Parents' Guide to

Kate in Waiting

By Andrea Beach, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Funny, breezy, diverse romcom stresses value of friendship.

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A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

age 16+

Based on 1 parent review

age 16+

Kate in Waiting...For young adults

Best friends—she is straight, he is gay—have crush on the same guy. Kate and her best friend, Anderson, do everything together—including falling for coke add Matt. Their friends say this is because they are codependent, but for Kate, Anderson is the person at the center of her life. She thinks crushes are more fun (and less painful) when not done solo. When Matt shows up as a new student at their school, both Kate and Anderson realize they have to navigate this joint crush in real life. Not knowing whether Matt likes guys or girls —but knowing they both really do like him—they set up some ground rules so as not to hurt each other and decide to just roll with it. But of course that is easier said than done when romantic feelings are involved. The novel features strong character development and a diverse cast of primary and supporting characters; Kate is white and jewish, Anderson is black, and Matt is white. Real chemistry between the different love interests in the book, authentic dialogue, supportive friendships, and Becky Albertalli’s humor make this a must-read.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (1):

This breezy, fun, and funny romance perfectly captures a lot of the teen experience, especially the way bonds of friendship can be so deep and unique during the teen years. It's refreshing that Kate in Waiting shows different kinds of friendship, like between siblings, neighbors, romantic partners, and platonic partners, and how they're all important and worth holding on to. The large, inclusive cast of diverse characters provides lots of positive representations and makes for a book that will appeal to a wide range of teens. Author Becky Albertalli's quick-witted banter feels realistic and adds a lot of humor.

There's not much of a sense of place other than being told they're in the outskirts of Atlanta and a rare sprinkling of "y'all" into the dialogue. But this gives the book an "Anytown, USA" kind of feel that may make it relatable to more readers. Lots and lots of strong language and sexual innuendo make it best for high-schoolers and up.

Book Details

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