Perfect for fans of:
- Simon vs. the Homo-Sapiens Agenda
- Rivals-to-lovers
- You’ve Got Mail
Review:
When I first heard the pitch for this book, I was immediately intrigued. Two girls at odds with each other vying for the same scholarship and ending up falling in love? Yeah, I was so here for it. And while this was an entertaining read, it was also a heavy one in terms of topics discussed within it.
There’s a lot of sabotage and miscommunication in this story that definitely kept tensions high. I always enjoy stories that have a bit of a whodunit plotline because it keeps my interest even when some more mellow scenes dampen the flow of a book.
We also have two very different characters narrating the story. Iliana is clinging to the promise of getting the coveted Capstone scholarship because it’s her only way of going to college. Rhodes, on the other hand, is the one who keeps winning all the awards that Iliana would like to, and now finds herself artistically stuck. I thought the juxtaposition of someone who is doing their most to succeed with someone who has all the talent but has lost their inspiration was really well done. I felt sad for Rhodes who is pressured by her mother and everyone her mother pays to go for the scholarship when it feels ingenuine for Rhodes who doesn’t feel like she deserves it in her current state of feeling uninspired. I also enjoyed reading from Iliana’s perspective. The amount of pressure she experiences and the fear of not measuring up when this could be what makes or breaks her college dreams was very relatable.
The character dynamics were interesting, to say the least. While Sarah is friends with both Iliana and Rhodes, the three of them seem to always end up hurting each other, even when that’s not their intention. In general, the dynamic between these three girls is riddled with jealousy, past pain, and hurt feelings and that definitely created a strained atmosphere where I was just waiting for the other shoe to drop. With that also comes a lot of girl hate and shaming of how to treat your friend that I was not exactly here for. Though some of the characters learn, others are made out to be the scapegoat and that was a bit of an unsatisfying note to end the story with.
The big issue I had with this book was that it felt like I read two different stories. Around the 70 percent mark, the writing just completely changed. Beforehand, we had two girls at odds with each other, constantly at each other’s throats especially when it came to their artistic visions and then all of a sudden, the descriptions of what both Rhodes and Iliana were feeling sounded like they were taken straight out of a black-and-white movie from the early 1900s. Everything was so heavy and dense and ‘oh, woe is me’ and there wasn’t really a focus on the truth coming to light and rather more introspective visions of the future, of how these girls were meant to be together and had always loved each other – which, yeah, felt a bit confusing considering they never so much as talk about any real stuff in person and instead just bite each other’s heads off. Everything up to the big reveal of their online personas was also very, very melodramatic. I would have wished for more development of Rhodes’ and Iliana’s feelings from hatred to love and the ending was a bit rushed considering how long it took to establish the enemies part of the narrative. Yet, the dismantling of it happens within two chapters. There was also the issue of Rhodes and Iliana’s voices sounding incredibly similar and I had to reorient myself within the chapters sometimes to remember who was speaking.
Despite that, I really loved Rhodes’ individual development. From watching her fumble along artistic challenges that don’t feel like her anymore to accepting that it doesn’t give her joy anymore and that she will not be what her mother wants from her and instead branches out into what lets her enjoy her art again, was so refreshing to read about. Rhodes learns to adapt and find other ways to work with her passion and that was really comforting. I think there is a lot of pressure on talented people to stick with what they know instead of branching out and Rhodes’ character portrayed that really well. The fanfic excerpts we get from what Rhodes and Iliana post online were also a really nice addition to the story and showcased what they valued in their art.
All in all, this is a solid debut about two girls renegotiating their dreams and goals for the future, with a heavy sprinkle of romance and a dash of existentialist crises thrown into the mix.
I Kissed Alice is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of July 28th 2020.
Will you be picking up I Kissed Alice? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
For fans of Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda and Fangirl, I Kissed Alice is a romantic comedy about enemies, lovers, and everything in between.
Rhodes and Iliana couldn’t be more different, but that’s not why they hate each other.
Hyper-gifted artist Rhodes has always excelled at Alabama’s Conservatory of the Arts despite a secret bout of creator’s block, while transfer student Iliana tries to outshine everyone with her intense, competitive work ethic. Since only one of them can get the coveted Capstone scholarship, the competition between them is fierce.
They both escape the pressure on a fanfic site where they are unknowingly collaborating on a graphic novel. And despite being worst enemies in real life, their anonymous online identities I-Kissed-Alice and Curious-in-Cheshire are starting to like each other…a lot. When the truth comes out, will they destroy each other’s future?
