The Upside of Unrequited

With twenty-six crushes and zero kisses in her life, Molly Peskin-Suso wonders if she needs to step outside of her comfort zone. Her twin sister, Cassie, is the the totally opposite. Cassie is an extrovert and she can get a girl's number super easily. The problem for Molly is finding the right person at the exact right moment which is hard to come by.

Becky Albertalli opens up The Upside of Requited with humor. Molly is introduced and she is very likable from the start to the point where you can relate to Molly wholeheartedly. She is the type of person you want to befriend. Molly ends up befriending Middle Earth Reid at her new job. Who would have known that love can blossom from a friendship? With Reid, Molly can be herself and she doesn't have to pretend to be someone she is not. The anticipation, the disappointment, the jealousy and even the butterflies in the stomach are all rolled into one depicting accurate emotions attached to crushing on someone and falling in love.

Albertalli succeeds at writing genuine characters. She represents teenagers of all sizes, sexuality, faiths, ethnicity and even teens with mental health issues. People can relate to this novel because Albertalli is honest and sincere. She doesn't sugarcoat anything. I love how the novel focuses on Molly as a whole. Although Albertalli's novel is bursting with diversity, she doesn't shine the spotlight on diversity directly which is a good thing. The Upside of Requited flows seamlessly.

The family dynamics in Molly's household is fantastic. Molly has two moms. One of Molly's moms conceived Cassie and Molly via a sperm donor. Her other mom conceived another child with the same sperm donor. I love how Molly's family can still be connected via DNA despite having two moms. Her mothers are very open-minded and care about their children very much. They want to be involved in their children's life and they are super supportive of their children's decisions. Also, Molly and Cassie have a wonderful sisterly relationship which I enjoyed reading about. Molly's shows growth in character development throughout the novel. She breaks out of her shell and overcomes many of her fears.

Like Albertalli's debut novel, Simon Vs. and the Homo Sapiens Agenda, The Upside of Requited will have readers craving for something chocolatey and cookie like. Instead of Oreos, readers find themselves yearning for Cadbury Mini Eggs or Cookie Dough.

The Upside of Unrequited is a coming-of-age novel about first loves, sisterly relationships, family dynamics and trying new things. If you loved reading Simon Vs. and the Homo Sapiens Agenda or if you are on the lookout for a cute contemporary read, definitely pick up The Upside of Unrequited. All teens need to read this book!

Molly has had a lot of crushes—twenty-six in fact—but they’ve never led anywhere. She’s never gone on a date or been kissed. Molly doesn’t necessarily mind that. But sometimes it’s hard to feel so awkward and chubby while her twin sister Cassie never has trouble connecting with the girls she likes.

This summer all of that might change when Molly connects with a cute boy named Will on the train. But it turns out turning a crush into something more isn't easy. It's even harder with helping to plan her moms’ wedding and her summer job. Then there's Reid, Molly's cute but nerdy coworker who is making her question all of the things she thought she knew about the type of guy she'd fall for in The Upside of Unrequited (2017) by Becky Albertalli.

The Upside of Unrequited is a cute standalone contemporary romance that puts a fat girl center stage while also offering a story that is about a lot more than Molly's weight. Molly is a sweet and relatable main character. While her crushes can lead to flights of fancy she also stays grounded while focusing on planning her moms' wedding now that they can finally get married. Molly and Cassie's changing relationship as Cassie falls in love for the first time adds another dimension to the story.

Unfortunately, this one fell totally flat for me. I disliked Molly's narrative voice a lot. She was a bit too twee for my tastes. I also knew I was going to have a hard time with this story when it opened in a public bathroom. It all just felt like Molly and the story were trying a bit too hard to be appealing.

The Upside of Unrequited is an obvious choice for fans of Albertalli's other novels. A likely winner for readers looking for a more inclusive contemporary romance as long as they can buy into the voice.

Possible Pairings: Little & Lion by Brandy Colbert, Once and For All by Sarah Dessen, The Romantics by Leah Konen, Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour, Love and Other Foreign Words by Erin McCahan, What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones

Ms. Albertalli wrote Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda Special Edition, a novel about a fearful homosexual teen who was in hiding about his sexual orientation. From there, she swings to the other end of the social spectrum. Twins Mina and Cassie are completely accepting of their two moms and the fierce love that lies between them. As far as Mina and Cassie are concerned, these are their parents, little baby Xavier is their brother. They’re neither militant or defensive or nervous about it. Instead, Mina has other concerns.

Mina is self-conscious about her body, since she’s a chubby girl—well, let’s face it, fat. But it’s not her body that bothers her very often as what she views as the imminent separation from her lovesick twin sister Cassie. She’s also hungry to get a boyfriend, mainly because she’s worried she’ll be the last person she knows to hook up with someone. So far, just your typical adolescent.

The novel gives us Mina’s constant worried thoughts, from whether she cares about being fat to what to do with her hands at a particular junction. She’s so caught up in her own interior life that some passages read almost like stream-of-consciousness inner babble. She doesn’t really know her own mind and vacillates from a positive to negative response to the same stimuli almost in the same moment.

She and the others around her also overuse the word “weird” but that seems to be a staple of modern YA novels. At least at the end, she switches to the word “stranger” (as a comparative to “strange”). So there’s hope for the future of literary adolescent verbiage, yes?

However, the bottom line is that we get to know Mina intimately and grow to like her (even when she’s sniping at her sister or at a boy she’s supposed to like). She’s got an artistic bent even if she doesn’t quite see it as such. She finds and kisses the boy she wants and attends her mothers’s wedding when same-sex marriage finally becomes legal. Interestingly enough, Ms. Albertalli makes that political change secondary. The ladies accept it and then they move to get married and it’s the wedding preparations that capture our attention.

This novel is topical, accepting and poles apart from “Simon”, proving that Ms. Albertalli is capable of taking opposing standpoints and crafting fine novels from them. I look forward to future novels from this talented author.

Actual rating 3.5 stars.

‘The Upside of Unrequited’ was cute. Really cute. Adorable even.

While I loved the romance of it all, the diversity and points of view, I wasn’t completely engaged or surprised. And I didn’t identify too much with Molly. Mental illness, insecurity, a youthful mindset all played a part in isolating me from her. I liked this difference to the usual tropes in YA, but I found myself wishing she was a touch more socially intelligent and the narrative wasn’t always related to emoticons and one word sentences and thoughts with exclamation points.

The dynamic of twin sisters growing apart was a great storyline, I kinda wish there had been more of Molly’s relationships taking front and centre instead of it being mostly boy-centric. I mean, I love me some romance, but this felt a bit heavy on the boy crush obsession. But in saying that, it rings so true to the seventeen year old girl mind. If I cracked open any of my journals from around that age, it would read so close to Molly’s words. But waaay more awkward and waaaay less cute boys ?

‘The Upside of Unrequited’ is predictable for the most part. There were moments that I got a little bored. Moments that I felt old – the language is definitely geared towards a tween demographic. Opposing, there were moments that I awed and giggled out loud.

After ‘Simon and the Homo Sapiens Agenda’ impressed me so much ‘The Upside of Unrequited’ did not really hold up to such a bright light. But a lovely read nonetheless, and I went into this novel with no expectations and enough distance to appreciate it on its own merits. I do love how it is set in the same universe as Simon, and am really looking forward to reading about Leah’s perspective (and maybe getting a glimpse at some more of the characters we know and love in ‘Leah on the Offbeat.’

Recommend this for lovers of light contemporaries, and obsessed with all things Creekwood.

Oh hello unpopular opinion review! I guess we meet once again... I truly wish we wouldn't have crossed paths this time around though. Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda has to be one of my all time favorite YA books, so of course I was fully expecting to love this story as well. I'm still kind of shocked I ended up having this reaction, but I guess it is what it is. Fact: the problem isn't the writing, which is without doubt excellent and made The Upside Of Unrequited into a really fast and entertaining read. I like the idea of having twins as main characters and the lgbt elements made this story into the perfect read for Pride Month. The twins moms are the cutest! The artsy/pinterest vibe was also a great touch. But. And here comes the main problem: I really struggled with Molly's character. Not only did her choices annoy me and she helped introduce a love triangle to the plot that really bothered me... But I also found her whole attitude and negativity towards her own body quite frustrating. Having struggled with my weight just about my whole life, I know how it feels having to deal with rejection and negativity of others, but I don't think Molly's character gives the right message to those who struggle with the same problem. And we don't have a lot of 'bigger' main characters to look up to in stories in the first place... So Molly was quite a let down for me. I also felt like The Upside Of Unrequited was almost trying to be too diverse and squeeze in too many diverse characters into one story. But yeah, that is mostly just me since everybody including my neighbor's cat seems to love this story, so do take my rambles with a grain of salt.

But it did!! This is one of those "I wish I would have read it sooner!" When I was a teen, I was Molly. This hit so close to home between the anxiety issues, weight problems, and crushes on a million and one boys (and girls) that had me convinced I was going to die alone. I was a mess and this book would have done me wonders. So I'm really grateful for young people to have books like this that say sometimes love doesn't come on a schedule. It's not always neat and tidy and fits in a box with a very clear, easy to read label. Yes, there were times when Molly (and her twin) were aggravating, but mostly I just wanted to give her a hug. Just like with Simon, I read it in the space of a day, would recommend it to all ages, and would happily read it again

I like it! Maybe not as much as Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda but I still really enjoyed it. It was just so cute! I am so hyped for the author’s next book.

The Upside of Unrequited is about a girl named Molly who has had twenty-six unrequited crushes. No matter how many times Molly’s twin sister Cassie and her friends tell her to at least try to act on her crushes, Molly is careful and can’t stand the idea of rejection. Soon Cassie has a new girlfriend named Mina and Cassie wants to hook Molly up with Mina’s hipster friend, while Molly also has a cute boy as a co-worker who she might be interested in. Can she finally get over her own lack of confidence and put herself out there?

As far as cute contemporaries go, this is a really good one. As I’m finding out, Becky Albertalli is great at writing these stories. There is something about her books- they are just so nice (and still filled with needed drama) and they have some pretty relatable characters. It just makes me so happy to read her books, honestly.

Molly is a really likeable character in my opinion. She was sweet, awkward, and I really liked watching her come into herself. An issue with that though- I wish she had gotten there by herself and not just from finally getting a boy. I still kind of relate to her so much that it made me feel a little weird…. Moving on.

I loved her complicated relationship with her sister and how she was best friends with Abby, a character from Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. I also really liked seeing her and Reid flirt, it was as awkward as it was adorable, and of course I loved her two moms.

The fun thing about this book is how diverse it is, and how totally well done it was. I read a book once that was filled to the brim with diversity and in that part, it lost the story and everyone was just what they were, not who they were. That didn’t happen in this book and I loved every part of that.

The hype for Leah on the Offbeat grows stronger.

Man, I really wanted to like this book as I LOVED Simon.

However, I felt that the author was trying to write Molly as innocent and gun shy but I felt she came off as more juvenile. She and her sister were supposed to be 17 year old twins but I felt Molly acted much more like a younger sibling who felt left out when her older sister started to experiment with sex and booze. I think this would have played better if she was a 9th grader and her sister was a 12th grader.

I also found the book to be repetitive regarding Molly's thoughts. Yes she is overweight. Yes she has anxiety. Yes she feels left out and left behind. I get it. I get all of it. I've been Molly. I am Molly. But there were times when I wanted to figuratively shake her. I literally was cringing numerous times and skipped ahead so I didn't have to hear repetitive thoughts yet again.

