Book Review: Look Both Ways

Title Look Both Ways
Author Alison Cherry
Release Date June 4, 2016

The story of a girl hoping she’s found a place to belong . . . only to learn that neither talent nor love is as straightforward as she thinks.

A summer away from the city is the beginning of everything for Brooklyn Shepard. Her theater apprenticeship at Allerdale is a chance to prove that she can carve out a niche all her own, surrounded by people who don’t know anything about her or her family of superstar performers.

Brooklyn immediately hits it off with her roommate, Zoe, and soon their friendship turns into something more. Brooklyn wants to see herself as someone who’s open to everything and everyone, but as her feelings for Zoe intensify, so do her doubts. She’s happier than she’s ever been—but is it because of her new relationship? Or is it because she’s finally discovering who she wants to be?

Review

Look Both Ways ended up being nothing like what I thought it was going to be. This was highly disappointing for me. Thus, we have the mediocre rating.

The blurb and the cover lead you to believe that the book is about a girl falling in love with another girl. That is what I signed up for. That is the book that I wanted to read. That is not the book that I got.

We've got Brooklyn. She's never been with a girl before, but she seems open to dating one (or at the very least dating Zoe). Then there's Zoe. She's bisexual and claims to be in an open relationship with her boyfriend. This possibly ends up being a lie, which then means Zoe is cheating on her boyfriend. Hello cheating bisexual cliche. It's wonderful to see you here. /sarcasm

Brooklyn and Zoe like one another. They form a sort-of relationship. The girls make out and even tell one another they love each other. This is the girl/girl relationship I was hoping for! All good right? Except no. Brooklyn likes kissing Zoe, but that's it. She doesn't want more. I absolutely believe Brooklyn is entitled to make that decision. I'm all about being in control of your own body. Your partner should always respect your boundaries. Zoe being pushy certainly was a turn off and definitely made me like her less.

Brooklyn obviously isn't feeling Zoe like she previously thought. It happens. It wasn't what I thought was going to happen, but whatever. They break up, understandably. I'm still bitter, though. I really wanted my happy ending.

The final disappointment was Russell liking Brooklyn. She's never thought of him that way before (after all, her entire summer was spent pining after Zoe). Fine. Leave it at that. Just because she's not into girls or Zoe (whichever) doesn't mean she needs to automatically have a male love interest. That could have been left out of the book all together and I would have enjoyed it more. Yes, I know they didn't get together at the end, but it's an option that's left open for the future.

Rating

2 out of 5 stars