This was a cute book! I think a newly out 18-year-old me could’ve really used this book. I really enjoyed both of the main characters and loved the development of their relationship and their separate characters. I appreciated that there wasn’t a 3rd act breakup/miscommunication trope towards the end.

The one thing that really surprised me with this book was how explicit the sex scene was. It was way more graphic than I would expect to read in a YA novel. I also think the ADHD representation could’ve been fleshed out a little more. I did appreciate the autism representation.

Overall it was a really good book!

I absolutely adored everything about this book! It releases May 2nd, and if you have not yet had the pleasure of reading a copy, do yourself a favor and buy a copy when it’s released! A main character who is a lesbian, has autism, and Jewish? Another main character who is bisexual and helps consistently shed light on the very real struggle of dealing with biphobia? Yes please. Love love love this and cannot recommend it enough. Thank you SaraWaxelbaum & Brianna Strum, and thank you to Netgally for this eARC as well.

This book was so funny.

I fell in love with it practically from page one, as Margo kisses a girl at a party and realizes she likes it a lot more than she’s ever liked kissing boys. The writing style is so packed full of humor that I think it will be hard for any reader to not immediately fall in love with this book.

As we follow Margo’s journey through realizing she’s attracted to girls, she decides she needs a tutor in how to be gay. She wants to be the best gay she can be and really dive headfirst into this side of her she never knew existed, so she asks a girl on her swimming team, Abbie, to help teach her to be gay in exchange for some tutoring in history.

I really loved the nods to gay culture throughout this book and how obviously knowledgeable these two authors were. It even surprised me at times to read certain details in this story and see the way these authors took them, especially in the beginning when Margo is trying to figure out fashion and what to wear on a night out. No spoilers, but that outfit had me questioning some things before the explanation of why it was chosen!

I think a lot of readers are going to also really enjoy the characters and care for their stories. While Margo figures out how to be The Perfect Gay and Abbie deals with some stuff with her parents that has her reluctant to return home every night, there are a few characters (like Margo’s brother and her friends) that were a highlight every time they appeared on the page, and I would be delighted to see more in this universe if the authors ever decided there was another story to tell there!

I definitely highly recommend picking this book up and reading how Margo Zimmerman Gets The Girl! I know I’ll be getting my own physical copy to show off on my bookshelves!

Margo Zimmerman finds her gay side from a girl kiss during spin the bottle. Margo is very unsure of herself about being gay so she convinces Abagail, who is bisexual, to give her lessons in exchange for her tutoring Abagail in AP History. I found the characters great and very different. Abagail has a bad home life while Margo has a very good home life. The plot revolves around Margo and Abagail denying their feelings and thinking each one does not like the other that way. This is a very sweet romantic book and I recommend it to romance readers.

Margo Zimmerman realizes during a game of spin the bottle that she is attracted to girls. Figuring out she is gay during her senior year of high school has its challenges. She decides she needs a mentor to teach her queerness and sets her sight on Abbie Sokoloff. She is bisexual and has been out since 8th grade. But Abby has her own issues. She is failing her AP US History class and the college that accepted her is now revoking her admittance because of her grades. Margo can tutor Abby in history and in return Abby will teach her about being gay.

The best thing in the story is all the representation. Margo is autistic, Abby is ADHD, Margo’s brother is pansexual and poly, Abby's bf Charlie is a gold star lesbian and the mains are also Jewish. I thought it was a bit overboard in all it’s labeling. Margo and Abby start off antagonistic but of course become friends. Margo isn’t Abby’s type but there is a spark. Abby also loves Margo’s supportive, funny, loving family. And her own uncaring, fighting parents suffer by comparison. The lessons themselves are fun and can be as simple as how to stand or sit gay.

Margo’s autism isn’t the focus but there are comments about her focusing on eye contact, zoning out, masking and stemming. The flow of conversations, to me is at times hard to follow. I know the authors are trying to have characters teen speak and be cool but deciphering what they were saying got tiring. I read a lot of YA books but I am much older than the target audience so maybe it is a “me” issue. And Margo can absolutely name my future pets. I want to yell for Dame Julie Andrews to fetch a ball or tell Sir Sean Connery to be quiet.

