I’m kind of in a state of shock. It feels as if Haley Jakobson went through those thoughts I saved for late at night in bed. Maybe those feelings are universal - I never really thought of them that way. I can name a bunch of emotions - anger, shame, relief, hurt, joy - they all come in many shapes and forms and maybe that’s what makes it all relatable. The story is about Savannah “Sav” Henry in her sophomore year of college figuring out her sexuality, trauma, friendship, community, and acceptance of oneself. At times it was a little corny but corny isn’t a bad thing. Corny cut the tension, corny made it sweet. I can’t help thinking if only I read this when I was eighteen. I’m happy for all the current, past, and future eighteen year olds who will read this. Thank you Haley Jakobson, NetGalley, and Penguin Group Dutton.

Old Enough by Haley Jakobson is the queer campus novel that isn't scared to tackle some darker issues and I love it for it. This book is the novel every bisexual deserves, it is so so relatable in the way that the main character struggles to find her place in the world. The dual timeline with flashbacks to her teenage years works well and adds to the narrative. I wasn't a big fan of then second person perspective in these flashbacks but still enjoyed them. The side characters made the plot lively but they were hard to keep track of and distinguish some of them were not as well fleshed out. Probably, the plot would have worked with one or two fewer side characters. Overall, I had a very good reading experience and will read anything (bisexual) Jakobson publishes next. Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin for the review copy.

the summer coming of age novel!!

this story follows Savannah, aka as Sav. She’s almost the person she wants to be- or at least, she’s getting closer. She’s in her sophomore year at college, has officially come out, and is starting to make some solid friendships. Sav’s cautious optimism about the future is squashed when she learns that her childhood friend Izzie is engaged. Things haven’t been the same with Izzie ever since what happens with Izzie’s brother when Sav was 16. Sav is now forced to deal with her repressed trauma that she thought was behind her. On top of all that- she can’t stop thinking about Wes, from her gender studies class. There’s something new here & for the first time ever, Sav feels seen.

I really enjoyed this tender, funny & heartfelt story. It captures well both the in-between feeling of being young & uncertain, as well as the particular pain of losing a friendship that you thought would last forever. Stunning!

If you had asked what I thought of this book after the first couple of chapters, my response would be vastly different from this review. In fact, I almost DNF'd this book after a couple of days. I'm really, REALLY glad I didn't.

The book itself starts off strong with diverse characters, tackling sensitive subjects such as rape, consent, abuse, and LGTBQA+ themes. The characters dive right into their sense of self when the book opens and the main character is looking around at her class mates and they start discussing gender and sexuality. The book only gets better from there as we watch Sav tackle some pretty huge inner conflicts. The character growth in this book is stunning and I am obsessed with the friend group.

My issue with the book was in how it was set up. Not only do we jump from past to present, but we jump from first person POV to second person POV. And this doesn't seem consistent with the book...i think by the end then 2nd person POV was phased out. But each time we switched both POV and time period I lost focus in the book.

But the ending of this book is amazing. Incredibly thought out, well deserved, and inspiring. I can't rave enough about this book, aside from the weird writing initially. Power through that and I think this book is worth every second spent reading it. This is one I am going to recommend A LOT.

HALEY JAKOBSON, WHAT A DEBUT! This book is everything. A coming of age, found family, self exploration, queer masterpiece. It left me with the same cozy, like I'm being hugged feeling that I had the first time I read Perks of Being a Wallflower. A must read!

Our MC, Sav, is in her second year of college, having left her hometown and expanded her worldview. She's found a group of friends who support her and is exploring her self, having come out as bisexual. When her best friend from childhood gets engaged, Sav is confronted with memories she's tried desperately to suppress.

TW for mention of SA. Talked about but not explicit.

Thank you net galley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Savannah Henry came out in her freshman year of college and is dealing with the complexities of growing up and growing out from the person she was in high school. This kind of coming-of-age story would have been extremely comforting to me in my college years. The nuance and complexities of learning to trust yourself, and to give yourself room to grow are so apparent in Old Enough.

Highlights:
Inclusive language
Happy queer romance

Cons:
Sometimes the language of the book gets a little confusing. Specifically when switching from current timeline to flashbacks.

CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS:
physical abuse, rape

It takes a lot of love to care for a reader the way that Haley cares for hers.
This is a book I would have died to have when I was in my twenties, and I think it’s going to resonate with many who are.
Inclusive, queer-friendly, this is a YA book as I’ve rarely read one before. Big topics are handled with the gentlest of hands.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I wish I could have given this 3.5 stars because I ultimately really loved this story, but the writing sometimes made it more challenging to get into. The switches in time with no cues or warning was hard to get used to, and also the way the narrator sometimes referred to Izzy as "you" and sometimes as Izzy. I almost gave up on it, but I am very glad I pushed through. This book did a great job of capturing the messy growth that happens in late adolescence / early college so beautifully.

I love the theory of this book. However the execution fell short for me. I think Sav is great bi rep. However, the writing wasn’t for me. It was slow and the writing felt scattered. Nothing makes me want to keep turning the page. While I appreciate the progressive themes, it ultimately felt shallow. There was nothing to contemplate, no intrigue, and a lack of scene setting, I could not picture a single scene.

This books was so good. I couldn't put it down. I'm actually shocked to hear it's Haley's first novel. I loved Sav, and her best friend Candace and Vera and the strong bond they created through college experience. It was interesting to see Sav navigate through her trauma and her friendship with her longtime friend. I cried quite a bit in this book because the pain felt so real. i would definitely read her books in the future.

