Kate in Waiting

Book review by Andrea Beach, Common Sense Media
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Common Sense says

age 14+

Funny, breezy, diverse romcom stresses value of friendship.

Becky Albertalli Contemporary Fiction 2021
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Parents say

age 16+

Based on 1 review

Kids say

age 13+

Based on 1 review

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this book.

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What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Kate in Waiting is a romantic comedy by popular author Becky Albertalli that has strong elements of friendship and coming of age. For a romance, the sexy stuff is pretty light: there's lots of romantic tension but only a few kisses and light making out briefly described. There's lots of profanity, including "f--k" and countless, sometimes made-up words combined with it like "f--kmonster," other crude made-up words like "taintweasel" and "eyegasm," and "bulls--t," "c--kblocked," and "d--k." The only violence is imagining someone deserves to be "punched in the balls." A few instances of teen drinking at parties and adults drinking socially with no consequences. There's a joking reference to the drug Xanax, and a past rumor about snorting Ritalin. The widely diverse, inclusive cast of characters provides positive models for ranges of skin color, sexual orientation, gender identity, and to a smaller extent ability and anxiety differences.

Community Reviews

SaM912
SaM912 Adult
December 30, 2021
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
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What's the Story?

KATE IN WAITING tells the story of high-school junior Kate and her best friend Anderson. Every since middle school the two have bonded over having fantasy crushes on the same guy. In the way only best friends can, they analyze and reanalyze every detailed nuance of every encounter with their crush. This past summer at theater camp was no different. Kate and Andy spent most of their time swooning over Matt, the cute townie. By the first day of junior year, their focus has quickly shifted to what the fall musical will be, and whether Kate will at long last come out of the chorus and into the spotlight with a speaking role. Until none other than Matt himself walks into the room because he's just moved to the area. As Kate and Andy get to know Matt better, they both start moving beyond crushing and falling for him for real, and hard. Can their friendship survive when Kate and Matt are cast as one of the main romantic couples in play?

Is It Any Good?

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.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about strong language in books and other media. A lot of it's meant to be funny. Is it? Does that make it OK?

  • Why are diversity and inclusivity important in books, movies, videos, etc.? How do you feel when you read or see characters you relate to? What can we learn from characters whose life experience is different from ours?

  • Is the alcohol use by teens and adults in the story realistic? Why, or why not? Are there any realistic consequences?

Book Details

Our Editors Recommend

For kids who love teen romance and theater stories

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