Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli

Leah on the Offbeat (Simonverse, #3)

by Becky Albertalli

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.

Reviewed by Angie on

3 of 5 stars

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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.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 6 June, 2020: Finished reading
  • 6 June, 2020: Reviewed