I requested Old Enough on NetGalley because I admire the author’s short form online writing about ocd and bisexuality. I otherwise went in without knowing much about the plot, and I was hooked immediately, reading this book in one day. I loved it so much and related to the main character deeply.

Old Enough is about childhood friendship, queerness, finding your people, putting yourself and your joy first, self discovery, growing pains, and so much more. It also made me laugh out loud several times. I could hear my own voice and my friends’ voices in the dialogue and the awkwardness of being 20. There is some heavy content in here about sexual assault, so readers should be prepared for that. I personally found the funny moments and beautiful insights on found family balanced out that heaviness in a way that worked well for me. The ending was really powerful, and I can’t wait until this one is out in the world so I can discuss with other readers!

CW for sexual assault

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/4 stars rounded up to 4

Whoa. Old Enough brought me back to a place I never thought I'd be again. Very much like Sav, I'm a bisexual girl who came out in college and dealt with healing from a sexual assault during those same years. Parts of this novel really hit me in the gut, and I felt like I was 20 years old all over again as I went through Savannah's complicated, painful journey with her. Haley Jakobson nails it in how she writes trauma recovery and intimate relationships between women, whether those relationships are romantic, sexual, or platonic. Izzie and Savannah's friendship was one of the better parts of the novel, especially due to Jakobson's skill at writing Izzie as someone who brings out the same difficult, conflicting emotions Savannah feels toward her in the reader. There were times I hated Izzie and then times where I loved her. It's so easy for the "antagonist" (I don't want to label Izzie as an antagonist because she really isn't??? But she isn't NOT???) to be written as a bad person, and boom, the reader's job is easy because we don't like them. But I truly did find myself understanding Sav's connection to her and why their relationship meant so much to each other. Did I agree with it? No. Would I have made the same choices that Sav did in their friendship? No. But I understood Savannah's position, which I think is a testament to Jakobson's writing.

Overall, I'd recommend this book. Trigger warnings for sexual assault for sure.

i read this book in one day, i truly could not put it down. jakobson's tender, healing words hold the reader's hand through difficult topics related to r*pe and SA trauma - sav, the main character, has a story that is all too familiar for so many women and femme-presenting people. but despite the heavy subject material this book is laugh out loud FUNNY at parts and has incredibly rich side characters that you cannot help but love. this book is exactly what i needed at 17 and i'm so glad i have it now. my favorite read of the year, i cannot wait to read more from this author!

I requested this on a whim, and I'm so glad I did. This book spoke to me in a way most don't, and I don't know if it's just the right time right book but this was absolutely gut wrenching. I don't think this book will be for everyone, but I really enjoyed listening to Savannah's awkward, completely earnest inner dialogue. I, too, am in love with someone in my Gender and Sexuality Studies class who may or may not notice me, and this book gave me hope. Maybe I am Savannah. But this book was SO good. I also loved all the side characters because they didn't feel like side-characters.