I found this book through Haley Jakobson’s TikTok and could not wait for it to be released.
I loved this book so much. It made me laugh and it made me cry. The whole time I was rooting for Sav. Sav’s character is so relatable and I am obsessed with Candace, Vera, and Wes.
Sav’s trauma is something that is so (sadly) relatable and so many people (including myself) have been through.
It also shows that just because a friendship is long doesn’t mean that has to be that same as it’s always been.
Sav finding and being her true self was so beautifully written into this book.
I really really enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to read what Haley Jakobson puts out next.

This book was hard to get into at first because all the characters (with the exception of Savannah) initially felt like caricatures of themselves. However, as the story continued to unfold, it felt like the characters sort of settled into themselves and more realistic. I really enjoyed the structure of this book: it moves back and forth between present-day, college Savannah and her sixteen year old self. The distinction between the two is extremely clear and it really felt like we were experiencing the memories that current Savannah was remembering from her sixteen year old self. I also liked the gradual reveals, which enabled us to slowly piece the full story together instead of giving it to us all at once. This book handles several topics well, ranging from trauma, healing, surviving, gender identity and euphoria, to the different types of friendships and how they change as we do. I am very glad that I kept reading. Savannah's growth (and others', too) was very satisfying to read. There are many empowering moments in the story. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for strong character arcs or anyone who feels like they are lost and spiraling.

Savannah Henry is a sophomore in college, newly out of the closet as a bisexual and trying to find her place in the queer community. After her first queer relationship ended badly, things begin to look up as Savannah finds herself crushing on her new classmate, Wes. But when her childhood best friend Izzie announces her engagement, Savannah must come to terms with what happened between Izzie's older brother and herself when she was sixteen.

This is a queer coming of age story that rests in the space between YA and adult fiction, offering an authentic and relatable portrayal of a nineteen year old navigating college life after coming out as bisexual. The timeline alternates between Savannah's life in college and the summer that she was sixteen. Savannah faces insecurity and pressure to meet expectations as she tries to move from her old life into one where she can be herself. I loved the adorable awkwardness of Savannah and Wes flirting and the positive friendships. This book deals with outgrowing childhood friendships, the difficulty of moving on from the past, and healing from trauma. This book felt inclusive and I loved the bi rep.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I liked a lot. I am having trouble articulating exactly what I want to say because it’s really so heartbreaking how people aren’t even allowed to be victims without questioning themselves and that is my overarching thought but this had a really good portrayal of survival and was so so queer.

I loved Vera and Candace with my whole heart. Izzie and art were mentioned twice and both times were amazing. My favorite thing was the way Izzie was referred to in the flashback chapters-Teenage friendship is all encompassing yes.

What I didn’t like-The author needs to get better at describing characters of color. Relying on race or ethnicity to describe a person does nothing to conjure an image and is lazy, and white characters were noticeably given better treatment. There are about three pages of description of Vera’s outfits but I don’t even know what color hair she has. This also made me consider whether or not I liked modern references and I realized I don’t. Also I personally wish a scene had been included of of the Gender Studies class together outside of class-I don’t really remember them getting through a conversation at the bar. There was a lot of potential, I wanted more from Reg and Lara and I wanted to see them both with Vera and Candace.

Old Enough is a beautifully written story with relatable characters and I loved it from cover to cover. Although the whole book was written from the perspective of one character (Sav), it did alternate from 16 year old Sav talking directly to her best friend, Izzie and 19/20 year old Sav telling her story to a general audience - this slight change of tone was a really powerful part of the story telling.

Sav is a sophomore in college, struggling to find herself and her place in the world and struggling to figure out her very complicated relationship with her childhood best friend. I found my self cheering for Sav and wanting her to find happiness and love and to understand that she is perfect just they way she is. This character was so easy to relate to - I remember being in college, away from home, trying to figure out who I was without my family and childhood friends influencing me and trying to find my people who allowed me to be me in every way. Sav really developed and matured in a meaningful and real way by the end of the book.

During this journey, Sav was surrounded by a delightful cast of characters - Vera, Candace, Wes and more who were so fun on their own and who very lovingly and who lifted up Sav and each other. All of these characters could have their own book and I would devour every one of them.

Izzie is Sav's childhood friend and is certainly a complicated character. In some ways, she was the villain of this book - the past that Sav has no desire to bring into her current life. As obnoxious as Izzie is, I can't help but feel like she is also struggling to find her own way and has not quite found herself.

Great story. Complex, lovable characters. I highly recommend.

