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Thirsty
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Young Adult Fiction (2024)It’s the summer before college and eighteen-year-old Blake Brenner and her girlfriend, Ella, have one goal: join the mysterious and exclusive Serena Society. The sorority promises status and lifelong connections to a network of powerful, trailblazing women of color. Ella’s acceptance is a sure thing—she’s the daughter of a Serena alum. Blake, however, has a lot more to prove.
As a former loner from a working-class background, Blake lacks Ella’s pedigree and confidence. Luckily, she finds courage at the bottom of a liquor bottle. When she drinks, she’s bold, funny, and unstoppable—and the Serenas love it. But as pledging intensifies, so does Blake’s drinking, until it’s seeping into every corner of her life. Ella assures Blake that she’s fine; partying hard is what it takes to make the cut.
But success has never felt so much like drowning. With her future hanging in the balance and her past dragging her down, Blake must decide how far she’s willing to go to achieve her glittering dreams of success—and how much of herself she’s willing to lose in the process.
As a former loner from a working-class background, Blake lacks Ella’s pedigree and confidence. Luckily, she finds courage at the bottom of a liquor bottle. When she drinks, she’s bold, funny, and unstoppable—and the Serenas love it. But as pledging intensifies, so does Blake’s drinking, until it’s seeping into every corner of her life. Ella assures Blake that she’s fine; partying hard is what it takes to make the cut.
But success has never felt so much like drowning. With her future hanging in the balance and her past dragging her down, Blake must decide how far she’s willing to go to achieve her glittering dreams of success—and how much of herself she’s willing to lose in the process.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published May 14, 2024
127 people are currently reading
39021 people want to read
About the author
Jas Hammonds
2 books612 followersJas Hammonds (they/she) was raised in many cities and between the pages of many books. They have received support for their writing from the Highlights Foundation, Baldwin for the Arts and more. They are also a grateful recipient of the MacDowell James Baldwin Fellowship. Their debut novel, We Deserve Monuments, won the 2023 Coretta Scott King - John Steptoe Award for New Talent. She lives in New Jersey.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 446 reviews
April 9, 2024
The first chapter is a mishmash of thoughts of biracial, lesbian, party girl Blake, aka Big Bad Bee, and immediately, a band tightened around my chest. Jas Hammonds's story pulled at me like a magnet and didn’t let go until the end.
Drinking. It’s so normal. Partying and getting drunk and maybe getting reckless. Or careless. To let go. The peer pressure can be enormous. Because you can’t be funny when you don’t drink, right? But it’s not only the people around us who force us to drink. What if we only find the courage when we drink? What if we drink because we only then become a funnier and bolder person? Or what if we only drink because we think other people will like us more? That’s what this book is about.
I know about the pressure. I never liked alcohol but drank because other people expected me to. And I didn’t want to be the odd one out. After my second kid was born, I never started again. It just happened, and now I haven’t drunk for years. Sometimes I take a sip. And immediately know why I don’t like alcohol. I just don’t like the taste and the smell. And still, people frown when I tell them.
Thirsty is a harsh story. But also a hopeful one. Blake falls hard. She’s not a happy drunk. She drowns. She wants to belong. And almost destroys herself. But in the end, she also pushes herself up to the surface. And starts breathing again. For herself. No one else.
I believe Thirsty is an important book. For teens to know they can choose their own path. But also for adults. We all can feel that pressure to belong. If we just respected everyone’s choices and saw the beauty in our differences. If we just saw the beauty in ourselves …
Thank you so much, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and NetGalley, for this wonderful ARC!
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Drinking. It’s so normal. Partying and getting drunk and maybe getting reckless. Or careless. To let go. The peer pressure can be enormous. Because you can’t be funny when you don’t drink, right? But it’s not only the people around us who force us to drink. What if we only find the courage when we drink? What if we drink because we only then become a funnier and bolder person? Or what if we only drink because we think other people will like us more? That’s what this book is about.
I know about the pressure. I never liked alcohol but drank because other people expected me to. And I didn’t want to be the odd one out. After my second kid was born, I never started again. It just happened, and now I haven’t drunk for years. Sometimes I take a sip. And immediately know why I don’t like alcohol. I just don’t like the taste and the smell. And still, people frown when I tell them.
Thirsty is a harsh story. But also a hopeful one. Blake falls hard. She’s not a happy drunk. She drowns. She wants to belong. And almost destroys herself. But in the end, she also pushes herself up to the surface. And starts breathing again. For herself. No one else.
I believe Thirsty is an important book. For teens to know they can choose their own path. But also for adults. We all can feel that pressure to belong. If we just respected everyone’s choices and saw the beauty in our differences. If we just saw the beauty in ourselves …
Thank you so much, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and NetGalley, for this wonderful ARC!
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March 17, 2025
Overall I enjoyed this book and how it tackled issues related to alcohol use disorder/sobriety, hazing, and emotionally unhealthy relationships. I most loved how Jas Hammonds shows that people of color can be toxic to one another too – in Thirsty the main character is trying to gain access to a sorority of women of color, and she faces some awful stuff from some fellow women of color in the process. At the same time, despite some dark themes, the novel is hopeful and shows how healthy friendships and defining yourself for yourself can empower you and set you free from negative interpersonal and intrapersonal interactions. The prose was overall engaging though it didn’t amaze me. A solid four-star read.
December 24, 2024
Jas Hammonds is an auto-buy author for me at this point. They literally cannot miss! CW: abusive relationship, alcoholism, hazing. 4.5 Stars
Thirsty is one of those novels that hits home in unexpected ways. Although it follows main character Blake and her girlfriends journey into joining the exclusive Serena society, it tackles the day old of question, "when you're young how much drinking is too much drinking?" Hammonds beautifully and painfully takes a look at this question and more through the lens of Blake and her friends.
