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grl2grl
In this honest, emotionally captivating short story collection, renowned author and National Book Award finalist Julie Anne Peters offers a stunning portrayal of young women as they navigate the hurdles of relationships and sexual identity.
From the young lesbian taking her first steps toward coming out to the two strangers who lock eyes across a crowded train, from the transgender teen longing for a sense of self to the girl whose abusive father has turned her to stone, Peters is the master of creating characters whose own vulnerability resonates with readers and stays with them long after the last page is turned.
Grl2grl shows the rawness of teenage emotion as young girls become women and begin to discover the intricacies of love, dating and sexuality.
From the young lesbian taking her first steps toward coming out to the two strangers who lock eyes across a crowded train, from the transgender teen longing for a sense of self to the girl whose abusive father has turned her to stone, Peters is the master of creating characters whose own vulnerability resonates with readers and stays with them long after the last page is turned.
Grl2grl shows the rawness of teenage emotion as young girls become women and begin to discover the intricacies of love, dating and sexuality.
151 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2007
43 people are currently reading
6,114 people want to read
About the author
Julie Anne Peters
30books1,702followersJulie Anne Peters was born in Jamestown, New York. When she was five, her family moved to the Denver suburbs in Colorado. Her parents divorced when she was in high school. She has three siblings: a brother, John, and two younger sisters, Jeanne and Susan.
Her books for young adults include Define "Normal" (2000), Keeping You a Secret (2003), Luna (2004), Far from Xanadu (2005), Between Mom and Jo (2006), grl2grl (2007), Rage: A Love Story (2009), By the Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead (2010), She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not... (2011), It's Our Prom (So Deal with It) (2012), and Lies My Girlfriend Told Me (2014). Her young adult fiction often feature lesbian characters and address LGBT issues. She has announced that she has retired from writing, and Lies My Girlfriend Told Me will be her last novel. She now works full-time for the Colorado Reading Corps.
Her books for young adults include Define "Normal" (2000), Keeping You a Secret (2003), Luna (2004), Far from Xanadu (2005), Between Mom and Jo (2006), grl2grl (2007), Rage: A Love Story (2009), By the Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead (2010), She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not... (2011), It's Our Prom (So Deal with It) (2012), and Lies My Girlfriend Told Me (2014). Her young adult fiction often feature lesbian characters and address LGBT issues. She has announced that she has retired from writing, and Lies My Girlfriend Told Me will be her last novel. She now works full-time for the Colorado Reading Corps.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
April 13, 2023
This is my third Julie Anne Peters book, I hadn't realised she was such a groundbreaking LGBTQI writer until I read her obituary in the NYT last month. This book certainly met all my expectations. A collection of short stories, not usually my preferred format, but the writing here is so well done and in nearly every one there was a taut feeling of what was or maybe was not going to happen. It is YA writing at its best I felt, great stuff.
December 4, 2021
I have always been reluctant to read YA fiction. It was enough for me to tell myself that it was not my genre since it was too naive or childish. Till now. I realized I was wrong. Also, without reading the blurb, I was expecting to read a novel, short but still a novel. What a pleasant surprise it was to come upon ten intriguing short stories.
These short stories are engaging, but they are also very distinct. They are all set in the same world: love between two young ladies, or at the very least a woman in love. The story selection is quite well-balanced. They gradually affect all of our feelings. I have been moved, saddened, enraged, and disgusted, before being astonished and touched.
Peters's writing is flawless. My reading experience was much enhanced by the author's choice of words and the creation of a pleasant mood. I'm pleased there were ten different short stories to choose from, all of which dealt with challenging topics that needed reminding of. Putting them in brief reading was an excellent idea. Just enough words to provoke the flow of thoughts. Reading full-length books like Boi or Stone Cold Butch would place too much weight on those issues.
These short stories are engaging, but they are also very distinct. They are all set in the same world: love between two young ladies, or at the very least a woman in love. The story selection is quite well-balanced. They gradually affect all of our feelings. I have been moved, saddened, enraged, and disgusted, before being astonished and touched.
Peters's writing is flawless. My reading experience was much enhanced by the author's choice of words and the creation of a pleasant mood. I'm pleased there were ten different short stories to choose from, all of which dealt with challenging topics that needed reminding of. Putting them in brief reading was an excellent idea. Just enough words to provoke the flow of thoughts. Reading full-length books like Boi or Stone Cold Butch would place too much weight on those issues.
