It's been a long time since I last read a Young Adult book and when I saw this on Netgalley, I had to request it - because Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda/Love, Simon! - and I honestly wasn't expecting to be approved, so YAY! Thank you Penguin Random House for this.

This starts with Kate and her best friend Anderson saying goodbye to their mutual summer crush, Matt, at their summer camp. Only Matt turns up at their school as a new student and they immediately try and get in classes with him but only Andy is successful though they all have the school play together. When all three get major parts in it, they see it as a way to get close to Matt but the friends decide to not let jealousy get in the way of their friendship but find out it's a lot harder putting that into practise.

I could have happily read this in one sitting last night, I was that into it. I put it down around midnight and picked it up first thing this morning so I could figure out how it was going to go (though I had a feeling about who was going to end up with who - and I was right!)

I liked the dynamics between Kate and her group and even her brother, Ryan. They were so close knit and I liked their outlook on school and boys and theatre. They made me smile a lot.

Then there was Noah - Ryan's friend and someone she used to be close to. After breaking his wrist and being out of Baseball for the season Noah is now in the Drama class and must take part in the play, too, and asks Kate to help him with singing lessons that actually get him a part in the play. I really liked Noah. He's a bit crazy but he grew on me a lot.

I'm glad these two friends found happiness and love.

My history with Becky Albertalli is complicated… I absolutely adored Simon vs the Homo sapiens Agenda, kind of liked Leah on the Offbeat and couldn’t even finish What if it’s us?, so I was both excited and terrified about reading Kate in Waiting. Luckily for me, this was just adorable and definitely my second favourite Albertalli book (Simon will always be Simon, sorry).

I did have a couple of issues with the book, but nothing major. My biggest problem is that I didn't get any feelings from Andy or Matt, both important characters in the story. Andy is too much in all the wrong ways, and maybe it's because we're on Kate's head and we know what she is thinking but they have all these talks about "our friendship comes first" and it feels like Kate actually believes that and she feels awful about hurting Andy even when it's clear she doesn't mean to, but I didn't feel like Andy was as concern for Kate's feelings as she was for his. Plus, their friendship is supposed to be this cute, all-consuming thing, but I thought it was actually borderline toxic, with this competition to win Matt over when for half of the book they don’t even know if Matt is gay/straight/pansexual/asexual, and honestly, it feels like they don’t even care. And I don’t even understand why they are so in love Matt, he’s pretty and he’s a good guy but he’s just so bland... although I admit that I might be biased here because the moment Noah Kaplan showed up he totally stole the show.

The other problem I had is that Kate and his crew are a bunch of judgemental brats. Yes, the jocks (fuckboys or f-boys, as they call them) are evil and self-centered and pretty much every other high school stereotype you can think of, but you know what? So are the artsy, witty theater kids, but that's ok because they are the right kind of stereotype I guess.

On the plus side, the book is absolutely charming. Kate is hilarious, and the writing is pretty good and super funny. Also, bonus points for all the Tangled references. There’s also lots of diversity, and for the most part it feels completely organic. The way the whole story unfolds and how the drama is solved also felt really natural for 17yo kids, I never had that feeling of being reading about 30yos in the body of teenagers that’s so common in YA. Also, there’s Noah Kaplan. Let's just say that there are Blue levels of adorableness here. Kate’s relationship with her brother Ryan was also very interesting and heartwarming, I really enjoyed their interactions and I wish Ryan had been more present in the book.

So the story is predictable but believable and charming, the characters can sometimes be annoying, but for the most part they are a bunch of cinnamon rolls, and Noah Kaplan will just steal your heart. Absolutely recommendable 😊

Kate In Waiting follows Kate and Andy, best friends with a communal crush on fellow camp member and new kid at school Matt.

Overall, this was a sweet and quick read that I finished in just three days.

There were a lot of aspects of this book that I enjoyed, such as how strong Kate and Andy’s friendship is.

There was one part of this book that I particularly enjoyed and that was Noah. I thought he was a very well rounded character and was someone I was rooting for. Although I disliked the overuse of “f-boy” throughout the book, Noah was a great way to embody the emotionally sensitive, sweet, funny and caring “f-boy” combination.

Unfortunately there were a lot of things I wish we could have seen more of, such as more Kate and Ryan sibling bonding, and we definitely needed more backstory on Brandie and Raina. There also wasn’t much explanation as to what in particular made Matt so great and why Kate and Andy were so obsessed with him.

