I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston is a perfect fit for readers who crave a lighthearted, emotional, and humorous young adult romance that explores themes of self-discovery, mystery, and the thrill of finding love in unexpected places, especially those who enjoy rival-to-lovers stories and are looking for a fresh take on the classic high school setting.

Thank you for the opportunity to review - I'll eagerly await more offerings from McQuiston, though this didn't strike me as much as her earlier work. Unique dialogue and good banter - but it didn't echo as much as I'd hoped.

Casey McQuiston can do no wrong. This is not my favorite of her books but I think this would be a great read for teens, especially those who identify as LGBTQIA. I can see how it would be hard for students to put down.

This quite honestly may be one of the best. Why a books I’ve read. It reminds me of the books that I used to read in high school when the genre itself was just starting to become popular with bucks written by John Green.

I wanted to love this, as I love RED, WHITE, AND ROYAL BLUE and ONE LAST STOP, but this one didn't quite hit the mark for me. I got major manic pixie dream girl vibes and it just didn't feel real. I can have a lot of suspension of disbelief in books, but this one required almost too much (looking at the climbing through the ceiling). Good for fans of PAPER TOWNS or LOOKING FOR ALASKA by John Green.

Chloe Green has one goal: beat Shara Wheeler in academics and become valedictorian of their class in small-town Alabama. But when Shara disappears after prom - only a few weeks before graduation, Chloe becomes obsessed with finding out what happened to the girl she believes she hates.

I liked this book! Not my favorite by Casey McQuiston, but it was fun and kept me engaged throughout its entirety while grappling religious and LGBTQ+ themes. I think the biggest things that bothered me were Chloe's immediate obsession with finding Shara and the complete lack of police involvement throughout Shara's disappearance. I personally love the "hate" to love trope, but I found it frustrating that Chloe never once asked her core group of friends for help and instead just pulled away from them in her quest to find her enemy. Additionally, I understand that her parents were not worried about Shara's location because they tended to ignore the issues she tried to make, but surely someone in the town would have at least brought up involving the police? Instead, people just gossiped about where she could've gone. I just found it interesting that everyone simply assumed that she was totally fine and not in any danger at all. This small town couldn't have been that small if there were almost 100 people in her graduating class . . . so probably 400ish total in the highschool? My high school had about 120 total kids in it, and someone would've been concerned if a student had disappeared right before graduation. Anyway, rant aside, I did enjoy reading this book. I thought most of the characters were simply wonderful, and I loved watching them explore who they were and what they wanted in life.

CW for homophobia, religious bigotry, racism, lesbophobia.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston.

Super cute and well done book that need to be in every school for the students who want to see themselves in the pages they read.

There's mystery, there's romance, there's kissing! A little adventure to find Shara Wheeler after her disappearance leads to self-discovery, new friendships, etc etc. A good time.

This was such a fun new YA book, I really liked the themes and how the author tackled them. I would recommend for a high school class trying to tackle some more modern themes

I wish Casey Mcquistion was able to write books like this at lightning speed. That way I could have a never ending supply of her books lol.
I loved this book 10/5

Ten out of ten loved reading I Kissed Shara Wheeler. I now recommend it as a fun first read for anyone who hasn't read anything by Casey McQuiston.

I Kissed Shara Wheeler was absolutely delightful. A story to bring comfort and hope to the queer kids that experience religious trauma in the most fun and clever way possible. It gave me Looking for Alaska vibes for sure, but with the Casey McQuiston charm that all their books are filled with.
I would read anything they write, and I’m glad they gave teens a story to enjoy unapologetically.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me access to this book.

Casey McQuiston dabbles in young adult fiction and it's truly delightful. Her characters charm with their oddly specific interests and the ensemble cast captures the readers' hearts as they go through their own coming of age story. It centers on the disappearance of popular, Shara Wheeler, a month before graduation. On that day, she kisses her nemesis, Chloe Green, and starts leaving pink envelopes with clues for her to decipher.

Obsessed with beating Shara Wheeler, Chloe's life is taken over by the hunt to find the next pink envelope. She, however, is not the only one receiving pink envelopes. Shara left one for her boyfriend, Smith, and her neighbor, Rory, who has had a crush on her since childhood. This journey brings Chloe closer to people she has never spoken to before and she quickly learns that despite their differences in popularity that they all struggle with the same things.

Ultimately, this is a story about coming to terms with one's identity and fully embracing it. Set in Alabama at a religious school, there are environmental and societal factors that challenge these characters, but McQuiston somehow portrays it without too much negativity. It also isn't hard to fall in love with all of the characters as they grow and find themselves despite these circumstances. McQuiston really has a gift for creating loveable characters that feel realistic and unique. Do not miss this book!

I'm a huge Casey McQuiston fan, but I have conflicting feelings about this venture into YA. While I loved the pace and plot of this book, the characters felt very reminiscent of some characters in John Green's books; the tone felt a little removed from actual teens. I'm curious what teens themselves think of this book. I will certainly recommend this book to teen readers looking for mystery, romance, and queer representation.

I will read anything Casey writes and this was the epitome of a YA Casey story. The story was fun and the characters were full of emotion and I was rooting for all of them.

McQuiston's YA debut is a phenomenal standout in the genre and in Casey's small but surely growing catalog. I loved the characters in this and the story made me feel like I was watching a teen rom-com unfold in front of me. From Chloe's snarking wit to the blooming romance between Rory and Smith, this is one of the best YA books to come out in the genre in a long time and I am incredibly fortunate to have had the chance to read it early.

Thank you for the ARC!
What can I say about this book that hasn't been mentioned a hundred times already? Not much. It was cute and angsty, but way too long in my opinion. I knew going into it that it was a YA novel, but I wasn't expecting to feel that the whole time. If I read this 15 years ago it would have been a 5 star, but here and now it just didn't hit for me.
I wasnt bought in to any of the characters, unfortunately.
All vibes, no thoughts. But with that said, I still had a pretty good time reading it.

I had been interested in reading this novel because I enjoyed Casey McQuiston's two adult LGBTQIA+ novels. While the premise of I Kissed Shara Wheeler was interesting, I felt like it went a bit long.

I liked the scavenger hunt for Shara's notes and how Chloe, Rory, and Smith were able to figure out her cryptic clues. I also liked how everyone came together to support one of the characters after an unjust situation took place. And I'm glad to see that the villain in the story got what was coming to them.

My concern aside from the story going a bit long was that writing it in third person made me feel detached from Chloe. I've read many books in third person where this isn't an issue, but this time around I felt like I would have been more connected to her if it was in first person.

Overall, a thoughtful story that I think young adults who live in small, repressive towns will appreciate and identify with.

"I Kissed Shara Wheeler" by Casey McQuiston is a touching and emotionally resonant young adult novel that delves into themes of love, self-discovery, and the complexities of navigating relationships. McQuiston's storytelling expertise shines as they craft a tale of friendship, romantic exploration, and the journey to understanding one's feelings. The book's relatable characters and heartfelt plot create an immersive reading experience that resonates with LGBTQIAP+ teens and young adults. McQuiston skillfully explores the emotions of discovering one's identity and the intricacies of affection, adding depth to the narrative. "I Kissed Shara Wheeler" is a heartwarming reminder that love comes in many forms and that embracing one's true self can lead to meaningful connections and personal growth, leaving readers with a sense of empathy and a greater appreciation for stories that celebrate diverse experiences and relationships.

it's a silly romantic teen comedy full of fun queer characters and ridiculous dramatic moments, it hums with life and is so earnest. just what i've come to expect from casey mcquiston.