Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry

By: Joya Goffney

Narrated by: Jordan Cobb

Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry by debut author Joya Goffney is a story of an overly enthusiastic list maker who is blackmailed into completing a to-do list of all her worst fears. It’s a heartfelt, tortured, contemporary YA high school romance. Fans of Jenny Han’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and Kristina Forest’s I Wanna Be Where You Are will love the juicy secrets and leap-off-the-page sexual tension.

“A hilarious and swoonworthy story.” —Kristina Forest, author of Now That I’ve Found You

“A fun, emotionally rich romance with a sweet, imperfect character who will win your heart.” —Liara Tamani, author of All the Things We Never Knew

Quinn keeps lists of everything—from the days she’s ugly cried, to “Things That I Would Never Admit Out Loud” and all the boys she’d like to kiss. Her lists keep her sane. By writing her fears on paper, she never has to face them in real life. That is, until her journal goes missing . . .

Then an anonymous account posts one of her lists on Instagram for the whole school to see and blackmails her into facing seven of her greatest fears, or else her entire journal will go public. Quinn doesn’t know who to trust. Desperate, she teams up with Carter Bennett—the last known person to have her journal—in a race against time to track down the blackmailer.

Together, they journey through everything Quinn’s been too afraid to face, and along the way, Quinn finds the courage to be honest, to live in the moment, and to fall in love.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

Epic Reads Recommended Pick at Target

A Kirkus Children's Best Book of 2021

great story of finding yourself and true friends

Quinn journals about everything, and one day, her journal goes missing, and someone threatens to release all her secrets unless she completes her "to do before I graduate" list. With the help of Carter and Olivia, two of the other very few Black kids at their elite private school, she begrudgingly sets out to do it.

This is a book about Quinn discovering who she is and growing up a lot, becoming comfortable in her own skin, letting go of her childhood, and really maturing. I'd read the author's other book last year and really enjoyed it, too, so this wasn't a risky read for me. She writes so well and the characters are relatable to anyone who has ever felt like they didn't quite fit in, no matter their skin color. Quinn is called an Oreo, and she says she's fine with it, but she really isn't. She hates the comfortable racism in her peer group, but isn't sure how to call it out, and she and Carter bond over that.

Quinn also has a grandmother dealing with Alzheimer's, and when she talks about that, and a scene with her late in the book reminded me of moments with my dad right after his surgery in 1998, and the last times I saw my grandfather in 2007 and my grandmother in 2012.

I thought it was realistic in the way teens talk and interact and their insecurities and anxieties and yet strength and courage. I really enjoyed it. Joya is great at writing these strong Black girls who don't realize how strong they are just yet.

Please read

I love everything about this book. It was amazing 10/10. I love the plot the characters the message behind the story

Good Read

I wasn’t sure what to expect when listening to this book. I was pleasantly surprised. There are a lot of lessons to be learned within the story. Read it, you won’t be disappointed.

Loved Everything About This!

I typically don't read YA books, but I'd heard a lot of good things about this one, and they weren't lying. Exceptional writing! I'm adding the author to my list of favorite authors and the audio book narrator really brings the story to life, she's not just reading it!

This story explores the lives of two African American young adults-Quinn and Carter who attend an upscale predominately white high school. While working together at Quinn's house, she and her history partner Carter accidentally switched journals. The contents of Quinn's journal could jeopardize her relationships with her family and friends.

Mild Spoiler Alert: With the incriminating evidence in a blackmailer's hands, Carter and Quinn are in a desperate time-sensitive race to expose the villain before Quinn's biggest secret comes to light. Throughout the book they learn that although they have many differences, they are more alike than just being two of the very few black kids at their school and love begins to bud. But there's a secret Carter's keeping that could wreck everything. What is it and how will this all end?

10/10

This was a great read from start to finish. Joya is an absolute talent. Her writing is emotional, thoughtful, genuine and provoking.