I Hate Everyone But You by Gaby Dunn & Allison Raskin

September 13, 2017     erinthebooknut     Book review

I Hate Everyone But You by Gaby Dunn & Allison RaskinI Hate Everyone But You by Gaby Dunn, Allison Raskin
Published by Wednesday Books on September 5th 2017
Pages: 352
Goodreads

Dear Best Friend,I can already tell that I will hate everyone but you.Sincerely,Ava Helmer(that brunette who won’t leave you alone)

We're still in the same room, you weirdo.Stop crying.G

So begins a series of texts and emails sent between two best friends, Ava and Gen, as they head off to their first semesters of college on opposite sides of the country. From first loves to weird roommates, heartbreak, self-discovery, coming out and mental health, the two best friends will document every moment to each other. But as each changes and grows into her new life, will their friendship be able to survive the distance?

THE FULL 5 NUTS

Guys! I’ve officially found a contemporary book that I really like. Not just like, LOVE! L-O-V-E LOVE! Not only that but it’s not a book told in the traditional narrative format, but in a series of texts and emails. Something I usually hate! But not here. Hold on, let me stop fangirling for a moment.

I HATE EVERYONE BUT YOU is the the realest contemporary I’ve ever read. Never before have I related so deeply with a character in my life. This book is amazing. It’s hilarious, it’s nail biting, its ten kinds of adorable! Ah crap, I’m fangirling again.

Ava is a character after my own heart. She’s so me, with her OCD and her anxiety, she speaks things that I have buried deep in my brain and never told anyone about, but puts them into words that make them not shameful and less scary. This was the character I needed in college, and the character I really needed now to tell me I am not alone. So for that, thank you Gaby and Allison.

The other character, Genevieve, is beautiful as well. She’s rebellious and curious, takes risks and is the confident badass I have always wanted to be. But she is also soft and vulnerable as she goes through changes and relationships and drama that college life brings her.

This book is excellent, both on LGBT and mental illness rep! I relate to parts of both characters and their honesty and vulnerability speaks to me in so many ways. They are beautifully nerdy, making references to things and make me appreciate the depth with which the authors went to make them such real people.

As I said above this book is told completely in texts and emails, something I normally really hate. I love traditional narratives, but here it works. It reminds me so much of my texts with my own best friends as we split up and went to our own colleges. So much care and love is put into their interactions that you can’t help but get sucked in.

This book is so funny, on top of all the other wonderful things inside of it. I found myself rereading lines out loud, laughing to myself so loudly that the cat who was snuggled in my lap lifted his head to give me the evilest of glares. He later abandoned me as a lost cause, as I disturbed him one too many times.

It is no stretch to call this book my all time favorite contemporary novel. And it’s amazing that I only discovered it by listening to Gaby guest on the Dear Hank and John Podcast. Now, of course, I need everyone to go out and read this book.

I recommend this book for fans of college stories, friendship between two awesome female characters, people who like good LGBT and mental illness rep stories, and pop culture nerds.

What do you think of this book? Share your thoughts in the comments!

From my shelf to yours,

Erin

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