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You Say It First
Meg has her entire life set up perfectly: her boyfriend Mason is sweet and supportive, she and her best friend Emily plan to head to Cornell together in the fall, and she even finds time to clock shifts phonebanking at a voter registration call center in her Philadelphia suburb. But everything changes when one of those calls connects her to a stranger from small-town Ohio, who gets under her skin from the moment he picks up the phone.
Colby is stuck in a rut, reeling from a family tragedy and working a dead-end job—unsure what his future holds, or if he even cares. The last thing he has time for is some privileged rich girl preaching the sanctity of the political process. So he says the worst thing he can think of and hangs up.
But things don’t end there.�
That night on the phone winds up being the first in a series of candid, sometimes heated, always surprising conversations that lead to a long-distance friendship and then—slowly—to something more. Across state lines and phone lines, Meg and Colby form a once-in-a-lifetime connection. But in the end, are they just too different to make it work?
You Say It First is a propulsive, layered novel about how sometimes the person who has the least in common with us can be the one who changes us most.
Colby is stuck in a rut, reeling from a family tragedy and working a dead-end job—unsure what his future holds, or if he even cares. The last thing he has time for is some privileged rich girl preaching the sanctity of the political process. So he says the worst thing he can think of and hangs up.
But things don’t end there.�
That night on the phone winds up being the first in a series of candid, sometimes heated, always surprising conversations that lead to a long-distance friendship and then—slowly—to something more. Across state lines and phone lines, Meg and Colby form a once-in-a-lifetime connection. But in the end, are they just too different to make it work?
You Say It First is a propulsive, layered novel about how sometimes the person who has the least in common with us can be the one who changes us most.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published June 16, 2020
367 people are currently reading
23.5k people want to read
About the author
Katie Cotugno
21books2,357followersKatie Cotugno is the New York Times bestselling author of seven messy, complicated feminist YA love stories, as well as the adult novel Birds of California (Harper Perennial, 2022). She is also the co-author, with Candace Bushnell, of Rules for Being a Girl. Her books have been honored by the Junior Library Guild, the Bank Street Children’s Book Committee, and the Kentucky Association of School Librarians, among others, and translated into more than fifteen languages. Katie is a Pushcart Prize nominee whose work has appeared in The Iowa Review, The Mississippi Review, and Argestes, as well as many other literary magazines. She studied Writing, Literature and Publishing at Emerson College and received her MFA in Fiction at Lesley University. She lives in Boston with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,275 reviews
December 21, 2020
3.5 stars
There were two genre-defying things I really appreciated about . The first was that Colby (the male MC) admitted that Meg (the female MC) wasn't as attractive as his other potential love interest, but he was into Meg in spite of her being the less attractive option. Too often in romances, the prospective female love interest is described as "the most beautiful woman" that the dude has ever seen, the first time he sees her. And I'm just kind of sick of it. Like, does he like her only because she's hot or what? Maybe it's just me, but I'd much rather he not think the woman is the hottest thing since burnt sliced bread at first and instead grow more attracted to her as his feelings for her grow, which I think is more true to life, at least in my (albeit limited) experience. The second thing I appreciated about this book was that the guy was the virgin and the girl was the more experienced partner. It was a refreshing reversal of the normal roles. #feminism, etc.
There were two genre-defying things I really appreciated about . The first was that Colby (the male MC) admitted that Meg (the female MC) wasn't as attractive as his other potential love interest, but he was into Meg in spite of her being the less attractive option. Too often in romances, the prospective female love interest is described as "the most beautiful woman" that the dude has ever seen, the first time he sees her. And I'm just kind of sick of it. Like, does he like her only because she's hot or what? Maybe it's just me, but I'd much rather he not think the woman is the hottest thing since burnt sliced bread at first and instead grow more attracted to her as his feelings for her grow, which I think is more true to life, at least in my (albeit limited) experience. The second thing I appreciated about this book was that the guy was the virgin and the girl was the more experienced partner. It was a refreshing reversal of the normal roles. #feminism, etc.
April 18, 2021
(1.5/5)
WHAT.
THE HECK.
WAS THAT.
TO SAY I AM ENRAGED WOULD BE A MOTHERTRUCKING UNDERSTATEMENT.
AND TO THINK THAT I WAS ON SUCH A GREAT STREAK THIS MONTH WITH NOT READING (too) SHITTY BOOKS.
I BLAME THE CUTESY CONTEMPORARY COVERS FOR WHY A HUNDRED OF THESE SORT OF BOOKS ARE ON MY TBR AND WHY I PREDICTABLY FALL FOR THEM TIME AND TIME AGAIN.
Seriously considering making this my life motto.
'You Say It First' has, at its core, an interesting premise. I mean, why else would I read it?Don't answer that. Meg is a progressive girl in Philadelphia who works as a phone banker, calling people and convincing them to vote. Colby lives in a small town in Ohio, and doesn't trust the system.
As you can imagine, Meg calls Colby, their views disagree and they get into an argument, which naturally leads to more phone calls, a friendship, and eventually, sOmEtHiNg MoRe BlOsSoMiNg BeTwEeN tHe TwO.
Nothing we haven't heard before, right?
Apart from Meg and Colby, Meg's mildly shitty friends and Colby's really shitty friends, none of the other characters have any real importance to the """plot""" of this book. Which is a shame, because maybe then I might have not hated this as much as I did.
Meg, as well-meaning as she is, doesn't always understand people's situation, or the sheer amount of privilege that she has. It's briefly acknowledged, but never really resolved, or shown that Meg reaches an understanding regarding the issue. Not to mention how bland she is. Does she even have any hobbies?? A personality outside of public service??? We don't know, and I don't think we ever will.
Colby was just plain annoying. He lives in the past and just goes along with whatever is happening or being said (mostly because, I suspect, of a lack of grief coping strategies). He doesn't say what he means or stand up for himself, which results in a lot of frustration overall.
The sad thing is that neither of these two ever really undergo any solid character growth. They're at about the same place they were at the beginning at the end, and it pissed me off. Even Meg's friends undergo better character development than these two. (Colby's shitty friends were complete arseholes, with the exception of Joanna, so we're not going to talk about them.)
Did someone ask about the plot? What plot? There is no real plot to this book. The only thing that drags the book on and acts as a stand-in for the plot are the phone calls that take place between Meg and Colby.
The writing is mediocre; nothing special, nothing terrible.
The worst part of this book? The romance.
Which sucked, because this is, at its core, a romance novel. Ugh.
I genuinely feel that Meg and Colby would have been better off as just friends, regardless of whether they decided to stay long-distance or meet up one day. They could have easily had a really wholesome, platonic relationship in which the characters grow by experiencing different perspectives. I'll really lament what might have been with this one.
As for the romance itself?
There was so much miscommunication and so many misunderstandings between Meg and Colby, that it was annoying me. Each time that they met up in-person, it was all of about five minutes of cute couple-y shit before they started arguing, sort of made-up, and left.
In fact, both of their in-person meetings and many of their phone calls fall into this predictable cycle of arguing, making up, arguing, making up, and on and on and on. Personally, I didn't find any chemistry to exist between the two at all, and I really don't think they have anything going for their relationship, either.
As for the ending, well, let's just say that things were left vague enough that:
� it was overall quite dissatisfying considering all that I had listened to even get to the end.
� the """plot""" was basically in the same place it was when the book started (literally).
� I can imagine that Meg and Colby don't end up together. Which on the one hand, is what I hope happens, but on the other, just reaffirms my sinking suspicions that I wasted eight hours on a romance book that fails to deliver on the romance (and just about everything else, really).
All in all, to summarize:
but also
~~~~~~~~~
1.5 "i-don't-think-they're-going-to-stay-together-very-long" stars
review to come ig
WHAT.
