Haley Jakobson’s Old Enough is a remarkable and enthralling read that deserves every bit of its five-star rating. From the very first page, Jakobson’s narrative pulls you into a world of vibrant storytelling and compelling characters, making it an unforgettable experience.
The novel masterfully explores the complexities of growing up and the bittersweet transition from adolescence to adulthood. Jakobson’s keen observations and authentic voice bring the protagonist's journey to life with incredible nuance and depth. The story resonates with anyone who has faced the challenge of finding their place in a world that often feels both thrilling and overwhelming.
What truly sets Old Enough apart is Jakobson’s ability to capture the emotional landscape of her characters. The author’s writing is both evocative and empathetic, allowing readers to deeply connect with the protagonist’s struggles, triumphs, and moments of introspection. The themes of self-discovery, identity, and the impact of choices are explored with such authenticity that it’s impossible not to be moved by them.
Jakobson’s prose is sharp and lyrical, and her storytelling is both engaging and thought-provoking. Every chapter feels meticulously crafted, with a pace that keeps readers hooked and a narrative that unfolds with grace and insight. The emotional depth and complexity of the characters ensure that Old Enough is not just a book but a profound journey into the essence of growing up.
In summary, Old Enough is a stellar achievement by Haley Jakobson. It’s a beautifully written, emotionally rich novel that captures the essence of what it means to come of age. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking for a powerful and resonant read.

I have no idea what I’m supposed to do with myself now that this is over??

Old Enough has everything and felt personalized for me, but also felt like a book that could relate to anyone and that’s what makes it so special. Friendship breakups, queer self-identity, queer relationships, new relationships, familial relationships, shifting friendships and changing dynamics and personalities, as well as finding your own voice and trusting your own mind and body. Incredible. Honestly.

I loved this so god damn much. I’ll fight anyone who says otherwise.

This book was a wonderful read. I loved the characters, and the focus on friendship, and growing up, learning who you are and how you change as a person as you get older.

Some parts were heartbreaking, but I loved that Savannah had Candace and Vera and this little found family friend group rallied around her to support her growth, processing, and healing.

Probably one of my favorite books I read this year.

As always thank you to publishers and Netgalley for a free arc in exchange for an honest review!

Please check TW before reading novel

Old enough is breathtakingly beautiful and raw. The emotions this book provoked from me were absolutely unexpected. The conversations around abuse, violence and the complex aftermath of both were so real and ultimately proved that while conversations may be uncomfortable, they are so necessary. If you need a good angry or sad cry read this book. If you've ever had a toxic relationship, loved someone that wasn't the best to you, or had someone majorly screw you over this is the book for you. But especially for the survivors of abuse that are taking things day by day, you're valid, you are loved and you didn't deserve that.

Old Enough by Haley Jakobson is an exploration of sexuality and identity for a woman right at the cusp of adulthood. I think this book will resonate with many readers. There was something tonally that did not quite click for me, but I can appreciate what the author was trying to achieve here.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

The blurb for this book was really promising, but I had a lot of trouble really getting into it. First of all, there needs to be trigger warnings/content warnings for the sexual assault and aftermath. I found it difficult to root for the characters and couldn't seem to connect with any of them.

I honestly don’t know how to rate this book. It’s a combination of being so deeply serious, shaking and vulnerable and… unserious.
This book discusses sexual assault and the trauma resulting from it, so be aware of potential triggering content! It shows a person unraveling and not making the smartest choices due to trauma, and learning how to handle this with communication and community support. This book felt very raw and important due to this at parts. It also has a very queer cast, and also characters who use multiple pronouns, which was great!
Sadly… at times this felt all over the place. The pacing and introduction of characters confused me at first. The writing style felt immature… which might match the main characters psyche but not her aspirations of becoming a writer. I couldn’t connect with her or like her. I’m sorry to say I would have rather read a book about some of the side characters. I’m sorry to say this wasn’t for me and not what I hoped for based on the synopsis and other reviews.

This sounded like exactly my kind of book with lots of queer friendships and finding community, but I found it difficult to root for the characters and couldn't seem to get into Old Enough.

