Yes No Maybe So

This was such a huge disappointment! I really thought with some religious diversity and YA, we would have something special here, but God no. All this did was make me cringe. It was so boring. So monotonous. Each and every day was basically the same thing, on repeat, and mind you...this is a BIG book! Jamie was just, so one-dimensional. He was awkward and cringe-y and just made me want him to really grow a backbone. And Maya was a little aggressive and pushy, but then also somewhat of a doormat when it came to her best friend, and she was meant to represent the Muslim Americans, but I felt like she did anything but.I hated the contradictions in this book and the characters. I hated the hypocrisy. And I most definitely hated the politics. I knew this book revolved mainly around a political campaign, but I had no idea that the politics would basically take over the entire story! That the story became the political campaign, rather than a story about Jamie and Maya and their growing relationship.What annoyed me more than anything is at the very very very end, they finally get together, but wait a second, they get into a fight. Maya declares that they can NEVER be together because of their religious differences. Then a chapter later, she changes her mind, rushes to him and starts making out with him in the middle of Target. He asks her, quite considerate of him really, that they don't need to do this, that he is willing to be whatever she needs him to be, and she decides in a moment of pure hypocrisy that all she wants to do is be his girlfriend and make out with him all day long. In fact, they proceed to find an empty fitting room to go and make out in. Really? That is just hugely wrong and juvenile, in so many ways. Definitely do not recommend.

I’m hesitant about writing a review for this book. If, on the one hand, I’m pretty excited to have read a book centered in political activism and I mean *really* centered around all aspects of it, including the discussion of some more recent social/political freedoms and the threat on those, on the other hand I’m pretty sure I didn’t like the romance plot bit. So we’ll do this review in topics of things I liked, maybe even loved and things I think the book could’ve lived without.Things I liked and even loved:* The political discussion felt very much relevant, and, as one will read at the end, based off of real political events in Georgia (names were changed for fictional purposes, but you get the gist).* The authors don’t spread it out lightly, they lay it out thick and as is, using big words such as bigotry and gaslighting, for example, which I think make for a great starting point when discussing this at a school/teen book club/reading classroom.Things I didn’t like as much:* the cultural/religious references are just that, references. It all felt a bit vague and superficially approached and I think the book would’ve benefited a Maya character that explained Eid related things some more and a Jamie character that went into greater detail about bat mitzvah. As is, we’re leaving teens/young adults to actually do the research work if they want to know further and I cannot help but feel the book wasted an opportunity to do that in the context.Things I definitely did not like one bit:* the romance! It actually pissed me of to the extent where I think it hurt the book more than it added to it. It felt contrived, cringe worthy as opposed to swoon worthy, too insta-lovey and, towards the end, where the inevitable happy ending occurs, there’s none of the discussion around different religious cultures I was interested in/hoping for. Major disappointment - everything neatly wrapped up but not really. Their romance could’ve just as fine have been a friendship!! We need more boy/girl friendships that are just that!!* Maya is a really self absorbed, selfish and whiny character and I couldn’t help being annoyed by her. She’s the type of person that thinks everyone is out to get her and don’t understand her and who makes everything about her.* Jamie could’ve been cute but all those insecurities quickly turn a major turn off to read. He has absolutely no reason to feel awkward or to feel inadequate and yet that’s exactly what he does. And all of it because he once threw up at an interview and said the word slowmance to a girl at a dance? Please? Major eye roll and get over it, kiddo.* Grandmam plays the silly, almost stupid, role of being Instagram-able only to add the drama we need at the end, whereas I would’ve loved to see her as a full character: what motivates her to be on Instagram and to be politically active? What’s her part in the family? She’s just this cute, hollow character who’s there for the purpose of saying ‘Buballah’ and telling Gabe off, which frankly did not impress* Don’t get me started on Gabe - although I did like the hint at the depression that hit in 2006 that we were given on why/how he became who he is, everything felt like a very lightly approached subject, which didn’t really do the character justice.* Him and Grandmam are too one-dimensional for me to be happy about it. Add to that list Maya’s and Jamie’s parents - Jamie’s father doesn’t even, except at the end, get a line in the whole book - Sophie, the sister and Jamie’s friends who are mentioned for the sole purpose of rebuffing or supporting the main characters... meh!Overall, I think I would’ve liked the book to be a little bit more on the serious side on some topics than what it was and not as superficial, but it was still informative and entertaining, so I can’t not recommend it.