December 1, 2012
Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com
Julie Ann Peters has already distinguished herself as a master at writing full-length novels dealing with GLBQT issues. With GRL2GRL, she establishes that she's also good at writing short stories with great characters and in-depth storylines.
The book includes ten short stories, all dealing with girls and their feelings of love, loneliness, passion, and betrayal. There's a story about a girl on the subway, the object of another girl's affection, and the strength it takes to gather the courage to make that initial connection. There's the girl who, although she wants very badly to join in on a meeting of fellow gays and lesbians, isn't sure she'll ever be brave enough to do so. You can read about an online Internet relationship that progresses quickly, and falls apart amidst lies and betrayal. Or you can read the story TWO-PART INVENTION, my personal favorite, about two girls who have always been friends, and the love that grows from that friendship.
Whether you're a lesbian or not, a questioning teen or not, you'll find something satisfying in these stories. They're heartfelt and wonderful, whether you read them one at a time or all at once.
Julie Ann Peters has already distinguished herself as a master at writing full-length novels dealing with GLBQT issues. With GRL2GRL, she establishes that she's also good at writing short stories with great characters and in-depth storylines.
The book includes ten short stories, all dealing with girls and their feelings of love, loneliness, passion, and betrayal. There's a story about a girl on the subway, the object of another girl's affection, and the strength it takes to gather the courage to make that initial connection. There's the girl who, although she wants very badly to join in on a meeting of fellow gays and lesbians, isn't sure she'll ever be brave enough to do so. You can read about an online Internet relationship that progresses quickly, and falls apart amidst lies and betrayal. Or you can read the story TWO-PART INVENTION, my personal favorite, about two girls who have always been friends, and the love that grows from that friendship.
Whether you're a lesbian or not, a questioning teen or not, you'll find something satisfying in these stories. They're heartfelt and wonderful, whether you read them one at a time or all at once.
March 21, 2013
This had a lot of potential - interesting set-ups, compelling characters, but damn, it was all so bleak. I did enjoy some of the stories but overall very underwhelming. I must break the curse of the f/f book!
February 4, 2019
Julie Anne Peters makes you feel those words.
This is a YA short story collection. in this book characters are teenagers transgender and lesbians who are trying to come out, abused, having anxiety, emotional stress, realising their sexual identity, and sweet love memories and sweet conversation.
This is a YA short story collection. in this book characters are teenagers transgender and lesbians who are trying to come out, abused, having anxiety, emotional stress, realising their sexual identity, and sweet love memories and sweet conversation.
January 8, 2016
I honestly don't know why I keep doing this to myself. The word short is on the cover for everyone to see and yet I find myself expecting these tales to be endless. I guess that says something about Julie Anne Peters and her character writing skills. One has to open oneself to them, but she makes them extremely easy to bond with. You are already way too invested and you have yet to start reading the second sentence. Sigh. Anyway...
I must confess that until I read Boi I thought there was a recurring theme to these stories: hope. The open endings seemed full of possibilities for their characters. I found them refreshing. Then I reached Boi and I felt my heart break. All of these stories have their emotional rawness in common, but Boi was... different. The main character seems to give up. It's understandable once you read it, but still... I was rooting for this character (and I still am).
I think grl2grl is a collection of short stories about young people who are trying to find their place in the world, who are trying to accept said place, even when others don't make it necessarily easy. That's also explored in these stories: choice. Even though other people can indeed make your life more complicated, at the end of the day you are the one classifying these moments as positive, negative or indifferent, you are the one giving them meaning. It's not easy to exercise this power when people's harsh and mean words seem so loud inside our heads, but we have to believe that we have indeed the power to choose whether to listen to them or not, and whether to give them importance or not.
Someone once said that we should be kind for everyone we meet is fighting a hard battle. With grl2grl, Julie Anne Peters opens windows to some of these usually silent battles. I believe these stories are important and should be read, these battles should be recognized and respected. It's not just a phase, it's life.
I must confess that until I read Boi I thought there was a recurring theme to these stories: hope. The open endings seemed full of possibilities for their characters. I found them refreshing. Then I reached Boi and I felt my heart break. All of these stories have their emotional rawness in common, but Boi was... different. The main character seems to give up. It's understandable once you read it, but still... I was rooting for this character (and I still am).