I’ve given this book 3/5 as it is fun and delivered all the dramatic parts two high school friends who share a crush, but it was missing potential in terms of character development.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Children's Publisher’s and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book before it’s release in exchange for review.

Kate and Anderson are best friends with the crush on the same guy but it is fine as they will only see him for summer camp. Things get a little more complicated when he turns up as a new kid at their school.

I enjoyed this book but it also grated on me slightly. I really enjoyed the overall story line and like the relationship between the two best friends and their wider family and friends. A big deal was made of the fact that they were theatre kids and not part of the f-boys and f-girls. I found the focus on the f-boys got too much and at one time if I read the term f-boys I felt like I was gonna scream.

However overall a fun read just not my favourite.

Kate is Waiting was a light fun read but not Becky Albertalli's greatest. The plot revolved around Kate and her best friend Andy's communal crushes with the theatre trope thrown in.

The plot had potential but it wasn't executed in the best way. I wanted exciting drama but what I got was mediocre at best. Issues were solved with a simple apology and there wasn't that much excitement until the end.

Kate was good main character but I did not like Andy. There was nothing about him that was likable and he mostly seemed jealous and petty. Brandie and Raina had some background but I got them mixed up a lot. There was nothing about Matt that made him as attractive as Kate and Andy made him out to be other than looks. I would have liked Matt to have had more personality. Noah on the other hand was utter perfection. I loved that him and Kate got together at the end as they seemed perfect!

The writing was readable and funny at times. The portrayal of high school was quite realistic and relatable. Pop culture references were a bit cheesy though (does anyone actually even play Fortnite anymore??) It felt like if you read the book in a couple of years you would not enjoy it as much.

Other than that I quite enjoyed reading Kate in Waiting and I would recommend it!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the E-arc!

Contrary to popular belief, best friends Kate Garfield and Anderson Walker are not codependent. 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. Matt Olsson is talented and sweet, and Kate likes him. She really likes him. The only problem? So does Anderson.

This is a fun, easy read that is perfect to get consumed in with a glass of wine. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

3.5/5.

This was one of my most anticipated reads this year and I was so excited to receive an early copy.

I was sadly disappointed in this book. The storyline fell flat for me and I wasn’t interested in any of the characters and what happened to them. Every chapter was just Anderson and Kate just going on about how they both like the same guy etc. There was no character development and I didn’t care who ended up with their crush. I had to put this book down.

I am so disappointed as i loved all Becky’s other books. This just didn’t do it for me

One person has rights and that person is Noah Kaplan.

I’m happy Becky Albertalli decided to write something from a different angle because I really enjoyed this book. It’s been a while since I’ve last enjoyed a solo book by her. I wish there were more books with characters playing in a musical because that’s a favorite trope of mine and it was so fun here! I would have liked it even more if the book didn’t almost always skip on the characters doing rehearsals and the actual play, but I understand the focus of this story was something different. This book is about young adults experiencing friendship, family and high school crushes, and honestly it was so well done. It did get way too cheesy at times (like, can you stop mentioning Tangled please??) but it was definitely realistic. The exploration of the relationship between Kate and Anderson took center stage and I found it very interesting. How can you even have a crush on someone at the same time as your best friend and not engage in drama? Kate keeps flip-flopping between being jealous and being supportive, and I did like that aspect because that’s how I think it would go in real life. Even though seeing it in a book wasn’t always ideal and the back and forth started to feel repetitive after the halfway point.

I loved the pacing of this book. I had a super hard time putting the book down! I do think some stuff could have been cut out because it felt too long at times, but the writing style is so fluid and breezy it’s not a huge issue, plus the chapters are short and you can effortlessly get through them. This book is perfect for people in a reading slump.

I liked the characters a lot. From the first moment Noah was introduced I was in love, he is absolutely my favorite. His jokes, his cheeky personality, his clumsiness......I caNNOT 😭✨
I also though Kate and Anderson were great characters to read about. The way they are always there for each other and are respectful no matter the situation! I needed something like this in my high school years.
Ryan’s a big part of the story too, and well, Kate’s so lucky to have him. The relationship between them was one of the elements of the story I always wanted to read more about, no matter where I was at with the plot.
Overall the characters were well-rounded and I cared about all of them, but I also think Brandie, Raina and Matt could have used more work. Brandie and Raina have their space in the book, but I couldn’t tell them apart most of the time. Matt was the sweetest but I had the same problem with him: his character wasn’t explored enough. The book basically starts right away with Kate and Anderson already liking Matt, and throughout the book there’s not really much to grab on to. I have no idea why they both like him honestly 🤷🏻‍♀️

Despite this, the romance is totally swoon-worthy! The way [redacted] smiled at each other across the stage....that was the cutest shit I’ve ever seen in my entire life. I’m not blushing you are.