Such a sweet and heartfelt book, possibly my new (second) favorite Becky Albertalli book since Simon vs will always have a special place in my heart.I loved the quirkiness of the characters and how relatable they both are especially in the face of what’s going on in society today. I’m so glad that Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed wrote this inspiring book.Down with Bowser and his koopa troopas!

“We might actually change things. And maybe that makes it still worth going for, don’t you think?” A romance with a dash of politics is just what I needed this week.Yes No Maybe So is written in 2 alternating POVs that takes you on a journey with Jamie & Maya. Two childhood friends that are unexpectedly reconnected and end up working together canvassing for an upcoming election.Although the plot seems like it would be a sappy romance the authors did a great job of adding in the discussion of tough topics in a way that is accessible to teens but also shows them that they can help make a change in the world.A must read for all!

This is a fun read that highlights several issues teens face on their way to growing up. It’s also relatable for older audiences. But most of all it encourages young people to know that there are ways for them to get involved in politics and their future if they aren’t old enough to vote. Educating yourself and your parents/adult family about policies they may not know, canvassing, volunteering, calling Representatives, and more I probably don’t know about! With the political climate as it is now a book like this for young ones is so so so very important. I think it’s also a nice nudge to remind young adults that change is possible even if it’s a slow process and there are still good people in the world.

How awesome are you as a writer when you're able to make the political climate interesting for young people, the people who own the future.

I've now read all of Becky Albertalli's books and they're awesome. I really appreciate the diversity (e.g. LGBT+ and religious characters) and the plots are always engaging. This book is a typical Becky book, in fact, her writing style is so distinct that I can't see a trace of an outside influence in it (i.e. the other author) so I very much consider it one of hers. At first I wasn't so invested in the whole political theme going on and the canvassing the characters were doing. I'm British so I don't care about American political systems so much. But the themes that were integrated into this were so important and I'm grateful to the authors for bringing up the issues of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in a YA novel. They're real issues even if the story is fiction. I do think the authors tried too hard to make the characters quirky and relatable (although they're clearly very well thought out and you do fall in love with them) so sometimes it's a bit much. But I think I was particularly frustrated by this because I binged all of Becky's books in a very short amount of time so this is the 5th book where I've encountered this. Like I said, she has a distinct writing style - it's very enjoyable but when you're on your 5th one it's quite samey and I feel like not all the characters have to have a billion quirks about them, you know? Overall I really enjoyed it, I'm just nitpicking!

When I chose the book the story was not what I thought it would be. Due to that, it added depth and interest. I found myself rooting for the main characters and the families and friends. All the characters were really well drawn out. Somehow the authors managed to write entertainingly whilst interweaving a variety of serious issues. Despite the two main characters being young the book would appeal to a wide age range. I would love for there to be a sequel. A very enjoyable read.