Coming-of-age stories are my favorite. Haley is a great writer and I look forward to reading more from her. Such a great story and journey. Highly recommend!

I felt so seen by the protagonist of this novel - it made me laugh, it made me cry. I have already been hand-selling this novel, and will gladly continue to!

Thank you Dutton and NetGalley for the eARC of Old Enough! All opinions in this review are my own.

I picked up Old Enough kind of on a whim. I don't always love the messiness that comes with characters in their early 20s but I am so glad I read Old Enough! While some of it deals with heavier topics, most of Old Enough is about figuring out who you are and finding your people. Sav trying to navigate friendships she has had for years with the woman she has become is a relatable problem that I don't know if enough people give consideration to. I think a lot of people will be able to relate to Sav's struggle of being true to herself while still being close to people who she has known all of her life.

I am looking forward to reading more from Haley Jakobson!

Over-the-top supporting characters distract from what could have been a great story. Tone is very YA much of the time but with fully Adult themes.

A very moving novel with lots of important commentary on what it's like to be a young, queer woman in college. It also speaks on the tough topic of SA, but in a very meaningful way.

However, it just was not for me. I think the topics and themes really spoke to me, and I was really excited to read it, but the writing style was a bit off for me. It felt a bit like someone who does not know how modern queer teens speak, writing about them. This was not in a problematic way, but just awkward style wise.

Overall, a good read, I will look out for this authors future books to see how their writing style progresses.

DNF at 15%. Have I aged out of “coming of age” stories?? I don’t know. Sometimes I can read YA or New Adult and really enjoy it. And other times I am just reminded how much I am no longer a new adult and really just don’t want to be in that world/mindset. Unfortunately this was the second for me. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free ebook to review.

Unfortunately, I did not get around to providing feedback before the publishing date ('cause, well...life),but thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC. However, I throughly enjoyed reading "Old Enough". Haley Jakobson truly captured the ups and downs of young adulthood of figuring out who you are, the type of people you associate with, and how you handle or overcome your trauma. I felt as though Jakobson was able to capture Sav and her friends college life experience as well as Sav's queerness and bisexuality genuinely, without it sounding like a trope or forced like in other books I've read. There were various sensitive topics, such as sexual assault, throughout the story, but handled beautifully. I hope to read more of Jakobson soon!

When Old Enough popped up on my radar as a bisexual coming of age campus novel, I couldn't help but get my hopes up because there are so few books that occupy that space and even fewer that are actually good. I'm thrilled to say Old Enough is one of those unicorn books that captures the tumultuous nature of growing up, coming out, moving past trauma, and finding your self in new people and surroundings. I loved this story so much and I'm so happy it exists. I love to think of a younger generation of readers being able to pick up stories like this and see themselves instead of the upper middle class white boy angst that dominated coming of age stories in to 2000s.

I will endless recommend this to readers young and old. There are trigger warnings, so keep that in mind but I will say the trauma that happens on page never felt like it was done gratuitously or for shock value. Like everything in Old Enough, it's done with so much love for the characters on the page and the people who see themselves in those characters.

Old Enough by Haley Jakobson is a debut novel about friendship, queer love, and past trauma that is as heartwarming as it is heart-wrenching.

In the second semester of her sophomore year of college, Savannah “Sav” Henry is getting closer to the person she wants to be. She is finally out as bisexual, is making friends with other queers in her dorm, and is maybe even ready to move on from her first queer situationship to the crush she has on Wes from her Gender Studies class. But when she learns that Izzie, her best friend from childhood, has gotten engaged, Sav is forced to reckon with what happened between her and Izzie’s older brother when she was 16.

This book was such a gripping coming of age story. It’s been a good handbell for me as a bookseller. Everyone should read this book.

Coming of age tale about finding yourself and your community in spite of trauma and adversity. I wish it had been longer. Scenes with friend’s brother were difficult.

DNF at 25%. There is definitely a right audience at the right time for this, that is just not me at this moment. I pushed through the beginning but by 25%, I felt the story to be lacking and just very… idk the word but it just wasn’t for me. I could see others loving this one though!