Chloe Green’s nemesis is Shara Wheeler.
Chloe moved from California to Alabama four years ago, because her grandmother was sick. Years before, one of Chloe’s mums went to Willowgrove Christian Academy and loved it, but Chloe faces a whole different experience.
First – the two mums thing. Alabama is Bible Belt USA country and two mums is strange to Chloe’s classmates, if not down right wrong. Chloe is bi herself and struggles with the puritanical rules and regulations of Willowgrove. Apart from hanging out with her bestie and handful of friends she spends her time with her head held high and being a straight A student.
Then there is Shara Wheeler.
Shara is all long, shiny, blond hair. Girlfriend of the star football player Smith Parker. Long-legged with perfect sun-kissed skin. Southern spoken, Belle of the ball and adored by all.
Shara is also an A grade student and the principal’s daughter. Shara has everything. Chloe is angry about it, and intends to grab for herself the one thing she can take from Shara Wheeler – Valedictorian – top student in their graduation class.
What is sooo annoying to Chloe is that Shara acts like she doesn’t consider Chloe competition, or doesn’t even care about Valedictorian. Chloe just knows in her bones that Shara cannot be so perfect!
Her first clue is when Shara kisses her in a lift. What? Then Shara vanishes like smoke from her school, her home and everyone’s life. No one knows where she went and no one seems to be worried about her. Chloe learns that Shara does this every now and then – but always comes back.
Infuriated, Chloe wants to know what the heck is going on! Why did Shara kiss her? When she learns she wasn’t the only one Shara kissed before she disappeared, Chloe is determined to find the truth. But Shara is a step ahead, playing a game Chloe is soon obsessed with. Shara has left pink monogrammed stationery in all manner of places with a note inside that includes a clue. For once, Chloe neglects her school work as she follows the clues. Because for Chloe, this finally proves Shara is no angel.
Shara’s jock boyfriend Smith and Shara’s neighbour Rory are also caught up in this mystery, but never with the same fervour as Chloe. It seems Shara isn’t the only one with secrets at Willowgrove Academy. Those close to her are hiding their own, including Shara’s principal dad.
The more Chloe digs, the messier the can of worms gets, and this release of secrets unravels at an ever quickening rate, spinning Chloe’s valedictorian dreams in a completely different direction.
I Kissed Shara Wheeler is sassy, sarcastic and sometimes sweet. Often funny too, the character’s are introduced as the reader gets to know Chloe and her friends and family. This character development is enjoyable and contrary to what I suspected, but ultimately satisfying as their true selves are slowly but surely revealed.
Chloe is super self sufficient, but her obsession with another girl is close to derailing the whole reason for the obsession in the first place. Her realisation of this finally makes her step back, but almost too late to prevent the carnage of her life and future.
The puritanical school and its rigid rules result in the only thing it can in the world we now live in – rebellion.
Fun read.
Author – Casey McQuiston
Age – 16+
Look Inside here
(2022, Macmillan, USA, Alabama, Religion, Rules, School, Relationships, Valedictorian, Competition, Jealousy, Love, Envy, Disappearance, Family, LGBTQ+, Gay, Bi, School Play, Obsession, Clues, Planning, Two mums, Confusion, Coming out, Set up, Growing Up, College, Mystery, Romance, Secret, Humour)