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You Should See Me in a Crown
- Narrated by: Alaska Jackson
- Length: 7 hrs and 18 mins
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You Should See Me in a Crown
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Summary
Liz Lighty has always believed she’s too black, too poor, too awkward to shine in her small, rich, prom-obsessed Midwestern town. But it’s okay - Liz has a plan that will get her out of Campbell, Indiana, forever: attend the uber-elite Pennington College, play in their world-famous orchestra, and become a doctor.
But when the financial aid she was counting on unexpectedly falls through, Liz’s plans come crashing down...until she’s reminded of her school’s scholarship for prom king and queen. There’s nothing Liz wants to do less than endure a gauntlet of social media trolls, catty competitors, and humiliating public events, but despite her devastating fear of the spotlight she’s willing to do whatever it takes to get to Pennington.
The only thing that makes it halfway bearable is the new girl in school, Mack. She’s smart, funny, and just as much of an outsider as Liz. But Mack is also in the running for queen. Will falling for the competition keep Liz from her dreams...or make them come true?
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What listeners say about You Should See Me in a Crown
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Candy
- 13-09-20
Such a sweet, lovely story
this was a gorgeous satisfying audiobook about a queer black girl finding her light. loved it
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Oliv
- 09-06-20
Beautiful!
Loved this book!!! The main character Liz is a hero you fall for & root for from the beginning. It’s beautifully written & I would highly recommend it for everyone. Can’t wait to read more from Leah Johnson!
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 20-02-21
Wholesome and fun but missing key elements
This was a nice easy read but didn't wow me for a few reasons. I felt that the side characters weren't built upon enough so i didn't get a sense of their motivations or history. The brother and his illness were barely mentioned even though at times she claims it's an integral part of her life. The romance was love at first site which i straight up don't understand, i want that sweet yearning! Finally the ending felt rushed, unrealistic and unmotivated by the characters. Overall it was nice, it was okay, i liked it.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Luce Briggi
- 08-12-20
A cute and wholesome YA story
You Should See Me in a Crown is an incredibly thoughtful and wholesome YA book. Liz's first person narration won my heart within the very first pages. Leah Johnson's simple yet engaging prose perfectly conveyed Liz's perspective. Liz is in many respects a regular 'awkward' teen who is a dedicate student and friend, a good older sister and a responsible niece. But Liz has to contend with a lot more challenges, from her mother's death to her family's financial troubles. She's also black, queer, and has anxiety, and is often made to feel like an outlier at her high school (which is mostly attended by rich white kids). Understandably, she's eager to leave her small-town to attend the exclusive Pennington College School of Music.
Readers quickly get how and why music is everything for Liz. To attend Pennington she has to win their music scholarship...but she doesn't. Not wanting her grandparents to sell their house, Liz's brother convinces her to compete for the title of prom queen as their high school endows the king&queen with large checks. Although there is nothing Liz hates more than being in the spotlight, she finds herself campaigning for prom queen.
Winning other students' votes isn't easy, especially when she's competing with the most popular girls in her school. In the stressful weeks to follow Liz reconnects with an old friend (some great male/female solidarity here) while her relationship to her controlling best friend becomes frayed. Also, she falls for the cute new girl in her school, Mack.
While on paper the story might not scream originality, Johnson's novel is far from predictable or superficial. Girls that may initially strike us as little more than the queen bee's cronies, straight out of Mean Girls, may not be as passive or stupid as they might first appear. Liz herself finds herself gaining self-assurance.
As much as I liked following Liz's campaign and witnessing her character growth, the thing I most loved about this book was its romance. Although the relationship between Liz and Mack doesn't take the centerstage, it does underline much of the narrative. Their cute and tentative flirting had me grinning like an idiot. Their romance was equal parts sweet and heart-melting.
As a non-American I was horribly fascinated by Liz's school's 'prom-culture'. It seems so bizarre to me...but thanks to Liz's narrative I could see why prom is regarded by many as 'the event' of their school years. The dialogues are heavy on cultural references, some of them niche, some of them downright funny, all spot-on.
The only thing I could have done without is the 'food-fight'. I really don't get the 'appeal' of these scenes...(such a huge waste of food!).
If you like YA fiction that combine romance with coming of age (set against a background of music a la Night Music), touch on contemporary social issues, and present a more realistic view of high school, you should definitely check this one out (not going to lie, Liz&Mach's scenes alone are worth the read).
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- CM
- 09-01-21
I LOVED THIS!!!
Although the ending was predictable, this was a well brilliant story, well told.
I will be looking for other books from this author in the future.
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