Rating: 2.5

I've been wanting to read this for a while, so I was excited to get an arc of the audiobook. I know the relationship in this book is supposed to be like Rory and Paris from Gilmore Girls, but I didn't think that the characters or their dynamic were very much like those characters at all. The family dynamic was more similar to the show than the relationship was. So I was kind of disappointed by this book. It wasn't bad, I was just expecting something different. I also didn't care for about the last 30%.

3 stars

For the past two years, I have seen Tell Me How You Really Feel on Goodreads or in my local bookstore and say that I should put it on my TBR only to have it buried in the ever mounting list of books to get to. With the audiobook up on NetGalley, it felt like a sign that it was finally time to pick this up.

A sapphic homage to the tropes of classic high school comedies, Tell Me How You Really Feel is a cute read that occasionally encounters pitfalls due to the very genre that it is honoring. The characters initially come off as very one-dimensional since they are supposed to be stereotypical and their initial interactions, fueled by a long-ago misunderstanding, feel a bit childish. I appreciate that Safi didn't go immediately from enemies to lovers, including the all important friends stage as part of the relationship growth; the buildup and pacing ended up being just a bit too slow for my taste.

I completely acknowledge that a few of my gripes with the book might be due to the fact that I am about to be 10 years out of high school, so I would encourage any teens reading this to pick this up and decide for themselves.

Thank you to NetGalley and OrangeSky Audio for an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for a fair and honest review!

This was a such a fun read! I listened to it in an afternoon and it really brightened my mood. The characters have plenty of personality and good chemistry. The cozy vibes and fun, Hollywood focus were great, and the story moved along at a nice quick pace. I listened to it as an audiobook and very much enjoyed the narration by the author, which is something I'm generally picky about. I would recommend this title to young adult readers who are looking to dip their toe into queer romance titles, but still enjoy a wide cast of characters and family-focused stories (and of course, Gilmore Girls fans).

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an audio ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Sana is biracial Muslim, half Persian and half Indian. She already has been accepted at her dream college but can't quite bring herself to make the deposit making it official. All her life she's been the perfect daughter, granddaughter, and student. Always working towards making her family proud and becoming the surgeon she wants to be. But she wants to put off college for a year and do a medical internship in India, something her family wouldn't understand. Rachel is Jewish/mexican and on scholarship at the elite Southern California High School. She is intense and gifted in making films. Her goal is NYU Film school. But she must finish her senior film project and the the pressure is enormous.

Because of one mistaken interaction Rachel has hated Sana since their first meeting. But do to a mishap Sana must be a part of Rachel' s film and they need to work together. Sana on the other hand has secretly crushed on Rachel never understanding Sana's dislike towards her. I think what the book gets right is the pressure that both girls feel, especially from their family situations. Rachel's father drives a cab so she must succeed to get the future scholarships she'll need. Sana's is a Rory Gilmore. Her grandparents are funding her education and she feels she must be perfect to make up for the disappointment they had in her mother who got pregnant at a young age. At times I forgot they were still in High School

The whole plot takes over a few weeks as the girls finally get to know each other during a tense time in both their lives. Their banter is quick but so much isn't said other than sharing their backgrounds. Rachel is very unlikable. She has a chip on her shoulder and can hardly accept help from others. (There is some growth for her.) Sana is liked by everyone but doesn't feel they see the real her that she hides, It is all very dramatic and intense but I never understood why Sana was interested in Rachel or has been crushing on her since the initial rebuff. Both Sana and Rachel are out so there isn't angst about being gay. The romantic moments are limited to kissing and a closed door hookup.

The book has been out for two years and my focus in reviewing is the audio book which is read by the author. It is hard to criticize an author for reading her own work but for me this would have benefited from a professional reader. The author never tries accents or having certain voices for any of her characters. With such diverse ethnic backgrounds none of that was brought to life through the narration. The audio book is good for someone who prefers listening over reading. For me the. book was 3 stars and so was the audiobook version. Thank you to NetGalley and OrangeSky Audio for an ARC-audiobook in exchange for a honest review.

Thank you OrangeSky Audio and Netgalley for the free audiobook in exchange for an honest opinion!

Tell Me How You Really Feel was a book I've already read a few times in physical form, but I really loved the audiobook version as well! Aminah Mae Safi's voice was a warm and loving-- you could tell she really loved her characters and her book. I enjoyed the way she read both points of view!

Thank you OrangeSky Audio and Netgalley for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion

HOLY CANNOLI!!!!!! I absolutely LOVED the hate to love relationship between Sana and Rachel so freaking much. Possibly one of my favorites for the year so far and we are still only in January. Even though Sana is known as a cheerleader, she is far from that of a preppy cheer squad girl. Her real goals in life shine through and her want to be a doctor was so pure and amazing.
Rachel was also a very misunderstood character. You could tell that she wanted her filmmaking to go a certain way, that's the heart of an artist and having it held back HURTS so I felt for her as an artist myself.
When they finally found love in each other, I cried hard happy tears.
Sana and Rachel are my #1!!!!!!

I also love how the author was able to to narrate her own book!!! It made me connect and love it even more, she knows how her own characters speak in her words and her head so, to be able to have that shared with us readers is just perfect!!!

This was a very quick and easy read! I enjoyed the relationship and their dynamic even though the main character was unlikeable at times. I adored the character development and how their relationship was developed by it.

I found the plot lacking due to how rushed it was. A lot of scenes were added randomly or just didn't match the flow of the novel. This is due to the story taking place throughout a month but it still wasn't my favorite.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book when it first came out and I was looking forward to listening to the audiobook, especially since it was the author narrating. Aminah Mae Safi has such a kind and gentle voice.