What Worked: Hammonds portrayal of alcohol dependency through Blake was real and gut wrenching. The internal dialogue that she experiences as she fights the realization of her addiction was unlike any other dialogue that I've seen in a young adult realistic fiction novel. The only one that comes close is Heroine by Mindy McGinnis. Not only is Blake battling her addiction, but she's also struggling with her unhealthy, toxic, abusive relationship with Ella as well as her challenging relationship with her biracial identity. Although it was unexpected, I was elated to see Hammonds address the conflicts that can arise from having a White parent that has not reckoned with their own internalized racism and the impact it has on their children. This conversation wasn't a means to target interracial relationships, but a way to openly dialogue about the impact of not understanding the importance of validating all facets of your child's identity. In my opinion, the fall out of this relationship greatly impacted Blake's drinking. What's most scary about this novel is it's ability to capture the reality of drinking in adolescence and the inability to recognize when it becomes an addiction. As someone who attended college and pledged, binge drinking turned out to be a lot more common that I anticipated. It was considered normal, fun. It was an expectation of college kids. It makes me wonder how many of my peers were actually deep in the throes of addiction that went unrecognized due to their age and their environment. Hammonds brings all of this to light without providing any exact solutions. While some make take issue with that, I think that the authors note gives better context. Every recovery process looks different and people seek different resources to assist with their addiction. It was their aim to provide a message of hope and support to young readers who may find that they are not alone and may be more encouraged to reach out for help.
This was truly a wonderful novel. It's strikingly different from We Deserve Monuments, but I'm happy to see that Jas is continuing to write about a variety of topics.
Thirsty is one of those novels that hits home in unexpected ways. Although it follows main character Blake and her girlfriends journey into joining the exclusive Serena society, it tackles the day old of question, "when you're young how much drinking is too much drinking?" Hammonds beautifully and painfully takes a look at this question and more through the lens of Blake and her friends.
What Worked: Hammonds portrayal of alcohol dependency through Blake was real and gut wrenching. The internal dialogue that she experiences as she fights the realization of her addiction was unlike any other dialogue that I've seen in a young adult realistic fiction novel. The only one that comes close is Heroine by Mindy McGinnis. Not only is Blake battling her addiction, but she's also struggling with her unhealthy, toxic, abusive relationship with Ella as well as her challenging relationship with her biracial identity. Although it was unexpected, I was elated to see Hammonds address the conflicts that can arise from having a White parent that has not reckoned with their own internalized racism and the impact it has on their children. This conversation wasn't a means to target interracial relationships, but a way to openly dialogue about the impact of not understanding the importance of validating all facets of your child's identity. In my opinion, the fall out of this relationship greatly impacted Blake's drinking. What's most scary about this novel is it's ability to capture the reality of drinking in adolescence and the inability to recognize when it becomes an addiction. As someone who attended college and pledged, binge drinking turned out to be a lot more common that I anticipated. It was considered normal, fun. It was an expectation of college kids. It makes me wonder how many of my peers were actually deep in the throes of addiction that went unrecognized due to their age and their environment. Hammonds brings all of this to light without providing any exact solutions. While some make take issue with that, I think that the authors note gives better context. Every recovery process looks different and people seek different resources to assist with their addiction. It was their aim to provide a message of hope and support to young readers who may find that they are not alone and may be more encouraged to reach out for help.
This was truly a wonderful novel. It's strikingly different from We Deserve Monuments, but I'm happy to see that Jas is continuing to write about a variety of topics.
May 13, 2024
Man, Thirsty was an excellent and, at times, uncomfortable read. The story follows Blake Brenner during the summer between her senior year of high school and first year of college. Her, her girlfriend Ella, and best friend Annetta are all spending the summer trying to get chosen to be part of the Serena Society, an exclusive society for women of color at their college. But all the parties are starting to show just how out of control Blake’s drinking has gotten.
Blake felt like such a fully formed character. It’s so easy to understand why she feels a bit out of step with her friends and their social circle. She isn’t wealthy like Ella, Annetta, and most of the society girls. She’s biracial and her white mom has never tried to understand Blake’s experiences with race. She’s a lesbian, but her parents didn’t seem super happy or supportive when she came out. So she drinks… a lot. To make herself feel like she fits in more, to make herself Big Bad Bee, the life of the party. But she can’t seem to ever drink in moderation, she blacks out, spirals into negative thinking about herself, and most people don’t notice or don’t care.
This book really tugged at my heartstrings. It’s so hard to watch Blake continue to make bad decisions around alcohol. But I could always see and understand her thought process. It’s frustrating, but also still understandable why some of the people in her circle don’t think she has a problem since “everyone drinks” or “everyone gets wild at parties” and thoughts like that. I think that’s why it can be so difficult for some people to realize they have a problem when binge drinking is so normalized for high school and college students.
It’s really gratifying to see where Blake ends up at the close of the book with the different conversations she starts having with her friends, girlfriend, and family members. This book isn’t always an easy read, but I definitely encourage people to check it out for a unique coming of age story. It never felt like an “issue book” that was only concerned with tackling Blake’s problem with alcohol, it was an extremely well rounded story that touched on all different aspects of her life.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Blake felt like such a fully formed character. It’s so easy to understand why she feels a bit out of step with her friends and their social circle. She isn’t wealthy like Ella, Annetta, and most of the society girls. She’s biracial and her white mom has never tried to understand Blake’s experiences with race. She’s a lesbian, but her parents didn’t seem super happy or supportive when she came out. So she drinks… a lot. To make herself feel like she fits in more, to make herself Big Bad Bee, the life of the party. But she can’t seem to ever drink in moderation, she blacks out, spirals into negative thinking about herself, and most people don’t notice or don’t care.