TW: SA
**Mild Spoilers Ahead**

This was an interesting read, I wouldn't typically pick up a book with heavy SA plots but this one piqued my interest. Sav is doing her best to navigate life at college, and her relationship with her childhood bestie whose about to get married, and who also happens to be the sister of her rapist. The premise is a solid one, but I think the execution of it fell a little short. I was under the impression this was a YA novel and so thought perhaps the dark subject matter combined with the writing style was an attempt to make a hard subject accessible for teens - but apparently, this is actually an adult fic book. Therefore, I can't be quite as forgiving as I would've been if it was YA, at times the writing just felt very very young and now and again it took on a bit of a fanfic quality to it.

What I liked - I loved Sav's budding friendships at college, Candace and Vera are icons and I loved them, Wes was a darling love interest and I loved seeing an NB love interest to the main character, I liked the integration of poly relationships with Vera and her partner and I really loved the way Lana got a little bit of redemption (though it would've been nice if we saw her make some actual progress re.. her insensitivity about certain things).

What I didn't like - I appreciate it would be a difficult situation for Izzie but honestly, I hated her and found her extremely selfish, it's clear she knows Sav was raped by her brother but just doesn't want to admit it and face it that yet knowing this and after causing Sav to be brutally bullied she didn't even have the grace to end the friendship. She was also just all-round self-absorbed and never seemed to actually care about Sav beyond going on about them being childhood besties. It also felt very anti-climatic that everything built up to the wedding that we didn't even see, when Izzie left we should've had a moment of reckoning where Izzie realised what s selfish cow she was being.

All in all, this wasn't a bad read, and I think for an upper teen reader this could be a really good book to pick up, but for an adult, I think it missed the mark a little.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group Dutton for a digital arc of 'Old Enough' In exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed "Old Enough" by Haley Jacobson and found myself starting and finishing the book within just a couple of hours. At times heartbreaking, humourous, and then full of love, Jakobson has given us an unyielding portrait of a young girl's journey to understand herself and the trauma she experienced.

There were some moments that I found myself cringing at, where the main character, Savannah (or Sav), was repeating social justice issues as though they were twitter posts. There were other times she would be rifling through her closet for activism-themed sweaters or clothes that made her look "more queer." It took me a bit to realize, however, that these cringe-worthy moments were written that way on purpose. Savannah is coming into her own, as are her friends, and way too often college students are written as though they are mature and know all there is to know in the world. Haley Jakobson reminds us, however, that this is not so.

"Old Enough" is the reminded that 20-21 year olds are still learning, still discovering who they are. So they will be cringey, that's because they're learning. "Old Enough" by Haley Jakobson takes us on a path of queer identity, trauma, platonic friendship, love – not just romantically – and what being honest to yourself and others truly means.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher and author for providing an e-ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

"

This book is truly phenomenal! I love coming-of-age stories and this is one of the best. The main character, Sav, is reckoning with past trauma and navigating friendship in college. Sav is incredibly easy to root for and relate to - she is doing her best and wants to become more "herself." Candace, Vera, Wesley, and Izzie are all such clearly developed, vivid characters.

Jakobson's has a unique voice that instantly draws you in - this book is funny, sweet, tragic at times. The decision to heavily feature the Gender Studies class was clever since it allowed for some really thoughtful discussions and character arcs (thinking of Lara here).

I loved this book and will absolutely read whatever Jakobson puts out next!

i wish i had this book when i first started college, but i'm glad i have it now because old enough makes it feel like it's okay to unlearn old traumas and that it's okay to just start trying. it was hard to get into at first, but old enough is unique in that it's told through a mix of present descriptions and savannah speaking to a younger version of herself. this allows for easy compassion and i feel seen because of it. jakobson also deals with sexual assault and the discourse around that in such a thoughtful away as well as coming out as bisexual later on in life. my only qualm is that this read a little like ya, but that is not a knock against everything i felt reading this.

thank you to netgalley for the arc!
Sav and Izzie have always been Sav and Izzie. but when Sav goes to college out of town she comes out, meets fellow queer folks, and confronts how ignorant she had been of so many things, how ignorant Izzie remains. she also can't stop thinking about Izzie's brother and the trauma he inflicted on her when she was 16. the trauma that no one has really acknowledged or been held accountable for.

I loved this book. the voice was not my favorite at first, it comes across as very YA/Tumblr, but that's kinda the point. I loved the how the book confronted the fact that we are not born as enlightened perfect beings. we mess up, we fail, we hurt each other, and for all the harm we cause we can also do good, learn, grow, and heal. it also so accurately depicted what it feels like when we first become aware of all that we didn't know and it's so jarring and scary to think we were ever ignorant or caused harm and how we police ourselves to try and be the right kind of Feminist or the right kind of queer or the right kind of survivor instead of just admitting that we simply do not know everything! that we haven't learned something! and how we so quickly go from not knowing something to knowing it and then looking down on those who do not know the thing we only just recently learned. it's wild, but it's real. I know I did that, especially at the age depicted and when I was younger. it's still something I struggle with! but it's damaging! and I love the way this book touched on that.
the usage of pronouns and queer representation in this book was also truly incredible. was it a little on the nose? sometimes, yes. like a lil stereotypical but mostly accurate (lmao like the styles described, was i rolling my eyes? yes. did i wear those exact things at different points in my life/did my roommates/partners? also yes.), and fleshed out, being both relatable to the demographic it represents and also informative to those outside of that demographic!

