Lex’s Library's Reviews> Odd One Out

** spoiler alert ** This book was messy, but in a good way!

[REVIEW]

*Trigger/content warnings in this book for homophobia, biphobia, abandonment, childhood trauma, and talk of a death of a parent.*

I read Nic Stone’s debut, Dear Martin, earlier this year, and LOVED IT! As soon as I got the opportunity to check out this book at my library, I jumped to the chance! Just like Dear Martin, Odd One Out was raw and riveting, and a book everyone can get something out of!

CRITIQUES:

•The Carnival Carl subplot just felt like filler to me. I understand that it brought Courtney and Rae closer, but I didn’t find myself immersed.

•The ending, which I can’t say much about without giving it away. While I do like the message, it felt like the particular scene it ended on was abrupt. I know that might not sense, but I can’t explain it any other way.

Other than these two things, I very much enjoyed Odd One Out!

WHAT I LOVED:

•Golly and Britain. Coop’s best friend never failed to make me chuckled throughout the book! I loved every moment they appeared!

•The cleverness of the title! As you read each perspective, you start understand why Stone titled the book Odd One Out.

•From intersectionalism, sexual identity and fluidity, to labeling, to questioning one’s sexual orientation, Stone did a wonderful job balancing all these out and making sure they weren’t undermined.

•The love triangle. I know, in what universe are we living in where I enjoy a love triangle?! Normally, the drama in a love triangle involves the question of who‘s most worthy of the person-in-the-middle’s love. The triangle in Odd One Out didn’t do this! Instead, it brought up topics of love and sexuality. Also, there was no one person in the middle. Everyone was confused and trying to figure everything out, and I feel like that made the love triangle more realistic.

•Coop, Rae, and Jupiter all had distinct voices! Here’s the thing: the more POVs you have, the harder it is to make sure everyone has a distinct personality and voice. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read books where I was unsure which protagonist was speaking because they all sounded the same. Stone, however, was able to make sure Coop, Rae, and Jupiter had their own voices, personalities, problems, and lives. And the best part was that Stone didn’t do this by writing them as stereotypes like the jock, the popular girl, the nerd, etc. Coop, Rae, and Jupiter were all multi-dimensional characters I couldn’t help but love!

•If you’ve never read an author’s notes, please do yourself a favor and read Stone’s in this book. You’ll be able to tell how personal this story is for her. It adds just a little bit more to this messy but beautiful story. My favorite line in her note was: “Being who you are and loving who you love may not be easy, but it's always worthwhile.”

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Odd One Out was messy, realistic, and an all-around wonderful story. Nic Stone really knows how to delve into hard-hitting topics by showing how it affects characters right then and afterwards. I truly believe there are teens and adults alike who’ll be able to find themselves in Odd One Out.