This book really tugged at my heartstrings. It’s so hard to watch Blake continue to make bad decisions around alcohol. But I could always see and understand her thought process. It’s frustrating, but also still understandable why some of the people in her circle don’t think she has a problem since “everyone drinks” or “everyone gets wild at parties” and thoughts like that. I think that’s why it can be so difficult for some people to realize they have a problem when binge drinking is so normalized for high school and college students.
It’s really gratifying to see where Blake ends up at the close of the book with the different conversations she starts having with her friends, girlfriend, and family members. This book isn’t always an easy read, but I definitely encourage people to check it out for a unique coming of age story. It never felt like an “issue book” that was only concerned with tackling Blake’s problem with alcohol, it was an extremely well rounded story that touched on all different aspects of her life.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 28, 2024
Blake Brenner is a nice and normal 18-year-old with big plans for her future. She and her girlfriend, Ella are college bound and hope to join the Serena Society to ensure their future goals come to fruition. The biggest thing standing in their way is Blake’s drinking. See, when Blake drinks, she turns into “Big Bad B “a good time, girl who has zero self-control.
Big Bad B hurts people and leaves Blake to clean up the mess. But there are a lot of messes you can’t work on until you realize you’re an alcoholic. Blake thinks she needs the alcohol in order to function in social settings. Some of her friends actually encourage it where as other friends are trying to get her to realize she has a problem.
This book can really help teenagers and young adults recognize that they have a problem with alcohol abuse. It’s well written and a pretty accurate portrayal of teenagers who drink to excess.
Big Bad B hurts people and leaves Blake to clean up the mess. But there are a lot of messes you can’t work on until you realize you’re an alcoholic. Blake thinks she needs the alcohol in order to function in social settings. Some of her friends actually encourage it where as other friends are trying to get her to realize she has a problem.
This book can really help teenagers and young adults recognize that they have a problem with alcohol abuse. It’s well written and a pretty accurate portrayal of teenagers who drink to excess.
May 14, 2024
4.75 stars!
Told over the summer before freshman year of college, Thirsty tells the story of Blake Brenner's experience pledging an exclusive sorority, her relationships with family, friends and dating PLUS alcoholism.
There are many themes in the book that stood out to me, but the most impactful to me was:
- How Blake navigates being a biracial woman with a white mother.
- The lifestyle that promotes alcohol as a way to "be the life of the party", especially for young people.
- Her young experiences of love and exploring one's sexuality.
- Friendships and the impact they can have on our behaviors (good & bad) and the desire to please those we love.
All of these elements had me completely engrossed in the story. The character development felt realistic, raw and impressive. This would make an excellent choice for book club or a buddy read because you HAVE to discuss this book over a cup of tea!
I'm quickly becoming a fan of ALL things written by Jas! They have mastered the voice of a young generation and their sophomore book has solidified them as an author to pay attention to. I absolutely LOVED We Deserve Monuments and have recommended the book countless times - so I know that Thirsty has joined the ranks of books to recommend over & over again.
A special thanks to the author, Jas Hammonds & Roaring Press for and advanced reader's copy of this book.
Told over the summer before freshman year of college, Thirsty tells the story of Blake Brenner's experience pledging an exclusive sorority, her relationships with family, friends and dating PLUS alcoholism.
There are many themes in the book that stood out to me, but the most impactful to me was:
- How Blake navigates being a biracial woman with a white mother.
- The lifestyle that promotes alcohol as a way to "be the life of the party", especially for young people.
- Her young experiences of love and exploring one's sexuality.
- Friendships and the impact they can have on our behaviors (good & bad) and the desire to please those we love.
All of these elements had me completely engrossed in the story. The character development felt realistic, raw and impressive. This would make an excellent choice for book club or a buddy read because you HAVE to discuss this book over a cup of tea!
I'm quickly becoming a fan of ALL things written by Jas! They have mastered the voice of a young generation and their sophomore book has solidified them as an author to pay attention to. I absolutely LOVED We Deserve Monuments and have recommended the book countless times - so I know that Thirsty has joined the ranks of books to recommend over & over again.
A special thanks to the author, Jas Hammonds & Roaring Press for and advanced reader's copy of this book.
May 17, 2024
I loved We Deserve Monuments so I knew I was going to need to read this one. While the tone of this book is very different the relationships between the characters are so real and live I was drawn into the story. I will say with this book I didn’t love the main character. She was hard to like, but that fit with the themes the book was trying to examine. This book tackled teenage alcoholism, toxic relationships, racism, and gender identity. Blake and her girlfriend Ella have one goal for the summer: get into the exclusive Serena Society. Ella doesn’t have much to worry about her mother is a part of the society of trailblazing women of color, but Blake has a lot more to prove. Luckily for Blake she finds courage in the bottom of the bottle and when she drinks she feels like the life of the party. But not everyone sees the life of the party in her when she drinks and her best friend expresses concern and as much as Blake brushes it off her drinking starts to leak into every part of her life. This book was beautifully written. I loved the diversity that was present in this book.
October 14, 2024
4.5 stars rounded up
This wasn't quite what I was expecting, but I think it's a really important book, and the writing is great. I was expecting something more suspenseful, but Thirsty is really a queer YA contemporary novel about alcohol addiction, class privilege, toxic relationships, and navigating biracial identity.
The summer before college Blake and her long-time girlfriend are doing everything they can to get into Serena- a secret society for women of color. This means a lot of alcohol-fueled parties and weird challenges. But while Blake's girlfriend comes from a wealthy family, Blake struggles with shame over her working class background and anger about her white mom's failure to acknowledge and support Blake's blackness. Meanwhile Blake's girlfriend doesn't always treat her well or take care of her. And for years now Blake has used alcohol as a way to feel more confident socially. But this summer, things are spiraling out of control.
