That was so insanely cute, I was completely not prepared!

Amelia is slightly obsessed with a YouTuber, Walter, so when she finds out he has a meet and great in a nearby town she convinces her friends to join her on a road trip. Besides, Amelia is convinced getting away will be good for Natalie who just broke up with her girlfriend. Amelia wouldn't want the ex to have a chance of getting back with Natalie. For completely platonic reasons... Right? She's just protecting her bestie! It's not a crush... Right?

The main character is a delight, the writing is fast paced and funny and I couldn't stop laughing 99% of the time. I loved the group of friends Amelia had around her, I love how unique they were even though we only get Amelia's perspective on who they are.

I wanted to never stop reading this book, it just filled me with such warm and fuzzy feelings. It felt like being wrapped in a soft blanket. You knew you were safe in the writer's hands on this adventure. I want more!

Although not my favourite Becky Albertalli, Amelia If Only was a sweet, funny YA road trip tale which will appeal to fans of contemporary romance novels. Definitely a YA that is aimed more squarely at an actual YA audience (in particular, the plot lines in relation to social media will be most relatable to those under 30) - but that's ok! YA should, after all, be for young adults.

I did not finish this audiobook. I think unfortunately that I'm just too old to be the targeted audience in my mid twenties so the story did not catch me even if I wanted it to.
I think a younger version of me would have enjoyed it though.

This was a very quick and sort of okay read. I am definitely not the target audience of this YA drama of failing in love with your best friend. Honestly so many parts of this I was not actually sure what was going on it just felt a bit all over the place. Plus lots of subtext to social media references to the YouTuber star Amelia is sort of obsessed with / crushing but not crushing on. Enjoyable comedic parts and the ending was cute. If you enjoy a YA read this is for you but would say if you are new to the author there are better reads of theirs out there that I would advise you check in with first! Thanks for NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for the opportunity to read this.

Long time admirer of Becky Albertalli’s books over here and she’s pretty much become an auto-read though her later work has had some hit and miss for me.

Pleased to say that Amelia If Only is in the hit column and it was lovely to have some links with faces in previous books - Particularly from Kate and Anderson which may well be my favourite outside of Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda.

Amelia is sassy, over the top, and annoying but in that way that you just roll your eyes and be like “you get used to it after a while” and you do get used to it, but I still wanted her to tone it down, just a notch. Especially with the Claire hate, that’s not ride or die best friend behaviour, it’s really bloody demeaning to both Claire (whether warranted or not) and to Natalie who obviously has some sort of feelings for her if she kept going back.

Now, for the rest of the crew and the storyline. Zora kind of felt like she was only there because they needed a driver to get to the event. Sorry, but compared with the other characters, she just wasn’t that drawn out. Even Walter, the person - not the YouTuber - had more substance than her.

The storyline was fun - it was road trip + forced proximity + kind of nostalgic all rolled into one and the writing - so easy breezy to get through. That’s one thing that I love about Becky’s books, I can tune into her story, tune out the world and relax into a simple read that requires only the slightest amount of effort.

Except for the interviews and transcripts of media content between the chapters. Had to skim most of those and while I understand the point of highlighting toxic fandoms, they were too long, and pulled the reader away from the story.

I really liked this book, however, I think Mark’s story would be even better! I want to read about his journey to self-discovery and meeting Walter. Having to pretend he doesn’t like him and then stars in his eyes. To pretend he not bi and getting mis-labelled as straight all the freaking time. I want to see how he internalises all that.
Maybe it’s just me and I like M/M romances more than F/F ones. Maybe that’s why Simon remains my fave, doesn’t explain Kate in Waiting though - but that’s just a really frigging cute book.

With thanks to Becky Albertalli, Harper Collins Uk, Children’s and NetGalley for an arc of this book.

Je suis toujours heureuse de retrouver Becky Albertalli, c'est une de ces autrices où je vais me jeter sur chacune de ses nouveautés avec plaisir. Chaque lecture est un plaisir et explore des sujets sur l'adolescence et sincèrement je trouve les sujets à chaque fois intéressant et les personnages innovants.
Ici on va parler de relation para sociale, et d'avoir un crush sur une personnalité qui pourrait en même temps être notre ami, tout en explorant toujours les thématiques d'être queer. Amelia est un tout petit peu moins identifiable pour moi que l'était Imogen, mais c'est un avis très personnel. J'ai adoré le road trip, c'est quelque chose que j'aime beaucoup surtout avec les beaux jours, c'est une lecture très estivale à mes yeux.

Un grand regret malgré tout, c'est que ces livres ne soient plus traduis en français. C'est le genre de roman qu'on pourrait avoir facilement sur nos tables et conseillés aux plus grand mondes avec des romances douces et des thématiques sur la fin du lycée, mais malheureusement on ne retrouve plus ces traductions...

