Now I’m already a big fan of Becky Albertalli (who isn’t?!), but Kate in Waiting is just so effortlessly wonderful that it’s officially up there on a pedestal with my favourite YA romances. With endearingly lovely characters, genuine, realistic interactions, and a lively narrator, I couldn’t help but fall in love with this book.

The age-old love triangle dynamic has been done to death, so it’s nothing short of miraculous that Albertalli’s take is fresh and original. Best friends Kate and Andy both fall rather comically in love with dreamy, talented, adorkable Matt, and their friendship is thrown on the rails when he moves to their school and they realise that they actually stand a chance of being with him. Of course, only one of them could realistically manage this, so they make a pact: to be happy for the other person No Matter What Happens. Cue the drama (literally). The musical production all three teens are performing in provides the perfect backdrop not only for tensions to heighten, but also for the reader to have some fun, because the characters are exactly that: they are just So. Much. Fun.

I ended up simultaneously rooting for both (and neither, because they don’t need no man) Kate and Andy, because their friendship was just outrageously adorable and genuine. There is a tragic shortage of well-written and realistic friendship arcs in YA that don’t revolve around miscommunication and fall-outs, so Kate and Andy were an absolute joy to read about. They get each other in the way that best friends should – and when there is miscommunication, it’s short-lived, and all either character cares about is the other’s feelings, regardless of the romantic situation. There’s an endearing co-dependent, Will and Grace closeness to their friendship that makes you care more about their friendship than their romantic prospects, which I think was entirely the point, and I have a lot of time for it. No part of the friendship’s plot was contrived or unnecessary – every thought running through Kate’s head and every action she took was understandable, relatable, and made you love her even more. Plus, I adored all the side characters and their individual relationships, which is undoubtedly one of Albertalli’s strong points, given the success of her Simonverse characters. So Kate in Waiting gets a big thumbs-up from me in that department; I would leap at the chance to read more books about Kate, Andy, Matt, Noah, Brandy, Raina, etc. etc.

The musical and drama elements of the book were so gloriously Disney Channel that it took me back to memories of my own secondary school musical productions. I have no idea if Albertalli was a theatre kid herself, but you would genuinely believe she was based on how much the book sings with love and passion for the stage. It made me want to jump back in time and belt out questionable versions of Oliver! songs as part of a significantly more talented chorus, which, if I’m being perfectly honest, were highlights of my time at school. I think, though, regardless of whether you’ve had the same experience, the drama elements of Kate in Waiting are just utterly joyous, and just add to the enthusiasm and fun of the book.

As far as narrators go, Kate is incredibly relatable, if only because she’s used to being an understudy in life. She’s forever felt like a side character in other people’s lives and love stories, which is undoubtably a feeling readers will have experienced before; in this sense, it’s lovely when you get to see Kate succeed, as it feels much more like a personal victory for life’s underdogs. She’s also very personable, compassionate, and puts her friends first – basically, it’s impossible not to like her!

Overall, I just had an absolute blast reading this book. Albertalli is such an accomplished writer, and her characterisations and storylines are immensely satisfying, so it’s escapist fun at its finest. Amongst the pacy plot and witty character interactions, though, the book is interspersed with some genuinely lovely passages about love, friendship, and living in the moment; it had me looking back on my school years with a fondness I haven’t done in a while. I’d recommend Kate in Waiting to anyone who loves a solid, character-driven book with friendship at the heart of the story.

Musical theater nerd Kate is waiting for her first great love and her return to the stage after a middle-school performance went viral.

Theater kids and best friends Kate Garfield and Anderson Walker are crushing on the same guy. Matt. They’ve got a word for this kind of thing, communal crush. Yup, it’s a thing. Their friendship is about two exits past codependent, but it’s also pure and unguarded, the kind of friendship capable of carrying you through life’s trenches. Dang, it’s a Disney-movie friendship. All flowing hair and slow-mo montages, and if there’s a bit of codependence… it’s a small price to pay.

But back to Kate in Waiting. So, Kate and Anderson’s friendship is turned upside down when communal crush Matt, who has until now remained firmly in the realm of summer camp fun, transfers to their high school. Soon their mutual crush is upgraded to falling in love, and for the first time, Kate and Anderson find their friendship in dangerous, untested waters. The ground rules are clear. No one is allowed to get hurt. And no matter who gets the guy, Kate and Andy won’t let it affect their friendship. But jealousy just isn’t a very rule-orientated emotion.

