WELL, THAT WAS AWKWARD
AUTHOR:
Rachel Vail
GENRE:
Romance
AGE:
12+
RATING:
5/5 Stars
REVIEW:
This is a very adorable story about a girl who’s mostly thought of as a wingman, but has a lot more going on than you might realize. Gracie, who’s in eighth grade, is an awesome and funny best friend, but is forced into unfortunate (and admittedly relatable) awkwardness as she’s growing up. Since her older sister passed away before she was born, her parents are very protective of her and constantly want her to be happy, setting a deep theme to the whole story. Her social life continues to get more and more complicated as she’s trying to help her friend flirt with a boy, be kind to a slightly dorky girl, deal with a nasty popular girl and more.
What sets itself up to be a cute, funny story ends up being a very touching and relatable look at middle school and the struggles of life and growing up.
WARNINGS:
Mild romance // Very vague mentions of LGBTQ // Death
TAKEAWAYS:
When reading this book, I really didn’t expect it to be so emotional, but I was proved very wrong. While this is not a Christian book, and some very small woke themes are hinted at, the majority is clean and the romance is not intense. Gracie’s stream-of-conscience narration is hilarious, and I really enjoyed how realistic it and the characters felt. A great story, even if this genre isn’t your forte.
The Blurb
Gracie has never felt like this before. One day, she suddenly can't breathe, can't walk, can't anything and the reason is standing right there in front of her, all tall and weirdly good-looking: A.J.
It turns out A.J. likes not Gracie but Gracie's beautiful best friend, Sienna. Obviously Gracie is happy for Sienna. Super happy! She helps Sienna compose the best texts, responding to A.J. s surprisingly funny and appealing texts, just as if she were Sienna. Because Gracie is fine. Always! She's had lots of practice being the sidekick, second-best.
It s all good. Well, almost all. She's trying.
About the Author
Rachel Vail is the award-winning author of more than 40 books.
Her newest picture book is Sometimes I Grumblesquinch
Her newest novel for middle-schoolers is Bad Best Friend.
Her novels for teens and tweens also include Well, That was Awkward; Unfriended; If We Kiss; Kiss Me Again; The Avery Sisters Trilogy: Lucky, Gorgeous, Brilliant, and the Friendship Ring series.
For elementary school kids, her chapter book series, A is for ELIZABETH! Joins the JUSTIN CASE trilogy.
Her picture books include Piggy Bunny and Sometimes I’m Bombaloo.
Rachel lives in New York City and beside a lake in CT with her husband, their two sons, and a tortoise named Lightning.
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