This book is CLASSIC Becky Albertalli. Comfort and cute all wrapped up in a happy little bundle. Becky’s books bring me so much comfort, and a certain amount of joy. This book continues to prove why she’s an autobuy author for me.

im always interesting in the theme of this type. i think im too old and cynical for it. but sometimes the story manages to pull even me in. i do worry. and i wont go on, but i do worry about these relationships. ive seen the darker side of the para relationships and i do think there is something more to be talked about there. but i dont want to ruin a wonderful authors time in the light. and she deserves that because this book is a light.
Becky is like the friend you admire so much and that drags you into fun, into being a bit more free, into smiling and not giving a hoot why.
this book was sweet. it was cute. and it was digging even at my cold old heart. it held all the nostalgia of that time within the pages until you cant help but feel it all over again.
Becky has a way of entering anyone into her world of books. you just WANT to read them.
this book brings us Amelia who is a fan of a YouTuber Walter. shes in love with him is what she thinks. so when a meet and greet comes up she runs with it and takes her friends along for the ride.
Amelia gives so much of those younger years when there are fans of boy bands for example. that feeling.that giddiness. and Becky writes both her characters and the places they go with such vibrancy and vivid colours.
this book managed for me to not cross the line like ive seen before or that is worrisome of today's times. it was fun, light and just a gorgeous read that you can smile along with.
it was a well needed relief kind of book from all the current stuff around that seems so traumatic.
a younger audience would defintely love this.

This was a really sweet and cute read. I feel like I would've enjoyed it a lot more if I was younger and not 28 years old but the nostalgia of being a fangirl was definitely there!

I’m a huge Becky Albertalli fan and when I saw that it plays in the same universe as Imogen, obviously (one of my all time favourite books) I just knew I had to read this one as well.

For me it’s always easy to get into Becky’s books. There’s just something about her writing that always catches me.

The book is about Amelia, who’s a huge fan of the YouTuber Walter Holland. You could also say that she’s kinda in love with him. She’s more than just excited when he’s doing a meet and greet. along with her friends she’s going on a road trip to meet her celebrity crush.

Overall I liked the book. It was fun and nice to follow. This book didn’t really focus on the road trip itself but more on Amelia possible meeting Walter. There were moments where I didn’t really like Amelia. She was sometimes a bit annoying and over the top. I wasn’t really sure if she for real is a normal fan or if she’s a bit too parasocial when it comes to Walter.

This book is perfect for Becky Albertalli fans. It’s fun and cute and obviously very nerdy.

Thank you to NetGalley for this Earc!

I was super excited to read this, Becky Albertalli is one of my favourite authors and Imogen Obviously is incredible! I'm always up for a book from Becky and this was no different.

I had such a great time reading this, the road trip was so fun and the callbacks to Imogen Obviously had me screaming! I absolutely loved the settings throughout this book, the amusement park, the camp, the college, they were all so vivid and gorgeous. I spent a bit of time in PA and these felt so familiar to me 💌

I did find Amelia as a character aggressively perky... As a very introverted person I find it difficult to relate to someone so extroverted and loud which was a shame! I loved the side characters though, the twins especially were fantastic and Mark!!!!! Mark!!!! He was the best 🥹

I find books dealing with celebrity on the whole to be super uncomfortable and weird but I think this struck the fine balance of being a little bit cringe (as they should!) but also dealing with it in quite a mature way.

I will forever read Becky's work, long may the queer joy continue 🌈

4 stars

Thank you so much to Harper Collins and Netgalley for this e-ARC xxx

Becky Albertalli delivers another irresistibly warm and relatable story in Amelia, If Only—a joyful blend of road trip chaos, parasocial crushes, and self-discovery wrapped in Albertalli’s signature voice.

Amelia, If Only is a pitch-perfect coming-of-age story. It’s about the people we idolize, the ones we overlook, and the messy, beautiful journey of finding ourselves somewhere in between.

It’s been a while since I’ve read any of Becky Albertalli’s books, and I greatly enjoyed returning to her work! In Amelia, If Only she clearly has things to say, and she says them loud and clear!

The main focus of this book is on Amelia’s obsession with YouTuber Walter Holland. She has been obsessed with his videos for years, and has finally got the chance to meet him. While her friends tease her for her obsession, we also get to know the wider fandom and their obsession with Walter’s love life. Through Amelia’s eyes, we get to see the real-world effect of the theories, accusations of queer-baiting, and invasive speculation.

Given Albertalli’s own experience with being hounded about her sexuality, it’s hard not to see the parallels in Walter’s story. I also spotted similarities, whether intentional or otherwise, with people such as Dan and Phil, who have since been very open about the effect this kind of thing had on them. The biggest thing I took away from this book was a cautionary tale about para-social relationships, and how damaging they can be when they go too far.