There's a lot going on in this book, but the thing that is really impactful is the way this gets inside the head of a teenager dealing with an alcohol addiction and slowly coming to realize they have a problem. It's very good and the author's note at the end gets into some of the reasons she wrote this book. It's so important because a lot of teens might not realize that these behaviors are not normal and are incredibly dangerous. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
This wasn't quite what I was expecting, but I think it's a really important book, and the writing is great. I was expecting something more suspenseful, but Thirsty is really a queer YA contemporary novel about alcohol addiction, class privilege, toxic relationships, and navigating biracial identity.
The summer before college Blake and her long-time girlfriend are doing everything they can to get into Serena- a secret society for women of color. This means a lot of alcohol-fueled parties and weird challenges. But while Blake's girlfriend comes from a wealthy family, Blake struggles with shame over her working class background and anger about her white mom's failure to acknowledge and support Blake's blackness. Meanwhile Blake's girlfriend doesn't always treat her well or take care of her. And for years now Blake has used alcohol as a way to feel more confident socially. But this summer, things are spiraling out of control.
There's a lot going on in this book, but the thing that is really impactful is the way this gets inside the head of a teenager dealing with an alcohol addiction and slowly coming to realize they have a problem. It's very good and the author's note at the end gets into some of the reasons she wrote this book. It's so important because a lot of teens might not realize that these behaviors are not normal and are incredibly dangerous. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
December 19, 2024
a harsh depiction of the dreamy highs and brutal lows of addiction. how it can start, what can propel it, how quickly it can take over, the overwhelming mad scramble to keep it together, the shame of it all, the slow healing.
keep your eye on jas hammonds, y’all. they’re killing it.
keep your eye on jas hammonds, y’all. they’re killing it.
November 11, 2024
I love a YA novel that tackles really important topics and I think Jas Hammond did a really amazing job of talking about alcoholism. I was really drawn to the story and how she executed it.
May 9, 2024
Very well written! The harder topics were handled with grace and care. It's a very relatable book. I think this could make a good book for high schools since it brings a good conversation about, toxic relationships and addiction. I enjoyed the characters (other than the ones were meant to dislike iykyk). They were all very well developed and felt relatable. I was hooked from the first chapter, the book is very fast paced with an easy to follow plot. I need to check out 'We Deserve Monuments'. The Narrator was fantastic I really liked their voice. Side note S/O to the stunning cover for this book.
This book will be triggering for some people so please read the full trigger list before reading!
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for an advance listening copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This book will be triggering for some people so please read the full trigger list before reading!
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for an advance listening copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
May 7, 2024
Hammonds with another incredible poignant coming of age story, but this one puts teenage alcohol addiction front and center.
July 27, 2024
4.5 stars
Messy, painful, hopeful, and beautifully bittersweet, Thirsty is a very mature YA contemporary full of high class secret society toxicity, queerness, race and cultural identity issues, and authentic mental health struggles; think Élite or Euphoria, just in book form.
After loving We Deserve Monuments, I had a feeling that Jas Hammonds could become a new favourite author of mine, and Thirsty absolutely solidified that. While I can enjoy YA contemporary from time to time, there are very few books that truly stand out from the crowd and have a long lasting impact on me, but Hammonds' works absolutely belong in that rare category.
Something about her writing style just sings to my soul and pulls on my heartstrings, which is exactly why I get so deeply emotionally invested, for better or worse. Blake immediately captured my heart on the very first page, and I loved getting sucked up in her whirlwind of conflicting emotions through her intimate and unfiltered first person narration. Her mental health struggles, particularly around her identity as a biracial girl and her alcohol abuse, were frighteningly well written, and I loved how her journey towards healing was just so is authentically and realistically messy and flawed; the self-sabotaging, the back and forth, the grief over losing your safe escape... I felt it all so deeply.
Moreover, the interpersonal relationships in this story absolutely shine. From the complicated family dynamics, to the passionate yet unhealthy romances, and to the extremely strong (female) friendships (Netty is the true MVP). Everyone in this book makes horrible mistakes that either hurt themselves or others, sometimes accidentally and sometimes not, but by the end I feel like everyone got exactly what they deserved; the message of letting go of things that hold you back from living as your own authentic self, no matter how painful it might be in the moment, was just so incredibly inspiring and powerful.
Thirsty can defnitely be a bit of a confronting and uncomfortable read at times, but it also has a ton of heart, and that is exactly what makes it such an important and impactful story. If you are looking for an authentic and mature YA contemporary novel that will have you crying tears of pain, joy, sorrow, and catharsis along the way, then I can't recommend Thirsty highly enough.
Messy, painful, hopeful, and beautifully bittersweet, Thirsty is a very mature YA contemporary full of high class secret society toxicity, queerness, race and cultural identity issues, and authentic mental health struggles; think Élite or Euphoria, just in book form.
After loving We Deserve Monuments, I had a feeling that Jas Hammonds could become a new favourite author of mine, and Thirsty absolutely solidified that. While I can enjoy YA contemporary from time to time, there are very few books that truly stand out from the crowd and have a long lasting impact on me, but Hammonds' works absolutely belong in that rare category.
Something about her writing style just sings to my soul and pulls on my heartstrings, which is exactly why I get so deeply emotionally invested, for better or worse. Blake immediately captured my heart on the very first page, and I loved getting sucked up in her whirlwind of conflicting emotions through her intimate and unfiltered first person narration. Her mental health struggles, particularly around her identity as a biracial girl and her alcohol abuse, were frighteningly well written, and I loved how her journey towards healing was just so is authentically and realistically messy and flawed; the self-sabotaging, the back and forth, the grief over losing your safe escape... I felt it all so deeply.
