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Girl Hearts Girl
An inspiring, uplifting and sympathetic story about sexuality and self-acceptance, Lucy Sutcliffe's debut memoir is a personal and moving coming out story. In 2010, at seventeen, Lucy Sutcliffe began an online friendship with Kaelyn, a young veterinary student from Michigan. Within months, they began a long distance relationship, finally meeting in the summer of 2011. Lucy's video montage of their first week spent together in Saint Kitts, which she posted to the couple's YouTube channel, was the first in a series of films documenting their long-distance relationship. Funny, tender and candid, the films attracted them a vast online following. Now, for the first time, Lucy's writing about the incredible personal journey she's been on; from never quite wanting the fairy-tale of Prince Charming to realising she was gay at the age of 14, through three years of self-denial to finally coming out to friends and family, to meeting her American girlfriend Kaelyn.
272 pages, Paperback
First published June 24, 2016
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August 2, 2018
I’ve been interested in reading more delightful and thoughtful stories to lift up my spirits a bit after A Little Life. And Girl Hearts Girl arrived at just the right time. I actually felt more alive while reading it.
An inspiring, uplifting and sympathetic story about sexuality and self-acceptance, Lucy Sutcliffe's debut memoir is a personal and moving coming out story. It tackles a diverse range of subjects such as “love and acceptance over hatred, bigotry and homophobia,” anxiety, coming-of-age, loving oneself, long-distance relationships, feminism, toxic friendships, fangirling over Harry Potter, and more.
Lucy Sutcliffe walks us chronologically through her life, and I loved getting to see her grow and accept herself slowly but surely. I also adored those moments when she opened up to her loved ones about her sexuality. Just her honest take on such a vulnerable moment made my heart warm. I have only love for Lucy Sutcliffe.
Here are a few of those instances and more:
On coming out to her parents via email:
“I’ve received criticism, having retold this story to people, that coming out in an email is “chickening out.” I believe whole-heartedly that this is not the case – quite the opposite. The bottom line is, coming out is an incredibly personal thing. Absolutely no one should have a say in how you go about it, except you. It’s a choice you have to make, and you do it when you feel ready and comfortable, in the way you deem fit. There is no wrong or right way, and it should never be rushed. Take all the time you need.”
REALLY IMPORTANT!!!
I also want to thank this book for mentioning a TV show called The L Word that I plan on binge-watching this weekend. I mean, after this vibrant description how can I not be intrigued:
“I was enthralled. When the characters cried, I cried. When they laughed, I laughed. I became utterly invested in their storylines. They were like the gay best friends I never had. I felt suddenly connected, and more importantly, I felt at ease. Here was a group of women, living ordinary, happy, successful lives, while embracing their sexualities. Through this show that I’d happened upon just by chance, I was suddenly learning about things like equality, women’s rights, and feminism. My mind had been blown – I didn’t know half of these concepts even existed. ”
Sounds exactly like the kind of show I would love.
And then the second part of this book focused a bit more on her long distance relationship with Kaelyn, which was just heart-warming to see her find someone she could be completely herself with. I also love how Kaelyn was the first person Lucy came out to. And I think it was absolutely wonderful how we could experience them meeting up for the first time in both visual and written media.
However, I feel a little unsure if I should continue talking about their relationship as they have broken up recently. I knew going into this that they had gone each their own way, but it was still kind of heart-breaking.
Still, Girl Hearts Girl is a story filled with tenderness, love, honesty, and achingly realness. I'll always cherish this quick, but long lasting read.
*Note: I'm an Amazon Affiliate. If you're interested in buying Girl Hearts Girl, just click on the image below to go through my link. I'll make a small commission!*
Support creators you love. Buy a Coffee for nat (bookspoils) with Ko-fi.com/bookspoils
An inspiring, uplifting and sympathetic story about sexuality and self-acceptance, Lucy Sutcliffe's debut memoir is a personal and moving coming out story. It tackles a diverse range of subjects such as “love and acceptance over hatred, bigotry and homophobia,” anxiety, coming-of-age, loving oneself, long-distance relationships, feminism, toxic friendships, fangirling over Harry Potter, and more.
Lucy Sutcliffe walks us chronologically through her life, and I loved getting to see her grow and accept herself slowly but surely. I also adored those moments when she opened up to her loved ones about her sexuality. Just her honest take on such a vulnerable moment made my heart warm. I have only love for Lucy Sutcliffe.
Here are a few of those instances and more:
On coming out to her parents via email:
“I’ve received criticism, having retold this story to people, that coming out in an email is “chickening out.” I believe whole-heartedly that this is not the case – quite the opposite. The bottom line is, coming out is an incredibly personal thing. Absolutely no one should have a say in how you go about it, except you. It’s a choice you have to make, and you do it when you feel ready and comfortable, in the way you deem fit. There is no wrong or right way, and it should never be rushed. Take all the time you need.”
REALLY IMPORTANT!!!
I also want to thank this book for mentioning a TV show called The L Word that I plan on binge-watching this weekend. I mean, after this vibrant description how can I not be intrigued:
“I was enthralled. When the characters cried, I cried. When they laughed, I laughed. I became utterly invested in their storylines. They were like the gay best friends I never had. I felt suddenly connected, and more importantly, I felt at ease. Here was a group of women, living ordinary, happy, successful lives, while embracing their sexualities. Through this show that I’d happened upon just by chance, I was suddenly learning about things like equality, women’s rights, and feminism. My mind had been blown – I didn’t know half of these concepts even existed. ”
Sounds exactly like the kind of show I would love.
And then the second part of this book focused a bit more on her long distance relationship with Kaelyn, which was just heart-warming to see her find someone she could be completely herself with. I also love how Kaelyn was the first person Lucy came out to. And I think it was absolutely wonderful how we could experience them meeting up for the first time in both visual and written media.
However, I feel a little unsure if I should continue talking about their relationship as they have broken up recently. I knew going into this that they had gone each their own way, but it was still kind of heart-breaking.
Still, Girl Hearts Girl is a story filled with tenderness, love, honesty, and achingly realness. I'll always cherish this quick, but long lasting read.
