“The Upside of Unrequited” by Becky Albertalli • Book Review
Published: 11 April, 2017 by Balzer + Bray
Format: Hardcover, 336 pages, English
“I have to admit: there's something really badass about truly, honestly not caring what people think about you.”
★★★ (3.3 / 5) Don't be fooled. This is not your average teen romance. In fact, I'd say the romance takes a backseat in a coming-of-age story more about Molly's maturing relationship with her sister—and with herself.
While a few elements lacked the depth I was hoping for, Molly's spunk kept me entertained page after page, and the story opened a window into a beautiful family that is worth looking at. I would recommend this for a light, summer read.
Thanks to OwlCrate for including it in their April 2017 box.
narration & voice.
Molly's voice in this novel is fantastic: biting humor, raw language, and fun sprinkles of modern edge. Everything about the way Molly's narration was crafted is entertaining and special. I especially liked the use of ALL CAPS to demonstrate Molly's real speech pattern.
minor characters.
What I wish had more oomph to it is the development and depth to the other characters throughout the story. Some of them fall into stereotypical boxes, which makes their personalities seem shallow and uninteresting. Even the "unrequited love" friction with Molly fell a little flat for me. In reality, she doesn't have feelings for a boy who doesn't have feelings for her either, and the boy she likes actually has liked her all along. I wish each boy (and the other characters) had more layers to help make the tension more mysterious and suspenseful.
family.
The behaviors and personalities are captured brilliantly in the twin sisters—all the way down to body insecurity and social anxiety. Abertalli shares a story of exploring sexuality and personal growth as Molly and Cassie find a way to be individuals in relationships while still being the most important thing: sisters.
Ultimately, this is what this book is about. It's not about unrequited love and drama with liking, texting, and kissing boys. In reality, this story is about family relationships. We have two interesting and special duos—twin sisters Molly & Casse and their two moms—and I loved looking at their lives through a window for a brief moment in time and just watching them grow.
final thoughts.
All in all, I enjoyed the voice and family focus of the book, but if the main take-away is supposed to be about the romance, I'd be disappointed. What do you think? Was the "romance" and "unrequited love" a big selling point for you? How did you feel once you got through it? Comment below on this post, DM me on Instagram. I'd love to hear from you!