Noah Frye Gets Crushed book review

 


Extra middle of the week book review today because why not. Noah Frye Gets Crushed is a new Middle Grade by Maggie Horne releasing on May 28th 2024 from Firefly Press in the UK (who I love as a publisher) and I was fortunate enough to get a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review through Netgally. 

Noah Frye Gets Crushed is a Middle Grade contemporary story that follows Noah who comes back from summer camp excited to tell her best friends all about the new friend she made who is moving to their school but instead finds them discussing the boys they kissed and are crushing on. Noah feels out of place during these discussions and for potentially the first time that she doesn’t fit with Zoey and Luna so to combat this she pretends she has a crush too. 

During the story, we see quite a mix of characters including Noah and her friends, her parents, her sister and Lydia who runs the animal centre where Noah volunteers at weekly. Noah herself felt like she was twelve and while at times she possibly came across as a little bit younger the situations she found herself in and the way she acted most of the time felt reasonable for her age. The story also felt accurate twelve is often the age when some of these things start to change but it didn’t feel like they were acting like teenagers yet keeping the balance quite well. I also really liked the support that Noah found around her from her older sister who while annoying does listen to her, to the friends she already has and the ones that she develops throughout the story and the adults she has surrounding her, they all show her that they care and want to support her while also being there when she needs them. 

I struggled to get invested in this one which is a shame because it's a really good and important story about friendship and moulding yourself to fit in even if that’s not who you are. There was quite a lot of drama which is completely normal for the age but not something I always enjoy reading about for extended periods. 

This story tackles topics that are extremely important in a way that is suitable and understandable for younger readers. It makes them approachable and doesn’t use terms that may confuse them which I liked. Stories like this are key for younger readers to have access to as they begin to explore who they are and I’m happy that I am able to read and review in a period where so many of these fantastic stories are getting written. 

I will be recommending this book and while it’s not necessarily one I’ll come back to myself I enjoyed my reading experience and am glad to have done so. It feels well suited towards younger readers in a way that can also include the adults that are around them. 3 stars as it was an enjoyable read but not a new favourite or one I’ll likely reread at any point in the near future.

Thank you Netgalley and Firefly Press for a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review. 

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