THE HECK.
WAS THAT.
TO SAY I AM ENRAGED WOULD BE A MOTHERTRUCKING UNDERSTATEMENT.
AND TO THINK THAT I WAS ON SUCH A GREAT STREAK THIS MONTH WITH NOT READING (too) SHITTY BOOKS.
I BLAME THE CUTESY CONTEMPORARY COVERS FOR WHY A HUNDRED OF THESE SORT OF BOOKS ARE ON MY TBR AND WHY I PREDICTABLY FALL FOR THEM TIME AND TIME AGAIN.
Seriously considering making this my life motto.
'You Say It First' has, at its core, an interesting premise. I mean, why else would I read it?
As you can imagine, Meg calls Colby, their views disagree and they get into an argument, which naturally leads to more phone calls, a friendship, and eventually, sOmEtHiNg MoRe BlOsSoMiNg BeTwEeN tHe TwO.
Nothing we haven't heard before, right?
Apart from Meg and Colby, Meg's mildly shitty friends and Colby's really shitty friends, none of the other characters have any real importance to the """plot""" of this book. Which is a shame, because maybe then I might have not hated this as much as I did.
Meg, as well-meaning as she is, doesn't always understand people's situation, or the sheer amount of privilege that she has. It's briefly acknowledged, but never really resolved, or shown that Meg reaches an understanding regarding the issue. Not to mention how bland she is. Does she even have any hobbies?? A personality outside of public service??? We don't know, and I don't think we ever will.
Colby was just plain annoying. He lives in the past and just goes along with whatever is happening or being said (mostly because, I suspect, of a lack of grief coping strategies). He doesn't say what he means or stand up for himself, which results in a lot of frustration overall.
The sad thing is that neither of these two ever really undergo any solid character growth. They're at about the same place they were at the beginning at the end, and it pissed me off. Even Meg's friends undergo better character development than these two. (Colby's shitty friends were complete arseholes, with the exception of Joanna, so we're not going to talk about them.)
Did someone ask about the plot? What plot? There is no real plot to this book. The only thing that drags the book on and acts as a stand-in for the plot are the phone calls that take place between Meg and Colby.
The writing is mediocre; nothing special, nothing terrible.
The worst part of this book? The romance.
Which sucked, because this is, at its core, a romance novel. Ugh.
I genuinely feel that Meg and Colby would have been better off as just friends, regardless of whether they decided to stay long-distance or meet up one day. They could have easily had a really wholesome, platonic relationship in which the characters grow by experiencing different perspectives. I'll really lament what might have been with this one.
As for the romance itself?
There was so much miscommunication and so many misunderstandings between Meg and Colby, that it was annoying me. Each time that they met up in-person, it was all of about five minutes of cute couple-y shit before they started arguing, sort of made-up, and left.
In fact, both of their in-person meetings and many of their phone calls fall into this predictable cycle of arguing, making up, arguing, making up, and on and on and on. Personally, I didn't find any chemistry to exist between the two at all, and I really don't think they have anything going for their relationship, either.
As for the ending, well, let's just say that things were left vague enough that:
� it was overall quite dissatisfying considering all that I had listened to even get to the end.
� the """plot""" was basically in the same place it was when the book started (literally).
� I can imagine that Meg and Colby don't end up together. Which on the one hand, is what I hope happens, but on the other, just reaffirms my sinking suspicions that I wasted eight hours on a romance book that fails to deliver on the romance (and just about everything else, really).
All in all, to summarize:
but also
~~~~~~~~~
1.5 "i-don't-think-they're-going-to-stay-together-very-long" stars
review to come ig
June 23, 2020
let me start off by saying this wasn't a bad book, i just didn't give a shit about any of the characters, plot or anything at all in this.
first of all, i honestly have no idea why even meg and colby were together, other than the fact that they were the person the other could be honest with (and even that wasn't always the case), they were very judgmental towards each other and always arguing and assuming things about the other. i wasn't even rooting for them to be together. their arguments gets very repetitive very fast and they both have no development as characters or as a couple until the very end of the book.
secondly, all i could think through out the whole book was how annoying the characters were? if i started to list all the things the characters did that annoyed me we'd be here all day. There were some cute parts though that i enjoyed, other than that it really didn't do it for me.
first of all, i honestly have no idea why even meg and colby were together, other than the fact that they were the person the other could be honest with (and even that wasn't always the case), they were very judgmental towards each other and always arguing and assuming things about the other. i wasn't even rooting for them to be together. their arguments gets very repetitive very fast and they both have no development as characters or as a couple until the very end of the book.
secondly, all i could think through out the whole book was how annoying the characters were? if i started to list all the things the characters did that annoyed me we'd be here all day. There were some cute parts though that i enjoyed, other than that it really didn't do it for me.
May 7, 2020
I’m always interested in reading stories with complex characters, and Meg and Colby are both prime examples of that. They’re young and they’ve got their own perspective on the world at the start, and it’s interesting to witness how that perspective gets challenged as the story continues.
January 23, 2024
This was a quick, easy and entertaining read.
Meg, a suburban girl from Philadelphia, rich, goes to a private school, and seem to have it all together, at least on the surface; meets Colby, a small town boy from Alma Ohio, who was not sure about his future, and cared little about his present. They were truly both from different worlds, it wasn’t hard to see they would suffer some level of insecurities trying to fit into each other’s worlds. Despite this little hiccup, they had a great connection, at least over their long-distance phone calls, and eventually, found love.
3.5 stars!
Meg, a suburban girl from Philadelphia, rich, goes to a private school, and seem to have it all together, at least on the surface; meets Colby, a small town boy from Alma Ohio, who was not sure about his future, and cared little about his present. They were truly both from different worlds, it wasn’t hard to see they would suffer some level of insecurities trying to fit into each other’s worlds. Despite this little hiccup, they had a great connection, at least over their long-distance phone calls, and eventually, found love.
3.5 stars!
August 9, 2020
2.5 Stars
CW:
Well the cover looks like a cute romance. The blurb sounds mostly like a cute romance with a potential exploration of some deeper issues.
It is not a cute romance.
It is a book about two people with difficult and tragic lives who spend more time antagonising each other than staring dreamily into each others eyes. It is not a bad book but it just wasn't what I was expecting. I found the self-sabotage storyline a bit frustrating but I understand that their past and present trauma is the cause of this. I just didn't feel that there really was a romantic connection between Meg and Colby. It was more of a 'co-dependent you make me feel better' type connection. This is not a bad type of storyline but seriously, the cover mislead me people! My rating however, is not based on my feelings of cover betrayal. It just didn't quite come together for me as a YA realistic novel either.
CW:
Well the cover looks like a cute romance. The blurb sounds mostly like a cute romance with a potential exploration of some deeper issues.
It is not a cute romance.
It is a book about two people with difficult and tragic lives who spend more time antagonising each other than staring dreamily into each others eyes. It is not a bad book but it just wasn't what I was expecting. I found the self-sabotage storyline a bit frustrating but I understand that their past and present trauma is the cause of this. I just didn't feel that there really was a romantic connection between Meg and Colby. It was more of a 'co-dependent you make me feel better' type connection. This is not a bad type of storyline but seriously, the cover mislead me people! My rating however, is not based on my feelings of cover betrayal. It just didn't quite come together for me as a YA realistic novel either.
July 14, 2020
“It was the thesis statement of their friendship—that comforting sameness, the knowledge that by the time a thought occurred to her, Emily was already thinking it, too. Sometimes Meg wondered if maybe they were actually the same person, split into two different bodies by some cosmic mistake.�
I loved this book *so* much and I will not accept any bad reviews of it!!! (Kidding, you can obviously have your own opinions. Even if they're wrong!)
