LGBT

Late to the Party

Late to the Party

  • Downloads：4820
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2021-05-26 11:51:06
  • Update Date：2025-09-07
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Kelly Quindlen
  • ISBN：1250209129
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary

From author Kelly Quindlen comes a poignant and deeply relatable story about friendship， self-acceptance， and what it means to be a Real Teenager。 Late to the Party is an ode to late bloomers and wallflowers everywhere。



Seventeen is nothing like Codi Teller imagined。

She's never crashed a party， never stayed out too late。 She's never even been kissed。 And it's not just because she's gay。 It's because she and her two best friends， Maritza and JaKory， spend more time in her basement watching Netflix than engaging with the outside world。

So when Maritza and JaKory suggest crashing a party， Codi is highly skeptical。 Those parties aren't for kids like them。 They're for cool kids。 Straight kids。

But then Codi stumbles upon one of those cool kids， Ricky， kissing another boy in the dark， and an unexpected friendship is formed。 In return for never talking about that kiss， Ricky takes Codi under his wing and draws her into a wild summer filled with late nights， new experiences， and one really cute girl named Lydia。 The only problem？ Codi never tells Maritza or JaKory about any of it。

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Reviews

Crowclock ，

I wanted to like this， but I hated most of the characters in this book。Codi， to me， was an unlikeable character。 Yes， Codi is a teenager who is insecure and wants to feel a little adventurous， but finds it safer to be with her friends who she can be out with。 That's totally normal。 Hell， I was like that。 To be fair， her friends， Maritza and JaKory， were just as unlikeable。 I have a big issue with biphobia and it felt like the only way JaKory was going to accept Maritza's identity is if she dated I wanted to like this， but I hated most of the characters in this book。Codi， to me， was an unlikeable character。 Yes， Codi is a teenager who is insecure and wants to feel a little adventurous， but finds it safer to be with her friends who she can be out with。 That's totally normal。 Hell， I was like that。 To be fair， her friends， Maritza and JaKory， were just as unlikeable。 I have a big issue with biphobia and it felt like the only way JaKory was going to accept Maritza's identity is if she dated a woman。 I don't have the time nor energy to deal with people who will only validate bisexual people if they only date the same gender。 It's great that she had these friendships with people she could be out with， but there was hardly any consequences Codi had to face for her decisions that hurt her friends。 A lot of situations could have been fixed if she had communicated a bit better。 I am giving her the benefit of the doubt because she is a teenager and it is hard to express yourself at that age。 It makes sense she was drawn to Ricky's world of parties and friends。 It was new and thrilling。 I feel that if this story focused more on the falling out of these friendships and having to move on， I might have enjoyed it more。Overall， the author did a decent job understanding teenagers， but sadly this wasn't the story for me。P。S。 please don't drive ask your friend to drive you miles away from adults to meet someone online while you are a teenager。 So many things can go wrong。 。。。more

anna ，

wlw/mlm solidarity！！ my favourite thing in the universe！！ god i loved this book

Dorothy ，

Beautiful coming of age

Alanis ，

Wow！ I have never loved a book this much。 I cried the whole time but not out of sadness， it was more like i related too much。 I felt of of Codi’s emotions as my own。 I think this is my new favorite book。

RD ，

I loved this book so much！ What a precious gem。 I read Her Name in the Sky years ago and remember really liking it， but Late to the Party is currently my favorite from the author （I’m reading her latest one after this）。Codi， Ricky， Maritza， JaKory， and all the others really came to life for me。 Once you’re in Codi’s shoes you go back to a different version of your teenage years and everything feels relatable and genuine。 From the anxiety and uncertainty to the passion and courage to put yourself I loved this book so much！ What a precious gem。 I read Her Name in the Sky years ago and remember really liking it， but Late to the Party is currently my favorite from the author （I’m reading her latest one after this）。Codi， Ricky， Maritza， JaKory， and all the others really came to life for me。 Once you’re in Codi’s shoes you go back to a different version of your teenage years and everything feels relatable and genuine。 From the anxiety and uncertainty to the passion and courage to put yourself out there。Every conflict in the book felt earned and even things that were a bit more cliché came across as special and heart warming in their own way。 I constantly found myself with a silly smile every time Codi said or did something endearing （which was often！）Highly recommend！ Lovely。 Simply lovely 。。。more

Intellectual Grinch ，

great depiction of reality， with complex and relatable characters that give this story lots of twists and turns as it goes。 a happy ending that hugs your heart and leaves you wanting more。