I wish there had been more character development for Reid. I think if Reid would have been written less confident because, let's face it, no high school kid has that much confidence and the book would have been split between Molly and Reid this would have been a 5 star book.

I really enjoyed Becky Albertalli's debut Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda so I immediately put this new novel on my TBR list, but it took me awhile to get to it. It was recently on sale on Audible, so I decided to do it on audio, and I think it might be one of the quickest listens I have ever done! I was obsessed with getting to the end and finding out what was going to happen with this story. It made me have a huge smile on my face the whole time!

A thing I really enjoyed about this novel is that it is body positive and it doesn't shy away from Molly describing her weight. I have seen other reviews say they got annoyed with Molly's obsession with her weight and how she thought she would never get a boyfriend because of it. I take beef from that stance, because when you are a teenager and you are a certain weight and it is constantly drilled into you that you are outside the "normal" it becomes ALL you can think of. Especially with how her grandmother treats her in this novel. Those well-meaning comments were extremely hurtful. I've been there. I might look average weight, but being told constantly you're whole life to "suck in your stomach" and other side comments about exercise can really take a toll on someone.

I feel a little conflicted about Molly's sister Cassie. I knew they had a tight bond and that Molly was feeling lost that they were drifting apart, but I think Cassie did some mean-spirited things at times. Like telling the guy she might like about her vomiting during her Bat Mitzvah! I was so annoyed at her! Even though Molly said this didn't bother her that much. In the end I was fine with Cassie, but at times I think she just made poor choices.

I am definitely a fan of YA contemporary and I love a good story about finding new love. It just warms my cold little heart! This novel was one that I just COULD NOT stop listening to. The narrator for this one was pretty good. I think she had some great voices between Cassie, Molly, Mina, and even her male voice for Reid was fine. I think it's hard for narrators to do voices of the opposite sex, although I think I am more forgiving when it's women doing men.

I don't think I can say anything else about this novel without giving it away, and I don't want to give any spoilers! This was a book that I blew through and just enjoyed so much. It's nice to just have fluffy love story!

Seventeen-year-old Molly Peskin-Suso has never had a kiss and has about 26 crushes that she has never made the move upon. She is shy, awkward and conscious about her body. She has a fraternal twin Cassie who is confident and her best friend.

Things change when Cassie falls in love for the first time with Mina, Molly is forced to get out of her aloofness and make new friends. Mina's best friend Will takes a liking to her and he is about to become Molly's 27th love interest when she meets Reid, her nerdy co-worker.

With Cassie moving further apart from her, Molly is forced to handle having the attention of two guys alone. To top it, her parents are finally tying their knots with the legalization of gay marriages in the USA and she has more on her plates than ever. Will Molly and her awkward self, be able to pull this off? Will Will become her 27th unrequited love (did you see what I did there?) or is it someone else? You will have to read the book to know more.

The Upside of Unrequited deals with several themes that are relevant in today's world - peer pressure, body image, teenage love, and rejection. One thing that The Upside of Unrequited has been continually praised for is the diverse representation of minorities, interracial and LGBTQ couples and families. The characters are diverse, of course, well thought out but were too perfect that they are kinda unrelatable, except maybe for Molly.

Molly's flawed, funny, socially inept characterization would be relatable to everyone who has had that phase. I like how family and sisterhood was important to her. I would have loved Molly except that for the fact she had one goal in her life - finding and kissing her boyfriend. And all of a sudden she gains her self-worth when she finds herself a guy. Erm.. definitely something we don't want books to reinforce of the kids today.

I definitely loved the writing. The style of the author is definitely quirky and cheerful that kept me hooked until the end. Despite the predictability in the plot, as one might find in most of YA romances, Becky Albertalli's writing wins the book for me, I could not put the book down even for a minute before I could finish it.

Fantastic book by Becky Albertalli, after reading Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda I became her fan, her writing just goes directly into my heart, the way she is able to make us care for her characters to the level she does is outstanding, and I think is because her stories seem real and her characters also seem real and vulnerable that is easy to find some kind of connection with them.

It has been a long time since I could fully connect with a character the way I connected with Molly, many times I found myself thinking about how often I used to say the things she was saying in the book or feeling the way she was feeling in the book, it was so refreshing to see a character like her, not perfect or trying to be, just real, taking it one day at a time and trying to find connections with people but at the same time being afraid of the world and what life has in store for us.

The relationship between Molly and her twin sister was my favorite and I think that its because that has happened to me in the past, you grow up with someone are best friends but life sometimes pulls you a part or maybe you don’t feel as close but you are there for each other no matter what because every relationship has its ups and downs and you have to roll with the punches but also be really aware if the relationship is worth working on or not.

The romantic aspect of the book was super cute! The interactions between them made me smile every time, the flirting was so dorky and the only way I can describe it is with smiley faces and heart emojis.

We also have some cool connection with Simon vs, and a little cameo with Simon himself, maybe it’s just me that didn’t know about this already but I always freaking happy when I made the connection.

To sum up, I LOVED this book and I can’t even begin to imagine how amazing her next book is going to be.

The Upside of Unrequited focuses on teenage Molly who feels that she's constantly struggling not be left behind by her twin sister and friends when it comes to the teenage experience. Not all teens sail through those years unscathed and it was refreshing to see how her anxiety and insecurity wasn't handled by those around her with derision or shame. Molly is how she is and they accept her but encourage her to step out and try new things.

The story itself is simple and focused on the relationships, which ranged from quirky and humourous to compelling and heartwarming. Molly is blessed with a good support system of friends, co-workers and family who are a lovely and diverse bunch in terms of race, age and sexual orientation.

I loved that LGBTQ relationships aren't highlighted for their uniqueness but because they represent many friends and families out there. Albertalli shows a regular ol' family who just happens to have two moms and these moms aren't relegated to the far reaches of the story but are an important support system for their kids. How unique! Molly's relationships with her moms, outspoken grandma and twin sister were wonderfully complicated and I think that Albertalli handled the sister bond well. As the older of three sisters I can attest to the fact that the sister bond can be complicated, awesome, frustrating, hilarious, sprinkled with jealousy and competition and be supportive - sometimes all within the same day. It's a lovely, messy and important bond and it felt authentic.

Along with the teen angst and relationships, many issues are addressed such as teen sex, body image (yay Molly for being a 'bigger girl' and still enjoying food!), underage drinking and mental health (albeit not in a great amount of depth).

The teenage years can be confusing and overwhelming and Albertalli focuses on the anxiety that some teens feel. But, sometimes Molly's low self-esteem was hard to read and it her inability to speak up for herself was frustrating when a little conversation could have cleared things up. But I'm speaking as someone who is a couple decades removed from teenage angst and while I think her anxiety explained some of her inability to speak up for herself it felt like her 'should I?/shouldn't I?' went on for a little too long.

Overall, this was an enjoyable and entertaining read. It has a nice amount of quirkiness (I do love me some quirk), sweet romances, a relatable character, humour and focuses on various relationships and issues facing teens. And it also features the life-altering importance of Cadbury Mini Eggs. You gotta love that.

I began to read this book at around 2AM, seeing as I had it as an eARC and didn't want to sleep. Word of advice: if you don't want to sleep, pick up this book! I was hypnotized from the very first sentence "I'm on the toilet at the 9:30 Club, and I'm wondering how mermaids pee," not only because of how random it was but also of how this turned out to be the beginning of a flowering relationship with Molly as a character. Molly, such an incredibly complex girl that was easy to relate to in her attitude, perseverance, hopelessness, crafty creativity, self-doubt, and many other qualities that made her shine beyond the pages like a fully-fleshed person. With the later additions of characters and interesting plot, this novel gripped me into one of my favorite YA books of this year so far.

Another aspect I enjoyed endlessly was the relationship between Molly and her twin sister, Cassie. They are everything you expect of twin sisters: deeply connected, dependent on each other, so similar but also different in their own fantastic ways. But even with that, throughout the story, it was interesting to see how their bond is affected once Cassie falls in love with a girl right from the start. This allows for family and friends drama, as well as perceiving deeper into Molly as a character as she deals with her anxiety and insecurities.

Also, Molly has had many crushes in the past. At first this may seem somewhat far-fetched, but once you think about it, haven't we all liked someone in a way just to be met with unreciprocated feelings? This is normal, Molly knows it, but she also wants to experience love and other things that she believes she probably won't because of her anxiety and weight. It's a reality of her developed character not simply told, but shown through her actions, thoughts, and feelings that allow the reader to connect and feel for her and with her.

Now, the romantic aspect with Molly and the love interest was so cute! It was innocent, fun, flirty, and dorky. It reminded me of Rainbow Rowell's romance style a bit. There wasn't much depth to it like in other books I have read, although it was still pleasing. Then we have three (I think?) queer relationships, with characters of different sexual orientation that were also nice to read about, as they showed a broader spectrum of romance and serious relationships in different stages, regardless of their orientation.

As much as I loved this book, there were some parts at the beginning that felt off for me, but that is more a matter of preference. There is mention of gay marriage being legal throughout all the United States, as well as other topics that are of the social and political type. This felt strange at first mainly because it didn't fit with the starting chapter, as well as the synopsis of the story. It seemed put there just to make a statement about what was happening in the real-world, in a reflective sort of way, though positive. Thankfully, as the story progressed, these topics were woven with the few present plot elements that kept being developed with the characters to make more sense, as well as interesting. In addition, there wasn't much plot going on. It was all completely character-driven, which for certain themes it's great, but at other moments I'd be thinking "What is even happening here, or what is the point?". Again, a matter of preference.

This being the first book I read of Becky Albertalli, I thought it was well written. It's easy to dive into its compelling character-driven story. Other than being a cute read, it also provides a wide variety of characters and family dynamics that I found to be perfect for analyzing. I took a course in Family Communication, and this book deals with real issues and family relations that make it even more realistic to read about.

Overall, you won't want to miss this Young Adult Romantic story that also connects with her other novel, Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda, with small cameos that previous readers of Becky Albertalli will love. Cannot wait to read that one sometime soon, as well as forthcoming titles of hers.

Rating: 4 stars

Review by Jennifer Madero

Words cannot describe how much I loved this book. And this is coming from someone who didn't really like Simon vs The Homosapian's Agenda all that much. But maybe I'll pick it up and try again. I loved this book so much because Molly was me. I was that fat girl who hated her body and couldn't even look people in the eye because I was so self-conscious. The situations that Molly went through, those tiny, subtle moments of boys making fun of you, I went through that. I've had boys come up to me and ask me out on a joke or whisper the word fat behind my back. It stung then and it still stings now. So reading about Molly gave me so much joy. I loved her so much. I loved her Pinterest obsession, her internal monologue, just everything. Heck, I practically am her (besides the Jewish and straight thing).

Unlike Simon, I thought the side characters in this book were so adorable and waaaay more fleshed out. I also grew to like Abby because I didn't feel like we got to know a lot about her in Simon. Nadine was my absolute favorite. She stole the spotlight whenever she was on the page. I loved her attitude and her compound cursing skills.

I do wish we could have seen more of Patty because she felt a bit sidelined. Cassie and Mina were also great, although Cassie got on my nerves at times. But her slamming problematic crap down was wonderful to read. That awkward dinner with Grandma was too real. (Don't we all have an ignorantly, racist grandma?) Reid was so adorable, as well. I was falling for him right alongside Molly. Their interactions with each other were tooth rottingly sweet and I loved his dorkiness. Will was also a pleasant surprise because I was just waiting for him to turn out to be secretly mean or something but he didn't.

