Publishers Weekly
12/05/2022
Queer 17-year-old Cass Williams doesn’t want anyone to know that she frequently spends her nights on Discord role-playing characters from her favorite book series—not her longtime best friend, popular athlete Tate; not his girlfriend, Rachel; not her parents; and definitely not her new girlfriend, Taylor. But when Cass’s parents suddenly announce they’re getting divorced, and her mother moves to Maine from their Minneapolis home to live with a man she met online, Cass and her father struggle to adjust to their new normal. To cope, she spends more and more time online before finding herself at a romantic crossroads: her relationship with Taylor has grown strained, due in part to Cass harboring secret romantic feelings for her online role-playing partner, Rowan, who she refuses to acknowledge exists IRL. This character-driven portrait—narrated by a confident “fat-girl” whose positive interpretations of her body type and queerness critically inform her hobbies, personality, and relationships—boasts a bevy of supportive characters, meaningful dialogue, and dynamic relationships. Hopeful with memorably constructive portrayals of healthy communication, Miller offers a strong debut. Main characters cue as white. Ages 13–up. (Feb.)
From the Publisher
"Out of Character is a warm, charming story, unafraid to tackle more serious topics, while exploring reality, fantasy, and the magic that can be found at the intersection of the two." — Rachael Lippincott, #1 New York Times bestselling co-author of Five Feet Apart
“Utterly enchanting and fantastically nerdy, Out of Character is full of heart, found family, and first love. With friends like these, heartbreak doesn’t stand a chance. A lovely debut!” — Ashley Poston, New York Times bestselling author
"Out of Character is a heartfelt reminder that real life can be way more complicated than fantasy realms, and that—even if they aren't packed with pirates or warships or epic battles—friendships, family, and love can be truly legendary." — Jason June, New York Times bestselling author
"Perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli and Kelly Quindlen, Out of Character is an effortless blend of fandom, friendship, and firsts with a can’t-miss romance. Miller’s earnest debut will instantly capture readers’ geeky hearts!" — Julian Winters, award-winning author of Running With Lions
"Bursting with heart and filled with endearing characters I couldn’t help but adore, Out of Character is an unputdownable tale of complex relationships online and off that charmed me from the first page and lingered with me long after the last. I loved it!" — Meredith Tate, author of Shipped
"Heartfelt and honest, Miller’s Out of Character is a perfect love letter to online fan communities. Miller expertly weaves a wonderfully body positive tale of a girl navigating the choppy waters of adolescence and first love that is sure to leave readers smiling long after the book ends." — Jennifer Dugan, author of Some Girls Do
"Full of heart and humor, Jenna Miller’s Out of Character is a love letter to fandoms, online friendships, and self-acceptance. I adored this debut and its take on how the greatest role you can play is the one truest to yourself!" — Amelia Coombs, author of Exactly Where You Need to Be
"Geek-tastic! A celebration of all the best parts of internet friendships. This is the perfect story for readers who have lost themselves in a fictional world in order to find themselves in this one." — Lana Wood Johnson, author of Speak for Yourself
"Starring a heartfelt and relatable heroine and filled with sapphic wholesomeness, Out of Character is a joy to read from cover to cover. A love letter to found family, Cass’s story is as sweet and comforting as a fresh plate of waffles." — Jen Wilde, author of Queens of Geek
"A funny, unflinchingly honest look at what it means to be your most authentic self both online and off. Cass is written like a real teen—just as layered as her beloved Tater Tot hotdish. After reading Out of Character, I’m officially a member of Jenna Miller’s fandom." — Brian Kennedy, author of A Little Bit Country
"This character-driven portrait—narrated by a confident “fat-girl” whose positive interpretations of her body type and queerness critically inform her hobbies, personality, and relationships—boasts a bevy of supportive characters, meaningful dialogue, and dynamic relationships. Hopeful with memorably constructive portrayals of healthy communication, Miller offers a strong debut." — Publishers Weekly
"A sweet queer romance that celebrates fandoms and explores the complications of balancing online and offline relationships." — School Library Journal
Miller unpacks the mess that comes along with loving other people. A thoughtful companion read for fans of Emma Mills' This Adventure Ends. — Booklist Online
#1 New York Times bestselling co-author Rachael Lippincott
Out of Character is a warm, charming story…exploring reality, fantasy, and the magic that can be found at the intersection of the two.”
School Library Journal
06/16/2023
Gr 9 Up—High school senior Cass is living a double life. Online she's Aresha from the "Tide Wars" book series, role-playing on Discord with friends from across the country. Offline she's struggling with the stress of homework, college applications, and her mother's unexpected departure from Minneapolis to Maine to live with a new boyfriend. Even dating Taylor, her longtime crush, is proving complicated; when Taylor professes her love for Cass, Cass finds she's unable to reciprocate Taylor's strong feelings. But when Cass meets her role-playing friend Rowan in person, sparks fly, and Cass must decide how long she can keep her online life a secret from the people she cares about. Cass, Rowan, and Taylor are cued white; Cass's best friend Tate is Black. Miller realistically explores Cass's confusion and pain over her mother's departure, and how her avoidance of these emotions leads her to become consumed by the escapism of role-playing. Chapters close with excerpts from the "Tide Wars" fanfiction chats, providing a glimpse into Cass's passion for the books. VERDICT A sweet but slow moving queer romance that celebrates fandoms and explores the complications of balancing online and offline relationships.—Emily Yates
Kirkus Reviews
2022-11-16
Can a 17-year-old with her first girlfriend prevent real-life folks from discovering her online fandoms?
Cass is proudly queer, happily fat, and extremely secretive about being a fan who role-plays on Discord. Back in middle school, she had what she calls a gaming addiction, playing “The Sims” so much her parents had to take the game away. Now, turning to her role-play friends to cope with her fighting parents, she worries that people will judge her for her fannishness and online life. To be fair, her grades are suffering. And sure, maybe she’s missed a college application deadline. Also, her mom has suddenly left Minneapolis and moved to Maine to be with a man she met online. But on the other hand, Cass is finally dating her amazingly cute longtime crush, Taylor. Pansexual Taylor is a gamer, a little bit punk, White like Cass, and so, so great—but she still can’t help comparing her to Rowan, Cass’ online best friend and role-playing ship partner. But Rowan doesn’t want to be a dirty little secret and doesn’t see why Cass can’t be honest about this part of her life. The inevitable train wreck of her lies looms on the horizon for months in an overlong morality play building to the climax that includes tidy resolutions to all the character arcs that are quite heartwarming but, in the case of Cass’ estranged mother, narratively unearned.
Despite the well-meaning warmth, a wearying plod. (Fiction. 13-16)