Overall the mains are great. The friends are hit and miss because not all of them are kind or supportive of Margo and Abby spending time together. Appropriate YA novel for high school and up. Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for the ARC and I’m leaving a voluntary review. (3.5 Stars)

A fun teen romp featuring bisexual and lesbian MCs. One MC is also on the spectrum but that's not a large part of the story.
There's no new ground covered here-teen realizes she's gay and asks an openly queer classmate for lessons on how to be gay. Though they are opposite in terms of personalities, their attraction can not be ignored, etc.
Not a must-read but if you're looking for something cute and funny, this will fit the bill.
#NetGalley

I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this book at first but I ended up really liking it. I didn't really like Abbie at first either, but I liked her character growth. The writing was average and sometimes cheesy. I liked Margo's family and I hated Abbie's parents and friends.

This was a funny and sweet contemporary queer romance that was an enjoyable and quick read. Abbie but especially Margo felt like fully-developed, unique characters whose personalities, motivations, and actions made sense. For anyone who doesn't feel like they're "queer enough," this one's definitely for you.

In some ways, this book reminded me that I'm getting old. Mostly in that the voice felt very true for Gen Z teens, but it feels odd to comment on that as a verified millennial. I learned along with Margo and unlearned along with Abbie, and I loved Margo's family (the pets!). I loved the casual Judaism but wanted more, and same goes for the swimming parts.

Margo is gay but knows nothing about gay culture so she makes a deal with a fellow classmate to teach her.

This was a cute book & just what I needed when I was a teenager. I do have to put a warning out there that there is a sex scene near the end of the book that is way more explicit than I was expecting.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

This book got me all in my teen baby gay feels! I adore Margo and Abbie SO MUCH! I truly felt like I was experiencing it all through their perspectives. Living the story right alongside them. Feeling all the angst and worry and gay panic and first crush jitters and everything in between! Also…yay for neurodivergent representation! And Jewish representation! And bisexual representation! I love it!

And Margo Zimmerman Gets the Girl was everything I hoped it would be and more! As Bri and Sara wrote in the author’s note at the beginning, this story is “ an exploration of identity, friendship, and countercultural norms.”

Margo and Abbie are two girls who could not be more different, other than the fact that they are both on the swim team. They aren’t friends. They don’t hang in the same circles of people. Margo Zimmerman is popular and smart and super femme…and surprise! She might be a lesbian. Margo is autistic and doesn’t do anything without first knowing everything there is to know about it. Her hesitation in coming out never has an ounce of internalized homophobia in it, which I love. She just wants to make sure she knows how to probably be gay and do all the gay things before she has her big gay reveal. 😂🏳️‍🌈So she decides to do what she does best - study! But first she has to find the perfect gay tutor. Cue Abbie Sokoloff!

Abbie is a bisexual, skateboarding tomboy who is barely scraping by with her grades and about to lose her admission to the college that is supposed to be her escape route out of here. So as much as she doesn’t want to help the ultra femme popular girl on her gay quest, she needs Margo’s help to pass her history class. Margo’s not her type anyway… 😜

I love their playful banter, their unlikely friendship, their chemistry…all of it! There’s so much humor in this book, and lots of discussion about gay stereotypes. But in the end it’s all about finding yourself and being yourself no matter what. And knowing that the people who really care about you will love you just as you are.

Thank you NetGalley and Inkyard Press for the ARC in exchange for this honest review!

Loved the diversity of these characters, particularly the neurodivergence. Margo is a gay girl on the spectrum who feels like an outcast among the LGBTQ community. That's where Abbie comes in. Margo asks Abbie to tutor her in all things gay so maybe she can fit in for a change. Abbie could use Margo's help as well, so they strike up a bargain. Eventually their relationship deepens and blossoms into something more than a friendship.

This was a really sweet book and I'm so glad that the author took the time to humanize these characters. They were humorous, lovable, and relatable.

What a wonderful book! I enjoyed this from start to finish! I thought the whole teaching/learning premise was so much fun and I love the way Abbie and Margo handled it and fell in love throughout. There is wonderful autism representation in this book as well, which is so important and I’m so happy to see! This book had me laughing, swooning and smiling the whole time!