Tl;dr this book is amazing and I highly recommend it. I wish I would've had a book like this when I was growing up. I don't remember ever reading about bigger girls falling in love. The representation was wonderful and none of the characters felt defined solely by their diversity. The dialogue is so real and refreshing and exactly how teens talk to each other. It was such a fun, simple read and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This story is filled with all manner of cutesy, crafty, and fluffy things that you could ever want. We follow Molly Peskin-Suso, perpetual crusher, but the perpetually alone twin, as her sister, Cassie starts to seriously fall for Mina. Cassie and Mina are determined to set up Molly with Will, but Molly is growing closer to her co-worker Reid. The Upside of Unrequited makes your heart soar with happiness and will leave you with a giddy smile!

Things I Liked :
First off, this story had AMAZING diversity!!! I mean seriously it was incredible and inspiring and everything I could ever want. The underrepresented body types (seen as love interests and people worthy of love!!!), Characters of Color, LGBT+ characters and POC LGBT+ characters, Jewish MC and side characters, MC with anxiety. SO MUCH DIVERSITY and it was FANTASTIC!!!

Molly and Reid are cute AF. And I appreciate all of their adorable nerdiness and comfort around each other. They had so many great moments

I love that Molly was a self proclaimed “Pinterest Queen” because I wish I was that awesome. I’m fairly crafty and have a decent eye for decor (in my opinion), but I aspire to have her dedication.

This line: “Because that’s the thing about change. It’s so painfully normal. It’s the most basic of all tragedies.”

I really appreciate the message of story. That there is no “right time” or “deadlines” to meet any romantic milestones in a relationship. I love the hopefulness of the ‘upside of unrequited.’ That you spend so long waiting and wanting something, and when you get it, it’s magic. It was so positive and happy.

Things I Didn’t Like :
I did not like Cassie at all. I thought she was pushy and bratty. She didn’t seem to ever really listen to what Molly wanted (Molly even says Cassie thinks she knows best), and I didn’t like that she completely withdrew after becoming official with Mina. I get the throes of young love, but she some pretty crappy stuff, and I didn’t care for her at all.

I feel like Will was drunk at least 50% of the time he was on the page. He was never a viable romantic option in my eyes and I didn’t really care for him.

There was a lot of stuff that I really loved about this book, but man did Cassie really bring it down for me. This was a really cute and fun contemporary with A TON of diversity. While I do prefer Simon vs., I did really enjoy Upside! It was filled with family drama, charm, and adorable romances!

Molly, like most teenage girls, feels like there’s something wrong or different about her. She hasn’t had a boyfriend or even been kissed by a guy, but maybe that’s about to change. Molly and her sister Cassie make some new friends, and somehow, Molly’s old and new friends think her and Will would make a great couple. Commence friends trying to set her up with Will.

Okay, so maybe that plot sounds a little cliché, and for a good chunk of the book, it was. It was basically the storyline of every romantic comedy ever with just a few twists and turns thrown in. Molly’s voice made the short, contemporary read refreshing and humorous, though. She’s also got a sweet Pinterest vibe going on.

One thing that was great about this book was how diverse the characters were. It was a nice change of pace from the typical YA contemporary. However, the diverse cast didn’t really help me with the plotline any. I just couldn’t really understand what this book was truly about and what its main message was. The message may have been about accepting yourself, but with how the storyline ended, I simply don’t see how that message holds up. Molly didn’t evolve as much from the start to the finish of the book as I would have hoped.

It’s a fun read, but I think that’s almost all there is to this book. I was expecting another Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, but I didn’t really get that same vibe for this one.

All in all, if you’re looking for a fluffy, diverse, contemporary read, The Upside of Unrequited is probably a good choice for you.

*Note: I borrowed a copy of this book from my local library. This in no way affected my opinion/review.

5/5 Stars

After reading Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, I knew Becky Albertalli could write an amazing tale but I had no idea I'd be utterly blown away by her second title, The Upside of Unrequited. Like actually gobsmacked by Molly Peskin-Suso, her family, and this story of love, life, and the inevitability of change. Honestly this book surprised me every step of the way.

The heart and soul of Upside was the ridiculously charismatic cast of characters that brought this story to life. Molly Peskin-Suso is the queen of crushes; anxious, heavyset, and unsure of the world. Cassie, her twin sister, is an outgoing lesbian who has no problem getting dates. Olivia and Abby round out their friend circle and Mina is Cassie's new pansexual girlfriend. As far as boys go, there's Will, Mina's attractive hipster friend, and Reid, Molly's adorkable coworker.

Adding more depth was the wondrous family dynamics at play. Molly and Cassie are now dealing with the realities of change, worried about losing each other as they grow up and drift apart.  Thankfully moms, Patty and Nadine, are there supporting them and taking an active role in their lives. YA really needs more present parents and families and I loved seeing those conversations on the page.

To be honest, I wish this had been available when I was a teenager. I feel such a deep connection to Molly; her unrequited love, her body, the way her mind works. Turning each page was like looking back into the past for me and this is the first time I've felt that with a book. Albertalli also manages to truly capture how difficult growing up can be and that there is no "right" time for life events. I'm so thankful for this.

Overall The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli was an absolute revelation of a book. Molly, Cassie, and the rest of these characters were so real and this story resonated with me so much. With a brilliant tale of love and family, Albertalli crafted an honest, funny, and emotional take on contemporary life. Everyone, seriously everyone, should read this book!

Originally posted on Hopeful Reads

After reading Simon last year, I knew I was willing to read anything that Becky Albertalli wrote. And so when i heard she had another book coming out, I was super excited to see it what it was all about.

Molly isn't scared to have a crush, but she IS scared of rejection. And as a self proclaimed fat girl, she has to make sure she stays away from being rejected. But one day, Molly find herself trying to choose between a really cute guy and a guy she shouldn't like at all. Right?

After my last read being a bit of a downer, I needed a bit of a pick me up. And this one definitely did the trick. I wanted to read something that would have me laughing and this one did just that. Molly and all of the characters were absolutely hilarous and I loved reading about them.
One of the main things I loved about this book tho was the familial aspect. I absolutely ADORED Molly's entire family. They all had their own dynamic and I LOVED that her moms were constantly there and actually acteed like moms. That's rare in YA and it was refreshing to see such a great family unit.

I also really liked the romance in the book. Every single part of the romance was completly adorable. And I mean EVERY character that was involved in something romantic was absolutely adorable. I don't normally care about anyone other than the main character falling for someone, so I knew I was in love with this book when I got the happy's for someone other than Molly. It was all auper adorable.

And last but not least, I loved how it was so 100% relateable. I too suffer with body image issues, not only back then as a teen, but also now. I also didn't think I deserved to be with someone else either. I also have anxiety and her spiraling and everything is definitely something that happens to me almost on a daily. In other words.... If I can see myself in this, I'm sure teens can.

Everything I love about a book was included in this: Romance, times when I laughed out loud, and even being able to relate to the character. And because of that, I will sing it's praises from where ever I am. Albertalli has hit it out of the park again! I can't wait to read Leah on the Offbeat coming in 2018!

The Upside of Unrequited was the perfect YA contemporary novel. It has two adorable love stories, twin drama, and absolutely wonderful parents. Molly and Cassie are fraternal twins with lesbian moms and a little brother. All three kids have the same donor father, but the girls were carried by one mom, and their brother was carried by the other. Both girls are falling in love for the first time, but it isn’t going exactly as planned.

Molly, the narrator of the story, has had a bunch of unrequited crushes, but she’s never had an actual relationship. When Cassie starts dating a new girl (whose name I cannot remember!), they decide to hook Molly up with her friend, Will. Will is a pretty boy who Molly thinks is too cool for her because she considers herself fat…who knows if she actually is…but she’s willing to go for it anyway.

Meanwhile, Molly has a new job working at a cutsie – think Etsy in 3-D – where she meets the owners’ son, Reid. I loved Reid. He wears nerdy t-shirts and he’s super sweet. This love triangle is oh so predictable, but I loved it anyway. Molly’s feelings about Cassie and her new relationship were so spot on. The twin parts of this story were probably my favorite.

Gay marriage has just been ruled legal in all 50 states after the supreme court case, so Cassie and Molly’s moms are finally getting married. Molly is using her Pinterest-y skills to make the decorations. I loved this aspect of the plot. I loved that the parents were present, and that this book handled LGBT relationships without making them weird at all or preachy. The diversity in this book was done so well.

I could go on all day, but basically this book was great. If you love YA contemporary reads, you should read this book ASAP.

Blog: Opinionated Book Lover

It means so much to me to see a character who looks and thinks like myself (she's fat and has anxiety, both of which are own voices representation) in a romance story because I 100% WAS Molly at 17, pining over unrequited crushes and feeling so much insecurity about pursuing them.

Aside from Molly being one of the most relateable characters I've ever read, the rest of the story held up. There are so many important discussions about weight and sexuality and marriage equality and anxiety, but there are also quieter, sweet moments that reflect REAL parent relationships and sister relationships and friendships. Becky writes the best YA parents. And I swear she captures teenage crushes in the most palpable way.

And the romance, oh the romance. I FELL HARD. Molly's emotions were written so well and I felt fully consumed in the build up and payoff. I appreciate how he was portrayed (nice guy, geeky, underrepresented body type) just as much as I appreciated Molly.

I saw a review early on complaining that Molly's insecurities went away once she got a boyfriend and how this is bad fat rep and anxiety rep and I have to say I 100% disagree. There are two lines about Molly's self confidence improving that occur after they had gotten together but neither of the statements had anything to do with the boy in my opinion. They were directly related to breakthroughs in her relationships with her sister, best friend, and grandmother. And it was literally ONE day. People with anxiety do have high days but it absolutely does not mean their insecurities go away forever. And if you think fat or anxious people aren't allowed to feel happy when they get with someone they've been crushing on, well... I will gladly have words with you.

Other rep in this book: Several Jewish characters (also own voices). Several LGBTQIA+ side characters with pansexuality stated on page. MC's family has 2 moms and is multiracial. Korean-American side character. Several black side characters. Also underrepresented body types and anxiety as mentioned above.

Becky Albertalli's sophomore novel is honest and funny and nuanced and charming. There is no way a teenager would pick this up and not see himself somewhere in the pages.

It centers on seventeen-year-old Molly Peskin-Suso and the fact that she's had twenty-six crushes and exactly zero kisses. And how she is possibly losing her twin sister, Cassie, who is falling in love—for the first time—with cute new girl Mina. Enter funny, charismatic Hipster Will, who happens to be Mina's best friend, and everything should be fine, right? Except there's also Molly's coworker Reid—awkward, geeky, Cadbury-mini-egg-loving Reid—who maybe likes her. Okay, I am literally Molly. I'm twenty-four and I'm Molly. I'm a prolific crusher but haven't actually kissed anyone—at least not kiss kiss. I'm careful. Too careful. Heck, she's even had more action than me and that's, well, tragic. But that's why I connected deeply with her story; that's why Molly freaking out next to a cute boy or feeling self-conscious next to people she's known her whole life resonated with me. Because all the crushing, all the wanting, all the unrequited-loving, and suddenly here is an author affirming emotions I've been trying to make sense of all these years, and boy was that unraveling.

