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“Old Enough is full of growth, heartbreak, and winsome bisexual chaos.”—Vogue
A debut novel “as astute, funny, and loving as your best friend from college”* about a young bisexual woman who is pulled between a new sense of community and loyalty to a friendship she’s outgrown
*Isle McElroy
Savannah "Sav" Henry is almost the person she wants to be, or at least she's getting closer. It’s the second semester of her sophomore year. She’s finally come out as bisexual, is making friends with the other queers in her dorm, and has just about recovered from her disastrous first queer “situationship.” She is cautiously optimistic that her life is about to begin.
But when she learns that Izzie, her best friend from childhood, has gotten engaged, Sav faces a crisis of confidence. Things with Izzie haven’t been the same since what happened between Sav and Izzie’s older brother when they were sixteen. Now, with the wedding around the corner, Sav is forced to reckon with trauma she thought she could put behind her.
On top of it all, Sav can’t stop thinking about Wes from her Gender Studies class—sweet, funny Wes, with their long eyelashes and green backpack. There’s something different here—with Wes and with her new friends (who delight in teasing her about this face-burning crush); it feels, terrifyingly, like they might truly see her in a way no one has before.
With a singularly funny, heartfelt voice, Old Enough explores queer love, community, and what it means to be a sexual assault survivor. Haley Jakobson has written a love letter to friendship and an honest depiction of what finding your people can feel like—for better or worse.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
June 20, 2023 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9780593741603
- File size: 278846 KB
- Duration: 09:40:55
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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May 15, 2023
Jakobson’s astute debut chronicles a young woman’s exploration of her trauma and sexuality. After an unsteady coming-of-age in high school, college sophomore Savannah “Sav” Henry has come out as bisexual and made a group of queer friends. When Sav’s childhood best friend, Izzie, announces her engagement, Sav flashes back to painful and unprocessed memories involving Izzie’s unnamed older brother, who raped her when she was 16 and he was 20. Though Sav is drawn back into Izzie’s orbit, she’s passed over as maid of honor because Izzie, who didn’t understand what Sav went through with her brother and blamed Sav, doesn’t want things to be “awkward.” As Sav prepares for the wedding, she risks her friendship with a classmate named Candace, the first to introduce her to the other queer people in their dorm, by secretly fooling around with Nova, a polyamorous woman who broke up Candace’s relationship. Jakobson lands the intensity of college friendships and sexual relationships with exquisite depictions of Sav and her cohort. Though the trauma plot threatens to become heavy-handed, Jakobson lends a gentle touch, showing how Sav works through her conflicted feelings about her rape. This writer shows plenty of promise. Agent: Ayla Zuraw-Friedland, Frances Goldin Literary Agency. -
Jenna Kray gives a pitch-perfect performance in this college coming-of-age novel about a young woman who is in the midst of a messy healing process. Sav is just starting to come into herself and her queer identity when the wedding of her childhood best friend forces her to confront traumas in her past. Kray expertly voices Sav at different ages: At 16, her voice is high and bubbly; at nearly 20, it's deeper and drier--she sounds more comfortable with herself and more curious about the world. Kray's narration reflects how much Sav has changed and helps illuminate just how exciting and scary change can be. This tender, bittersweet debut approaches sexual assault and trauma with care and nuance. L.S. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine -
June 10, 2024
Second-semester college sophomore Savannah, "Sav," is well on her way to finding herself. Cautiously optimistic since coming out as bisexual, connecting with a group of queer students in her dorm, and surviving a "situationship," she is ready to take on the world. But when her best friend Izzie announces her engagement, Sav gets nervous, especially about facing the reality of what happened between her and Izzie's older brother. To top it all off, she might be falling for Wes, a fellow student in her gender studies class, who seems perfect and sees Sav for who she really is. Jakobson's affecting debut is a heartfelt, queer coming-of-age novel. Jenna Kray portrays the brave but hurting Sav as she contends with past hurts and navigates a path forward. Playful banter among the ragtag group of queer students adds levity to sometimes thorny topics. Listeners will likely appreciate Jakobson's self-narrated author's note, urging the audience to enjoy the novel while taking care of their tender hearts. VERDICT Balancing humor and hope with the grittiness of becoming an adult, this poignant work satisfies. A potential crossover title for older teens and a solid recommendation for fans of Nina LaCour's Yerba Buena.--Elyssa Everling
Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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