4 stars for "Margo Zimmerman Gets the Girl" by Sara Waxelbaum and Brianna R. Shrum!

Autistic masker extraordinaire a.k.a Margo, member of a family full of Royal pets and colourful humans, gives anything she tries her utmost best. That, dear readers, is why she enlists Abbie Sokoloff to help her master being her newly realized gay self. What ensues is nothing short of typical and fabulous gay chaos.

I enjoyed this book. I did find myself wishing there had been longer moments of Margo and Abbie one-on-one angst, but somehow the authors still managed to not make me groan whenever the scene ended and a new one opened without them in each other's company. Because somehow it worked? Which I was surprised by and for which I do have to send some wee applause their way. However, I guess that's only fair when you've got two fleshed-out, great main characters who are as fun to read on their own as they are together.

This book was sweet, sexy, funny; and as an Autistic, I was thrilled to realize there was representation in here in the form of a main character, no less (as the blurb I read didn't mention that)! I think it's super important to have a book with an Autistic character like Margo, an intense masker and social chameleon (for anyone who doesn't know, in a very simplified explanation here, masking is when Autistics hide our Autistic traits. It isn't perfect and can be detrimental to our health, but 'tis a reality for many, becoming a daily coping mechanism/survival tactic).

I think in a time where media is more frequently featuring Autistics, Margo really helps remind and show us how Autism is a spectrum, we're all our own humans and can be as different as we can be similar, and just because someone seems to fit into social settings doesn't mean they're not still struggling to do so.

This was a fun read with many deeper, meaningful moments! If you've been considering reading this, I highly recommend giving "Margo Zimmerman Gets the Girl" a go!

*Thank you to Inkyard Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

5/5 stars INCREDIBLE, RECOMMENDING TO ALL MY QUEER & ALLY FRIENDS!

“Well, being tired is definitely gay, so sure. Comfort is gay culture, and so are naps.”

The premise of “queer 101” could be so cringey, but it is done here with care, compassion, and authenticity. Margo and Abbie are absolutely adorable in their student/teacher dynamic, and helping each other in self-discovery was a pleasant side effect. But of course, not without some generally hilarious snarky dialogue, 10/10. (“It’s a handshake, Sheila, not a fingershake.” is my new “Bye, Felicia!”) Also, the introduction of “sitting wrong” to the canon of gay culture filled me with joy.


“ She’s like, all three answers to Fuck/Marry/Kill.”

Also, have I mentioned that there is much angst, and it is very swoony? Also, some really nice, sweet-yet-still-awkward sex which is always a joy to read.

My only critique: for two girls on the swim team, there is ZERO swim practice. Not a major flaw by any means, but a missed opportunity? Maybe. Otherwise, this book is sheer, LOL perfection!

I laughed so much reading Margo Zimmerman Gets the Girl. I freaking love this book so much. I read so many parts out loud to my Mom and she was laughing. Seriously, this book is awesome.

Sara Waxelbaum and Brianna R. Shrum let readers know not to take Margo and Abbie’s story as a “how-to” manual and thank goodness because seriously Abbie needs some lessons in “high-femme”. I would be using all kinds of emojis right now if my app here had them. Freaking hysterical. I am thinking about the first time Margo goes into a lesbian dating scene. Yeah…so many pages to bookmark and it isn’t for the sex.

The authors give us both voices so we get to see how their story plays out from each of their viewpoints. Margo is very straight forward (chuckle…kind of funny - Abbie would laugh). Abbie is relaxed because everything else about her life is stress. The girls are complete opposites and yet they work together so beautifully.

I love their separate journeys. The drama assigned to both of them by the writers is realistic. I will warn you reality sucks. Waxelbaum and Shrum address the huge issue of biphobia within the rainbow community and outside of it. They also tackle parental divorce, coming out, and the pressure of trying to get into college on your own.

I also read the best safe sex talk ever told in a story nevermind hello a romance! This is how it is done. I think Waxelbaum and Shrum should get an award for the honest and complete conversation about safe sex. Whenever I bring up safe orgasms for women to sapphic writers, I always get that it isn’t romantic. Waxelbaum and Shrum prove everyone wrong and I love them for it. It is cute, funny, and frank.

