Great story about growing up and finding yourself; the meaning of friendship and love. I enjoyed the narrator and listened whenever I got a chance. Very good characters with interesting quirks.

Going into this book, I was really worried I would get bored because it sounded very similar to Paper Towns, but boy was I wrong. This book is a great combination between mystery and romance that kept me interested the whole time. I loved Natalie Naudus as the narrator for this audiobook and felt she brought this book to life. I felt that the author could have addressed why Shara and Chloe felt the need to be perfect more, but overall it was an amazing book that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Chloe Green and her moms moved from California back to Alabama, and going to a Christian Academy in Alabama is not something Chloe enjoys. Her focus has been winning against her rival, Shara Wheeler, for class valedictorian. But just before graduation, Shara kisses Chloe and then disappears. Chloe can’t bear not having an explanation nor the thought of winning valedictorian by default, so she begins searching for clues to explain Shara’s disappearance and the unexpected kiss.

This was a fun and easy read. I enjoyed the author’s writing style – it was simplistic and straightforward but still engaging. In some instances, especially the letter in Chapter 12, the writing was quite poetic and full of emotion.

The author did a great job at writing varied and unique characters. They had realistic motivations, relationships with each other, and interactions. I enjoyed how chaotic Chloe was in comparison to the perfectly prepared Shara. I also thought the author explored how being yourself in 2022 can still be difficult in the United States, especially in the south. There were several things that I found too relatable having been raised in a Southern Baptist area, and they were incorporated well into this story.

I will say that I was a little letdown by Shara. She begins as an enigma, made up of Chloe’s preconceived notions and nothing more. But as she becomes a greater focus of the story towards its end, I didn’t find her to be particularly relatable or to have as much depth and emotion as I wanted. Similarly, the mystery and reveal surrounding Shara and her whereabouts was a bit anticlimactic for me – I won’t get into details due to spoilers. The plot was fun and was executed well, though it was all relatively predictable.

I listened to the audiobook version of this work. The narrator was enjoyable and did an excellent job at differentiating the character’s voices. I highly recommend this adaptation of the book.

This was a quick, easy, and fun read. There was great LGTBQIA+ representation in this book, especially for it being set in a heteronormative Christian Academy in Alabama. I recommend this book for people interested in the intersectionality of gender and religion, lighthearted high school romances, and light mystery.

I received a complimentary copy of this work through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I Kissed Shara Wheeler

I was lucky enough to receive an audio advance copy of one of the most anticipated reads of the spring. Thank you to @netgalley and St. Martin’s Press.

This book was so fun and heartwarming. Part scavenger hunt and part coming-of-age story this book tells the stories of a diverse group of high school students finishing up their final year and grappling with what comes next.

As usual McQuiston’s characters are bright and charismatic, flawed and loveable. They jump off the page and live as real people in your mind. I did lose track of a few of the story’s twists and turns - though that could have been due to listening to it rather than sitting down to read it visually. That said, the audio narration is excellent.

Releasing soon - May 3, 2022. Get your preorders in now!

<i>*I received an audio ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*</i>

3.75

I have such conflicting thoughts about this book. Overall, I enjoyed it but at times the pacing felt off and I really had a hard time buying into Chloe and Shara as a couple. They were both incredibly real and detailed though flawed characters, but neither of them were particularly likable, which I realized while reading this, is a trait that I have come to expect from McQuiston's characters.

Where this book really shines, in my opinion, is in the community building. Like in their previous works, McQuiston has brought together a group of friends that you can't help but to cheer for. In fact, I found myself way more invested in Chloe's budding friendship with Rory and Smith and in some of the side relationships <spoiler>(especially Georgia and Summer, I could not stop grinning while Georgia was telling Chloe how they got together)</spoiler> than I ever was in Chloe's relationship with Shara.

