Welcome back! Today I’m going to be talking about You Should See me in a Crown by Leah Johnson.
The book follows Liz Lighty, a black lesbian who lives in a slightly racist and homophobic town. She wants to attend the same university her mother did, but needs a scholarship in order to do so. She does not get the scholarship, and is forced itto desperate mode. She runs for prom queen, where the winner gets money.
I originally picked the book as something to listen to while I painted my kitchen, but I was hooked almost immediately. The narrator, Alaska Jackson, was captivating. It really took me into the story. The last audiobook I listened to I DNFed it.
I would’ve finished it sooner then the couple days it took me, but, life.
I can’t think of anything I didn’t like about the book. I loved that Liz fully accepting herself as she is. I loved Amanda, who really showed Liz that it’s okay not to care what people think. I did feel weird about her friends. Stone was way too out there for me, but she wasn’t on screen a lot. Gabby, I didn’t much care for her. She felt bossy and entitled. I’m all for strong women who can take charge, but she was over the top, trying to change who Liz was.
I know it’s a book, and fiction is often dramaticsized.
4/5 stars for me. like I said, I can’t find anything I didn’t like about it.
Have you read it? What did you think?
A Book's Nook 