Like the author's debut, The Upside of Unrequited captures the immediacy of and renders articulately the teenage experience. How everything feels like it's either the end of the world or the beginning of it; the elations and heartbreaks of first love; the innate, underlying fear of not mattering. I was an idiot to worry I wouldn't love this book as much as Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda (and in fact, fans of Simon vs would find themselves a treat or two). That's unfair and unfounded and ultimately, as it turns out, untrue. Both are brimming with heart and humor, because Becky has an acute understanding of voice and how awkward and exciting and scary it is to be a teen. With Upside, as it was with Simon vs, I’m not just reminded how careful and at the same time hopeful I was at seventeen, I am seventeen-year-old me, careful and hopeful.

There is something to be said about how great narratives aren’t always solely about the lead and that is true for Upside too. I'm certain many teens, as well as then-teens, would feel for Molly and her anxieties and journey to self-confidence; it’s both an absolute delight and comfort to follow her but the secondary characters are just as vibrant. Each character is fleshed out, so much so that the reader can easily see the other characters’ stories unfolding outside the curtains. The novel also touches on positive representations of body image—it’s central to how Molly views the world and herself, even if often self-deprecating—and intresectional diversity. Molly is a fat, white, Jewish girl with interracial lesbian and bisexual mothers; there’s a Korean-American pansexual character and there’s a gay couple; and everything feels organic. As organic as Molly and Reid’s chemistry. There’s effortless draw and almost inevitability in the progress of their relationship; it's warm and fuzzy and at times nauseating. It's hard not to root for Reid! Plus, without the aid of a spoiler, I like that the author could’ve conveniently gone one way with Molly and This Other Character but didn’t.

So, in the parlance of Molly and all of us millennials, my verdict is: ALL THE HEART-EYES EMOJIS.

So I loved the characters but wish the story/ plot was more interesting. Molly and her twin sister Cassie and their friends and family are interesting and people that I wish were in my life. But it took me a month to read this book since I am not into teen romance and the story was just not holding my interest. Molly is the "fat" girl out of her group of friends and the only one that has not "gone all the way" or even dated one of her crushes before so she feels left out in her friends' discussions and socially behind everyone else. When she has two crushes possibly about to become something more, she is socially awkward and tetters on possibly losing them both. The story takes forever to build but the characters personalities kept me reading. I loved Molly's craftiness and her parents' quirkiness about certain things and Reid's (Molly's crush) geekiness. I wanted to love this book especially since it was from Owlcrate and everyone else seemed to love it but it was not for me. I wish that this book covered some other topic or had a different focus but it is a teen romance so if that is your genre, you will love it.

I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.

So I'm pretty sure this book is all about me when I was a freshman in high school. Molly is me way back when. She's the quirky girl who is awesome to be around but she doesn't feel so great about herself.

She feels as if she's going to be "forever single". She's basically glued at the hip to her twin sister Cassie. That is, until Cassie starts dating Mina. Their sisterly relationship soon falters a bit when Cassie wants everything to do with Mina and what seems like nothing to do with Molly.

This story was beautiful. I honestly feel like Becky knew me in my freshman year of high school and wrote this book about me.
Molly finds herself really liking her coworker Reid. She doesn't really know how to go about liking someone because all she's ever had were crushes. She wants Reid to be more than just a crush and she doesn't understand how to make it happen.

This book is a great life lesson to those people who think they're not good enough for other people. This book shows that it's not true. There is someone out there that likes you for you.

All in all, this book is a quick wonderful read. It was definitely worth all the hype!

LOVED it. Molly had a voice that captivated me right away. She’s vulnerable and honest and delicate, yet she’s smart and unique and fierce in so many ways.

Molly has never had a boyfriend or been in love, but she’s had a lot of crushes. Her self-esteem issues have been barriers to her sealing the deal because she’s overweight and under-confident. Yet her beauty and spunk and amazing spirit attract several people....however...she just doesn’t see it.

To add to the dimension, Molly’s twin sister falls in love with a girl right away and Molly struggles with watching her sister have what she so desperately wants.

Meanwhile, their moms are amazing and I loved their frank nature, romantic spirits, and balance between boundaries and freedom.

This book had heart and humor and so many lessons about heartbreak and love (for others and for ourselves).

Super great.

I bought this meaning to save it for my vacation, but my love of Albertalli's last book (Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda) made waiting impossible. IMPOSSIBLE. I ended up reading this in two sittings before I even began packing for my trip.

Molly has had many, many crushes, but no kisses. Why not? Because she's exactly like so many of us were/are in high school. Overthinking. Scared. Trying to protect ourselves. Disbelieving that anyone would like us for exactly who we are. So teenagery.

So how does she find her way out of that box? Well, twin sisters and cute boys at work and new friends and overly communicative parents and a wedding have a way of shaking things up.

Again, Albertalli finds a way to make even the least SQUEEE!!ish of us squee in our hearts as our eyes dash across the words she puts on the pages. We all at least know pieces of Molly and laugh out loud or cringe when we see ourselves reflected in them. Her path from page one had me hooked, charmed, happy to see where she went. I hope the author continues putting out novels that make me both so happy and sad to hit the Acknowledgements page.

Omg I loved this so much! The writing is superb, it was like the moment i read the first sentence i just couldn't stop reading. I somehow ended up flying through this in one sitting and I'm actually kind of bummed i finished it so quickly because I don't want to leave these characters yet.

I legit loved every single character in this book. Is it weird that i felt like they were my friends? I just related to each and every one of them in different ways and I honestly kept thinking about how much I wish I could be friends with them (or had friends like them growing up) in real life.

I guess my one complaint would be that it was over too soon. I can't help but wish this was longer because I felt so disappointed when I realized I was on the last page. I just feel like there was more we could've seen with these characters, like there was so much more story left if she had wanted to continue it. For example: Molly and Reid. I felt like they had just finally gotten together and then it was over and yeah maybe that's the point and yes this is YA but still I wanted to see them be an actual couple.

Anyway I'm so happy I read this and I'd definitely recommend it! Now I need to finally read my copy of Simon vs the Homo Sapiens agenda because I'm very curious about those characters!

17-year-old Molly is the queen of crushes, carefully tabulated and shared with her twin sister, Cassie, and good friends Abby and Olivia, but never, ever shared with the boys themselves. She is shy, but also afraid that the boys might see the overweight girl Molly sees in the mirror.

In this entertaining and often poignant story of taking chances and breaking out of her self-imposed boundaries, Molly must rediscover the girl in the mirror while at the same time dealing with her changing relationship with her sister. In a way, it reminds me of the theme (though not the story) of the Disney movie, Frozen, with sisters learning to define their own roles while exploring love outside, and inside, their safe but confining home.

With a wonderful cast of characters, from the sisters' helpful but unhelpful moms to the gorgeous Mina who sweeps away Cassie on her tangent to the smooth hipster Will and adorkable Reid who, in Molly's mind at least, vie for her first big step out from unrequited love to real live boyfriend, The Upside of Unrequited is fun and authentic and caring.

I strongly recommend for young adults, and anyone who remembers what it was like.

This is a lighthearted contemporary young adult novel about your average teenage girl (Molly) and her life. Like most teens her age, all Molly really wants to do is get a boyfriend. Except not really. She has lots of other interests but when even her twin sister has her first relationship, Molly feels left out.

This is a light read and fun. Molly is absolutely adorable. And why wouldn't hipster boy like her? Who wouldn't? She might not be a skinny mini but she's wonderful.

Although for me - a nerdy boy who is a huge Tolkien fan ... well, I was rooting for Reid the whole time.

Have a read and see if Molly ends up with a boyfriend or just new friends by the end of the story.

Albertalli has a gift for capturing the true teen voice. Molly is real and the reader can't help empathizing with her situation. A wonderful mix of humour, drama, and adventure - check it out!

The Upside of Unrequited is a highly amusing romp. The main character, Molly Peskin-Suso, is a chubby girl who has only ever had unreturned crushes. Her identity is very family oriented, especially in regards to her twin. The book is full of a variety of characters as Molly has been raised with two moms, one of whom is black and the other is Jewish, and a black little brother (mom Patty carried Cassie and Molly and mom Nadine carried baby Xavier) who shares donor dna with Molly and her twin. Sexual orientations and skin color are rarely made a big deal out of unless someone is verifying that the person they like is attracted to the gender they are. Cassie identifies as queer and gets her first real girlfriend instead of just hooking up with people in the beginning of the book and it becomes a point of contention for the twins as she spends more and more time with her girlfriend and Molly feels she is being left behind. Cassie tries to set Molly up with a male friend of her girlfriend’s so that they can spend more time together, but Molly’s heart is elsewhere as she meets a geeky boy named Reid who is quirky and weird in all the right ways. But does he like her? How do you make the miracle of two people liking each other at the same time happen? Molly spends this book finding out!

Okay, don't kill me, but...

I haven't read Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda.

Yes, I know, I KNOW. Don't look at me like that. I have the book, and I've met the very lovely Becky Albertalli, AND she signed my copy, on top of that. However, I still haven't, you know, gotten around to actually reading it. Anyway, I was on a boat, bored out of my mind because my brother had stolen my earphones (thanks pal), and I remembered that I brought my Kindle with me. Hooray! I ended up scrolling through the eGalleys I had on it, and stopped at this one. I mean, The Upside of Unrequited? Um, I'm unrequited. Yes, this girl over here. Sounds like me, so sign me up. I got around to reading it, and I couldn't stop.

This book touched upon some really important issues; body image, for instance. I felt like this was such positive representation of a "larger" girl, because let's be real–how many movies or books actually portray the "larger" girl getting the guy at the end? Far too few, my friends, and this book is an amazing step in the right direction. I love reading about girls and guys of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds, and this made me so happy. I mean, Molly goes through tough times, but the outcome was just raising-hands emoji.

❝I hate that I'm even thinking that. I hate hating my body. Actually, I don't even hate my body. I just worry everyone else might.
Because chubby girls don't get boyfriends, and they definitely don't have sex. Not in movies–not really–unless it's supposed to be a joke. And I don't want to be a joke.❞
–ch. 17, eGalley*
*text is subject to change

Oh lordy. I identified with Molly so much. The endless crushes, the fact that I'm too chicken to talk to any of them, watching my friends develop their own relationships around me–this story is basically my life. Minus the twin thing, the two moms, and the fact I'm not Jewish and white. But otherwise? Totally me. I feel like this was probably why I connected so much with the protagonist of the story. Because I mean otherwise, she kinda wasn't like me. Definitely a lot more artsy (well, okay, I'm artsy in a different direction), and she has certain quirks that I don't. Besides all that though, she carried herself in a way that I could admire. She's a pretty headstrong character, and despite thinking that she lacks confidence in the boy department, I feel like she's got a good grip on life and navigating the ups and downs of her teenage years. Her sister, on the other hand, kind of annoyed me. I loved Cassie, don't get me wrong, but there were just a few moments in the book I thought she really pushes it too far with Molly. Olivia was a great character, but I wish we saw a bit more of her in the book, and Reid was just darling–we would actually get along, me loving the Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones, and all that. The characters were super well-rounded and felt real, which made reading this book so much better.

The Upside of Unrequited was beautiful, fierce, funny, touching–all the heart emojis to this book! Becky Albertalli has a wonderful way of capturing the right tone, and I can see why her books are widely adored in the world of young adult fiction, so yes: I will absolutely, without a doubt, be diving into Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (very, very) soon.

