Okay so I just finished Ramona Blue, by Julie Murphy. I know I am really late for this one.... And let me just say, I wish I could go back and tell myself and all the people who trashed the book making me not want to read it:
Seriously, it’s a global pandemic. What else do you got to do?
Okay, but for real this book was a solid 3.5-4/5 for me and it has been dusting on my shelf for two years for what?
But okay let’s get to rating:
The main character, Ramona Blue is a queer girl living in the south. Her personality was a deep, balanced and overall she was well written protagonist. What I mean by that? I liked hearing her story, she wasn’t too arrogant, too whiny or too basic. So, I didn’t find her annoying or repetitive, like I usually do with protagonists.
I think part of the reason I liked Ramona so much was because she seemed very mature. I’m only 18 myself, but I hate the widespread idea that every teenager has to be naive and self absorbed. I mean I guess we all are, but there is no need for me to read about it.
Freddie is such a sweet character. He’s the kind of character you really want to meet in real life. He was giving me hardcore reading butterflies.
However I didn’t ship them in the beginning.
Even though I loved his character, I thought him and Ramona shouldn’t work out at first, when she was being color blind. At first, she didn’t seem to understand that some situations are more uncomfortable and potentially dangerous for him as a black boy, than for her as a white girl. But then there was that conversation:
‘But when I tell you I’m uncomfortable, I’m going to need you to listen.’- Freddie
This line changed her attitude towards race and made her realize that she was being color bling. Her internal reaction to this was just wholesome. Honestly, it made me wish I, as a mixed black girl would have told some of my friends that line when I was younger.
Anyways, while I at first felt like they might have not understood each other. Throughout the novel Freddie seemed to learn from her about what it means to be queer in the south, while she learned from him about what it means to be black in the south.
Overall this is one of the reasons why I loved them being friends before falling in love. I really felt like they fell in love with their personality, identity and who they actually are, rather than just a combination of looks and popularity, as so often in YA novels.
Them healing, learning and just being together had me so emotional.
The New Year’s Day conversation Freddie and Ramona had me .....
I mean honestly it was so healthy. I don’t think I have ever read a conversation this honest and healthy between a couple.
Over the years of reading YA, I’ve gotten used to toxicity, emotional abusiveness and casual sexism. None of that.
A conversation about consent. This was what I’ve been waiting for without even knowing.
Reading Flow and plot = 2/5
Okay For me personally there was not enough happening suspense wise. It’s a contemporary novel and not a thriller, so that is fine. I however always like to guess and wonder. And I did not guess and wonder too much during this read.
Not even halfway in it was pretty clear that Ramona would end up with Freddie. Maybe, because the focus was on romance and personal developement, that kind of killed the suspense for me. Nevertheless it was an amazing read and it’s not every books job to have me guessing and wondering.
Personal take and Euphoria level 5/5
I had so much euphoria reading this book. I grinned throughout half the book, because I loved Ramona and Freddie so much.
I even had 3 middle school giggles and one high school screech.
You know it’s a good read if you have to leave the family room.
Also I could really relate to Ramona. I never liked to label myself in any way. I don’t know why, I just hate categories. But, still involuntary labels give comfort and it can be pretty scary when you loose that comfort sometimes.
Also a big note to my future self, next time (* cough* you mean first time *cough*) I fall in love I will have the type of conversations Ramona had with Freddie with this person. Until then, I’m practicing on my friends.
That was that: 3.5-4/5 overall
prguitarman
origamiaround
areudirty
yousharknotpass
tangentwithtanner
vaporwave
blakekathryn