I Hope This Doesn't Find You

Wow... just wow. As someone who struggles a lot with academic validation, people pleasing, and carrying the weight of everyone's expectations on my back... I loved this. I cried. Sadie Wen. Where do I even begin? She encapsulates so many young teens. Whenever she described the burning in her stomach, or the way her clothes suddenly felt too tight and itchy... I related so much. "What I'm realizing is that if you're quiet about the things that hurt you, people are only going to mistake your tolerance for permission. And they're going to hurt you over and over again." Was Ann Liang in my house when she wrote this? Because oh, my god, that one quote literally sums up my life right now.I'm speechless. I was not expecting this book to impact me so much. I loved it. I really did.

Have you ever been with or maybe you are that person who apologizes for everything. This individual may accept everyone's demands and rudeness simply to avoid causing disruption and maintain harmony. They may also feel compelled to achieve perfection so excessively as manifested in their pursuit of ideal grades, college experience, and personal conduct. They come off as superficial. Beneath this facade lurks suppressed anger that requires a safe outlet. This is where diaries come into play. In the digital age, we can effortlessly express our innermost feelings, anxieties, and anger on a laptop. No one will be able to access our deepest thoughts about others... or so Sadie Wen believed. Unfortunately, Sadie's most inner feelings regarding her academic peers and even teachers are now exposed to their wrath, as her draft emails are inadvertently sent to the entire school. Consequently, no one is spared, particularly Julius Gong, her primary rival. Now, the entire school harbors animosity towards Sadie, which poses a significant challenge considering her inclination to please others.

I rarely read a book this fast, but I couldn't put this one down! I was totally hooked and couldn't stop smiling while I read it. I will add this little tidbit, don’t hold in your anger. And if you do, don’t, repeat don’t put it on your laptop. Things always have a way of leaking out… whether by accident or on purpose.

A big thanks to NetGalley, Scholastic Press, and Ann Liang for sending me an early copy of this book! I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.

It's so perfect, 5 stars!!

I loved this book. The way Ann gets into the minds of her characters is fantastic (and I'll admit - hit a little close to home sometimes).

Sadie Wen is an imperfect human - we all are - she's anxious, holds herself accountable for things she has no control over, and yeah, occasionally, she writes snarky emails to people who have wronged her, but she never sends them!

Then the emails get out.

Julius Gong is Sadie's rival, they're head to head in everything they do, so when most of Sadie's emails end up addressed to Julius it causes an even more intense connection between the two.

This book had me squealing, kicking my feet like a little girl, loving every second. I read it in two nights (mostly because it was the early hours of the morning I was reading into and couldn't keep my eyes open the first night). I love Ann Liang's writing and will read everything she puts out!

P.S. Ann, can we talk?? Are you or have you been in what you're convinced is a bitter rivalry with a boy who is so obviously and hopelessly in love with you and in order to work through your feelings you write about it?? Because this feels far too real!