Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel by Sara Farizan

Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel

by Sara Farizan

"Both personal and universal, this is a compelling story about high school, family and owning up to who you really are. Farizan is just the voice YA needs right now. Trust me, you'll be glad you listened." --Sarah Dessen

Leila has made it most of the way through Armstead Academy without having a crush on anyone, which is something of a relief. As an Iranian American, she's different enough; if word got out that she liked girls, life would be twice as hard. But when beautiful new girl Saskia shows up, Leila starts to take risks she never thought she would, especially when it looks as if the attraction between them is mutual.

Struggling to sort out her growing feelings and Saskia's confusing signals, Leila confides in her old friend, Lisa, and grows closer to her fellow drama tech-crew members, especially Tomas, whose comments about his own sexuality are frank, funny, wise, and sometimes painful. Gradually, Leila begins to see that almost all her classmates are more complicated than they first appear to be, and many are keeping fascinating secrets of their own.

Reviewed by Angie on

4 of 5 stars

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I think that anyone who has ever had a crush, no matter what you're sexual orientation, and has felt like they don't fit in for whatever reason will be able to relate to Leila. Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel is all about Leila figuring herself out. She knows she's gay, but isn't out yet. She already feels like she sticks out at her mostly white high school, and her parents are traditional Persians who want her to be a doctor even though Leila is failing science, so there's no way she can add being a lesbian on top of that. Then Saskia transfers to her school and it becomes harder to keep her feelings in check.

Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel was really great! Leila is such a down-to-earth narrator and it's so easy to get caught up in her life. I also had to nod and think "Yep, I remember feeling like that" a lot. The author totally captured crushing perfectly. I'm sure we've all had a crush on someone who we thought was just the greatest, and then maybe we were making progress with them, but it was all in our head. Or maybe it wasn't all in our head, and they were just a jerk. It's clear from the beginning that Saskia is not a good match for Leila, but hormones! Saskia really is the worst though.

While a lot of the story is Leila freaking out about coming out or staying in, and being judged and figuring out what she wants to do with her life, Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel is also pretty darn funny. I really did laugh out loud in places, because it's funny 'cause it's true! Especially if you know Persian people. I love the parts about the food and how they want to feed everybody. It made me hungry. My BFF needs to bring me some food ASAP! Also, Leila's friend Lisa just has this dry humor that I totally get it! I loved her!

Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel just gave me feelings. It's not all gloom and doom like If You Could Be Mine. The tone of this one is much lighter and overall a feel good read despite Saskia being a nutjob and worrying about if Leila's parents are going to accept her or not. There's also friendship and theater! And caring, involved adult figures! And family! And food!

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 3 April, 2015: Finished reading
  • 3 April, 2015: Reviewed