Moreover, the interpersonal relationships in this story absolutely shine. From the complicated family dynamics, to the passionate yet unhealthy romances, and to the extremely strong (female) friendships (Netty is the true MVP). Everyone in this book makes horrible mistakes that either hurt themselves or others, sometimes accidentally and sometimes not, but by the end I feel like everyone got exactly what they deserved; the message of letting go of things that hold you back from living as your own authentic self, no matter how painful it might be in the moment, was just so incredibly inspiring and powerful.
Thirsty can defnitely be a bit of a confronting and uncomfortable read at times, but it also has a ton of heart, and that is exactly what makes it such an important and impactful story. If you are looking for an authentic and mature YA contemporary novel that will have you crying tears of pain, joy, sorrow, and catharsis along the way, then I can't recommend Thirsty highly enough.
May 28, 2024
Jas Hammonds is my favorite contemporary writer and definitely an auto-buy author for me. I mostly read speculative fiction; however, Jas’s writing has a unique way of completely enrapturing me from start to finish, while never letting me go in between, which is as engaging as a work of fantasy, thriller, or horror—something that’s not easily done. Jas’s stories are truly a magical experience.
THIRSTY continues to uphold Jas’s very high standard of literary excellence. The character development, voice, pacing, and themes all shine brilliantly on display in a story that I had no idea at the onset I would relate to as much as I did with their debut novel, WE DESERVE MONUMENTS (also a stellar work that should not be overlooked).
It’s truly an honor to get to publish alongside Jas. They are undoubtedly one of the greatest and most important voices of this publishing generation. I’m proud of them and also that their catalog of work exists and continues to expand.
THIRSTY continues to uphold Jas’s very high standard of literary excellence. The character development, voice, pacing, and themes all shine brilliantly on display in a story that I had no idea at the onset I would relate to as much as I did with their debut novel, WE DESERVE MONUMENTS (also a stellar work that should not be overlooked).
It’s truly an honor to get to publish alongside Jas. They are undoubtedly one of the greatest and most important voices of this publishing generation. I’m proud of them and also that their catalog of work exists and continues to expand.
May 13, 2024
Got an arc from libro.fm 4.5/5
Oh this was so good. This one didn’t resonate quite as hard with me as WDM because aspects of that one’s subject matter hit home a little harder at the time of reading, but this one was heartbreaking in a good way, I root for Blake and I feel for her and I wanted to see her succeed.
And then there’s some lines, like the one about wishing you’d known the person you love when you were kids so maybe you wouldn’t have felt so alone, or she one about how the people who hurt you don’t even remember the things they say that haunt you for years, those I felt SEEN in those parts
Oh this was so good. This one didn’t resonate quite as hard with me as WDM because aspects of that one’s subject matter hit home a little harder at the time of reading, but this one was heartbreaking in a good way, I root for Blake and I feel for her and I wanted to see her succeed.
And then there’s some lines, like the one about wishing you’d known the person you love when you were kids so maybe you wouldn’t have felt so alone, or she one about how the people who hurt you don’t even remember the things they say that haunt you for years, those I felt SEEN in those parts
December 27, 2023
Jas Hammonds has done it again! Having been completely captivated by their storytelling in "We Deserve Monuments," I pledged to read everything they ever write. True to that promise, I picked up this ARC of "Thirsty" (thanks to Netgalley) and, let me tell you, it was a journey I didn't even know I needed.
This book dives into the tumultuous summer before college for Blake Brenner, her girlfriend, Ella and her best friend, Annetta. They're aiming to join the elite Serena Society, a sorority that's more than just a social club - it's a gateway to a network of influential and groundbreaking women of color. Ella seems destined for acceptance, but Blake, with her working-class background, has much more to prove.
Blake's character is a masterpiece of complexity. She's navigating this intense transition period, and it's not just about fitting in with the Serenas. It's about grappling with her identity, her past, and her future. She turns to alcohol for confidence, but as her drinking spirals, it begins to invade every aspect of her life.
What I love about this book is its raw portrayal of the struggle between ambition and self-destructive tendencies. Blake's journey is heart-wrenching yet so real. You feel for her, get frustrated with her mistakes, and ultimately, you're cheering for her. Jas has a gift for making characters feel like real people - flawed, struggling, but ultimately lovable.
"Thirsty" is not just another coming-of-age story. It adds a layer of complexity with the theme of alcohol abuse. Blake isn't just finding her place in the world; she's learning to do it without the crutch she's relied on for so long. By the end, you feel a sense of pride in Blake's growth and resilience.
"Thirsty" is a beautifully written, emotionally charged narrative that tackles some hard-hitting themes with grace and authenticity. Jas Hammonds continues to prove they are a force to be reckoned with in the literary world, and I can't wait to see what they come up with next. Highly recommend for anyone who loves a story that's as inspiring as it is entertaining.
This book dives into the tumultuous summer before college for Blake Brenner, her girlfriend, Ella and her best friend, Annetta. They're aiming to join the elite Serena Society, a sorority that's more than just a social club - it's a gateway to a network of influential and groundbreaking women of color. Ella seems destined for acceptance, but Blake, with her working-class background, has much more to prove.
Blake's character is a masterpiece of complexity. She's navigating this intense transition period, and it's not just about fitting in with the Serenas. It's about grappling with her identity, her past, and her future. She turns to alcohol for confidence, but as her drinking spirals, it begins to invade every aspect of her life.
What I love about this book is its raw portrayal of the struggle between ambition and self-destructive tendencies. Blake's journey is heart-wrenching yet so real. You feel for her, get frustrated with her mistakes, and ultimately, you're cheering for her. Jas has a gift for making characters feel like real people - flawed, struggling, but ultimately lovable.
"Thirsty" is not just another coming-of-age story. It adds a layer of complexity with the theme of alcohol abuse. Blake isn't just finding her place in the world; she's learning to do it without the crutch she's relied on for so long. By the end, you feel a sense of pride in Blake's growth and resilience.
