“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.
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