I think grl2grl is a collection of short stories about young people who are trying to find their place in the world, who are trying to accept said place, even when others don't make it necessarily easy. That's also explored in these stories: choice. Even though other people can indeed make your life more complicated, at the end of the day you are the one classifying these moments as positive, negative or indifferent, you are the one giving them meaning. It's not easy to exercise this power when people's harsh and mean words seem so loud inside our heads, but we have to believe that we have indeed the power to choose whether to listen to them or not, and whether to give them importance or not.
Someone once said that we should be kind for everyone we meet is fighting a hard battle. With grl2grl, Julie Anne Peters opens windows to some of these usually silent battles. I believe these stories are important and should be read, these battles should be recognized and respected. It's not just a phase, it's life.
July 30, 2015
With grl2grl Julie Anne Peters has created an anthology of young adult characters that are as different as can be. The same applies to the situations they are in. Whether it is first love, coming out, breaking up or simply being a woman in love with a woman, there is a wide range of situations from gentle or tender to pretty rough and extremely sad.
Apart from the display of variety it was simply great fun to read on because of the lively style that Miss Peters uses. I loved how she managed to draw me into her characters� minds, and I rooted for virtually all of them.
Trigger warning. Boi is a story that you should not underestimate in the effects it can have. I liked it, because Vince was depicted as someone who was strong � up to a certain point. If you have experienced sexual violence in your past, the second half of the story could easily trigger all the painful memories again.
However, if you are able to treat it as fiction, read it, as the story about Vince, a young transgender man/boy/boi is heartbreaking but definitely awesome.
I enjoyed every minute with Julie Anne Peters� grl2grl and it was an absolute page-turner. My only disappointment was that it was not as long as I had wished it to be. I think there is a good story for everybody who enjoys reading f/f stories in grl2grl. Definitely five out of five stars.
Apart from the display of variety it was simply great fun to read on because of the lively style that Miss Peters uses. I loved how she managed to draw me into her characters� minds, and I rooted for virtually all of them.
Trigger warning. Boi is a story that you should not underestimate in the effects it can have. I liked it, because Vince was depicted as someone who was strong � up to a certain point. If you have experienced sexual violence in your past, the second half of the story could easily trigger all the painful memories again.
However, if you are able to treat it as fiction, read it, as the story about Vince, a young transgender man/boy/boi is heartbreaking but definitely awesome.
I enjoyed every minute with Julie Anne Peters� grl2grl and it was an absolute page-turner. My only disappointment was that it was not as long as I had wished it to be. I think there is a good story for everybody who enjoys reading f/f stories in grl2grl. Definitely five out of five stars.
January 15, 2011
What do you do when who you love conflicts with religion and society? What do you do when your love is wrong?
In this book, there are ten stories about girls who are different from most: Girls who are attracted to other girls. Boys in girl bodies. Girls who miss one another, long for one another, cry over one another.
--
I enjoyed this book quite a lot. The writing was beautiful, the topics were strong and interesting, the dialogue was realistic, the stories themselves were concise and well-rounded, for just a few pages long. I also thought that the author managed to really fit in a lot in each story. The stories themselves, the plots, were realistic, touching, and beautiful.
I don't really have any complaints for this book.
If you're looking for a quick and interesting read, or a book that touches in a delicate and enjoyable way on the subject of gayness and transgender, this is a good book for you.
***WARNING: This book contains mild sexual content and some profanity.***
In this book, there are ten stories about girls who are different from most: Girls who are attracted to other girls. Boys in girl bodies. Girls who miss one another, long for one another, cry over one another.
--
I enjoyed this book quite a lot. The writing was beautiful, the topics were strong and interesting, the dialogue was realistic, the stories themselves were concise and well-rounded, for just a few pages long. I also thought that the author managed to really fit in a lot in each story. The stories themselves, the plots, were realistic, touching, and beautiful.
I don't really have any complaints for this book.
If you're looking for a quick and interesting read, or a book that touches in a delicate and enjoyable way on the subject of gayness and transgender, this is a good book for you.
***WARNING: This book contains mild sexual content and some profanity.***
April 21, 2009
An amazing example of the diversity of lesbian life for young american women. I was impressed by this book in a way that startled me.
April 6, 2020
This was a great short story collection! Some stories were a bit dark, some were sweet, and there really was just a solid mix of heartbreaking and wholesome moments. If you've read Julie Anne Peters novels and weren't into them, give this short story collection a try anyway.
