This was a really sweet queer coming of age story! I think anyone who has struggled with feeling valid in their queerness, especially bisexuality, or being a late bloomer or coming out "late" in life, will find a lot to relate to here.

This was slow to start for me as the plot is far more internal than anything else. Imogen is spending the weekend at her best friend's college, discovers her best friend lied and told people they used to date, and begins to question if she is as straight as she's always thought she was. Imogen starts out feeling like an outsider on this college campus, so it feels a bit like hearing people rehash their inside jokes that you weren't there for. I adored Imogen's character - she is sweet and funny and a bit of an overthinker and a people pleaser. Things picked up for me when Imogen starts to catch feelings for Tessa. Their interactions and flirting felt so true to life and made me miss those feelings of first getting a crush on someone and feeling yourself slowly fall. You can really believe the connection that Imogen and Tessa have as they banter back and forth and make jokes. Imogen's internal monologue was so relatable at times, the way she overthinks things and talks herself into corners and considers all of the ways she could be doing harm. I wanted to tell some of these characters to get off of the internet and touch grass and that they are going to be okay!!

I have a lot of thoughts and this book left me with a lot to think about in terms of identity and how we navigate it and occupy identity-centered spaces. If you've been following Becky Albertalli online you likely know how the topic of this book runs close to her personal experiences, and those strong emotions come through in the book. I felt proud of myself for clocking which character would turn into a villain by the end, but I also think that character ends up not being as nuanced as I would want and being a mouthpiece for all of the "bad takes." What makes her a villain is how she goes about things in an unkind way while thinking she is being an advocate, but I worry that that gets mixed up a bit. The book ends up being a bit heavy-handed in its message - but it is an important one.

Overall, I had such a fun time reading Imogen, Obviously, and I love how Albertalli brings us into the world of these characters and pushes you to think about what it looks like to leave space for people to discover their identities in their own time while also giving us such a sweet romance. I would love to read more sapphic romance from Becky Albertalli in the future! Please!!

Thank you so much @BalzerAndBray for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 02 May 2023)

SYNOPSIS | Imogen feels like she can't be queer because she is the definition of a straight girl and all of her queer friends consider her to be the best ally. She visits one of her best friends (Lili) on campus only to learn that Lili has told her new college friends that she used to date Imogen so now she needs to keep up pretenses & pretend to be queer.

WHAT I LIKED:
- from the very first page you want the best for Imogen and find yourself rooting for her
- witnessing Imogen embrace her feelings and newfound sense of self was beautiful
- a whole cast of loveable side characters
- the fact this story is extremely personal to the author

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- I think the messaging veered a tiny bit too much into preachy territory (but this obviously comes from a very passionate place)

Cute book that was easy to read and enjoy. I really liked the main characters and the whole story was very well written.

I love Becky Albertalli! Her ability to authentically write teenagers and perfectly capture the experience of first love is unmatched. I can't wait to recommend this title to students.

"Imogen, Obviously" by Becky Albertalli is a delightful and heartwarming read that not only explores romance but also delves into the complexities of identity and self-discovery. I found myself immersed in Imogen's journey, which is both relatable and deeply moving.

At its core, this book is a light and fun romance, but it goes beyond that to tackle the serious theme of finding one's own identity amidst societal expectations. Imogen's struggle with her sexuality is portrayed with authenticity and sensitivity, making her inner monologue both heartbreaking and relatable. Albertalli's courage in weaving a fictional bisexual awakening story, inspired by her own experiences, adds depth and authenticity to the narrative.

What sets "Imogen, Obviously" apart is its exploration of the importance of being an ally and the journey towards self-acceptance. Imogen's unwavering support for the LGBTQ+ community is commendable, yet her own realization and acceptance take time—a journey filled with doubts, questions, and self-discovery. The discourse on what defines someone as queer is thought-provoking and adds layers to Imogen's character development.

The dynamics between Imogen, Lili, and Tessa are beautifully portrayed, adding richness and depth to the storyline. Imogen's evolving relationship with Tessa, in particular, is filled with humor, warmth, and moments of vulnerability that will resonate with readers.

Overall, "Imogen, Obviously" is a courageous and heartfelt novel that celebrates love, friendship, and the journey towards self-acceptance. With humor, insight, and a touch of romance, Becky Albertalli has crafted a story that will captivate and inspire teen readers.

I loved Becky Albertalli’s previous novels “Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda” and “The Upside of Unrequited”, so I was so certain that I would love Imogen, Obviously. …and I was right! This book was so sweet, cute, and fast-paced. An overall fun, enjoyable, and adorable experience!

I wish I liked this book, I really wanted to like it, but it just wasn’t for me. I liked the premise but didn’t like the execution and really struggles with the format. While I could sympathize with Imogen and her internal struggles, she drove me crazy with her over thinking of everything. Overall, I found it hard to connect with the story and I found it hard to relate to any of the characters; there were just too many and they felt shallow to me. While I do think this will appeal to the right target audience, I just wasn’t that audience.

