This was just a genuine wholesome delight. 🥺💛
It was like going back to be with old friends and catching up, seeing what they’ve been up to, and being so so proud of them. These kids!! They’re off to college and figuring out relationships! Their friendships weren’t just that high-school-convenience, they are deep and real and they care about each other aND I JUST HAVE SO MANY FEELINGS–
Also before I plunge into the review — I just wanted to give all the love to Becky Albertalli’s recent coming out essay she wrote for Medium. It honestly broke my heart though. To feel forced and cornered to come out and figure yourself out NOW, just to appease people demanding a display and proof of “being queer enough” is not what this community should be about. It’s a toxic attitude quite frankly. No one should be forced to come out before they’re ready. It’s an excellent read, so I hope you have a look!
My biggest question is just: why is this not a novel!? 😂
It’s about 100 pages but there was so much to explore here?! From Simon’s disaster roommate to ‘Blue’ actually enjoying his life without being shy and closeted. To Leah and Abby figuring out how to be vulnerable to each other and say the word love. (THEY ARE COLLEGE ROOMMATES 😭😍) Simon’s slow spiral meltdown over the year out of anxious loneliness…I just…I cry for him.
Also I’m glad it touched on this idea that, no, sometimes it’s hard to make new friends and community and it isn’t weak or pathetic to miss your old life. New isn’t ALWAYS perfect for everyone. Simon breaks my heart, but I loved loved loved the novella’s resolution.
It’s all told in emails!
I loved this. They are extravagant and wordy, vulnerable and soft. There are lots of holes where they either hang out in person or texted, but the whole novella was still super cohesive. (But seriously why was it only 100pages 🤨 can I have 200 more.)
Overall if you missed Simon, Bram, Leah and Abby, you do need this. It’s perfect closure and it’s also funny and all the characters’ voices are so different. I loved every page. It left me smiling and warm.
📚 My review of the other Albertalli novels!
Thanks Penguin Australia for the review copy! Love Creekwood by Becky Albertalli is out Sept 1, 2020.
Fall in love all over again with the characters from the bestselling Simonverse novels in this highly anticipated epilogue novella. Perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli, the movie Love, Simon, and the new Hulu series spin-off, Love, Victor!
It’s been more than a year since Simon and Blue turned their anonymous online flirtation into an IRL relationship, and just a few months since Abby and Leah’s unforgettable night at senior prom.
Now the Creekwood High crew are first years at different colleges, navigating friendship and romance the way their story began—on email.
Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon | Publisher
have you read any Albertalli novels!! which is your favourite? and have you seen the movie or the Love Victor TV show?
This book was so wholesome and such a great dose of sugary-Simon-sweetness!! I totally agree with you though, it should have been a full-length novel! xD
Ugh, I’m so sad for Becky that she felt pressured to come out this way. I can identify with some of her “not queer enough” struggles; I have constant imposter syndrome as someone who’s bi but who has only ever dated boys. I can feel that side-eye sometimes of not quite belonging in a community I should feel welcomed into. 🙁
I loved Love Creekwood so so much and I totally agree – I wanted more pages!!
Eeeepp I may need to pick this one up. Lovely review, as expected Cait xoxo