3.50 Stars. To be completely honest I was going to skip this book. I did not really care for either of the two other books I have read by Boyette. I figured her style of writing wasn’t really for me. However, after reading some of the early reviews I decided to take a chance on this and I’m glad I did. This was a sweet YA lesfic book and I’m glad I read it. In my opinion this is the best book by Boyette so far.

I’m not what you would call a big YA fan. I tend to enjoy YA fantasy books but YA books that take place in high school are not my favorite. I find that either the teenagers seem way older or they feel immature. I was glad I didn’t feel that way in this book. This felt like a book written in a realistic teenage voice, so I have to give Boyette props for that.

I was also a little concerned about the bullying. This book is about a girl, going into her senior year, that outed herself publicly over the summer. Things are not easy for her a she quickly becomes a target of bullying. I don’t like to read about teenagers being bullied. I mean who does?! And while I even found myself tearing up once, there are a lot of good feelings in this book too. There is a lot of acceptance and people trying to be decent human beings that it made the bulling much easier to swallow. This book was sweet and it gave me a little hope.

The only part I didn’t care for was the main’s relationship/crush she has on an older girl. It felt a little odd to me like it almost didn’t fit into the rest of the tone of the book, but I really enjoyed all the other parts.

If you are looking for a sweet YA read, I think this is a good choice. I’m far from an expert on YA, but this felt authentic to me. Plus the sweetness put a big smile on my face when I was finished reading so that’s always a positive in my book.

ARC provided by Netgalley, so thank you for that! This is my honest review.

The book has great things: some of the secondary characters are amazing (Molly’s brother and his best friend are the best!) and the plot, the fact that the queer kids get so much sh*t for being themselves at school... well, I didn’t like reading that part but it’s what sometimes happens in real life, so the facts that these kids are fighting against that, raising awareness among their peers... it was super nice!

But there were a lot that I didn’t like, specially the main character. I know that Molly’s a teenager, but her feelings seemed way too fickle even for that age. One day I’m head over heels for this girl and the next I’m over her and I want to date this other one? Hmmm... I wish there would have been more depth to those feelings and the situation. I wanted to like her, but I just couldn’t.

Personally, I would have liked the book a lot more if it hadn’t dealt with the whole Zia situation.

What Happens When by Samantha Boyette
5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books inc for an E-arc in change for an honest review.

To start this review off I want to just say I identify as a lesbian and the representation is so beautiful written and just well put!

I LOVE IT SO MUCH! 🏳️‍🌈❤️

Molly doesn’t know if she should follow her heart or her head but what she does know is kissing Lily makes her feel alive, gives her these feelings of everything being right when everything else feels so wrong. She never thought she could be utterly in love with a girl until that night at the party when Molly and lily drunkly make out in front of half the senior class. Accidentally outing herself as a lesbian was the last way Molly wanted to start her senior year, one event leads to another and Molly has to figure out how to go through senior year with a target in her back.

This story was a fast read but it was also breathtaking, heartbreaking, and just utterly perfection for a coming out story. The characters are well written and the scenes in the book are also just perfect for the story!

I hadn’t heard about this book at all until seeing it on Netgalley and being drawn in by the summary, and I’m so glad I decided to read it! Molly accidentally comes out to her entire class the summer before senior year, and the book is her navigatinfbher own feelings and conflicting emotions. It handles some sensitive topics really well, and the friendships really made me love the book that much more.

I was attracted to this book because in high school I was like our main character Molly, who was unsure of her sexuality, until one night when she makes out with a girl she just met and outs herself to her school. Unlike Molly, that did not happen to me and I reserved any of those feelings until I was in my 20's, but the way she was scared at first, of people not accepting and looking at her weird brought back those feelings I had.

I liked Molly and her relationship with her brother, Luke. He accepts Molly and supports her, even by going to their school's newly created Queer Alliance Group. Even her mom and sort of step-dad love her for her, but that doesn't mean everyone will.

Molly's ex-friend makes school hell for Molly, even taking it as far as to physically harm her because she believes Molly's lifestyle is sinful.