You Say It First was my first Katie Cotugno book and definitely not my last one. I don't know what I was expecting from this but it certainly wasn't that. I thought it would be more like a "Yes No Maybe So" kinda vibe but it was sooo much better.
The writing style was the perfect ya contemporary style for me personally and I flew through it, reading 200 pages at once without even realizing it. And I loved the story even more than the writing! Meg, our female protagonist, might be my favorite character ever. She reminded me SO much of myself in her political activism and her fierceness about what she thought was right but also how that made her snobby sometimes. And the way her romance with Colby, someone completely different to her was written?? Groundbreaking. Spectacular. Magnificent. Colby was challenging her, in that he had a different background and therefore different views (which is so realistic and important!) without ever being too republican or ignorant for her (or the reader) to forgive him. What I loved most about their love story was the from texting to a long distance relationship element. Why do such few authors write about this?? It's 2020 and like the most realistic form of young adults getting together if we're being honest. And it didn't take ANYTHING away from the story either.
I loved loved loved this book, i love how it was cute and sometimes painfully relatable (that parent storyline from Meg hit a liiiittle too close to home) and challenging and just overall an amazing time! I will never shut up about it. Honestly if only one person reads this now because of me, this rambling review was absolutely worth it.
I loved this book *so* much and I will not accept any bad reviews of it!!! (Kidding, you can obviously have your own opinions. Even if they're wrong!)
You Say It First was my first Katie Cotugno book and definitely not my last one. I don't know what I was expecting from this but it certainly wasn't that. I thought it would be more like a "Yes No Maybe So" kinda vibe but it was sooo much better.
The writing style was the perfect ya contemporary style for me personally and I flew through it, reading 200 pages at once without even realizing it. And I loved the story even more than the writing! Meg, our female protagonist, might be my favorite character ever. She reminded me SO much of myself in her political activism and her fierceness about what she thought was right but also how that made her snobby sometimes. And the way her romance with Colby, someone completely different to her was written?? Groundbreaking. Spectacular. Magnificent. Colby was challenging her, in that he had a different background and therefore different views (which is so realistic and important!) without ever being too republican or ignorant for her (or the reader) to forgive him. What I loved most about their love story was the from texting to a long distance relationship element. Why do such few authors write about this?? It's 2020 and like the most realistic form of young adults getting together if we're being honest. And it didn't take ANYTHING away from the story either.
I loved loved loved this book, i love how it was cute and sometimes painfully relatable (that parent storyline from Meg hit a liiiittle too close to home) and challenging and just overall an amazing time! I will never shut up about it. Honestly if only one person reads this now because of me, this rambling review was absolutely worth it.
Want to read
January 4, 2020I didn't even know this was a thing until I started browsing through Edelweiss looking for e-ARCS and stumbled upon this. I've never read a Katie Cotugno book before, but this sounded so up my alley and I couldn't pass on it.
Oh, and EDELWEISS CAME THROUGH FOR ME AND APPROVED ME FOR A COPY OF THIS YEE-HAW!!!
Oh, and EDELWEISS CAME THROUGH FOR ME AND APPROVED ME FOR A COPY OF THIS YEE-HAW!!!
March 9, 2020
I received an ARC from Harper Collins Canada in exchange for an honest review.
While I can say I'm a fan of Katie's books, I can also say that some are a huge hit and some are a huge miss. It's always the ending that frustrates me the most but definitely the characters can really irritate me as well. You Say It First is marketed as YA novel that deals with the importance of youth voting and taking part in the election process. If you're worried about politics in this book, you really don't have to be because there's hardly anything in it. And if you were excited about this book because of the aspect of politics, then sorry, it will disappoint you.
YSIF was a weird one for me. For one thing, the writing seemed a bit off. It had a lot of flowery metaphors that borderline didn't make sense or seemed pretentious and it came off chunky a lot of the times. I can't say that I really understand the relationship that developed between Meg and Colby as every time they talk, their differences in opinions seem to get in the way, and they end up having screaming matches over the phone or across from each other. Colby is prejudice against Meg because he thinks she came from a spectacular upbringing with supportive parents and money to spare. While Meg, never really looks down at Colby except for a few parts but Colby becomes very protective of himself and his upbringing to the point that his arguments always circle back to their different financial backgrounds. It gets very old, very quick.
These two incompatible characters meet when Meg calls Colby to ask him if he registered to vote in the upcoming election. It is there where their relationship begins. Through endless phone calls in the middle of the night and through text, this couple learns more and more about each other.
I did appreciate the characters and their backgrounds. Meg's parents have recently gone through a divorce that has left her life upended and in pieces. She's trying her best to look normal in front of everyone even though she secretly is scared of losing her best friend and that her mother is actually an alcoholic. Colby's life seems like he has it worse after his father committed suicide when he was younger. He's dealing with grief, his older brother being a jerk, and the possibility of living in the small town he grew up in with no plans to ever move up and onwards.
One thing that really annoyed me was Meg's best friend. She's a jerk. If you read this book, you'll know why. She has no redeeming qualities. Goodbye.
MY RECOMMENDATION
Read this if you're interested in an angsty YA romance.
While I can say I'm a fan of Katie's books, I can also say that some are a huge hit and some are a huge miss. It's always the ending that frustrates me the most but definitely the characters can really irritate me as well. You Say It First is marketed as YA novel that deals with the importance of youth voting and taking part in the election process. If you're worried about politics in this book, you really don't have to be because there's hardly anything in it. And if you were excited about this book because of the aspect of politics, then sorry, it will disappoint you.
YSIF was a weird one for me. For one thing, the writing seemed a bit off. It had a lot of flowery metaphors that borderline didn't make sense or seemed pretentious and it came off chunky a lot of the times. I can't say that I really understand the relationship that developed between Meg and Colby as every time they talk, their differences in opinions seem to get in the way, and they end up having screaming matches over the phone or across from each other. Colby is prejudice against Meg because he thinks she came from a spectacular upbringing with supportive parents and money to spare. While Meg, never really looks down at Colby except for a few parts but Colby becomes very protective of himself and his upbringing to the point that his arguments always circle back to their different financial backgrounds. It gets very old, very quick.
These two incompatible characters meet when Meg calls Colby to ask him if he registered to vote in the upcoming election. It is there where their relationship begins. Through endless phone calls in the middle of the night and through text, this couple learns more and more about each other.
I did appreciate the characters and their backgrounds. Meg's parents have recently gone through a divorce that has left her life upended and in pieces. She's trying her best to look normal in front of everyone even though she secretly is scared of losing her best friend and that her mother is actually an alcoholic. Colby's life seems like he has it worse after his father committed suicide when he was younger. He's dealing with grief, his older brother being a jerk, and the possibility of living in the small town he grew up in with no plans to ever move up and onwards.
One thing that really annoyed me was Meg's best friend. She's a jerk. If you read this book, you'll know why. She has no redeeming qualities. Goodbye.
MY RECOMMENDATION
Read this if you're interested in an angsty YA romance.
Want to read
February 21, 2020I'm very excited that the premise of this meet-cute hinges on the importance of voting.
I've phonebanked before too. Voting is very important!
I've phonebanked before too. Voting is very important!
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
September 2, 2023DNF after 30%
Not my kind of romance book somehow.
Not my kind of romance book somehow.
June 28, 2020
This was such a nice, heartwarming story and the characters really drive the whole story for you.
I loved the character development in this book. The story between Meg and Colby was lovely and so comfortable ❤️
I loved it!
I loved the character development in this book. The story between Meg and Colby was lovely and so comfortable ❤️
I loved it!
July 14, 2021
I thought this was a good romcom, an older YA book for people who want to speed through a book in a short period of time.
I'm not going to say that this was exceptional but I did quite enjoy the banter between the two main characters and the plot-line. You Say It First was fastly paced, interestingly casted, and as messy as a toddler finger painting.