*Note: I'm an Amazon Affiliate. If you're interested in buying Girl Hearts Girl, just click on the image below to go through my link. I'll make a small commission!*
Support creators you love. Buy a Coffee for nat (bookspoils) with Ko-fi.com/bookspoils
May 29, 2017
I have a bad habit. When I’m reading a book, I fold the corner of every page which contains a line I love. It might be a turn of phrase that I find particularly beautiful, or a witticism that really hits the spot, or - perhaps most importantly - something that really speaks to me; something that makes me think ‘is the author writing this for me?’ or 'this is a line to live by’.
Most books will end up with two or three pages folded. Sometimes, rarely, there’ll be four or five. This book has eight.
That’s not to say that I think this book can be boiled down into eight shining moments, because it can’t. The whole book is a shining moment. This is a very important book, and I’m so glad it has been written. No, what these eight pages mean is that my own journey through this book had eight stops; eight moments where I paused and tangibly thought 'this is why this book is necessary. This is why this book exists. I am thankful that it does’.
I’m so excited to see how many stops other people make in this book, and I’m sure that there’ll be many.
Most books will end up with two or three pages folded. Sometimes, rarely, there’ll be four or five. This book has eight.
That’s not to say that I think this book can be boiled down into eight shining moments, because it can’t. The whole book is a shining moment. This is a very important book, and I’m so glad it has been written. No, what these eight pages mean is that my own journey through this book had eight stops; eight moments where I paused and tangibly thought 'this is why this book is necessary. This is why this book exists. I am thankful that it does’.
I’m so excited to see how many stops other people make in this book, and I’m sure that there’ll be many.
July 7, 2017
I knew nothing of Lucy or her channel before reading this, and I'm sure her fans love it. For the rest of us though, it lacks any real insight, substance or indeed storytelling. The writing isn't great, nothing much happens - nothing at all for the first half of the book - and for what is essentially an autobiography of a young girl's coming out story and first love, there really isn't the depth and emotion I think it needs.
I appreciate that Sutcliffe wants to be able to help the next generation to see themselves represented, to be told that they're normal and their feelings are valid. I think that's so SO important! But I think her channel is where that will happen effectively, not with this book.
I appreciate that Sutcliffe wants to be able to help the next generation to see themselves represented, to be told that they're normal and their feelings are valid. I think that's so SO important! But I think her channel is where that will happen effectively, not with this book.
July 18, 2023
Quick and interesting
It was a quick and very easy read, but I also found it interesting. Enjoyable how the chapters was set up.
It was a quick and very easy read, but I also found it interesting. Enjoyable how the chapters was set up.
August 6, 2017
Some of you may know that at this precise time in my life, I am finally realising my sexuality. I've known all my life that I'm definitely not straight and bisexual never seemed to fit either - and thanks to the internet, namely tumblr, I realised I am pansexual. So this book helped me realise that confusion is okay, no matter where you are in life, and there is no rush to figure out who you are or what you are feeling.
This book spoke to me on various different levels - from her struggles in school to her struggles with deciphering life. It spoke to me and resonated with me deeply and I am so glad to have read it - it touched my heart and made me happy, and has given me a good smile.
I think this will definitely aid young people who are in situations that Lucy was in - I definitely think that this book fills a hole for younger generations and will help people find their footing with sexuality and who they are in the same way that I found that comfort from this book.
This book spoke to me on various different levels - from her struggles in school to her struggles with deciphering life. It spoke to me and resonated with me deeply and I am so glad to have read it - it touched my heart and made me happy, and has given me a good smile.
I think this will definitely aid young people who are in situations that Lucy was in - I definitely think that this book fills a hole for younger generations and will help people find their footing with sexuality and who they are in the same way that I found that comfort from this book.
July 26, 2016
Simple, yet beautifully and kindly written. Very important to have this type of material out there for the LGBTQ community. Even if you are an ally, it's a great read. And of course, any Lucy and Kaelyn fan has to read it. Such an incredible story of love an loyalty, but the first half of the book, which is about self discovery, is just as intriguing.
March 2, 2017
I just wrote the longest review I ever wrote and I really don't feel like writing everything down again. Especially because this is an unknown book and y'all don't care about that anyway. I'm not going to spend hours of my time writing something all over again for merely a handful of people. Anyway, there were multiple reasons why I didn't like Girl Hearts Girl, one of the main reasons it being (potentially) bi-, aro- and transphobic. If you want to know more of my thoughts, feel free to contact me because I'm not sure whether I'll finish the review.
June 24, 2017
Half way through this I thought 'this has to be a YouTuber' not because it's poorly written but because nothing happens!! It's the most sedate coming out story line, with no depth or exploration of the issues that gay people face. She had it easy in comparison and was very sheltered and privaledged. If she wasn't YouTube famous this would never have been published. That being said it's her story and there were definitely people who wanted to read it. If this makes it easier for a young person to come out then she's done a good job. I'm sure there's better YA LBGTQ books out there.
July 11, 2016
I've been following lucy and Kaelyn for years now and I was so excited to hear about this book when Lucy announced it. absolutely beautifully written and so much of whst lucy spoke about is exactly how i felt about my sexuality. can't wait to read more of Lucys work
Read
November 8, 2016This is a simply written, touching memoir of an LGBT youtuber. It chronicles Lucy’s life from a young age to her eventual realisation she isn’t straight, her coming to terms of her sexuality and her meeting online of a girl going through the same things that she is.
The memoir then follows Lucy as she falls in love with the girl Kaelyn, and meets her in America where she is studying. They form a relationship. The book then turns to discussing Lucy’s difficult time at University, with homophobic friends and isolation from her family and girlfriend.
Eventually the book ends on the modern day, when Lucy moves to America with her girlfriend.
I really liked that the memoir covered not just Lucy’s LGBT experiences but her whole life - her struggles with studying, friendships and more.
Things I really liked about the book: the details of how important representations in the media were to Lucy as she came to accept herself. The stealing of a coming out letter template from online - and leaving in someone else’s name when she sent it to her parents! The touching messages she received from LGBT people around the world who face discrimination, and an awareness of how privileged she is in comparison. The unashamed English-ness of Lucy’s experiences. The small, every day details of her experiences with homophobia. Taken separately, they are inconsequential, but together they really build up an authentic look at the continuous draining experience of being LGBT and proud.
