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3.5 

If It Makes You Happy

By Claire Kann
If It Makes You Happy by Claire Kann digital book - Fable

Publisher Description

Claire Kann's If It Makes You Happy is a coming-of-age novel about a young girl learning to embrace her cultural and sexuality identity.

Winnie is living her best fat girl life and is on her way to the best place on earth. No, not Disneyland--her Granny’s diner, Goldeen’s, in the small town of Misty Haven. While there, she works in her fabulous 50’s inspired uniform, twirling around the diner floor and earning an obscene amount of tips. With her family and ungirlfriend at her side, she has everything she needs for one last perfect summer before starting college in the fall.

…until she becomes Misty Haven’s Summer Queen in a highly anticipated matchmaking tradition that she wants absolutely nothing to do with.

Newly crowned, Winnie is forced to take center stage in photoshoots and a never-ending list of community royal engagements. Almost immediately, she discovers that she’s deathly afraid of it all: the spotlight, the obligations, and the way her Merry Haven Summer King, wears his heart, humor, and honesty on his sleeve.

Stripped of Goldeen’s protective bubble, to salvage her summer Winnie must conquer her fears, defy expectations, and be the best Winnie she knows she can be—regardless of what anyone else thinks of her.

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91 Reviews

3.5
“I loved the small town summer vibes and the whole annual royalty engagement thing. I adored Winnie and her relationships with Winston and Sam. Sibling relationships give such joy because they’re one of the most important bonds to me personally. I loved the movie quoting thing that Winnie and Winston do. I feel like a lot of people I know (including myself) quote at each other. I didn’t fully comprehend Winnie and Kara’s relationship, I’m not sure if the reader is supposed to or not, what’s important is that they’re queer and they care deeply for each other. Seeing Dallas get brought into the group was a lot of fun too. His movements with Winnie made me happy. It brought me a lot of joy to see them connect and understand each other so well, especially Dallas understanding Winnie’s anxiety and physical touch cues.”
“Finally, QPR representation in a mainstream novel! I was so thrilled that it wasn't portrayed as just a friendship, and how it showed that any committed relationship takes time and work. A QPR is not less important that a romance, and this book makes sure that Kara isn't pushed aside as soon as a love interest appears. I've seen people villanizing Kara, in the comments. Not cool. As an aromantic person who gets super jealous when close friends date people and drop me, I understood Kara far too well. A QPR is a committed relationship, just like dating. If your partner suddenly started hanging with someone who had a crush on them you'd be pissed too. But because it's an atypical relationship we get no sympathy for our girl Kara. Was she in the wrong for yes. Is she an evil aromantic robot who can't feel love? No. She's so scared that her partner will abandon her for the type of relationship society wants you to prioritize. So stop y'alls arophobia in the comments. Kara did some fucked up things, but she herself isn't "evil" or "toxic". She's literally a confused and scared teenager learning how do deal with EMOTIONS. Thanks. Also if you don't know what a QPR is look it up. It's cool as hell!”

About Claire Kann

Claire Kann hails from the glorious Bay Area where the weather is regrettably not nearly as temperate as it used to be. She has a BA in English/Creative Writing from Sonoma State University, works for a nonprofit that you may have heard of where she daydreams like she's paid to do it, and dislikes snow and summer. Claire is the author of Let’s Talk About Love.

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