Dear Wendy by Ann Zhao
Dear Wendy's Sophie and Jo, two aromantic and asexual
students at Wellesley College, engage in an online feud
while unknowingly becoming friends in real life, in this
dual POV Young Adult contemporary debut from Ann Zhao
Sophie Chi is in her first year at Wellesley College
(despite her parents’ wishes that she attend a “real”
university, rather than a liberal arts school) and has long
accepted her aromantic and asexual identities. Despite
knowing she’ll never fall in love, she enjoys running an
Instagram account that offers relationship advice to
students at Wellesley. No one except her roommate knows that
she’s behind the incredibly popular "Dear Wendy" account.
When Joanna “Jo” Ephron―also a first-year student at
Wellesley―created their “Sincerely Wanda” account, it wasn't
at all meant to be serious or take off like it does―not like
Dear Wendy’s. But now they might have a rivalry of sorts
with Dear Wendy? Oops . As if Jo’s not busy enough having
existential crises over gender, the fact that she’ll never
truly be loved or be enough, or her few friends finding The
One and forgetting her!
While tensions are rising online, Sophie and Jo are getting
closer in real life, bonding over their shared aroace
identities. As their friendship develops and they work
together to start a campus organization for other a-spec
students, can their growing bond survive if they learn just
who’s behind the Wendy and Wanda accounts?
With its exploration of a-spec identities, college life,
and more, this platonic comedy, perfect for fans of
Netflix’s The Half of It and Alice Oseman’s Loveless , is
ultimately a love story about two people who are not―and
will not―be in love!
I was so excited to read this YA book with not just one but two
aroace MCs and it was soo good!🤩 It was such a perfect
friend-com(is that right?😆) with amazing characters and a wonderful
platonic love story. I wish there had been more books like these
when I was in my teens but I'm so happy they're getting published
now!
Sophie Chi is a first year student at Wellesley College and has a
popular Instagram page called 'Dear Wendy' where she gives
relationship advice to other students but noone knows about her
identity except for her roommate. She does a lot of research and
gives serious advice! And Jo Ephron is another first year student
who had created her 'Sincerely Wanda' account as a joke but somehow
it took off and she has started offering advice to the submissions
in a sarcastic but playful manner. After a few playful jabs and
exchanges, Sophie and Jo end up in a weirdly funny online rivalry
without knowing who the other is.
And at the same time, they grow closer irl after meeting in a class
and bonding over their shared aroace identities and experiences. But
what will happen when they find out about each other's online
identities?👀😂
Honestly, this was so delightful and funny! I think I found Sophie a
bit more relatable at first with her advice-giving and how serious
she was about some things(what can I say? I guess I'm a Wendy and
yes I did read the acknowledgments too 😂) But it was hard not to
love Jo too - who might seem a bit prickly on the outside but was
actually very sweet and goofy!❣️ I loved how both of them had
varying experiences(asexuality is a spectrum) and finally felt seen
after meeting each other. Not only did I love their friendship but
the supporting cast was amazing too! I loved their roommates,
friends and family - who brought some drama and varying degrees of
supportiveness! I should probably stop gushing but I think this is
one of my fave YA/NA books from this year and I can't wait to read
more from this author!
You can also find this review on my bookstagram here
*I was provided with an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest
review*
Ann Zhao (she/her) is a graduate of Wellesley College, where she studied
linguistics with a minor in women’s and gender studies. She enjoys
cooking, baking, and knitting, but she does not enjoy cleaning up after
herself when she’s done with these activities. Dear Wendy is her debut
novel.
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