I highly recommend you pick this book up as soon as it comes out ❤️

Every bit as charming & heartwarming as Simon! Becky Albertellibis a must read author & Kate in Waiting does not disappoint!

If you know me, I am the biggest Becky Albertalli fan. Simon Vs is literally one of my favourite books of all time and I've loved everything she's ever written. Her books are truly my happy place so needless to say I was over the moon to get the chance to read this one ahead of publication! I'll be honest here, this wasn't my favourite Becky book, I didn't feel a connection between Kate and Matt really at all which as the whole plot revolved around this crush, didn't really help. (my boy Noah though...). I also felt the writing was trying too hard to sound like a teenager (I never want to read the word f-boy again) and this is something that I generally find Becky does a great job with so I was a little disappointed in that regard. On the whole though, I did really enjoy this. I loved the premise and the way the story played out didn't feel contrived (bar the fact I mentioned the fact there was zero chemistry between Kate and Matt) and the friendships were all super sweet. I did theatre in school so I loved getting to revisit all the old school theatre memories even down to eating pizza during Saturday tech rehearsals. I would also DIE for Noah Kaplan and Ryan Garfield - truly the softest boys ever. This book was so cosy though and still has all of the classic Becky charm that makes me fall in love with all of her characters and it is definitely a high 3.5 bordering on a 4 but I think ultimately I just wanted to love it more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Children’s UK for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Contrary to popular belief, best friends Kate Garfield and Anderson Walker are not codependent. Carpooling to and from theater 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. Matt Olsson 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.

I very much enjoyed reading this story from Kate’s perspective. I feel like we don’t see many POVs from the straight friend with the openly, proud (as they should be) gay best friend. Kate was engaging, quirky and a girl after my own heart being a massive thespian. I liked the fact that she wasn’t cocky and had her doubts and anxieties - especially the stage fright pre-show where you expect EVERYTHING to crumble around you, for you to forget all your lines and to simply not want to go out on stage because you’ll make a fool of yourself. Kate’s dynamic with Andy was amazing. I love how they had their inside jokes and their friendship was so strong. But, I also really admired seeing the bumps in the road - the tiffs between these two best friends over feelings they’re unable to control. It makes me wish I had my own Andy!

The beautiful inclusion of the LGBTQ+ community was on point for me, with trans and gay characters the rainbow was out full force. I really appreciated Albertalli’s approach to one character’s coming out. It was a delicate mix of trepidation and joy, ultimately creating this wonderfully positive experience. The mentions of mental illness too - mainly in the form of anxiety - was brilliant also.

Overall, Kate in Waiting is a story that makes you feel oh so good, and oh so ready to take to the stage!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you again to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Children’s UK for an advanced copy of this book. Review will be live on my blog on release day.

This book was an absolute treat, and just what I needed. When Kate talks about The feeling of being sixteen on a Friday night in September that is exactly what this book felt like in the best possible way. It was so incredible to be back in Albertalli's simple yet nuanced writing, and it was so refreshing to see her moving away from the Creekwood crew. This book had it all; a cute romance, a realistic sibling relationship, and complicated friendships. I was rooting for the love interest the whole way through, and it was so incredible to see Kate move from self-deprecation and not being able to take a compliment to being confident in herself and in being loved. The book didn't read too young, it didn't have too many weird pop culture references, and the theatre aspect took me back to high school drama classes in the most amazing way. I absolutely think this is one of Albertalli's best (not counting Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda) and I for one cannot wait to see what she has in store next.

Kate and best friend Anderson d everything together even as far as having the same crushes, but that does not matter because they will never meet there crushes in real life.

But there latest long-distance crush start at their school what will happen?

The story is told from Kate perspective and thoughts, you real understand what she is going through. However it is cleverly written that you can see where Kate has misinterpreted the actions of other which leads to some heartbreaking scenes.

A good read that looks at the tiny of details of friendship and the effects they can have when problems arise.

