This was ok, but some YA books just feel too immature and ridiculous to me. I think actual teenagers might like it though.

This book is why I still love YA, despite growing further and further away from the Y aspect of this genre. Cancelled reminded me of Moxie, but funnier. Also how is it that it’s 2024 and that shit is still going on? That feminist clubs to educate others are even still needed? But I digress.

I loved all the great points this book makes, similar to Moxie, but this addresses trans issues and more racial issues, as well. And like I said, it’s got great humor in it- the main character Brynn is super witty. She also is just a great person in general and is a wonderful role model for any actual young adults reading this.

Aside from all the important lessons this book has, it has a sweet romance blooming in it, too. I loved the slow-burn love story between Charlie and Brynn. And to keep the book extra interesting, there’s a mystery that needs solving, as well.

Overall, a fantastic book! Read if you like YA, especially ones with a little mystery and romance. And if you want to join the #femolution!

I loved everything about this book. The plot, the characters, the humor, the FEMALE RAGE. Everything was amazing. Brynn was such a complex character. I loved how simultaneously confident and vulnerable she was. I loved her friendships with Talia, Marlowe and Cadence. They were such a great and supportive group. I also loved the look at her family life and how she felt second best to her brother who got more attention from their mom due to his addiction. And CHARLIE. Ugh, don’t even get me started on how much I loved Charlie. Of all the things I loved about this book, the look at the double standards between boys and girls in terms of sexuality and sexual experience was probably my favorite. I loved the Femolution club Brynn and her friends started to not only try and clear Brynn’s name, but bring to light all the sexism religious bigotry and misogyny that can run rampant in a high school. This book definitely infuriated me at times (as it’s supposed to), but the ending was excellent and I thought it gave so much closure to everyone. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

CW: slut shaming, religious bigotry, bullying, mentions of drug addiction, underage drinking

Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Books for Young Readers for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this title!

Cancelled is a story about modern feminism and what young women experience today as they navigate the ever-changing landscape of high school dating. The main character, Brynn, is embroiled in a scandal that she was truly not a part of, but manages to turn into a learning experience for pretty much her entire school. This book is full of thoughtful commentary on feminism and cancel culture, as well as the power of female friendships. The pacing of the book is terrific and should appeal to teen readers. I also found myself unable to put this one down, as I desperately wanted to know what had really gone on in the video at the center of the book's conflict. Brynn is messy and makes mistakes, but I was rooting for her the entire time. I will be adding a copy to my classroom library!

This book intruding me almost immediately as someone who hates “cancel culture”, I was very interested to see how this book went about it especially in a high school setting.
Honestly I’ve gone back-and-forth with this rating and review a few times, because I was really invested in this book and intrigued by it but then another (smaller) part of me was also infuriated and annoyed by it. Honestly, though thinking back on this book, do partially think the idea of this book was to make you feel annoyed and aggravated at society’s standards, so I do definitely think it accomplished that.
This book follows Brynn, a high school senior- who after a video is spread among her classmates, follows victim to cancel culture. I think this expected the job of highlighting the struggles that teenage girls in high school experience. It was very storm the kingdom, f** the patriarchy kind of vibes and I was definitely enjoying that aspect.
This book definitely ended up being more of a powerful read than I expected, and I think it would be very beneficial for young adults to read this especially females or those that have experienced cancel culture in any type of way. I feel like a lot of people would definitely be able to relate to a lot of different aspects of this book.
My only real complaint is like the romance aspect of this book. I feel like it was a bit underdeveloped and seemed immature, especially for the maturity level of the characters in different areas of the book- I feel like it almost just didn’t line up.
Overall though I really enjoyed this book! Again, I think it would be a very powerful, yet still enjoyable read for a lot of people- I would definitely recommend!

*Thank you Penguin Teen, NetGalley and team for an eARC of this book an exchange for an honest review. All opinions above are 100% my own!*

This book was a wild ride and so fun! I felt very connected to the FMC in a way that many of her outrage and disbelief is something I felt through the pages of the book as well! This was definitely filled with all sorts of teen drama and scandal with commentary on Feminism and double standards amongst society. Farrah after being "cancelled" by her classmates for something she didn't do, strives to clear her name but also start a movement through a club that addresses issues feminism strives to dismantle. I loved her dedication as well as her friends who are supportive throughout. I think the side romance plot with her and Charlie was another cute thing. The friends to lovers trope was something I enjoyed, my only complaint was it took them so long to communicate and admit they like each other (but such is the nature of high school lol). Overall a fun and engaging read. The way it is written made me want to continue reading to find out what happens next. There's something for everyone in this book!

Thank you Penguin Teen for sending me an e-ARC of this book for an honest review.

3.5 stars

This book reminded me of "The DUFF" (the far superior book version) meets "Easy A", but for Gen Z. 
Brynn is a senior in high school who's known for her numerous flirtations and situationships, and capitalizes on this by running a business giving people advice on texting and talking to their crush, for a fee. The extra income is desperately needed, because she and her single mom are struggling to keep their house in working order, not to mention saving for Brynn's dream school: Stanford. Unfortunately for her, a video of someone hooking up with a notably taken guy at school wearing the same Halloween costume as Brynn goes viral, and her client list and social life take the hit. 