"Thirsty" is a beautifully written, emotionally charged narrative that tackles some hard-hitting themes with grace and authenticity. Jas Hammonds continues to prove they are a force to be reckoned with in the literary world, and I can't wait to see what they come up with next. Highly recommend for anyone who loves a story that's as inspiring as it is entertaining.
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January 25, 2024Jas Hammonds has done it again. I loved loved loved MONUMENTS - it was one of my top 10 books of 2022. But even though THIRSTY is very different (in setting, in tone, in content), Jas's writing and character relationships sucked me in just as hard as they did in their debut.
I don't know if I liked this book more than Monuments, or if it just made me *cry* more, but I CAN tell you that Jas continues to be one of my favorite YA authors of all time.
(Shout out to Mary Van Akin at the Macmillan booth for gifting me a copy at NCTE when I randomly ended up gushing about Monuments at their display, not knowing they had arcs of Thirsty in stock 😅.)
Thirsty doesn't pub until May, so I know this booksta post is way early, but definitely save it as a reminder to either pre-order the book for yourself or get your libraries to do it this Spring.
I don't know if I liked this book more than Monuments, or if it just made me *cry* more, but I CAN tell you that Jas continues to be one of my favorite YA authors of all time.
(Shout out to Mary Van Akin at the Macmillan booth for gifting me a copy at NCTE when I randomly ended up gushing about Monuments at their display, not knowing they had arcs of Thirsty in stock 😅.)
Thirsty doesn't pub until May, so I know this booksta post is way early, but definitely save it as a reminder to either pre-order the book for yourself or get your libraries to do it this Spring.
January 14, 2024
Thank you Edelweiss+ for the eARC! This was absolutely stunning -- harrowing, biting, and real in the best way. Blake is a character that you want to both shake and hug in equal amounts, and her journey from a party girl desperate for love and validation to a sober, healing young woman is powerful. There is also lots of glittery, salacious drama along the way to keep the story moving forward. I read this book in one day because it is compulsively readable.
May 21, 2024
I feel icky but not necessarily in a bad way…thoughts to come
February 28, 2025
4 Stars for Thirsty (audiobook) by Jas Hammonds read by Alaska Jackson.
A young woman is willing to risk a lot to join a sorority where she can fit in and find mentors. Along the way she develops a drinking problem that may cost her everything that really matters in her life. She has some hard decisions to make before her life spirals out of control.
A young woman is willing to risk a lot to join a sorority where she can fit in and find mentors. Along the way she develops a drinking problem that may cost her everything that really matters in her life. She has some hard decisions to make before her life spirals out of control.
June 10, 2024
A moving coming of age Sapphic YA story featuring a Black teen and her girlfriend who are both trying to get into an exclusive sorority their first year of college. Tackling heavy family issues, mental health, the pressure to succeed and alcoholism, this was great on audio yet not quite as good (for me) as their last book). Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
June 25, 2024
When you think of shows like Euphoria or the Idol, you think of the well-shot, pretty aesthetic of "casual" drug use, "casual" drinking, sad girls but with the best makeup, etc. This book cuts through the glamorization of it and gets you right in the gut.
My face upon finishing: 🤯😭🙃😭😭😭🤯
1st pride read of the month and the book does that to me.
I already loved Jas Hammonds with their debut, We Deserve Monuments that deserves so much more hype. When they announced a new book, I was intrigued. When I saw that it was covered the dangers of social/binge drinking, I was definitely all in.
Now I'm done and I'm like this: 🤯😭🙃😭😭😭🤯 I'm done and can officially say Jas Hammonds has joined the ranks of auto-read authors.
Also, delivered one of my top favorite reads of the year. The same way a certain author ruined any and all romances I read after their book because it was so exceptional, Jas possibly ruin any and all YA contemporary books I'll read after this because this was so superb.
Much like the last book, so short yet was packed with so much heart, especially heartbreak. There were too many times my eyes were getting teary since certain lines and moments were fitting too close to home.
My face upon finishing: 🤯😭🙃😭😭😭🤯
1st pride read of the month and the book does that to me.
I already loved Jas Hammonds with their debut, We Deserve Monuments that deserves so much more hype. When they announced a new book, I was intrigued. When I saw that it was covered the dangers of social/binge drinking, I was definitely all in.
Now I'm done and I'm like this: 🤯😭🙃😭😭😭🤯 I'm done and can officially say Jas Hammonds has joined the ranks of auto-read authors.
Also, delivered one of my top favorite reads of the year. The same way a certain author ruined any and all romances I read after their book because it was so exceptional, Jas possibly ruin any and all YA contemporary books I'll read after this because this was so superb.
Much like the last book, so short yet was packed with so much heart, especially heartbreak. There were too many times my eyes were getting teary since certain lines and moments were fitting too close to home.
February 1, 2025
it’s so good it’s so good it’s so good
February 15, 2025
That Feeling is a song, and you are the maestro. You never want this crescendo to end.
This was excellent. A book that I'm really glad exists, and that I really hope will make it into the hands of the teenagers who need it. Blake is an 18 year old high school student, and we're following her in the months before she starts college. She and her long time girlfriend and her best friend have been accepted into their college of choice, and they're desperate to also join the sorority of their choice: the Serena Society. Blake has a lot on her plate, especially with her parents' impending move, feeling like her mother does understand her blackness, and her father doesn't understand her gayness, and being surrounded by wealthy elites at the country club she works at. And she copes by drinking. A lot. Drinking makes her feel good, makes her the life of the party, makes her girlfriend love her more. But she definitely doesn't have a problem. Definitely.
