This review contains affiliate links, which earn me a small commission when you click and purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my small business and allowing me to continue providing you a reliable resource for clean book ratings.
Liz Lighty always believed she was too black, too poor, and too awkward for her small, rich, prom-obsessed Midwestern town. She has a plan that will get her out of Campbell, Indiana, and into the uber-elite Pennington College. All she has to do is win the music scholarship and play in Pennington’s world-famous orchestra while she studies to become a doctor. But when the financial aid falls through unexpectedly, Liz is forced to resort to plan B.
Perhaps it’s crazy, but Liz’s school also offers scholarships for the prom king and queen. All she’d have to do is endure the gantlet of social media trolls, catty competitors, and humiliating public events and be crowned Campbell’s new queen. Despite her crippling anxiety of the spotlight, Liz is determined to do whatever it takes to get to Pennington.
Mack, the new girl in school, makes the whole situation halfway bearable, at least. She’s smart and funny, and just as much of an outsider as Liz. She’s also in the running for queen. Falling for the competition could keep Liz from her dreams, but finally being accepted for who she is could be worth risking it all.
While few strive to be homecoming queen, there is much about You Should See Me in a Crown that readers may find relatable. On the surface, this LGBTQ romance book is a lighthearted read full of fun pop culture references (which will especially make Avatar the Last Airbender fans happy). But at its heart, it’s full of surprisingly heavy issues, including the coldness of not belonging, the loss of a parent, dealing with chronically ill loved ones, the constant battle against anxiety, and other social issues.
Lizzy is a genuine three-dimensional character. Throughout the pages she comes across as someone who is real, and her growth was great to watch happen over the course of the story. The overall message resonates: you don’t need to hide your true identity just to fit in.
Rated: Moderate, for one use of strong language, two variations of strong language, 12 uses of mild language, and around 20 uses of the name of Deity. A picture posted without permission in the school gives the middle finger. The story addresses social issues regarding the LGBTQ community, including the topic of hate crimes against queer persons. A girl chooses not to come out to the public because she’s afraid of what will be said and insinuates that she does not feel safe. A comment is made about affirmative action and skewed scoring in favor of a person of color. Sexual content includes flirting and frequent making-out between two girls.
