“Meg broke off, her whole body getting unpleasantly hot as the utter stupidity of this whole bizarre episode caught up to her all at once: Arguing politics and TV and life philosophies with some lonely, random stranger. Caring so deeply about a relationship that didn’t even exist anywhere but in some invisible signal stretching over state lines.”
You Say It First is Katie Cotugno’s original and adorable boost in favour of young voters. This is not her first release this year though as Rules for Being a Girl, a novel she has co-written with Candace Bushnell, was published on April 7th. In any case, you will most definitely recognise Katie Cotugno’s name from some of her other bestsellers, such as How to Love, 99 Days, or Top Ten. She also contributed to Meet Cute, an anthology published in 2018, alongside some other remarkable authors such as Nina Lacour, Nicola Yoon, Julie Murphy, and Jennifer L. Armentrout.
This new novel is advertised as a heavy exploration of North American politics and the need for young people to become invested in voting. However, that is far from the real essence of the book. Even if it is true that the main character, Meg, is quite passionate about politics and everything they involve, there is not much in-depth commentary about the current political situation of the US. This might be disappointing to some, but it is quite the relief for international readers, who may not know much about the topic in question. All in all, it is certain that politics are dealt with in a much more approachable way: leaving specific details aside, but also highlighting the importance of taking part on the future of one’s country.
Politics are also the key device for our two main characters, Meg and Colby, to meet —not in person, but telephonically. Living in different states, thanks to alternating chapters told through their point of view, the reader is able to witness the blooming relationship between these two apparently polarising strangers. Meg is extremely passionate about her beliefs and defends her ideas with hope and fierceness, while Colby is more cynic, he has a passive position towards life and has little to no hope on changing things for the better. From there, their debates about politics and life in general help them understand each other —and themselves— better, trying to finding common ground for the sake of their friendship and blooming love story. It only takes them a few fights and headaches to get there.
Despite the fact that the way in which the couple meet could be considered a bit problematic, as Meg reaches out to Colby after calling him for her work at a non-profit organisation, their growing relationship is quite the trip of self-discovery and maturing. In spite of their constant debates and overall harmless fights, both characters learn from the other and begin to acknowledge the mistakes they make. Also, for a change, it is lovely to see how the male character is the one to constantly mush over his crush, and not the other way around. Colby is an absolute sweetheart in that sense and wears his heart on his sleeve —at least for the reader.
On a more serious note, reading between the lines of their harmless banter and witty comebacks, both Meg and Colby begin to understand the prejudices and buried bias their own judgements hide. People from bigger cities can, at times, feel morally above people from small towns or less urban areas, while their counterpart is constantly burdened by a sense of judgement from others, either because of economic or social statuses. This sentiment is what strikes most of their fights, specially on the part of Colby. The exploration of this great source of insecurity and self-doubt is one of the most interesting aspects of You Say It First, as it is a feeling that quite undoubtedly transcend international frontiers.
For fans of Holly Bourne’s The Spinster Club trilogy, Cotugno’s set of characters don’t shy away from speaking up and defending their ideals, showing the great personalities they have. While maintaining a lighthearted prose, Cotugno also explores a beautiful array of relevant topics—if a bit stereotypical at times—such as the importance of speaking up when someone makes a tasteless joke, the fear of making mistakes when choosing one’s future or the importance of not settling down for something you are not happy with. Most of these are relatable for the great majority of readers, but, at the same time, Cotugno also dives into some heavy, dark themes, relating to the collateral damage that depression, suicide and alcoholism can create on one’s loved ones. As a result, You Say It First becomes a griping far-reaching novel, especially for those young adults who are starting to feel the pressure of being a real fully-functioning adult.
All in all, You Say It First is a charming, lovely read. If you are looking for a quick, breezy novel that presents light and serious topics on equal amounts, with the cheeky banter of a quite special frenemies-to-lovers affair, this is the right choice for you. Meg and Colby will illustrate the importance of defending what you believe in, but trying not to be naïve —for your own sake— or hurtful —for the sake of others—, and that is probably what politics are all about in the long run, right?
You Say It First is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers as of June 16th 2020.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
Meg has her entire life set up perfectly: her boyfriend Mason is sweet and supportive, she and her best friend Emily plan to head to Cornell together in the fall, and she even finds time to clock shifts phonebanking at a voter registration call center in her Philadelphia suburb. But everything changes when one of those calls connects her to a stranger from small-town Ohio, who gets under her skin from the moment he picks up the phone.
Colby is stuck in a rut, reeling from a family tragedy and working a dead-end job—unsure what his future holds, or if he even cares. The last thing he has time for is some privileged rich girl preaching the sanctity of the political process. So he says the worst thing he can think of and hangs up.
But things don’t end there.…
That night on the phone winds up being the first in a series of candid, sometimes heated, always surprising conversations that lead to a long-distance friendship and then—slowly—to something more. Across state lines and phone lines, Meg and Colby form a once-in-a-lifetime connection. But in the end, are they just too different to make it work?
You Say It First is a propulsive, layered novel about how sometimes the person who has the least in common with us can be the one who changes us most.