I really enjoyed the various conversations that the two characters, Meg and Colby, had and how they dealt with various issues in their lives. I thought their development throughout the story was interesting and enjoyable to read about. (I also really loved how they met, although I don't think I will become a telemarketer or answer one on the phone anytime soon.)
The book could have some unnecessarily long sentences and repetitive phrases but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
CW: An alcoholic parent, divorced parents, mentions/short description of a parent who died from s*icide, mentions of sexual intercourse, kissing, underage drinking, and a fight. Oh and POLITICS. (Not listed in a particular order)
I'm not going to say that this was exceptional but I did quite enjoy the banter between the two main characters and the plot-line. You Say It First was fastly paced, interestingly casted, and as messy as a toddler finger painting.
I really enjoyed the various conversations that the two characters, Meg and Colby, had and how they dealt with various issues in their lives. I thought their development throughout the story was interesting and enjoyable to read about. (I also really loved how they met, although I don't think I will become a telemarketer or answer one on the phone anytime soon.)
The book could have some unnecessarily long sentences and repetitive phrases but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
CW: An alcoholic parent, divorced parents, mentions/short description of a parent who died from s*icide, mentions of sexual intercourse, kissing, underage drinking, and a fight. Oh and POLITICS. (Not listed in a particular order)
October 31, 2020
2.5/5 Stars
This novel isn't a bad book per se, but it just wasn't the right read for me. I was curious to see Colby and Meg's long-distance relationship develop and I was quite disappointed by it. It felt like it was built on fragile foundations and I didn't like how much they bickered. I get the being challenged and having a strong opinion part, but they spent more time discussing than anything else really.
Also, this book has some big and important themes that were used as subplots and that were resolved way too quickly and easily for my taste.
This was my first Katie Cotugno's book and I've always heard pretty good things about her. I must say I didn't particularly enjoy her writing in this novel, but I hope to read something else by her in the future and change my mind about this aspect.
This novel isn't a bad book per se, but it just wasn't the right read for me. I was curious to see Colby and Meg's long-distance relationship develop and I was quite disappointed by it. It felt like it was built on fragile foundations and I didn't like how much they bickered. I get the being challenged and having a strong opinion part, but they spent more time discussing than anything else really.
Also, this book has some big and important themes that were used as subplots and that were resolved way too quickly and easily for my taste.
This was my first Katie Cotugno's book and I've always heard pretty good things about her. I must say I didn't particularly enjoy her writing in this novel, but I hope to read something else by her in the future and change my mind about this aspect.
October 12, 2023
I thought I wouldn't love it but it was good!
The first half of the book is so good, I particularly liked how they discover each other. The book does get a little slow as the end gets close. And that's why 3.5 stars.
The first half of the book is so good, I particularly liked how they discover each other. The book does get a little slow as the end gets close. And that's why 3.5 stars.
February 17, 2021
They do be really saying ‘don’t judge a book by its cover�. I expected I’d get a cute, fluffy with a little bit flimsy in the middle of the story just to show that a relationship has its ups and downs or maybe some obstacles that hamper the process of two star crossed lovers from getting back together and then poof—they’re back together through some sort of deep-talks and deep-understanding. I’m not sorry if this sounds cliché because I do love me some cliché stuff.
This book is far from what I preconceived. There is still some cute stuff that makes me feel giddy but overall, it is so realistic that I just couldn’t disagree with the author’s intention because it is what happens in a real-life and it is better to stay in that way. I’d say this story is the perfect example for ‘say no to toxic relationships.� And I’m happy with that in spite of receiving a massive let-down in return because this book has its own strong points that make me feel attached to it.
You Say It First focuses on family, friendships, political issues(voting), dealing with the loss of a loved one, overcoming and embracing insecurities, and the disparities between two complex people who’re tied to a long-distance-relationship. This book is pretty heavy, at some points I feel sympathy for the lead characters and their family because of what they’ve gone through. The level of angst in this book if I were to measure it inside a small cup, metaphorically speaking, it’ll be overflowed by the time you finish reading it. It’s up to everyone’s view and taste whether angsty read is a good thing or not. Paradoxically for me, it pulls me onto the track of reality and I’m okay with it.
Would I still recommend this book? Yes, I’d recommend this to those who want to challenge themselves and volunteer to be suffered and stare at the ceiling at 3.a.m. right after finishing it. If you’re not one of them, skip it.
- 3/5 �
CW// suicide, suicidal signs, sexism
This book is far from what I preconceived. There is still some cute stuff that makes me feel giddy but overall, it is so realistic that I just couldn’t disagree with the author’s intention because it is what happens in a real-life and it is better to stay in that way. I’d say this story is the perfect example for ‘say no to toxic relationships.� And I’m happy with that in spite of receiving a massive let-down in return because this book has its own strong points that make me feel attached to it.
You Say It First focuses on family, friendships, political issues(voting), dealing with the loss of a loved one, overcoming and embracing insecurities, and the disparities between two complex people who’re tied to a long-distance-relationship. This book is pretty heavy, at some points I feel sympathy for the lead characters and their family because of what they’ve gone through. The level of angst in this book if I were to measure it inside a small cup, metaphorically speaking, it’ll be overflowed by the time you finish reading it. It’s up to everyone’s view and taste whether angsty read is a good thing or not. Paradoxically for me, it pulls me onto the track of reality and I’m okay with it.
Would I still recommend this book? Yes, I’d recommend this to those who want to challenge themselves and volunteer to be suffered and stare at the ceiling at 3.a.m. right after finishing it. If you’re not one of them, skip it.
- 3/5 �
CW// suicide, suicidal signs, sexism
January 19, 2023
I didn’t realize this story would be so political and feminist. It is in the synopsis, but it was just more prevalent than I expected. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, I just don’t care about politics, so when the story delved into that, I grew bored and just couldn’t care.
But the thing that bothered me the most was Meg and Colby’s relationship. I did not like how they always argue. And they’re supposed to fall in love? Since they’re the MCs and the main love interests and all.
Their relationship begins with a fight. Which isn’t bad. I love the enemies to lovers trope, and those always begin with the two characters fighting or hating each other. And the two were complete strangers, so it didn’t bother me that the first phone call ended poorly for them. But the problem is that they’re always fighting.
Every conversation they have ends in a fight. How can someone have a relationship they hope to last if they’re always fighting? Theirs is the kind of relationship that will be very short, or it will last a little longer but they’ll hate every minute of it because they’re always fighting and not trusting or respecting each other.
I don’t understand how they can be having a fight one second, and the next they’re kissing, and then fighting, and then they fall asleep together in a hotel bed, then fighting again, and suddenly they’re boyfriend and girlfriend.
But the thing that bothered me the most was Meg and Colby’s relationship. I did not like how they always argue. And they’re supposed to fall in love? Since they’re the MCs and the main love interests and all.
Their relationship begins with a fight. Which isn’t bad. I love the enemies to lovers trope, and those always begin with the two characters fighting or hating each other. And the two were complete strangers, so it didn’t bother me that the first phone call ended poorly for them. But the problem is that they’re always fighting.
Every conversation they have ends in a fight. How can someone have a relationship they hope to last if they’re always fighting? Theirs is the kind of relationship that will be very short, or it will last a little longer but they’ll hate every minute of it because they’re always fighting and not trusting or respecting each other.
I don’t understand how they can be having a fight one second, and the next they’re kissing, and then fighting, and then they fall asleep together in a hotel bed, then fighting again, and suddenly they’re boyfriend and girlfriend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2020
I loved Colby and Meg's characters. They are so different and struggling with so many real problems and somehow they can connect in a beautiful way and help eachother improve and grow.
