Stevie‘s review of What Happens When by Samantha Boyette
Contemporary Young Adult LGBT Fiction published by Bold Strokes Books 12 Mar 19
One thing I like about Young Adult romance is its unpredictability compared to more grown-up subgenres. Sometimes I can get almost to the end before knowing how things will work out for our main protagonist, and that was very much the case here. One week before she’s due to go back to school after the summer, Molly Kennan accidentally outs herself as a lesbian by getting drunk at a party and making out with the host’s cousin. Although Molly’s parents and younger brother are supportive of her, Molly’s best friend – the daughter of a preacher – no longer wants anything to do with her and does her utmost to turn everyone else against Molly too. Just to confuse things further, Lily – the girl Molly made out with – has transferred to their school, having had a rough time since coming out of her own accord at her previous place.
Feeling cut off from everyone, Molly skips her usual after-school activities and applies for a job at the local diner. There, she meets Zia, a more experienced waitress and a few years older than Molly, and is instantly smitten. Zia seems keen to hang out with Molly, and soon the pair are sharing secrets – and more – although Zia is keen to keep what she does and talks about with Molly separate from what goes on between her and her boyfriend, who seems strangely unaware of Zia’s past as told to Molly.
Back at school, Molly is being bullied by her former friends, and Lily has set up a Queer Alliance group. Suddenly Molly has a whole bunch of new friends right across the LGBT+ spectrum, not to mention allies that include her brother and his friends, as well as a very supportive teacher. The group decide to raise awareness and money for a charity supporting queer teens by holding a same-sex danceathon, much to the annoyance of their detractors. Soon, though, lots of kids are signing up to take part, especially after a fight breaks out between the Queer Alliance kids and the bullies. The event looks like being a success, if only they can avoid it being stopped by a small group of hostile parents, led by the father of Molly’s former best friend.
Molly, through it all, is still torn between her feelings for Zia and those she’s developing for Lily. I really couldn’t see how things were going to end, although the finale to the story was just perfect. I loved this book even more than the previous one I read from the same author and can’t wait to find out what she has in store for us readers next.
Grade: A
Summary:
For Molly Kennan, senior year is already an epic disaster. It feels like the whole school knows she made out with Lily at that party, and now she’s accidentally outed herself as a lesbian. Her ex-best friend is trying to ruin her life, and school generally sucks. All she wants is to drown her sorrows in sweet potato fries, but she finds herself tongue-tied by the diner’s new waitress, Zia.
Zia is way out of Molly’s league. Older, beautiful, and definitely way more sophisticated. It’s probably just wishful thinking, but Molly can’t help wondering if maybe Zia is flirting with her. Despite Zia’s always-there boyfriend, Molly falls hard for her, and Zia says she feels the same way. So then why doesn’t Zia break up with her boyfriend, and why does she keep so many secrets?
Then there’s Lily, who she can’t seem to stop accidentally kissing. When your head and your heart are saying two different things, which one should you listen to?
Read an excerpt.