There were also some things which I thought could have been done better: the details of Lucy and Kaelyn’s relationship were very sparse. I never really got a feel for them as a couple, and I would have liked more of this.
There were a few references to Lucy and Kaelyn’s youtube channel, but I would have liked more detail, as this is where most of her audience will be coming from. Some discussion about the video development process and reactions of viewers and media would have been nice.
The language and style of writing were very simple. I did like this because it means that the book could easily be read by children as young as 8 or 9. However, I think that at times it was too simple. I would have preferred a greater and more complex discussion of some issues, and some were skimmed over completely.
Overall, this is a really solid memoir aimed at children, which is a brilliant beginner’s introduction to the LGBT experience. However, the lack of scope and detail of the issues presented make this more of a personal memoir than a standalone guide to the coming out experience.
Originally posted at: http://lgbt-ya.tumblr.com/post/147309...
The memoir then follows Lucy as she falls in love with the girl Kaelyn, and meets her in America where she is studying. They form a relationship. The book then turns to discussing Lucy’s difficult time at University, with homophobic friends and isolation from her family and girlfriend.
Eventually the book ends on the modern day, when Lucy moves to America with her girlfriend.
I really liked that the memoir covered not just Lucy’s LGBT experiences but her whole life - her struggles with studying, friendships and more.
Things I really liked about the book: the details of how important representations in the media were to Lucy as she came to accept herself. The stealing of a coming out letter template from online - and leaving in someone else’s name when she sent it to her parents! The touching messages she received from LGBT people around the world who face discrimination, and an awareness of how privileged she is in comparison. The unashamed English-ness of Lucy’s experiences. The small, every day details of her experiences with homophobia. Taken separately, they are inconsequential, but together they really build up an authentic look at the continuous draining experience of being LGBT and proud.
There were also some things which I thought could have been done better: the details of Lucy and Kaelyn’s relationship were very sparse. I never really got a feel for them as a couple, and I would have liked more of this.
There were a few references to Lucy and Kaelyn’s youtube channel, but I would have liked more detail, as this is where most of her audience will be coming from. Some discussion about the video development process and reactions of viewers and media would have been nice.
The language and style of writing were very simple. I did like this because it means that the book could easily be read by children as young as 8 or 9. However, I think that at times it was too simple. I would have preferred a greater and more complex discussion of some issues, and some were skimmed over completely.
Overall, this is a really solid memoir aimed at children, which is a brilliant beginner’s introduction to the LGBT experience. However, the lack of scope and detail of the issues presented make this more of a personal memoir than a standalone guide to the coming out experience.
Originally posted at: http://lgbt-ya.tumblr.com/post/147309...
August 3, 2016
Here's a confession, folks: I wasn't sure if I was going to write a review of this book, but I decided to because I feel like this is a book that needs to be spotlighted, that people need to read, because it's important. But this won't be a long review, because it's really, really hard to review someone's personal memoirs, to say what you loved and hated when this is someone's actual life, although I will tell you, I hated no part of this book (except the odious Rex and those boys at Lucy's secondary school).
Girl Hearts Girl is one of those books that every school, library, any place that involves kids should stock, because it's such a hopeful, uplifting book, and I think it would help a lot of kids who struggle with whether they like boys or girls, and whether there's a right answer to that question or a wrong answer, much like Lucy early on in the book. The struggle is clearly real, but to see more books out there dealing with being gay is amazing, and will hopefully help a lot of people the way Lucy intends.
I flew through this book. I picked it up just before the final of Euro 2016 started (because I literally couldn't care less who won, but I wanted it as background noise anyway) and had finished it before the game had finished. It's a quick, short read, with snappy chapters (with gorgeous headings! and the little planes on the pages were a lovely touch, too), and I really loved Lucy's voice. Lucy talks a lot about being anxious, and not all that confident in herself (although she uses Hermione Granger as a great way to buck herself up for scary things) but she comes across as really confident, really at home in her skin, at least by the end of the book and that was delightful. I really, really hope Lucy turns her hand to fiction next, because I would read that, because she has such a good voice.
Just read this book.
Girl Hearts Girl is one of those books that every school, library, any place that involves kids should stock, because it's such a hopeful, uplifting book, and I think it would help a lot of kids who struggle with whether they like boys or girls, and whether there's a right answer to that question or a wrong answer, much like Lucy early on in the book. The struggle is clearly real, but to see more books out there dealing with being gay is amazing, and will hopefully help a lot of people the way Lucy intends.
I flew through this book. I picked it up just before the final of Euro 2016 started (because I literally couldn't care less who won, but I wanted it as background noise anyway) and had finished it before the game had finished. It's a quick, short read, with snappy chapters (with gorgeous headings! and the little planes on the pages were a lovely touch, too), and I really loved Lucy's voice. Lucy talks a lot about being anxious, and not all that confident in herself (although she uses Hermione Granger as a great way to buck herself up for scary things) but she comes across as really confident, really at home in her skin, at least by the end of the book and that was delightful. I really, really hope Lucy turns her hand to fiction next, because I would read that, because she has such a good voice.
Just read this book.
January 4, 2018
Okay, wow. So I didn't know this was a memoir instead of a fictional story, but I read it anyway. I'm vaguely regretful that I paid money for it, buuuuuuut here we are.
I had no idea who Lucy Sutcliffe was, and while reading this memoir I didn't really care, either. It's a long winded coming out story about finding yourself and loving yourself and all that jazz. This is maybe aimed at a younger audience, at 25 I know all these things already. While I too struggled with my sexuality in giving it a label, I never struggled as badly as she did. Which I suppose I can be grateful for. No one should have to struggle to admit and live as their best selves, especially in this day and age. So I can respect that part of the story.
Almost every single description of laughter or any loud noise was "screeched" that it started to grate on me every time I came across the word. For someone who claims to love books and writing you'd think they'd have used the search function on Microsoft Word to make sure they didn't overuse the same word for everything. It was infuriating to read. -_- Girl come on.