Present for son, well received

First off, lets all collectively say AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH because we have been blessed with a new Becky Albertalli book this year! A welcome ray of sunshine in these dark days!Secondly, I want to acknowledge that I know I talk about Becky's books being cute a lot, but it is important to remember that this is also an Aisha Saeed book - she wrote half of it and she deserves equal credit to this book being cute and fun.Alright, now let's get to the book- which for some reason I felt like explaining in the form of Avril Lavigne's Sk8er Boi, so sing along if you feel like it:He was a Jewish boyShe was a Muslim girlCan I make it anymore obvious?He was too shyShe wanted a carWhat more can I say?A local electionThey both volunteeredGeorgia needed Rossum to winBut some of the peopleWere Islamophobic nazisThey had a problem with his progressive policiesThey knocked on peoples doorsTo convince them to come voteBut he wasn't good enough for themDo they both fall in love?And will people come and vote?You gotta read the book to find outJamie - I loved awkward Jamie so much. I personally love the way how Becky portrays familial relationships in books and this one was no different. We see Jamie interacting with his sister, mom, and grandma (who is an Instagram influencer btw!) and I loved all the heartwarming scenes involving them. We also see Jamie start crushing on and falling for Maya and it has all the signature cute stomach squirming moments that you get when you read a Becky book.Maya - Maya is going through a more tough time. Her parents may be splitting up. Her only ever best friend might be finding a new best friend. Oh, and there might be an Islamaphobic bill about to be passed in their state and the result of the upcoming election might be a deciding factor in it. (does any Indian discriminatory bill C(AA)ome to mind?).I went into this with a bit of trepidation (cause I've not had the best experience with collab novels in the past) and excitement (cause its co-written by BECKY ALBERTALLI, one my favorite author ever). And I'm glad to say that both Becky and Aisha have exceeded my expectations with this gem of a book.I loved the dynamics between Jamie and Maya cause we saw their friendship develop into those close, wondering-what-they'll-think-of-this-thing-I-randomly-thought-of-HMMM-lemme-text-them-right-away sorta relationships and they didn't even notice that they might be low-key in love with each other until cupid was standing in front of them holding a 100 ft. banner that says "JUST KISS ALREADY, YOU IDIOTS"I loved how politics was seamlessly interwoven in Yes No Maybe So cause it has never been more relevant than now - and I loved how Becky and Aisha bring attention to getting involved in local political activism. I loved how it mirrored the anxiety and fear we face in our current society. Especially for people of marginalized identities who have to wade through a space where things are getting more hateful with every passing day.There's also an influencer grandma, a few viral moments, awkward glances and authors plunging tridents into their reader's hearts in this book.Yes No Maybe So has all the elements of a cute, awkward YA novel - combined with all the relevance and importance of discussing politics in the current age. I definitely recommend you to pick this book up!Thanks to Simon And Schuster India for the ARC

✨ 𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠✨🦦Book: Yes No Maybe SoAuthor: Becky Albertalli and Aisha SaeedPublisher: Simon and Schuster Publication🦦This book was one of my most awaited read for 2020. I have been eyeing it since the proof-read copies were flooding in the bookstagram community. (I tried contacting @simonandschusterin , but that was a bummer 🥺). I am all in for YA books (my favorite genre 🤭). I also read this book for a prompt in #midyearreadathin by @codingbiblio and @thebibliophilemommy for prompt 3.🦦#qotd : Who is your fictional crush?#aotd : Alaska (from Looking For Alaska) and Touka (from Tokyo Ghoul)🦦Let’s begin with the title, “Yes No Maybe So” this title gives a very intimidating vibe, real catchy, and a feel that the story is about some confused teenagers (relatable to many of us). I first picked this book for the same vibe. But it is not limited to the teenage drama, but covers an important subject.🦦The story is revolving around Jamie, a shy Jewish boy who is not confident to speak in front of a large audience and is afraid to be humiliated (Again!), and Maya, a Muslim girl whose parents have decided to take a break from each other, and bombarded Maya with the news, and it is hard for her to sink in that feeling. Both of the characters are shown fighting against their demons. There are other characters which I like- Sophie, InstaGramm (Jamie’s Grandma), they keep the story interesting, alive, and funny throughout. Their parents are also a major role in the story, they are supportive and understanding. And I hate Gabe 😑, I legit hate Gabe, he’s kind of self-centered guy.🦦This book has a lot of political background, actually, the complete story is built upon a local election. Jamie and Maya are volunteering to canvass for the election candidate, Jordan Rossum (Rossum is Awesome!!), and meanwhile how they develop their bond. It kind of gets boring in the beginning because of politics and all but it has a major impact in the end, And the end 🤩, It is fast-paced, you will be turning pages like woosh…woosh..wooshhh really amazing ✨💫, Loved the ending 💞.🦦Apart from that the way Becky and Aisha have also presented the discrimination faced by many based on their religion. The adversities of being from a different race or religion. And it is discussed very properly, fitting into the story and characters.🦦There is a romantic drama in the end which makes it a complete YA novel, I ship hard for Jamie and Maya. There are queer relationships also in the book which I really liked. It was easy to relate and understand and the writing style was incredible. It is a two-person narration which was a major reason for the book to turn out amazing and for readers, it became a page-turner.🦦Qᴜᴏᴛᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀʏ: “I wish I knew why some people keep holding hands and why some people stop.”~𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗮, 𝗬𝗲𝘀 𝗡𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗲 𝗦𝗼.Follow me on instagram @padaku_ladka