Imogen Scott is an over thinker – her own worst enemy, causing herself grief and stress daily. But she is an excellent sister and friend. She is the ultimate ally to her queer best friends Lili and Gretchen, and little sister who knew she was gay as soon as she could talk.

Being the heterosexual among them doesn’t cause any problems – mostly. Gretchen is fierce, making sure no gender bias gets past her, and with an opinion on everyone else who comes out, whether she knows them or not. Her queer path hasn’t been as smooth as some, and she’s holding onto a lot of hurt from hate and bullying in her past.

Lili is now at College and hasn’t ‘been out’ long, however she and Gretchen do not see life the same way, causing friction with Imogen in the middle. A confirmed people pleaser, Imogen tries to keep everyone happy, molding into whatever her friends need her to be.

Lili has invited Imogen many times to come and stay in her dorm – after all, Imogen will be at Blackwell College in five months herself. Wouldn’t it be a great idea to experience it first hand with one of her best friends?

Finally Imogen accepts Lili’s invitation. She is uncertain, feeling like an imposter as she wanders the campus and hangs out with Lili and her queer College friends. She’s just a girl still in High School pretending she’s something she’s not.

Then Lili drops a bombshell. She’s told her friends that she and Imogen used to go out. Lili explains that she too was feeling like she was faking being queer because she was only ‘just out,’ and she’d never gone out with a girl before. Making something up seemed the easiest thing to do.

Imogen is surprised but goes along with it. It’s fine until she meets Tess. Tess is funny, chaotic, and a flirt. At least that’s what Lili tells Imogen with a laugh. Imogen however is completely thrown off kilter by Tess. She feels like a whole different person with her – more confident, easy with her comebacks and jokes, and even might… could she really… be feeling something for Tess?

But no! I’m straight, thinks Imogen. Aren’t I?

Imogen has only ever had crushes on boys. This couldn’t possibly be the same. Suddenly thrown into navigating her sexuality, hiding her and Lili’s lie, wanting to spend more time with Tess, deflecting Gretchen’s outrage and finally telling the truth – is a tumultuous journey for a girl who has spent her life trying to keep everyone else happy.

Imogen, Obviously is a complex, heartfelt exploration of so many feelings, personal coming out odyssey’s, sexuality validation and invalidation, and right or wrongness at certain behaviours in wider LGBTQ+ communities.

Many questions are asked throughout the story about all things queer, which made me ponder them as they arose. Each character has their own fears, questions and uncertainties as we all do, which brought much angst among them. I was grateful for a plot that kept moving however, without too much time wasted between main characters not being honest with each other.

Gretchen wasn’t my favourite character, but she was a key part, allowing Imogen to finally stop being what Gretchen wanted her to be.

With plenty of questions raised between Imogen’s two selves – heterosexual or not, Imogen, Obviously is a wonderful read. 

Author – Becky

Age – 15+

(2023, Harper Collins, LGBTQ+, Bisexual, Queer, Family, Friendship, Secret, Lie, Uncertainty, College, Toxic friendship, People Pleaser, Romance, Imposter Syndrome, Questions, Sexuality, Movie references, Inclusivity, Own Journeys, Relationships, End of High School)