January 21, 2019
To start off with if there is one story I would remove from this collection will be Boi. First off, Vince establishes himself as a male, even though he is a bio female. This has always bugged me when I was reading this as a woman and even more so when I have transitioned to male myself. It is frustrating as male to read another transmale to be in a collection of female-focused individuals. Now onto the rest of the tales.
The rest of the collection is great. Some stories are hard to read, like Stone Cold Butch (which reminds me of the book Stone Butch Blues where the main character Jess lives a she-he in the pre-stonewall era)
I remember the time where I was just scared shitless when trying to come out into my own as an (at the time) lesbian so Can't Stp The Feeling in the reluctance to join the GSA gay-straight alliance.
Overall the collection as a whole is good and thought out (with the exception of Boi. I even hate how it is titled as Boi. If I reread this collection again I think I will skip over this tale) Each tale is different and adds something to the lesbian experience. It shows the diversity and a range of how a lesbian can look and act. And that what makes this collection good.
The rest of the collection is great. Some stories are hard to read, like Stone Cold Butch (which reminds me of the book Stone Butch Blues where the main character Jess lives a she-he in the pre-stonewall era)
I remember the time where I was just scared shitless when trying to come out into my own as an (at the time) lesbian so Can't Stp The Feeling in the reluctance to join the GSA gay-straight alliance.
Overall the collection as a whole is good and thought out (with the exception of Boi. I even hate how it is titled as Boi. If I reread this collection again I think I will skip over this tale) Each tale is different and adds something to the lesbian experience. It shows the diversity and a range of how a lesbian can look and act. And that what makes this collection good.
September 23, 2019
I didn’t finish all the stories but the fact that it has stories of AFAB nonbinary and genderfluid people and a story of a trans guy in a book called “Girl to Girl� is sketchy
Also: trigger warning for sexual assault and incest in the trans guys story
Trigger warning as I talk about the trans guys story: his sexual assault at a young age by his cousin should not have been the a discovery moment of being trans. Bad bad bad.
Also: trigger warning for sexual assault and incest in the trans guys story
Trigger warning as I talk about the trans guys story: his sexual assault at a young age by his cousin should not have been the a discovery moment of being trans. Bad bad bad.
November 4, 2011
The one word that came to mind when reading glr2grl by Julie Anne Peters is longing. Her collection of short stories featuring young lesbians is about longings for love and acceptance. Mostly the book is a bit sad, but there is some light at the end. Great book for young people and anyone who wants to step into the shoes of gay youths.
June 28, 2011
Much as I enjoyed these stories, I am reminded of why I read so few short stories: just as I am getting invested in the characters, the story ends. I'd love to see Peters expand some of these into longer pieces, though, and it was nice to see some characters who weren't entirely self-destructing.
July 10, 2013
Originally posted on .
As she has written so many LGBTQ YA novels, I knew as soon as I started thinking about LGBTQ YA Month that I wanted to review something by Julie Anne Peters. Unfortunately, it was a bit of a struggle to find her books as they don't seem to be published in the UK. I found Grl2grl, and although it wasn't exactly what I wanted at the time, I bought it. And since reading it, I've discovered it's actually pretty spot-on for the month.
Why? Because it highlights the fact that there is such a diversity of people and such individual experiences, even in LGBTQ stories. Obviously, I knew this already, but with reading each short story, one after the other, covering such different ideas or topics, they remind you of just how different we all are, and how we all have that in common, regardless of what labels we give ourselves/each other.
The short stories in Grl2grl cover a range of topics; friendship, romance, sexual abuse, broken hearts, and struggles with sexuality, and they are about characters who are lesbian, transgender and genderfluid. Each an every single story is awesome in it's own right, and I enjoyed all of them, but there are a few I actually want to talk about in more detail.
The first is Passengers, the first story in the book. It's about Tam's interest and curiosity about and blossoming attractiong to Andi, who is genderfluid. I have to admit when I first read it, I was confused; the story is told from Tam's point of view, and I hadn't come across the term genderfluid before that I remember. Did it mean she was transgender? Or something else? I had to look it up, because even the explanation in the book still left me a little confused. is "moving between genders" and the says, "Sometimes we feel male, and sometimes female. Often, we're someplace in between...or else we're both or neither...". Understanding a little better about the character I was reading, I felt such warmth for Tam in extending friendship, acceptance and as much understanding as she was able at the time to Andi, when no-one else would.
