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You Should See Me in a Crown Paperback – 2 July 2020
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The very first book pick for Reese Witherspoon’s YA Book Club!
‘[A] super funny, joyful story that’ll have you reliving your high school prom days!’ – Reese’s YA Book Club.
Liz has always believed she's too black, too poor, too awkward to shine in her small, rich, prom-obsessed town. But Liz has an escape plan to attend an uber-elite college, play in their world-famous orchestra, and become a doctor.
But when the financial aid she was counting on unexpectedly falls through, Liz's plans come crashing down . . . until she's reminded of her school's scholarship for prom king and queen.
There's nothing Liz wants to do less than endure a gauntlet of social media trolls, catty competitors, and humiliating public events, but despite her devastating fear of the spotlight she's willing to do whatever it takes to get to college.
The only thing that makes it halfway bearable is the new girl in school, Mack. She's smart, funny, and just as much of an outsider as Liz.
But Mack is also in the running for queen. Will falling for the competition keep Liz from her dreams . . . or make them come true?
- Becky Albertalli meets Jenny Han in a smart, hilarious, black girl magic, own voices rom-com by fantastic debut talent, Leah Johnson.
- Reading age12 - 18 years
- Print length336 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Dimensions19.6 x 2.4 x 12.8 cm
- PublisherScholastic
- Publication date2 July 2020
- ISBN-100702304328
- ISBN-13978-0702304323
Frequently bought together
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Product description
From the Back Cover
Product details
- Publisher : Scholastic; 1st edition (2 July 2020)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 336 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0702304328
- ISBN-13 : 978-0702304323
- Reading age : 12 - 18 years
- Dimensions : 19.6 x 2.4 x 12.8 cm
- Best Sellers Rank: 393,908 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- Customer reviews:
About the author
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Leah Johnson is an author of award-winning books for children and young adults.
Her bestselling debut YA novel, You Should See Me in a Crown, was a Stonewall Honor Book, and the inaugural Reese's Book Club YA pick.
In 2021, TIME named You Should See Me in a Crown one of the 100 Best Young Adult Books of All Time.
Leah's essays and cultural criticism can be found in Teen Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and Cosmopolitan among others.
Customer reviews
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To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyses reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers enjoyed the cute, sweet, and modern twist on the high school romance. They found the characters likable and developed throughout the story.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers enjoy the romantic story. They find it sweet, fun, and easy to read. The book offers a modern, inclusive spin on high school romance.
"...This book had such a cute f/f romance with Liz and Mack, but I was also full on loving the friendship / support vibes...." Read more
"...A sweet, fun, well-paced story - definitely recommend." Read more
"I enjoyed it because it was a modern inclusive spin on the high school romance. Girl meets Girl and all the high school drama that entails...." Read more
"...was needed when I was growing up, and I’m so glad it’s here, it’s beautiful and really shows about how you should stand up for your beliefs and..." Read more
Customers enjoy the character development. They find the plot engaging with likable characters that grow and change without needing to change.
"...From page one I loved Liz. She was such a likeable character, and despite facing so many challenges in life, she was positive and loveable...." Read more
"...It's a great plot with great character and it made me feel so many emotions! I can't recommend it highly enough." Read more
"...Liz was so likeable, and she had character development!! CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT THAT FLOWED AND WAS POSITIVE AND SHE DIDNT HAVE TO CHANGE HERSELF!..." Read more
"...Characters are well written and likeable and it’s a real page turner. Great book for 2020. Highly recommended." Read more
Reviews with images
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A fun, heart warming coming story
Top reviews from United Kingdom
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- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 July 2020This book was an absolute delight.
It was inclusive and representational and I loved every minute of reading it.
This book focuses on Liz Lighty, a young, Black bisexual woman growing up in Indiana. Her family are not wealthy but Liz has big dreams of attending university and training to be a doctor. When her scholarship dreams fall through, she realises that to be in a chance of attending her dream university, she needs to become Prom queen as the prize will help fund her education!
From page one I loved Liz. She was such a likeable character, and despite facing so many challenges in life, she was positive and loveable. We see her face racism, homophobia, struggles due to family finances, the health of her family, and so much more. The author not only explored all of these extremely important themes and issues, but she also focused on Liz’s anxiety and mental health. It handled this so well also.
I loved seeing her relationship blossom with Mack, and her friendship reignite with Jordan. This book had such a cute f/f romance with Liz and Mack, but I was also full on loving the friendship / support vibes. This book just had everything I wanted from it and more.
I highly recommend this book and will be keeping my eyes peeled for more books by Leah Johnson - definitely one to watch!
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 December 2020Characters: Liz’ voice is quirky and fun and not rooting for her is impossible. Her friends are an interesting rag-tag bunch, predominantly Gabi. She seems like a massive type-A and fierce as hell when she tries to help Liz but sometimes she just drops racist comments as it were normal or fine, mostly in the vein of “you need to be more like the rest of them if you want a chance at winning”. This very rarely gets addressed by Liz.
Jordan seems like the guy you want around in a pinch and their revived childhood friendship is cute to witness.
