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

I've been waiting to read this book for months and it did not disappoint. Haley has such a unique writing style that took a little bit to get the grasp of but once I did I really enjoyed the pacing of the book. The characters were all so real, I loved Sav - she is so much more badass than I thought she would be. This book is funny and I laughed out loud at many points. I found myself sad that it was over because I wanted to live in the world a little longer. Haley does a great job of incorporating mental health throughout the story. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a coming of age queer novel.

A delightful and authentic coming-of-age novel that explores that sadness that comes with outgrowing childhood friendships, the excitement of exploring identity in college, and the confusion and pain of living with sexual assault related trauma, especially when the perpetrator is related to someone you trust. Jakobson balances all the themes with memorable characters, humorous and realistic dialogue, and lots of nice observant details about finding your queer family.
Loved it.

3.5/5 ☆

TW: sexual assault

This took a second to get into, but I'm glad I stuck through and finished it to the end. The writing here is unique, a bit YA-esk, and is probably what threw me for a loop when I initially began my read. Old Enough is a powerful coming-of-age story about Sav, a bi college sophomore who is learning to navigate her friendships and past trauma after finding out her childhood best friend is getting engaged.

Haley does a really good job at dialogue in this book and the conversations surrounding SA (though very upsetting) was oddly comforting because of how retable Sav's feelings were. Definitely felt seen and I applaud Sav's honesty, despite how difficult it must have been. Her journey to healing is just beginning, but like her friends in the book, I am very much rooting for her.

This book is so well written. It has amazing characters, themes, and support. This book has parts that are hard to read but also so incredibly relevant.

Sav is coming into her own in college and finally had found her people. She is out as bisexual and proud, she has amazing friends who are unique and love her for who she is. She is over her toxic ex. But when her past comes crashing back into her life she has to figure out how to keep herself together and maintain all the progress she has made in finding peace and creating a life worth living.

The supportive figures in this book are fantastic, from Sav’s therapist helping her to process her assault to her professor who helps her to understand that she can reprioritize what she thinks she has to do. This book honestly says pretty much everything I would want to say to anyone who is a survivor of SA.

Her queer friend group is fantastic, and they are so supportive and kind. Finding your people is honestly a game changer and it’s fun to watch Sav come into her own because of the support and love she receives. Outgrowing old friendships and finding new ones that fit better is part of growing up and is so well explored here. All together, I really loved this book.

Parent’s guide:
Sex & Nudity: moderate (rape, masturbation, oral sex, penetrative sex, underage sex)
Violence & Gore: moderate (rape)
Profanity: mild-moderate
Alcohol, Drugs & Smoking: moderate (a lot of underage drinking)
Frightening & Intense Scenes: moderate (sexual assault)

five/five stars!

Old Enough by Haley Jakobson is a fantastic debut novel centering queerness, trauma, love, high school, college, friendship, and life. It tells the story of Savanna, a bisexual girl in college, through past and present narratives. It’s a book that doesn’t leave your head and is incredible and immersive.

Haley Jakobson’s writing style is refreshing and engaging. I loved it! I especially enjoyed the chapters taking place in the past, where she used the 2nd person. This is truly one of those books that stick with you- even after weeks and months of initially reading it. In fact, I ended up thinking about it so much that I reread it, which I rarely do with arcs.

I LOVED the characters. They were all very fleshed out and realistic. My favorite characters were probably Candance and Vera. The author also did a fantastic job in making Izzie and unlikable albeit nuanced character. Personally, I related to Sav somewhat and drew parallels from the characters in the books to people in my real life.

The plot was super engaging and it was an enamoring read. The novel was paced very well, and was hard to put down. It especially helped that I really liked the setting. It felt very realistic.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book. It takes a twist on the typical “college coming of age story” in the best way. A must read for sure!