Leah on the Offbeat (Simonverse, #3)

by Becky Albertalli

Shannon Purser (Narrator)

Leah Burke girl-band drummer, master of deadpan, and Simon Spier s best friend takes center stage in this novel of first love and senior-year angst.

• ISBN10: 0062643800
• ISBN13: 9780062643803
• Publish Date: 24 April 2018
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Imprint: Collins
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 368
• Language: English

Reviews

[Steph L]

I really loved the plot of this novel overall, sure, it was kind of given away by the back cover, but I loved seeing the way that it developed. I loved seeing the little nuances that Becky Albertalli does so well in her writing. The plot had a bit of Simon in it because the characters were the same way that they were in the original novel, but this was great because we saw them in a new and exciting way.

Another thing that I really loved about this book was the characters. They were back and better than ever, and I was so here for it. I thought that they might be different than they were in the first book, as people grow and change as stories and series go on, and while these characters did grow and change, they also were the same way they were in the first book, and I loved that.

The last thing that I loved about this book was the details that were put into the novel. This is something that I think that Becky Albertalli does very well. For me, a good book is knowing that the characters are doing these actions, or that they will do these actions. A great book is getting down to the reason why the characters are doing, or are going to do the things that they will do. Getting into their mind, and do they know what could happen if it goes the wrong way is important, and I think that this book is filled with the why the characters do the actions they do.

[Angie]

YES!
+Leah is fat and bisexual! She's in a band, and yes she's one of those pretentious music people who will shame you for liking popular music and then reference bands no one has heard of and then shame you for not knowing who they are. She's honest about it though.
+End of high school woes. Preparing for college. Touring campuses. Quitting the band. Coming out. Prom! Does anything even matter since everyone is going their separate ways anyway?!
+Leah trying on prom dresses hit me deep. I remember feeling those exact feelings. It wasn't prom, but my birthday. It's hard. Really hard.
+Road trip! Leah and Abby hop in the car at the start of Spring Break to see what UGA is really like before they head there in the fall. I wish this part had been longer. But I guess after that...mishap, perhaps it was for the best that they got away from each other for a bit.

NO!
-Don't hate on Daughtry! He should have won! The first week that I didn't vote, he was eliminated! It's all my fault! Clearly, I have some unresolved feelings...
-Leah stands up against racist Morgan for a comment she makes about Abby, which is awesome. She doesn't back down until she apologizes. But Leah hardcore shames Abby for the label she chose when she was coming out. Abby is kind of freaking out about realizing that she likes girls, and all Leah can do is rant about how "lowkey bi" is not a thing. I agree that maybe it's not, but Abby is still figuring this all out! She isn't sure! She doesn't even need to label herself if she doesn't want to! And it's never addressed! Leah doesn't apologize for it. It just ends with Abby announcing that she's "really bi." Which, okay. Yes bisexual is a good label, and probably a fitting one for her. But it felt like she was just guilted into it by Leah! Abby needs to choose (or not) a label for herself!
-Abby has an infinitely more interesting story than Leah. I wish this had been dual POV.

[kiracanread]

Leah on the Offbeat is every plus size girls dream, to be seen, to be accepted, to get out of their own heads. I feel as though this is a much better read for someone who related to the main character, Leah, than those who don't. I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait to revisit Creekwood in the new novella coming soon.

[alindstadtcorbeax]

Star Rating: —> 4.5 Rounded ^

Maybe I’m being too generous because I LOVE THESE CHARACTERS SO, SO, DAMN MUCH. But right now all I am is a girl, who just read a full on BI REP book (HOLY HELL SUSO & BURKE. MY BI HEART SWELLS WITH HAPPINESS), balled up in bed, in perpetual happiness, with a huge smile on my face, listening to music i’m sure Leah would approve of...

AND I AM
SO
HAPPY!

Something that shied me away from this for a bit was a lot of other people’s reviews were things that were said about Leah. I can understand, now, that fitting into her complex AF shoes is probably REALLY hard. There are a million reasons that this may have been irritating if you just couldn’t Vibe with Leah, and i’m sorry if that did happen to you.