So yeah, the covers the entire summer, Blake's relationship, her friendships, her complicated feelings about her family and this sorority that's been everything she's wanted for so long, and all the tasks they have to do to get into it. Meanwhile, her drinking is worsening and worsening, and we know that the spiral can't lead anywhere good. There's a mounting sense of wrongness that honestly made me anxious, but was so good. I love the way this tackles alcohol abuse, especially in young people, where the peer pressure is immense and omnipresent. Blake doesn't believe she has a problem, and even when confronted with it, she tries to grasp for ways and reasons why it could be normal to drink that much. Young people overdrinking casually is something that upsets me a lot (especially when portrayed in media as something fun and normal or not a big deal) and I really appreciate how Hammonds approached it here.
Lots of great surrounding themes too, about racism (specifically being the child of a white parent who doesn't know how to talk about race) and gender identity and queerness and the messy reality of first love. There were no flat characters or caricatures, which I appreciated, seeing all the major side characters treated with a certain amount of fullness.
Listened to the audiobook as read by Alaska Jackson, and really loved it. I haven't listened to a book by her in a while, but this was just as evocative and well-acted as I remembered from previous works she's read. Since I read a lot of romance, I should mention: this isn't one! Just a YA contemporary, which I don't really gravitate towards these days. But I thoroughly enjoyed myself with this, and everything it had to say. I'm so glad this book exists, and I'm looking forward to whatever the author writes next.
Content warnings:
I stared at my empty wrist and wondered what it would feel like to have a dream not crafted by someone else’s hands.
July 16, 2024
Just the absolutely perfect YA contemporary about a biracial queer teenager who'd do anything to fit in. I've been reading a lot more YA lately after ignoring this genre for years and I find the best of the genre really explores teen issues with sensitivity and care instead of going straight for dramatics and angst.
Blake Brenner and her girlfriend Ella are the perfect It Couple at the start of the story, Ella with her luxury lifestyle and accepting parents and awkward Blake, born to a life of careful love to parents who worked the night shift at 7-Eleven and a pilot, who finally feels seen by beautiful Ella. But this is not a romance, and the happy ending is that Blake finally realizes how toxic she and Ella were together and how she'd enabled her abuse of alcohol. I need more happy endings where the main couple doesn't end up together.
Blake needs alcohol to ease her awkwardness in social settings, and when she drinks she becomes Big Bad Bee, the wild party animal that everyone cheers and admires. She chases that feeling to excess, during a scorching summer working at a country club and trying desperately to join an exclusive sorority for women of color. But is it really her dream, or Ella's?
By the end of the summer she doesn't recognize herself anymore and doesn't know what she wants without Ella's molding of her life. I loved the little details outlining the toxicity of their young love like when Ella pushed her to wear her heeled shoes to a Serena Society soiree when they were clearly a size too small and pinching her feet. The cheating was a little predictable, I think it was enough that Blake realized she didn't like the person she became when she was around Ella.
This book made me cry with all its sapphic yearning, a unique portrayal of alcoholism that you don't always see in sobriety narratives about rock bottom moments, hard-fought growth and heartbreak. I also loved side character Annetta, who was questioning her gender identity and came out as nonbinary. Thought that was so well handled, especially the hazing at the end when Annetta's secret was revealed in a transphobic way.
I bought We Deserve Monuments because I loved this author's writing so much. A new favorite for sure.
Blake Brenner and her girlfriend Ella are the perfect It Couple at the start of the story, Ella with her luxury lifestyle and accepting parents and awkward Blake, born to a life of careful love to parents who worked the night shift at 7-Eleven and a pilot, who finally feels seen by beautiful Ella. But this is not a romance, and the happy ending is that Blake finally realizes how toxic she and Ella were together and how she'd enabled her abuse of alcohol. I need more happy endings where the main couple doesn't end up together.
Blake needs alcohol to ease her awkwardness in social settings, and when she drinks she becomes Big Bad Bee, the wild party animal that everyone cheers and admires. She chases that feeling to excess, during a scorching summer working at a country club and trying desperately to join an exclusive sorority for women of color. But is it really her dream, or Ella's?
By the end of the summer she doesn't recognize herself anymore and doesn't know what she wants without Ella's molding of her life. I loved the little details outlining the toxicity of their young love like when Ella pushed her to wear her heeled shoes to a Serena Society soiree when they were clearly a size too small and pinching her feet. The cheating was a little predictable, I think it was enough that Blake realized she didn't like the person she became when she was around Ella.
This book made me cry with all its sapphic yearning, a unique portrayal of alcoholism that you don't always see in sobriety narratives about rock bottom moments, hard-fought growth and heartbreak. I also loved side character Annetta, who was questioning her gender identity and came out as nonbinary. Thought that was so well handled, especially the hazing at the end when Annetta's secret was revealed in a transphobic way.
I bought We Deserve Monuments because I loved this author's writing so much. A new favorite for sure.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2025
An effective exploration of unhealthy drinking habits, mental health, family, and identity. Hammond’s execution of Blake’s character was very impactful.
Following Blake was genuinely sad as she fell deeper into self destructive behavior that stemmed from wanting to belong and feel seen. I empathized with her and understood the importance of experiencing her spiral.
Her best friend, Annetta was a standout character for me and I enjoyed her subplot. The queer POC representation across the book was really nice.
I also liked the balanced portrayal of people that enabled Blake and those who wanted to help her. The book showed how normalized drinking and other harmful behaviors can be amongst teenagers.
Everything that Blake goes through makes it even more fulfilling when she begins to heal. I did find the resolution to some plot lines to be a bit too easy/simple.
But by the end I didn’t mind and left the book valuing its messaging and Blake’s journey.
Side note: The author’s note was really touching and this cover is gorgeous!
Following Blake was genuinely sad as she fell deeper into self destructive behavior that stemmed from wanting to belong and feel seen. I empathized with her and understood the importance of experiencing her spiral.
Her best friend, Annetta was a standout character for me and I enjoyed her subplot. The queer POC representation across the book was really nice.
