Amelia, If Only By Becky Albertalli Book Review

I’ll be honest, “Amelia, If Only” made me laugh, tear up, and root for every awkward moment. The book nails that slow-burn, heartfelt vibe with a bisexual lead and real queer friend group. No wonder YA readers crave this:

Statistic Description	Value
Increase in mainstream queer YA publications (since 2013)	522%

If you love witty banter and emotional honesty, Amelia’s story feels like a must-read.

Key Takeaways

Amelia, If Only tells a touching and funny story. It is about a girl who deals with crushes and friendships. She also learns about herself. The book shows honest queer representation.
The book is very funny and has real feelings. The romance grows slowly and feels real. This makes it great for people who like stories about characters.
This book is good for women in their late twenties or thirties. It is also good for anyone who likes queer friendships and slow romance. The book gives comfort and helps people feel connected with its honest voice.

Overview

Premise

I have to admit, this book hooked me right from the start. The story follows a girl who feels stuck between what she wants and what she thinks she should want. She’s got a huge crush on a bisexual YouTuber, and her friends are all in on the plan to help her meet him.

What really got me? The road trip. It’s not just about chasing a crush. It’s about figuring out who you are, and who you want to be with, even if it means risking embarrassment or heartbreak.

The main character’s journey feels real. She makes mistakes. She overthinks. She has those late-night moments where everything feels too big.
The friend group? They’re supportive, funny, and sometimes a little too honest. I saw bits of my own friends in them.
The romance is slow and awkward, but in the best way. No insta-love here.

If you’ve ever had a crush that made you do something wild, you’ll get it.

Genre

I’d call this book a YA romantic comedy with a big heart. The story has all the classic rom-com moments—crushes, misunderstandings, and a few laugh-out-loud scenes. But it also digs into what it means to be queer and young today.

The book appears on lists of YA and queer-themed novels, and the lighthearted romance mixed with real feelings fits the YA rom-com vibe perfectly.

Expect a mix of humor, awkwardness, and genuine emotion.
The romance is sweet, but the friendships steal the show sometimes.

Amelia as a Character

Personality

I have to give props to Amelia for being one of the most relatable YA leads I’ve read in a while. She’s awkward, funny, and sometimes a little too honest for her own good. I found myself cringing and laughing at her texts and inner thoughts. She overthinks everything, but that just made her feel real to me.

Amelia’s sense of humor is sharp. She uses jokes to hide her nerves.
She cares deeply about her friends, even when she messes up.
Sometimes, she gets stuck in her own head, but I saw myself in those moments.

There were scenes where I wanted to reach into the book and give Amelia a pep talk. She reminded me of those late-night chats with friends where you spill your heart out and hope you’re not being too much.

Growth

Watching Amelia grow felt like watching a friend figure things out in real time. She starts off unsure, second-guessing every move. By the end, she stands up for what she wants, even if it scares her. That shift didn’t feel forced. It felt earned.

She learns to trust her own feelings, not just what others expect.
Her confidence builds slowly, with every awkward step forward.
The way she handles her crush and friendships shows real maturity.

I’ll be honest, seeing Amelia take risks and own her identity left me cheering. Her journey isn’t perfect, but it’s honest. That’s what made her story stick with me long after I finished the last page.

Strengths

Representation

I have to give props to this book for how it handles LGBTQ+ and bisexual representation. It feels honest, not forced. The friend group is full of queer characters who each get their own moments.

I saw myself in their jokes, their worries, and the way they supported each other. It’s rare to find a YA book where being queer isn’t just a plot twist—it’s part of everyday life.

The story doesn’t just focus on romance. It shows friendships, family, and the messiness of figuring out who you are.
The road trip isn’t just about chasing a crush. It’s about finding your people and feeling seen.

“Seeing something like you out there is affirming for teens; it feels personal and made for them.” – Bell, author of Always Raining Here

Humor

This book had me laughing out loud more than once. The banter between the characters feels sharp and real. I loved the group chats, the awkward flirting, and the way everyone teases each other. It’s not just one-liners, either.

The humor comes from real situations—crushes, embarrassing moments, and those times when you say the wrong thing and want to disappear.

The road trip scenes are full of inside jokes and silly arguments.
Amelia’s inner thoughts are hilarious. She overthinks everything, and I found myself nodding along.

If you’ve ever sent a text and then wanted to throw your phone across the room, you’ll get it.

The humor makes the heavier moments easier to handle. It’s like the book knows when you need a break and gives you one.

Emotional Impact

I’ll be honest, this book hit me right in the feelings. The emotional moments don’t feel fake or overdone. They sneak up on you. One minute you’re laughing, the next you’re tearing up because a character finally says what they’ve been holding in.

The story shows how scary it can feel to be honest about who you like.
Friendships get tested, and not everyone gets a perfect ending.
The characters mess up, apologize, and try again. That felt real to me.

Literary reviews back this up. Studies show that books like this do a better job at showing real emotions than most other media. One review used something called an F1 score to measure emotional expression. This book’s style would score high because it mixes accuracy and recall, making the feelings hit harder.

