Liz Lighty has always believed she's too black, too poor, too awkward to shine in her small, rich, prom-obsessed midwestern town. But it's okay — Liz has a plan that will get her out of Campbell, Indiana, forever: attend the uber-elite Pennington College, play in their world-famous orchestra, and become a doctor.
But when the financial aid she was counting on unexpectedly falls through, Liz's plans come crashing down... until she's reminded of her school's scholarship for prom king and queen. There's nothing Liz wants to do less than endure a gauntlet of social media trolls, catty competitors, and humiliating public events, but despite her devastating fear of the spotlight she's willing to do whatever it takes to get to Pennington.
The only thing that makes it halfway bearable is the new girl in school, Mack. She's smart, funny, and just as much of an outsider as Liz. But Mack is also in the running for queen. Will falling for the competition keep Liz from her dreams—or make them come true?
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wow. This is one of those books that I feel like everyone needs to read at some point in their life. Leah Johnson does a fantastic job telling a story about being in highschool, being black, and being LGBTQIA+. I could relate to Liz even though I don't have the exact experiences she has. There are struggles that any person who has ever gone to school can relate to. There were moments where I was busting out laughing. There were moments where my heart broke for Liz. This book made me feel every single emotion.
I loved how relationships are shown in this book. Liz has several people who are close to her. People the rest of the school considers "misfits." I really liked how they all developed. One of my favorite friendships that played out was between Jordan and Liz. They both grew so much during the book and I liked how they were able to be friends and not romantic love interests in the end. They were able to work together even though they didn't know exactly what all had gone down between them.
You Should See Me in a Crown is an amazing story about breaking down barriers, destroying prejudice, defying the odds, and conquering the doubts in your head. It is about realizing that the only person you have to be is yourself and that what the world tells you to be doesn't matter. It is about realizing that you aren't alone. It is about doing things that take you out of your comfort zone. It is about taking space for yourself when no one else will give it to you.
This book is quite possibly one of the best books I have read all year. It dealt with real problems, but was also cute and funny. I'll be honest, I was a little nervous to read this book because of all the amazing reviews I've read of it, but I can tell you that it is 100% worth the hype!
(Not my photo)
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