Kate in Waiting explores the deep bonds of platonic friendships and the confusing highs and lows of first love. Delivering feel-good fun that will leave you feeling heart-warmed and wishing for more YA rom-coms like this one. The dialogue is natural, witty, and magnetic. And the characters steal the show. Kate and Andy are relatable and awkward; the coming-of-age vibes are real and raw and feel at every point honest as football games and parties are attended. It’s high school in a bottle. Albertalli has crafted a brilliant cast of characters (with great LQBTQIA+ representation). Anderson is gay. Close friend, Raina, is trans. Kate and older brother, Ryan, are kids of divorce, and that split-into-two-ness (between households and co-parents) is well explored. Apart from masterful musical theater vibes, sweet flirtation abounds in this YA rom-com.

Lights, camera, action, you’re bound to love this one.

This book was just plain fun. Which is lovely.

I was a little weirded out at the start at the idea of a friendship so codependent that they can't get crushes on people without the other having the same crush, but at least the book admits it immediately and mentions a few times how odd it is.

I enjoyed the voice and it was a really fast read for me. It was a little bit younger in tone than I expected for some reason, but this isn't a bad thing necessarily.

My biggest complaint was that the paragraphs cut off in weird places that feel like the middle of the action, but in retrospect aren't really. It made the book feel a little choppy, especially with how short the chapters are. It felt like it was all a series of short events, barely linked together at times. Especially with the disconnect between the plot lines of Kate + Anderson crushing on Matt vs Kate and Noah having a cute flirtationship.

It made me smile though, overall. It's a very sweet book, with the brother-sister relationship with Kate and Ryan, and the main romantic relationship and the friendship between Kate and Andy.

It was just fun, which exactly what LGBT theatre kid books should be like in my opinion.

Kate and her best friend Anderson couldn’t be much closer. The share everything, from a love of theatre to mutual crushes. When they both fall for the same guy in a far more serious way, it puts a strain on their relationship and makes Kate realise that friendship is more important than any crush and that people are far more complex than they may at first seem.

This was a sweet book about friendship and first love. It has good lbgtq+ representation as with the author’s previous novels.

I struggled to connect with the characters and felt like I was waiting for something big to happen and ultimately felt a little let down but that may have been because I am a lot older than the characters and target audience.

I could see this being very popular with readers in their mid to late teens and for fans of the author’s previous books. A cute teen rom-com just a little lacking in substance for me.

I received this from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I really like Becky Albertalli’s writing style, it’s very easy going and fun. This was a fun, theatre packed book about high school romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this Arc in exchange for a honest review...

I have never read a book by Becky Albertalli but I'm glad when I finally read one, it was this one!

Noah Kaplin was an absolute bean who deserves the world. He has to be my favourite character from this. I really enjoyed how Kate and her brother had a great close relationship, it was sweet to see him try and get involved with her life and friends.

Although it really did annoy me and make me cringe when they used and over used the whole f*ck-boy thing. I think mentioning it once or twice would've been enough but not the whole way through it.

I wish there were another one, maybe couple of years down the line when both Kate and Anderson are both actors or Broadway stars?

SPOTLIGHT POST

Confusion reigns as romantic attachments cause nervous bewilderment where drama plays on and off stage. Two best friends who are part of a diverse ensemble cast are discombobulated by a communal crush.

You know how people freeze-frame into your brain, almost like your mental contact photo? That’s ? in my head.”

#BOOK HAIKU

Kate waits so awkward

in the wings for her leading

man but who is he?

Friendship, flirtation and fun

abound but all is not sound.

As scenes unravel

the show must go on

before curtain falls.

De Beck Albertalli je n'avais lu que ce qu'elle a écrit à quatre mains. J'ai aimé découvrir sa plume seule, mais je pense que le YA n'est plus un style qui me convient. J'ai trouvé que beaucoup de situations étaient évitables si seulement les gens discutaient un peu. Malgré tout, je trouve génial la représentation de la diversité dans ce livre, c'est quelque chose que je trouve important dans les livres YA.
C'est un livre que je recommande à ceux qui aiment ce genre, car il est vraiment bien, c'est juste que je pense ne plus être le publique cible pour ces romans.