There were also stories that looked at self-acceptance and he struggle people have with it. In Can't Stop the Feeling, Mariah is struggling to come to terms with the feeling she has, and is trying to find the courage to go to the school's Gay Straight Alliance meetings. Her story is just so sad, and you can't help but want to be her friend, just so she has someone who knows and accepts her for who she is, someone who may make life a little easier for her.
Similar feelings are also discussed in After Alex, a story about Rachael coming to terms with the fact that her ex-girlfriend cheated on her. At one point, when she's thinking about her past, she talks about coming out to her mum, and the dismissive reaction she received, the one that implies "it's just a phase".
In another story, Absintence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder, about two girls rekindling a platonic friendship after years spent not talking, more importante issues are discussed. During and after a Sex Ed class on abstinence, Aimee talks about the fact that she's not allowed to get married, and religion. I found this story just so awesome! I read Grl2Grl in April this year, just after was trending on Twitter when . I was disgusted by Mrs. Errasco's reply to Aimee, but Aimee's views on god had me wanting to shout "YES!", and I'm an atheist.
There are two other stories I have to mention. Stone Cold Butch, about a girl, Cam, who has issues being with someone, and Boi, about transgendered Vince during his transition. Both of these stories deal with sexual abuse/attacks, and I can't tell you how much they broke my heart. I was disturbed, I was disgusted, and I was hurting so much for these characters - more so for Vince in Boi, simply because we see it happen rather than having past events talked about, it just felt like I was there with him and that all I could do was watch his agony. It was horrific, and I had to struggle so hard to hold back the tears in my eyes while on the tube on my way to work.
Each story is different. There are some sad ones, some downright distressing ones, but also happy stories. Lots of different people. Lots of different experiences. One truly amazing book.
As she has written so many LGBTQ YA novels, I knew as soon as I started thinking about LGBTQ YA Month that I wanted to review something by Julie Anne Peters. Unfortunately, it was a bit of a struggle to find her books as they don't seem to be published in the UK. I found Grl2grl, and although it wasn't exactly what I wanted at the time, I bought it. And since reading it, I've discovered it's actually pretty spot-on for the month.
Why? Because it highlights the fact that there is such a diversity of people and such individual experiences, even in LGBTQ stories. Obviously, I knew this already, but with reading each short story, one after the other, covering such different ideas or topics, they remind you of just how different we all are, and how we all have that in common, regardless of what labels we give ourselves/each other.
The short stories in Grl2grl cover a range of topics; friendship, romance, sexual abuse, broken hearts, and struggles with sexuality, and they are about characters who are lesbian, transgender and genderfluid. Each an every single story is awesome in it's own right, and I enjoyed all of them, but there are a few I actually want to talk about in more detail.
The first is Passengers, the first story in the book. It's about Tam's interest and curiosity about and blossoming attractiong to Andi, who is genderfluid. I have to admit when I first read it, I was confused; the story is told from Tam's point of view, and I hadn't come across the term genderfluid before that I remember. Did it mean she was transgender? Or something else? I had to look it up, because even the explanation in the book still left me a little confused. is "moving between genders" and the says, "Sometimes we feel male, and sometimes female. Often, we're someplace in between...or else we're both or neither...". Understanding a little better about the character I was reading, I felt such warmth for Tam in extending friendship, acceptance and as much understanding as she was able at the time to Andi, when no-one else would.
'People talk about her. Guys mostly. They call her a dyke. Girls call her a guy. She isn't a guy. Or a girl, really. She's "questionable." Gender fluid.
She's not committing one way or the other, let's just say. Who says you have to? Why do we have to? If I want to dress like a guy, so what? I don't, but if I did . . .' (Passengers, p4)
There were also stories that looked at self-acceptance and he struggle people have with it. In Can't Stop the Feeling, Mariah is struggling to come to terms with the feeling she has, and is trying to find the courage to go to the school's Gay Straight Alliance meetings. Her story is just so sad, and you can't help but want to be her friend, just so she has someone who knows and accepts her for who she is, someone who may make life a little easier for her.
'In my dreams I was happy, whole. I was me. No one cared that I liked girls. I didn't have to keep up this charade or squelch this giant secret that was killing me inside.
I didn't have to. You don't, Mariah. You're not gay.
If I didn't acknowledge the feelings, I wouldn't have to face the fact.