But, Molly still has love interests, like the girl she made out with, Lily, and even has another, so yes there's a love triangle although one is easier to root for than the other, but Molly is naive and just figuring herself out. I wish she figured it out sooner.

It's a good read though. I liked most of the characters, although there wasn't much to Molly aside from her feelings towards two girls and the fact that her ex-friends harass her now. It's still nice to have a school that is acceptable enough to allow an LGBTQ+ group to be created and even stand up to the bullies.

I liked this book to a certain extent, but I feel as though it could have been executed better than it was.

The story's plot primarily relies on a love triangle, and that in itself isn't something I usually love in a book. But disregarding that, I just found that the romantic relationships were poorly developed. The book starts off right after the night Molly, our MC, drunkenly makes out with Lily, one of her potential love interests, at a party. The next day, she finds herself immediately attracted to Lily and longing to be close to her once more... This is fine and all, but it's rather strange to read since we really don't know either of these characters that well yet. I wish the author would've left a little more room for the much-needed development in their relationship before she pulled the whole romantic tension card.

Another thing I disliked about this book was the constantly used LGBT+ stereotypes. Characters in the book are always talking about how someone doesn't "look" lesbian or how that haircut makes them look "totally gay". Ughhhhh. Can we stop acting as if sexuality is determined by the style of one's hair? Thanks.

But I don't mean to make this book out as bad. I appreciated the overall theme of it. Molly and her friends don't let bullying and discrimination get to them, and they stand up for the rights of all individuals, including LGBTQIA folks, who are unrighteously shunned and mistreated in our world today.

I think that this book certainly has its' flaws, but I can't deny that I found it inspiring and motivating. It's an enjoyable contemporary read that shines light on important problems found in present society. I'd definitely recommend it if you are looking for a fluffy piece of LGBT+ fiction to make your day a little brighter! (;

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC!

“What Happens When” you accidentally out yourself to your high school senior classmates? There’s gossip, drama, and those ever present mean girls who relish the idea of destroying a classmate’s high school experience with their bullying tactics.

Such was the case for Molly after she was seen kissing Lily, who was an out lesbian, at a party. Molly was then targeted by her former best friend Carmen who was sickened by Molly’s behavior and tried to enlist others, not only to her homophobic platform, but also to her mean girl mentality. This was evident when Molly was ostracized by her cross country team members. So Molly quit the team and sought refuge away from that toxic high school environment by working after school at a local diner. It was there that Molly found solace and friendship with Zia, much to the chagrin of Lily.

There were many aspects of this book that were well done and relatable especially with regards to today’s school environment such as the creation of the Queer Alliance Club and the importance of school administrators/teachers who take a stance against any type of bullying or bigotry as opposed to those that turn a blind eye. It was important that teenagers be seen and heard in their support of “kindness and acceptance” since unfortunately and sadly, too many children fall prey to the haters of the world and harm/kill themselves.

The characters were realistic and diverse, especially with regard to their sexuality. I liked how the author gave positive life advice through the voices of Molly’s brother, Luke, and Lily. They were my favorite characters because of their supportive and loving ways. Luke’s character also had a playful personality which at times seemed to offset the more serious issues of the story.

Overall, this was a very good young adult LGBTQIA book and should be included in high school libraries.

This is was such a great read!

When Molly accidentally outs herself as a lesbian at a party, I was gonna expect some drama, and well, it was delivered. The bullying and harassment that ensues (led by her homophobic ex-best friend Carmen) got pretty bad. I'm glad that there were people there for Molly as she was being put through hell because of her sexuality. Because of what is going on at school, Molly seeks comfort in Zia, the waitress at a diner she frequents. I can see why Molly did what she did, but I do agree with Luke (her younger brother), that she was making a bad decision in being with her, especially since Zia was persistent in being straight. There wasn't any point in striving for something that was never going to happen, but then again, Molly wouldn't have realized her mistake unless she had made it. I'm glad the whole Zia fiasco happened because it changed Molly for the better, as she was being a selfish brat to her friends and family because of it. I didn't like that side of Molly at all because it made her an unlikeable character. Luckily, it also made her finally let go of Zia and see Lily in the glorious light that she has always been in. It made me feel all giddy inside seeing everything resolve, as I was Team Lily since the beginning.