The story of close, ‘codependent’ friendship between Anderson and Kate, who share everything, even crushes. But what starts as a communal crush from afar - a fun ideal - could in fact threaten their friendship when they each become much closer with said crush and fall more deeply... I’m a huge fan of Becky Albertalli having adored her Creekwood books. I think she writes a brilliant YA romance: honest, engaging and reassuring. I found this book a little harder to get into than her previous ones - perhaps because of the constant theatre references or the intensity of the ‘codependency’ - but stick with it because it grows into a true Albertalli novel with a warm afterglow.

I really loved this book. It was so perfectly adorable, predictable and full of relatable teenage angst. There is some really nice to see representation of LGBT characters, and the narrative flows so well that it was super easy to read.

This book was one hell of a show!
I loved all all of the characters.
I was amazed about so many divers characters.
The main character and their family is Jewish, the best friend is black and gay, another friend is trans, another character is disabled...I really liked how they had characters for these!
This really is the story about friendships and crushes and I really liked the friendship between Kate and Andy.
Noah I really liked from the start.
I like that the chapters are written like acts, and the final chapter is a curtain call.
This book was just a wonderful delight, and I was grinning so widely at the end.
You MUST read this book!
I'd love to get my hands on a physical now!
Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this!

Please excuse any grammatical errors, or typos. I have done my best, but in reality I am just reader. and will leave the writing to all the incredible authors out there. 
This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
This is a non spoiler review, because you as reader need to read this book. Also, I feel sometimes I have in the past gave away to much of the plot line.

This has diminished the pleasure for would be readers.

Becky Albertalli newest book,

Kate In Waiting, is a perfect coming of age, rom-com for 2021.
We follows best friends Kate Garfield and Anderson Walker, who happens to have the very best kind of friendship. These two besties are theater buffs and are completely inseparable. They do everything together, sharing each other’s secrets.


The girls find themselves in a bit of a twist, after gushing over the same unattainable guy Matt Olsson in summer camp, they come face to face with him when he transfers to the girls school. The girls friendship is tested as they have never had to face this problem before.


The author narration is seamless and engaging, I enjoyed how the centralizing of the story was around the school musical. The girls friendship bond didn’t take a backseat to the romance. Becky Albertalli, has a way of writing that draws the reader into the characters lives, in such a way that will have you completely immersed in their lives.


A delightful book that touches on true life situations that young adults face today. Also the author does a fabulous job in bringing some great LGBTQ representation. Which I thought was done very well done.
An exceptional heartwarming reading experience that was everything I hoped for!

Synopsis :

Best friends, and contrary to popular belief, not co-dependent. Examples:

Carpooling to and from theatre rehearsals? Environmentally sound and efficient.
Consulting each other on every single life decision? Basic good judgment.
Pining for the same guys from afar? Shared crushes are more fun anyway.

But when Kate and Andy's latest long-distance crush shows up at their school, everything goes off-script.

Enter Stage Left: Matt Olsson

He is talented and sweet, and Kate likes him. She really likes him. The only problem? So does Anderson.

Turns out, communal crushes aren't so fun when real feelings are involved. This one might even bring the curtains down on Kate and Anderson's friendship...

Praise for Becky Albertalli:

'Heart-fluttering, honest and hilarious' - Stephanie Perkins, author of Anna and the French Kiss

'Touching and passionate... completely lovable with bags of empathy' - The Observer

'Wonderfully charismatic' - Bookseller

'Stunningly three-dimensional' - Entertainment Weekly

'Sharp and funny' - Publishers Weekly

'Funny, moving and emotionally wise' - Kirkus Reviews

'Timeless' - Teen Vogue

I am desperate for more YA books that mainly feature the highs and lows of platonic friendships, and Becky Albertalli delivered exactly that! Kate and Anderson’s friendship was so loving and precious, they were very dependent on each other as most friendships are which created tension and anguish when their communal crush began to come between them. However what I particularly loved about Kate in Waiting was that the author didn’t include Matt as a driving force between Kate and Anderson, but simply as a distraction which led to a break down in communication, meaning this novel could be relatable for many readers who’ve been through a similar break up even when a boy was not the reason.

Becky Albertalli has a talent for writing very genuine high school characters, from giving cliques their own inside joke nicknames to embarrassing and awkward romance moments, there is an accuracy in Becky Albertalli’s novels that is hard to find elsewhere. I also love the representation of Jewish faith in Becky Albertalli’s novels, religion is always discussed in a normalised and routine way without any need for explanation or justification. As well as exploring friendships, Kate in Waiting discusses multiple family dynamics such as co-parenting, living between divorced parents, and Kate’s relationship with her brother, Ryan.

