Loved it!

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Ophelia Rojas (yes, named after Hamlet’s Ophelia) loves rose gardening, gossiping with her besties, and crushing on boys. But senior year of high school is bringing up all sorts of new drama. Her best guy friend has been hopelessly in love with another friend for years, but might lose out on his chance to ask her to prom with a new guy on the scene. Her other bestie is determined to get that same friend voted prom queen and is pouring everything she has into the campaign. And Ophelia, feeling distanced from her two best friends, finds herself growing closer to a quiet girl in her class. This new friendship, along with the fear of figuring out life after high school, has Ophelia questioning everything she thought she knew about herself.

Ophelia After All is a heartwarming exploration of how old friendships change as we grow up and how new experiences shape who we will become. Ophelia makes mistakes, is often overwhelmed with emotions, and feels like a true depiction of the teenage experience. I loved how realistic every character’s interactions are, even in the dramatic moments. And I found myself invested in many of the character’s side stories, beyond just how they fit into Ophelia’s life. There are also great examples of kids having open, honest, and tough conversations with each other and their parents. It is wonderful to see examples of positive communication and how it can begin the process of healing fractured relationships. This is the kind of novel I wish existed when I was in high school. I’m happy this story is being told now.