Margo Zimmerman Gets the Girl

By: Brianna R. Shrum, Sara Waxelbaum

Narrated by: Marli Watson, Kristen DiMercurio

Length: 8 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

"The most delightfully snarky romance I’ve read this year."—New York Times bestselling author Ashley Poston

This charming YA rom-com follows Margo, who suddenly realizes that she’s gay but has no clue how to express her identity, so she enlists out-and-proud Abbie to act as her tutor on everything “Queer 101”...and first love.

Margo Zimmerman is gay, but she didn’t know until now. An overachiever at heart, Margo is determined to ace her newly discovered gayness. All she needs is the right tutor.

Abbie Sokoloff has her own gayness down to a science. But a flunking grade in US History is threatening her acceptance to her dream school. All she needs is the right tutor.

Margo agrees to help Abbie get her history grade up in exchange for “Queer 101” lessons. But as they spend more and more time together, Margo realizes she doesn’t want just any girl—she wants the girl.

©2023 Sara Waxelbaum and Brianna R. Shrum (P)2023 Harlequin Enterprises, Limited

Amazing From Beginning to End

Have you ever just wished that someone so sure of themselves could teach you what it means to be yourself? Have you ever stopped to think what the "sure" person actually knows? Margo doesn't and Abby doesn't either. What happens when worlds collide, gay culture becomes a class, and swimmers get close... Well, Margo Zimmerman gets the girl!!!!

Adorable

Loved that biphobia is talked about and how harmful it is to the LGBTQ+ community. Cute couple, not your typical jock and nerd relationship.

We need more stories like this one!

What’s not to like?!? Queer YA, a neurospicy main character, and enough drama to keep you wanting more!

No “right” way to be queer

It’s so important to see neurodivergent main characters in books. Especially in a contemporary romance where they actively seek out relationships and sex, dispelling the notion that disabled/autistic people aren’t capable of wanting sexual intimacy. I’m not autistic, only a disability advocate, but I think the autistic representation was really well done.

This book is laugh out loud funny. At least, I found myself chuckling at different points.

Margo Zimmerman Gets the Girl takes place in a red state (Florida) and mentions the Don’t Say Gay bill.

Throughout the book, Abby is struggling with her parents dysfunctional relationship with each other and distant relationship with her. She’s also dealing with her biphobic best friend, who ends up making an ableist comment about Margo later. Meanwhile, Margo’s coming out goes well, but there’s a moment where her best friend basically says “Oh yeah, I knew all along.” This was such an important scene because it demonstrated that that phrase can be unintentionally harmful. Margo is hurt, because it comes off like everyone else somehow knew her more than she knew herself.

I would call it slow burn. After a while it does get kind of annoying hearing about how “Margo/Abby isn’t my type. She doesn’t like me” but eventually they get over it.

In the end, Margo does figure out that there is no right way to be queer. But before that, she gets a lesson on queer history and stereotypical gay behavior. It’s interesting to think about how queer people can be so similar yet so different.

There are important conversations about gay sex, consent, boundaries, and how sex with your partner is what you two make it to be.

The performance was good! I haven’t listened to many audiobooks, but they did well on portraying the characters and the emotion.