I have to say, this was such a relatable story for anyone who went through a typical high school experience. The identity crises, the worries, the exposure to new, exciting, and terrifying things, the self-consciousness, the fleeting (and lasting) crushes, the lessons learned. I like how Albertalli combined elements of family, friendships, and love. It was a well-done book, but sometimes Molly's anxiety and worrying was too much. I definitely think it was realistic and made for great character development, but it was honestly to the detriment of my enjoyment of the story. It was starting to stress ME out, and that wasn't really what I wanted when reading a contemporary book like this. All in all, a solid story.

The Upside of Unrequited follows Molly, a girl who has had 26 crushes (and counting). She’s never been brave enough to put herself out there, never told any of her crushes how she felt and has never been rejected. But will everything change with crush 27?

This book is great because it has diverse people represented and seems authentic to each of their individual personalities and struggles. It is nice to see such a well-developed collection of people introduced to readers because sometimes readers aren’t always able to find a character they can relate to in a book. I hope that this book is not one of them.

Although Molly thinks she might like two different boys at one time, this isn’t a book that revolves around a love triangle. Molly struggles with her changing relationship with her twin sister. Her sister explores her own romantic feelings. Her parents balance their lives with a new baby and a very happy occasion on the horizon.

This is a cute, quick read about crushes, first loves, family, friends, and life. Highly recommended to young adult/teen readers who enjoy happy contemporary books.

This is maybe far cuter than Simon's book. And with more representation. Molly's family is amazing. She has two moms, a twin sister and a sweet baby brother. The timeline of the book takes place when equal-marriage became legal in the US and through this course of the summer Molly struggles with he growing crushes and how her releationship with her sister Cassie changes after gets a girlfriend.

I relate with Molly a lot. I was shy in high school and never got the chance to confess to my crushes (though when I grew up and went uni, I realised that they were idiots.) Molly though is a sweet girl, shy with an artistic spirit. Her relationship with Reid was one of the most heartflet and sweetest I've read in a contemporary (along with Kassie West's books).

Because the characters feel so real with their struggles and emotions that you can't help but want to hug them! Really good story and lovely ending!

There is just so much that I want to say about this book, and surprisingly all of it is positive. Ever since I began reviewing books for not only Goodreads and the store, but also for my blog, I have been reading books much more critically than I am used to. But reading this book was like taking in a deep breath of fresh air. I was going through a really tough reading slump before jumping into this book, and both surprisingly and unsurprisingly I was able to read this book in under two days. I had been struggling to find a book to read for almost two weeks and suddenly I just zoomed through this contemporary book.

I could really relate to Molly as a main character. She is awkward and fat and a hopeless romantic. She falls in love with people, but doesn't have the confidence to tell them just how she feels. She appreciates the tiny details in things and has a strong personality. I could really see myself when I was reading from her point of view. I could relate to her insecurities with her weight, but they didn't define her in the way that most fat characters allow. Her insecurities weren't central to who she was as a character which was extremely refreshing to read. However, I could also relate to the feeling of inadequacy and the way she felt as though no one could possibly ever like her back. Just like Molly, I have had many unrequited crushes that have all ended with me keeping my feelings to myself and never giving the other person a chance to either accept or reject me.

Usually in my reviews I try to keep the amount of spoilers to a very, very small minimum and I will try to do the same in this review. I will say that there is a sort of "love triangle", but I only put that in quotes because it's not exactly a traditional kind of love triangle. It was definitely interesting to read and didn't feel contrived or trope-y. It felt really realistic, which might sound surprising or strange to those of you who are not the type for love triangles, but trust me. It's really good.

There was also a lot of really good, interesting representation within the novel. Molly is a donor-baby, her parents being two mothers. She is a twin with a little brother much younger than she is. She was also raised Jewish and identifies as Jewish. Her sister identifies as a lesbian, I believe, though don't quote me on that! I just think I read in the text that she was a lesbian, but I will come back to this review and edit if I'm wrong. Her sister's love interest is pansexual and I believe one of Molly's moms is a lesbian and the other is bisexual. Molly is fat and I believe that one of her love interests is also fat. I also believe that Molly's sister's love interest is also Korean, but I may be wrong about that. (I don't have the book right in front of me, so I can't fact-check this stuff. C'mon Allie!)

What really stuck out to me besides the representation was the writing. There were lines that were just so beautiful and raw and relatable that I just started crying. It was incredible. I could really, truly relate to this book and it just struck such a chord inside of me. But, truly, the writing was incredibly beautiful. I was very impressed by this book and the way that Becky Albertalli was able to make me feel.

Overall, this is absolutely a book that I would recommend to anyone. I have read some really amazing contemporaries this year, and they just keep getting better and better. If you can, please pick up this book and read it immediately! (I also really need to read Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda!)

The YA (Young Adult) story follows our hero Molly, a lovely and creative 17-year-old girl who nevertheless feels uncomfortable in her own skin. She struggles with her weight (though her family is very supportive of her many amazing qualities) and finds herself suddenly and unexpectedly without her twin sister Cassie’s constant support. We begin with Molly’s twin Cassie embarking on her first real relationship (Molly introduced the new lovebirds, adding to her feeling of abandonment) and the fallout that Molly experiences as she feels left behind in love by Cassie. This moment where Cassie moves into a relationship intensifies Molly’s feelings of aloneness, since Molly has only ever had a long list of unrequited crushes. None of the boys on her long, long list ever knew how she felt about them. Molly’s weight, her own struggles with self-esteem and her feelings of inadequacy still hold her back from making any kind of move. Cassie, emboldened by her own new relationship with a lovely girl named Mina, decides to help Molly get a boyfriend and to put herself out there.

As with real relationships, those portrayed in the book include the range of feelings: love, passion, jealousy, fear, embarrassment, discomfort, joy, hurt, elation. The author does a beautiful job of building believable and lovable characters in this book. The main question our hero Molly asks herself is: am I worthy of a relationship? Now suddenly, with the help of her sister and the other charming characters in this story, Molly brings us on her journey of personal discovery in pursuit of the answer to this question down a scary yet exhilarating path. Will Cassie’s “Operation boyfriend” for Molly end in success or terrible, soul-crushing failure?

Molly’s endeavors as a 17-year-old are honest and real. She asks herself, is everybody doing these things except me? Am I the only one in the world who has not done them? Whether that be holding hands, kissing, or attaining the elusive boyfriend or girlfriend. Real, overwhelming and intense teen feelings jump off the page.

I didn’t want to put the book down, and wanted to know immediately how things would play out. I’d highly recommend this book for any teenager or adult in your life.

3.5/4 Stars

The Upside of Unrequited was such an emotional and diverse read. Characters throughout the book are so well rounded and add so much value to the story. You find yourself loving all the different interactions that Molly has with those individuals in her life. Molly is struggling with finding herself and a lot of the book show cases her inner dialogue of how she observes herself. At times this was hard to read, but it is relatable for teens/people that have felt like Molly has in life. Though this can come across as frustrating to some, I could see why Molly didn't just come out and have conversations with her mom's or twin sister Cassie about how she was feeling about her body image, etc.

Where I really struggled with this book was at times it just seemed to lag for me and not flow naturally. Other than that, the book was engaging and one that I would highly recommend to others.

I received this book in my April OwlCrate. It was such a cute story with well developed characters. Many moments made me laugh out loud, and the main character, Molly, was very endearing with her insecurities and overactive imagination. She reminded me a lot of myself as a teenager. I really liked the supporting characters too. If I had any complaint, it would be that it felt a little bit like this book was trying to hard to be diverse, like "Oh look, we have this type of person, this type of person, this type of person, etc." But overall, I would recommend this story as an enjoyable, easy, contemporary read. I completed it in one sitting. For those who care about such things (cough, parents, cough) - there is quite of bit of underage drinking and sex talk. It didn't bother me, but in the interest of disclosure, I'm putting it out there.

Becky Albertalli has such a wonderful voice when she writes – the characters practically jump off the page – so when we’re thrown into Molly’s head on page one – I was IN.

Molly as a main character was refreshing because she’s so relatable: she’s fat, she’s very into DIY projects, has anxiety (and even takes medication for it!), and has a bunch of crushes that haven’t been reciprocated. Following Molly while she went off and got a job and made new friends was a lot of fun, but my favorite interactions were with her family.

Molly lives with her two moms, her brother, and her sister and all of them are prevalent in the book, which is very refreshing in YA. They’re not just mentioned in passing, but there are family meals and events where they’re all together and I was living for it! Everything isn’t perfect among the family members though so there is some tension, which just added to the authenticity of the family unit.

Since the title of the book references unrequited love, I should probably touch on the romance aspect of the book pretty quickly, right? There are a few different guys in this book that Molly spends time with but Reid is precious and must be protected at all costs. He’s a chubby, quiet, nerd who works at his parent’s shop who is obsessed with all things Tolkien. Reid as a character was authentic and a true joy to read about because he was so nice – not “nice guy” nice, but actually nice.

I loved this book and I appreciated that Becky Albertalli included different ethnicities and orientations because that’s the world that we live. Also, I do think that most people would be able to find at least something about a character that they can relate to. Love, love, love.

True Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Molly Peskin-Suso is the queen of crushes. She’s had almost thirty crushes throughout her life, and she’s only seventeen.

Unlike her twin sister who has been with countless other girls, Molly has only ever been on the unrequited side of love. Cassie, being the extrovert that she is, says this is because Molly has never taken chances–that she’s just never gone for it.

And she’s right. Molly has never actually been rejected; she’s always been too scared to actually confess her feelings to any of the twenty-something people she’s crushed on. She’s always been too “careful.” But when you’re always comparing yourself to your thinner, blonder, and charming sister who naturally wins everyone over, it’s hard not to let it damage your confidence.

However, everything changes this summer for Molly. She’s starting a new job, and there she befriends her co-worker, the charming, down-to-earth Reid. Him, she can actually talk to without flipping out the way she normally does around most boys.

Though he may be the first boy Molly can talk to with ease, he is an incredibly geeky one who wears this atrocious pair of white sneakers and goes to renaissance festivals. Definitely not the boy Molly has always pictured as her first boyfriend. Especially not when there’s cute hipster Will who might be into her and just so also happens to be the best friend of Cassie’s new crush. Which is also important, because after Cassie meets Mina, everything starts to change.

