Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry Paperback – February 1, 2022

Great book. I loved Quinn's journey to finding herself, and her ability to love her whole self. I must read for lost girls.

I really enjoyed this book! I loved Quinn’s character arc throughout the book of losing her journal and feeling a sense of loss, while slowly realizing without it she can become more of herself. I loved reading through her thought processes.Quinn and Carter together?? Stop. So cute. I love how he was supported of her choices and wanted her to be more comfortable in her own skin. And I absolutely LOVED the way he asked for forgiveness by writing his own lists and giving them to her. Excuse me?? Just casually passing away from all of the cuteness.The conversation of race in the story I felt was really well executed, from talks with her dad, to her standing up to the people who took her journal, and being able to discuss race with Carter and Olivia. The way that Quinn begins to admit her feelings and address the people who have hurt her and have said racist remarks was awesome. I was relieved that it was taken to the principal in regards to the bullying, and that action was taken.The friendships that Quinn makes with Auden and Olivia were special, and I love how supportive they all were for her in completing her list and just being there for her in general. Imani was so cute, and I wish I could’ve seen more of her.I also really enjoyed how her parents relationship was in a rough spot, and they chose to go to counseling and spoke about it comfortably with family and friends. Yes! More of this in books please.And as someone who was extremely close with my great grandmother like Quinn is with her grandmother Hattie, I could relate so much to feeling like it’s difficult to see them in that state, but then also realizing that time with them is so, so important.I feel like the one thing I am confused on is Matt’s storyline? Why did he become completely irrelevant to the story? I was expecting Quinn to have a conversation with him at some point, but there was nothing. I don’t know if there was a point to it, so I was just feeling a little confused.But overall, I loved this book! I definitely want to read more from this author!

Really enjoyed!,

Excuse Me While Ugly Cry is a cute coming-of-age story. Quinn is trying to discover who she is and whether her best friends are loyal and truthful. Is she why her parents always fight? Will staying away from her aging grandmother preserve their lives?

Highly recommended!! Such a great read. Book delivered 2/2, started reading 2/5 and finished 2/6- could not put it down. The characters Quinn and Carter were so intricately developed. I enjoyed every minute of the read. Honestly, I low key would read it again...maybe later this year. Note to author: I wish I could follow their story into college <3, maybe even further. I'd read a trilogy series on theses 2, not to mention insights on Olivia and Auden.I started back reading and this is my FIRST book of 2025! I made a perfect book selection. You can too!

I honestly started this one out thinking I wasn't going to finish it. Quinn was very naive and a tad bit annoying. This one didn't pick up for me until about 30% of the way in, yet the story was captivating, so I was committed to see it through. Plus, I'm Texas bred, so there's that too 😏.Quinn, being one of very few black students at her predominantly white school, sent me right back to most of my childhood, where I found myself in mostly the same predicament. I get why she brushed things off to appease her white counterparts and why she felt so strongly for her white neighbor, Matt Radd. It was all she knew and it's easier to just go along with things rather than "rock the boat" if you will. I totally understand that. Yet in still, if something makes you that uncomfortable, the way things did Quinn, I think I would've started either separating myself from these "friends" or speaking up, at least to her best friend Destany.I was so glad when Carter called her on her crap. It shocked her that he practically saw right thru her and it made her think about things that bothered her, that she'd initially brushed off. Carter was the one person she needed in her life to make her confront the real her.I hate that Carter wasn't upfront with her about the journal and him reading it, yet I kind of get it. He liked her and didn't want to incriminate himself. It was a great idea for him to invite Olivia Thomas along for their trip to Houston; I liked that he just wanted to help, even if he did overstep a bit due to what he knew from the journal.Olivia and Auden were really cute together, even though Olivia didn't have herself all the way together due to her ex🤦🏾‍♀️. I did appreciate how she took Auden's feelings into consideration given her current relationship status. I really liked Olivia and her free spirit. I wish she would've slapped the mess out of Gia, uugghh😒.There's so much I can say about this book, but I'm just glad I read on. It was a really good story and is one that I hope many young readers, especially young Black girls, read and can discuss and enjoy.Highly recommend. Great read.