It’s no secret, I love a bargain! I also love Black Friday, but not as much as I hate people. So that means no malls for me but I’ll troll the internet for more than just porn that one day a year. I feel guilty spending money on myself, so I have to play mind games with myself to justify my spending. This past Black Friday I got two emails with deals I couldn’t refuse. First, I purchased an annual membership to a neighborhood yoga studio for 20% off. I told myself it was ok because I was supporting a local, woman-owned business. I convinced myself that’s very Namaste of me and thanks to yoga, I can give myself a pat on the back.
My second purchase supported one of my favorite independent book stores, The Strand in New York City. I scored a copy of Casey McQuinston’s book “I Kissed Shara Wheeler,” signed of course (that’s how I roll) plus free shipping. Casey McQuinston is a non-binary author who also wrote Red, White & Royal Blue, that inspired the movie. In my gay opinion, I wish the book had been based on the movie (instead of vice versa) because the film was more of a love story than the book’s political drama.
The movie is all about the plot!
Without spoilers, because I hate them, here’s what “I Kissed Shara Wheeler” is about. Shara Wheeler is a loving daughter, the student all teachers and classmates adore at her religious school in Alabama and the girl everyone wants to be or be with. So why would Shara run away immediately following prom after kissing her boyfriend, her next door neighbor and her competitor for class valedictorian? Shara has left those who were kissed with hints to her whereabouts and the reasons for her disappearance. The three kiss-ies team up in an attempt to find Shara with the help of her hidden clues, as the book countdowns to graduation and days since Shara disappeared.
Casey McQuinston YA author extraordinaire!
“I Kissed Shara Wheeler” is a fun read. It’s meant to be for young-adults or for those of us who are young at heart and don’t want a heavy read. Around a third of the way through I started to really bond with the characters, as they bonded with each other, and had a few laugh out loud moments. The plot moves as fluidly as the genders and sexualities of the book’s characters, which is refreshing. According to the book’s acknowledgments, Casey wanted to write a book for queer kids in the middle of nowhere to feel seen and less alone, which is so important now more than ever.
I recommend “I Kissed Shara Wheeler” if you’re a YA fan, looking for a gift for a gaybie in your life who might appreciate a light queer-positive read or for queer folks who wish there were more YA books like this when we were growing up.
