Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli

“I’m straight, so how are my bi vibes through the roof? Is it really just the aesthetic? Am I two lemon squares and a haircut away from making out with girls at a Clairo show?”

Achingly sweet and intensely relatable, this book is so vulnerable and imperfect and basically I have no notes. Buuut here are some things I loved about it anyways.

Imogen is curious, kind, self-aware to a fault and always adapting to make others more comfortable. She hasn’t granted herself the space to fathom that she could be anything other than the best, most vigilant ally to her queer loved ones.

Within her queer friend group, there is a great depiction of a friend who perpetuates biphobia in the name of ‘protecting’ (gatekeeping) queer spaces. The nuanced, ongoing conversations about heteronormativity and queer media are countered and challenged by this antagonistic friend, making them all the more insightful. Albertalli portrays these discussions in a realistic way, giving readers useful vocabulary and hopefully some confidence. The teen characters’ dialogue is very natural, with just enough slang and references to trends to make their ages completely believable.

Spoiler! Imogen is bisexual, and continuing to conform to an idea of herself that she had no hand in creating suddenly becomes suffocating. This conflict was so compelling; the urgency to shed an ill-fitting identity like a wool coat in the sweltering heat. Coupled with debilitating doubt and fear due to internalised biphobia you didn’t realise was your entire inner monologue?! Girl, relatable.

While the catalyst for Imogen’s revelation was falling for Tessa, we see her accepting her sexuality as an intrinsic part of her by re-contextualising her memories without the burden of heteronormativity.

Just a fucking fantastic queer coming-of age story that I loved with my whole queer heart.