Cath ，

This book was just okay。 I didn’t love that it makes it seem like you to have to do all these “teenage” things to grow up and find yourself。 It really emphasizes the idea of fitting into what society says we should be doing as teenagers rather than letting them find themselves。 Granted， it seemed like Codi was okay with it and ended up finding herself。 But it should be noted that you can find yourself without partying and drinking and all that。 The writing was good in this book。 I just didn’t lo This book was just okay。 I didn’t love that it makes it seem like you to have to do all these “teenage” things to grow up and find yourself。 It really emphasizes the idea of fitting into what society says we should be doing as teenagers rather than letting them find themselves。 Granted， it seemed like Codi was okay with it and ended up finding herself。 But it should be noted that you can find yourself without partying and drinking and all that。 The writing was good in this book。 I just didn’t love the story of it。 。。。more

aya ，

2。5 ⭐️this book probably isn’t as bad as i thought it was just because i REALLY thought i would enjoy it and i didn’t。 all these characters do is argue and i really didn’t care for them or their relationships （except for jakory， you did nothing wrong） and i’m honestly kinda shocked at how highly rated this is。 codi really ticked me off most of the time。 but i guess i could see why it would be a comfort read for some people。 it was just a drag for me

Emma ，

This book was sweet and easy to read。 I liked that the kids in it weren't super stereotyped。 Jocks， cool kids， nerdy kids， whatever。 This book managed to avoid labels and those high school tropes。 I liked the relationship between Codi and her brother the most。 This book was sweet and easy to read。 I liked that the kids in it weren't super stereotyped。 Jocks， cool kids， nerdy kids， whatever。 This book managed to avoid labels and those high school tropes。 I liked the relationship between Codi and her brother the most。 。。。more

Katherine ，

this book is a raw portrayal of teenagers， and i can appreciate how this story shows that。however。。。 i really wanted this to be a five star read。 and i'm a little disappointed that it isn't。i will be real here: i wanted to dnf the book at the beginning。 the writing didn't click and neither did the characters。 i'm glad i stuck it through， cause i genuinely enjoyed it， but i do have a bone to pick with the novel。my main two concerns above weren't really fixed， especially the characters （i got pret this book is a raw portrayal of teenagers， and i can appreciate how this story shows that。however。。。 i really wanted this to be a five star read。 and i'm a little disappointed that it isn't。i will be real here: i wanted to dnf the book at the beginning。 the writing didn't click and neither did the characters。 i'm glad i stuck it through， cause i genuinely enjoyed it， but i do have a bone to pick with the novel。my main two concerns above weren't really fixed， especially the characters （i got pretty used to the writing）。 the characters felt kind of one dimensional at times， and i couldn't connect with any of them really， especially maritzia and jakory。 as such， this made big relationship moments feel small and detached。 really sucks， because i feel the characters could have really made this book so much more。 all that being said， i thought the relationship between codi and lydia was cute。 yay sapphicsi will eventually read she drives me crazy （if i can find it， it's sold out everywhere）， because everyone raves about it。 i hope i love it。 。。。more

Annie J。 ，

i love this book so much， i’m kinda devastated i finished it。 i’m attached to all the characters and i can tell i’ll read this again and again！ the book has important messages about friendship， trying new things， and even sibling-bonding。 i’d recommend it especially for queer teenagers， but anyone could identify with these characters！

alexa ，

i read this book partly because i couldn’t find anything else and partly because i had read kelly quindlens other books so it only felt right。 but i will say i did not enjoy this NEARLY as much as her name in the sky or she drives me crazy。 i liked codi for the most part， i just could not stand her two friends， kory and maritza。 i found them juvenile and immature and honestly i completely understand codi making new friends with ricky， lydia， and the other characters。 maritza and kory just bother i read this book partly because i couldn’t find anything else and partly because i had read kelly quindlens other books so it only felt right。 but i will say i did not enjoy this NEARLY as much as her name in the sky or she drives me crazy。 i liked codi for the most part， i just could not stand her two friends， kory and maritza。 i found them juvenile and immature and honestly i completely understand codi making new friends with ricky， lydia， and the other characters。 maritza and kory just bothered me to no end。 i didn’t enjoy them and any conversation they were having made them sound like fresh out of middle school kids who want to go to a senior party （not a good look might i add）。 i thought codi and lydia were a cute relationship development， very new and fresh sort of idea and i thought they were really cute so i did enjoy that aspect， but really not much more。 。。。more