However, the ending was such a let down. It feels like it's missing an entire chapter. Colby never opened to Meg, never came clean about his dad and his nightmares, never explained to her what happened on the day of hers dad's wedding. It SO frustrating. Of course it's implied that they had this talk, but after everything to just end the book like that felt extremely lazy.
However, the ending was such a let down. It feels like it's missing an entire chapter. Colby never opened to Meg, never came clean about his dad and his nightmares, never explained to her what happened on the day of hers dad's wedding. It SO frustrating. Of course it's implied that they had this talk, but after everything to just end the book like that felt extremely lazy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2021
DNF'ing two thirds of the way through. It was a cute plot, and done pretty well, but had a LOT of life drama going on, and just got a little much for my. My life is full enough of drama lol! The romance was far from clean, and curse words were used very liberally, for those worried about such things. I can see others enjoying it, but sadly, it wasn't for me! :(
March 14, 2022
1/5.
what the fuck. both characters were so annoying like i could barely put up with them.
this was so bad. i literally don't like meg at all. her one personality trait is that she's obsessed with politics. i mean there's nothing wrong with that but she literally idolized politicians like girlie they aren't ppl to worship and praise.
i literally want to punch meg in the face. she never once acknowledged the privilege she had. it was extremely unbearable. she's so ignorant and doesn't understand that people go through different situations and circumstances. like pls. she needs a reality check. not everyone is rich and comfortable and living lavishly. she had ZERO hobbies either. like NONE. she was just so bland and annoying like i literally cannot handle her and i don't like shiting on women (even if they're fictional) but this girl-- pls...
also colby was annoying and dumb (i sound like a middle schooler idc). neither meg nor colby went through any serious character development.
this book was also FILLED with the miscomunication trope. like that is literally my least favorite trope ever.
ok bye i was rly mean sry
what the fuck. both characters were so annoying like i could barely put up with them.
this was so bad. i literally don't like meg at all. her one personality trait is that she's obsessed with politics. i mean there's nothing wrong with that but she literally idolized politicians like girlie they aren't ppl to worship and praise.
i literally want to punch meg in the face. she never once acknowledged the privilege she had. it was extremely unbearable. she's so ignorant and doesn't understand that people go through different situations and circumstances. like pls. she needs a reality check. not everyone is rich and comfortable and living lavishly. she had ZERO hobbies either. like NONE. she was just so bland and annoying like i literally cannot handle her and i don't like shiting on women (even if they're fictional) but this girl-- pls...
also colby was annoying and dumb (i sound like a middle schooler idc). neither meg nor colby went through any serious character development.
this book was also FILLED with the miscomunication trope. like that is literally my least favorite trope ever.
ok bye i was rly mean sry
August 24, 2021
“I don’t actually think it always has to be your sole responsibility to make sure everything goes perfectly all the time�
OMG, this book is the sweetest thing, I loved it so much, definitely one of those cases when the story far exceeds my expectations. I feel that this plot touched my heart in many ways, the characters seemed very realistic and the topics it covers are very shocking, but they're well discussed and very well executed in my point of view. Politics isn't usually my jam, but I was still able to enjoy this contemporary romance very much, and that makes me very happy.
4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
You can find more of my reviews & fun content on my blog
In this book, we follow two characters whose we'll have their respective POVs, Meg & Colby. Meg, on the one hand, has her life planned out perfectly, with her amazing boyfriend, and plans to go to college with her best friend, Emily. In her spare time, she works as a phone banker at a voter registration call center in a Philadelphia suburb, but everything will change for her after a simple phone conversation that will make her realize that life can take unexpected turns. Colby, on the other hand, lives trying to get over his father's tragic suicide, going to work every day uncertain about what his future holds for him or if he even cares. The last thing he has time for is some privileged rich girl preaching the sanctity of the political process. But these calls will soon become a regular occurrence for them and as they begin to connect, doubts begin to creep in. Are they just too different to make it work?
I think the plot is perhaps a bit simple in its main idea, as it's about two young people who after an unexpected phone call, and almost by mistake, get to know each other and connect despite being from very different worlds, but in fact, it becomes much more than just that once we explore about their lives, and we know more about their insecurities, their fears, and their true desires and goals. There's something very real and human in this story that also comes with a huge emotional charge that made me love it deeply.
It's the exploration of personalities, and family conflicts that make this story stand out in my opinion. The plot focuses a lot on both characters equally and as we follow them in their daily lives, and get to know their friends, their families, and themselves, we recognize where many of their attitudes and outlooks on life come from that are in turn completely different. I'll talk more about the characters later as such, but without a doubt, we explore very polarized lives. On the one hand, we have a rich girl with privileges and therefore her position is very different from the boy who comes from a humble working-class background and for whom things have been perhaps more difficult, you know? Very interesting to read in my opinion, it's also elaborated in a very realistic way.
I really liked the writing style, I've been wanting to give the author a full chance for a long time, I've read some short stories by her, but nothing like a full book, so I'm super happy I did it and enjoyed it so much. The dialogues are wonderful, and I love that it has so many of them, in this kind of stories it's just necessary to even have a good quality in the conversations of the characters, which obviously can be a bit cheesy at times, but always made me smile at the end, sometimes making me sad too I admit, I feel a lot of things for this story.
On the other hand, I want to point out that choosing to tell this story in double POV is just perfect because we get to know the characters in more depth and we can understand what's going on in their minds, and their personal conflicts, it's also super interesting to see how their attitudes change once they meet and I love to see how they're empowered in the best ways, there are also conflicts of course, but it's obviously the journey in which the story takes you and also every moment even the bad ones help the characters to grow and evolve, and I LOVE to say that there's a lot of growth in that aspect.
I'll talk or at least try to tell you a little bit about the main characters. On one side, we have Meg and you can see from the first moment that she's a person who wants to have an impact on the world and wants to do something to change people's lives for the better, that's why she has decided to get involved in politics which I believe from what I've read, she's passionate about. She can be innocent at times, obviously, her outlook on life has a lot to do with her parents and upbringing which was obviously full of privilege given the good social class she comes from, yet her intentions are very honest and real and I love that about her.
I also like how she's very true to her ideals and has a very empathetic side as well. On the other hand, I really connected with this character since it's very complicated for Meg to express openly when she has some kind of disagreement with someone she loves. She's always trying to be a mediator and runs away from conflicts since she doesn't want to generate them or be part of them, but because of this she ends up shutting up many things, and then, of course, she always ends up doing what makes others happy instead, and I can really relate to that, and the attitude of always putting others first, it's something I work on a lot myself so I was happy to see it portrayed in Meg's life , who in her case has developed this aspect of her personality because of her parents and their intense fights when they were still together. We also explore quite a bit her relationship with her parents, on the one hand, her mother, who has problems with alcohol, and on the other hand, her father, who's about to remarry. I really like how getting to know Colby has made her grow a lot in the communicative aspect and how she has been able to finally express things that she has kept quiet for a long time out of fear, I'm super proud of her and I love this character because I think she becomes a very independent person.
On the other hand, we have Colby who also struggles with his own demons in his case is very deep toom, as we talk about the loss of a father and how he even feels guilty because of it and there are a lot of insecurities that have grown in him that have prevented him from moving forward in his life and going for his dreams 100%. I felt so bad for him, we can see how he feels like it's not worth taking risks because he'll always screw it up anyway, and those kinds of thoughts end up being self-destructive. Also in this case .I love how meeting Meg changes many ways of looking at some situations and ends up even pushing him to be more ambitious about his life and understand that no matter the circumstances you can achieve things and change some
The evolution of both characters is wonderful, and above all, I love that despite being a romantic story in many aspects it's also one about self-improvement and maturity, also about learning. But without a doubt the romance itself is also very solid, there are some great scenes that made me smile a lot and even blush, I love how innovative it's that in this case the girl is more experienced in relationships than the guy, it's something refreshing and different to read. I love how even though there are a lot of things they do for each other and there's a lot of focus on their relationship, the plot also leans into their personal lives and their individual stories, you know? they both have a lot of moments of overcoming as separate individuals that really make me feel proud. Both characters decide to feel fulfilled as human beings and the romance almost takes a back seat at times even though they never stop thinking about each other, and OMG, it's so beautiful.