Aside from Molly, who was an okay character in a complex situation, Luke was a great character. Sometimes I forget that he is the younger sibling, as he has quite a few wise words himself. I loved the bond between the two siblings because you can feel how much they care for one another, especially Luke, as he supported his sister since the very beginning and is always looking out for her. Also, their banter was just a joy to read. The other friends were also great characters too, like Gavin. I think we all need a chill supporting friend like Gavin.

Overall, this was an amazing read, as it focuses on the struggles with coming to terms with one's own sexuality, the public acceptance and backlash of it, LGBT activism, romance, and a whole-lot-of teenage angst.

Teenage drama with a lesbian theme makes for a really appealing read. Boyette shows a special talent with writing characters who are a mix of all possible positive and negative characteristics but all of them believable and people we can empathise with, even when they aren’t particularly shining.

This book has steadfast Lily, coming-into-her-own Molly and experimenting/confused Zia. In a party, Molly meets totally out Lily, the cousin of her classmate hosting the party and ends up kissing her in front of the whole senior year. Thus begins her realisation about her sexuality. Lily transfers to Molly’s school and Molly, who is still in denial, freezes her. At the same time, Molly meets the slightly older, incredibly sexy Zia and finds herself horribly attracted. Between keeping a clearly interested Lily at somewhat of a distance and getting it on with Zia while handling homophobic hate from her erstwhile best friend, Molly’s senior year is quite a landmine. Her supportive parents and protective brother are a soft place for her, though.

This is a well-paced book with thoroughly likeable characters…all the MCs and all the supporting and secondary characters are well etched out and feel real. A nice, light YA, high-school one.

I ARC received via NetGalley and in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoy reading this book.

Molly is in her senior year when she afraid everyone in school knows she a lesbian when she made out with a girl name Lily at a party.

When she goes to school her bestfriend Carmen turn on her because she lesbian and she thinks it's wrong and mad that she didn't tell her and starts to harrass her try to make her like a living hell but when Lily transfer to their school because her old school wasn't as great at accepting Lily decide to form club for anyone who lgbtq but it turns into more for anyone who is different because they want to have more accepting in schools to keep students safe. I like that the kids at school was accepting minor some who wasn't.

I like Molly but I get where she was coming from by getting invovle with Zia because it was easier then being with the one you really want because you didn't want add more to Carmen fire happy she got over that realize who she really want to be wirh was Lily who in my opinion was a saint to wait for Molly.

I love banter between Molly and her brother Luke loved that he was supported from the get go as was her mother and her mother boyfriend. Even though I didn't care for Carmen I like that she apologize.

'What Happens When' is an edgy young adult story.

Molly is forced out of the closet by her alter drunken ego by making out with a girl during a summer party before her senior year. She is dreading school because she knows she is going to face ridicule. This is her senior year journey of gaining acceptance from others and also being able to accept herself..

The level of bullying was pretty outrageous. I'm so naive that I just assume we have progressed far enough that this type of behavior doesn't exist anymore. I'm well enough removed from High School that I can admit that I likely don't have a clue, but it makes me sad if this type of homophobia still happens.

The situations are appropriately amateur for the age of characters. Molly is exploring her feelings for girls and as such, has a raging boy-like libido. The author does a good job of setting scenes with teenage banter to makes the reader feel immersed in a high school mindset.

I'm not so sure that I believe Molly deserved as much acceptance and forgiveness as she received from her friends and family. She was downright selfish. Her actions and decision making were sometimes cringe worthy. Her character was hard to like. She only got a pass from me for the fact that she WAS a teenager and they do stupid things.

I did genuinely like Molly's brother and friend Gavin. They were awesome comic relief throughout the book.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this. It was a very quick read as I finished it in about 4-5 hours. It had a good mix of coming out, humor, and angst. I recommend to people who enjoy high school stories, teenage angst, accepting families, gay activism, and those first-time-all-consuming-crushes-that-are-never-a-good-idea.

<i>I received an ARC through Netgalley from Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.</I>