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If You Still Recognize Me by Cynthia So

Just a few minutes ago, I finished reading If You Still Recognize Me by Cynthia So and I ran here immediately to rave about it because I need more people to pick up this wonderful book!

Summary: 

Elsie is a bisexual lover of comics who is trying to win over her fandom crush during the summer before she heads off to university. At the same time, she is surprised by an old childhood friend who moved back to England from Hong Kong, having grown into herself as a handsome tomboy lesbian. Elsie and her friends spend the summer on a queer adventure while she puzzles together the family drama that led to her and her immediate family not returning to Hong Kong to visit her grandparents for 8 years. 

Thoughts: 

This book hit so many marks for me! Our protagonist, Elsie, is proudly bisexual and deeply cherishes queerness. Our love interest, Joan, is a tomboy lesbian, and is labeled as such in-text!! The novel even uses the word lesbian a whopping 7 times, which is such a major victory when so many sapphic novels balk at the word! Also the presence of a masculine lesbian character in a sapphic novel was incredible to see!!! Truly a rare win! I also adored the character’s love of fandom spaces and fan fiction as a means to explore queerness and find community. The presence of queer elders in this novel was also such a joy. Finally, Elsie’s family, both immediate and extended, brought so much life and depth to this novel. I can’t say too much more without spoiling it. 

Anything I disliked?

Nothing major! If I could change anything I would use the word lesbian a bit more for Joan but honestly that’s probably just me being greedy! For reference, the word “queer” appears 44 times and “gay” appears 50 times. However, these are both umbrella terms so it isn’t entirely unsurprising! 

Final Thoughts:

I REALLY JUST WANT EVERYONE TO READ THIS BOOK!!!!!! IT IS SUCH A STUNNING DEBUT NOVEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Sam’s 6/5 Star Sapphic Reads

Books I liked so much they’re worth more than 5 stars 

She Gets the Girl by Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick

She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat by Sakaomi Yuzaki

Not My Problem By Ciara Smyth