Was so excited to read this after the Girls like Girls music video from so long ago! Sadly, this just felt like a very messy (not in a good way) book. The characters didn't feel dimensional at all and the cliches just didn't hit the same way or weren't written as well as they could have been.

I wanted to love this one so badly....and unfortunately, it just fell so short. Ultimately, I felt the central romance and characters were a bit toxic, and with little accountability for their more problematic behaviors or words.

What I did enjoy was the relationship between one of the main characters and her father - how they slowly, but surely, built up their trust and familial relationship.

I will say, I ultimately finished this book via audio - and the production was so well done! From the different cast members to the audio effects and music - that was incredibly engaging.

Ultimately, this book just missed the mark for me - the pacing felt off, the ending resolved a bit too quickly and the central relationship just didn't feel healthy to me.

I really wanted to Love this book.
It’s a wonderful queer story and I really liked the main character. At first she was slightly annoying with the way she treated her dad but she was going through a difficult time, and it’s hard grieving and having to move to a new place. Coley grew on me as she grew up. She begun to make a good relationship with her dad and accept herself.
Sonya, however, did not grow on me. She was self-entitled and made Coley feel awful half the time. Despite everything, she never truly apologises or tries to fix her mistakes, she never grows. Perhaps that is the point, after all she is just a teenager.
For a time, I did like their relationship, and they did have some gorgeous moments, but it was too filled with anger, hatred, some sort of strange manipulation to really win me over.
One of my biggest issues was with the ending. It could maybe lead into a sequel which I think I would like, especially if it expanded on their relationship and showed Sonya’s side of things.
Overall, this book didn’t win me over like I wanted it to. The writing side of things was absolutely fine, and well-paced which many books aren’t. It didn’t feel rushed, but it did feel cut off at the end. However, the issues with the romance and the character of Sonya do weigh the book down. I am however, overjoyed that Coley was on a path of healing and self-acceptance.
And hey, maybe we need more queer teen stories where not everyone is perfect and not every relationship is romanticised. Maybe we do need more characters like Sonya. It just turns out that it wasn’t my cup of tea.

Final rating; 3.5/5

This is a dual narration, coming-of-age romance based on the author's breakthrough hit song and viral music video. The story has themes of self-discovery, love, and acceptance, with parental instability and mental health. Coley is new to town and grappling with very personal loss and trying to find her footing in a new social dynamic. Sonya is one of the cool kids, with a well established social circle. I adored Coley and her bravery to put herself out there, amidst anxiety and strong unknowns. Sonya was privilege, ignorant, and not my favorite.

TW: Description of suicide

Sincere thanks to St. Martins Press, Wednesday Books, & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really sweet, tender, moving sapphic romance—I loved reading the characters' arcs and seeing their romance grow, as well as reading the themes of self-discovery.

This was a fun book that also tackled some heavy topics. I enjoyed Hayley's writing style and I'm eager to read other books by Hayley.

Personally not my favorite writing style but I admire that Hayley Kiyoko is trying something new! Definitely read as a YA which is not my jam right now but I would definitely recommend this to anyone new in their LGBTQ journey. I would try something else written by Kiyoko for sure! And I love her music of course

I really wanted to get to this one, as it seemed interesting. The downfall was that I requested so many ARCs that I could not get to all of them before the book was archived. If I can find this somewhere for a reasonable price, I will try to get it!

The idea of writing a novel based on a music video is cool. I've read better lesbian YA novels, so I think you need to know the author to fully appreciate the story.

It wasn’t bad, but it was kinda weirdly paced. I have a feeling the audiobook is way better because the cast is amazing.

Girls Like Girls is a heartwarming and relatable story about love, acceptance, and self-discovery. Kiyoko's writing is honest and engaging, and she captures the complexities of teenage life with sensitivity and insight. The book is also a celebration of LGBTQ+ love, and it will resonate with readers who are looking for a story that reflects their own experiences.

Here are some of the things I loved about the book:

The characters are well-developed and relatable. Coley is a likable protagonist who is easy to root for. Sonya is also a complex and interesting character, and I appreciated that Kiyoko didn't shy away from exploring her flaws.

The plot is engaging and easy to follow. I was hooked from the beginning, and I couldn't put the book down until I had finished it.

