Beautiful and Affirming

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This is a stunning, STUNNING debut! I expected this to actually lean more on the side of romance, but it is so much more than that! It is true YA novel: a coming of age story focusing on a character on the path to discovering who she is versus who people expect her to be. Readers will absolutely fall in love with Ophelia, quirks and all, as she finds herself throughout this story! I specifically loved her journey because Ophelia not only tackles who she is in relation to romantic relationships, but also who she is in her friendships and in her family. This element really elevated the story for me because it showcased that while Ophelia's self-discovery is especially relevant to future romantic relationships (obviously), it is most important to her as an individual. She is who she is regardless of who she's with or likes. The emphasis the author gave to this fact absolutely made the book for me since its surprisingly lacking in other coming-of-age contemporaries I've read within the past few years. Overall, this is an affirming, heart-warming story that everyone is sure to enjoy!