Imogen, Obviously: New for 2023, from the bestselling author of Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda

Product Information

Her invalidation of Imogen’s sexuality, and literally anyone else who didn’t fit her rigid structure is harmful. And I know that Gretchen is the epitome of every single person – queer or not – out there who says and does these things to queer people to invalidate them and their feelings, but gosh did it make me want to just shake her shoulders and tell her to chill out.

And god — the romance?? ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. I loved how real everything felt, from the jokes to the texts to the little details and discoveries they made about each other. Immy, come on—no one thinks you’re a queerphobe.” She shakes her head at me, smiling. “And yes, I know I’m queer. I’m valid. All of that. I guess it’s just me seeing the way—I don’t know. They have their shit together, you know?”

I started listening to the audiobook initially, and Imogen immediately stole my heart. She's the loveliest person ever, and all I want is to protect her until the end of time. I know she has her sister Edith already, but maybe they're both in the market for an older sibling? Like when Lili drops a tiny, queer bombshell: She’s told all her college friends that Imogen and Lili used to date. And none of them know that Imogen’s a raging hetero—not even Lili’s good friend Tessa.

I cannot tell how much I loved this book and I was absolutely invested in Imogen! She is layered, well crafted character, a brave voice you want to hear! I loved her inner journey! Her searching the right space in the social circle, discovering her sexuality, coming out of her shell to embrace her real self! sometimes i put off reading a book if i feel it’ll hit too close to home. this wasn’t the case. i knew it would hurt and it did. very much so. but i dived in anyway. more than anything it eased something in my soul, the way every single albertalli book has. This is worse than normal lying. It’s queerbaiting. Or at the very least, I’m appropriating queerness. Not even just the aesthetics, either. Apparently, my brain thinks queerness itself is some kind of thought exercise. Me: a certified asshole straight girl who sees a lesbian existing and thinks it’s a love declaration. I hug Puppy the unicorn close to my chest. “So it’s just...I’m bisexual? And we used to date, but we’re friends now. And other than that—”Unfortunately, the self-policing from Imogen never felt particularly natural, even though she was written to be an overthinker and deeply insecure about this journey she was on. Even after a romantic dream she had that she could've just forgotten about and never told anyone about, Imogen lays awake and accuses herself of being an entitled straight woman who was appropriating the queer experience in her sleep. Ex-girlfriend. We amicably broke up last summer. I’m so sorry. Ugh. It’s so shitty and creepy, I know.” While Gretchen is a semi-frequent presence in this book, ultimately, Imogen knows herself and knows that she is queer enough. Tessa, the girl who slow danced with Imogen so tenderly, the girl who warmed up Imogen's hands when she refused to wear her blazer, and then insisted on the blazer like a sweetheart.

Albertalli balances sizzling romance and emotional coming-of-age with ease here, I wouldn’t change a thing! The chemistry between Imogen and Tessa is palpable from their very first meeting and builds seamlessly throught the book, I mean come on, THE CLOSET SCENE!?!?! A little on the nose I’ll admit, but my God you could cut the tension with the knife! Tessa as a love interest was perfect; both for Imogen and this story. It’s a pet peeve of mine when authors give the romantic partner the personality of a paper towel, but Tessa was funny! She was complex! You could relate to her! I am obsessed! Like when Lili drops a tiny queer bombshell: she's told all her college friends that Imogen and Lili used to date. And none of them know that Imogen is a raging hetero--not even Lili's best friend, Tessa. but it’s not always that—it’s scary, full of people who think they know you. who want you to always match the version of you they know. people who amplify the voice inside you that pushes you down. it hurts when that voice not comes from inside you, but someone you love. Which, hey, this is another recent YA read that is actually in the imminently-leaving-for-college and early-days-college stage and can I say? I like this trend of moving outside of the highschool box. I mean, admittedly, I do wonder sometimes what queer girls think of me. But it’s just the occasional fleeting thought. Definitely not a you-love-me kind of thing.I praised Going Bicoastal for having a character who is already openly out of the closet and proudly bisexual at the start of that book, but I think there's still definitely merit too books where the main character is discovering their sexuality. bi. bisexual. lili, i’m bi. it feels bigger than i want it to be. do i really have to announce this? can’t i just feel something and live inside it while it’s happening and not analyze it to death?”