The closeness the twins used to share suddenly goes missing, and it feels like Cassie is slowly, but surely, leaving Molly behind.

~~~

Oh my goodness. So many feelings about this one.

Okay, so, I was super excited to read this one after loving Becky’s first book, Simon Vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. (By the way, the book takes place in the same universe–this time focusing on Molly, Abby’s cousin–so we get to see a few familiar faces!)

Unfortunately, though I did like it, I did not love it the way I loved Simon, and I don’t think I see myself reading it again anytime soon. (Which I only say because there are so many other books I need to re-read before I could even consider picking this one up again.)

I’ll start with the characters, since this is a character-driven read. I really loved that Becky gave us more diverse (and LGBT+) characters, and I really appreciated how she went about it. She never put big blaring signs over their heads and instead normalized them–the way it should be in real life.

The only problem is that I never really connected with any of them. I connected with Molly and Cassie, but that was it, and even then it was only half of the time. The other characters only showed up a few times and just came off as bland, no matter what quirky ism’s they had been given.

I definitely was Molly at one point, so I could easily relate to her insecurities and completely understood the majority of her thoughts and feelings (even if I don’t agree with all of them now).

Because there wasn’t enough page time to get to know the side characters, I couldn’t really relate or connect to them; and, therefore, I didn’t really care for the romance either.

From the beginning, I much preferred sweet, nerdy Reid over sweet, cool Will. I thought her relationship with Reid was super adorable, what with their shared love of homemade cookie dough and Cadbury eggs, but by the end of the book I felt no real chemistry between either pair.

I also didn’t really like how as soon as Molly got a boyfriend, her insecurities were gone and she immediately felt pretty. I really hate that this is the way most people feel–that being wanted or beautiful is what you need to make you happy and worthy of happiness. After reading Wintersong and that being a big issue for me as well (in addition to being a relevant real life issue, of course), I’m just ready for everyone to learn to love themselves for who they already are–not because of someone else.

On the UPSIDE (haha I know, I’m a dork), I actually laughed a few times out loud while reading and loved the dialogue between the characters. I loved the strong family bond, especially between Molly and Cassie. I may not have a twin sister–or even a sister–but what they were experiencing happens to most friends I think. As you grow up, you change and sometimes your friends don’t change with you, or they do and it’s not in a good way. You’re always trying to find a balance for fitting new people into your life and making sure you’re not neglecting or drifting from the current people in your life.

As for the pacing, Upside felt both long and short at the same time. Long, because the book dragged a lot for me. Short, because not that much actually happened. In all honesty, there wasn’t much of a plot. Once I realized the book was taking place over a summer vacation, I kind of figured it would be that way.

Overall, I definitely think fans of Simon Vs. the Homo Sapiens should check this sequel/companion novel out, because, who knows, maybe you’ll end up connecting with these characters more than I did! I also seem to be in the minority with my feelings on this one. Only one person, out of the many that I know and follow, rated and reviewed it similarly.

Set in Washington, D.C., THE UPSIDE OF UNREQUITED follows the summer story of 17-year-old Molly Peskin-Suso, who has had 26 unrequited crushes (and counting!). Molly considers herself the opposite of her fraternal twin sister, Cassie. But things begin to change when Cassie gets a new girlfriend who comes with a new possible boyfriend for Molly. But Molly might have co-worker, Reid, in her mind instead.

I think if I had to sum up this one book in one word it would be cute. The Upside is the second book from Simon vs. author Becky Albertalli and it's just as fun and adorable as its predecessor. If you loved the humor and pace of Simon vs., you'll definitely get the same feeling from The Upside. Similar to Simon Vs., Becky's writing is simple and easy, everything is kept light and hilarious.

Unrequited is about different relationships, while focused on romance, it also includes familial ones and Molly is, easily, a relatable lead. She's super cute and witty, I found myself rooting her from the very beginning. Becky Albertalli knows how to write awkward moments and happy scenes that create true-to-life scenarios that make this cast of characters feel so real.

Speaking of the cast of characters, rarely do I read a book where I would happily read a novel of each separate characters. From Molly's mothers, who are strict and loving while they might not get it all the time, they're clearly caring parents who will do anything for their children to dorky Reid, short stories of just him working in his parents' store would make me happy. Looking back at the story now, I've realised how much Becky has packed into this novel but it never once felt overwhelming. It all felt natural following Molly's story, but also her sister's and her friends and family.

I think what got me the most was the fat representation in this book. I loved it and I saw myself in it. While I didn't personally relate 100% when Molly spoke about her crushes but when it came to her body image, I could relate so much.

Overall, The Upside of Unrequited is a fun and enjoyable read, dealing with multiple issues faced by teenagers and portrays them in such a positive way.

This book was just so darn adorable! The relationships were done well (romantic and otherwise), and I really especially appreciated the family element to the story. I couldn't exactly relate, since this isn't how my family is set up but I could see someone really finding this relatable. I thought the fat representation was done well which seems to be corroborated by actual fat reviewers. The diversity representation is exactly how it should be done in a story like this, not the main focus but incorporated into the lives of the characters, just like it would be in real life. I just enjoyed this so much and it was the perfect story for me to read during the stress of my finals week.

Becky kills the relatable story game. She writes characters that I feel like I simultaneously was and want to be friends with. I appreciate that she makes characters that are real and do things in their life instead of being vessels walking to events to move plot along.
You will love Molly. She is me in high school. She claims to be a late bloomer but she certainly had me beat by a few years :)
Becky manages to effortlessly weave diversity and heartache and life through her stories. Nothing is forced.
Please read this book. Becky's books are so important.

I thought about giving this 3 stars as this was a super predictable teen romance novel. However, I liked the characters and found Molly to be way too relatable to my teenage self. I had many a crush on people I said very little to in general because when your "different" you think why would this person like me and it takes that one person that everyone is like "you know he's into you" and for it to be true for you to be like "oh wait maybe" That's this book in a nutshell. For some readers I'm sure that's annoying but for me it felt a little too autobiographical for me not to like.

THIS. WAS. SO. CUTE.

(It was . . . better than Simon??)

Even though Molly was so different from me, I still felt like I was reading about myself because our headspaces are so similar. Albertalli has such a way with creating a diverse array of characters. It's something we see in her debut novel that has expanded even more in her second novel. All of her characters have such depth and complexity, and the way that this book weaves together with Simon makes the characters all feel so real and creates a similar sense of space to Morgan Matson's books.

11/10: need Albertalli's next book ASAP.

(Also, the audiobook is great, so if you're thinking of reading it that way, I definitely recommend it.)

Becky Albertalli’s sophomore novel has a loose connection to her first book, Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda. Protagonist Molly’s cousin Abby recently moved to Georgia, where she met a new guy named Nick, and became friends with Simon. Although there are a couple fannish nods to Simon, and some interactions with Abby, The Upside of Unrequited really stands on its own. It is a sweet story of love and family, featuring a diverse cast of characters all with their own unique charms and struggles. Relationships of all kinds are the driving force of this coming-of-age story.

I read this SUPER fast, which is rare for me, as I'm a writer myself and typically spend more time in my own fictional worlds. I received this book in an OwlCrate box a few months ago and am so glad I did. I loved the LGBT elements of the story and how the author didn't make them a huge thing. They just WERE, which was awesome. Molly is a relatable character with flaws, but you root for her the whole way through. And Reid is a-freaking-dorable. There are a few repetitious phrases like "I blush," and "his dimple flickers," but they didn't get in the way of the story. I loved the emojis and the three dots and the texting. Loved. What else can I say? Err....READ THIS. Now.

Becky Albertalli’s story about a young girl named Molly, who’s constantly falling in and out of love, is delightfully written and I’d also like to add that her penchant (as I understand it) for diverse characters is spot on in today’s climate. It’s refreshing to read about a family dynamic that’s both something originally new and still manages to convey the modern-day family that often consists of more than one “correct” version.

Molly’s a seventeen-year-old girl who’s never been kissed and has never had a boyfriend. What she has had though are multiple crushes and thus she’s avoided experiencing rejection. Molly doesn’t see this as a problem, she’s careful… that’s all. When her womanizing and somewhat cynical twin sister Cassie suddenly falls madly in love, Molly can’t deny that she’s lonely and longing for connecting with someone of her own. Maybe having a boyfriend will even help her reconnect with her sister, as well as gifting her with her first kiss. Luckily (or maybe confusingly) for her, two boys pop up catching her attention. Who will she choose? The cute hipster boy Will who’s best friends with Cassie’s new girlfriend or her coworker the charming nerd boy Reid. And will she have the guts to put herself up for potential rejection?

Some scenes in this book had me cringing, not in a bad way, but in the way that I was acutely embarrassed on behalf of a character. That's some really good writing and makes me very keen to read her Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda!

Completely adorable. Molly has always had crushes. So very many unrequited crushes. And when she meets the perfect girl for her sister, she thinks it would be pretty fabulous if she could pair off with one of her cute friends. But Molly is unsure of herself and unsure of what she would do to turn a crush into something more. And at her new job, there's this guy, who's maybe a little bit less than "cool" but who seems to be pretty comfortable just being himself. The Upside of Unrequited is for all teens who've spent more time crushing than dating. Love it.

I just love Becky Albertalli's writing style. It is so much fun and easy to read. Time just flies by as you are engulfed inside the story. This is a book about twin sisters coming of age, making life altering decisions, finding themselves and yet staying close with each other as they find their different paths. I have to be honest in saying I loved Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda a little more but I really loved this book as well. Recommend this for everyone.

I loved this book. I thought it was a fun and fast read. It takes you back to that feeling of every decision you make in your teens is the end all, be all of life.

I'm one of those people who will see a cute man on the subway and imagine our entire lives together in five minutes so I especially loved how Molly would count her crushes and catalog each of them. The characters were diverse which is always nice to see.

I also thought Reid and Will were both great male characters and I was so happy neither of them were made out to be jerks. I would highly recommend this book to any lover of YA.

This book is simply delightful.

Molly has never been kissed, but she has had a number of crushes. She's decided it's best being unrequited and unhurt. But sometimes that isn't fun. So when she meets two guys that are kind of intriguing, she decides to take a chance.

Becky Albertalli has a way of writing where you're kind of worried she's read your journals. Her stories are so honest, so real. I adored THE UPSIDE OF UNREQUITED. It was addictive and smart and fresh and just plain fun.

Quite simply, I loved this book. A brilliant sophomore novel from a brilliant writer.

This has easily become one of my favorite books that I’ve read in quite some time.

Molly is a 17 year old serial crusher that has to start becoming her own person after her twin sister, Cass, gets her first ever girlfriend.

I loved this book mostly for how different it seems to be from others. The diversity of It alone is what got me to sit up and read it for hours. It seems to show a new perspective other than the view of a popular, mean, and perfect high school girl- kind of character.

The characters were written out to feel like actual people with normal problems that some face today. The book was all about Molly’ s personal development of her personality and it is subtle and realistic.

I loved the continuous diversity throughout the entire book. There are multiple cultures, religions, personalities and sexualities that really stand out. The cast seems very vibrant and distinguished in a way that will keep you interested in the read.

I would consider reading this again and it was a great story!

The Upside of Unrequited is an amazing character-driven story about reaching outside of your comfort zone. The topics discussed in this book are natural and non-judgemental. The characters are strong. They make me laugh, cry, and feel angry when everything is going wrong. I need more of Becky Albertalli’s writing in my future!

I really did want to love this book, but overall, I found it a cute/mindless read. At times, it felt almost like it is aimed at lower YA (the obsession over crushes and kissing was a bit juvenile and a boring topic IMO). I did like how Molly had a passion for crafts and her relationship with her sister, but the book fell flat for me.

The Upside of Unrequited is the book I've always wanted but never thought I could have. Endlessly smart, earnest, and embarrassing, Molly's story is one we can all relate to, one we definitely need more of. Hands down the most meaningful, witty, and satisfying book I've read in the last year - a true new favorite. Do yourself a favor: buy it, clear your schedule, read, and rejoice, for Becky Albertalli's new book is even better than the last.