Becky Albertalli books are pure comfort reads for me, and Kate in Waiting was exactly the type of novel I needed to lift up my mood. The story was fast paced with plenty of friendship and romantic drama to keep me very entertained throughout. The story mainly revolves around a love triangle of sorts, which could easily have put me off reading this novel but Becky Albertalli handled the romance and friendships within the story perfectly. A theatre setting, plenty of musical references and short chapters meant Kate in Waiting was the perfect book for me, I adored it!

Kate in Waiting is a book that has lots of heart. All the characters are unique and bring their own something to the story. What's lovely about this book is how it explores all types of relationships and has a clear representation for the LGBTQ+ community. The author also perfectly captures and nuances the dramas and angst teens feel. A great read that keeps you engaged and turning the pages to see what happens next.

I had such great expectations for this book, not only because Becky Albertalli is one of my favourite authors. But also because the place of friendships in romantic relationships is a theme I love to read about. I think we don’t see it enough in children and teenagers literature, so I was really hyped about this book. And was a disappointment. Not only the story didn’t keep any of its promises to me, but I was legit bored reading it, I disliked the main character and was very close to DNF it.

Okay, I am going to be cash and honest: why is this book so long? There are some scenes that were absolutely useless in this story, even when it comes to characters development or the plots. I know Albertalli’s stories are all about the characters and their evolution and who they are. But here, it was too much for me, way too much. I really disliked the main character for being kind of very arrogant some times, and overall not a great friend. Because we know it by now: telling a story and showing who someone is, is all in the showing, not the telling. Here, the character claimed her friendships were the most important thing to her but acted against it in every single one of her decision. I get the move, showing how love and crushes can divide someone, I truly get it. But here, it just felt like Kate wasn’t consistent in her character building, at least this is how I felt it.

Talking about the characters, I need to mention the over-use of the term fuck-boys/girls and f-boy/girls in this book. Okay, I get it, it is a theatre kids versus jock kids dynamic but the characters referring to jock teens as f-boys and girls twice a page was honestly so rude. I am a jock. I like sport. I run. I keep in shape. Because it makes me feel good. Not to go around flirting and fucking. And I really do hope people don’t call me fuck girl behind my back for this, jeez. I wouldn’t have minded if that’s something that would have changed in the characters, you know? If, at the end of the novel, Kate and her friends had realized how not okay it was. But it wasn’t or, if it was, it wasn’t explicit enough. And this is so disappointing coming from an author with such diverse and open-minded books and characters.

As I said above, this book was way too long for its story. But the main issue for me is the fact that, yup, the book was long. But if at least it was useful to the story and its messages, then alright. Make it long. Here, I just felt like the story and the characters were going in circle in their minds, actions and decisions and it pissed me a little. I mean, at least we had time to understand the relationships between the characters, the strength in their bonds and how it influences their lives. And I have to say: I loved the whole theatre setting, and musicals and Once Upon a Mattress play, if it wasn’t for the main character ruining my appreciation of the book. And this is so sad to me, since I related to Kate in many different ways. Her love for music and singing, her trauma related to it, her friendships and the way her love life (or, in this case, her love life fantasy) could affect them.

This book simply didn’t do it for me, and seeing the reviews around here I noticed it is a five stars or a two stars, so I guess I am just not part of the lovers of this book. And that’s okay. It does not mean I won’t read other books by this author, because I truly love her characters. Maybe my expectations were too high.

Kate in Waiting is the story of Kate and her best friend, Anderson, who do everything together and share a love of boys and musical theatre. During summer camp, they meet the dreamy Matt who they both crush on. Things become a little more complicated when summer ends and Matt starts at their school. Can Kate and Anderson stay best friends while they compete for Matt's attention?

A real page turner, I couldn't put it down! Becky Albertalli has really captured the essence of teen drama that the majority of us go through during our school years. This book is full of diverse, engaging characters including a great representation of the LGBTQ community. I loved the various relationships describe in this book between siblings, friends, parents, teachers and potential love interests.

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher Penguin Random House Children’s UK for letting me read it. Highly recommend!

This book literally had me ON EDGE!
I love the friendship between Kate and Anderson but it pained me to see how easily something could come between them.
I guess communal crushes are not practical in real life.
I mostly feel bad for Kate and how the whole situation was handled.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I felt it was well written.
I will definitely be looking into more books from this author!

