I read this book years ago when I was a teen. I wanted to spin the block to see if it hit the same and honestly I tried to get into it. Despite the author interview I was gonna give it a chance again cause when I was young I did enjoy it. But his interview plays in my head & distracted me from the book to the point I had to DNF at a point. Now his books not bad so I won’t take that away from him but I just can’t support him 😩. It’s disappointing.

I really think it unfair to rate this without me finishing so I’m gonna gracefully give this a calm 3⭐️ even tho I couldn’t finish this time around.

I read this book years ago when I was a teen. I honestly wanted to see if it was just as good but now in my 30s, I really can’t connect so I had to DNF. I also think the author himself plays a big part in why I couldn’t finish either.

Not sure why I reread this. I think I thought it was a sequel. In any event, reading this in my fifties definitely is a different experience then when I initially read it. The main character is immature, and the writing doesn't explore a plot past her being boy crazy, along with the bad decisions she makes. The supporting teen age characters have no depth, and this was a DO NOT FINISH for me,
After seeing recent interviews with the author, it seems that his real-life persona matches the characters he writes about.

Still a timeless classic. Tracy was still that girl becoming to grown and growing up too early, it is still relateable to this day. This was one of my favorite reads growing up and the re release for this book is worth it. Happy Reading!! Thank you Net Galley and Atria Books for the Kindle Edition of this book.

Reading Flyy Girl was like being handed a diary from someone who grew up fast, loved hard, and made a lot of mistakes along the way—but never stopped trying to figure out who she was. Tracy Ellison isn’t just a character; she feels like that girl you knew in high school. Maybe you were her, maybe you judged her, maybe you admired her confidence and envied her freedom, but you definitely knew her.
What struck me the most was how real it all felt. Tracy is smart, bold, and unapologetically herself—even when “herself” is messy or self-destructive. She’s obsessed with image, attention, and the power that comes with being desired, but beneath that, she’s just a young girl trying to fill a void she doesn’t fully understand. Watching her grow up—through love, heartbreak, partying, clout-chasing, and deep disappointment—was like watching someone you care about make all the wrong moves and still wanting the best for her.
Omar Tyree doesn’t sugarcoat anything. The writing is raw, sometimes blunt to a fault, and you can tell he wasn’t trying to win literary awards—he was trying to tell the truth. And that’s what makes this book special. It captures a specific era, a specific vibe of 1980s Black culture, and a very specific type of coming-of-age that a lot of girls (especially Black girls) experienced but rarely saw reflected in books.
Was it perfect? No. Some parts felt dated or overly dramatic, and there were definitely moments where I wished for more introspection. But Flyy Girl wasn’t trying to be polished—it was trying to be honest. And that hit harder than anything else.
If you’ve ever been a teenage girl trying to make sense of your worth in a world that constantly misjudges you, this book will resonate. It’s not just a story about Tracy—it’s a story about growing up too fast, learning to love yourself the hard way, and trying to find your way back to who you really are.

From the very first page, this book draws you into its world with engaging prose, well-developed characters, and a compelling narrative. The author's storytelling is confident and immersive, weaving together themes that resonate long after the final chapter.

I love this book when I was growing up and still love it now it brought back that nostalgia feeling and I loved every minute of it

Read this in high school. I'm now in my 40s. This book is still amazing, and a classic. Back then I never realized Tracy did all this stuff while in middle school. It's not unbelievable though. I remember having a lot of "fast" friends. Omar Tyree is an amazing writer, and this book is still relevant now. Probably more so. It has very mature themes, but it needs to be read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of the book.

I read this book in high school and the story captured me just the same in my 30’s…. This story is such a timeless one in my eyes and I’m glad it got the revamp it deserved.

WOAH!!!! Needsless to say that re-reading Flyy Girl in my 30s was definitely an experience/trip I’m glad I took. I didn’t remember hardly anything other than Tracy was a “fast ass” and honestly she was.

Flyy Girl is literally the coming of age story of Tracy as she navigates the kind of woman she ultimately wants to become/the kind of man she wants.

What was most noticeable to me was that her father’s actions heavily affected this throughout her life. Her worth was largely dependent on her father’s involvement in her life and while I think he got off pretty easy with his “explanations"............................ I think this was intentionally written about a father’s role when you think about Tracy’s relationship/view of her father vs. Raheema and Mercedes. DADDY ISSUES ANYONE?

It could be considered a messy book in the sense that all teenagers are messy — but for the majority of this book Tracy is a MIDDLE SCHOOLER... which is alarming! I wasn't like this when I was younger and neither is my daughter but I feel it would a good read for them maybe in 8th grade due to some of the suggestive and questionable scenarios in the book given the age factor.

Which brings me to my last point.

I used to say “I had no business reading this in middle school!” But looking at it now… and especially with all the access kids have today. I actually probably *would* let my 8th grader read this lol They’re already discussing much worse amongst themselves and if anything,

This book is the perfect example of why teenagers should NOT be having sex.

I read Flyy Girl by Omar Tyree a while back and really enjoyed it. Tracy Ellison is such a bold, unforgettable character—her confidence, ambition, and flaws made her journey feel so real. Set in 1980s Philadelphia, the story captures the highs and lows of chasing love, success, and self-discovery, all while navigating the consequences of her choices. What really stuck with me was Tyree’s authentic storytelling—his depiction of urban life felt raw and immersive, making Tracy’s experiences even more impactful. It’s no surprise this book is considered a classic.