THIS. BOOK. It was so, so cute and romantic, but even more than that it was really relatable. Like, I read YA from the POV of a married adult mom and I love it, but sometimes I'll read something and get a flash of what I would've thought about it when I was an actual teenager. And Teenage Me would've LOVED this book. It's all about crushes (my fave topic) and feeling left behind and family/siblings. It was genuinely funny, which is something I always appreciate in my romances. Also there's a wedding at the end and I cried.

After reading Simon I was excited to read more by Becky Albertalli and while this was adorable and a lot of fun it wasn't as great as Simon. Still a great read and fast read with fun characters that you easily care for. I enjoyed the story and loved the love interests and friendships.

I have never fallen in love with a cast of characters as quickly as I did in this book. Everyone in it is so much fun to cheer on and spend time with, and Molly is such an incredibly rare character you just KNOW so many readers will be seeing themselves in for the first time. I loved Albertalli's debut but I think I might love this one even more. I hope she keeps writing this kind of magic forever.

Molly Peskin-Suso is a veteran crusher. In her seventeen years, she's has twenty-seven crushes. Kisses? Never. Boyfriends? Get out of here with that nonsense. It's not that Molly is disinterested, but the whole thing seems so... improbable. How do you get a boy to like you back at the exact moment you like him? As hard as that is, magnify it by about a thousand for a chubby girl.

Meanwhile, things seem so easy for Molly's twin sister, Cassie, who has no problem kissing the girls she crushes on. Then Cassie meets Mina and falls in love for the first time. She wants Molly to have her own first love and works at setting her up with Mina's friend, Will. Molly feels like she and Cassie are starting to grow apart and things working out with Will might help them come back together. But Molly can't deny how much she has in common with Reid, her coworker.

I loved the relationship between Molly and Cassie. It's nice to read about a sister dynamic that isn't rife with melodrama. The whole Peskin-Suso clan is loving and supportive of one another, even if they don't always say the right thing (Grandma). Molly is adorable and so is her developing friendship/relationship with Reid. I loved that she was shamelessly into crafty things. Even as an adult, I could relate to all her insecurities.

I can already see from early reviews that this book is getting a lot of attention for its diversity-- Molly and Cassie have two moms, one of whom is black and one whom is bisexual, and are being raised Jewish. If there's a single character in the book stated to be a straight, white Christian, I missed it. For readers looking for such a diverse cast in a YA book, I can't recommend this highly enough. But, for me, that wasn't important and didn't factor into my rating.

This story vaguely overlaps with the world from Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. Molly is cousins with Abby. Expect a few cameo appearances. Personally, I wasn't a fan of this, and it's perhaps my only real complaint of this book. I love the characters from Simon, but it didn't feel like a proper revisit; they felt shoe-horned in.

Thank you to both the publisher and Edelweiss for giving me a copy of this book to review.

I loved these relatable and realistic characters and devoured this book in one day. The writing style will draw you in and keep the pages turning. I loved the sibling relationship and the way the book handles so many issues without making them a big deal

I absolutely loved this book. Molly is one of the most relate-able characters I've read in a really long time. It brought me back to my high school days where my inner dialogue was very similar to hers. It was an excellent read and I'm looking very forward to more from Becky Albertalli.

Okay. So I was way late to the Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda fangirling and I was totally kicking myself for waiting so long to read it. I was not going to let that happen with The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli. I am so glad I made it a priority to read this one!

I loved everything about this book. As with Simon, I immediately fell for the main character and voice of the story. And, yet again, all the characters are incredible.

That said, Molly was the standout for me. I mean, obvs… she’s the main character! But aside from that I just really identified with her. What I would give to have read a book with a character like her when I was a teen! I kept tearing up thinking about how important some of the truths Molly learns would have been for me to see. Just knowing I wasn’t alone in the things I was thinking and feeling would have been enough. It makes me immeasurably joyful to know this story is out there and that teens will be reading it.

I implore you to read The Upside of Unrequited (and Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda!) by Becky Albertalli. You will meet some of the most authentic teen characters out there! These books are why I so love young adult literature.

This was a very cute, fun romance novel. It seems like Albertalli has actually met some teenagers and actually made an effort to understand them which is more than I can say for a lot of YA authors. A lot of the emotions and thoughts that Molly had were very reminiscent of how I felt and thought as a teenager. The love stories were precious and the wedding was romantic.

On a different theme than her first book, Becky's unique style and wit brings a new story that will always stay in your heart. I read this book in one day because I couldn't put it down. I loved how refreshing it is. Molly is a super relatable character.
If you ever had a crush on someone or more then this book is for you.

This book was a little predictable but still a sweet story. It does a good job of highlighting changing relationships, having different views on sexuality/virginity in high school, and having LGBT couples as main characters.

This one was a bit nauseating for my taste. It was like watching an episode of every teenage romance after school special crammed into one. However, if you want to read something based off every other insecure 17 year old female trapped inside her own head about dating and relationships, then this is the one for you. The book had a few funny moments but over all I didn't care for it. Only read because it came in one of those monthly book boxes.

I gave this book a solid 5 stars. It was everything I look for in a book: diverse, charming, engaging, and developed. I loved the honesty of every word written and how connected I felt to the main character. I related to Molly on such a deep level I nearly cried. This book has a plethora of representation and not once did I feel it was forced or unnatural. From varying sexuality to racial diversity to mental health inclusion, this book captured my attention and heart. It was well written, heart warming, and such a quick read for me because I was so engrossed in the story. I wanted more, more, more every flip of the page.

Loved this book! So much so that I have to buy it for my bookshelf. I could relate to Molly soooo much. She sounded just like me in high school. I was chubby and thought no boy was ever going to look at me the way her boy ended up liking at her. Gave me those warm and fuzzy feelings in the chest.

This was a very cute story that was nice and fluffy and nothing too heavy. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because it wasn't the kind of book I just COULDN'T PUT DOWN. It was good, it had diverse characters, but I'm not sure I would read it again.

Totally loved this. Pitch-perfect voice, funny, heartfelt, cheerful, generous, big-hearted. Molly is a great narrator and her whole supporting cast of friends and family was so perfect. This book made me so, so happy.

I enjoyed this book. It reminded me of that time in life when changes are happening so fast you feel like you can't breath. I liked all of the characters and the mushy relationship stuff. It was a good light read with some angst but nothing intense.

This book is so sweet and relatable. The characters are very real. This is the perfect portrayal of being a teenager. I loved the writing, the characters, and the story. This book is just too darn sweet. The diversity is awesome as well.

June 3, 2017 – Started Reading
Review I really, really adored this book! Molly was my favorite because how can Molly not be your favorite. I couldn't stop smiling while I was reading. Such a fun, funny heartwarming read.

Becky followed up her much beloved and award winning Simon v The Homosapien Agenda with another classic. The Upside of Unrequited was such an authentically honest portrayal of the chubby girl with no self esteem. I loved watching the MC put herself out there and learn that she is good enough and lovable. It wasnt the guy that gave her the confidence, he just gave her heart a push to finally see herself without the unrealistic standards blocking her view.

This book was everything I didn't realize I needed. The main character was so relatable, and the writing simply sucks you in. I saw myself in Molly throughout the het entire journey. A new personal favorite!

I received this book in the April Owlcrate box. While it was ok as far as characters there wasn't really any plot. Things also jumped around a lot. Molly likes Will then next chapter she likes Reid and doesn't care about Will. Then when Will come around again she cares. I wish there had been a plot and that things had has a more set course.

This book was a little predictable but still a sweet story. It does a good job of highlighting changing relationships, having different views on sexuality/virginity in high school, and having LGBT couples as main characters.

This one was a bit nauseating for my taste. It was like watching an episode of every teenage romance after school special crammed into one. However, if you want to read something based off every other insecure 17 year old female trapped inside her own head about dating and relationships, then this is the one for you. The book had a few funny moments but over all I didn't care for it. Only read because it came in one of those monthly book boxes.

I gave this book a solid 5 stars. It was everything I look for in a book: diverse, charming, engaging, and developed. I loved the honesty of every word written and how connected I felt to the main character. I related to Molly on such a deep level I nearly cried. This book has a plethora of representation and not once did I feel it was forced or unnatural. From varying sexuality to racial diversity to mental health inclusion, this book captured my attention and heart. It was well written, heart warming, and such a quick read for me because I was so engrossed in the story. I wanted more, more, more every flip of the page.

Loved this book! So much so that I have to buy it for my bookshelf. I could relate to Molly soooo much. She sounded just like me in high school. I was chubby and thought no boy was ever going to look at me the way her boy ended up liking at her. Gave me those warm and fuzzy feelings in the chest.

I finished this book in two days. The author does a fantastic job of capturing the excitement and angst of falling for someone the first time. I felt like I was transported back to my teenage years and experiencing the giddiness all over again. The main character, Molly, embodies everything I felt as a teen when it came to having a crush on someone. The writing is excellent and I couldn’t stop reading. It’s fun, sincere, heartwarming, and a must read! I also loved the family element and relationship between Molly and her family. A must read!

This was a very cute story that was nice and fluffy and nothing too heavy. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because it wasn't the kind of book I just COULDN'T PUT DOWN. It was good, it had diverse characters, but I'm not sure I would read it again.

Totally loved this. Pitch-perfect voice, funny, heartfelt, cheerful, generous, big-hearted. Molly is a great narrator and her whole supporting cast of friends and family was so perfect. This book made me so, so happy.

I enjoyed this book. It reminded me of that time in life when changes are happening so fast you feel like you can't breath. I liked all of the characters and the mushy relationship stuff. It was a good light read with some angst but nothing intense.

This book is so sweet and relatable. The characters are very real. This is the perfect portrayal of being a teenager. I loved the writing, the characters, and the story. This book is just too darn sweet. The diversity is awesome as well.

I liked this book. I felt like the characters were a little forced; they didn't feel natural. But I did like the story, and Molly was dear. And who doesn't have a grandma like Betty? I recommend this book, especially to teenagers with body image issues.

June 3, 2017 – Started Reading
Review I really, really adored this book! Molly was my favorite because how can Molly not be your favorite. I couldn't stop smiling while I was reading. Such a fun, funny heartwarming read.

Becky followed up her much beloved and award winning Simon v The Homosapien Agenda with another classic. The Upside of Unrequited was such an authentically honest portrayal of the chubby girl with no self esteem. I loved watching the MC put herself out there and learn that she is good enough and lovable. It wasnt the guy that gave her the confidence, he just gave her heart a push to finally see herself without the unrealistic standards blocking her view.

This book was everything I didn't realize I needed. The main character was so relatable, and the writing simply sucks you in. I saw myself in Molly throughout the het entire journey. A new personal favorite!

I received this book in the April Owlcrate box. While it was ok as far as characters there wasn't really any plot. Things also jumped around a lot. Molly likes Will then next chapter she likes Reid and doesn't care about Will. Then when Will come around again she cares. I wish there had been a plot and that things had has a more set course.

Another brilliant Becky Albertalli novel!!! Without a doubt, she is certainly the best when it comes to representation of teenagers, and the diversity in her books is heart-warming! Definitely a must-read!

There's so much to love here. As with SIMON VS. THE HOMO SAPIENS AGEND, Becky Albertalli writes the most wonderful characters--teens as well as their families. I adore the families she creates. In UPSIDE, main character Molly is relatable on so many levels. (And even in ways she and I are nothing alike, it was so wonderful to dive into her perspective and develop a better understanding of it.) I very much related to the experience of unrequited love, having harbored more than my share of crushes in my teens and early 20s, and sometimes wondering if the right person was out there for me (and feeling left behind by everyone finding theirs...). Becky nailed that experience perfectly, and so much more. It's a sometimes-hilarious, sometimes heart-twisting, fast-paced, lovable story!

