He Must Like You

May 15, 2020
Libby just wanted to make enough in tips to save for college, not be the sacrificial victim of her small town's #MeToo moment. After discovering that her parents ended up spending her college fund, Libby, who aspires to work in a museum--an ambition her father considers frivolous--has no choice but to earn as much as she can as quickly as she can. A scant few months into her waitressing job, 18-year-old Libby has already dealt with a proposition from obtuse co-worker Kyle and an unwanted butt grab and leering ridicule from Perry, a rich older man. Libby's short-lived retaliation against Perry gets her fired--and infamous on the internet. Worse, she's coping with trauma from two other sexual assaults and her father's dysfunctional dominance. As Libby receives guidance from Dahlia, her school nurse, the town mobilizes against Perry for harassing servers, and Libby soon faces an agonizing choice. The novel takes on the topic of nonconsent and how deeply it is baked into male-female interactions in American society, a subject as fraught as things can get. Libby's frank, wisecracking narration bolsters the reader through difficult scenes and occasionally uneven pacing. Though the story ends on a hopeful note, its honesty can be brutal. Mental health and racism are touched upon glancingly. Most main characters are white; Dahlia is brown-skinned, and Libby's best friend is Chinese American. A thoughtful indictment of white, cisgender, heterosexual rape culture. (Fiction. 14-18)

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June 1, 2020
When town grandee and notorious lech Perry Ackerman again harasses Libby at the restaurant where she works and she upends a pitcher of sangria over him (resulting in a viral video and attendant #MeToo blowback), it’s because his behavior is the last in a long series of straws. She’s recently had an encounter with a carefree, privileged coworker that turned into nonconsensual sex, and she’s been in a long-term relationship that saw her coerced into “mercy shags.” She really needs her job, too, because her controlling, erratic father has informed her that her parents have spent her college fund and that she must move out after graduation so he can turn her room into an Airbnb. A school assembly about sex and consent gives Libby the words to frame and name her experiences and further understand toxic masculinity. Younge-Ullman (Everything Beautiful Is Not Ruined) candidly considers rape culture and consent, offering clear examples of what’s not ok. Seeing Libby learn that she can address experiences that make her uncomfortable and begin to ask for what she wants, needs, and deserves is satisfying. Ages 14–up. Agent: Emmanuelle Morgen, Stonesong. (July)■

June 1, 2020
Grades 9-12 Libby's senior year has slapped her hard. Paying for college is now her responsibility, and she needs to find her own place after graduation so her parents can rent her room out. Though she begins making good money as a restaurant server, a sloppy overnight with a coworker leaves her feeling bad about herself. Uncomfortable vibes at the restaurant only increase when a well-to-do customer's verbal and physical harassment goes too far?prompting Libby to pour a pitcher of sangria on him. Then, a school assembly about sex and consent makes Libby realize it's time to take control and stand up for herself, her girlfriends, and her female coworkers. Inspired by a well-intentioned but demeaning phrase girls hear when boys mistreat them, Younge-Ullman has produced a spot-on story that educates and illuminates the gray areas of sexual consent. Libby's experiences with the adult offender are textbook examples of the indignities women have suffered in public and in private, and her male friends' reactions speak volumes. Realistic fiction with lessons for all.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

October 16, 2020

Gr 9 Up-When the decisions of Libby's "shit disturber" dad leave her needing money for rent and tuition, she gets a server job. But the sandy-haired teen's time gets cut short after a colleague sexually assaults her, prompting her to act rashly against an inappropriate customer who is extremely influential in her small town. Despite her resiliency, the combined burden of money troubles, family issues, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and being the center of a scandal drags her down, though she takes solace in her protective friend Emma and her burgeoning relationship with Noah. Bits of solidarity and normalcy lighten the load for Libby, and for readers. Younge-Ullman focuses on the idea of consent. She doesn't shy away from the thorny, gray areas and deliberately demonstrates the role communication has in preventing and healing from bad situations. While Libby's levelheaded narration reveals discouraging truths about the treatment of women, the book ultimately shows that women don't need to be diplomatic, and that harassment won't be tolerated. At first the title might seem like a misnomer, when it is in fact an eye-opening observation about a harmful, ingrained mindset that must be stamped out. VERDICT Younge-Ullman's genuine, informed, and engaging narrative safely guides readers through many facets of consent, relationships, and the treatment of women. It could prove a valuable resource to any teen's education.-Rachel Forbes, Oakville P.L., Ont.

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