I, however, apologize to MYSELF that I let reviews stand in the way of my better judgement on this one... I should’ve read it a LONG time ago! Thank Goodness I decided to read it now. :-)
Leah didn’t annoy me one bit. Maybe thats because I majored in psychology & psychoanalyze everyone all the time (

[lisacee]

It was difficult to like Leah, but she seemed very realistic. She reminded me of a girl I knew in high school. Leah ended up being very sweet(-ish), but I was rooting for her.

I listened to this book, and the narrator was really monotone and did all of the characters in the same voice. I had a hard time determining which character was which and it was a more difficult listen than I am used to.

[Stephanie]

Pretty predictable, but a wonderful read nonetheless. Best part was the American Grill Bistro, lbr.

[layawaydragon]

I don't get all the hate and dislike for this book, TBH. I wasn't happy with Leah's portrayal in Simon Vs. because it was clear to me there was more going on and Simon was too wrapped up to see it. I was excited to finally get to see from her perspective. I wasn't disappointed.

The only reason Leah and Abby seem so straight in Simon Vs. is because of Simon and heteronormativity. I mean, all those times she was supposedly jealous over Nick? Wrong person. Why does she overthink things with Abby? Because she's insecure and second guessing herself because Abby is too. It's a sapphic classic. It's so obvious and common. Like does no one else read w/w? I'm a baby in my nonstraightness but even *I* know that.

I get Leah and Garrett. I get Leah and her mom and the BF situation. I get the insecurity and protecting yourself and anxiety and fatphobia and falling for the wrong person. Does it suck? Yes. And it's not neat and clean like Simon Vs. Simon Vs. was great, don't get me wrong, but it was...clean cut like the suburbs. Leah is a mess trying to straighten herself out on the weird inbetweenness with her class, friends, fatness, family, and sexuality.

Just like those low raters don't get the raves, I don't get their rants. But it's w/e. I'm just saying to give it a shot don't write it off right away. And I'm personally insulted that people are basically saying Becky sold out and is pandering as if this is NOTHING like Upside of Unrequited but w/w. *eyeroll*


