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

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I also loved the way that Imogen was struggling with the fact that one of her closest friends growing up was now off to college with new friends, new inside jokes, and a new life. That's such a relatable experience growing up and I could definitely relate to Imogen feeling like Lili had become a brand new person since she went to college and the way she felt guilty of being jealous over her new jokes with her new friends and feeling like she wasn't sure where she fit into that anymore. Gosh, my brain is mush. You'll just have to take it from me that I, too, have a fat crush on Tessa now. Their lil romance did something to my lil heart and I'll probably be thinking about this book for the next week. Just look at them. Sexuality is fluid and exists on a spectrum—and can often be a difficult and complex aspect of our identity. What would you say to folks who might be grappling with their own identities or sexuality? Is there anything you know now that you wish someone had said to you? I mean, my friends don’t.” Lili covers her face with both hands. “I don’t know, I was being a dumbass, and—okay.” She gives a short, muffled moan before pulling her hands away. “I have to tell you something.” Throughout all of Imogen's interactions with Lili's friends, she finds herself frantically overthinking and overanalyzing everything and worrying about whether or not she's saying the right thing or whether or not she "seems" bisexual and whether or not she's taking up too much attention in their friend group with the lie she's part of.

I think this book veered a bit into being preachy about acceptance, mostly because the author personally feels so strongly about it, but I aside from that, I think it was a really well done story. I don't read enough sapphic romances, so when I read a story with a couple that really makes my heart sing, I latch on. I wish we got more of Tessa and Imogen's story from after they got together, or maybe this author could write more lesfic romances, because I thought she slayed that part of the story. So that’s Kayla,” says Lili. “Tessa and Mika both had girlfriends in high school. Actually, middle school too, for Mika—they were with their ex for, like, five years. And Dec’s from Manhattan, so who even knows? He’s on a whole other level. It’s hard not to feel inadequate, you know?” It's like there's this idea that you have to earn your label through suffering. And then you have to prove it with who you date, how you dress, how other people perceive you. And god — the romance?? ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. I loved how real everything felt, from the jokes to the texts to the little details and discoveries they made about each other.

I like Imogen as a character I like the cast of side characters Tessa as a girlfriend is fine they're cute together whatever. This is worse than normal lying. It’s queerbaiting. Or at the very least, I’m appropriating queerness. Not even just the aesthetics, either. Apparently, my brain thinks queerness itself is some kind of thought exercise. Me: a certified asshole straight girl who sees a lesbian existing and thinks it’s a love declaration. I wish this book had a been a little less pointed. But I think it comes from a place where it was hard not to be. But it was equally hard at times to get through this; maybe because of the authenticity. There were a lot of feelings. Not all of them good. Which is fine, it's real. It just made me glad there were silly heart-eyes moments of sweetness with the texts. But being in Imogen's head, being suffocated by certain forces around her, yeah, it's a lot. She's so busy being the perfect ally, the straight friend, that she's never given the opportunity, or the space, to explore anything more. Until college changes everything. But even then, it's not smooth sailing. Good god, the yearning, the nervous yet hopeful anticipation of seeing Tessa again. I could feel it myself. I think just about every queer person can sympathize with Imogen and what she’s going through. However, I also sympathized with the overbearing gatekeeper of this story. She’s a teenager and has been dealing with homophobia for a long time. So, although she’s wrong about a lot and goes about things the completely wrong way, I felt like there should’ve been a better ending for her as well.

Maybe overstepped isn’t the word. I just . . . feel like I was centering myself in queer spaces. Under false pretenses. I don’t know if that makes sense.” i spent most of college being quietly out. entering a new environment away from home gave me the space to explore my identity, to figure out & be who i needed to be. i did it slowly, casually slipped into conversations & texts, chewing on my nails wondering if people Got It.I don't think Gretchen is a very nice person over all and she hurt Imogen and all of that is quite horrible, but it makes me feel weird that every other character gets at least some grace and leeway for shitty behaviour and Gretchen is given none. She's supposedly one of Imogens closest friends, yet Imogen talks shit about her every time she isn't around.