“Sometimes, I’m a confusing person to be “

Molly Peskin-Susko is growing up, and she doesn’t understand why she seems to not be as good at it as her twin Cassie is. She feels as if she should be further along. And she’s sad, and she’s 17, and she’s on medication to help her with that. She and Cassie might be twins but that relationship is changing with Cassie’s new relationship... and her best friend moving...and now her mothers are getting married... and there’s this guy who’s about to become crush #25(?)…

This is the summer of rebellion, and, if you take it as it comes, it may not be as bad as it starts out to be.

After reading Albertalli’s “Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda”, I quickly found this book, and as much as I adored Simon I wanted to hug Molly and tell her that it will get better. If I could, I’d give this book TEN stars. One of the best reads of 2018 so far. 5/5

5/5 Stars

After reading Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, I knew Becky Albertalli could write an amazing tale but I had no idea I'd be utterly blown away by her second title, The Upside of Unrequited. Like actually gobsmacked by Molly Peskin-Suso, her family, and this story of love, life, and the inevitability of change. Honestly this book surprised me every step of the way.

The heart and soul of Upside was the ridiculously charismatic cast of characters that brought this story to life. Molly Peskin-Suso is the queen of crushes; anxious, heavyset, and unsure of the world. Cassie, her twin sister, is an outgoing lesbian who has no problem getting dates. Olivia and Abby round out their friend circle and Mina is Cassie's new pansexual girlfriend. As far as boys go, there's Will, Mina's attractive hipster friend, and Reid, Molly's adorkable coworker.

Adding more depth was the wondrous family dynamics at play. Molly and Cassie are now dealing with the realities of change, worried about losing each other as they grow up and drift apart.  Thankfully moms, Patty and Nadine, are there supporting them and taking an active role in their lives. YA really needs more present parents and families and I loved seeing those conversations on the page.

To be honest, I wish this had been available when I was a teenager. I feel such a deep connection to Molly; her unrequited love, her body, the way her mind works. Turning each page was like looking back into the past for me and this is the first time I've felt that with a book. Albertalli also manages to truly capture how difficult growing up can be and that there is no "right" time for life events. I'm so thankful for this.

Overall The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli was an absolute revelation of a book. Molly, Cassie, and the rest of these characters were so real and this story resonated with me so much. With a brilliant tale of love and family, Albertalli crafted an honest, funny, and emotional take on contemporary life. Everyone, seriously everyone, should read this book!

Originally posted on Hopeful Reads

I don't even know where to start reviewing this book. There are so many things to talk about! To me, it was utter perfection. The writing was fantastic, and the characters were perfectly flawed. I loved every moment of it. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. I read it in one evening, sacrificing much-needed sleep to finish it.

The Upside of Unrequited is told from Molly's point of view in first person narration and was very easy to relate to. She's this sweet girl (everyone confirms it) with some extra weight on her frame. That weight defines Molly. It's hard for it not to when her twin sister, Cassie, and the rest of their friends are thin. Molly feels like she's always in the background. She's always the sidekick, never the one the attention is on. Guys don't like her, they like her friends.

Cassie disagrees with Molly on this point. She thinks Molly needs to abandon her meaningless crushes and put herself out there. When Cassie falls for a new girl, she takes the opportunity to hook Molly up with her girlfriend's best friend. The opportunity excites Molly -- or at least it should. Will's cute and funny, but Molly can't keep her mind off her co-worker Reid.

Weight is a tough topic. Everyone has one, but rarely does anyone seem happy with theirs. I've been fit. I've been fat. I've been somewhere in between. At all of those stages I felt like Molly did in this book. Feeling uncomfortable with your body and knowing it affects how people see you is tough. Not letting your weight dictate how you feel about yourself and the actions you take is really hard. I think it's especially tough for a teenager. Becky Albertalli did an amazing job conveying the thoughts and feelings Molly had. They felt truthful and real. I could identify with each and every one of them. I applaud her for the way she wrote this book.

I've also felt the way Molly felt about her sister trying to hook her up with Will. I remember my best friend always being in a relationship. She would try to push her boyfriend's friends at me. It was exciting, but also uncomfortable. No one wants to be forced on a guy (or girl) just because your best friend is dating theirs. It rarely works out and is so awkward. I loved watching Molly try to navigate through the situation and discover that maybe Will wasn't what would hold her relationship with Cassie together.

Molly's friendship with Reid made me smile so hard. He wasn't the super cool guy Will was, but he was cool in his own way. The way he was unapologetic about his likes was awesome. I loved how that was Molly's favorite thing about him. It was cute how Molly's attraction to Reid came in bits and pieces.

Another thing that struck me as true was the evolution of Cassie and Molly's relationship as girlfriends/boyfriends entered the picture. It's so true that the dynamic of friendships change when one or both of the people are in a relationship. It's no longer just the friends against the world. You do kind of lose part of your relationship. The way Molly and Cassie thought about this really made me think back to my younger years and how I handled that will all of my friends. I thought this was a great topic to include in the book because this happens to everyone at some point, and I don't think I've ever seen it discussed anywhere.

This is really random, but I also totally got the Molly looks like everyone thing. That is so me. I can't tell you the number of times I've been told by people they know someone who looks like me. It's cool, but strange. Once, someone even showed me a picture of their friend. We did look exactly alike and it was creepy.

I know this review has been one big ramble, but I couldn't help it. I loved The Upside of Unrequited so much. It's a book I think every teenager (and adult!) should read. It's filled with so many great moments and topics. It really made me examine some of my thoughts and feelings from the past and present that I wouldn't have if I hadn't read it.

This is such a cute and easy read and I enjoyed it so much. I loved the fact that the storyline deals with real issues that teenagers have to deal with. I remember feeling left out when my friends were in relationships. I remember counting the crushes I had had and I remember feeling like the only person in the world who looked different from other people. I can only imagine all of that must be 10 times worse when it is your twin who is counting your crushes and getting with somebody else and looks perfect.

Then there is the fact that these twins have two Moms. Again this is something that is coming up more and more in YA fiction, and adult fiction for that matter, and I love the fact that people are getting more real about this sort of thing. I also really liked the fact that neither of the parents is evil or dead and the girls get along with their family so well. We don't always have to have conflict in that kind of way to have a good time in a book. There are also issues like getting your first job as a teenager, having your first drink and dealing with the difficulties of growing up! These are all dealt with incredibly well by Becky Albertalli in this book and were a pleasure to read.

In terms of the characters. I really loved getting to know these sisters and their lives. I found them easy to like and easy to empathise with and I really cheered Molly on the whole way through this read. I loved getting to know their friends a family too, especially Reid. I had a real soft spot for Reid and I would dearly like to keep him for myself because he was just lovely. This book was definitely a feel-good read, it had interesting characters, a strong storyline and an interesting setting. I would definitely recommend giving this one a go, especially if you are after something optimistic to add to your TBR!

I genuinely believe that Becky Albertalli is the queen of YA contemporary. I’m serious. Fun Fact: I have never read a Becky Albertalli book. After reading The Upside of Unrequited, I know I need to quickly change that. I was waiting for the release date to read this book, until I checked my email and found an email from HaperCollins with a link to download from Edelweiss. You can imagine my excitement as I downloaded it.

Let’s discuss one of the many qualities of this book: diversity. This book intertwines diversity so flawlessly within the book. There was representation for both LGBTQ+ and PoC. It is very evident that Becky used sensitivity readers throughout this book (she also includes them in her acknowledgements).

The protagonist, Molly, is one of my favorite characters of all time. She’s a fat, Jewish, Pinterest-Queen, seventeen year old teenager. It’s quite common for fat girls to be comic relief in movies, books, TV shows, etc. Yes, Molly was hilarious, but not because of her weight. In fact, there is even a scene where she is told that she is told that she’s “gorgeous for a big girl”. Molly’s narrative definitely tells the truth that big girls can love and be loved too. It’s pretty sad that, in 2017, this is a truth that needs to still be taught.

The writing style is also something I would like to note. Becky’s writing style is one of the best I’ve seen in the YA community. It grabs you from the beginning and will not let go until you’re done. Even once you’re done, you want more. All the characters were perfectly imperfect. They were all far from perfect which made it absolutely perfect.

I really wish everyone could read Upside of Unrequited. Even if you are not normally a fan of contemporary, I’m certain you will still enjoy it. The overall story felt like a warm hug. I really can’t form my thoughts into words; I’m so in love with The Upside of Unrequited. This book is a definite must-read.

I've been dying to read this ever since it was first announced. I didn't LOVE Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, but I liked it a whole lot. So I needed to read more from this new author.

This novel is about Molly, and how she's almost obsessed with boys, crushes, kisses and the likes. But only in her head. She's had 26 crushes, but hardly even talked to any of those - because she lacks the courage and self esteem. When her twin sister gets a girlfriend, Molly finds herself lonely and abandoned. The transition from BFF sisters to teen-aged sisters with love lives is hard on Molly.

I can't not say it. I'm overwhelmed by the diversity in this book. In a good way of course! It's just different. Still in a really good way. I love how everyone's just themselves and it's all good. Like it should be! I hope this novel gets read a lot, to understand how everyone is just human with different layers of style and flavors. I love it!

I think I loved all the characters in this book. Molly and Cassie are such good persons, their mom's too. Mina seems like an awesome chick which I would love to befriend. And the boys are great too. Will is cool in every way, both as in actual cool and hip but also as a good guy. And Reid is the best! I must admit I have a soft spot for Reid, because he's such a geek and I love geeks.

The main story in The Upside of Unrequited is about growing up and apart, but still not apart. More like changes. And how changes can basically destroy you while they're ongoing. How insecure and unimportant it can make you feel. Even if the changes aren't necessarily bad. It's also about how unfathomably scary it is to let oneself open up to love (first or any) and risk getting your heart broken in a million pieces. And about how important it is to brave this in order to experience love.

I didn't love Simon vs. ..., but I loved The Upside of Unrequited. You should read it and love it too!

/menenia

I wasn't expecting to like The Upside of Unrequited as uch as I did. I loved Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and I love Becky Albertalli, but the premise didn't stand out to me as much - so I was surprised. While I wouldn't say that it's particularly unique in its plot, The Upside of Unrequited was exceptionally well-written and had the same adorable tone as Simon did. Also, for a story starring a straight character, it was surprisingly gay, which - bonus.

What really stood out to me was Molly, whom I LOVED. She was such a hilarious and relatable character and so very real. While her voice did match Simon in some areas, it was more in style, so she was quite different from Simon. I think I could relate to her more as well, because she's more of a wallflower. I wasn't expecting to really care about the romance, but I was screaming at Molly to get her head on and get with Reid for like half the book. Becky Albertalli is GOOD at writing romance, guys.

All the supporting characters were lovely, especially Molly's family. I love their dynamics, especially the exploration of sisterhood with Cassie and Molly, which was written incredibly well. I was surprised to see that it was such a big party of the book, but it was probably one of my favourites to read about. And of course, Nadine and Patty were great and their relationship and plotline had me grinning ear to ear on a crowded train. The way that more serious issues were discussed, like Molly's anxiety and how she faced fatphobia, was also done really well.

While I would't say that The Upside of Unrequited is as good as Simon, it's still a very good successor, and people who liked Simon will definitely like a lot of things about Molly and her story.

The book is amazing. I loved it from the beginning. Becky surprised me agin with this book. I already loved Simon and now Molly has a place in my heart.
Becky makes characters that speak with us. They are just human. Molly makes mistakes, she’s jealous, she thinks bad things, she has struggles, lots of mixed emotions, just like everyone. It gives you a warm feeling to read something so real, beautiful and well written. And there’s a thing Becky does that makes me really happy. She writes all kinds of love. She shows us that we can love anyone we want to love e that’s wonderful.
If you want to read something beautiful that makes you feel things, don’t think twice, The upside of unrequited is amazing.

Another brilliant Becky Albertalli novel!!! Without a doubt, she is certainly the best when it comes to representation of teenagers, and the diversity in her books is heart-warming! Definitely a must-read!