Brynn and her friends are determined to prove her innocence by finding out 1. who the person in the video is and 2. who took and leaked the video. But as time goes on and the boy in the video isn't being vilified the same way, they realize the real problem is the misogyny at their school and start a feminist club to try to shift everyone's way of thinking.

The book made a point of mentioning the intersectionality of feminism and the importance of not tokenizing marginalized groups, but the side characters didn't all feel developed enough to me to counteract that tokenism they were there to combat. Brynn's 3 best friends are a hijab-wearing pansexual, a pregnant teenager, and a trans girl, respectively, which is awesome, but aside from those things I didn't feel like I got to know them all very well. Disclaimer that I am a cis white girl, though, and by no means an expert on representation or feminism. I do think this book could be a good gateway into the topic for teens. It does make sense that Brynn has a limited viewpoint, but I found it hard to believe that out of her friend group, she was the one experiencing the most issues at school with intolerant classmates, just because she dated a lot.

This was a fun concept and I liked the underlying message of the book and the value it placed on female friendships. Brynn was frustrating sometimes, but she is a teenager, so that's kind of to be expected, and I liked the love interest a lot. The writing style was the perfect kind of easy-to-binge, fast-paced YA voice, and I'll definitely keep an eye out for this author's future works! Thanks to Penguin Teen and the author for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Read in one night and enjoyed the fast pace. This screamed high school omg, so stressful having to deal with being framed, worrying about college, and losing/gaining friends. I felt so bad for the main character brynn, she truly went through so much being a senior but I loved the message behind this story. Thank you penguin teen for the arc!

I wanted to love this book. I wanted to recommend this book. BUT THE INFORMING the reader of BLACK characters just for the sake of them being Black is wholly insensitive and unnecessary.

At least twice in this book, the black characters were identified as black just because they are black. This description adds no value to the story.

How does the MC's uncle being Black impact the story arc? How does the pediatrician being Black impact the story arc? It doesn't.

YA 4 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a refreshing and enjoyable book. Brynn is a high school senior who becomes the subject of a schoolwide scandal. She and her friends work to reclaim the narrative and fight back against the double standards and misogyn

Oh this book! So engaging, the level of “can’t put it down” is off the charts! The way the graduating seniors learn and grow and change is much less about SAT scores and more about life. The inclusivity depicted is both hard won (hello misogyny!) and a joy to behold. I look forward to more from this author.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

Brynn Whitaker seems like your typical high-achieving twelfth grader, but for a few things. For one, she’s a scholarship kid at an exclusive private school in a tony Los Angeles suburb. For another, she has a unique side hustle: helping her friends with their relationships through clever texts. The “service” helps pay some bills around the house, since her mom scrapes by as a Postmates driver and the water heater just died. But the whole thing goes pear-shaped when a compromising video shows up online, implicating her with someone else’s boyf. Now she’s on a quest to clear her name and reclaim her source of income, not to mention her reputation. Mixed in are a boy she likes, college expectations, and a rabid group of religious kids bent on saving her soul.

It’s a very good look into the day-to-day of a working-class kid in a super-rich setting. Anyone can appreciate the girl who must bum rides off classmates driving around in Lexuses and wearing the latest fashions. There are plenty of details of parties, clubs, classes, and neighborhood hangouts, all written with care and meticulousness. Brynn is a very observant narrator, infusing what she sees with both humor and well-earned skepticism. She’s smart as a whip, resilient, and self-reliant.

This book also brings to light some important issues related to sexuality and feminism. Poor Brynn gets raked over the coals for her alleged part in the offending video, while Duncan, clearly the cheater, seemingly strolls around on the moral high ground. Penn wants us to see the double standard, the unfairness, the injustice of how girls suffer for their sexual activity, while boys don’t. A feminist club gets started, and the movement picks up steam, and soon it’s not just clearing Brynn’s name that’s the goal anymore. It’s getting some justice for young women. That was inspiring.

Finally, there were sweet moments between Brynn and Charlie. They dance around their fondness for each other the entire novel, and I can imagine readers yelling, “Just get together already!” I’m not sure the romance was supposed to be the main theme here, but it was nice to see.

It’s a good look at modern teenage relationship, packaged into a creative little plot. High school students with their eyes on college should enjoy it.

I thought this book read like a teen movie - in a good way. It reminded me of the movies "Easy A" and "Saved!" at times.

I really liked the characters and their friendships. The story moves along quickly and held my attention throughout. I liked the mystery element, though I wouldn't call this a mystery. I enjoyed seeing all the girl power and was happy to see how sex positive and nonjudgmental the story was.

The romantic subplot was cute, but I liked that the heart of the story was centered on all the platonic relationships. The friend group was a lot of fun to read.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

A clever, fast paced, real novel - Farah Penn’s Cancelled brings to life the double standards for teenage girls.

