Reviews with the most likes.
I got this ARC on a whim since it's based on rural central Illinois, which is where I'm from. But nobody goes to Steak N Shake in this story so like, does it even count? Also, Bliss has been living there for 6 years and doesn't know what corn detasseling or bean walking are??? Sus tbh
yeah this is my equivalent of people nitpicking like New York subway stops in fiction, minor details that won't matter to most readers!!
Anyway...yeah, I think this is something that teens in small towns with some fraught family relationships might relate to. It is kind of wild that one of Bliss's main problems is that she is TOO BEAUTIFUL and her flaky model mom is jealous of her and then her agent sees Bliss on a Zoom call and is like “this teenager is so beautiful, she MUST MODEL.” But OK fine some wish fulfilment. OR
IS IT. (it is and the wish is “teenager whose emotional labor has been undervalued will find someone who values it and understands that she has had a uniquely hard life”.)
I think I also found it kind of unsatisfying that Bliss never really figured out what she wanted to do? Which I guess is also realistic because teens like, don't have to have things figured out. But it's maybe not the most satisfying fiction. Also the title is bc she wanted to learn how to play "Rainbow Connection" on what she thought was her mom's ukulele and she thought it was her mom's favorite song but then like...it wasn't? Or her mom lied about it being her favorite song I guess? IDK but then it wasn't like Bliss really discovered a love of music after that or anything.........so.........ok.
¯_(ツ)_/¯