I also loved how this book grappled with queer positivity in an unaccepting community. Chloe and all of her closest friends are queer, but she's the only one not closeted as she grew up in LA with two moms, not in rural Alabama where they currently live. Watching her grow to understand how their different upbringings impact their worldview and learning to love a place that doesn't necessarily accept everything about her was so beautiful, if at times heartbreaking to read. And I think it will be deeply relatable to a lot of young LGBTQ folks who are growing up in similar communities.

For those who have read McQuiston's previous works, I would say this is more comparable to One Last Stop than Red, White & Royal Blue, mostly because I think this book's emphasis on being queer in the Bible Belt is quite similar to some of the commentary we got from Jane's POV about queer history in the US in One Last Stop.

As for the audiobook, Natalie Naudus remains one of my favorite narrators and I think she did an excellent job bringing these characters and this story to life.

3/5⭐️

This book wasn't my favorite of the authors. But the diversity of characters was fabulous! I did not like the main character which made this difficult to read. The side characters however made up for it. I loved Rory and Smith! Overall, it was a decent read and the narrator did a great job.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

-Disclaimer: I won this book for free through Goodreads giveaways & NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.-

Not romantic or a comedy.

Casey McQuiston can't seem to write likable characters to save her life. Her writing has not gotten better since Red, White & Royal Blue. Besides, I was not buying the relationship.

I didn't like Paper Towns by John Green and I don't like this either. I will not be reading any of her other books. I kept tuning this out and didn't miss a thing. I am not sure what this was supposed to be. Liked Natalie Naudus's narrating though!



SPOLIER SPOLIER SPOLIER SPOLIER SPOLIER






Shara Wheeler can stay in Lake Martin for all I care. I was interested in seeing Rory and Smith's relationship develop. That seemed a lot more interesting and less manipulative.

I unfortunately really didn't enjoy most of this book. It kind of feels like it doesn't know what it wants to be and I can't imagine readers feeling like they're in on what's going on. It attempts to be part Gone Girl in the beginning but doesn't fully commit and isn't as clever or believable, and there's no deeper meaning even though it's trying very hard for it. This would have been better without Shara Wheeler at all and just focused on these friends and what the last 20% of the book ends up being. This was basically all over the place, conceptually. Additionally, Chloe is incredibly selfish and a terrible MC. I'm not sure how anyone is expected to root for her or care for her at all?

I unfortunately didn't care for the narrator either. She was whispering at times when it wasn't necessary and it made it incredibly hard to listen to without putting the volume up and down, which made it even more difficult when there's an entire scene with actual whispering.

This could probably be enjoyable for readers who can suspend their disbelief but I found this way too disjointed and unbelievable in general. As previously mentioned, the last 20% of the book had some really sweet moments and I think that story was the one that should have been focused on vs. the whole missing girl thing that didn't feel believable or necessary.

Obsessed with not only this book but this narrator. If Mx.McQuiston wrote the next Webster Dictionary and Natalie Naudus narrated it, Id listen to it seven times and rate it five stars.

I so enjoyed reading this book! Just like Casey McQuiston's other novels, it made me (1) laugh a lot, (2) cry a little, and (3) stop reading for a minute just to appreciate some particularly lovely phrases/sentences. The dialogue was all so funny and so genuinely realistic--as usual, Casey McQuiston absolutely nails the teen/young adult slang--and the secondary characters were also all delightful; I particularly enjoyed Smith, and Georgia was also lovely.

As I was reading it, I did feel at times like the plot was a little too convoluted, but I felt less and less that way as I got to the end of the book, so in retrospect, I'm not sure that it was actually a problem at all--and to whatever extent it was, I think it was really more a matter of pacing than anything else. I think the section of the book that focused on Chloe et al chasing down and interpreting Shara's notes could have been a bit shorter, and the rest of the book a bit longer. This actually ties into my only other criticism, which is that I still didn't feel like I completely understood Shara by the end of the book; maybe a bit more time spent on the portion of the book after she reemerges would have given more time/space for that character development..

