The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli
Becky Albertalli is just the best -- THE BEST -- at writing authentic teenage voices. I think it's because she understands technology, and how it intersects with modern life, better than pretty much any other YA author. Also she's hilarious.
The Upside of Unrequited was slightly -- like, the tiniest fractional amount -- less enjoyable for me than the superlative Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, but I am about 99.9% sure that's because the subject matter was so much closer to me: close enough to be painful at times. Molly is insecure and feels unloveable; I'm still struggling with some of her issues now, as a supposed adult! But Albertalli writes her emotional ups and downs with such subtlety and skill: this book feels real, but never too heavy; it's not an unrelenting angstfest. Molly's story is a little bit of a fantasy, but an utterly relatable one -- I would say that it verges on inspirational. (I should just ask out the boy I like!!!) That sounds treacly, though, and this book is anything but. It's pretty much the platonic ideal of contemporary YA.
Love the casual diversity that still acknowledges differences and difficulties. Love the preponderance of happy queer endings. Love the cameos from Simon, Abby, and Nick. Requited or unrequited, just: love.
