers in today’s political arena. The characters feel so deeply and strongly and want to make a difference- but people don’t take them seriously because of their age and they begin to feel helpless and insignificant.

"we might give it our all and crash and burn. But we might win. We might actually change things. And that maybe makes it still worth going for, don't you think?"

I loved the ending of this book, in terms of the result of the election. I won’t say anything about it, because it is very easily spoiled.

While this book is intended to make you mad and feel the passion that it is so evident these authors feel about the current state of America’s government- it left me with a feeling of hope. Hope that our generation can change things. Hope that even though I am young, I can make a difference, no matter how small. Hope that life can improve for the thousands who are suffering under oppressive and discriminatory governments and sovereignties not just in the US but across the world.

Hope that one day, a teenager can look back on this book and not relate to the issues we are facing today.

- Trigger Warnings -
Racism, vandalism, discrimination.

- Summary -
Jamie Goldberg is cool with volunteering for his local state candidate - as long as he’s behind the scenes. There’s no way he’d ever knock on doors to ask people for their votes…until he meets Maya. Maya Rehman’s having the worst Ramadan ever. Her best friend is too busy to hang out, her summer trip is cancelled, her parents are separating and now her mother thinks the solution to her problems is political canvassing - with some awkward guy she hardly knows... Going door to door isn’t exactly glamorous, but maybe it’s not the worst thing in the world. After all, the polls are getting closer - and so are Maya and Jamie. Mastering local activism is one thing. Navigating the cross-cultural crush of the century is another thing entirely.

Quotes:
All our actions are little drops that collect into a groundswell for change. It's the only way most change happens. Ordinary people doing everything they can.

It's not about waiting for the good parts of history. We're the ones who have to make them happen. We have to draw the timeline ourselves.


- Spoiler Free -
I received an eARC from Netgalley and the publishers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

"Ramadan isn't just about not eating from before sunup to sundown. We're supposed to be patient - the best versions of ourselves we can be."

I had quite high expectations going into Yes No Maybe So by Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed, and the book did not disappoint! Jamie and Maya are such fantastic main characters and I'm glad we got to be inside both their heads, especially towards the climax of the story. The political side to this book is done so well: it doesn't feel pushy or like the author's political opinions are being forced on you. Having said that, I totally was on board with Jamie and Maya's party they were supporting. My only real issue with this book is that the end felt quite rushed. I would have liked to spend more time with Jamie and Maya as certain things happen, rather than skipping through it all quite quickly. I would still highly recommend Yes No Maybe So. It's an incredibly relevant, emotional, funny, scary, and heartwarming look at our political climate today (especially post-2016 USA elections). I cannot speak for the Jewish or Muslim rep in this book, but from my perspective I think it was presented with care, and it gave me more of an understanding of these cultures/religions. 4 stars!

- Spoiler Thoughts -
"You sound like my Grandma. She always used to say that there are at least two good people for every bad person in the world."

I have to start this spoiler section talking about (in my opinion) the best side character in the novel - Jamie's Grandma, InstaGramm. And of course Boomer. Grandma and Boomer are a packaged deal. It was so cool to see an elderly person being super into technology and having the huge following she does. Grandma is such a kind and loving character, but also incredibly strong-willed and protective. She immediately went to bat for Jamie and Maya after the picture was leaked despite the fact that sort of publicity could have won them the election. All the stars for Grandma and Boomer!

"Women are problematic if they show too much skin and problematic if they don't show enough?"

Maya's relationship with Sara, and Maya's character development in general, was so intriguing to follow. Right from the beginning, we know Maya feels like Sara has cast her aside in exchange for jobs and planning for college, something Maya takes personally. And while I did feel it was shitty of Sara to do that, I could also understand where she was coming from. She needed the money and she needed to get sorted for moving to UGA. Not to mention, Maya never told Sara how she felt, and while you could argue Sara should have known, she also had a lot on her plate to deal with. I was so glad when the two reconciled at the end and Maya was able to own up for her mistakes, as was Sara. I was worried the book was going to end with them being estranged, so it was super heartwarming when Sara drove down from college to vote and see Maya. I love strong friendships in books, and I'm glad this one worked out for the better.

"This is your narrative. You get to pick the framing."

Jamie and Sara's sibling relationship was also something I really appreciated this book having. Life isn't all about romantic relationships, so I loved that Yes No Maybe So recognised that and included strong female friendships and sibling relationships. Jamie's toast to Sophie at her bat mitzvah was perfectly written and presented. Arguably the best moment between them was when Sophie felt comfortable enough to come out to Jamie - this trust between brother and sister was incredibly sweet and I loved the support Jamie immediately offered. And while it was great to have this queer rep, I was also glad it didn't take over the narrative completely. It did feel sort of odd that it was never mentioned again, but having said that this book had so much going on that I didn't feel it needed to add any more. I also loved Sophie's tendency to just invite herself to things - I wish I had that sort of confidence!

I wish I new why some people keep holding hands and why some people stop.