The friendships and romance that carry this plot through were also really enjoyable, and while I wasn’t particularly overwhelmed with excitement for the main couple of get together, it was still a lovely storyline that brought everything together really nicely.

Reading this book has inspired me to go back and read some of Albertalli’s books that I’ve missed since I last read her. It was really fun to return to her world. I think she said everything she needed to say with this book, and oh boy, does the message hit home!

I received a free copy for an honest review.

Amelia, If Only" is like that friend who drags you off on a delightfully chaotic road trip—full of laughs, a bit of nostalgia, and that bittersweet feeling of growing up. This book dives into the world of fan culture and looks at how parasocial relationships play a role in young lives.

I found myself reminiscing at the relatable teenage moments and feelings that this book conjures.
It illuminates the beauty of found family and bi representation (which I'm a sucker for), making it feel both fresh and familiar.

The road trip element is such a great backdrop, to these characters as they navigate their feelings, friendships, and a (forced) coming out moment that tugged at my heartstrings. It's sweet and poignant, capturing those fleeting, perfectly imperfect moments of youth.

Overall, "Amelia, If Only" is an easy summer read. If you're in the mood for a charming, nostalgic read full of teenage shenanigans, this might just be the book for you. Grab a few snacks, settle in, and enjoy the trip!

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Uk for this ARC!

A cute, easy read! I have to admit I wasn’t completely convinced at the beginning, but the book got better towards the middle. I am not a fan of all the interviews and articles about Walter in-between chapters and I was tempted to just skip them (although I did a bit of skimming), nevertheless it was an enjoyable story.

I don’t read many YA books, so I was a bit scared before diving in, but I think Albertalli portrayed perfectly the dramatics of being a teenager.

I would definitely read more by this author!

4.5

Blessed again with another queer coming of age story by our queen Becky Albertalli!!
“Small town” queerness, change friendships and found family, and of course the dousing in humor we find in all Becky Albertalli books!

Amelia is slightly obsessed with a chaotic bisexual YouTuber but besides being distracted and freaked out every time he did anything on social media, I felt like she was definitely cool about it.

Amelia is chaotic, very bi, supportive of her best friends and definitely not at all afraid of change. I did have to get used to Amelia at first if I’m going to be very honest, but that resolved quickly. Anxiety is afraid of her, she’s determined and just fun to read about. She’s loud, crazy and all over the place in all the best ways.

I absolutely loved the surprise mentions of the characters from my favorite Albertalli book “Imogen, obviously” and this book definitely replicated the same inner turmoil about queerness in the most perfect way. How can you be so so sure about yourself, how can you have all the evidence, all the signs, all the sparkles…and still doubt yourself? Both characters in this book put it into words and felt seen by each other. It just felt very real to me.


Overal it was a fun time again, definitely didn’t best Imogen from her spot as favorite Becky Albertalli book but also somewhere high up there ❤️

I enjoyed this one but it took me a while to get into. I found Amelia a bit irritating and immature, but I quite liked the plot and so I stuck with it and did end up liking the read by the end. Not my favourite read but glad I gave it a read! A lovely queer read that I think a lot of teens would enjoy.

3.5⭐️

This was a cute book about a road trip.

The story explores fan culture and how parasocial relationships play a role in a (young) person's life. Amelia has a huge crush on Walter, a popular vlogger, and convinces her friends to join her.
Amelia is funny, and her inner dialogue is that of a typical teen. She obviously cares a lot about her friends, but at times, it's a bit pushy when it comes to Walter. But her friends entertain it and tease her about it, so it's all good. It's a queer story, not just because of a romance storyline. Amelia wonders about her bisexuality and how it's possible that her friends have always been so sure about their romantic preferences. But it's all good vibes and never angsty. I looked at the notes I'd written down while reading, and one of them was:"Reads how an easy summer vacation feels."

The one thing I could've gone without were the segments of YT and Reddit threads and podcast transcription. I personally like it derailed the flow of the story. Although I do understand that for people who aren't familiar with fan culture, these segments do paint a broader picture of how these parasocial relationships are formed and can be harmless fun, and sometimes can turn toxic.

I loved the premise and the cover, unfortunately that was all.
I do think that 14 year old me would have loved this book but 22 year old me that’s read it unfortunately didn’t.
I found the writing to feel very young (again fine for the audience it’s intended for) and a few sentences describing things made me cringe a bit.
I found it unfortunate that I didn’t like this as I have read and loved other books from this author

2,75⭐️

Amelia, If Only by Becky Albertalli is a quick YA sapphic novel.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t particularly taken with this book.
It wasn’t necessarily bad, but it wasn’t especially memorable either.

The romance wasn’t the focus of the story as I thought it would be, and in general, I didn’t feel much chemistry between the characters.

Personally, I found the parts focusing on Walter and his YouTube journey to be the most interesting.


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.