Immediately after finishing I googled Lucy and her girlfriend Kaelyn (because she talks about how they're a dream team) only to find out they broke up! In like the summer of 2016... around the same time the book came out. That's terrible and awkward. =/ I didn't really like her voice in the book, and I watched a few minutes of some of their YouTube videos and didn't really like her there either. Her attitude really grated on me for some reason. But she was sweet to me on Instagram when I received the book from Amazon, which was nice, saying she hoped I enjoyed the book.
I'm sure this was interesting to read if you knew the author and followed her life. As a random person who just stumbled across the book, I didn't really care.
I had no idea who Lucy Sutcliffe was, and while reading this memoir I didn't really care, either. It's a long winded coming out story about finding yourself and loving yourself and all that jazz. This is maybe aimed at a younger audience, at 25 I know all these things already. While I too struggled with my sexuality in giving it a label, I never struggled as badly as she did. Which I suppose I can be grateful for. No one should have to struggle to admit and live as their best selves, especially in this day and age. So I can respect that part of the story.
Almost every single description of laughter or any loud noise was "screeched" that it started to grate on me every time I came across the word. For someone who claims to love books and writing you'd think they'd have used the search function on Microsoft Word to make sure they didn't overuse the same word for everything. It was infuriating to read. -_- Girl come on.
Immediately after finishing I googled Lucy and her girlfriend Kaelyn (because she talks about how they're a dream team) only to find out they broke up! In like the summer of 2016... around the same time the book came out. That's terrible and awkward. =/ I didn't really like her voice in the book, and I watched a few minutes of some of their YouTube videos and didn't really like her there either. Her attitude really grated on me for some reason. But she was sweet to me on Instagram when I received the book from Amazon, which was nice, saying she hoped I enjoyed the book.
I'm sure this was interesting to read if you knew the author and followed her life. As a random person who just stumbled across the book, I didn't really care.
August 29, 2016
I have watched Lucys videos for years and so when I saw this book at YALC I literally dived for it.
This isn't a masterpiece or anything but it did speak to me and past me growing up in England and being gay. What I loved about this was how innately British it was, which was nice to see and made it even more relatable.
I love Lucy and kaelyn and have seen so many videos that I knew a lot of the book from stories they've told but nevertheless it was great to see the progression of growing up and the realisation of being gay, I wouldve thought this vital when I was in my early teens, and even now at 20 I think it's a great, must read
This isn't a masterpiece or anything but it did speak to me and past me growing up in England and being gay. What I loved about this was how innately British it was, which was nice to see and made it even more relatable.
I love Lucy and kaelyn and have seen so many videos that I knew a lot of the book from stories they've told but nevertheless it was great to see the progression of growing up and the realisation of being gay, I wouldve thought this vital when I was in my early teens, and even now at 20 I think it's a great, must read
October 19, 2016
I loved this. I think it's an important read and I highly recommend it. Please consider picking this up. <3
April 14, 2017
When I picked up this book I didn't realise Lucy was well-known in the blogging community, so I had no preconceptions or expectations.
Girl Hearts Girl is a memoir about Lucy finding happiness within herself and with Kaelyn and as I read her story I was cheering her on, willing her to be able to share her sexuality with her friends and family without fear of being judged. As a reader I was totally rooting for her and as her friendship with Kaelyn blossomed into a relationship I was swept away by their super-cute romance.
This was a quick and engaging read which has made me keen to seek Lucy out online - she comes across as a well-balanced, self-aware and likeable person in this book, so I'm looking forward to finding out what's happened since the release of the book!
Girl Hearts Girl is a memoir about Lucy finding happiness within herself and with Kaelyn and as I read her story I was cheering her on, willing her to be able to share her sexuality with her friends and family without fear of being judged. As a reader I was totally rooting for her and as her friendship with Kaelyn blossomed into a relationship I was swept away by their super-cute romance.
This was a quick and engaging read which has made me keen to seek Lucy out online - she comes across as a well-balanced, self-aware and likeable person in this book, so I'm looking forward to finding out what's happened since the release of the book!
August 22, 2017
"Us LGBT folk are courageous. By coming out, we are saying that we're ready to face any negative consequences that come our way. It's an act of defiance, an act of pride, and it's something that should be appaluded, not silenced."
I'm not crying, you're crying
4.5 stars
I'm not crying, you're crying
4.5 stars
March 25, 2022
tykkäsin tosi paljon ja luinki tän yhes päiväs. tää oli helppo lukee ja ihana joka oli just mitä täl hetkel tarvitsin. tuli hyvä mieli ja nyt nukkumaan.
September 15, 2017
I only ordered this book yesterday and with amazon prime I received it today. Within three hours I’ve read the whole thing and cried twice. I thought I knew what to expect from this book, a story about Lucy and Kaelyn’s life, I thought I’d already know a lot of it from watching their videos for two years but I had no idea what I was really letting myself in for.
This book is beautiful, I want to write down all my favourite quotes from it but honestly there are too many. Lucy writes honestly and openly about her childhood which she openly admits wasn’t the easiest because of bullies and she discusses how she was always different. From the beginning I related to everything she was saying. I grew up in a small village and everything she was saying resonated with me. And God did I laugh at this book. I laughed because I related and that is what makes this book so incredibly unique. You can laugh because you understand the narrator, I myself had a Harry Potter obsession and always wanted to be Hermione. I smiled when Lucy talked about always finding comfort in books, always having her head in a book and always writing stories. I’ve never connected with an author’s story more.