The fact that I was gay.' (Can't Stop the Feeling, p22)
Similar feelings are also discussed in After Alex, a story about Rachael coming to terms with the fact that her ex-girlfriend cheated on her. At one point, when she's thinking about her past, she talks about coming out to her mum, and the dismissive reaction she received, the one that implies "it's just a phase".
'I was gay, yeah. A lesbian, no question. It was just harder for me. Telling Mom. My friends. Mom didn't believe it. She said, "How do you know? You can't know. You're only fifteen." Yes, Mother. You know at fifteen. You know at twelve, thirteen. You look at girls and you know. You sit next to them in class and you feel it. The attraction, the desire. You hold it inside because you're afraid of it, afraid of what it means. You never tell anyone. You hope it goes away. You hope it doesn't mean what you know it does.' (After Alex, p35)
In another story, Absintence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder, about two girls rekindling a platonic friendship after years spent not talking, more importante issues are discussed. During and after a Sex Ed class on abstinence, Aimee talks about the fact that she's not allowed to get married, and religion. I found this story just so awesome! I read Grl2Grl in April this year, just after was trending on Twitter when . I was disgusted by Mrs. Errasco's reply to Aimee, but Aimee's views on god had me wanting to shout "YES!", and I'm an atheist.
'"We're not supposed to do it until marriage, okay?" I repeated. "But what if we're not allowed to get married? Like me. How long am I supposed to wait?"...
Errasco ignored us and erased the board.
"I'm serious, Mrs. Errasco. How does this abstinence theory apply to us? Are we never supposed to have sex? Ever?"
She set the eraser in the chalk tray and faced front...
"Well, Aimee." Errasco's eyes lit on me. "I guess that's between you and your god."
I stormed out after class. My god? My god? What did she know about my god? She probably thought that since I was gay, I was godless. Against religion. But I'm not. I have a god. I go to church. My god isn't her god. My god doesn't scorn or condemn me. My god is kind and benevolent and accepting. We made a sacred pact. I'd be the best person I could be and God would save me a place in heaven. My heaven. The real one, where it doesn't matter who you are or how you look or how you sacrifice your dignity and self-respect most days just to be true to yourself.' (Abstinence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder, p76-77)
There are two other stories I have to mention. Stone Cold Butch, about a girl, Cam, who has issues being with someone, and Boi, about transgendered Vince during his transition. Both of these stories deal with sexual abuse/attacks, and I can't tell you how much they broke my heart. I was disturbed, I was disgusted, and I was hurting so much for these characters - more so for Vince in Boi, simply because we see it happen rather than having past events talked about, it just felt like I was there with him and that all I could do was watch his agony. It was horrific, and I had to struggle so hard to hold back the tears in my eyes while on the tube on my way to work.
Each story is different. There are some sad ones, some downright distressing ones, but also happy stories. Lots of different people. Lots of different experiences. One truly amazing book.
January 5, 2025
This collection of stories was varried and I'm sure there are many who could see themselves reflected on the pages. In fact, these types of stories encourage that search for yourself—so when you can't even catch a glimpse? Its a bit of a let down. Im looking for the compulsory heterosexuality, the obsessed with fictional boys to lesbian phenomina, the "I'm bi but prefer men" to "definitely bi" to "do I even like men?" to "I'm so gay it's not even funny" pipeline.
Now this next part might just be because I am too old for the content, but I just found some of the stories slightly cringey? Exaggerated and stereotypical? I don't know, they really weren't bad, and I'm sure some people can genuinely relate, but I just could not get into it. Maybe I'm just projecting after being reminded of my own cringeyness when I was a kid.
Also WHOA TW for SA, I was not prepared for that.
Now this next part might just be because I am too old for the content, but I just found some of the stories slightly cringey? Exaggerated and stereotypical? I don't know, they really weren't bad, and I'm sure some people can genuinely relate, but I just could not get into it. Maybe I'm just projecting after being reminded of my own cringeyness when I was a kid.
Also WHOA TW for SA, I was not prepared for that.
October 6, 2023
This was my first read from the author Julie Anne Peters, she has a likable writing style, some of the stories in the collection were good, others were a miss for me, and a shame that Kat and Annika wasn't expanded into a full length novel.