Mack reads like chaos incarnate and must be the biggest fear for a small regressive town come true. She is out and proud and stands up for her beliefs.
Even with the cheerleaders and jocks only the main bitch, Rachel, feels flat.
Issues: No answers to some questions. There is never a resolution for Rachel or an actual conversation between her and Liz, which didn’t bother me too much, sometimes you just don’t get answers from bullies about their why and that’s okay. In a similar vein, you never get to hear about what actually happened with Jordan’s girlfriend, even after she turns up for prom and talks to Liz. Which I found annoying, it was alluded at in form of rumours throughout the book but then you are left hanging. I’m fine with not getting answers for Rachel or in real life, but here I feel like the book dropped the ball.
Some of the pop culture references feel more like they come from somebody in my generation than a teenager in 2020.
Some points you can see from a mile away. Liz drops a line about another characters which is not so subtle foreshadowing for one of the last things to happen in the story.
Same for the pointless argument Liz and Mack have at a party, just to add some drama to it all.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 August 2022Although I'm a 30 year old woman from the UK, I was so excited to read this book after I heard about it on Twitter. The nuances of American highschool and college admissions were a little lost on me, but Leah Johnson did a fantastic job of writing Liz's crushed and emotions in a truly natural way. I wish a book like this had existed when I was a teenager, because back then I felt utterly alone and this book helped me feel seen. A sweet, fun, well-paced story - definitely recommend.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 November 2020I finished You Should See Me In A Crown in about a day then went to show it to my sister, who responded 'Oh, that's what you've been squealing over.' And it was because it's wonderful. Just...my heart. I got into this book. I'm actually finding it hard to talk about this book because most of my reactions are either 'And then they kissed and it was adorable and I loved it and I couldn't stop reading' or vaguely bat like sounds that could sort of be translated into 'Soooooo cute!' Because that was honestly how I was when I was reading it. It's a great plot with great character and it made me feel so many emotions! I can't recommend it highly enough.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 October 2021I enjoyed it because it was a modern inclusive spin on the high school romance. Girl meets Girl and all the high school drama that entails. I also liked the element about Sickle Cell, way more awareness is needed and this was a good way to do that.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 September 2020This book was so cute and such an easy read (it only took me 24hours because I could not put it down!).
While I didn’t enjoy the many drop ins of pop culture references, and felt the end was just rushed in the last 20 pages (as in prom was that long, it was all leading up to prom and then it just kinda ended quite quickly!).
It touched on topics of the toxic need for popularity, racism, homophobia and anxiety which I feel are all things that happen in high schools even in 2020 and they need to be addressed and need to be put into books because of this and I’m so glad Leah Johnson wrote this book to show them from a teens point of view. I did feel the bully got off too lightly but also she got reprimanded and the story is about Liz not the bully so why waste more time talking about them!
Liz was so likeable, and she had character development!! CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT THAT FLOWED AND WAS POSITIVE AND SHE DIDNT HAVE TO CHANGE HERSELF! I was so happy and the f/f romance was so FRICKING CUTE. I loved it, I loved Mack and how she just owned her self.
This is a book that was needed when I was growing up, and I’m so glad it’s here, it’s beautiful and really shows about how you should stand up for your beliefs and yourself! 👑
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 July 2020This is a brilliant YA book, ideal for teenagers 13+ but I also loved it as an adult. Characters are well written and likeable and it’s a real page turner. Great book for 2020. Highly recommended.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 February 2021I really do not read US high school books, but someone I respect recommended this. Loved it to bits. Witty, wise, and tender.
Top reviews from other countries
- TinaReviewed in the United States on 17 November 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, heartfelt YA wiht a relatable Black protagonist. New fave!
TW: anti blackness, homophobia, being outed, vomiting
CW: pre-book parent death, illness mentions, panic attacks, anxiety, an instance of vomiting from a panic attack, hospitals, some medical procedure talk
You Should See Me In A Crown quickly drew me into the life of Liz Lighty, a hard-working high school senior whose dream is to become a doctor and also attend the university her late mother to pursue a further education in composing. From the beginning, I had to root for Liz and loved how she succeeded despite the hurdles life threw her way. Many Black women and girls go through hardships without a solid support system and I love love love that Liz has a loving family she’s close to and can count on, even if she forgets that for a little while and thinks everything is on her shoulders alone.
This book made me laugh and tear up. For Black readers like myself, it’s relatable and comforting to see someone like us going through it, but also gearing up to be gay and fall in love, but also have a bitchin prom experience! It was very feel good while also touching on some deep topics like racism, mental health awareness, poverty, self-identity, toxic friendships, and having family members with chronic disease.
While Liz’s world is turned upside down trying to fund her dream, she falls in love. I think Johnson did a wonderful job giving us a sweet wlw romance for the Black queer audience. It wasn’t insta-love, but Liz and Mac have obvious chemistry and I loved their relationship! Even when there were mistakes or someone didn’t show up for their girlfriend how they should’ve, it wasn’t ignored and they actually had to talk about their feelings! I really loved that and think it’s super important for younger audiences to know it’s okay to say what hurt you and not keep it locked up inside.