Not only is it special for this reason, because it is so relatable but this novel is also special because of its empowering messages throughout, whether Lucy is discussing body confidence, friendships or sexuality, there is always powerful messages of hope. My favourite of these is this,
“When you get ready in the morning it should be for no one else but yourself. If you’re happy, nothing else should matter.���
And of course I can’t not mention the key theme of the book, sexuality. The way sexuality is portrayed by Lucy is honest. She doesn’t ever sugar-coat her experiences and she tells the truth exactly as it happened for her, from questioning why she wasn’t boy-crazy to falling in love with Kaelyn there isn’t a moment that isn’t real and honest. And of course this makes the book even more relatable, a lot of the things Lucy was writing shocked me because it was as if she was writing exactly how I felt. And the powerful way she tackled incidents of homophobia resonated true with me to, I’ve had similar incidents myself and reading how Lucy dealt with them has made me think about new ways of tackling these situations when they arise. My favourite quote from when Lucy tackles homophobia is this,
“Us LGBT folk are courageous. By coming out, we are saying that we’re ready to face any negative consequences that come our way. It’s an act of defiance, and an act of pride, and it’s something that should be applauded, not silenced.”
The story of Lucy and Kaelyn has always inspired me, how they conquered long distance and how they are such a strong couple. Reading this book has just even further enhanced my love for them and their story and I’m even more inspired by them than I was before.
A mixture of funny, sad, emotional and uplifting this is by far my favourite memoir I’ve ever read, and probably my favourite book I’ve read this year (after Harry Potter which I have re-read this year). And I recommend this book to everyone. I recommend it to LGBT people because it will help you realise that there are other people out there who feel exactly the same as you. And it will fill you with hope, hope because Lucy struggled for years and came out the other side happy and healthy and living with the love of her life. And I recommend this to non-LGBT people too because it will give you an insight into a world that isn’t written about enough. It will help you understand the thoughts and feelings of an LGBT person growing up but also because it is not only the LGBT aspect of Lucy that I related too. I related to her creative side, her bookworm side, the side of her that has anxiety and I related to her wanting to achieve her dreams.
So I’m giving this book 5 stars because it’s the first book in a very long time I’ve sat and read in one sitting. It’s a book that made me cry and laugh and feel all the feels. It’s amazing and I couldn’t recommend it more.
Thank you Lucy Sutcliffe for writing such an amazing, empowering book.
This book is beautiful, I want to write down all my favourite quotes from it but honestly there are too many. Lucy writes honestly and openly about her childhood which she openly admits wasn’t the easiest because of bullies and she discusses how she was always different. From the beginning I related to everything she was saying. I grew up in a small village and everything she was saying resonated with me. And God did I laugh at this book. I laughed because I related and that is what makes this book so incredibly unique. You can laugh because you understand the narrator, I myself had a Harry Potter obsession and always wanted to be Hermione. I smiled when Lucy talked about always finding comfort in books, always having her head in a book and always writing stories. I’ve never connected with an author’s story more.
Not only is it special for this reason, because it is so relatable but this novel is also special because of its empowering messages throughout, whether Lucy is discussing body confidence, friendships or sexuality, there is always powerful messages of hope. My favourite of these is this,
“When you get ready in the morning it should be for no one else but yourself. If you’re happy, nothing else should matter.���
And of course I can’t not mention the key theme of the book, sexuality. The way sexuality is portrayed by Lucy is honest. She doesn’t ever sugar-coat her experiences and she tells the truth exactly as it happened for her, from questioning why she wasn’t boy-crazy to falling in love with Kaelyn there isn’t a moment that isn’t real and honest. And of course this makes the book even more relatable, a lot of the things Lucy was writing shocked me because it was as if she was writing exactly how I felt. And the powerful way she tackled incidents of homophobia resonated true with me to, I’ve had similar incidents myself and reading how Lucy dealt with them has made me think about new ways of tackling these situations when they arise. My favourite quote from when Lucy tackles homophobia is this,
“Us LGBT folk are courageous. By coming out, we are saying that we’re ready to face any negative consequences that come our way. It’s an act of defiance, and an act of pride, and it’s something that should be applauded, not silenced.”
The story of Lucy and Kaelyn has always inspired me, how they conquered long distance and how they are such a strong couple. Reading this book has just even further enhanced my love for them and their story and I’m even more inspired by them than I was before.
A mixture of funny, sad, emotional and uplifting this is by far my favourite memoir I’ve ever read, and probably my favourite book I’ve read this year (after Harry Potter which I have re-read this year). And I recommend this book to everyone. I recommend it to LGBT people because it will help you realise that there are other people out there who feel exactly the same as you. And it will fill you with hope, hope because Lucy struggled for years and came out the other side happy and healthy and living with the love of her life. And I recommend this to non-LGBT people too because it will give you an insight into a world that isn’t written about enough. It will help you understand the thoughts and feelings of an LGBT person growing up but also because it is not only the LGBT aspect of Lucy that I related too. I related to her creative side, her bookworm side, the side of her that has anxiety and I related to her wanting to achieve her dreams.
So I’m giving this book 5 stars because it’s the first book in a very long time I’ve sat and read in one sitting. It’s a book that made me cry and laugh and feel all the feels. It’s amazing and I couldn’t recommend it more.
Thank you Lucy Sutcliffe for writing such an amazing, empowering book.
July 20, 2016
Originally posted on:> http://lauraslittlebookblog.blogspot....
Lucy Sutcliff if you didn't already know is part of Youtube sensation Kaelyn and Lucy and Girl Hearts Girl is Lucy's story.
Girl Hearts Girl is Lucy Sutcliff's true story of growing up and accepting who she is and her sexuality and it really touched my emotions. Although I have not had all of the same struggles as Lucy a lot of her growing up story really resonated with me. There was the bullying from other kids at school and boys calling her ugly- I had that said to my face three times at school and even all these years later I can remember who said them and where. I brush it off now, but I keenly felt Lucy's pain with this.
This got to me in more ways than I thought it would. Such an inspiring story whether you are part of the LGBT community or not. I felt completely uplifted whilst reading. I particularly fell in love with Lucy and Kaelyn's love story. Now that is true love if I ever did hear of. I think that in itself would have made a beautiful story.
Although I of course have the utmost respect for those in the LGBT community, I will never fully grasp 100% of the prejudice that this community face, as I do not face it myself, but that's where Lucy's story comes in. She gives us an inside point of view of the daily struggles and judgements faced and I found it pretty heartwrenching. When you are not going through something yourself, you think these things don't happen that often, but when you are in that persons shoes then you truly realise why it is so important to have Gay Pride and for the need for it to be openly talked about. We may be in the 21st century but as Lucy says in this, there are still so many countries where you can be killed and arrested for feeling the way you do and this makes me so sad. That said though what Lucy and Kaelyn have done and are doing for the community is amazing. Lucy's memoir also shows you that despite your worries, it's the people closest to you that will be there for you and help you come through.
