Abstract
Reviewed by: Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli Adam McConville Albertalli, Becky Imogen, Obviously. Balzer + Bray, 2023 [432p] Trade ed. ISBN 9780063045873 $19.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9780063045897 $12.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R Gr. 9-12 Senior Imogen Scott believes everything about her is obvious: she's the straight, ever-supportive ally in her small but loving group of queer friends that includes a recently out pansexual bestie, a lesbian younger sister, and boldly confident lesbian new girl Gretchen. Terrified of overstepping into a space where others seem so confidently queer, Imogen has always quashed her own possible attraction to girls, until her best friend Lili's lie about their shared past leads to Imogen pretending to identify as bisexual during a weekend college visit. Initially uncomfortable playing along, Imogen quickly finds herself at home with Lili's new queer college friends, though. Soon, playful, potentially flirtatious banter with cute dormmate Tessa has Imogen wondering if her sexuality isn't as clear to her as she thought. Drawn from Albertalli's experience with coming out, this novel offers an endearing story of one teen's struggle for self-acceptance. Imogen admits to being stuck in her head, and the narrative thus spends a lot of time stuck in her cycle of self-doubt, but interspersed text messages, including adorably fun conversations between Imogen and Tessa, break up the endless ruminating. As Imogen frees herself to act on her feelings, she frees up the plot too, giving readers an up-paced, romantic, self-affirming conclusion complete with grand gestures. Friends both at home and on campus, meanwhile, provide a diverse mix of races, genders, and sexualities, making for a rainbow of personalities that avoid the sense of checkbox-motivated intentionality. A sure hit with Albertalli's existing fans, this is likely to win her more in those who want a thought-provoking take on how sometimes what you want is more obvious to your heart than to your head. Copyright © 2023 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
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