I've tried to read this book a few times and it doesn't seem to stick with me. I definitely believe this is a case of the reader and not the book.

This was such a great book that I wish I had more love because it really needs to. I love Nelo, watching her grow throughout 'Like Home' was great. We've all had those moments as children when the veil of safety is removed and we start to realize that things are changing, this happens to Nelo as her best friend's store is vandalized.

Onome is able to strike a delicate balance of cute teenage romance and friendship with topics like gentrification and discrimination. While it would have been easy to go down into a nitty, gritty, and dark path Onome was able to keep things light, while going a little heavier when the story calls for it.

Overall, a must-read.

Like Home broke my heart and then put it back together again.

The characters felt devastatingly real, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. The writing style was distinctive and I flew through it in a matter of days, desperate to find out what happened next and how the story would unfold.

I think the comp to On My Block works really well, especially with the way this friend group comes together. I personally wish there was a bit more drama and I think the length worked against it. The general trend toward longer YA contemporaries is just something I’m not a huge fan of because there are a lot of books, like this one, that could’ve worked with 50-100 less pages. The plot just drags a bit at some points but overall, I think the story itself is really good.

I liked the characters, especially Nelo. She’s definitely someone my teenage self could’ve related to. If you like Renee Watson’s writing, you’ll probably enjoy this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for giving me an advanced copy of this book to read and review.

Ginger East is being gentrified and Nelo feels like she's the only one who cares. All of her friends have moved to 'safer' neighborhoods while her and her best friend Kate are still in Ginger East. Kate's family store gets burglarized and now the community seems less safe and Nelo is worried what that means for her and Kate's friendship.

I'm not the target audience for this so I didn't love it, as the story is told from a teenager's point of view as she deals with racism and all around just figuring things out. Also, the ending and resolution wasn't satisfying, but that may just be me.

Great read about facing racism and gentrification, from the perspective of a young person. The relationship between Kate and Nelo seemed very authentic. Would recommend!

Actual Rating: 2.5 stars

Like Home was hard to get into and finish. There wasn’t a point in the story where I felt invested in the plot or the characters. I wasn’t even burning to know who vandalized the store. I found the parts with Rafa and Nelo to be the most enjoyable as Rafa was sweet and had the most sense in the book. And I did really enjoy the humor in the book and found the chainmail prayers hilarious. There were a lot of times though where it felt hard to believe the main character was 16. It was confusing that she was so bothered at the idea of needing a new bra that fit better, but I’m assuming the point was to reinforce how she didn’t like change. Either way, it made her seem younger. I also wish we would have gotten more about Nelo’s thoughts on her own home life. She tends to always be away from home, but that’s only really acknowledged once. She also could be a bit rude to her old friends, especially considering she wasn’t close with them anymore, and I was hoping to see that addressed by the end. Overall, I wasn’t a big fan of this one, but think people who want to read about gentrification and community from a youth’s perspective might enjoy it.

Chinelo (aka Nelo) and Kate are best friends living in Ginger East, which is slowly becoming gentrified. The tipping point is when Kate's family-run store is vandalized and the media is quick to point out the dangers of Ginger East. Four friends are reunited after the tragedy in this coming-of-age tale.
Told from Nelo's POV, as she tries to figure out who would vandalize the beloved store she calls a second home while navigating shifting friendships. The limited POV, unfortunately, made this story fall flat for me. Nelo was unlikeable, stubborn, and couldn't see beyond her perspective--which, yes, is common for high school students, but made her appear contrite and naïve. This may have been a better middle-grade-type novel with younger characters because the high school characterization felt much younger (ex. Nelo not wanting to wear a bra that fits her properly, which I think was used as a way to show her resistance to change). Perhaps a good read for younger teens/tweens.

The other day, I finished LIKE HOME, a debut novel by Louisa Onome. I think those that love Elizabeth Acevedo or stories similar to THE HATE U GIVE will enjoy this YA, contemporary novel. It’s a fantastic story that focuses on gentrification, the importance of community, changing friendships, and has representation from a variety of Black and Latinx cultures.