I’d like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a digital copy of this title. This is my honest review and the opinions expressed are my own.

Imogen settled into my heart and warmed me through. I wanted to wrap her in a blanket and tell her everything would work out. Albertalli created the perfect coming-of-age story with a lovable character at the helm who's just trying to figure herself out. Narrator Kinnunen nailed the young, naïve, scared girl unsure of her path forward, making the highs sound high and the lows sound heartbreaking.

I’m actually really mad at myself that I waited so long to read this. Imogen is such a relatable character, and watching her go through every stage of questioning made me feel so seen as someone who didn’t come out until college. Her group of friends felt like a warm hug, and the queer community present in this book is just incredible. Besides Gretchen, she can F off. Becky Albertalli did it once again, a truly amazing story.

It is always such a joy to read anything written by Becky Albertali. I love the character dynamics in this book.

"Imogen, Obviously" is a heartfelt novel following the journey of a bisexual teenager navigating her sexuality. Over the course of a week, Imogen immerses herself in the vibrant world of her friend Lili and her queer friend group. The narrative, is drawn from the author's own experiences, making it resonate authentically. This story not only embraces self-discovery but also celebrates the strength of deep friendships!

While the book offers great representation that many readers will connect with, it's not without its flaws. The rapid development of Imogen's romance wasn’t my cup of tea. The love story unfolds in just a week, which, though passionate, might have benefited from a more gradual build-up. Despite these minor dislikes, "Imogen, Obviously" is still an interesting story of self discovery many will relate to.

This was such an important book. The one I might have needed had I been a teenager today. The one I wish teenagers had had twenty years ago, though I know how impossible that would be. Imogen is delightful to spend time with, like all Becky Albertalli books the characters were all so well-drawn, and it was just so nice to be able to spend time in this world.

Imogen's relatability shines as she grapples with being the presumed token straight friend, a sentiment many can resonate with. While I didn't personally love the bisexual character as the "villain," it reflects a realistic dynamic. Despite this, the book remains a joyous and essential read, offering much-needed representation for queer individuals navigating their identity journeys. Its lighthearted yet authentic exploration of friendship and self-discovery contributes to the broader conversation about diverse experiences. Imogen's journey, though imperfect, adds a layer of relatability to the narrative, making it a valuable addition to literature that speaks to the diverse spectrum of queer lives.

I really love this book! It's amazing, fun, exciting, and has incredible characters. This was my first Becky book and I was very happy that I liked it.

I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. What drew me to this book at a glance was the cover. Then I read the blurb and knew in that moment I had to see Imogen's journey. She did everything in her power to be supportive and an ally to those around her. Then a little white lie changes an idea that Imogen has about herself. She needs the support of those around her so she can figure it out. This book dealt with a lot of issues and brought topics that young people deal with at that age into the light.

This is truly Becky Albertalli's Magnum Opus, and I really enjoyed her take on queer spaces, coming out, allyship, and all things queer, awkward, and cute. I'm a stan forever.

An important story and I appreciate the introspection of the narrator; however, it could have been much, much shorter of a novel. I think the characters/plot is better suited for a novella rather than a fulll length novel. Not enough new was introduced into the plot to make reading the length of this novel enjoyable.

<i>"I've always had such a pliable center. I *like* being who people expect me to be. It's not that I'm trying to change who I am. I just want who I am to make sense. In every context. Without any uncertainty or contradiction. Which means pinning down who I'm supposed to be in any given situation and adjusting my feelings accordingly.
Here's a fun riddle: a people pleaser walks into a diner with five other people, and every single one of them wants her to be someone different.
Is that what's happening? People saw me as queer for a week, and it stuck?"</i>

This book absolutely blew me away. The first chapter was a little rough, and I was a little skeptical -- I felt like I was hit with a lot of character names + info and not a lot of context right off the bat -- but once I got into the story (and it didn't take long) I completely forgot.

This, to me, coming in with no knowledge of Becky Albertalli, read as a deeply personal working through of queer identity. So much so, that I paused about 1/3 of the way through and looked up her story. Which...oooh boy, people had a lot to say -- and I was honestly shocked by some of it.

The idea -- both for Albertalli's life and Imogen's story -- that anyone could dictate someone else's queer identity or coming out story is just...awful. Like, we're still here? I get that authors -- perhaps not as much as "higher profile" celebrities -- get people who feel like they're entitled to know all the details of their private lives, but c'mon.

Anyway -- long and short of it: I fell in love with both Imogen and Becky Albertalli, and while I get where Gretchen (the people on the Interwebz) is coming from, they can all sit down and hold their tongues. I will be adding all of Albertalli's catalog to my TBR and I feel this fierce devotion to her now. Like don't come for someone so sweet with your negativity.

Becky is amazing and this book doesn't live down the hype. Becky is great and I'm a fan of her work.

Becky Albertalli is ever fabulous. This is another win. It will make you smile. It will make you cry and it will make you feel. Absolutely adored it!