I grew up writing lists for everything, and while I’m still guilty of it for business and organizational purposes, I keep my personal feelings out of them. That’s why I felt so drawn to Joya Goffney’s young adult contemporary romance novel, Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry.

In the book, Quinn is a high school senior who cannot live without her journal, which is full of lists detailing her wildest fantasies, things she would rather die than say out loud, lies she’s told her parents, and more. This journal is her life, and when it gets lost, all hell breaks loose.

Quinn’s world becomes upside down when someone blackmails her to complete one of the lists. If she doesn’t, the entire journal will be exposed. Carter, a boy Quinn finds attractive but considers an a-hole, helps her because he initially wants to clear his name.

Together, the two find out the truth, build a bond, and discover strength.

Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry is a cute, quick read about discovering who you are

I know 18-year-old me would’ve felt so seen if this book was around. That’s the main reason why I chose to read Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry after reading the summary. Author Joya Goffney does a great job making Quinn go from journal-dependent to bold and free.

It was originally published on May 4, 2021, but I found it a few weeks ago after searching for new romance novels to read. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but I was hooked after that first chapter. Quinn is every Black girl who has experienced attending a PWI, whether it’s grammar school, high school, or college.

She judged her own people because of her upbringing and the way her dad acts. Her journey of self-discovery meant falling in love with herself and leaving her bubble to embrace life, including befriending people she once avoided.

Header image: Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry by Joya Goffney