The writing is beautiful and lyrical. Kiyoko has a real gift for language, and her prose is both moving and thought-provoking.

Overall, I highly recommend Girls Like Girls to anyone who is looking for a heartwarming and relatable coming-of-age story. It is a must-read for LGBTQ+ readers, and it will also appeal to anyone who has ever struggled with their own identity.

It took me so long to read it because Iwas it in parts. I liked the relationship between the leads but my favourite relationship was bonding between father and daughter.
I had high hopes for this book as I have always loved Hayley's music, but unfortunately this book was not what I expected. It was hard to get into the book and seemed instalove.
Thank you netgalley and publisher for giving me an Arc of Girls like Girls.

I wanted to love this book, but it was so difficult to get through. It wasn't very well written or edited, with clunky dialogue, poorly developed characters, and a story I just couldn't get invested in.

This was one of my most-anticipated books of the year, and I love Hayley Kiyoko's music as well as the music video that this is based on. Unfortunately, I found the writing clunky and very difficult to get into, so I sadly DNFed this after the first chapter.

I still remember hearing the Girl Like Girls song for the first time and feeling so connected to it. When I found out Hayley Kiyoko was writing a book based on the music video, I just knew I had to read it.

The book's main character Coley, is new to town. She doesn't know anyone, not even her dad, who she is now living with. When she meets Sonya, Coley begins to officially process why she has felt so different from everyone else. The book is one of acceptance of oneself and others. It touches on topics like coming out, bullying, suicide, forgiveness, and drug use. I do believe that this book will be an excellent question starter for someone who may be trying to figure out who they are or for anyone who has lost a parent.

I do feel like the book was a bit rushed. There were some scenes that seemed pieced into the story that I felt could've warranted more elaboration. I think the AIM sequences will raise some questions amongst the current teens who will be reading this story (though that isn't a bad thing!). I do wish that Coley had more time to love herself and put herself back together before the ending. I just wanted to give her a big hug and take away all her hurt!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for the eARC!

This novel is not what I expected. It's more about a father and daughter reconnecting than romance. It's also a throwback to AIM and flip phones, this doesn't take place in the 2020s. I think the ending was rushed, however.

Trigger warning for death by suicide mentioned, and suicidal ideation discussed. There is also slurs and hate crime type events on page.

There is also positive abortion representation. And one mention of Lesbian Jesus.

Loved Coley and Sonya. Loathed Trenton. I wish it wasn't so much of an instalove but I can dig it. There was a lot of growing up with the Coley and Sonya. They learned to dig deep and see how they can help themselves.

This book takes on a lot of topics that are very much TW. Loss of a parent, suicide, homophobia, etc. Please check the warnings before reading.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4ish stars

My overall impression of this book was positive. I didn’t love everything about it, but I did enjoy the setting, much of the writing format/style, and some of the major characters. This one was a “like,” not a “love” for me, but it’s definitely worth a read if you enjoy queer YA.

This story was about so much more than a new relationship. It was trauma and grief and healing and finding yourself and a way back to happy. I adored the multiple layers and interesting characters.

Trigger Warnings: mentions of suicide, grief, loss of a parent, homophobia, underage drinking and drug use

It’s the summer of 2006 and 17-year-old Coley has been forced to move to rural Oregon after losing her mother. She’s in no position to risk her already fragile heart - but then she meets Sonya, and everything she’s tried to keep down goes flying. Both girls have a lot to figure out and realize before they can step up.

Based on Hayley Kiyoko’s hit song and music video with the same title, Girls Like Girls is about young, queer love between two girls.

The writing of this isn’t perfect, I didn’t think it would be, especially being Hayley Kiyoko’s debut novel, but it made up for it in the parts that really hit it home. Sure some parts were a bit cringey and filled with teenage dramatics, but it was also very lyrical and still realistic in parts.

Though, Tenton drove me so nuts! I understand in a way that it’s set in a small town and you don’t always have a wide selection of people to hang out with but like - come on! Sonya would continuously defend him but we never saw anything good from him.

Overall, this is a cutesy YA sapphic romance that gives a bit of a “cinematic extension” to Kiyoko’s song and music video with the same title. Don’t hold it up to high standards of regular romance, it is Young Adult - other than that, I can see quite a few people enjoying the read.