On the whole, this book was so so fun. I'm not sure I enjoyed it quite as much as Casey McQuinston's first two books, but firstly, that could just be because I'm feeling more into adult novels than YA these days, and secondly, given how much I loved those first two books, that's hardly a complaint! I absolutely enjoyed myself reading it, would recommend it widely, and definitely plan on buying a finished copy when it comes out.

This coming of age, competitors (enemies?) to lovers book was fantastic, wonderful, delightful (there are too many adjectives!) I binged this book in one sitting, absolutely could not put it down. This book was reminiscent of high school and really brought back so many memories or romance, awkward encounters, competition and so much more.

This book was absolutely brilliant. Highly recommend the audio book. Per usual Natalie Naudus did an outstanding performance with this book. Her range in characters, tone and just over all performance was phenomenal and made the book that much better.

For anyone who loved Paper Towns by John Green, this book is for you. We follow Chloe who is about to be valedictorian of her small Alabama senior class, extremely capable and most importantly was recently kissed senselessly by the perfect, intolerable, princess Miss Shara Wheeler. Who within the last 24 hours has disappeared.

Chloe goes to Shara's house to confront her only to find Shara's next-door neighbor Rory also looking for Shara... because she kissed him too. The cunning and quick-witted Shara has left letters for them all over town to figure out where she is.

Realizing they need to work together to find Shara, Chloe and Rory start piecing together the clue to the next letter, which leads them to Shara's boyfriend, and ex-best friend of Rory's, Smith. Together they slowly figure out where Shara has gone, and why in the hell she left these puzzling letters for them. Does Shara have an over arching plan or is this just another ploy for the Queen bee of the school to get more attention.

I Kissed Shara Wheller is a story about being your true self when the people and place you love the most tell you not to be, and also learning to love that person.Casey captured the essence of high school to a tee. I CRIED TOO MANY TIMES! To date this is McQuiston's best work.

cw/tw
Severe warning for religious trauma because this is in the south
homophobia
emotional abuse
slight bullying

Alright Casey, you have my heart.
This is my 3rd McQuiston book and I am here for anything they decide to put out in the world.
I didn't really care for the squeaky voice the narrator used for Chloe, but I think that's just me.
The voice actually worked well for the character, but it grated on me.
I love that Casey McQuiston surprises me in every book of theirs I open.
Much love to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for my DRC.

This was my second book by Casey McQuiston and I have to say, I liked One Last Stop better. I really enjoyed the plot at first. It was so fun following the clues along with Chloe, Rory and Smith and wondering where Shara was and why she left. But when we found out why Shara left and where she was it kind of deflated the whole book for me. I didn't really like the reason she left and I kind of lost interest after she was found.
As for the characters, I actually liked the side characters more than Shara and Chloe. My favorite character was Rory, but I also liked Smith and Chloe's friends. Chloe came from a big city where the LGBTQ+ community is widely accepted and moved to a town in Alabama where it is mostly not. Despite that, this book had great LGBTQ+ representation. Chloe is bi, one of her friends in non binary and a few other characters kind of come into their own throughout the book so I don't want to give anything away. Shara and Chloe felt like they kind of had attitudes that I didn't really enjoy.
The writing style was great, easy to follow listening to the audiobook. I really enjoyed the narrator.
While I didn't absolutely love this one, I would definitely still recommend it if you are a Casey McQuiston fan or looking for a book with lots of great LGBTQ+ representation!

Take the plot of Paper Towns, the characters of Booksmart, and the setting of Lady Bird and you have I Kissed Shara Wheeler. As a recovering theater kid, I absolutely loved how much of that energy this book exuded. It took a little bit for me to get on board because the plot was moving so quickly, but by the halfway point when the relationships and dynamics and personalities stared to develop, I was all in. The plot does lose some steam by the end, but at that point you care so much about the characters, so you win some you lose some. I don't really want Casey to continue in the YA lane but exploring themes here such as the thin line between love and hate and lust and jealousy are perfect for a high school setting. Great queer and nonbinary rep as always. Smith is an instant fave.