Sky Brown ，

I really liked this book but honestly I just couldn't connect to main character Codi。 I loved the writing style。 I really liked this book but honestly I just couldn't connect to main character Codi。 I loved the writing style。 。。。more

meredith fleming ，

i can't wait until gen z becomes the authors writing queer fiction because the tumblr and doctor who references are getting to me to say the leasti went into this expecting it to be super centered around the romance but i found that the driving point of this point was friendship and self exploration。 i was a little annoyed by that at first， but the book's cover and synopsis definitely don't scream Romance so much as high school contemporary so all good！as a high schooler with social anxiety， i r i can't wait until gen z becomes the authors writing queer fiction because the tumblr and doctor who references are getting to me to say the leasti went into this expecting it to be super centered around the romance but i found that the driving point of this point was friendship and self exploration。 i was a little annoyed by that at first， but the book's cover and synopsis definitely don't scream Romance so much as high school contemporary so all good！as a high schooler with social anxiety， i related a ton with the main character （as annoying as she could be， though that was relatable as well） and can definitely see myself thinking about the messages and characters in this book regularly。 it wasn't a literary masterpiece， but it entertained and moved me a ton so it deserves five stars :] 。。。more

MareBrw ，

Ayyy me gustó mucho c:

Juliette ，

ricky flint i’d d*e for you

Sim ✨（wholesimreads） ，

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5 stars✔️ [adv。] 10。 A free book from your TBR listThis was such a Sim book 😂 It had all the rep， diversity and references I wanted/needed。 I also felt so validated in terms of being socially awkward and anxious。 I laughed， screamed and had that constant urge to keep reading 🥲

Bridget ，

I read this falling asleep on an air mattress in salt lake city during a road trip， and after 12 hours of driving it was lovely in its simplicity。 I love unlikely friendship stories， I felt like the core of this book was very realistic high school friendship dynamics， which was entertaining to look back on。 Again， very sweet and light， like a meringue， as is Kelly Quindlens trademark writing style。

daphnereads ，

i actually enjoyed this a lot more then She Drives Me Crazy， the romance defiantly isn't as good but i absolutely loved everything else i actually enjoyed this a lot more then She Drives Me Crazy， the romance defiantly isn't as good but i absolutely loved everything else 。。。more

Amanda ☕ Steeping Stories ☕ ，

DNF @ P45I may be pre-emptively abandoning ship here， but:1） nothing about the protag has grabbed me;2） there is so much telling that I already feel like I've been force-fed the three MCs' fears and desires rather than discovering them slowly and enjoyably;3） the characters literally feel like 12 or 13-year-olds （in all their petty glory） rather than older teens; 4） their in-jokes feel cringe and read like an author trying too hard to tap into "teenagers today"; and4） I am personally offended by DNF @ P45I may be pre-emptively abandoning ship here， but:1） nothing about the protag has grabbed me;2） there is so much telling that I already feel like I've been force-fed the three MCs' fears and desires rather than discovering them slowly and enjoyably;3） the characters literally feel like 12 or 13-year-olds （in all their petty glory） rather than older teens; 4） their in-jokes feel cringe and read like an author trying too hard to tap into "teenagers today"; and4） I am personally offended by the author's use of "？！" in dialogue and will tolerate this abhorrent grammar choice no longer。I can see the cold waters lapping at the deck。 Maybe I'll come back one day and realise it wasn't all death and slow drowning。 For now， bonsoir book。Book Blog | Writer Website | Twitter | Instagram 。。。more

Grace ，

Probably a 3。5， nice lil queer teen romcom。

Julia ，

Definately the best book I read this year！ I love all the characters and it was the first time I really could identify with a protagonist。 This book has helped me coming in terms with myself and figuring out that I want more in life。

Kylie Sparks ，

This is a book about a queer teen with social anxiety who has had the same close friend group most of her life。 She loves them but feels locked into the version of herself that they know。 She starts breaking out and making new friends， even a possible girl friend， but doesn't tell her old friends or her brother。 I like that the teens remind me of teens I've known--although， descriptions would have been helpful。 I have to assume all of the teens in this book are white， as she doesn't say otherwis This is a book about a queer teen with social anxiety who has had the same close friend group most of her life。 She loves them but feels locked into the version of herself that they know。 She starts breaking out and making new friends， even a possible girl friend， but doesn't tell her old friends or her brother。 I like that the teens remind me of teens I've known--although， descriptions would have been helpful。 I have to assume all of the teens in this book are white， as she doesn't say otherwise。 And Codi's behavior throughout much of the book is pretty unlikeable， though she does redeem herself in the end。 。。。more