Another small but great thing I want to mention is THE ENDING! because, in my opinion, it's one of my favorite endings: simple, realistic but different, and open, 100% what I needed from this story. I love how it's not what romances usually do, and I absolutely love how one little scene can mean SO MUCH, guys, it's just perfect in my eyes and it made me feel SO NOSTALGIA!!! I need like a thousand more pages of these characters just chatting forever lol, they're precious.
So to end this more than sentimental review (sorry about that, lol) I want to say that I'm happy to have read this book, truthfully this genre is always a hit or miss for me, so the fact that I loved it is amazing, it definitely makes me more excited to pick up another contemporary romance very soon. I highly recommend this book if you like adorable romances, but also stories of self-improvement and growth, it's very focused on the characters' fears and insecurities, but there's so much growth that it becomes an inspiring story even. The characters are wonderful, they're very well thought out, the family discussions are very realistic and intense too, but in the best way, and the ending is so satisfying, you have no idea. So, I sincerely hope you give it a chance, I know you won't regret it.
First Thoughts 08/13/21
OMG, guys!!! This book ended so soon, I need about 500 more pages of this romance and these characters! Honestly, the story touched my heart and settled in there to stay, I LOVED it, I think it touches on such important points to discuss but also it felt so real.
It's been a long time since I've read a contemporary romance that I actually enjoyed this much and this one makes me more than excited to read more!
Read
July 11, 2020Did I get tricked into buying this book because of the adorable cover? I sure fucking did.
You Say It First is about a girl named Meg who works at a voter registration call center who calls a boy named Colby and they end up having an argument. Meg has her entire future mapped out, down to rooming at Cornell with her best friend while Colby is stuck in a rut, working a job he hates and not sure what his future holds. When Meg calls him back, they end up hitting it off and forming a long-distance friendship that might be something more.
This entire book is based around the world's most annoying and uninteresting relationship ever. I never found myself rooting for either of them, and at one point I was just begging that they DIDN'T get together because they were just so awful together. They argued all the time about the same things, were super fucking judgmental to each other about EVERYTHING, and they literally did not mesh at all. This book tried to sell me so hard that they were cute together and actually right for each other and I'm not buying it. (Jokes on me I already bought this REEEE.)
What do they even have? They liked talking on the phone together about all their lives and that was it. There was no chemistry. There was no reason why these two people should ever have been together because it just does not work. Even thinking back now all I can think of is their stupid fights that happened SO much oh my god you do not have to date someone you don't like, for fucks sake.
These characters were so stereotypical and it was so cheesy. Meg is the classic overachiever who can't decide if she actually wants to go to the ivy league school she got in (with a surprise alcoholic mother!) meanwhile Colby is the classic cautionary tale working a shitty job with no future plans. Until Meg gets in there and just like, unfucks his shit because that's what relationships are for right? They both have friends and family who are one dimensional and I'm just bored.
So I hated Meg and Colby together, and then I also hated them individually. Meg literally drives 8 hours to meet her phone buddy and then gets mad that her best friend is like wtf. Colby is just as annoying but with a case of fuckboy who is salty that Meg's life is different. Meanwhile Meg ofc judges the hell out of his life and friends. A match made in heaven!!
The phonebanking is really just a one-off too. This book tries so hard to deal with more serious topics like alcoholism and suicide but like... it was so bad I'm cringing. There was no place for it besides to be extra.
Thanks for the cute cover I guess but there are no good vibes here.
You Say It First is about a girl named Meg who works at a voter registration call center who calls a boy named Colby and they end up having an argument. Meg has her entire future mapped out, down to rooming at Cornell with her best friend while Colby is stuck in a rut, working a job he hates and not sure what his future holds. When Meg calls him back, they end up hitting it off and forming a long-distance friendship that might be something more.
This entire book is based around the world's most annoying and uninteresting relationship ever. I never found myself rooting for either of them, and at one point I was just begging that they DIDN'T get together because they were just so awful together. They argued all the time about the same things, were super fucking judgmental to each other about EVERYTHING, and they literally did not mesh at all. This book tried to sell me so hard that they were cute together and actually right for each other and I'm not buying it. (Jokes on me I already bought this REEEE.)
What do they even have? They liked talking on the phone together about all their lives and that was it. There was no chemistry. There was no reason why these two people should ever have been together because it just does not work. Even thinking back now all I can think of is their stupid fights that happened SO much oh my god you do not have to date someone you don't like, for fucks sake.
These characters were so stereotypical and it was so cheesy. Meg is the classic overachiever who can't decide if she actually wants to go to the ivy league school she got in (with a surprise alcoholic mother!) meanwhile Colby is the classic cautionary tale working a shitty job with no future plans. Until Meg gets in there and just like, unfucks his shit because that's what relationships are for right? They both have friends and family who are one dimensional and I'm just bored.
So I hated Meg and Colby together, and then I also hated them individually. Meg literally drives 8 hours to meet her phone buddy and then gets mad that her best friend is like wtf. Colby is just as annoying but with a case of fuckboy who is salty that Meg's life is different. Meanwhile Meg ofc judges the hell out of his life and friends. A match made in heaven!!
The phonebanking is really just a one-off too. This book tries so hard to deal with more serious topics like alcoholism and suicide but like... it was so bad I'm cringing. There was no place for it besides to be extra.
Thanks for the cute cover I guess but there are no good vibes here.
July 13, 2020
three stars � well this was a bit of a pleasant surprise! i initially picked it up as a cover buy (bc lets be real, this cover is so unbelievably cute) but the storyline was really interesting and cute, too! it definitely wasn’t the most, like, hard hitting novel i’ve ever read, but it was a pretty fun read and i was in the mood so that’s all that really matters! i was kinda iffy about meg at first, but then i realized that we had a lot in common so i really started to root for her during the last half of the book. i loved colby from the start, and their relationship was really fun to read about! the ending was super cute, too 🥺 this was my first cotugno book, but i think i might try to pick another one of her books up in the future!
March 24, 2023
4/5⭐️
I honestly really enjoyed this. While reading the synopsis I didn’t think I would like it a whole lot. I found it really fun to read about two strangers just happening to meet over a call and then to keep talking from there.
I feel like Meg and Colby balance each other out because while Meg will stand by her opinion, Colby, even if he doesn’t necessarily agree with her will bend his opinion to make her happy.
Sometimes though Meg was a bit annoying because it felt like she was pushing her views on Colby. It was hard for me to connect with the characters because it was third person and it’s easier for me to connect with them if I know what their thinking. I also felt like Meg just thought about herself and not what anybody else was going through.
I honestly really enjoyed this. While reading the synopsis I didn’t think I would like it a whole lot. I found it really fun to read about two strangers just happening to meet over a call and then to keep talking from there.
I feel like Meg and Colby balance each other out because while Meg will stand by her opinion, Colby, even if he doesn’t necessarily agree with her will bend his opinion to make her happy.
Sometimes though Meg was a bit annoying because it felt like she was pushing her views on Colby. It was hard for me to connect with the characters because it was third person and it’s easier for me to connect with them if I know what their thinking. I also felt like Meg just thought about herself and not what anybody else was going through.