If you ever have any doubts or are worried about anything I really recommend you read her memoir. I came away feeling happy and uplifted.
Lucy Sutcliff if you didn't already know is part of Youtube sensation Kaelyn and Lucy and Girl Hearts Girl is Lucy's story.
Girl Hearts Girl is Lucy Sutcliff's true story of growing up and accepting who she is and her sexuality and it really touched my emotions. Although I have not had all of the same struggles as Lucy a lot of her growing up story really resonated with me. There was the bullying from other kids at school and boys calling her ugly- I had that said to my face three times at school and even all these years later I can remember who said them and where. I brush it off now, but I keenly felt Lucy's pain with this.
This got to me in more ways than I thought it would. Such an inspiring story whether you are part of the LGBT community or not. I felt completely uplifted whilst reading. I particularly fell in love with Lucy and Kaelyn's love story. Now that is true love if I ever did hear of. I think that in itself would have made a beautiful story.
Although I of course have the utmost respect for those in the LGBT community, I will never fully grasp 100% of the prejudice that this community face, as I do not face it myself, but that's where Lucy's story comes in. She gives us an inside point of view of the daily struggles and judgements faced and I found it pretty heartwrenching. When you are not going through something yourself, you think these things don't happen that often, but when you are in that persons shoes then you truly realise why it is so important to have Gay Pride and for the need for it to be openly talked about. We may be in the 21st century but as Lucy says in this, there are still so many countries where you can be killed and arrested for feeling the way you do and this makes me so sad. That said though what Lucy and Kaelyn have done and are doing for the community is amazing. Lucy's memoir also shows you that despite your worries, it's the people closest to you that will be there for you and help you come through.
If you ever have any doubts or are worried about anything I really recommend you read her memoir. I came away feeling happy and uplifted.
November 22, 2016
Going in, I was ready to give this book five stars and a stunning review about how much we need more books like this - which we definitely do, especially since stories about lbpq women are very few and far between, and that's precisely why I am giving it three stars instead of one or two. However, I wasn't even halfway through when I found myself disappointed and all my expectations came crashing down - my fault, obviously, for having any expectations at all when the author is a white woman.
My main issue with this book was the presence of a message throughout the book that is ignorant and privileged at best, but downright dangerous at worst: the idea that being homophobic is an "outdated" idea and that staying in the closet enables discrimination (direct quotes: "by staying in the closet, I was just enabling the discrimination in this country." - Kaelyn; "in just one off hand comment, my brother had once again proved to me that most people didn't seem to care about sexuality anymore." - Lucy; "he's so backwards. virtually no one here has opinions like his anymore. he's from the dark ages, I swear." Leah, Lucy's friend).
Progress has never been linear, and things like homophobia are not generational, and pretending otherwise only does more harm than good.
While I know this is a memoir and that means the author isn't obligated to write outside of her own personal life and experiences, the problem here is that Lucy doesn't only speak about her life: she also reflects on the rest of the lgbt+ community and the homophobia associated. However, these are only fleeting thoughts, since they never seem to directly relate to her own life.
The only good thing about this book is the happy ending that sends out a word of hope, and the theme of the first few chapters, that rarely seems to pop up in books with lgbt+ characters, but is important, nonetheless: the anxiety, doubt and self-hatred that usually stems from realising that you might not be straight/cis.
Despite that, however, I bought this book and I honestly wish I'd bought something else - I won't be rereading this any time soon - considering I actually had to bribe myself to finish it, with the next book I have on my list to read after this one - and I definitely won't be recommending it to anyone else.
My main issue with this book was the presence of a message throughout the book that is ignorant and privileged at best, but downright dangerous at worst: the idea that being homophobic is an "outdated" idea and that staying in the closet enables discrimination (direct quotes: "by staying in the closet, I was just enabling the discrimination in this country." - Kaelyn; "in just one off hand comment, my brother had once again proved to me that most people didn't seem to care about sexuality anymore." - Lucy; "he's so backwards. virtually no one here has opinions like his anymore. he's from the dark ages, I swear." Leah, Lucy's friend).
Progress has never been linear, and things like homophobia are not generational, and pretending otherwise only does more harm than good.
While I know this is a memoir and that means the author isn't obligated to write outside of her own personal life and experiences, the problem here is that Lucy doesn't only speak about her life: she also reflects on the rest of the lgbt+ community and the homophobia associated. However, these are only fleeting thoughts, since they never seem to directly relate to her own life.
The only good thing about this book is the happy ending that sends out a word of hope, and the theme of the first few chapters, that rarely seems to pop up in books with lgbt+ characters, but is important, nonetheless: the anxiety, doubt and self-hatred that usually stems from realising that you might not be straight/cis.
Despite that, however, I bought this book and I honestly wish I'd bought something else - I won't be rereading this any time soon - considering I actually had to bribe myself to finish it, with the next book I have on my list to read after this one - and I definitely won't be recommending it to anyone else.
June 9, 2018
My new favorite book. I read it in one day, from the moment it arrived. First I thought, ok, let's see if this is even my thing. I've been following Kaelyn & Lucy for years - that doesn't mean I will love this book, too. But soon I gave in due to the fact that I could not put it down (and I'm bored easily!). It was raw and honest and beautifully written, especially her encounters with nature are excellently descriptive and not too long (I like to skip several pages of description of forests etc). I have read so many coming of age/coming out stories, so I'm a bit hard to impress. I was very impressed with GHG though <3
This book motivates me in terms of my career, staying ambitious and working hard. At the same time it calmed me immensely. Lucy's perspective is so much more down to earth and she has a talent of looking at the bigger picture. I find that really admirable.
I'm sad I read through it so quickly. Maybe I'll reread it soon.
Lucy, if you read this, great job!!! Your fan Ari. Let's be friends. Message me.
