The music video this book is based on was my comfort music video for a long time, still is, and this book has become the perfect pairing to it. I loved this book, and I will read it many more times!

There's angst, pining, pain, healing, and everything in between. It's a cute read, but it's an important read at the same time. The MCs go through internal battles relatable to so many queer teens, like I had. I wish I had read something like this when I was going through the same struggles.

Beyond that, I found myself rooting for the MCs and some of the side characters as well. I was rooting for romance and friendships and family alike. I feel most characters developed really nicely and the side characters add an integral layer to the story that we don't get in the music video.

I personally can't wait to watch the music video again knowing what I do after reading this. I flew through this book in less than a day, it was so hard to put down. 5 stars!

🎶 “Girls like girls like boys do, nothing new.” 🎶

Hayley Kiyoko is an lgbtqia+ icon, musician, director, actress and activist. This novel is based on her hit song and accompanying music video: Girls Like Girls. The story is very closely aligned with the music video and even the cover resembles the Coley and Sonya from said video.

After the tragic and traumatizing death of her mother, Coley (who is half white half Asian) is forced to move to Oregon and live with her estranged father. After arriving he encourages Coley to go out and make friends and while she is contemplating chaining her bike up she is nearly hit by a car full of other teens her age, as she falls back onto her elbows. This is when Coley sees Sonya for the first time and Coley’s attraction to her is instant.

Sonya invites Coley to hang out with the group of friends and this is where their story really begins, and oh boy is it a messy one. It’s raw, tentative, afraid, cruel, passionate, intense and a plethora of other emotions. It depicts a realistic view of first same-sex relationship and the realization that they might not be who they thought they were or who they think their family or society will accept. I’d describe this as more of a lesbian coming of age story than anything else.

For a debut novel for someone who isn’t an established author I felt that the writing was on par with other YA books I have read. I’d recommend this for older teens and adults due to some heavier content. It’s not a rose colored glasses view of growing up queer, it’s honest about just how messy, difficult and heartbreaking life can be while also highlighting that there is always hope and room for growth.

This novel also explores dealing with grief/loss and how it can effect your interpersonal relationships and emotions and that moving forward can be convoluted and poignant.

Additionally, I thought it was cheeky and clever that Hayley found a seamless way to weave “lesbian Jesus” into the narrative.

TW’s for drug use, homophobia, abuse, underage drinking, mentions of suicide and abandonment.

4 stars

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Based on the beautiful coming of age song and music video, GIRLS LIKE GIRLS by Hayley Kiyoko the story follows 17 year old Coley as she has moved to live with her distant father in Oregon after her mother committed suicide. Coley has never known her father, not since he left her and her mother at 3 years old... and now she has to live with the man who broke her heart. Summertime in Oregon where she has no friends is not the best, but then when she is nearly run over by a group of teen she meets Sonya, a gorgeous girl who draws her in. Coley and Sonya develop a friendship but Coley definitely feels like there is something more... but Sonya has a ex boyfriend who wont leave, is in the closet herself, and definitely treats Coley horribly, yet she can’t staya way. Sonya fears what it would mean if she were to truly give into her feelings for Coley, how it would impact her family and her friends, and what it would mean to be so open and then rejected if her mother found out. Coley and Sonya will have to work out what their feelings mean and just how far they are willing to go for one another and what it means to be yourself. Unfortunately for me, this one definitely fell flat from my expectations. I absolutely adored the music video and the song when it first came out and was so excited to hear that there would be a book to further build on the music video. The story deals with being in the closet as a teen and the pressures of coming out and how your friends and family could make you afraid to come out, but what I disliked so much was just how poorly Sonya continued to treat Coley and how Coley just kept forgiving her and coming back for more despite knowing she would keep getting hurt. I understand she’s a teen and that love might make you accept a lot of behaviors from someone that you normally wouldn’t but it was frustrating because I honestly wanted better for her, so much better. Yes I get that the story had to go along with the music video but honestly the way they further developed Sonya’s storyline made it kind of hard to root for her, yes i understand she was afraid and was feeling pressured but honestly it’s no excuse to treat someone the way she treated Coley. Yes they are both teens and yes they might act out at one another but honestly, I was just hoping for a sweet and beautiful love story. Overall it definitely had a lot of teen angst and drama, and if you’re into that then definitely pick up this book.

*Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Setting: Oregon
Rep: sapphic protagonist & love interest; other queer side characters

This was ... okay. It didn't match up to my expectations, aside from the queer aspect it felt quite dated, like it came out a decade or more ago. This may be in part because it's set in 2006 but it all just felt very basic and I didn't feel any chemistry between the protagonist and the love interest, and the end was very abrupt.

4 ⭐️

I don't think I've ever clicked on a book so quickly. Girls Like Girls video was incredible and the fact the queen herself wrote a book? fuck yes!

it was so cute and wholesome. Coley is one of my new fav book girlys!

Thankyou to Netgalley and Publishers for allowing me to read this one in exchange for an honest review

Thanks to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for giving me access to an ARC in exchange for an honest review! !

13 year old me listened to this song on repeat every day :)) It’s a cute read, but it’s an important read at the same time. The subjects are all very important.

The chemistry and spark between the characters were undeniable, and I loved that they translated from the original music video to this book. The ending is super abrupt, that's the reason why I didn't give 5 stars to my reading.The interactions between the characters were dialogue heavy, which I preferred.

Otherwise, the writing is what you’d expect from a non-career author and the plot is mostly vibes. In the end, Girls Like Girls is just like the music video. A moment in time for Coley. The summer she fell for a girl named Sonya.

Thank you to NetGalley for access to this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a sweet, sad story of first love. Coley finds herself in rural Oregon living with her dad after her mum's suicide, and quickly falls for Sonya. Their relationship is explored mostly through Foley's perspective, with some insight given through Sonya's very era-appropriate LiveJournal private posts.

There's nothing groundbreaking about this novel. I felt like there was a lot more that could have been explored - Coley's relationships with both her mum and dad, her possible friendship with Alex, Sonya's experiences... The ending was quite abrupt, and I felt like there was an opportunity to extend past the story of the film clip and give Coley and Sonya a proper farewell. All in all, a perfectly fine romance that was enjoyable but probably not memorable.

This was better than I expected it to be! I didn't love the LiveJournal and AIM chapters, but I thought everything else was pretty well written. The thing that really kept me from loving it was that I was not rooting for the main romance at all, and didn't think they should've ended up together.

An interesting story full of twists, turns, fun characters and overall a book I would consider reading time and time again.

TW: Parental loss, guilt, grief, estranged parent, violence, homophobia, struggling with sexuality, bully & relationship violence.

3.5 stars
When it was released, this song helped me feel like I was seen, as a young bisexual in love with her girl BFF, so hearing and getting a chance to read the book is fantastic!

While I love the song & Hayley Kiyoko, I feel that this book had a weak writing style (which, fair, it's their debut); however, it took me out of the story, and I feel the editor should have tweaked or helped guide it more with the writing.

We read about a young person struggling with the loss of their mother; dealing with a parental loss with suicide isn't touched enough. This was done so emotionally with resentment, guilt & pain, then gaining an estranged parent and finding yourself in a new surround. Yet, at the same time, you hide a part of yourself.

The romance between Sonya & Coley was actually so sweet and adorable. The chemistry and spark between them were undeniable, and I loved that they translated from the original music video to this book. That was its heart!

The music video's storyline had a lot more growth to it and dimension, but a little of the flow dropped in my rating due to the writing style. However, anyone who loved this song will enjoy this book, and other LGBTQ+ Members may too!