Very cute story, unfortunately didn’t connect with it as much as I would have liked. The side characters were fabulous. And the writing was stellar as per usual. Still one of my favorite queer authors, can’t wait for what’s next!

This wasn't my favorite book, simply because I wasn't the biggest fan of the main character and enjoyed the side characters much more, however, because of the representation in this book, I would absolutely love to have this as a part of my library. This book felt a lot like Paper Towns and completely threw me off when it even mentioned John Green. I go back and forth about loving pop culture references in the books I read. The audiobook was a great and the narrator was easy to listen to. While I have critiques for this book, overall I think it is a great piece of YA Literature.


Thank you #Netgalley for an early read and listen to of #IkissedSharaWheeler

3.5/5⭐️

This book wasn't my favorite. It was witty and the diversity of characters was amazing (as every Casey McQuiston book has); however, I did not like the main character which made this difficult to read. I loved so many of the side characters and would have preferred if the book was written about one of them from their perspective, specifically Rory or Smith (because I absolutely loved them both). I received an audiobook ARC of this book. I liked the narrator for the most part and think they did a great job, but some of the voices they did for some of the characters I found to be a little annoying, making it difficult to listen to at times. Overall, this wasn't my favorite book, but it was still worth the read (mostly because I was super invested in the side characters stories!).

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook ARC and the opportunity to read this wonderful book!
I Kissed Shara Wheeler is the YA debut novel by the beloved romance author of Red, White, and Royal Blue, Casey McQuiston. I have read both of McQuiston's previous works and they are some of my favorites of all time! McQuiston's stories are so full of pride and love and friendship and just feel like a hug. I am so ridiculously emotionally attached to the main group from One Last Stop, and I have read RWRB literally three times. Needless to say, I had some expectations for I Kissed Shara Wheeler.
And they were met!
I Kissed Shara Wheeler has that classic McQuiston off-beat humor and eclectic, "found family" style cast of LGBT+ characters. I think that McQuiston's style fits YA better than most veteran YA authors do. They don't glamorize high school or make it all archetypal and Disney Channel-esque. This helps the novel avoid cliches and allows the tropes to feel fresh and unique. The characters did fit into normal high school roles (popular girl, overachiever, football player, stoner) but McQuiston gives them a place to experiment with their identities and discover the depths they contain. I especially thought that Smith's development and experimentation with gender expression was really wonderful.
As always with Casey McQuiston, the romance was full of banter, chaos, and tenderness. I wish we got to see a little more of the side romances, because I was very invested in all of the characters, not just Chloe and Shara. An additional critique I have is with the turning point of the story. McQuiston seems to only write one type of ending- the big event that'll save the day! In RWRB it was the election, in One Last Stop it was the drag show, and in I Kissed Shara Wheeler it's the graduation ceremony. And while these types of endings are always fun to read and tie up the story nicely, it gets repetitive, and I would love to see what else McQuiston is capable of.

This story reminded me of Footloose mixed with a mystery and a coming of age story. Shara is the popular girl in school—dating the football star, daughter of the uptight Christian school principle and everyone wants to be around her. Shara’s rival for Valedictorian is Chloe. A month before graduation Shara kisses Chloe and disappears. Those in Shara’s circle partner with Chloe and work together to solve Shara’s clues and find her. The best part of the story was the relationships that formed as the result of Shara’s disappearance. McQuiston has a talent for creating unique, endearing characters. Throughout the story the teens discover the importance of being true to yourself and standing up for your beliefs. They also discover that love and friendship have no limits.

This was definitely a Young Adult read. Lots of high school drama and friendships getting tested. Not a bad thing but not a story that I am normally drawn to. I absolutely loved One Last Stop, and appreciate McQuiston’s writing style.
3.5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced audio copy in exchange for an honest review.