This is my first taste of Becky Albertalli's writing, and it was lovely. It's the exact kind of sweet contemporary YA that is easy to consume, makes you feel a little gooey inside (but would probably become a bit sickly with too much consumption!)

Ever since their brief romance, when Anderson released that he was gay, Kate and Andy have been best friends. They do everything together, from driving to school, taking part in the musical, going to theatre camp ... and crushing on the same guys. Because a shared crush is much more fun than having one alone, right?

Unfortunately, Kate and Andy find themselves falling for the same guy again but, when it turns out Matt is now going to their school, there's suddenly the chance for this crush to become something more for either of them. And, although they lay ground rules that are meant to protect their friendship at all costs, as things become more serious for both Kate and Andy, Kate knows someone is going to end up getting hurt, whatever the outcome.

Kate and Andy have a really natural dialogue and banter with each other, which is part of what makes this book so fun to read. They are both a little bit extra, and often lack in confidence, but they boost each other up just like good friends should do. They are also not the only characters in the book, or the friendship group, and it's really great to read a YA story that, although it focuses on Kate as the main character, has some properly fleshed-out supporting roles too. This includes Kate's brother, Ryan, her two other close friends, Brandie and Raina (one of whom is trans), Ryan's friend Noah, as well as the ensemble of drama kids who are taking part in this year's production.

Having recently read The Love Curse of Melody Macintyre, as well as Camp, it was super fun to read another story set in a 'theatre kids' world, especially as this production was a lot more like a normal school production, and the actors were keen but not mind-bendingly serious!

This is very much a love triangle, but it's told well, and in a fun setting. It also doesn't pit the characters against each other; Kate isn't always easy to love, but we see her being caught between envy and being supportive of her friend and it's both endearing and realistic. Even better is a budding romance in this story that isn't forced and isn't added to force a comparison between these love interests - it just begins to make sense and it's just really sweet to read.

I'm not a big fan of labelling basically everyone who is not part of the theatre squad as "fuckboys" or "f-boys" - not because I'm offended by the language, but just because it became a little repetitive. We understand that Kate has issues with some of these kids, but it seems like there's the jocks, and the theatre kids, and that's it. We see some crossing of these boundaries, and Kate perhaps becoming a little more open-minded as the story goes on, but it's still perpetuated by her own friends, so I doubt this kind of inclusivity was intended to be the message, even though the rest of the characters are diverse and inclusive.

In all, I found this a really fun, enjoyable read - it might not blow your mind, but there was something wholesome in this story that other similar YA books just really miss.

Becky Albertalli stole my heart in the Simon-verse and through her other books. Admittedly, I came here with quite high expectations and I’m not sure how that played out with my total image of this new book.

Kate In Waiting talks about two best friends who are so similar to each other that they even crush on the same people every time. But in a weird time of their life, crushes are not fun crushes anymore and actually involved their real feelings.

In a way, this book took me back to high school, with those friends that meant so much at that point in my life. Unfortunately, a decade after, they are mere acquaintances who I don’t have in my life anymore. Regardless, reading books circling these themes will always be sweet and very nostalgic.

Like always, I loved Albertalli’s writing style. Its always a fun adventure seeing her very “young” voice and all those pop culture references. However, I felt like this book was lacking in the pacing game. It took quite a long time for the story to pick up, and in many ways, I wanted the story to progress a little sooner.

The characters shine, though! They are all so precious and I want to adopt them. Kate is truly lovable, I liked Andy, Matt was cute, but the star in the show, for me, was Noah Kaplan! My heart goes to the guy! Even the side characters Raina, and Brandie were all lovable. Overall, I think one of the author’s strengths was developing characters with fun dynamics.

If there’s one thing that I wish I did not have in this read, it’s the repeated variations of f-boy, f-girl.. I felt like I read more than a hundred of them… and it can really get irritating. Admittedly, I hated the word in its entirety and I hate it even more that I have to keep seeing it repeatedly on the page.

Rarely do I find a book that makes me question my rating system and this is one of them. To save your time from reading my rambles: I adore this book from its fleshed-out characters to the pacing of the story, from its format to its symbols. Somehow, while preparing to review this novel, I asked myself if I was reading into it too much. But what’s new?

Check out my blogpost for the full review, why I think Kate in Waiting's structure is fantastic, and why I assume that the car rides symbolize Kate's relationships.