If You Still Recognise Me

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but what really stood out, was how beautifully Cynthia So included adult and elderly queer rep, something so rarely seen, especially in this much depth. It wasn’t for me because I’m past that intense phase of living for a fandom and dedicating that much time to it, but that’s just me.

There isn't much happening, so if you're looking for action-packed YA novel you may feel disappointed.On that note, I really enjoyed reading about Elsie’s experience with being queer and Chinese too—what that meant for her and what it meant for her family. Overall, a really great book that I think a lot of people are going to read and find themselves on the page, which is so, so needed. I related a lot to Elsie, our main character, and really loved watching her come into herself as the novel progressed. Still a little hurt from the years of silence, Elsie is wary of Joan, but as they reconnect, more feelings begin to arise, and maybe Joan isn’t the stranger Elsie assumed she’d be? What makes this stand out the most is the main character's relationships with her family members, particularly her mother, grandmother and uncle, that are explored with so much care.

It didn’t blow me away and to be honest I’ll probably forget details within another month or two, but it left me with good feelings and I think on it warmly. I loved Rikita, Elsie’s best friend, always here for her and yet not afraid to tell her when things aren’t alright.Its a very simple story, about love to other people as much as live to your family, about understanding emotions and unraveling yourself from the mist of past.

Elsie is dedicated to the fandom of her favourite comic, Eden Recoiling, and I have to admit, I was invested in the comic storyline by the end too! I also however really loved the friendships and the romance - which is estranged childhood friends to lovers! This book tackles eurocentric beauty standards, the fetishisation of Asian women, and wondering if you are ‘enough’ of something. A lyrical contemporary story about falling in love and finding yourself in the process, for fans of THE BLACK FLAMINGO, THE FALLING IN LOVE MONTAGE and Alice Oseman.

The writing was so thoughtful and so beautiful, and there's so much quiet depth in this book that makes it stand out in the YA contemporary genre.

I can tell that this book will help anyone struggling with their identity and let them know that they’re not alone.I felt the air leave the room, the tension palpable, and knew from early on just how much this author understands these moments. The characters are all over the age of 18, but there were numerous times where it felt like they were younger.