Publisher: Inkitt

Date of publication: September 17th, 2016

Where you can find this book: Amazon

Genre: Romance, Young Adult, LGBTQIA

Goodreads synopsis:

The coming out story that will completely change the way you look at love, now available for free on Kindle Unlimited.

Juliet represents the road less traveled. Will Lena take it?

Lena Newman is 17, her best friend’s a cheerleader, her boyfriend’s a football player, and as far as everyone is concerned, her life is sorted. But that’s before she befriends the new girl. Juliet is confident, slightly damaged, drop-dead gorgeous and a lesbian. 

Lena realizes that her interest goes beyond just friendship. She sets off on a path of self-discovery where the loyalty of those closest to her will be tested.

My review:

This book should be THE book a teenager reads if they are questioning their sexuality or want to come out to loved ones. It showcases the good, the bad, and the ugly without glossing anything over. Take, for instance, Scott’s coming out to his parents. For me, that is the worst case scenario. It is the bad and the ugly all rolled into one, and I was in tears reading it. Not to get preachy but you loved your child before he/she was born why should that change because of who THEY love or what gender they identify with? I am in the minority but if my son or my daughters came up to me and said “Hey, Mom, I am gay/bisexual/trans,”I wouldn’t be throwing them out. I wouldn’t be screaming at them “I didn’t raise a faggot or a dyke” or assaulting their SO’s (like Scott’s father did to Lakyn). Like I said above, they are your children. You carried them in your body and molded them into who they are. I can’t understand WHY anyone would choose to act like that to their flesh and blood. Strike that, I do, and it is called IGNORANCE and FEAR.

Ok now that I went off that tangent let’s continue with the review.

Juliet’s father, for me, was the best case scenario. He knew his daughter was a lesbian and could care less. Juliet did explain why he was so tolerant, but you need to read the book to find out why (I know, I’m a shit).

I didn’t connect with Lena, at first. I don’t know why, she didn’t jive with me, at first. It was that while she was very attracted to Juliet, she didn’t know how to express herself to her. But once she did, and oh boy was that scene funny, she got more likable, and by the end of the book, I loved her. Her coming out scene to her parents was bittersweet, especially after Scott told her about how his parents reacted.

Juliet, I loved. She was that girl that everyone stopped to look at because she commanded attention. She didn’t take anything from anyone (the scene at the football game stands out in my mind the most). She was out, proud, and I loved it. While she was more experienced than Lena, she slowed it way down and to it at Lena’s pace.

The secondary characters made the book too. Lakyn, Scott, Lacey. Lacey had me in tears laughing at points in the book. Lena couldn’t have asked for a better best friend.

The ending was great. It wasn’t a HEA per se, but it was close to it.

How many stars will I give Just Juliet? 5

Why? It is just a really well-written book that explores all sides of coming out to parents and friends. It is also a book about first love.

Will I reread? Yes

Will I recommend to family and friends? Yes

Age Range: Teen

Why: No sex but some scenes of making out, language.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**