This book motivates me in terms of my career, staying ambitious and working hard. At the same time it calmed me immensely. Lucy's perspective is so much more down to earth and she has a talent of looking at the bigger picture. I find that really admirable.
I'm sad I read through it so quickly. Maybe I'll reread it soon.
Lucy, if you read this, great job!!! Your fan Ari. Let's be friends. Message me.
July 13, 2016
This is no literary masterpiece. It's written very simply, and is more a straight forward and up front account of Lucy's life than anything else. And whilst it wasn't hugely captivating or immensely powerful I really enjoyed it. I bought this because I've watched Lucy and Kaelyn on YouTube and also I'm a sucker for any books about queer girls. I wouldn't say there was a huge amount of insight into their relationship that can't be found on their channel but I enjoyed seeing Lucy's personal journey, I frequently laughed aloud and found sections incredibly relatable, as I'm sure many other young queer girls will. Books like these are important whether for people feeling proud of their sexuality or just beginning to question it and I would've loved to read something like this back when I was younger and questioning. Heartwarming, funny and memorable, and a must for any fan.
July 31, 2017
I started reading this book at 10.30ish in the evening and finished it and EXACTLY 2am the next morning. Needless to say, this book was just so addictive! The life of a woman, similar to me in many many respects, flashing before my eyes and me just observing. I felt truly like the author had given me a window into her life, a really intimate, personal view into her story.
Reading it, my opinions actually changed a lot. Initially, I thought the book was going nowhere and wasn't developing at all. Then, I thought, this is all too happy and going too well there's no interesting problems! But, that is how life goes - I came to that conclusion when I was nearly finished the book - that life is like that. It's boring, dull, overly happy, overly sad but extraordinary all at the same time.
EDIT: yeah looking back this was kinda bad :/
Reading it, my opinions actually changed a lot. Initially, I thought the book was going nowhere and wasn't developing at all. Then, I thought, this is all too happy and going too well there's no interesting problems! But, that is how life goes - I came to that conclusion when I was nearly finished the book - that life is like that. It's boring, dull, overly happy, overly sad but extraordinary all at the same time.
EDIT: yeah looking back this was kinda bad :/
Read
July 8, 2016It was a good look into the life a girl who struggled with her sexuality in a small town. I've followed Kaelyn and Lucy on YouTube for quite a few years, so I knew a lot of the stories she wrote about. This book seemed like it was aimed at a younger audience than me, which is important. It's also the reason I'm not rating it. Im glad that someone out there who needs this book will have it now.
October 22, 2016
Good book, written at a 9-12 year olds level
January 20, 2019
2.75*
First of all, I just wanna thank Lucy Sutcliffe for making youtube videos and giving LGBTQ+ teens a place to be open and authentic. I’ve just checked out her channel after reading, and I can happily say I’ve subscribed and followed her Twitter. I also watched a certain video (no spoilers, as I knew this information prior to reading it kinda spoilt the reading experience for me) and I honestly felt so bad for her. I am so glad that she uses her online platform to educate and help people feel loved/included in a heteronormative society.
However. And a big however. I knew nothing about Lucy or her channels before this. Like other reviews have said, this would’ve been perfect for her pre-existing audience. This would have given them even more content of Lucy and Kaelyn that they wanted and already got from vlogs. Obviously there are some exceptions to this, but I feel like because I knew of absolutely nothing, this story fell extremely flat. In my opinion, it was rushed and read like a middle grade even though it’s directed at a YA audience. Parts of her life that I was really interested in, like the pressure of being in an online LGBTQ+ relationship and how most (not all) straight cis men sexualise lesbians, were brushed over to get to the part where Lucy and Kaelyn get famous. Those are the things that would make a difference in LGBTQ+ teens’ lives, not hearing about your rise to fame. Which is why I think this book would suit an audience that already are familiar with Lucy and her platform.
From her tweets and limited videos I’ve skimmed over, Lucy seems like a lovely woman. I’m so interested to see her opinions on current events and if her inner Hermione/Cinderella exists. I would’ve loved to have seen her talk more about her experiences with homophobia in Devon as I’ve lived and visited there myself and experienced how closed minded they are — and how that compares to the states. So many opportunities were missed and I really wanted to like this to support Lucy and other LGBTQ+ teens who are struggling. But this didn’t do much for me personally. If someone out there picked this up, knowing of Lucy or not, and found liberation and joy within it; that’s amazing. And I wouldn’t want to stand in the way of that. But for me personally, I felt like I was being spoon-fed information that didn’t actually count for anything. It’s more of an autobiography/memoir, which I didn’t realise before picking it up.
I’m glad Lucy uses her platform to speak out about LGBTQ+ teens and continues to make videos. But this book didn’t hit the mark compared to other YA LGBTQ+ books I’ve read unfortunately :/
First of all, I just wanna thank Lucy Sutcliffe for making youtube videos and giving LGBTQ+ teens a place to be open and authentic. I’ve just checked out her channel after reading, and I can happily say I’ve subscribed and followed her Twitter. I also watched a certain video (no spoilers, as I knew this information prior to reading it kinda spoilt the reading experience for me) and I honestly felt so bad for her. I am so glad that she uses her online platform to educate and help people feel loved/included in a heteronormative society.
However. And a big however. I knew nothing about Lucy or her channels before this. Like other reviews have said, this would’ve been perfect for her pre-existing audience. This would have given them even more content of Lucy and Kaelyn that they wanted and already got from vlogs. Obviously there are some exceptions to this, but I feel like because I knew of absolutely nothing, this story fell extremely flat. In my opinion, it was rushed and read like a middle grade even though it’s directed at a YA audience. Parts of her life that I was really interested in, like the pressure of being in an online LGBTQ+ relationship and how most (not all) straight cis men sexualise lesbians, were brushed over to get to the part where Lucy and Kaelyn get famous. Those are the things that would make a difference in LGBTQ+ teens’ lives, not hearing about your rise to fame. Which is why I think this book would suit an audience that already are familiar with Lucy and her platform.