I also liked the balanced portrayal of people that enabled Blake and those who wanted to help her. The book showed how normalized drinking and other harmful behaviors can be amongst teenagers.
Everything that Blake goes through makes it even more fulfilling when she begins to heal. I did find the resolution to some plot lines to be a bit too easy/simple.
But by the end I didn’t mind and left the book valuing its messaging and Blake’s journey.
Side note: The author’s note was really touching and this cover is gorgeous!
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May 15, 2024I don't really know how to feel about this one. I loved "We deserve monuments", but this one was hard for me to get into/like. I loved the real topics it deals with: alcoholism, identity, gender, belonging, race, enabling, toxic relationships... But I just couldn't connect with the story or the characters.
February 18, 2025
I got so much second hand embarrassment reading this book, but it’s so well written. Great characters. Great pacing. Covers themes like race and classicism in a thoughtful way. Loved how messy it was!
June 25, 2024
Jas Hammonds is such an amazing author‼️ Ever since I read her first debut We Deserve Monuments I’ve been looking forward to her next book. While Thirsty didn’t top the first book I really enjoyed this one too.
Blake being addicted to alcohol at such a young age stressed me out so bad. But I get it she was formerly a loner and now that she’s trying to be apart of the crowd she doesn’t feel she can be her true self. Peer pressure can get serious but I honestly felt Ella had a lot to do with it. When Blake was under the influence she basically became the life of the party. Ella encouraged the behavior and the new sorority ate up Blake’s energy every time.
Then as the pledging got more intense so does the drinking. Her life was practically turned upside down to the point she was drowning before Blake realized how bad her drinking had actually gotten. But when she did and finally cut Ella off I was so pleased because their relationship was really toxic. “I don’t like who I am when I’m around you.”
Overall, it’s definitely a book I’d recommend. The author touched on some heavy topics surrounding anxiety, the effects of alcoholism, identity, poor decisions, toxic relationships, sobriety, social acceptance, and family. This was probably a tough one for her to write but I think it was needed because it’s a situation many young people are dealing with. Not only that it’s becoming far too common and normalized when people should be discussing alcoholism amongst the youth more. Special thanks to the author & @macmillanusa #RoaringBookPress for my gifted e-ARC‼️
Blake being addicted to alcohol at such a young age stressed me out so bad. But I get it she was formerly a loner and now that she’s trying to be apart of the crowd she doesn’t feel she can be her true self. Peer pressure can get serious but I honestly felt Ella had a lot to do with it. When Blake was under the influence she basically became the life of the party. Ella encouraged the behavior and the new sorority ate up Blake’s energy every time.
Then as the pledging got more intense so does the drinking. Her life was practically turned upside down to the point she was drowning before Blake realized how bad her drinking had actually gotten. But when she did and finally cut Ella off I was so pleased because their relationship was really toxic. “I don’t like who I am when I’m around you.”
Overall, it’s definitely a book I’d recommend. The author touched on some heavy topics surrounding anxiety, the effects of alcoholism, identity, poor decisions, toxic relationships, sobriety, social acceptance, and family. This was probably a tough one for her to write but I think it was needed because it’s a situation many young people are dealing with. Not only that it’s becoming far too common and normalized when people should be discussing alcoholism amongst the youth more. Special thanks to the author & @macmillanusa #RoaringBookPress for my gifted e-ARC‼️
October 29, 2024
2024 reads: 296/250
content warnings (from author’s website): alcohol addiction, self-hatred, suicidal ideation, racial microaggressions, transphobic rhetoric, non-consensual outing, toxic relationship dynamics, instances of vomit, strong language, sexual content, mentions of divorce
going into college, blake and her girlfriend ella have one goal: join the mysterious and exclusive serena society. as the daughter of a serena alum, ella’s acceptance is a sure thing; blake, however, knows she’ll have to work hard for her own. she finds confidence at the bottom of a liquor bottle and quickly realizes the serenas love her this way. the drinking quickly descends into the other areas of her life. blake doesn’t like how it’s affecting her, but ella says she’s fine and has to keep partying to make the cut. blake must decide how much of herself she’s willing to lose to make her dreams come true.
i loved we deserve monuments when i read it in 2022, so i was very excited to learn jas hammonds had another book releasing this year! this was such a heavy read, as it’s hard to read about anyone with an alcohol addiction, but especially someone so young. on top of that, ella was really not a good partner and dismissed blake every time she tried to approach the topic of her problem with alcohol. it was also so sad to read about how this affected blake’s already-imperfect relationship with her family. with all this said, though, i appreciated how blake’s addiction was depicted and how we ended the story in a hopeful place. i highly recommend this book!
content warnings (from author’s website): alcohol addiction, self-hatred, suicidal ideation, racial microaggressions, transphobic rhetoric, non-consensual outing, toxic relationship dynamics, instances of vomit, strong language, sexual content, mentions of divorce
going into college, blake and her girlfriend ella have one goal: join the mysterious and exclusive serena society. as the daughter of a serena alum, ella’s acceptance is a sure thing; blake, however, knows she’ll have to work hard for her own. she finds confidence at the bottom of a liquor bottle and quickly realizes the serenas love her this way. the drinking quickly descends into the other areas of her life. blake doesn’t like how it’s affecting her, but ella says she’s fine and has to keep partying to make the cut. blake must decide how much of herself she’s willing to lose to make her dreams come true.
i loved we deserve monuments when i read it in 2022, so i was very excited to learn jas hammonds had another book releasing this year! this was such a heavy read, as it’s hard to read about anyone with an alcohol addiction, but especially someone so young. on top of that, ella was really not a good partner and dismissed blake every time she tried to approach the topic of her problem with alcohol. it was also so sad to read about how this affected blake’s already-imperfect relationship with her family. with all this said, though, i appreciated how blake’s addiction was depicted and how we ended the story in a hopeful place. i highly recommend this book!
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