September 25, 2023
a collection of short stories tackling lgbtq problems like internalized homophobia, transphobia, toxic relationships, etc.
i skimmed it. it's a short y/a novel so of course it's easy to read. however, i think it covered the queer struggle pretty well. not my favorite book but i would encourage ppl to check it out
i skimmed it. it's a short y/a novel so of course it's easy to read. however, i think it covered the queer struggle pretty well. not my favorite book but i would encourage ppl to check it out
November 3, 2008
There's a mixed bag here, and I respect the author for showing her range. Rather than go with all angsty teen lesbians, or happy lesbian love stories or beaten down (literally) lesbians, she throws everything in with spices of originality.
Probably by far the best is the first story, which is absolutely none of the things above. It's just a story of one teen girl attracted to another, the outcast, and daring to reach out.
Haven't read this YA author before, but it's so nice to know there's a new, good range of work for young lesbians and questioning. Would have been great to have when I was young!
Probably by far the best is the first story, which is absolutely none of the things above. It's just a story of one teen girl attracted to another, the outcast, and daring to reach out.
Haven't read this YA author before, but it's so nice to know there's a new, good range of work for young lesbians and questioning. Would have been great to have when I was young!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2015
I loved how brutally honest it was.
It shows how desperately we seek love in all we can, and how we long to be who we feel we are on the inside.
It shows how desperately we seek love in all we can, and how we long to be who we feel we are on the inside.
April 16, 2022
i added all my individual ratings for each story and got an average for my rating ^ (3.25/5 stars)
okay so i picked this book up today and i knew i had to get it, lgbtq+ is my favorite book genre. like-ever. so this book had 10 short stores: girls attracted to other girls (with hints of genderfluidness?), boys trapped in a girls' body, girls being wistful, upset, hurt, etc. overall one word for describing this book is longful
passangers: girl is attracted to the "weird outsider" student. girl #1 is not out but confronts her feelings. this one explained that the girl (tam) who was attracted to the other student (andrea) may have been genderfluid but still referred to andrea as she/her?? 3.5/5 stars
can't stop the feeling: lesbian struggles with excepting herself and coming out. 5/5 stars
after alex: girl struggles with living on without her ex girlfriend. 3/5 stars
outside/inside: this one was kind of confusing the name of the main person was logan and i'm not sure if what their identification is but it was still decent. had some great sentences (like poetry lines i suppose). 3.5/5 stars
on the floor: how basketball is also like a metaphor of the desires of the girl and such with her competitor. i liked the basketball part but it didn't stick out too much. 2/5 stars
stone cold butch: this one was the heaviest of the 10 stories. (TW!!) girl has trouble with relationships because of the sexual abuse from her father. 5/5 stars
abstinence makes the heart grow fonder: the title literally doesn't make sense upon looking but when reading the story 100% clear. basically this one had a bit of being a lgbtq+ religous person and it hit home. and friends, to nothing, to lovers i guess. 3/5 stars
boi: (TW!!) this one had a character potrayed as good but what they did for this boy to find out he was trans was just sketchy and shouldn't have ever been written. minus that 1 page, it was a good story about the struggles of being trans in a hateful world. (have to have a lower star rating because of the weird ass beginning). 2/5 stars. but minus that... 5/5 stars. so 2.5/5 stars overall
tiad: girl struggles with her breakup with her ex girlfriend. talks to strangers online and i'm pretty sure she gets (TW!!) groomed by someone who says they are a 17 year old girl. 3/5 stars
two-part intervention: musical story. friends to lovers. a bit dramatic for my liking. bit cute ending. 2/5 stars
sorry that was long but oh well. some of the things were sketchy, like i said, but overall had some good messages. it was a short book that i read in the one day as well as within hours of buying it. (which i have like never done ever lol)
okay so i picked this book up today and i knew i had to get it, lgbtq+ is my favorite book genre. like-ever. so this book had 10 short stores: girls attracted to other girls (with hints of genderfluidness?), boys trapped in a girls' body, girls being wistful, upset, hurt, etc. overall one word for describing this book is longful
passangers: girl is attracted to the "weird outsider" student. girl #1 is not out but confronts her feelings. this one explained that the girl (tam) who was attracted to the other student (andrea) may have been genderfluid but still referred to andrea as she/her?? 3.5/5 stars
can't stop the feeling: lesbian struggles with excepting herself and coming out. 5/5 stars
after alex: girl struggles with living on without her ex girlfriend. 3/5 stars
