This is a spoiler free review.
Leah on the Offbeat
Written by Becky Albertalli
Genre: Young Adult/Contemporary
Publisher: Harper Collins/Balzer + Bray
Release Date: April
Pages: 416
Source: ebook ARC provided by Harlequin Teen
Places to Get this Book: Amazon Barnes and Noble Book Depository
Recommended Age: 13 and up!
Summary:
Leah Burke—girl-band drummer, master of deadpan, and Simon Spier’s best friend from the award-winning Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda—takes center stage in this novel of first love and senior-year angst.
When it comes to drumming, Leah Burke is usually on beat—but real life isn’t always so rhythmic. An anomaly in her friend group, she’s the only child of a young, single mom, and her life is decidedly less privileged. She loves to draw but is too self-conscious to show it. And even though her mom knows she’s bisexual, she hasn’t mustered the courage to tell her friends—not even her openly gay BFF, Simon.
So Leah really doesn’t know what to do when her rock-solid friend group starts to fracture in unexpected ways. With prom and college on the horizon, tensions are running high. It’s hard for Leah to strike the right note while the people she loves are fighting—especially when she realizes she might love one of them more than she ever intended.
Review:
Leah Burke—girl-band drummer, master of deadpan, and Simon Spier’s best friend from the award-winning Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda—takes center stage in this novel of first love and senior-year angst.
When it comes to drumming, Leah Burke is usually on beat—but real life isn’t always so rhythmic. An anomaly in her friend group, she’s the only child of a young, single mom, and her life is decidedly less privileged. She loves to draw but is too self-conscious to show it. And even though her mom knows she’s bisexual, she hasn’t mustered the courage to tell her friends—not even her openly gay BFF, Simon.
So Leah really doesn’t know what to do when her rock-solid friend group starts to fracture in unexpected ways. With prom and college on the horizon, tensions are running high. It’s hard for Leah to strike the right note while the people she loves are fighting—especially when she realizes she might love one of them more than she ever intended.
Review:
It’s very hard to write a coherent review for this book as it was so good and I’m still blown away by it.
This was an auto buy as after I read two of Becky’s other books, I knew I had to read this one.
Despite this, I was still worried about reading it because I didn't want to mess up the perfection that was
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda but this book was just as amazing!
This was an auto buy as after I read two of Becky’s other books, I knew I had to read this one.
Despite this, I was still worried about reading it because I didn't want to mess up the perfection that was
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda but this book was just as amazing!
COVER
This cover perfectly represents Leah. Leah isn't skinny but it isn't mentioned too many times throughout the book which I thought was great as it showed representation as well as the fact that she was comfortable in her skin. Also, the yellow dress she is wearing is very important.
This cover perfectly represents Leah. Leah isn't skinny but it isn't mentioned too many times throughout the book which I thought was great as it showed representation as well as the fact that she was comfortable in her skin. Also, the yellow dress she is wearing is very important.
WORLD-BUILDING
There is no world-building for this one as it was all set up in the first book (Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda).
There is no world-building for this one as it was all set up in the first book (Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda).
Then there are the characters.
LEAH
Leah is the star of this book and I loved her a lot more than in Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. We really got to dive into her brain and life and see what everything was like for her. She has a tough exterior but is so loving inside and is really just a ball of mush (that's the best way to put it). Leah is a chubby, bisexual girl living in a single parent home and I loved that representation which is something you hardly ever get in YA books. Leah is so strong despite everything and I loved her for it.
All of the other characters from Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda are featured in this book even if they just have cameos. I especially loved seeing Simon, Blue and Abby again cause I love all of them so much.
Leah is the star of this book and I loved her a lot more than in Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. We really got to dive into her brain and life and see what everything was like for her. She has a tough exterior but is so loving inside and is really just a ball of mush (that's the best way to put it). Leah is a chubby, bisexual girl living in a single parent home and I loved that representation which is something you hardly ever get in YA books. Leah is so strong despite everything and I loved her for it.
All of the other characters from Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda are featured in this book even if they just have cameos. I especially loved seeing Simon, Blue and Abby again cause I love all of them so much.
FRIENDSHIP/FAMILY
Friendship and family are core topics in this book. Leah is very big on her friendships and they have lots of ups and downs throughout the book. Leah's best friend seems to be Simon throughout the book and he always has her back no matter what, which I adored. Nick, Abby and Blue are also great friends towards her. Family is also important to Leah as she knows how hard it is for her mom to be the only one supporting the family. Her mom is very important to Leah and Leah supports her mom just like her mom supports her.
Friendship and family are core topics in this book. Leah is very big on her friendships and they have lots of ups and downs throughout the book. Leah's best friend seems to be Simon throughout the book and he always has her back no matter what, which I adored. Nick, Abby and Blue are also great friends towards her. Family is also important to Leah as she knows how hard it is for her mom to be the only one supporting the family. Her mom is very important to Leah and Leah supports her mom just like her mom supports her.
PLOT
I loved the plot. I had as much fun in this book as I had in the first book. I loved seeing all the shenanigans that Leah and her friends got into and them navigating their senior year together. I also really related to it because I was also a senior this year and I had some of the same issues and experiences. It was also so emotional and really hits you in the feels and yes, I cried during the book.
I loved the plot. I had as much fun in this book as I had in the first book. I loved seeing all the shenanigans that Leah and her friends got into and them navigating their senior year together. I also really related to it because I was also a senior this year and I had some of the same issues and experiences. It was also so emotional and really hits you in the feels and yes, I cried during the book.
ROMANCE
There is obviously romance in this book and Leah really deserved it. I don't want to spoil anything because I need you to find it out for yourself but just know that it was really cute and a slow-burn that was very worth the wait.
WRITING
Becky Albertalli's writing gets better with each book as everything feels so real and the characters feel like they could be our friends. The banter was also very well done and I loved the conversations that the characters had with each other. Everything was so relatable and easy to read.
There is obviously romance in this book and Leah really deserved it. I don't want to spoil anything because I need you to find it out for yourself but just know that it was really cute and a slow-burn that was very worth the wait.
WRITING
Becky Albertalli's writing gets better with each book as everything feels so real and the characters feel like they could be our friends. The banter was also very well done and I loved the conversations that the characters had with each other. Everything was so relatable and easy to read.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Leah on the Offbeat easily became one of my favorite books of this year and I loved every page. I would highly recommend this book, if you read Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and enjoyed it. It is full of humor, laughter, tears and cuteness. It's also so well written and just so much fun. If you don't want to take my word for it then just go pick it up yourself.
Quotes from the Book:
“Imagine going about your day knowing someone’s carrying you in their mind. That has to be the best part of being in love- the feeling of having a home in some else’s brain.”
“Leah.' Mom shakes her head. 'You've got to stop doing this.'
'Doing what?'
'Burning everything to the ground whenever something goes wrong.”
Leah on the Offbeat easily became one of my favorite books of this year and I loved every page. I would highly recommend this book, if you read Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and enjoyed it. It is full of humor, laughter, tears and cuteness. It's also so well written and just so much fun. If you don't want to take my word for it then just go pick it up yourself.
Quotes from the Book:
“Imagine going about your day knowing someone’s carrying you in their mind. That has to be the best part of being in love- the feeling of having a home in some else’s brain.”
“Leah.' Mom shakes her head. 'You've got to stop doing this.'
'Doing what?'
'Burning everything to the ground whenever something goes wrong.”
My Rating: 5 out of 5 Crowns
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