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.

Admittedly when I found out this book was about someone losing her mom, it fell lower on my list for personal reasons. I love LGBTQ YA and hayley kiyoko, but as an adult still grieving the loss of her mom a few years ago I struggle with these narratives. Ultimately this book was fine, I did not finish because there were other books I liked more that I chose to continue reading but this isn’t like the worst book I have read or anything.

i wanted to love this book so bad because i love hayley kiyoko !!! i was absolutely obsessed with her when i came out bisexual and i love everything she has done for the community!!!! that being said this book lost me unfortunately! the writing style, the characters, and the storyline just lost me !

thanks to netgalley & publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review !!!

Girls Like Girls... HAYLEY KIYOKO YOU CAN DO IT ALL. I LOVED THIS BOOK. I was expecting it to be pretty similar to the music video that she released for the song she has with this exact same name and wow. The ending had me nostalgic and I loved it. There were parts where I was mad at a few of the main characters and I just wanted to shake them.
But overall, it was a great book and I would recommend it to anyone.

Finally the sapphic coming of age story we need! Hayley Kiyoko did a fantastic job at creating a compelling story with highs and lows to keep ay reader interested. Growing up reading novels almost purely about straight leads was discouraging. This was the book my high school self needed for sure. It's perfect for Young Adults to actual adults.I highly recommend it.

This was a really good read, I think it's so cool that Hayley Kiyoko wrote a book after being a musician for so long.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review!

I received a free copy of Girls Like Girls from Netgalley and St Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.
Reading queer and sapphic romance is different from hetero romance, especially when its setting is in the past. Girls Like Girls is set in the summer of 2006, shortly after Coley moves to rural Oregon and meets Sonya. As their love for each other grows, Sonya deals with internalized homophobia and Coley navigates a world that threatens to make her smaller as well.
The emotions in this novel were raw and beautiful, showcasing the constant struggle of young queer women navigating the world and relationships despite inherent biases. I enjoyed the rollercoaster of emotions, especially while listening to the song before and after. Now, the song makes so much more sense. It’s rare when a songwriter expands their work into a novel, and I was honoured to be able to read this one.
Based on the hit song GIRLS LIKE GIRLS by Hayley Kiyoko, this novel by the same name and author is a love song to every young queer girl wishing for love. Much like its heroines, it deserves some love.

In this coming of age romance, two teen girls find solace in each other as they discover their sexuality and navigate messy feelings.

I loved the concept of Hayley Kiyoko's music video when it premiered years ago and was very excited to pick up a novelization of it! I'm a sucker for a good queer story that explores the idea of queerness and coming into one's identity, which this definitely focuses on. I also loved how insular the story was and focused on the small town and characters, rather than making the plot too large. I was also happy to see it was set in 2010 with a lot of nostalgic references.

This book has some issues with pacing. It's quite slow to start and then has a fairly rushed ending which made it difficult to get through. I also felt like this was a true young adult novel - while I could relate to some of the aspects discussed about queerness, it also felt very young to me. I think a teen version of me would have loved it and it's message more than the adult me cared for it. While not perfect, this was an ultimately sweet book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing me a copy of this book for an honest review.

I'm gonna be so real: I was not expecting to like this, and I think that is probably the main reason why I ended up enjoying it. This book isn't groundbreaking or a fantastic piece of literature, but going into it expecting very little, just coming along for the ride, I had a very fun time. This is coming from someone who has no personal attachment to Hayley Kiyoko, so I'm approaching this solely as a review of the YA book as it stands on its own.

Girls Like Girls follows Coley right before she enters her senior year of high school in a new town. After her mother died by suicide, we see Coley struggle with making amends (and deciding if she even wants to) with her father, whom she hadn't previously seen since she was 3 years old. But then Coley meets Sonya, this sharp girl who hides parts of herself from the world, and she can't help but feel immediate attraction. But does Sonya even like her back? And is Coley even worthy of love, when those who're supposed to love her the most have left her?

The writing was very easy to get through, even if not the most complex. There were a lot of clichés; one in particular that stood out was a literal "she's not like other girls." It made me laugh because it fit so well with the general writing style and it was genuinely supposed to be a groundbreaking statement. Truly the epitome of a basic YA book.

The pacing was very fast, which for the most part worked, except for the ending. There isn't exactly a concrete resolution, and some large time jumps. The issues were still very much there and very little talking through and addressing of them was done. This meant it was a very quick read, but I was left a little unsure of if I could root for the romance in the end.

