I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston

“You’re allowed to exist. Even if it means existing somewhere else.” 

Review of I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston (they/she) 
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an advanced copy and for the finished copy gift box! 

Synopsis: Chloe Green has one desire, to beat Shara Wheeler for valedictorian for their graduating class at Willowgrove Christian Academy and prove once and for all that she is better than her. But one month before graduation, Shara, the principal’s daughter, does something surprising; she kisses Chloe and then vanishes during prom. But Chloe isn’t the only one left confused, and she isn’t the only one who Shara kissed. Shara’s boyfriend, Smith, and her next-door neighbor, Rory, both want to know where Shara went and what they mean to her. With cryptic notes left by Shara, Chloe, Smith, and Rory learn who Shara really is, and where she went. 

Review: How do I even begin to explain Shara Wheeler? Cue Willowgrove students explaining how flawless Shara Wheeler is. That is to say, Casey McQuiston’s debut YA novel is a gayer Mean Girls, complete with high school cliques and social rules, with a bonus missing person mystery. Another way I view this book is Mean Girls but instead of Cady and Regina, it’s Naruto and Sasuke, trust me, it makes sense. I Kissed Shara Wheeler has the classic Casey McQuiston found family trope that we have seen in Red, White & Royal Blue and One Last Stop. With this book, we can also see Casey’s range and ability to write for multiple audiences, doing an excellent job of making an engrossing story not unlike their other two books, but with a YA audience in mind. 

With the self-discovery that many of the characters go through, and the hard truths that Chloe has to face, this book feels incredibly personal, and feels like Casey is talking directly to high school students about to venture out into the bigger world.  

Content warnings: religious trauma and homophobia  

Read: 4/22/22 – 4/30/22 
Release date: May 3, 2022; Wednesday Books 
Page count: 351 
Genre: Queer Contemporary 
Audience: Young Adult