Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Funny, lighthearted queer teen road trip tale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
AMELIA, IF ONLY tells the story of Amelia and her best friends Zora, Natalie, and Mark at the end of their senior year of high school. Amelia learns that her favorite YouTuber (and crush?) Walter Holland is doing a rare, in-person event just a three-hour drive from her Hudson Valley hometown, so she convinces her friends to make a road trip of it. Fortunately, the event is taking place in the town where Zora's girlfriend is a first-year college student, so they can stay right on campus for the event. But as Amelia gets closer to finally meeting Walter in real life, she's noticing new, fluttery feelings every time she looks at Natalie. What is that about?
Is It Any Good?
This is a fun, funny, breezy summer read. All four members of the best friends group in Amelia, if Only identify as bisexual or lesbian, but it's refreshingly angst-free. The teens are confident in, and comfortable about, their identities. But that doesn't mean they've got relationships or romance figured out, not by a long shot. And that's what makes them so universally relatable. Amelia's blind spots take her longer to figure out than some readers might wish, but anyone looking for a light summer read will enjoy the road trip with these winning, witty teens.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the strong language in Amelia, if Only. Is it too much? Is it realistic? Is it OK if it's funny?
How does the way the group of friends communicates help or hinder their relationships and their ability to process their own and others' feelings?
Why is diverse representation important in books and other media? What do we learn about ourselves and about others when we see people who are different from us? How does it feel to read about or see people who are like you?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Romance
- Topics : Adventures , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Communication
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Harper
- Publication date : June 10, 2025
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 17
- Number of pages : 304
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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