Book Review of Leah on the Offbeat

“If Katie Leung sweetly rejecting Daniel Radcliffe in a Scottish accent wasn't your sexual awakening, I don't even want to know you.”

Leah Burke is a feisty girl who is a talented drummer, loves to draw and yet is too apprehensive about her own talent, and is bisexual, but isn’t exactly ready to tell anyone yet. Not even her gay best friend, Simon. The only one who knows her truth is her mom, who is suddenly interested in introducing her daughter to her new boyfriend, and Leah couldn’t be more uncomfortable. In the midst of all this chaos, her seemingly perfect friend group is beginning to crumble just a few days before prom, and Leah has no idea how to make it all right, especially when she has secrets of herself that could hurt a lot of people, including the ones she loves the most.

A sequel to the supremely loved YA debut, Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda, author Becky Albertalli takes her readers back to the world of Creekwood High. This time, the character that takes center stage is Leah Burke, a.k.a Simon Spier’s snarky bestie. Leah is sarcastic, cynical, confused, and hilariously raw. She has dialogues like “RIP Leah Burke. She died of acute awkwardosis.” with herself, and you can’t help but laugh along at her royally witty soliloquys. Becky gives equal flesh and space to all the minor characters. Each individual has their own struggle, and you just want to wrap them all in a blanket and protect them from the storm that every young being faces at the threshold of growing up.   

If you’ve read Becky Albertalli’s previous books, you must be aware of the fact that she herself is a certified nerd. She sprinkles her fangirling elements in all her novels, and Leah on the Offbeat is no different. In fact, it should be crowned for its fangirling extravaganza. The entire story is filled with pop culture and Harry Potter references that are bound to win the hearts of millennials and beyond. Becky’s writing is refreshingly funny and deeply earnest, which in turn creates an honest world that you can most definitely relate to. There isn’t one dull moment in this tumultuous ride of teen angst and drama. She pulls you in from the very beginning, and you soon find yourself sharing laughs with the squad, panicking during their breakdowns, and rejoicing at their victories. As far as stellar YA novels go, Becky Albertalli is surely a class of her own, and her heroine, Leah Burke, will stay with you long after you’re done swaying to her kickass playlist.

Rating: 5/5.