Jesse, Cate, and Adeem are all just trying to survive- even before they catch wind of an alien planet’s message to earth: you will all be destroyed in seven days.
Our main trio holds a treasure trove of teen torments between them: absent parents, the desire to be loved, the inability to accept care, the need to be anywhere other than where they are.
Everyone is attempting to find someone who does not necessarily want to be found, and I was worried that we’d being falling into Paper Towns territory; but thankfully I Hope You Get This Message never left me with the creeps or with a bad taste in my mouth.
The kids are genuine, in all of their heart-on-sleeve (or pretending that hearts don’t exist) teenage glory, and they communicate with each other in familiar and meme-infused language without seeming cutesy or smarmy.
I don’t want to say too much about the characters; slowly getting to know them while they hurtle towards imminent and possible? impossible? doom is a bittersweet treat, and I’d hate to ruin any realizations for other readers along the way.
Farah Naz Rishi, in her debut novel, gives prominent voice to a cast of leads who are usually shunted into the “best friend” role; this isn’t your classic “privileged straight white boy who plays football really just wants to be a writer, dad!” teen melodrama- and for that I am grateful.
Also- how lovely is that jacket art?
I look forward to seeing what everyone else has to say once we start the CBR Future is Queer Bookclub; I had planned on reading only one option and moving on, but after enjoying this entry I plan on checking out all of the others as well.