The romance was wild to read about. There was definitely a lot of internalized homophobia that both characters, but mostly the love interest (Sonya), had to deal with. And yeah, this was an exact case of insta-love. However, it still managed to feel fun and messy — very teenager-like. So while I wasn't completely sold on the two of them as a couple, I still was invested in their relationship and story. I just wish the ending wasn't as rushed so we could see how they worked together to push past the obstacles in their way.

The characters weren't the most fleshed-out, but I found it didn't bother me that much. The side characters, especially, had moments where they felt like whole human beings, but in the end were still relatively one-dimensional. I will say that I enjoyed the Live Journal entries that were used to express Sonya's point of view, and Coley's own perspective pulled me in.

Despite my critiques, I did enjoy this book a great deal. Seeing Coley work through her grief for her mother and her own self-worth made Girls Like Girls worthwhile for me, as did the relative ease of reading it. I recommend this, probably not as a fantastic book, but as a quick and nostalgic read.

Trigger Warnings: mentions of suicide, parent death, absent parent and abandonment, homophobia (including internalized), violence, gaslighting

This was disappointing. I requested the book because I loved the song, but I didn't feel any similarities. My main problems with the book are that it is painfully slow and nothing really happens while at the same time all of the characters are awful and unlikeable. Except maybe the dad, who appears every now and then. He has no clue how to parent, but he's sort of trying, only to be rebuffed.

There is also a LOT of casual underage drinking that is never examined. Like a lot. Sonya (who is a terrible person) is constantly drinking or drunk and Coley just sort of goes along with it.

I didn't feel any chemistry between Coley and Sonya, and because I intensely disliked both of them it made it hard to root for their relationship.

While I can understand Coley's pain and that maybe that's what drives her to be so terrible to everyone, I can't bring myself to enjoy reading about it or like her.

The audiobook narrator's performance just enhances the unlikeability of the characters.

This is another case of terrible people doing terrible things just not being the sort of book I enjoy.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing an early copy for review.

I appreciate so much realistically unreliable (and yes, sometimes even unlikeable) characters. Girls Like Girls felt like it captured such authentic, messy, frustrating, wonderful moments pulled right from the real experience of being queer and coming of age.

I personally felt Hayley Kiyoko mastered a balancing act many authors in contemporary YA struggle with; ROMANCE VS REAL LIFE. The romance (though quick in it's development) complimented the books heavier moments really well. And further, the book dealt with it's heaviest (and potentially triggering) moments and themes (grief, heartbreak, self-acceptance--among others) tactfully and with so much heart. While not everyone may relate to Coley's story or experiences, I think many readers will see parts of themselves reflected in this story. And while the novel can certainly appeal to those of all ages, the choice to set it in 2006 definitely could rein in a crowd of 20-30 somethings who grew up in the age of myspace, livejournal, instant messaging, and a lot less honest, positive LGBTQIA2S+ representation. People who may not otherwise choose to pick up a YA book.

While not without it's flaws, Girls Like Girls was an emotional and enjoyable read. (Even Trenton, as awful as I found him, was not enough to keep me from enjoying this read.) A strong debut that has left me thoroughly looking forward to seeing Hayley Kiyoko's writing grow with whatever she does next.

3.5 Stars: I was gifted an EARC of this novel from the publisher; all thoughts and opinions are my own.


This novel was inspired by Hayley Kiyoko's 'Girls Like Girls' music video, and although this is an excellent debut for Hayley Kiyoko, I was left lackluster and felt like the novel lacked some more pivotal moments. The story does have perfect representation and will be one of those once-in-a-lifetime reads for younger readers. Not all YA novels are made to fit adult readers, and this one is the perfect example; it works with the age of readers it is made for. Ideal for those who love the music video and want to know more.

Tropes:
Friends to Lovers
Queer

Girls Like Girls was strange. The original music video was part of my gay awakening as a 12 year old, so I went into this wanting to enjoy it. It's a strange, sapphic, instalove that seems onesided. Coley is obsessed with Sonya the moment they meet and Sonya seems like a straight girl who kisses girls to impress guys. A majority of their friendship happens off page, meaning I have no idea how or why they became friends or why Coley even likes Sonya, much less like likes her. Sonya is unlikeable the entire book. She sets no boundaries with anyone, meaning that she is essentially dating a guy all summer while cheating on him and is surrounded by awful people who flip-flop between being rude and kind to Coley with no explanation as to why.
It felt like stuff was happening just to happen, with no rhyme or reason. No clue why Blake was there, why they drank all the time, why there was a party in a barn, or why Alex was a weed grower. I typically like mixed story-device books that include things like emails, texts, etc, but I ended up just having more questions from those. How is it a "private" journal entry if Coley can read it at some point?
My favorite part of the book was the relationship between Coley and her dad. I enjoyed watching them grow closer and liked the dynamic, its not something I've read before.