Margo Zimmerman Gets the Girl is a must read. I laughed, smiled, and my heart hurt while reading their story. I love Margo and Abbie and you will too.

"Margo Zimmerman Gets the Girl" is an adorable young adult sapphic romance. I was happy that this book featured two gay Jewish girls–I'm finally seeing myself represented in literature–if only these stories existed when I was in high school, then I would've know I was queer much earlier too. This book was very relatable to anyone who may be questioning or confused about their sexual orientation. While I can not specifically comment on the autism representation in terms of authenticity, I thought it was well-written and thought it was wonderful to see.

Of course there is no correct way to be gay, but it was charming to see Margo go through the motions with her lessons from Abbie. Their connection was very sweet.

It's important to note how "Margo Zimmerman Gets the Girl" explores events and actions that may be triggering to some readers including mentions of biphobia, parental neglect and toxic friendships. I thought the authors did a great job dealing with these tough topics.

This coming-of-age story is very warm-hearted and I definitely recommend it.

Wow, this blew me away with how sweet, impactful and funny it was. I couldn’t put it down the story just had me wanting more. The authors do a fantastic job of building up two real young women - Margo, the perfect girl who panics when she realizes she is gay; and Abbie, the bisexual girl with a reputation who needs school help. The two of them were so real from their well-balanced adolescent feelings, concerns and their humor that kept me laughing from the moment they met each other. The feelings of each girl were realistic and captivating. Sara Waxelbaum and Brianna R Shrum do an amazing job of keeping the reader engaged with the characters and the problems they face. I like how Abbie didn't know everything and Margo and Abbie were simply doing the best they could to be themselves. While this is a HEA story with a romance plot, the challenges the girls faced felt real and bigger than them, not like plot points inserted into a simple story just to cause a problem. Margo's family is one of the most enjoyable storybook families you will find, the way that the family members all interact with each other and how they support each other is amazing! I loved all the “royal animals”: dogs Dame Julie Andrews and Sir Sean Connery, cat Sir Anthony Hopkins, sugar glider Sir Michael Caine. There are so many hilarious queer references, so much celebrating and gently lampooning queer culture and stereotypes (Abbie teaching Margo to "sit wrong" and "lean" had me laughing out loud). "Margo Zimmerman Gets the Girl" is an entertaining and engaging book that will interest both young adult and adult readers. The pacing and writing quality of the author are excellent. This book is amazing and I cannot wait to recommend this when its published. I'm eager to read future works by Sara Waxelbaum and Brianna R Shrum. Thanks to Sara Waxelbaum, Brianna R Shrum, Netgalley and Inkyard Press for an e-arc in exchange for my thoughts.

Told in dual voice, the story follows Margo and Abbie, two high school students who need something from the other. Margo needs help learning how to be gay. Abbie needs help with her AP History grade. Each agree to tutor the other, ensuing in a unique friendship.

Something I found interesting was that Margo was very focused for a large chunk of the book on fashion...Questions discussed were: How should a lesbian dress? And why doesn't she feel herself when she dresses like the Internet says? It was wonderful to see Margo discover herself and learn to feel more confident and comfortable in her skin.

I do wish that we had a little more detail in Abbie's struggle with school and family. Even though the book was told in that dual voice, I feel like most of the story focused on Margo's family and Margo's need to ace "Queer 101".

Thank you NetGalley and Inkyard Press for the ARC!

this book tried so hard to be some kind of authentic gen z lgbt voice and failed even harder.

the problem with multi pov books is that more often than not, at least one of those povs will be utterly unbearable. i hated abbie. i’ve read almost 40 books so far this year and she was the most irritating, unlikeable lead yet.

for a book that featured a lot of “lessons” on sapphic culture, parts of it were also blatantly lesbophobic. abbie frequently complains of the biphobia she faces, all while perpetuating negative lesbian stereotypes and putting down the other mc, margo, for her sexuality.

i’m autistic and a lesbian and was really excited about the autistic lesbian character but the book was just so godawful i couldn’t even appreciate that.

also, can we stop with the john mayer references in 2023? we’re better than this! would’ve, could’ve, should’ve, bitch!