Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Readers will root for high schooler Beatrice to get out of her own way and find happiness in this entertaining reimagining of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing by Ohland (Funeral Girl). Longtime neighbors Beatrice and Bennie, both high school seniors, have never been friends. But when Beatrice's younger sister Hero--the person she loves most in the world--begins dating one of Bennie's close friends, the obstinate teens are forced into each other's orbit. As they grow closer, Beatrice finds herself crushing on pansexual Bennie, prompting Beatrice to embark on a quest to define her sexuality ("I am literally sitting in my garage questioning my sexuality. Oh my god"). Many inspiration-material elements take center stage: misunderstandings damage Beatrice and Bennie's blossoming friendship, and Beatrice's efforts to squash ugly rumors about Hero complicate the siblings' close relationship. Knowledge of Shakespeare isn't necessary to appreciate this drama-filled enemies-to-lovers plot that tackles themes of girl power, sisterhood, and confronting abusive romantic partners, and includes discussions surrounding the broad spectrum of sexuality and post-high school life. Main characters read as white. Ages 13--up. Agent: Jim McCarthy, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. (Nov.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 8 Up--Finally, another entry for the delicious genre of Shakespeare stories in modern-day high school! Walking in the footsteps of Clueless or 10 Things I Hate About You, this novel tackles the peak rivals-turned-lovers duo: Much Ado About Nothing's Beatrice and Benedict. Readers follow responsible older sister Beatrice as she grapples with younger sister Hero's new boyfriend and his boisterous friend group. It gets worse when that group includes Bennie, the literal girl-next-door and Beatrice's sworn nemesis. Ohland puts readers clearly in Beatrice's head, and she is way darker than Shakespeare's quippy heroine. She's still got the sass, but mixed with a hefty dose of social anxiety; this Beatrice is an outsider with loads of angst behind her snark. The sisters' backstory involves more drama, dealing with a dead mother and a mentally checked-out dad. Beatrice is concerned about college, about her own identity, about who she is beyond "Hero's sister." This novel ultimately expands past the relationship bubble. It's about finding one's identity, addressing personal sexuality, and discovering what one wants in the world with so many labels. VERDICT A feisty queer retelling of a classic, perfect for a teach-along or lesson enhancement.--Cat McCarrey
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Much Ado About Nothing gets a boldly queer contemporary twist. Beatrice's best friend has always been her little sister, Harriet, who goes by Hero. Ever since their mom died and their dad checked out, Bea has looked out for Hero the best she can. Bea's biggest enemy is Bennie, a neighbor in their Indianapolis suburb; the girls have exchanged sharp barbs since they were in the fifth grade. When Bennie abruptly returns home from boarding school and Hero starts dating Claude, one of Bennie's best friends, the nemeses' worlds collide. But a crisis leads Bea to wonder what's really been behind their conflict all along. Ohland has created a diverse cast (Bea, Hero, and Bennie present white, Bennie is pansexual, Claude is Black and bisexual) that embraces not only inclusivity but also the fluidity of sexuality and the necessity of self-exploration. As Bea works through her complicated feelings about Bennie, she confronts her own identity, questioning whether any label feels right. In the process, she leans on Pedro, a Latine friend of Bennie's, who's investigating identity questions of their own. Bea and Hero's bond as they face their mother's absence at pivotal points in their lives is a high point, but ultimately neither the characters nor their motivations ever quite come alive, and Bea and Bennie's eventual romance feels flat and one-dimensional. Though it takes admirably big swings, this reimagining doesn't live up to its potential. (content note, discussion questions, author's note)(Fiction. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
