Book Review: You Say It First

Author: Katie Cotugno 

Published: 16 June 2020

Genre: Young Adult Fiction 

This was such a nice, wonderful heartwarming story with complex characters. I really appreciate the characters backgrounds. Meg’s parents have recently gone through a divorce that has left her life in pieces. She is trying her very best to look normal, like the divorce did not damage her, in front of everyone even though she is secretly afraid of losing her best friend and that her mother is actually an alcoholic. 

Colby’s life seems like his life has gone worse after his dad committed suicide when he was younger. He is dealing with grief, he older brother is jerk towards him. And the thought of living in the small town he grew up with no plans to ever move up and onwards. 

The two characters meet when Meg calls Colby to ask him if he is registered to vote in the upcoming elections. It is there where their relationship begins, through endless phone calls and text in the middle of the night, the pair learns more and more about each other. They’re young and they have their own perspective on the world at the start, the two challenges each other and are honest with each other in ways that they have never been with any other people before. The romance is bittersweet but does have two personalities that often head butts, but are not afraid to listen to someone who challenges their point of view, and it’s interesting to witness how their perspectives gets challenged as the story continues. 

Overall, You Say It First is a super quick read with outstanding characters and development. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed, beside Meg’s annoying best friend, she’s such a jerk. If you read the story you’ll definitely know why. She have zero redeeming qualities, but I guess that’s just how life is, when you really have a close look at it.