The book ends without answering the question of whether Maya's parents are going to get back together. I think it is something that is left up to the reader to decide and, in my opinion, I think they likely don't. I was so glad they could come together to set aside their differences when Maya needed them; judging by this scene I like to think her parents will remain friends and will never let their differences get in the way of their child. But I still think they will get a divorce. While it is sad, I also think it is realistic. When we saw her mother talking about their wedding photo, I thought that was going to be the end of the trial separation and, while i would have been happy with that, I am also happy with the likely divorce they will go through. Plus we know Maya had a solid support network now with Jamie, Sara, Kevin, and Grandma, to help her through it.

"...my parents have always said relationships are sacred."

Of course, we have to talk about Jamie and Maya. They are such a cute couple, but more than that, they are fantastic individuals. They worked so seamlessly together during the canvassing and it was clear they were a good match right from the start. They canvass together for about a month, so their relationship never felt forced or fake. It felt like the most natural thing in the world when they started developing feelings for each other and when they almost (and then did) kiss. The secrets they kept from each other (Maya beginning to canvass for a car and Jamie following Maya through InstaGramm) had me so worried that this would be what their relationship fell apart over. Consequently, it was incredibly shocking when they forgave each other for that and it fell apart because of a photo gone viral. I did feel their reconciliation was very rushed - it felt like we were running out of pages and the authors had to quickly get them back together before the story ended. I wish it hadn't been that rushed, but I was still glad they were together in the end.

"It's strange how something can be someone's entire universe, but not even register as a blip for someone else."

The other aspect that felt rushed was when they lost the special election. I'm of course disappointed that they lost, but like Jamie said: "Yeah, in this moment, the numbers are everything. But when you step back from it, it's just another point on the timeline. History's a long game. It's the longest long game." It was at this point I realised they were probably going to lose, as if they won it wouldn't hammer home the point that things don't change overnight. It takes a lot to change someone's mindset and opinion, so for them to win would have felt cheap. While it does really suck, I think this was the most natural and realistic ending. Although, like I said, it did feel very rushed. I wish we had stayed with the characters longer in that moment, rather than moving on to a positive ending.

- Overall -
Yes No Maybe So was such a well told novel that brings awareness to politics in our current society. I am so grateful to have received an eARC so I can help promote this book and the messages it stands for. There's not much more to say - I loved it, I think everyone should read it, and I will definitely be buying a copy for my personal book collection!

<i>Yes No Maybe So</i> is a story of religion, family, relationships and finding your footing in a world that is still building barriers between people. From the cover and title, I expected a cute, fluffy romance between Jamie and Maya, and familial complications, however, it is so much more than that. Yes this book had those things but there is so much more to it than that. Told in dual perspectives, this story sheds light on the religious discrimination, particularly Islamophobia and anti-Semitism, that is still present in modern day America. It discusses about the power young teens have in creating change within their community however small it may be.


Jamie is the embodiment of awkwardness and I felt all his struggles and overthinking of social situations. However, past the awkwardness he is a truly nice guy who is considerate of others and would be such a great friend to have. He has such an amazing family filled with such supportive people. His little sister, Sophie was surprisingly mature for her age, his mom knew what to say to have me laughing at the situation and don’t get me started on his grandma who was a social media queen. I love it when the stereotype “old people don’t know how to use the internet” is flipped on its head. Jamie is also Jewish and throughout the book we see quite a bit of representation on their religious customs .<i>I am not Jewish so I cannot comment on the representation but it seemed to be handled respectfully</i> It was interesting reading his perspective on anti-Semitism and the overall political tension in America and I really loved his views on power of youth in changing the future.

Maya on the other hand is much more socially confident, though unlike Jamie, her family is falling apart with her parents having temporarily split, leaving Maya with a summer full of uncertainty with nothing to distract her. That is until she was forced to canvass with Jamie. In the beginning, I was quite annoyed with Maya given that she was rather whiny and self-absorbed but like what teen wouldn’t behave like that her certain situation. Still, it wasn't fun to read about. Though after a couple of chapters she started to be much less whiny and I really admired her strength and confidence in certain scenes. I also loved how she was proud of her heritage and religion and didn’t shy away from the challenges imposed on her because of these things. She was such a badass for not breaking in those highly Islamophobic situations.

I really loved their relationship, and how gradual and realistic it was. This book is an example why I love the friends-to-lovers trope the most out of all the romance tropes, and these two complimented each other so well. I would read another book following their relationship. Moreover, I was inspired by the messages this book had on change and that any small change you do is still better than no change at all.

A large part of this novel tackles religious discrimination and harmful stereotypes and I feel like I cannot truly comment on the representation of these elements given that I’m not Jewish or Muslim or even live in America. So I couldn’t even fully understand the politics in the US but objectively, I do think the authors did the representations respectfully. <i>Feel free to contradict me if you’re of this background and have better understanding so I would be better informed.</i>

There were some aspects that I felt could’ve been done better and therefore, didn’t receive the full 5/5 stars rating but they could all be improved in the final copy. Overall I loved this story and I would highly recommend picking it up when it comes out.