also, the romance is not the main plot point but my god is it cute and tender and queer and sweet and so good, kicking my feet in the air, blushing, giggling with nerves for the characters, CUTE. and the friendship!!! my god!! I love the queer community! I love women and femme friendship!!!

and the way that sexual assault and trauma was handled was also pretty incredible, and I appreciated the way it was threaded throughout the story and how it showed up in Sav's reactions/actions to different things. and how complex the feelings towards her abusers new partner were!! my god!! that last scene was good!

my only issues: voice was a bit annoying at times, timeline was maaaad confusing in the first few chapters like very hard to get a grip on. besides that, I think this book is really stellar and I would absolutely recommend.

Old Enough is a thoughtful coming-of-age, self-discovery story following Sav, a bi college student as she grapples with past traumas and friendships. I found this an easy read though Jakobson covers some deep topics, it is all done eloquently and with care. I read this in one sitting and was intently looking forward to what happened next. I liked how everything tied together, but I could have done with an epilogue of sorts!

Recommend this if you are looking for a story of self discovery and evolving friendships!

This book was more than I hoped for, I heard it was inclusive and diverse but it exceeded my expectations! The characters go through incredible development and are each unique and have their own clear voice, which is what everyone may hope for in a novel. The sensitive topic of rape and harassment is very gently handled and gives comfort and strength, something a lot of authors can learn from. This book is brave, yet warm and welcoming, a fantastic debut!

I really enjoyed this. This coming of age/new adult story centers on Savannah, a college student who grapples with her shifting identity, sexuality, and unresolved trauma. I loved the shift in time, pacing, and character development! This one really made me think about the labels we assign and how we hide behind them, much to our detriment. Overall, I’d say give this a go if you want a fresh perspective on queer identity and friendships. Thank you to Netgalley and Dutton for this ARC.

TW: sexual assault
Slightly different take on a coming-of-age tale, focusing on identity and one's place in the world. I'm surprised this is a first novel - it's pretty well-written. The characters were defined and their banter felt real. I could easily see a movie coming from this.

Overall, I enjoyed this tale and could envision future tales of Savannah.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great ‘coming of age’ story of a bisexual woman finding out who she is in college. Sav has had a falling out with her childhood best friend back in high school, then finds out she’s engaged. Sav realizes she’ll need to face her trauma surrounding their relationship (be advised there is SA discussed). The dialogue with her new college friends is perfect banter. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this advanced copy.

Instant 5 stars! I didn’t want this book to end and immediately wanted to re-read it once it did. This was such a sweet, funny and painful story about queer friendship, being newly out and finding your identity while letting go of the person you thought you were, and coming to terms with trauma. I saw so much of my younger self in Savannah. I’m so happy all the baby queers will have this book!

This one unfortunately wasn’t for me. I think that it’ll resonate really well for certain communities, especially those within the LGBTQ+ community. The topics discussed were very important and I believe that this book will help others who read it. I just found the dialogue to be slightly cringey, and it was hard to feel immersed in the world that was being written about due to lack of description regarding almost all settings. A decent debut, but personally fell short for me.

I've bee hoping to read this book since I saw the cover! It did not disappoint. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Four stars! Jakobson did a wonderful job with the characters and plot.

This is a very good book. I really love the characters and the way it was written. I am new to this author but it didn't disappoint and I do think this is a very good book for young adults. This is a queer and honest book that hits so many topics close to many. Very beautiful debut and I can't wait to read more from this author.

I was very excited to read this book, but had a hard time getting into it. I stuck it out and I'm glad I did because by the mid point, I was hooked.

I think that it is probably difficult to understand some of the choices Sav makes throughout the book unless the reader has truly lived through a sexual assault. While these choices seem over the top, they truly aren't. I wish that it didn't, but I think that the world needed a book like this. A book that shows how traumatic a situation like this can be and how others who haven't gone through sexual assault can see it from an outside perspective.

There are so many learning moments in this book: learning when it is okay to let go of friendships, learning that going to a therapist is okay, learning that choices are made (especially bad ones) and knowing why they were made, and so so many others. I think my favorite though is learning that you sometimes need to put yourself first in order to heal.

And while I wish that Sav didn't have to go through such a traumatic event, and have to live it over and over in her head...it is nice to know that there is someone out there (even a fictional character) who has learned the start of healing after going through something so terrible.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the ARC. And thank you Haley for this novel. I needed this, truly.
4.5/5