Just Juliet is one of those novels that just left me with mixed feelings. It is a story that has promise and a cast of diverse and what could be interesting characters. There were moments when I felt like the story was rich and engaging, and other moments that felt flat to me. I think some of that feeling was due to the fact that there really wasn’t a lot of conflict involved. There were moments, yes, but most of the true conflict occurred for supporting characters before this story even began.

That being said, as characters, I liked Scott, Lena, and Juliet. They were believable characters. Lakyn was not the most likable character, but definitely the most legitimately tragic and probably one of the most believable in the book. Lacey was a little over-the-top with her lack of compassion and self-proclaimed bitchiness. Matt, Georgia, and most of the other supporting characters just seemed to fade into the background.

Overall: All in all, not my favorite read. I think it had promise, but it just didn’t work for me. ( )

This is a love story between young adults on the brink of graduating from high school. There is a mixture of underage drinking, sexual encounters, and self-multination, which may be uncomfortable for some readers. There is a curious disconnect between the parents interacting with their children and knowing what their children are doing. Overall, a good storyline sometimes gets lost as scenes jump from character to character. ( )

Lena struggles when she realizes she is attracted to the new girl in school. She dives into a journey of self discovery which leads her to realize sexuality isn't so black and white. While most coming out books only focus on being either straight or gay, this book looks at what its like to be bisexual. What does that mean? Is it just a stopping point before you realize you really are gay? I loved that this book didn't feel the need to make Lena one or the other but really delve into her feelings to discover who she was.

The struggle Lena has coming out to her parents and the story behind Juliet's cousin Laykin are well done and honest. Even the way her friends react when they find out is very real. The characters in this book are likable and the story fun and relatable. ( )