Brynn Whittaker, senior gets cancelled after the first party of the year with the release of a incriminating video believed to be her. But it’s not. Brynn creatively takes on her school with her tight friendship group and forces the school to deal with the rampant double standards and misogyny.

A brilliant read, which I will definitely be recommending to my students.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, PENGUIN GROUP for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review

4.5 ⭐️
Holy sh*t.
I am so glad that my senior year of high school was nowhere near this dramatic because y’all, Brynn just can’t catch a break. First, she gets blamed for a video that’s circulating on Snapchat (it’s from a Halloween party, definitely taken without consent) which sets off this chain of events where things just keep getting worse and worse. As if things aren’t bad enough at school she’s also worried about her brother, her father who doesn’t talk to her, and helping her mom with bills. I just wanted to give her a big hug the whole book because I was stressed for her.

I really loved this book. The author gave us such a diverse cast of characters, one of Brynn’s best friends is trans, another is a hijabi, and yet another is a pregnant teen (Cadence who you’ll hear about in a second). This book does a great job at discussing the different ways that men and women are treated when it comes to sex, getting rid of that shame that women are often made to feel, and the overall effects of cyber bullying.

Circling back to Cadence I loved her story arc. As an adoptee it’s really important to me to see all of the different sides of the adoption process and through Cadence’s eyes we get to see a little of what it’s like to be a birth parent. Which was really special to me. We also have Brynn’s aunt and uncle who are starting the adoption process so yay adoption rep.

Overall this is a great book, it can be a little heavier at times but it does also have this overall girl power vibe that I love. Thank you to my friends over at Viking and NetGalley for the gifted eARC.

okay hear me out. i really wanted to like this book. but unfortunately, it just did not work for me. which is okay. you should still check it out and thank you so much to netgalley!!!!

Being a senior in high school is tough enough; conforming to social expectations, managing a challenging course load, college applications looming, the list goes on and on. So when a Snapchat seemingly of Brynn in a compromising position with her ex-best friend's current boyfriend is sent to the entire school, Brynn goes over the edge. Additionally, Brynn helps support her single parent household by bringing in money acting as a flirt consultant for her classmates which funds the emergency things that come up like broken water heaters. Brynn's reputation is in the trash. No one wants to be seen with her let alone ask for her help in the dating department. She is ostracized for something she didn’t do, and while the administration says they are “looking into it,” it’s not nearly fast enough or convincing enough for Brynn to let it lie. Instead, with the help of her friends, Brynn goes on the offense. They disguise themselves as the dust brigade and search a neighbor’s doorbell camera trying to figure out who it was in the video, to prove it wasn’t Brynn. When that isn’t successful, they form a club set to break stereotypes and wear trademark bright red lipstick as well as writing on their body the things they've been "shamed," illustrating there is nothing about those things to be shamed for after all. Brynn's future is up in the air. This book transports you straight back to high school (the good and the bad) and you can't help but to root for Brynn's name to be cleared. Brynn wants to prove it doesn't matter, but she does want to set the record straight with her ex best friend.



Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for the advanced reader's copy of this book that comes out in March!

This was so intriguing, i love girl power, slow burns, diversity & just overall empowering books! I was enthralled in this story . The MC Brynn was such an amazing character to connect with & i read this in like a day , the pages are so fast paced and easy to ready
Thank you Net Galley for an arc

Cancelled was a fun, modern read that reminded me a lot of Easy A (even including the catty Christian club determined to take the "scandalous" main character down). Brynn Whittaker is riding her flirt coach business all the way to Stanford until a video from a party goes viral, a video with a girl in a compromising position and wearing the same banana costume she wore to the party. Brynn already had a reputation for being a serial dater, and the video makes things so much worse, even though it's not her in the video.

The gossipy comments that begin each chapter draw you into the gossipy scandal that runs through the novel, and it's a lot of fun watching Brynn work to figure out who IS in the video and WHY that person wanted to ruin her reputation so badly.

But the novel also has depth, exploring the double standards of a society that is enraged to see a young women date too much or appear in a compromising position but that ignores or applauds young men who do the same thing (after all, no one is bothered about the young man in the video, even though he appears to be cheating on his girlfriend). Brynn starts a feminist club at school, and it's interesting to watch the students who join the conversation, especially as their own diverse experiences intersect with their experience of being a woman in the world.

I think many teenagers will find the book highly engaging and thought-provoking, though as a teacher, I would feel uncomfortable recommending it from the front of the classroom due to the mature content. It would, however, make a great addition to a high school library.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Also posted on Goodreads.

I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed this book. The characters in this were great. The situations that they talked about were all too real. There is such a double standard in the world. It has existed forever and even more continues to exist, which is sad. The fact that she was at 'fault' and he was not during this is just ugh. I hate how this is all too accurate. The author did a great job capturing it and explaining the situation. I also liked how positive the book was for different things such as topics others might find not great like teen pregnancy. A good read and I would recommend it.