From her tweets and limited videos I’ve skimmed over, Lucy seems like a lovely woman. I’m so interested to see her opinions on current events and if her inner Hermione/Cinderella exists. I would’ve loved to have seen her talk more about her experiences with homophobia in Devon as I’ve lived and visited there myself and experienced how closed minded they are — and how that compares to the states. So many opportunities were missed and I really wanted to like this to support Lucy and other LGBTQ+ teens who are struggling. But this didn’t do much for me personally. If someone out there picked this up, knowing of Lucy or not, and found liberation and joy within it; that’s amazing. And I wouldn’t want to stand in the way of that. But for me personally, I felt like I was being spoon-fed information that didn’t actually count for anything. It’s more of an autobiography/memoir, which I didn’t realise before picking it up.
I’m glad Lucy uses her platform to speak out about LGBTQ+ teens and continues to make videos. But this book didn’t hit the mark compared to other YA LGBTQ+ books I’ve read unfortunately :/
May 19, 2021
Inspiring!
Lucy Sutcliffe provides a snapshot into her life with sharing her experiences of coming to terms with her sexuality, coming out, and finding love. Taking us on a journey through important memories that shaped the woman she is today, Lucy recounts special and more difficult moments.
I really enjoyed reading Lucy's memoir. Having seen Lucy online, and having discovered her through her YouTube channel with Kaelyn, I was excited to learn more about how she had gotten to where she was at that point in her life. Lucy’s story covers a range of memories, some when she was younger, right up to meeting Kaelyn and her life changing.
Each chapter explores a different memory, some more detailed than others but all that Lucy shared was inspiring and interesting to read. Everyone's story is different and Lucy has been on quite the adventure. I admire all she has endured, overcome, and achieved.
This is a great book for anyone who is struggling with their sexuality or just wants to learn more about acceptance and being yourself. Lucy is extremely brave and I think everyone will find something in here they can relate to, even if they haven’t been through the same experience personally. It is also written in such a way I think it can appeal to all age groups, which is very important and is definitely a great read for teenagers or younger adults. Most importantly it carries an important message of hope and not giving up.
I highly recommend this memoir and enjoyed it a lot. I hope Lucy will share more memoirs in future and look forward to reading them.
Lucy Sutcliffe provides a snapshot into her life with sharing her experiences of coming to terms with her sexuality, coming out, and finding love. Taking us on a journey through important memories that shaped the woman she is today, Lucy recounts special and more difficult moments.
I really enjoyed reading Lucy's memoir. Having seen Lucy online, and having discovered her through her YouTube channel with Kaelyn, I was excited to learn more about how she had gotten to where she was at that point in her life. Lucy’s story covers a range of memories, some when she was younger, right up to meeting Kaelyn and her life changing.
Each chapter explores a different memory, some more detailed than others but all that Lucy shared was inspiring and interesting to read. Everyone's story is different and Lucy has been on quite the adventure. I admire all she has endured, overcome, and achieved.
This is a great book for anyone who is struggling with their sexuality or just wants to learn more about acceptance and being yourself. Lucy is extremely brave and I think everyone will find something in here they can relate to, even if they haven’t been through the same experience personally. It is also written in such a way I think it can appeal to all age groups, which is very important and is definitely a great read for teenagers or younger adults. Most importantly it carries an important message of hope and not giving up.
I highly recommend this memoir and enjoyed it a lot. I hope Lucy will share more memoirs in future and look forward to reading them.
January 31, 2018
I stumbled upon this in the library and because to the obviously gay title, had to borrow it.
I think this is possibly a good read if you've followed Sutcliffe on social media, already know what her social media profile is like, enjoy her work and are interested in it. I, however, knew hardly anything about her, and this book didn't really help with that - all in all, it's an extremely naive, unsurprising and (I'm sorry to say it) empty tale about a few instances in a young person's life. The purpose of the book is to encourage young LGBTQ people to be themselves and proud of it, but in all honesty, it reads more like a self-congratulatory list of achievements. In addition, it is oddly, incoherently paced, a perfect example of 'tell, don't show' and full of advice-like statements that are unrelatable and useful to - I imagine - pretty much no one. I hope someone feels empowered after reading this book, but I was mostly annoyed and mad at myself for not having spent my time reading a better queer memoir. Still, I believe it is a sincere attempt at helping young LGBTQ people and therefore deserves two stars.
I think this is possibly a good read if you've followed Sutcliffe on social media, already know what her social media profile is like, enjoy her work and are interested in it. I, however, knew hardly anything about her, and this book didn't really help with that - all in all, it's an extremely naive, unsurprising and (I'm sorry to say it) empty tale about a few instances in a young person's life. The purpose of the book is to encourage young LGBTQ people to be themselves and proud of it, but in all honesty, it reads more like a self-congratulatory list of achievements. In addition, it is oddly, incoherently paced, a perfect example of 'tell, don't show' and full of advice-like statements that are unrelatable and useful to - I imagine - pretty much no one. I hope someone feels empowered after reading this book, but I was mostly annoyed and mad at myself for not having spent my time reading a better queer memoir. Still, I believe it is a sincere attempt at helping young LGBTQ people and therefore deserves two stars.
January 19, 2022
This was such a sweet and just comforting read. My favourite kind of book. It’s very simple and more “typical” but it makes you feel something and enjoy it non the less. I wasn’t expecting this for some reason- I really thought it would be more focused on the video making and celebrity life(?) only when I started reading I realised that this is more of a autobiography and this all actually happened- I was kind of late to that. I have to say that this isn’t all to special and doesn’t give much insight?! It’s not a book that really shows the art of reading and writing, more just enjoying- so I would only recommend reading it if you want something easy and actually are interested in the story
October 5, 2019
I feel mean giving this only two stars, but I had no idea who Lucy and Kaelyn were (they’re YouTubers) before I read this book and my enjoyment suffered because of it. I think if you were fans of theirs this book would have been great, but for me, as an outsider, it was just a girl rambling on about her small-village childhood, her time at university and meeting the girl she’d been Skyping with for years. The writing style was quite child-like and there was no tension whatsoever, but maybe if you’re a fan you might find it awesome. Wasn’t for me unfortunately.
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