April 20, 2021
You Say it First follows two teenagers as they meet over the phone. Meg has to deal with a lot such as her alcoholic mother, her father getting engaged to someone new, and the fact that her best friend and now ex-boyfriend are together. That plus the fact that she's not sure if she wants to go to College makes it a bit difficult for her. And then Colby comes in and she feel like she can talk to him honestly. Colby however, also has his share of issues such as the suicide of his dad and figuring out what kind of job he wants to do.
Overall, this book was a pretty quick and sweet YA Contemporary Romance giving a bit of hope at the end after seeing both of the main characters grow a little bit.
Overall, this book was a pretty quick and sweet YA Contemporary Romance giving a bit of hope at the end after seeing both of the main characters grow a little bit.
June 16, 2020
3.5/ 5 stars
You Say It First is my sixth book by this author. This book is a Young Adult contemporary book.
This was a quick YA read. However from the cover I was expecting a sweet, cute romantic YA love story. To me this book was not that at all. It was more YA realistic fiction with some romance. The book deals with a lot of hard subjects (like divorce, suicide, alcoholism, socioeconomic status...). So it was more serious than I was expecting.
The book has alternating 3rd person POVs: Meg and Colby (both 18 years old).
Meg lives in a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Colby lives in Ohio. Since the two teens live in different states I was a bit confused as to how they would even meet or have any type of relationship. I guess that is why the cover shows them on their cellphones.
Meg is a high school senior who likes politics and who is obsessed with getting people to vote (she works at a voter registration call center). She is planning to go to college the next year with her best friend.
Colby is much more rough around the edges. He lives in a much poorer neighborhood. He does not have a lot of money. But works full-time.
It took me a while to like either narrator. They were both fine. But the 3rd person POVs made me feel slightly detached from them both.
For readers expecting a fairy-tale story where they meet and fall in love ... well this isn't that at all. They fight and they each have a lot of issues to deal with at home.
I think that a lot of teens will be able to relate to so many of the issues discussed in this book. And that is amazing.
This book is very difficult for me to rate. There were parts that were cute and romantic. But this book deals with such difficult topics. It was just really not what I was expecting at all.
Thanks to edelweiss and Balzer + Bray for allowing me to read this book.
You Say It First is my sixth book by this author. This book is a Young Adult contemporary book.
This was a quick YA read. However from the cover I was expecting a sweet, cute romantic YA love story. To me this book was not that at all. It was more YA realistic fiction with some romance. The book deals with a lot of hard subjects (like divorce, suicide, alcoholism, socioeconomic status...). So it was more serious than I was expecting.
The book has alternating 3rd person POVs: Meg and Colby (both 18 years old).
Meg lives in a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Colby lives in Ohio. Since the two teens live in different states I was a bit confused as to how they would even meet or have any type of relationship. I guess that is why the cover shows them on their cellphones.
Meg is a high school senior who likes politics and who is obsessed with getting people to vote (she works at a voter registration call center). She is planning to go to college the next year with her best friend.
Colby is much more rough around the edges. He lives in a much poorer neighborhood. He does not have a lot of money. But works full-time.
It took me a while to like either narrator. They were both fine. But the 3rd person POVs made me feel slightly detached from them both.
For readers expecting a fairy-tale story where they meet and fall in love ... well this isn't that at all. They fight and they each have a lot of issues to deal with at home.
I think that a lot of teens will be able to relate to so many of the issues discussed in this book. And that is amazing.
This book is very difficult for me to rate. There were parts that were cute and romantic. But this book deals with such difficult topics. It was just really not what I was expecting at all.
Thanks to edelweiss and Balzer + Bray for allowing me to read this book.
May 18, 2020
This story was a DELIGHT. I so appreciated how Meg and Colby’s perspectives are shown in a way that doesn’t idealize one over the other.
It’s interesting because politics are mentioned but not in a direct this side vs this side. It was more that Meg really cared about progressive movements and Colby was just indifferent.
This was a smart choice, I think, that allowed for more debate and productive ideological battles. Everything was handled so thoughtfully.
As someone who struggles to always voice their opinions openly, I loved seeing Meg’s journey.
Deep conversations are my JAM, and this romance was so much fun to follow.
A stellar opposites attract contemporary!
It’s interesting because politics are mentioned but not in a direct this side vs this side. It was more that Meg really cared about progressive movements and Colby was just indifferent.
This was a smart choice, I think, that allowed for more debate and productive ideological battles. Everything was handled so thoughtfully.
As someone who struggles to always voice their opinions openly, I loved seeing Meg’s journey.
Deep conversations are my JAM, and this romance was so much fun to follow.
A stellar opposites attract contemporary!
June 15, 2020
3.5 Stars
As always, Katie Cotugno delivers realistic and grounded characters in dramatic and unlikely situations. I love Cotugno's books because that strike a great balance of escapism and authenticity that makes the situations feel heightened and deliciously dramatic, but the characters always act in believable ways - even if it's not what I would do, I can understand their choices.
Meg and Colby instantly connect after Meg's canvassing call for Colby's recently deceased dad goes awry. But the two challenge each other and are honest with each other in ways they're not with the other people in their lives, because sometimes talking to someone without expectations is easier. The romance is sweet but does have two personalities that often butt heads, but are not afraid to listen to someone who challenges their point of view.
Overall, You Say It First is a quick read with great characters and development. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
As always, Katie Cotugno delivers realistic and grounded characters in dramatic and unlikely situations. I love Cotugno's books because that strike a great balance of escapism and authenticity that makes the situations feel heightened and deliciously dramatic, but the characters always act in believable ways - even if it's not what I would do, I can understand their choices.
Meg and Colby instantly connect after Meg's canvassing call for Colby's recently deceased dad goes awry. But the two challenge each other and are honest with each other in ways they're not with the other people in their lives, because sometimes talking to someone without expectations is easier. The romance is sweet but does have two personalities that often butt heads, but are not afraid to listen to someone who challenges their point of view.
Overall, You Say It First is a quick read with great characters and development. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
July 18, 2020
You Say it First de Katie Cotugno estaba entre mis lecturas más anticipadas del 2020, pero en realidad no sé por qué. No sabía mucho sobre esta historia, el hype casi no era fuerte... No lo sé, algo respecto a esta lectura me intrigaba, y cuando estaba en el humor correcto para un contemporáneo ligero de romance, le di una chance. Lo que encontré en estas páginas, sin embargo, fue muy distinto a lo que esperaba, y mil veces mejor.
Siendo sincera, no hay anda original en You Say it First, pero al mismo tiempo es justo lo que queremos ver en los libros de romance juvenil de hoy. ¿La trama? Una historia de dos extrañxs que se conocen por teléfono y desarrollan una amistad que puede convertirse en algo más, si es que no son personas demasiado distintas como para enamorarse. ¿La escritura? ¡Muy bella! Pero no mucho más. ¿Las temáticas abordadas? Política, amistad, crecimiento personal, universidades y más. Todas exploradas y desarrolladas de una manera magnífica, compleja y profunda aunque no son necesariamente temáticas novedosas. La historia nunca sucedería en la vida real, lo cual es algo que suele molestarme con este género literario, la poca credibilidad de los eventos cuando se supone que es un libro contemporáneo. You Say it First no es algo nuevo.
¿Pero por qué digo que es de lo mejor que he leído en el 2020? ¿Por qué digo que es justo lo que queremos ver en la literatura juvenil de hoy? ¿Por qué darle 5 estrellas y empezar esta reseña así? Supongo que porque todo eso es cierto. La novela de Katie Cotugno es importante. Aborda temáticas cruciales y complejas en el día de hoy, como el feminismo y el activismo político. Además, la autora señala y combate lo problemático, luchando contra chistes misóginos ante los cuales muchxs no dicen nada, hablando de la diferencia salarial entre hombres y mujeres en el día de hoy, entre otras cosas. Es un libro importante. Es hermoso, dulce, profundo, entretenido, llevadero, atrapante y de esos que te dejan pensando. De mis nuevos favoritos de este género, en serio. ¡Lo amé demasiado!