Notes While Reading:
>>"Did I just compare 'Don't Stop Believing' to meth? Yes, yes I did."
>>She describes herself as "fat Slytherin Rory Gilmore"
>>Mom is 35, Leah 18. That'll be me & my daughter.
>>School play is Joseph and the technicolor dream coat
>>Takes place a year after Simon Vs.
>>Nora is Simon's little sister
>> "My brain in an asshole" I know that sister! lol
>>Fuck Taylor. Or not...?
>>Waffle House reference & patronage hasn't aged well....
>>Nick & Simon going to Boston and New York for Spring Break
>>I feel you about being broke around people like this
>>Her & Abby going to GA
>>Damn, they don't even notice she's broke. That sucks. Also, relatable AF.
>>Yeah, no sitcom family here, thank gods.
>>Sexy mom is awkward. (and unlike the age, not going to be the same for us)
>>Leah is bi but not out to people except Mom.
>>Different last names!!!! YESSSS!! I can't remember actually reading this on the page before and I didn't realize how much it'd mean to me. YAY!
>>[Responding to Simon saying FML] "I can't fuck your life. I'm monogamously fucking my own life." LOL
>>Nora & HIM?!? NICE! Adorable. Awkward. Dooooomed.
>>Cute awkwardness w/ Garrett.
>>Anna's part Chinese, Morgan is part Jewish. Both part of the band.
>>Rebecca Lobe? I hope I heard that right. I'm going to look it up later.
>>Brunch w/ the boyfriends sounds painful
>>"I roll my eyes so hard my eyebrows hurt"
>>Oh NO nononononono, she's pulling the affirmative action bullshit. FYI: affirmative action actually helps white women most.
>>Yay Leah!!!
>>Wow Taylor, WTF?
>>Promposal. Of course.
>>Awwww Leah
>>Ewww every teen movie should not end in prom, Leah's mom.
>>"Can ambiguous social situations go fuck themselves?" LOL YES I feel that!
>>"There's nothing more toxic than a suburban HS in March." The hyperbolic funny way of speaking is usually fine, but esh, this is one time I wish she calmed it down. FLINT STILL DOESN'T HAVE CLEAN WATER.
>>Yep on the bi rant about w/w "action"
>>Yep, know that wanting feeling.
>>Ugh, yeah. Fuck dressing rooms & skinny MFers & fat shamers.
>>Oh no!!! The dress....
>>Poor Leah. Crushed.
>>"Embrace the suck, let your guts hang out" lol
>>"I want things to not suck & I don't think that's too much to ask"
>>Totally saw that coming. Not an actual emergency you privileged fuckers.
>>I'm w/ Abby on the long distance.
>>Dun dun dunnnnn.
>>Awww the wedding from Upside of Unrequited!
>>Awwww the drawing!
>>Ouch, their parting tho...
>>"Abby's eyelashes should have their own zip code."
>>"She's so wholesome it kinda pisses me off" Did you know that the term cute aggression describes the almost-overwhelming urge to do violence to an object that we find incredibly adorable? Sounds like Leah's got it bad, lol
>>Ugh, huggers.
>>OMFG!!!! Oh. MY. FuCKINg GODS!!!!
>>Fuck . Yeah, Abby that's fucked up.
>>Yeah, Cassie has a point.
>>Hahaha both stubborn AF.
>>OUCH.
>>All the college drama.
>>"Abby [Last Name I can't spell] makes me feel all kinds of things, nice isn't one of them."
>>Haha Simon. Awww Nora.
>>damn
>>Wow damn Leah that hurts.
>>HAHAHA love her Mom.
>>"Here's the thing though no one warns the babies." AWWWWWW
>>OMFG!!!!! LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
>>Awwwwwwww poor kiddies.
>>YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
>>AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
>>Really loved the narrator all the way through.

[girlinthepages]

This review was originally posted on Girl in the Pages

[Amber (The Literary Phoenix)]

Okay, so, I'm going to jump right in and say this book wasn't 3 3 3 3 for me. I'm seeing that in a lot of reviews. It was a good book and I enjoyed it, but Leah on the Offbeat definitely didn't give me those giddy, fluffy feelings I got from [b:Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda|19547856|Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (Creekwood, #1)|Becky Albertalli|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1402915678s/19547856.jpg|27679579].

And that's okay. It's GOOD actually, because it showcases Becky Albertalli's skill as a writer. But there's a whole lot of negativity and low self-esteem rolling around in this one which, at times, can make it uncomfortable to read. Leah is an unhappy narrator through-and-through, constantly second guessing her ever thought, her relationships with others, and where she stands in the world. She projects her insecurities at others, which at times made me cringe. She's real though, and in that, this was fantastic. I just... don't think it's right for people to go in expecting cute emails and Oreo obsessions or anything sparkly like that. Seeing Creekwood through Leah's eyes is a whole different story.

So Leah's character wasn't actually my issue (I liked her, despite her flaws). It was the ending. The entire book has this whole mood about it and the way the ending wrapped up was way too easy and way too much of a happily ever after for me. I'm not trying to begrudge the characters happiness and I'm sure this will become somebody's OTP, but there were way too many smiles going around considering the breadth of the situation? It felt rushed and tied together too perfectly with a bow. Am I the only one who felt this way?

Okay, so I know this has been an overall negative-sounding review, but that's sort of how I felt while reading? Maybe Leah rubbed off on me. It is a good book and well worth the read and deserved all four of the stars I gave it. The ending (for me) made it lose that last star, but I'm sure there are thousands of people out there who will disagree with me.

[liz089]

Awesome book !! It was so much fun to be reading about these characters again :)
Though Leah is a bit dark, I really enjoyed her narrative and she is a very likeble character.
Not the most exciting plot, but I read through it very fast :)