Absolutely loved this book!
Already a fan of Becky's books this is my favourite so far. As a now grown theatre kid, I can hand on heart say it captured perfectly that world and community, the stage nerves, comradeship, compassion and competition of it all.
The friendships are beautiful and truthful, we either have our Andy or wish we did. It encompasses all the very real moments of friendship, the ups and downs but the honest moments that come from that kind of closeness.
What got me was the natural flow of the dialogue, and comic timing that had me cringing and crying with laughter from beginning to end.
For me this book made my heart sing with its covering LGBTQIA from Rainia to Andy, it was inclusive and painted a picture of how far we have come with acceptance and education since I was at school.
This book will stick with me forever and I can't wait for more from Becky.

Kate in Waiting was everything I hoped it would be! Quick read, sassy and lovable characters and a dose of the theatre all in one go. Becky Albertalli is renowned for her LGBT characters and she nails it once again. I enjoyed the love triangle that never was and the growth of all the characters, even smaller side ones!

Kate In Waiting is an extremely cute contemporary YA. As always with Albertalli's books, her teen characters feel very real and grounded. Noah - jock and douche-bro-adjacent-turned-drama-kid - was especially adorable and, while the plot doesn't hold many surprises, it was a super fun read. Although imagine my shock when I Googled and discovered that the show in the book - Once Upon A Mattress - is an ACTUAL show and not just a bizarre and extremely unfunny-sounding medieval fever dream of the author's. And there's me calling myself a musicals geek.

Kate in Waiting is a charming tale of friendship, love and learning how to be yourself in the best light you can.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for allowing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review

Plot summary:
Kate and her best friend Anderson do everything together- musicals, summer camps, crushes. Everything always feels better when you can do it together though, right?

When Matt, a dreamy kid from summer camp starts at their school and joins the school musical, suddenly not everything is as fun. As Kate and Anderson begin to fight over the boy they both like, and musical auditions giving Kate the opportunity to be in the spotlight with Matt will they both come out of the year with their friendship and hearts intact?

Review:
Plot wise- It was honestly pleasantly surprising how much this book packed in to such a short story. Kate and Anderson from start to finish had some fantastic plot points and developments that kept me genuinely gripped to this story. Also the mass of pop culture references in this story was such a delight- particularly Tangled as it is also my favourite Disney movie.

I managed to finish it in less than a day and it is honestly some genuine light reading that everyone can get on board with.

In addition, gold stars for the LGBT representation in this story it was good to see.

On the flip side I did feel like some of the chapters where really short and could have had a little bit more in them, but overall I really enjoyed the plot and story set up
.
Pacing wise– It was a generally fast paced story which I thoroughly enjoyed and it kept me engaged throughout.

Character wise- Kate was an absolute delight to read and see develop throughout this story. As someone who grew up in a similar environment (Theatre kid with a love of musicals and some traits of anxiety) it was truly wonderful to relate to her and everything she went through as the story progressed.
Anderson is also wonderfully developed and is the gay best friend I wish I had- but without the jealousy as sometimes I did find it a tad too much.

All the secondary characters had some development however it did vary depending on the prominence to the story. I still feel like I don’t know Matt very well despite being a love interest but know quite a lot more about Kate’s brother Ryan. Overall though each character did have some development which is always a positive for me.

World building- Honestly the premise and set up were done expertly and I really enjoyed every moment.

Final Thoughts:
A sparkling coming-of-age romance for anyone who wants romance, friendship and so many pop culture references I was left in awe.

This was a bit hit and miss for me. Whilst I enjoyed the background characters, Kate at times is insufferable and being in her head for the entire book detracts from the enjoyment of the overall plot.

Becky Albertalli just manages to amaze me everytime. She always brings something so refreshing and new to the book community. I adored this book. Kate was an amazing character, I loved the dynamics between her and Anderson. Also, I enjoyed the sibling bond presented between Kate and Ryan, it was really lovely to see. I love authors showing off platonic soulmate friendships!! It's so important to show nowadays that you can be in love with your friends in a completely platonic way and Becky did this fabulously. The theatre aspect brings the whole book together for me, it's a perfect background for what is happening in this book and being a big theatre nerd myself, it made me feel warm and fuzzy. I was rooting for the romance between Noah and Kate from the outset, I love that Noah proved himself to not be like the other boys and was there for Kate and made her feel special. This book was outstanding and Becky Albertalli deserves all the love for it.

The was seriously unexpected. I thought I had read my favourite BA book by far...but maybe this is it? This book has a giant piece of my heart and that comes from a place where I very rarely if ever read YA anymore.