Book Review – Some Girls Do

Title: Some Girls Do
Author: Jennifer Dugan
Rating: ★★★★☆
Read: October 9-12, 2021
Book Read in 2021: 113
Format: Audiobook
Page Count: 336
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

Synopsis: In this YA contemporary queer romance from the author of ‘Hot Dog Girl’, an openly gay track star falls for a closeted, bisexual teen beauty queen with a penchant for fixing up old cars.

Morgan, an elite track athlete, is forced to transfer high schools in her senior year after it turns out being queer is against her private Catholic school’s code of conduct. There, she meets Ruby, who has two hobbies: tinkering with her baby blue 1970 Ford Torino and competing in local beauty pageants., the latter to live out the dreams of her overbearing mother. The two are drawn to each other and can’t deny their growing feeling. But while Morgan – out and proud, and determined to have a fresh start – doesn’t want to have to keep their budding relationship a secret. Ruby isn’t ready to come out yet. With each girl on a different path toward living her truth, can they go the distance together?

Review: If you’re going to read Jennifer Dugan’s books, I honestly can’t stress this enough: read the audiobooks.

Dugan has been audiobook blessed! Every single narrator has been beyond perfect.

Some Girls Do is probably my favourite audio of the three currently published, but Verona Comics is my favourite story.

Great reads if you’re wanting great LGBTQ+ rep YA books.

Book Review – Verona Comics

Title: Verona Comics
Author: Jennifer Dugan
Rating: ★★★★★
Read: August 26-28, 2021
Book Read in 2021: 89
Format: Audiobook
Page Count: 352
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

Synopsis: From the author of Hot Dog Girl comes a fresh and funny queer YA contemporary novel about two teens who fall in love in an indie comic book shop.

Jubilee has it all together. She’s an elite cellist, and when she’s not working in her stepmom’s indie comic shop, she’s prepping for the biggest audition of her life.

Ridley is barely holding it together. His parents own the biggest comic-store chain in the country, and Ridley can’t stop disappointing them—that is, when they’re even paying attention.

They meet one fateful night at a comic convention prom, and the two can’t help falling for each other. Too bad their parents are at each other’s throats every chance they get, making a relationship between them nearly impossible…unless they manage to keep it a secret.

Then again, the feud between their families may be the least of their problems. As Ridley’s anxiety spirals, Jubilee tries to help but finds her focus torn between her fast-approaching audition and their intensifying relationship. What if love can’t conquer all? What if each of them needs more than the other can give?

Review: This was incredibly moving and beautifully written.

If you’re a fan of Brigid Kemmerer’s Letters to the Lost and More Than We Can Tell you’ll want to add this one to your TBRs.

Verona Comics isn’t exactly an easy read because it deals with heavy subject matter, but Dugan turned it into something meaningful and real. You’ll want to keep a full box of tissues close by because there’s no way to stop the tears from falling.

This whole story made me feel understood and I can’t stop wanting to give this book a hug.

CW: mental illness, anxiety disorder, suicidal depression, parental abuse/neglect, mentions of Harry Potter.