Only Mostly Devastated

Only Mostly Devastated follows Ollie, who moves across the country during his senior year to help care for his sick aunt. At his new North Carolina high school, he encounters Will - the boy he had a summer fling with who now acts like a different person entirely. Ollie navigates being the new student while dealing with family obligations, forming friendships with a group of theater-loving classmates, and participating in the school musical. Will's presence complicates matters as Ollie must reconcile the caring person he knew over summer with Will's current standoffish behavior and apparent closeted status. The story draws inspiration from Grease while exploring modern themes of identity, family dynamics, and the courage to be authentic. Through Ollie's perspective, the narrative examines the complexities of coming out, grief, and finding one's place in a new community.

Readers describe this as a sweet, contemporary YA romance that delivers representation while maintaining accessibility for a broad audience. Many note it succeeds as a modern Grease retelling without feeling forced. Likes: - Authentic portrayal of coming out and family dynamics - Strong supporting characters, especially Ollie's cousins - Balance of humor and emotional depth - Realistic high school social dynamics - Depiction of grief alongside romance Dislikes: - Some found Will's behavior frustrating and unsympathetic - Pacing drags in middle sections - Resolution feels rushed - Several readers wanted more development of side characters Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (38,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (1,300+ ratings) BookTok frequently recommends it as an LGBTQ+ romance for fans of contemporary YA. "The perfect balance of sweet and serious" - Goodreads reviewer "Handles complex topics without becoming overwhelming" - Amazon reviewer

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🌟 Author Sophie Gonzales wrote this book in just six weeks during National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) 📚 The story is a modern LGBTQ+ reimagining of the musical "Grease," with Oliver taking on the Sandy role and Will as Danny 💫 The book addresses several serious themes including grief, coming out, and body image while maintaining its romantic comedy elements 🎭 Sophie Gonzales drew from her own experiences as a bisexual woman and her background as a psychologist to create authentic character dynamics 🌈 The book was selected for the 2021 Rainbow Book List, which highlights quality LGBTQIA+ literature for children and teens