Audiobook Review: Ophelia After All by Racquel Marie

Author: Racquel Marie
Edition: audiobook
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends (February 8, 2022)
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, LGBTQIA+

Synopsis

My review of Ophelia After All

Ophelia After All is a phenomenal exploration of the growing pains of queer teenagehood and navigating changing identities.

Trigger warnings: Homophobia (challenged), encounter with a homophobic relative.

A Hug For Queer Teens

This book owns my heart and I don’t fully have the words to explain why. It is effortlessly diverse in so many beautiful ways, it’s funny and soft but most importantly it made me feel seen and represented on so many levels. I dearly appreciate how Racquel Marie captures that specific high-school experience of being a questioning queer teenager. I saw so much of myself in Ophelia, I too have looked at girls with gay panic I didn’t know how to label then. Most importantly, Marie treats these experiences with such care, nuance, and an utter softness that makes Ophelia After All feel like a hug for queer teens.

For me, Ophelia After All fills a gap in my heart I didn’t know I even had. I didn’t have a lot of queer friends as a teen (or at least none of us had grown into our queerness yet) and even less queer rep in media. So to get to read a book that makes up for all of that now, as a proudly queer adult? That’s magical. My heart is so happy for all the queer and questioning kids out there who can see themselves in these characters now. I hope your journey is easier for it.

Characters With Nuance and Purpose

I love how this book treats all the identities of its characters with nuance and ease. Their individual struggles and intersectional identities are given the space and depth they deserve even though their stories aren’t the main focus. Racquel Marie manages to impart the knowledge that there is nothing to be ashamed of, that queer existence is beautiful and worthy of celebration with such care and softness. I am honestly crying just thinking about it.

As a white reader, I can’t speak to any of the other identities and cultures represented in this book, but I loved how those experiences shaped the characters and the story. Again, Marie treats these intersectionalities with respect and care. All of the characters feel complex and nuanced and like their own people, not just sidekicks with plot purposes. The story treats them as equally complex as Ophelia and I think this goes a long way to allow readers to identify with them.

Additionally, all of these characters form such a good high school friend group and found family situation. and I love all of them to pieces. A special shout-out goes to my ace buddy Wes, teenage me would’ve been absolutely ecstatic to know you!

A Brilliant Audiobook Performance

All of these elements are elevated by Maria Liatis and her wonderful narration. The softness that is present in Marie’s writing translates perfectly into a performance full of heart. We feel with Ophelia as she navigates the struggles of growing into herself. To me, a truly great audiobook performance transports me into the world of the characters and Maria Liatis achieves this with stunning ease.

Overall…

Ophelia After All is an effortlessly diverse coming-of age story about identity, friendship, and growing into ourselves. Whenever we invent time travel, this book is coming back with me so teenage me can feel less alone.

This book is for you if…

…you like YA contemporary coming-of-age stories, especially about queer teens
…you are looking for a book that feels like a hug

A post you might also enjoy: My Review of The Coldest Touch by Isabel Sterling