outside/inside: this one was kind of confusing the name of the main person was logan and i'm not sure if what their identification is but it was still decent. had some great sentences (like poetry lines i suppose). 3.5/5 stars
on the floor: how basketball is also like a metaphor of the desires of the girl and such with her competitor. i liked the basketball part but it didn't stick out too much. 2/5 stars
stone cold butch: this one was the heaviest of the 10 stories. (TW!!) girl has trouble with relationships because of the sexual abuse from her father. 5/5 stars
abstinence makes the heart grow fonder: the title literally doesn't make sense upon looking but when reading the story 100% clear. basically this one had a bit of being a lgbtq+ religous person and it hit home. and friends, to nothing, to lovers i guess. 3/5 stars
boi: (TW!!) this one had a character potrayed as good but what they did for this boy to find out he was trans was just sketchy and shouldn't have ever been written. minus that 1 page, it was a good story about the struggles of being trans in a hateful world. (have to have a lower star rating because of the weird ass beginning). 2/5 stars. but minus that... 5/5 stars. so 2.5/5 stars overall
tiad: girl struggles with her breakup with her ex girlfriend. talks to strangers online and i'm pretty sure she gets (TW!!) groomed by someone who says they are a 17 year old girl. 3/5 stars
two-part intervention: musical story. friends to lovers. a bit dramatic for my liking. bit cute ending. 2/5 stars
sorry that was long but oh well. some of the things were sketchy, like i said, but overall had some good messages. it was a short book that i read in the one day as well as within hours of buying it. (which i have like never done ever lol)
December 15, 2024
this reads like historical fiction in the sense of being incredibly feasible late 2000s/early 2010s lesbian stories, some of which i’d go as far as saying having been almost universally experienced. the writing isn’t spectacular, in fact maybe it’s even bad, but with the timeline considered i’d say if it isn’t a stylistic choice it at least seems like one in modern times from the way it mimics verbally to near perfection that gay awakening in early internet nostalgia.
May 8, 2017
It captures the textures and various colours of being a teenage gay woman really well. My only gripe is the short story format, which leaves a lot of things hanging. I would have loved to have some of the stories in a fullblown narrative. The book, despite my tiny chagrin, is intended to be a collection of shorts - and I can't totally hold that against the author.
September 4, 2017
Another brilliant bit of work by one of my favorite authors. Each story, while short in length was brilliantly written with enough information about the characters that make the readers genuinely care about each of them. They all ended with me anticipating more; a full book for every story perhaps. A great read, and rather quick.
February 5, 2019
This book was okay for me. It wasn't the best book I've ever read but not the worst either. This book had a lot of potential and many of the stories were very heartbreaking and sad but that was what made the stories meaningful. However, the diversity of this book and the way it talks about lgbt issues is really important.
August 3, 2024
3.75/5
“Kat!� She clenched my face in a vise grip and pounded my head on the ground. “You cut your hair. I almost didn’t know you.�
Oh, Annika, I thought. Do you know me?
I will think about two-part intervention until I die. I liked this book I like how very 2000s it is and how thoroughly queer. Lesbians are so cute. I’m happy!
“Kat!� She clenched my face in a vise grip and pounded my head on the ground. “You cut your hair. I almost didn’t know you.�
Oh, Annika, I thought. Do you know me?
I will think about two-part intervention until I die. I liked this book I like how very 2000s it is and how thoroughly queer. Lesbians are so cute. I’m happy!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2017
This was enlightening. To see things from the perspective of a teenage girl/young woman coming out, or being afraid to come out, or any of the other things depicted in the short stories... and they're so well written. There is a lot of heart in this book.
August 18, 2020
I quite liked the first two short stories, but the third one left a bitter taste in my mouth, so I read the rest with a warped view, I'll give it some time and then read it again and see what I'll think then, but for now 2.5 stars
March 27, 2022
☆☆☆☆ | 74%
the writing in this book was 10/10 the way it portrayed emotions & identity was just 💌
my heart literally ached during some of the stories who knew short stories could make me feel that much huh
rtc
the writing in this book was 10/10 the way it portrayed emotions & identity was just 💌
my heart literally ached during some of the stories who knew short stories could make me feel that much huh
rtc
July 21, 2024
I wish I had read this book when I was younger. This was a lovely queer short story collection. Some of the stories were sweet, but none of them had standout writing. I like how the range of stories in this collection were diverse, to really show some different queer perspectives.
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