Where You See Yourself Spiral-Bound | May 2, 2023
Claire Forrest
★★★★☆+ from 501 to 1,000 ratings
Where You See Yourself
“Where You See Yourself is an absolutely necessary and affirming addition to YA shelves.” –BuzzFeed Books
Where You See Yourself combines an unforgettable coming-of-age tale and a swoon-worthy romance in this story about a girl who's determined to follow her dreams.
By the time Effie Galanos starts her senior year, it feels like she’s already been thinking about college applications for an eternity—after all, finding a college that will be the perfect fit and be accessible enough for Effie to navigate in her wheelchair presents a ton of considerations that her friends don’t have to worry about.
What Effie hasn’t told anyone is that she already knows exactly what school she has her heart set on: a college in NYC with a major in Mass Media & Society that will set her up perfectly for her dream job in digital media. She’s never been to New York, but paging through the brochure, she can picture the person she’ll be there, far from the Minneapolis neighborhood where she's lived her entire life. When she finds out that Wilder (her longtime crush) is applying there too, it seems like one more sign from the universe that it’s the right place for her.
But it turns out that the universe is full of surprises. As Effie navigates her way through a year of admissions visits, senior class traditions, internal and external ableism, and a lot of firsts--and lasts--she starts to learn that sometimes growing up means being open to a world of possibilities you never even dreamed of. And maybe being more than just friends with Wilder is one of those dreams...
Praise for Where You See Yourself:
"This is a sweet, sometimes funny coming-of-age story with just the right amount of sigh-worthy romance in the mix." -- Common Sense Media
"An absolutely necessary and affirming addition to YA shelves." -- BuzzFeed Books
"An effervescent, emotional story with all the makings of an instant YA classic." -- Bookpage
★ "A refreshing upstander story that buoys realisticdisability advocacy with humor, grit, and a witty protagonist worth rooting for." -- School Library Journal, starred review
★ "Affirming, uplifting, and thoughtful." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ "A refreshing and empowering debut. Via upbeat and honest prose, Forrest expertly communicates one wheelchair user’s challenges of navigating an ableist world. Pitch-perfect rom-com moments bursting with dry humor balance mature reflections on relationships, personal agency, and disability advocacy." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Funny, true, and tender, this is a beautiful and resonant debut." -- Nina LaCour, Printz Award-winning author of We Are Okay
"Big hearted and beautiful. I'd follow Effie anywhere." -- Elana K. Arnold, National Book Award finalist author of What Girls are Made Of
"A sweet, moving, and triumphant story about finding your voice and the power of taking up space in a world that doesn’t always see you." -- Brandy Colbert, award-winning author of The Voting Booth
"A sweet coming-of-age romance that perfectly captures the impatient nostalgia of senior year and the love story between a girl and her future, Where You See Yourself will have your heart bang-snapping, melting, and dropping into your butt." -- Anna Meriano, author of This Is How We Fly and It Sounds Like This
"Forrest's triumphant, warm-hearted, and romantic debut takes ableism to task while celebrating both learning and fighting for what you deserve. I cheered, I cried, I fist-pumped." -- Dahlia Adler, author of Cool for the Summer
"Heartfelt, wry, and unputdownable,Where You See Yourself is a must-read." -- Nicole Kronzer, author of Unscripted
"Hilarious and heartfelt, Where You See Yourself is a book I needed as a disabled high school senior. What a gift Forrest has given readers." -- Lillie Lainoff, author of One for All
"A beautiful portrayal of disability and going after your dreams. Where You See Yourself is equal parts relatable, romantic, and necessary." -- Melissa See, author of You, Me, and Our Heartstrings