Overall, I loved reading this book. It has a happy gay end for the lead couple and has tons of Black girl magic! I couldn’t stop thinking that Black kids are so so lucky to be growing up in an era where YA books are starting to show more and more stories with us in the forefront. It went right on my favorites shelf and I’ll be keeping an eye out for Leah Johnson’s future works.
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Laura MachadoReviewed in Brazil on 11 November 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars Exatamente o clichê sáfico que eu estava procurando!
Eu entendo pessoas que reclamam quando os livros são clichês, mas eles só ficam chatos mesmo quando os personagens principais e suas vivências são sempre iguais. O baile de formatura (prom) em volta do qual esse livro inteiro gira ficaria extremamente batido e chato se o romance principal fosse hetero e entre pessoas cis e brancas. Ser entre duas garotas e a protagonista ser negra em uma escola de maioria branca enriqueceu demais a história. Era um livro assim que eu queria quando fui ler Conectadas e Sua Alteza Real. Como Conectadas, este daqui tem bastante conteúdo que vai além do clichê, é bastante fofo e apaixonante. Diferente de Sua Alteza Real, o romance é bem desenvolvido, no ritmo certo, entre personagens mais reais e interessantes.
Não sei o que podem estar esperando para transformar esse livro em um filme! Ele é perfeito para isso, super visual, com uma ambientação engraçada e personagens secundários quase tão interessantes quanto os protagonistas! Liz é uma ótima narradora, é impossível não shippar o romance e até o Jordan é super cativante! O enredo é movimentado do começo ao fim e, apesar de ser previsível em alguns momentos, não chega a incomodar. É o tipo de coisa que você até quer que seja previsível!
É incrível a diferença que faz quando o clichê acontece entre personagens que não são muito representados na mídia, principalmente quando elas têm uma história de vida, entre família e uma bagagem emocional realista e sólida! Pelo amor de deus, que escrevam clichês com mais representatividade, que eu quero ler todos! Adorei a leitura e estou louca para a autora lançar outros livros, porque vou ler também. Vou indicar para todo mundo que conheço, então é claro que recomendo!
E a resenha teria ficado maior, mas tudo que eu tenho mesmo a dizer é que essa história fofa e clichê valeu muito a pena!
Laura MachadoExatamente o clichê sáfico que eu estava procurando!
Reviewed in Brazil on 11 November 2020
Não sei o que podem estar esperando para transformar esse livro em um filme! Ele é perfeito para isso, super visual, com uma ambientação engraçada e personagens secundários quase tão interessantes quanto os protagonistas! Liz é uma ótima narradora, é impossível não shippar o romance e até o Jordan é super cativante! O enredo é movimentado do começo ao fim e, apesar de ser previsível em alguns momentos, não chega a incomodar. É o tipo de coisa que você até quer que seja previsível!
É incrível a diferença que faz quando o clichê acontece entre personagens que não são muito representados na mídia, principalmente quando elas têm uma história de vida, entre família e uma bagagem emocional realista e sólida! Pelo amor de deus, que escrevam clichês com mais representatividade, que eu quero ler todos! Adorei a leitura e estou louca para a autora lançar outros livros, porque vou ler também. Vou indicar para todo mundo que conheço, então é claro que recomendo!
E a resenha teria ficado maior, mas tudo que eu tenho mesmo a dizer é que essa história fofa e clichê valeu muito a pena!
Images in this review
- AVFReviewed in Canada on 7 June 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars It is a beautiful book. The story cheered me up.
I am very pleased to have read this book. The characters are well developed and I did root for a happy ending of each of them. It deserves 5 stars because it intertwines the story of love, friendship and family beautifully. A wonderful, feel-good book. I loved it dearly.
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LucíaReviewed in Spain on 19 October 2020
4.0 out of 5 stars Reseña
«And I knew then what I've always known: Campbell is never going to make a space for me to fit. I'm going to have to demand it.»
Este es uno de esos libros adorables con final feliz. Tiene un gran mensaje sobre estar orgulloso de quién eres y una importante representación de tu propia voz. Creo que esta sería una gran novela para que la lean los adolescentes ya que habla de temas como el racismo, la homofobia, la identidad y la madurez. Así como problemas familiares, económicos y enfermedades.
Me encantó la relación de Liz con su hermano. También disfruté de cómo este libro nos muestra la dificultad de ser una chica negra y lesbiana en un pueblo pequeño. No deja de ser Young Adult, así que no esperes grandes cosas, pero es un libro entretenido que trata temas importantes.
¿Os gusta tanto como a mi leer sobre protagonistas LGTB?
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StéphanieReviewed in France on 28 July 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars Une romcom qui change !
J'ai vraiment passé un super moment avec Liz. On la voit évoluer, réaliser certaines choses par rapport à sa condition de jeune fille noire, par rapport à ses amis (le personnage de Jordan est vraiment top), à la société dans laquelle elle vit. Elle lutte pour s'affirmer, mais avance quand même et c'est vraiment agréable à suivre. Des thèmes sérieux sont abordés, mais c'est une jolie lecture, pleine de jolis passages, qui vous laissera normalement avec un sourire "grand comme ça"!