Only Mostly Devastated by Sophie Gonzales
Release: March 3rd 2020
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Source: Netgalley
Synopsis:
SIMON VS. THE HOMO SAPIENS AGENDA meets CLUELESS in this boy-meets-boy spin on Grease
Summer love…gone so fast.
Will Tavares is the dream summer fling―he’s fun, affectionate, kind―but just when Ollie thinks he’s found his Happily Ever After, summer vacation ends and Will stops texting Ollie back. Now Ollie is one prince short of his fairy tale ending, and to complicate the fairy tale further, a family emergency sees Ollie uprooted and enrolled at a new school across the country. Which he minds a little less when he realizes it’s the same school Will goes to…except Ollie finds that the sweet, comfortably queer guy he knew from summer isn’t the same one attending Collinswood High. This Will is a class clown, closeted―and, to be honest, a bit of a jerk.
Ollie has no intention of pining after a guy who clearly isn’t ready for a relationship, especially since this new, bro-y jock version of Will seems to go from hot to cold every other week. But then Will starts “coincidentally” popping up in every area of Ollie’s life, from music class to the lunch table, and Ollie finds his resolve weakening.
The last time he gave Will his heart, Will handed it back to him trampled and battered. Ollie would have to be an idiot to trust him with it again.
Right? Right.
Only Mostly Devastated Review:
A big thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me an advanced reader’s copy of “Only Mostly Devastated“. I loved reading this book! Even though it is a typical high-school rom-com of the popular guy falling for the unpopular one, it is written in such a charming and sweet manner, that I could not put it down!
The main leads Will and Ollie light up the story! Ollie is wonderful as the funny, over-thinking, dorky, awkward guy and I loved him from the first page. I really hated Will in some scenes because of how he treats Ollie, but at the same time, you can understand what he is going through. After finishing the book, I still didn’t like Will as much as Ollie. But I loved chemistry between the two! All the supporting characters are amazing in their own way. I was surprised that Lara turned out to be one of my favorite characters, because I hated her in the beginning. Aunt Linda was wonderful as well and I felt her moments with Ollie so endearing.
I have not read any of Sophie Gonzales previous books, but I really loved her style of writing! She truly has a special gift for turning a simple story into an engaging read. Each of the characters is complex and is going through their own issues. Moreover, the author covers some key topics like coping with the loss of a loved one, and coming out. Another point I appreciated was how the book is not overly dramatic or negative. There is no violence or bullying as such, and most of the characters are understanding and sympathetic. While this might not be a realistic scenario, I loved how idyllic it sounded in the story.
Overall, I loved reading “Only Mostly Devastated” and cannot wait to read the author’s future novels! I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to read a queer, feel-good, rom-com novel.
