Dear Evan Hansen Book Tag

Did I rashly promise to do summer book tags?

Does that sound like something I would do?

Okay, hear me out:

My friend Staci bought me Dear Evan Hansen for my birthday and I’ve been putting it off until…now, I guess.

It’s currently sitting on a shelf next to some other summer-y books that I’ve been prrrrrrromising to read.

Summer: high time to make good on my promises!

In honor of a book I’m TOTALLY GOING TO READ, I’m doing Margaret’s Dear Evan Hansen book tag.

Margaret is awesome and hilarious and MADE THIS BOOK TAG WITH HER OWN TWO HANDS.

I SWEAR I’M GOING TO READ YOU, DEAR EVAN HANSEN.

NO ONE DESERVES TO BE FORGOTTEN.

Anybody Have a Map?

A book with amazing worldbuilding

Ooh, I haven’t talked about Strange the Dreamer in a bit.

The worldbuilding in this book is gradual. Laini Taylor has a gift.

Sure, this world still has rape culture and privileged blonde dudes…but also magic, so THAT’S FUN.

 

Waving Through a Window

 A character that you identify with

I want to pick Cinder. I’m trying to be creative.

It doesn’t help that I write next to my fantasy/sci-fi bookshelf, so The Raven Boys and The Lunar Chronicles STARE ME IN THE FACE whenever I blog.

What if I pick three?

Take Cinder’s sarcasm and imposter syndrome. Apply them to Sailor Jupiter, a tall, tough romantic who loves to bake. Include Billie McAffrey’s sexual fluidity and gender nonconformity.

HEY-O. IT’S ME.

I love all these characters. My heart squeezes when I see them on the page.

 

For Forever

A book with a strong friendship

He’s coming to get me.

He’s coming to get me.

And everything’s…okay.

UGH THIS SONG.

Biggest tears.

The friends in The Graces are also siblings, but they sure are loyal.

Don’t mess with them. Ever.

EVER.

 

Sincerely, Me

A book that made you laugh

DEAR CONNOR MURPHY, I’M SO PROUD TO BE YOUR FRIEND.

Have I mentioned New Erotica for Feminists enough times?

WILL YOU PLEASE READ IT?

IT’S 160 PAGES WITH LOTS OF SPACING.

JUST DO IT.

 

Requiem

A book you wanted to love but didn’t

I am not very far into The 7 1/2 Lives of Evelyn Hardcastle, so this verdict might be a bit premature.

But….I HATE it.

The writing coupled with the exposition and the overly-earnest protagonist are too much.

I understand that waking up in a different body would be startling.

Unfortunately, watching the distressed protagonist run around wildly isn’t exactly thrilling.

This mofo was a bestseller, so the amateurish writing is REALLY disappointing.

 

If I Could Tell Her

A book couple you’re not on board with

Finally, an easy question.

I hate Tessa and Will together.

HE’S NOT NICE TO TESSA.

(I have similar problems with Jace Wayland, but I hate Will SO MUCH MORE.)

I have a LOT OF FEELINGS about “putting up with” and “holding out for” someone who’s unkind. (Dear Young Adult Fiction: DO BETTER.)

Having a “complicated” past doesn’t justify being mean to your love interest.

“But his older sister-”

I don’t care.

No one deserves misplaced cruelty in the name of romantic tension.

 

Disappear

A book you wish more people knew about

I talk about Dept. of Speculation a lot, but it is a truly beautiful and thoughtful read.

I see it occasionally on pretentious literary lists. Read it anyway. Knock it off those lists. Give it the popularity it truly deserves.

It shall be…REMEMBERED. (…wrong musical.)

 

You Will Be Found

A book that makes you feel understood

If you read this blog often, you already know what I’m going to say.

And though I would LIKE to be creative and choose something new, I’m going to pick this book.

I won’t describe it or do anything special. I’ll just show it to you and scream unintelligibly.

Ready?

HERE WE GO! IT’S HOW TO BE ALONE.

JGKL;SJAKLGDJLKSAHKL;GHSL

 

To Break in a Glove

A book you didn’t expect to like

I genuinely expected to hate this book.

It’s a fluffy rom-com written in TEXTS.

I am bitter and serious. I don’t read ROM-COMS.

I read it because my girlfriend recommended it and I wanted a quick weekend read.

And then I ended up loving it.

DAMN IT ALL.

 

Only Us

A book couple you ARE on board with

I haven’t read When the Moon Was Ours yet because I was busy boycotting Anna-Marie McLemore after The Weight of Feathers.

I’ve heard very good things about the romance.

A trans boy and a magical girl fall in love.

McLemore based it on her own marriage.

I find that so sweet.

 

Good For You

A character that makes all the wrong choices (but you love them anyway)

It hurts to watch Adina self-destruct in You’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone.

She does her best in the face of fear and uncertainty.

I want her to be okay.

 

Words Fail

A book that makes you want to be a better person

(CW: rape)

Jessica Valenti’s Sex Object brings back painful memories.

I remember how I used to be and I shudder.

I held sexual abuse victims equally culpable for the manipulation they faced.

I took “both sides” in rape cases, believing myself objective.

I refused to believe in a culture that privileged men’s needs and character.

To all survivors:

I’m so sorry I didn’t believe you.

I’m so sorry I let you down.

Your pain is more important than the reputations of the people who hurt you.

I will try to do better.

 

So Big/So Small

A good parent/child relationship

I should not be using Fruits Basket for this prompt.

But…BUT….there are some good parent/child relationships in this series.

EXAMPLE #1: Tohru and her mom are (were) best friends!

EXAMPLE #2: Kazuma rescues Kyo from his awful dad!

EXAMPLE #3: Hanajima’s parents are rad, even if they didn’t know how to help their daughter, and they raised the best, most empathetic little brother.

 

Finale

A book with a satisfying ending

I JUST WANT YOU TO READ LAURA DEAN KEEPS BREAKING UP WITH ME.

WILL YOU DO THAT?

WILL YOU PLEASE JUST READ IT?

IT’S A BEAUTIFUL STORY WITH LOVELY CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT.

Phew. That got serious.

Makes sense; Dear Evan Hansen isn’t exactly a cheery show.

Happy 5th of July.

I’m picking up American Girls (one of my summer reads) today.

I’ll get to Dear Evan Hansen soon.