I absolutely loved this book. Old Enough deals with a bunch of different things that I gravitate towards in books. Like groups of queer friends, messy relationships, dealing with past trauma, and coming of age. Sav is in her sophomore year of college and has come out as bisexual after having her first queer fling. But things become complicated when Izzie, her childhood best friend, announces that she’s getting married. Sav is dreading the wedding and having to be around Izzie’s older brother because of what happened between them when she was sixteen.

Sav’s group of college friends were so amazing. I loved Vera and Candace so much. I read the first half of this book in the waiting room of an auto shop and I was actively having to stop myself from laughing out loud or smiling too much. There were so many lovely moments of them supporting one another and also just hilarious moments as well.

The book also deals with some heavy topics, it definitely had me tearing up at multiple points. A large focus is Sav dealing with sexual assault in her past, how she thinks about it now versus when it happened, how she opens up to people, and figuring out what justice means for her. A lot of the conversations in the book start in a gender studies class that Sav and her friends are taking. I felt like that was a smart way for Haley Jakobson to bring up different opinions through the various students in the class.

I could go on and on about the different things I loved about this book: Sav’s crush on Wes, the arc of Lara the sorority girl, the complicated dynamic between Sav and Izzie, Sav’s relationship with her mom, Sav’s relationship with sex, and so much more.

If you love stories about queer friendship, romance, and coming of age then give this one a shot if you feel up to the subject matter surrounding sexual assault.

this book means so much to me. I devoured it. I loved every minute of reading it.

I requested this on Netgalley a bit ago after reading the description. Then, it got pushed to the middle of my TBR list... until I saw Haley's incredible viral TikTok. After seeing that, I was reminded how much I'd love this book and I wasn't wrong.

Old Enough follows Savannah as she navigates college, being bisexual, past traumas, and friendship (both old & new). This book made me feel seen, and not just because it mentions Fletcher! there were parts that made me tear up (a few actually) and parts that made me laugh out loud. When it ended, I was sad to not have more of these characters’ stories to read.. I wanted to be their friends! This is an important read and I think everyone can find something in it that resonates with them. I really loved all of the characters and enjoyed Haley's writing endlessly. I loved Old Enough the way I've loved Dolly Alderton's books. This will be a book I recommend to everyone in their 20s-early 30s. As I read, I thought this was Haley's memoir, that's how real and authentic it felt.

highlights:
- cool character names
- inclusive language
- happy queer romance(s)
- fletcher (duh)
- beautiful writing that really hits ya in the guts

trigger warnings: sexual assault, rape, & shitty friends.

Old Enough is Haley’s debut novel and comes out on June 20th. I will be encouraging everyone I know to buy it or borrow it from their local library!!

Please check trigger and content warnings before reading!
An important and beautiful coming-of-age story! It was so hard to put this book down. I highly resonated with Savannah's journey in more than one way and I am so happy I had the chance to read this. I thought this book took such a gentle and heartwarming approach to those that are currently figuring out their queerness while coming to terms with sexual assault. Overall I am so grateful for this book and think it was such a queer heartwarming read!!
Thank you, NetGalley for providing me with this arc!

Sometimes I miss college. And then sometimes I read a book like this and I am reminded of how messy and hard it is to “come of age.” Sometimes I forget how easy it was to find something to love or desire about almost everyone. Except for myself. And sometimes I remember what it was like to love only myself and how I had no responsibilities other than getting through school. This book brought back so many memories for me at times it felt like I was legitimately reliving it. What an amazing, sometimes cringe, sometimes scary, mostly awesome moment of time travel.

This book is also very heavy. This book reminded me of something that happened to me in college. It reminded me that I’m still here and it made me realize that I am now made up of new cells several times over. This book reminded me.

When I grabbed this book off of my virtual NetGalley shelf, I had no idea how important it would become for me. If you’re still here reading this, I hope this book can be for you what it is for me, a reckoning and then a balm for your soul.

This book had me waking up in the middle of the night, reaching for my phone and opening this note. This book had me understanding something about myself that maybe I have always known, and greeting it warmly. This book had me writing what I feel like is my first honest and best ever book review. This. Book.

Savannah Henry left her closed-minded hometown for college, and in her sophomore year is finally getting closer to the person she wants to be - out as bisexual, making queer friends, and recovering from her first queer situationship. But when her childhood best friend, Izzie, is engaged. With the wedding around the corner, Sav has to face the trauma of what happened between her and Izzie's older brother when she was sixteen. On top of all of that, Sav can't stop thinking about Wes from her Gender Studies class, who feels like they might truly see her in a way no one has before.

This book is simultaneously funny, heartfelt, heartbreaking, and eye-opening. Jakobson explores queer love, community, and surviving after SA in the most raw and honest way. The writing of this book is unique, I felt like I was just listening to a ton of younger folks chatting, through both the dialogue and the way Jakobson wrote the narration as well. All the friendships and relationships in this book were written so wonderfully, the inclusion and diversity was super refreshing, and while reading I realized just how much we all have to learn about the queer community and acceptance from the younger generation. I feel like the message behind this book - that your past doesn't define who you are: - is something that everyone needs to read.

I will absolutely be picking up a copy for myself and can't wait to put other people onto this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

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.