Laura S ，

This was such a cute， feel-good coming of age story。 I loved the characters。 The writing kept me interested。 My only complaint is that all of the parents in this book seem very absent and not at all involved in their kid's lives。 This was such a cute， feel-good coming of age story。 I loved the characters。 The writing kept me interested。 My only complaint is that all of the parents in this book seem very absent and not at all involved in their kid's lives。 。。。more

Claudia ，

this beautiful book will forever hold a special place in my heart。

hannah ，

such a cute nostalgic book but lowkey made me regret my own high school experience and made me wanna live life to the fullest

Anna ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 2。5This book was super eh。 It wasn’t particularly bad， I just felt bored reading it。 Tbh not all that much really happened。 For the most part there wasn’t really anything I liked or disliked about this book but my one little problem was that it did sort of make it seem like there was something wrong with not doing or wanting to do the “typical teenage things” like drink， go to parties， hook up with people， etc。 At the beginning of the book I thought the message was going to be that there’s nothi 2。5This book was super eh。 It wasn’t particularly bad， I just felt bored reading it。 Tbh not all that much really happened。 For the most part there wasn’t really anything I liked or disliked about this book but my one little problem was that it did sort of make it seem like there was something wrong with not doing or wanting to do the “typical teenage things” like drink， go to parties， hook up with people， etc。 At the beginning of the book I thought the message was going to be that there’s nothing wrong with being different， even if it may mean other people will think you’re “boring”， but then it didn’t go there， the moral started being more like don’t worry if you’re nerdy， eventually you’ll find people who make you want to do fun things？ Idk it was kind of unclear， but it was just a little bit offensive to someone like me， who not only didn’t do the “typical teenage things” while in high school， but didn’t want to。 。。。more

May ，

I adore this book with my whole heart。 I found Codi so relatable and understood her relationship with being queer。 Both the romantic and platonic relationships in this book made my heart flutter （I'm waiting for my Ricky and Lydia）。 It brought layers and sides to everything， including the depiction of popular and unpopular friendship dynamics that wasn't stereotypical。 Love love love <3 I adore this book with my whole heart。 I found Codi so relatable and understood her relationship with being queer。 Both the romantic and platonic relationships in this book made my heart flutter （I'm waiting for my Ricky and Lydia）。 It brought layers and sides to everything， including the depiction of popular and unpopular friendship dynamics that wasn't stereotypical。 Love love love <3 。。。more

caitlin ，

this was so cute pls

Bethany ，

Codi has two best friends， Maritza and JaKory。 She's never needed anyone else。。。 until the summer before senior year when she realizes that their friendship feels more confining than freeing。 A new friendship with popular jock Ricky， whom she catches secretly and furtively macking with another guy， allows Codi to spread her wings。。。 even allowing her to get a girlfriend。 However， are these new friends worth dumping her tried and true besties？As I listened to the audiobook of Late to the Party， I Codi has two best friends， Maritza and JaKory。 She's never needed anyone else。。。 until the summer before senior year when she realizes that their friendship feels more confining than freeing。 A new friendship with popular jock Ricky， whom she catches secretly and furtively macking with another guy， allows Codi to spread her wings。。。 even allowing her to get a girlfriend。 However， are these new friends worth dumping her tried and true besties？As I listened to the audiobook of Late to the Party， I projected myself hard into Codi。 I， too， wasn't interested in partying or being "popular" in high school。 I， too， was shy and timid， especially around new people and in new situations （still am！）。 I， too， wasn't interested in dating。 So， I thought， well， maybe Codi is autistic。 That theory gets shot down。 Maybe Codi is asexual。 That theory gets shot down。 I really wanted this to be the story that high school me really needed for a mirror text。 Alas， it was not。 But Codi went the exact opposite direction of what I did: she joined with the popular kids， started partying， and started dating。 Can she really be "late to the party" if she's only 17 when she "arrives"？？ LGBTQIA+ diverse:- Codi is a lesbian。- JaKory is gay。- Maritza is bi。- Ricky is gay。- Various other characters are a variety of/unspecified alphabet mafia members。 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Late to the Party

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Late to the Party&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Late to the Party&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0