A wonderful quick read about gender stereotypes, sexuality and finding out that love has been in front of your face the whole time... It’s a really sweet, light, quick read which will definitely warm your heart. Though extremely short, it definitely packs a punch and covers some really important, vital topics in a wonderful way. I found this insightful, interesting, diverse and interesting to read. Though short, I didn’t find it lacking in substance. I often find that with shorter reads I feel a little bit lost in the story because there isn’t much happening or not much has been built on, but the author gets it spot on for this one - the back story is built as it develops and the characters develop quickly also; the dialogue isn’t excessive and it’s just enough to feel like a story with a strong substance. The subject matter is intrinsic, and I think that definitely enhanced the story. Such a well thought out, developed, strong and interesting story is woven in the small space - don’t be put off by its length! It’s definitely got enough in there to draw you in and to leave you clawing for more!

The storyline is exquisite - we follow a lovely, charming character who is trying to figure out who she is. Her best friend is someone that her heart has tangled with but she doesn’t quite know what she wants - from her life, her relationships, her family... she doesn’t know where she should turn and this short story is truly a feat in finding who you are and how to attain the information you long for. The characters are developed brilliantly and are all so immensely likeable and diverse. The plot is sweet, but balances the necessary intensity of the topics at hand with the adorable heart melting moments. The ending was my favourite part - seeing how her life ended up unfolding made my heart glow with joy. I really enjoyed piecing together the story and becoming entwined with these characters lives. Even though it’s short, it’s written in such a brilliant way that you get so invested in the characters, their growth and the plot. Such a great read. 

I can imagine reading this on a cold winters day when I’m in need of a burst of joy... excellent! Loved it!

I don’t know what to think about Tom Boy by Janelle Reston. I read this last night and I’m still not sure what to think. It was meant to be short and sweet. I could see shades of that in this but it felt too much like fanfiction to me. It was like I was supposed to know who Harriet and Jackie were already but I didn’t. And there wasn’t enough happening that I knew anything about either of them. There is so much potential for this story. I just felt like I was given a teaser of the scenes that would make up a larger novel.

This was a really cute novella.  It was more of a long short story than an actual novel, though a lot of time (from age 8 all the way through the MC's teenage years) was covered in the 50 pages.

It read a lot like a lesbian version of 1950s TV shows... Leave it to Beaver, Dennis the Menace, Father Knows Best.  The MC was unsurprised to find that she had feelings for her girls, and no one else really made a huge fuss about it either.  Some people knew the truth about her and others didn't, and that was that.  There was a simplistic treatment of gender and gender roles in lesbian relationships, and lots of fun references to jello salad (who knew people used to make it with <i>vegetables</i> in it!) and other time period things.  

It was basically a really sweet, very surface lesbian love story that was firmly rooted in a certain period of time, which is a lot of what gave it its charm.  Did any lesbian in the 1950s actually have a similar relatively easy, self-directed, self-actualizing experience?  I don't know.  But (unlike when authors make black and white teenage girls fall in love in the Jim Crow south because I find that highly problematic in certain ways) I don't actually care, because wouldn't it have been wonderful if they had?

A short and sweet novella about coming out and coming of age in post-WWII America. The story was enjoyable enough but without the depth that I prefer. I nice quick read.

I loved this book so much and the more i think about it, the more i love it! The two main characters were written really well and i felt like they grew so much from when we meet them as children in the beginning to the beautiful passionate lovers they become. The way that Reston wrote made the locations came alive and the way that she made the 50s seem was great. The only thing that means i can't give it the full five stars is that it was too short and i feel like it could be developed into a full length novel by Reston.

Loved, loved, loved this! This cute novella just got more and more captivating with every page and I loved this look at growing up as a lesbian in the post-WWII US.

“The first time I saw Jackie, I thought she was a boy.”

Tomboy is a very sweet and delightful love story set in post-war America, following Harriet’s growing up and the gradually blossoming relationship between two school friends. Harriet is frustrated by the rigid expectations of the times and is more interested in space travel than in boys, make-up and marriage. And as time goes on, she also finds herself drawn to glamorous, very feminine screen and music stars - and to Mandy, the prettiest girl in the school. The tomboyish Jackie, while a good friend, holds no romantic interest for her... at least, not initially. 

It’s a coming of age story with a strong sense of the era - Sputnik, McCarthyism, Gunsmoke - and a welcome avoidance of stereotype.

Both girls are fortunate to have parents - Harriet’s father, Jackie’s mother - who love and accept them as they are. There are some very moving moments involving Harriet’s father, in particular.

It’s a little idealised at times. But that’s okay.

Beautifully written and genuinely touching - I loved it.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

This is a truly beautiful novella written from the point of Harriet who recounts her experience of growing up and coming of age in the post WWII McCarthy era. She recalls seeing Jackie for the first time when she is eight and starts at her school but is dressed as a boy. Harriet questions why she’s dressed as a boy and she responds, “I’m a girl. Whatever clothes I wear, that makes them girls’ clothes. Because I’m a girl. That’s what my mom says, and I think she’s right.” From then on they become firm friends, perhaps seeing a likeness in each other.

Harriet’s self-realisation doesn’t come as easily as Jackie’s, perhaps because she because she comes from more traditional family - with a small hint of subversiveness. Her father holds the unpopular (and dangerous for the time) belief that the Russians have better things to do with their time than drop bombs on the US. His opinions are measured even though there is an indication that he is suffering from PTSD. He has a great support of his daughter which is beautiful and heart-warming. Adult opinions are portrayed in the fuzzy bite-sized pieces that a child might see them and then with greater clarity as Harriet ages.

Jackie is a wonderful character with strong sense of self and a ton of common sense. Her mother was a mechanic during the war and opened an auto shop after the war needing to support the family when her husband and Jackie’s father was killed by the Germans. She wears what she is comfortable and hold opinions that aren’t necessarily acceptable. Harriet is drawn to feminine women and doesn’t see Jackie as more that a friend she can hold a conversation with.

In spite of its length (easily read in two hours) 'Tomboy' is clearly located in history by the references to movies, TV shows, politics and fashion. There is a gentleness that runs through the story with moments of poignancy as well as happiness. I was very moved by the story and highly recommend it.

Book received from Netgalley for an honest review.

Needs to be developed, story and writing and sound, too short though