CW // protests; police violence

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. When Nelo's family store is vandalized, and they become national news, the neighborhood that she loves begins to struggle as does she.

Thank You Netgalley for a chance to review this ARC.

Unfortunately this coming of age novel did not resonate with me. While I was intrigued where the story was going after Nelo is seen on TV speaking out about the growing changes in Ginger East, there was nothing done to resolve the issue that began at the beginning of the novel. I had hoped that while I had continued to push through, Nelo and her friends would band together to support each other. However that resolution did not come and the book itself left off with an incomplete feel.

Didn't capture my attention and engagement. Interested in trying it again though and hopefully it will take.

This was really great! Its about violence, police not caring enough about what is going on in your neighborhood, reconnecting with friends and defending your home. I enjoyed the writing and the characters.

I really liked this book and its plot. The characters are really great and I enjoyed the storyline. It's a good book!

God. It's been 9 months since I've finished this book. Yes, I procrastinated, but I honestly think it's time well spent, because I've realized that LIKE HOME is no ordinary book. It may seem like one at first glance. After all, it's about a teen girl doing teen-girl-things. But, as a teen girl myself, I can attest that any book that can capture the heart of what it's like to be a teen girl is one that is special, truly. Onome sketches a beautiful story about a girl at the cusp of too many changes, sharp vicissitudes, and how she shapes her world. A truly memorable read.

This book opens your eyes to gentrification of a neighborhood and what it can do to relationship with your family and your friends.

Chinelo lives in Ginger East. She has 3 best friends, only Kate remains behind. The others families have moved on. She is a spitfire. She truly cares for get neighborhood and hates to see it change. She decides to become very vocal once her friend Kate's store is robbed.

couldn't read it. sorry but life got to me and yeah couldnt read it sorry

couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry.

Oh, I absolutely loved this. I loved Nelo and her group of friends, and I loved Ginger East. This book genuinely made me feel everything from happy, to sad, to angry as hell, and back again, right along with Nelo. I thought the story was beautifully written and told, and played out wonderfully too.

Kate made me a bit frustrated, and I wish there would have been more resolve between Kate and Nelo, and Nelo and Raf, which is why it's only 4 stars, but it didn't ruin it for me. It felt accurate to teenagers, and especially teenagers who are frustrated with their lives and where they're stuck at. I think it was beautifully nuanced with the relationships between Nelo and everyone, and how she felt about Ginger East vs everyone else, and how it was being portrayed. It's one that I will definitely pick up again in the future, and reread with happiness.

I think Louisa Onome wrote a beautiful debut, and I cannot wait to see more from her.

When I first heard of Like Home, I’m pretty sure it was mentioned that the book is set in Toronto and I was so so excited! I live about an hour outside of Toronto and would visit a number of times a year for blogger events, birthdays, and to explore places and foods that don’t exist in my town. If it wasn’t obvious, I was quite excited to read about one of my favourite cities.

Now, having, read the book I realized that going into Like Home, I had forgotten that visiting a place (no matter how often) is not the same as living there. The way that I experience Toronto is not the same as someone who lives there. There are so many neighbourhoods too–each one unique–and I got to spend a little bit of time experiencing such a unique neighbourhood through the eyes of a group of young adults living there.

I will say that I did struggle with Like Home a bit though. Part of it was the pacing and the storylines outside of the mystery storyline. I wasn’t that interested in those other plots, which I think has to do with my age and my interests having changed. I believe that the other issue has to do with my age as well (and don’t laugh!) because I really struggled to follow some of the dialogue because some of the colloquial language being used was unfamiliar to me. Yes. Okay. I feel very old.

I do not blame the above issues that I had on the author! Also, when it comes to pacing, once I made it a little past the halfway point, something happened that piqued my interest, and I flew through the rest of the book. I also wanted to add that I found some of the writing and turns of phrase to be quite lovely and/or evocative! Like Home was different than anything else that I’ve read before, and I can definitely appreciate its uniqueness. I’m also curious to see what Onomé will write next!