Absolutely Maybe by Lisa Yee (Review by Bella Aire)

Description:
Meet Maybelline Mary Katherine Mary Ann Chestnut, named for two Miss Americas and her mother Chessy's favorite brand of mascara. Chessy teaches the students in her charm school her Seven Select Rules for Young Ladies, but she won't tell Maybe who her real father is -- or protect her from her latest scuzzball boyfriend. So Maybe hitches a ride to California with her friends Hollywood and Thammasat Tantipinichwong Schneider (aka Ted) -- and what she finds there is funny, sad, true, and inspiring . . . vintage Lisa Yee.


Review:

Absolutely Maybe surprised me in the best of ways. It was more serious than I had originally assumed, and the writing style was very well developed. The tone was darker for the majority of the novel than I had expected, as well, except for the time spent in Sam’s house (read it, and you’ll understand of what I’m speaking).


If you ask me to sum up Absolutely Maybe, I wouldn’t say it’s about the road trip a girl and her friends go on or about a girl finding her father. This novel is all about Maybe and her relationships. And that is where the strength lies*. I found that there wasn’t a single stereotyped relationship in the entire novel (excluding one, but I won’t mention names since that would give part of the story away). The relationship between Maybe and her mother was particularly remarkable.


But you know what really hit me? How different Maybe’s perception of herself was from what other people saw. Here’s this amazing girl who doesn’t even realize how extraordinary she is or how important she is to others.


One complaint about Absolutely Maybe: I did NOT agree with Ted or Hollywood’s treatment of Maybe when they first arrived to the city. But particularly Ted. No matter what the situation may be, true friends should stick together or at least take care of each other. I thought a random security guard’s treatment of Maybe was far better than that of her so called “best friend”. Strangely enough, after this initial problem, Ted turned out to be not that bad at all. So I didn’t feel that everything in his character really matched, if that makes sense.


So? The verdict? Absolutely Maybe is a great book. And I absolutely would recommend reading it.


always,

~bella aire~


*NOTE: The “strength in relationships” displayed here reminds me of another book I have read recently with phenomenal relationships- The Secret Life of Prince Charming by Deb Caletti. My review for that will be up in March. Comparing the relationships in TSLPC and Absolutely Maybe might be great for discussions if any book groups are interested.



Absolutely Maybe can be purchased here.

Or visit Lisa Yee here.