“ It’s summertime and 17-year-old Coley has found herself alone, again. Forced to move to rural Oregon after just losing her mother, she is in no position to risk her already fragile heart. But when she meets Sonya, the attraction is immediate.

Coley worries she isn't worthy of love. Up until now, everyone she's loved has left her. And Sonya's never been with a girl before. What if she's too afraid to show up for Coley? What if by opening her heart, Coley's risking it all?”

Love it, 5 stars happily given!

Hmm, somehow fell a little short of expectations. However, I am always up for a lesbian book, so I still did enjoy.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this ebook! Hayley Kiyoko did great as a storyteller for this novel; she gave the couple an actual relatable story and relationship. Young adult novels are typically hard for me to complete, but I could not stop reading the story of Coley and Sonya - rooting for them at every turn. This touches on so many real topics of grief, internalized homophobia, the fear of coming out, etc. - such important topics for an LGBTQIA+ book. I would have liked to see an epilogue for their story, but other than that - it was a great read!

I was looking forward to reading this book because I’ve been a fan of Hayley’s music. This book is YA, and that means it has all the usual conventions of the genre, specifically the age and the intensity of the plot. So certain aspects of the book are to be expected, you will not like it if you do not already like YA,

The story starts with Coley, whose mother recently died, moving in with her absentee dad in Oregon. She meets a group of teens, including love interest Sonya. While there were some redeeming traits among the group, for the most part I would not call them Coley’s friends. The group dynamic is toxic. I also wasn’t sure that I wanted a happily ever after/happy for now ending for Coley and Sonya. The ending felt rushed.

Coley’s growth throughout the novel was a highlight. She grows more confident, working through her grief and anger at the sudden change in her life. The toxic group dynamics and homophobia seemed very realistic, both in terms of the age of the characters and the early 2000s setting. I enjoyed the throwbacks to the early 2000s - with less instant communication options than we have now.

Thanks to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the free ARC to review,

First off, I want to thank Wednesday Books for sending me an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I was very excited to receive this arc since it was Hayley Kiyoko’s debut novel. There are some very heavy topics in this book, such as grief, suicide, loss of a parent, homophobia, internalized homophobia, and violence.

This is the story of Coley, who after her mother’s death, moves to Oregon to live with her dad who she hasn’t seen in years. Still grieving, she doesn’t want to let anyone into her heart. But then she meets Sonya, who she immediately falls for. As the two grow closer, they try to push their feelings down, but they eventually realize that this is easier said than done.

What I really liked is when we got to see more development with Coley and her dad, who she has a strained relationship with since he hadn’t been in her life since she was three. When Coley started opening up to him, working at the restaurant, and trying to move on with her life, I felt like things were really looking up for her. I would’ve loved to have read more about this development. We saw how she was dealing with her grief and suddenly living with her dad, who kept trying to make up for lost time. And while they cannot change the past, they can try to move forward.

Coley fell for Sonya very quickly. I was happy we eventually got some scenes where they started to confide in each other, especially since Sonya seems to put on a facade, which Coley was aware of. But I would’ve loved to see more scenes of them growing closer to help build up their relationship. But I felt as frustrated as Coley with how Sonya would try to ignore what was going on between them. I think the entries in Sonya’s perspective gave us a better idea of what was going on with her, but even then, we could have seen her trust Coley more or realize what kind of people some of her friends were. Fortunately, Sonya did have some friends who seem like they will not only have her back, but Coley’s too. However, so much is focused on Coley and Sonya, who both felt so strongly for each other so quickly, but we didn’t get enough scenes to see why.

Overall, I give it 3/5 stars.

I had really high hopes for this novel. The concept and premise were extremely intriguing to me. The two main characters felt a little insta love for me when I wanted some more depth for them. I enjoyed it as a quick read, but I didn't feel too invested in their relationship. The side characters were unlikeable and didn't add much to the story. I wanted to love it more.