The Upside of Unrequited

by Becky Albertalli

Overview

From the award-winning author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda comes a funny, authentic novel about sisterhood, love, and identity.

"Heart-fluttering, honest, and hilarious. I can’t stop hugging this book." (Stephanie Perkins, New York Times bestselling author of Anna and the French Kiss)

"I have such a crush on this book! Not only is this one a must read, but it's a must re-read." (Julie Murphy, New York Times bestselling author of Dumplin')

Seventeen-year-old Molly Peskin-Suso knows all about unrequited love. No matter how many times her twin sister, Cassie, tells her to woman up, Molly can’t stomach the idea of rejection. So she’s careful. Fat girls always have to be careful.

Then a cute new girl enters Cassie’s orbit, and for the first time ever, Molly’s cynical twin is a lovesick mess. Meanwhile, Molly's totally not dying of loneliness - except for the part where she is. Luckily, Cassie's new girlfriend comes with a cute hipster-boy sidekick. If Molly can win him over, she'll get her first kiss and she'll get her twin back.

There's only one problem: Molly's coworker, Reid. He's a chubby Tolkien superfan with a season pass to the Ren Faire, and there's absolutely no way Molly could fall for him.

Right?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062348708
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	04/11/2017
Series:	Simonverse Series
Pages:	368
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 7.50(h) x 1.50(d)
Lexile:	HL490L (what's this?)
Age Range:	14 - 17 Years

About the Author

Becky Albertalli is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of William C. Morris Award winner and National Book Award longlist title Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (now a major motion picture, Love, Simon); The Upside of Unrequited; Leah on the Offbeat; the Simonverse novella Love, Creekwood; What If It’s Us and Here's to Us (cowritten with Adam Silvera); Yes No Maybe So (cowritten with Aisha Saeed); Kate in Waiting; and Imogen, Obviously, a Stonewall Honor Book. Becky lives with her family near Atlanta. You can visit her online at beckyalbertalli.com. 

Editorial Reviews

’If you’re in the mood for a snappy romance to vicariously bathe you in the pain and elation of first love, Becky Albertalli’s The Upside of Unrequited provides.” — NPR.org

“While first kisses, first loves, and even first sexual experiences have all been dealt with in some form or another, she tackles these big milestones head-on and with aplomb.” — Entertainment Weekly

★ “Readers will fall in love with this fresh, honest, inclusive look at dating, families, and friendship. A top purchase for all YA collections.” —  

“In her second, relationship-rich novel, Albertalli’s take on the agonies and ecstasies of adolescent love are spot-on.” — ALA Booklist

“Heart-fluttering, honest, and hilarious. I can’t stop hugging this book.” — Stephanie Perkins, New York Times bestselling author of ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS

“I have such a crush on this book! Not only is this one a must read, but it’s a must re-read.” — Julie Murphy, New York Times bestselling author of DUMPLIN'

“This book is absolutely adorable and has so much diversity! I fail to see how anyone cannot love this book and its characters.” A Best Book of 2017 — Brightly

From the Publisher

While first kisses, first loves, and even first sexual experiences have all been dealt with in some form or another, she tackles these big milestones head-on and with aplomb.

Entertainment Weekly

Heart-fluttering, honest, and hilarious. I can’t stop hugging this book.

Stephanie Perkins

’If you’re in the mood for a snappy romance to vicariously bathe you in the pain and elation of first love, Becky Albertalli’s The Upside of Unrequited provides.

NPR.org

2017-02-04
Tired of crushing with no kisses, 17-year-old Molly decides to take a chance on love.Molly has always felt inferior to her fraternal twin, Cassie: though both are white, Molly is brown-haired, brown-eyed, and fat in contrast to Cassie's blonde slenderness. But Molly doesn't hate her body—she's just afraid other people do. The combination of these feelings of inadequacy with ordinary teen awkwardness is a recipe for uneasy interactions with boys. Molly's 26 crushes have all been unrequited—but have they, really? When Cassie falls in love for the first time, and two eligible possibilities present themselves, Molly decides to risk rejection. Against the backdrop of the legalization of gay marriage in the U.S. and the planning of her moms' subsequent nuptials, Molly struggles between choosing the boy she actually likes and the one who seems ideal. Themes of body image, rejection, first love, and the evolution of familial relationships—particularly between sisters—loom large. Molly is the queen of teen angst, and her voice may grate on readers. The cast is wonderfully diverse (family, sexual orientation, religion/culture, race, size, mental health), which is why it's so sad that, though well-drawn, the characters are hard to connect with. While that's disappointing, fans of romance and those looking to diversify their shelves may be willing to forgive its foibles. (Fiction. 14-17)

Kirkus Reviews

This book is absolutely adorable and has so much diversity! I fail to see how anyone cannot love this book and its characters.” A Best Book of 2017

Brightly

In her second, relationship-rich novel, Albertalli’s take on the agonies and ecstasies of adolescent love are spot-on.

ALA Booklist

I have such a crush on this book! Not only is this one a must read, but it’s a must re-read.

Julie Murphy

★ “Readers will fall in love with this fresh, honest, inclusive look at dating, families, and friendship. A top purchase for all YA collections.

 

This book is absolutely adorable and has so much diversity! I fail to see how anyone cannot love this book and its characters.” A Best Book of 2017

Brightly.com

★ “Readers will fall in love with this fresh, honest, inclusive look at dating, families, and friendship. A top purchase for all YA collections.

SLJ (starred review)

Arielle DeLisle clearly differentiates the large cast of characters in this audiobook and the rainbow of feelings inherent in adolescent love. Seventeen-year-old Molly is headed for Crush #27—and none have ended in so much as a kiss. DeLisle’s narration adds to the story’s natural dialogue and honest emotions. She captures Molly’s angst, which contrasts with her twin sister, Cassie’s, confidence. Molly wonders if being sperm-donor twins is the reason she’s overweight and less datable. As Cassie enters a more serious relationship with the beautiful Mina, Molly feels herself drifting apart from her twin and away from family. She’s more concerned about hiding her first promising crush than joining the celebration of their mothers’ wedding. The diversity of characters and crushes and the many views of individuation are well integrated into the story. S.W. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine

APRIL 2017 - AudioFile