Yes No Maybe So

I didn’t expect to fall for this book as hard as I fell for its protagonists. As a lifelong avoid-er of politics (and small talk), I was skeptical about a YA rom-com set during an election. But Albertalli and Saeed’s collaboration is a masterclass in making activism feel human. Jamie’s ‘I’ll handle the spreadsheets’ energy was instantly relatable, while Maya’s journey from ‘I’m fine’ to ‘I’m actually not’ hit close to home. The pacing is tight, with each canvassing disaster (wrong addresses, awkward doorstep conversations) upping the stakes without feeling like a checklist. My only critique? The side characters—especially Jamie’s mom—sometimes feel like mouthpieces for progressive talking points. That said, their earnestness grows on you. Narration-wise, Crouch and Sircar are a dream team. Crouch’s Jamie is a vocal chameleon, shifting from sheepish to sassy mid-sentence, while Sircar nails Maya’s exasperated sighs and sudden bursts of vulnerability. The audiobook’s runtime flew by, likely because I kept rewinding to relisten to their banter. If you’ve ever felt like an outsider in your own life, this one’s a balm.