BOOK REVIEW: Epically Earnest - Molly Horan

"In this delightfully romantic LGBTQ+ comedy-of-errors inspired by Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, a high school senior works up the courage to ask her long-time crush to prom all while deciding if she should look for her bio family.

Jane Grady’s claim to fame is that she was one first viral internet sensations, dubbed #bagbaby—discovered as a one-year-old in an oversized Gucci bag by her adopted father in a Poughkeepsie train station. Now in her senior year of high school, Jane is questioning whether she wants to look for her bio family due to a loving, but deeply misguided push from her best friend Algie, while also navigating an all-consuming crush on his cousin, the beautiful, way-out-of-her-league Gwen Fairfax.

And while Janey’s never thought of herself as the earnest type, she needs to be honest with her parents, Algie, Gwen, but mostly herself if she wants to make her life truly epic. With a wink toward Oscar Wilde’s beloved play, Epically Earnest explores the complexity of identity, the many forms family can take, and the importance of being . . . yourself."

Read Date - July 2024

Length - 195 pages

Genre - Romance, LGBTQ+, Contemporary

Rating - 6/10

Notes - This is a retelling of a play by Oliver Wilde called “the importance of being earnest” and though i haven’t seen it, i can clearly see the inspirations from what i’ve read. I like how everything starts out with the main character Jane and her friend Algie trying to find her birth parents, and THEN it leads into the back story. it’s so different from other books i’ve read, and i love it. I think the plot line of her being a “famous” baby because it gives more dynamic to her story. The living obit parts are really cute as well, and i like how they have multiple in the book for different people. I also like the text messages being included. it really zazzes the book up and makes it feel more unique. For me, the pining in the relationship is cute and isn’t overplayed. It’s not a slow burn and it doesnt play out like one. I like the way that Jane and Gwen have two very different lifestyles and come from different backgrounds. i think the relationships between both Jane and Gwen, and Cecil and Algie are REALLY cute. Like, so slice of life and adorable and sugary sweet that you just have to keep reading to see it all play out. It’s so amazing to me. The parts with reconnecting with her biological family is so interesting to me because it starts out as written as a side plot line, and it’s cool to see the relationship aspect play out with the drama stewing in the background before it slowly becomes apart of the main plot. The prom scenes are adorable, and i think this is a very good retelling