Dear Wendy Review

 

It's like this book was written just for me!

Dear Wendy by Ann Zhao is about two first year students at Wellesey College in Wellesey, Massachusetts. One is named Sophie, the other is named Jo. Sophie runs an Instagram account called Dear Wendy where people at Wellesey send her questions (usually about relationships) and she answers them in posts. Jo runs a similar Instagram account called Sincerely Wanda, which is like Dear Wendy but instead of giving serious advice, they give much sillier answers. The two develop a huge rivalry online that the students at Wellesey can't get enough of. Both of them stay anonymous online, and no one else except for their respective roommates know each Instagram account's true identities. 

Sophie and Jo end up becoming friends after they meet in their Women and Gender Studies class. They bond over the fact that both of them are aromantic and asexual. They start hanging out with each other more and more and grow close, but each worry about their respective friend groups when some of their friends start dating each other. Both Sophie and Jo have had a history of friends leaving them, usually when two of their friends start dating. Both Sophie and Jo sometimes also have conflicted feelings about the fact that neither of them might end up in a romantic relationship. They each learn that love comes in many different forms--not just romantic love. 

There was a lot going on in this book, but it was all done so well! I found the main characters to be incredibly relatable. As an AroAce person myself, I am glad to be seeing more and more representation and nuanced discussions on the AroAce experience. My favorite part of the book was just seeing Sophie and Jo interact as friends--their friendship was so well done! I also love later in the book when they make a club at their school for AroAce people called the Dianas. The book also had me on the edge of my seat for the reveal that Sophie is Wendy and Jo is Wanda. When it does happen--it's heartbreaking. But don't worry. This being a YA contemporary book, it has a happy ending. There are lots of other queer characters too and they are all well-written as well. So yes, this book gets a perfect 5 stars!