Siendo sincera, no hay anda original en You Say it First, pero al mismo tiempo es justo lo que queremos ver en los libros de romance juvenil de hoy. ¿La trama? Una historia de dos extrañxs que se conocen por teléfono y desarrollan una amistad que puede convertirse en algo más, si es que no son personas demasiado distintas como para enamorarse. ¿La escritura? ¡Muy bella! Pero no mucho más. ¿Las temáticas abordadas? Política, amistad, crecimiento personal, universidades y más. Todas exploradas y desarrolladas de una manera magnífica, compleja y profunda aunque no son necesariamente temáticas novedosas. La historia nunca sucedería en la vida real, lo cual es algo que suele molestarme con este género literario, la poca credibilidad de los eventos cuando se supone que es un libro contemporáneo. You Say it First no es algo nuevo.
¿Pero por qué digo que es de lo mejor que he leído en el 2020? ¿Por qué digo que es justo lo que queremos ver en la literatura juvenil de hoy? ¿Por qué darle 5 estrellas y empezar esta reseña así? Supongo que porque todo eso es cierto. La novela de Katie Cotugno es importante. Aborda temáticas cruciales y complejas en el día de hoy, como el feminismo y el activismo político. Además, la autora señala y combate lo problemático, luchando contra chistes misóginos ante los cuales muchxs no dicen nada, hablando de la diferencia salarial entre hombres y mujeres en el día de hoy, entre otras cosas. Es un libro importante. Es hermoso, dulce, profundo, entretenido, llevadero, atrapante y de esos que te dejan pensando. De mis nuevos favoritos de este género, en serio. ¡Lo amé demasiado!
February 8, 2021
siento que las ultimas 40 paginas hicieron que lo odiara, de verdad, venia hermoso, era un libro super cute y yo moría por ellos, YO MATABA POR ELLOS, pero todo lo que sube tiene que bajar y ese subidón de alegría que tuve cayo en picada hasta que cada uno de mis huesos quedo roto porque literalmente todo se volvió horrible.
No soy de criticar en gran manera los libros contemporáneos porque se a lo que me estoy metiendo y casi nunca es a un libro super construido, siempre suele ser sobre dos personas que se conocen que son distintas pero que en se enamoran de esas diferencias, uno hace algo que al otro no les gusta o quizás oculta cosas de la vida del otro pero luego se perdonan porque se aman. y esa es la historia perfecta, y eso es lo que yo quería leer, algo cliché pero divertido y que me hiciera creer en el amor.
en fin, me meteré con este libro por que se metió con Taylor Swift, and bitch nadie hace eso y se salva de que yo lo critique en una linda review.
*a continuación puede tener spoilers*
Meg vive de las apariencias aunque no quiera decirlo y Colby sabe eso pero nunca deja de refregárselo en la cara y es horrible, si te gusta tan poco eso ¿para que estas con ella? Después, cada vez que se ven se pelean, literal ella va para el pueblo del chabon y este se enoja porque ELLA SE DEFENDIÓ DE UN COMENTARIO SEXISTA QUE EL AMIGO DE COLBY HABIA HECHO, pero dale brother ELLA TIENE RAZÓN, pero él se enoja por que ella los enfrento. Después él va para la casa de ella Y DE LA NADA LA EMPIEZA A TRATAR MAL, dios mío Colby y quiero entenderlo y decir "esta bien, paso por mucho" pero él no le cuenta toda la verdad a ella y pretende que ella lo entienda Y ES AGOTADOR.
Colby tiene miles de problemas y le hecha la culpa a ella diciendo que esta alejada de la realidad y que no entiende nada pero después va y pide disculpas y ella lo perdona aun cuando Colby dice cosas feas. Amiga salí de ahí.
Ahora hare mi catarsis por los tres comentarios a la diosa Taylor Swift. Todavía no hable mal de Meg y si, tiene cosas malas pero vamos nada muy sorprendente sabiendo que es una adolescente, lo normal pero todo bien hasta que tocas a Taylor ahí va todo mal. Mi problema fue que se refieren a Taylor como "la chica que cree que un hombre puede ser robado" claramente por su canción "Better than revenge" y si, es cierto, la canción habla de una chica que básicamente se "roba" al novio de Taylor y todos, hoy en día, sabemos que es el feminismo y sabemos que esa canción es lo menos feminista que tiene Taylor pero siento que ni siquiera ponen contexto de la canción, porque nunca es mencionada y solo habla de como Taylor Swift habla sobre como mujeres roban hombres de otras mujeres y eso queda mal, sino fuera fan de Taylor hubiera quedado como "wow, no puedo creer que piense eso" pero se que la canción es de hace un montón y que en ese momento era bien vista, los tiempos cambian.
podría estar quejándome de esto por largo literalmente LARGO rato pero the haters gonna hate. Baby, I'm just gonna shake, I shake it off
No soy de criticar en gran manera los libros contemporáneos porque se a lo que me estoy metiendo y casi nunca es a un libro super construido, siempre suele ser sobre dos personas que se conocen que son distintas pero que en se enamoran de esas diferencias, uno hace algo que al otro no les gusta o quizás oculta cosas de la vida del otro pero luego se perdonan porque se aman. y esa es la historia perfecta, y eso es lo que yo quería leer, algo cliché pero divertido y que me hiciera creer en el amor.
en fin, me meteré con este libro por que se metió con Taylor Swift, and bitch nadie hace eso y se salva de que yo lo critique en una linda review.
*a continuación puede tener spoilers*
Meg vive de las apariencias aunque no quiera decirlo y Colby sabe eso pero nunca deja de refregárselo en la cara y es horrible, si te gusta tan poco eso ¿para que estas con ella? Después, cada vez que se ven se pelean, literal ella va para el pueblo del chabon y este se enoja porque ELLA SE DEFENDIÓ DE UN COMENTARIO SEXISTA QUE EL AMIGO DE COLBY HABIA HECHO, pero dale brother ELLA TIENE RAZÓN, pero él se enoja por que ella los enfrento. Después él va para la casa de ella Y DE LA NADA LA EMPIEZA A TRATAR MAL, dios mío Colby y quiero entenderlo y decir "esta bien, paso por mucho" pero él no le cuenta toda la verdad a ella y pretende que ella lo entienda Y ES AGOTADOR.
Colby tiene miles de problemas y le hecha la culpa a ella diciendo que esta alejada de la realidad y que no entiende nada pero después va y pide disculpas y ella lo perdona aun cuando Colby dice cosas feas. Amiga salí de ahí.
Ahora hare mi catarsis por los tres comentarios a la diosa Taylor Swift. Todavía no hable mal de Meg y si, tiene cosas malas pero vamos nada muy sorprendente sabiendo que es una adolescente, lo normal pero todo bien hasta que tocas a Taylor ahí va todo mal. Mi problema fue que se refieren a Taylor como "la chica que cree que un hombre puede ser robado" claramente por su canción "Better than revenge" y si, es cierto, la canción habla de una chica que básicamente se "roba" al novio de Taylor y todos, hoy en día, sabemos que es el feminismo y sabemos que esa canción es lo menos feminista que tiene Taylor pero siento que ni siquiera ponen contexto de la canción, porque nunca es mencionada y solo habla de como Taylor Swift habla sobre como mujeres roban hombres de otras mujeres y eso queda mal, sino fuera fan de Taylor hubiera quedado como "wow, no puedo creer que piense eso" pero se que la canción es de hace un montón y que en ese momento era bien vista, los tiempos cambian.
podría estar quejándome de esto por largo literalmente LARGO rato pero the haters gonna hate. Baby, I'm just gonna shake, I shake it off
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