“Younger people are buying LGBT+ books because they want to understand and feel comfortable with who they are, sometimes even bringing their parents in.” – Don Wilson, co-owner of Little Sister’s Book and Art Emporium

I finished the last page and just sat there, thinking about Amelia and her friends. That’s the kind of emotional impact I look for in YA.

Weaknesses

Pacing

The book has a lot of heartfelt moments. But sometimes, the pacing felt off to me. Some chapters go by quickly with jokes and funny parts. Other times, the story slows down for deep talks or long thoughts. I wanted the story to feel more even.

Audience Fit

This book is great for people who like stories about characters and real friends. If you want lots of action, you might get bored. Research shows writers often think of a certain reader.

They might picture a teen who likes road trips, group chats, and stories about finding yourself. Some writers even make a “reader avatar” to help them focus. For example, they might imagine someone who reads on the bus, likes queer romance, and follows BookTok.

If you like slow-burn romance and honest friendships, you’ll like this book.
If you want fast drama or lots of twists, this book might not be for you.

I think the book knows who it’s for and talks right to them. But it might not be for everyone.

Themes

Identity

Identity sits at the heart of this story. I saw the main character wrestle with what others expect and what she wants for herself. Her journey reminded me of those moments when you just want to cut your hair or try something new, even if people stare.

She pushes back against old rules about how girls should act.
Family and community shape her, but she still fights for her own space.
I noticed her struggle for recognition, especially in places where boys get more attention.

“Sometimes you have to break a few rules to figure out who you are.”

I felt her pain and pride as she faced loss and learned to stand up for herself. The story shows how identity grows from both family and the courage to be different.

Parasocial Relationships

I have to give props to the way this book explores crushes on people you only know online. It’s wild how real those feelings can get. Studies show teens often feel close to characters or celebrities, even if they’ve never met them. These one-sided bonds can shape how we see ourselves and what we want.

Some readers call these “parasocial friendships” or even “parasocial love.”
These bonds can feel safe, but sometimes they make real-life friendships tricky.

I caught myself rooting for a character like they were my friend. That’s the magic—and the risk—of these stories.

Friendship

Friendship shines as the glue holding everything together. I saw the group support each other through awkward moments and big feelings. The story reminded me of other books where friendship means loyalty, healing, and even survival.

Novel / Work	Friendship Role and Impact
Lord of the Rings	Frodo and Sam’s loyalty shows friendship as a source of strength.
The Book Thief	Liesel’s friendships help her heal and stay strong during hard times.

“True friends stick around, even when things get messy.”

Comparisons

Other Becky Albertalli Novels

I’ve read most of Becky Albertalli’s books, and I always look for that mix of humor and heart. If you loved “Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda,” you’ll notice some familiar vibes here. Both stories feature awkward crushes, supportive friends, and a main character who overthinks everything. The difference? This book leans harder into the group dynamic and the messiness of figuring out who you are.

Simon felt lighter, with more focus on coming out.
This story digs deeper into friendship and the weirdness of online crushes.
The banter and awkward moments feel just as real, but the stakes feel more personal.

I have to give props to Albertalli for keeping things fresh. She doesn’t repeat herself, but you can tell it’s her voice.

YA Rom-Coms

I read a lot of YA romantic comedies, and this one stands out for a few reasons:

The friend group feels like people I actually know, not just sidekicks.
The romance is slow and sometimes awkward, which made it feel more real.
The humor isn’t forced. I laughed at the group chats and the road trip chaos.

If you like books by Casey McQuiston or Julie Murphy, you’ll probably enjoy this one. It’s not as pulse-pounding as some rom-coms, but it left me smiling. I’d rate it a solid 7/10 for fans who want more than just a love story.

Who Should Read Amelia, If Only

Ideal Readers

I always ask myself, “Who would love this book the most?” After finishing, I pictured a few types of readers who’d really connect. Here’s a quick look at the numbers:

Demographic Aspect	Details
Gender Distribution	About 30% of readers are women
Age Groups	Over 40% are aged 36-50
	30% are aged 26-35
	Less than 10% are aged 18-25
Protagonist Profile	Young woman in late 20s to early 30s
Author’s Previous Audience	Young Adult readers, usually younger
Target Audience Defined	Women aged 26-35

If you’re a woman in your late twenties or thirties, you’ll probably see yourself in these pages. I also think anyone who loves character-driven stories, queer friendships, or a good slow-burn romance will feel right at home. Even if you’re not in the target age group, the honest voice and awkward moments might remind you of your own coming-of-age years.

Best Occasions

I found myself reaching for this book during quiet moments. Here are the best times to read it:

When you want to relate to characters and see your own life in their choices.
If you love sharing book opinions with friends or on social media.
During a group read or book club, where you can laugh and debate together.
On days when you feel reflective or need comfort from a story about friendship.
When you want to get lost in a character-driven plot and forget about the author behind it.

I have to give props to books that make me want to text a friend about every awkward scene. This one did that for me.

I closed this book with a smile. Amelia’s story felt honest and funny. If you want a YA read with real friendships and slow-burn romance, this one fits.