ParentsPick

Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry — Content Guide for Parents

By Joya GoffneyHarperCollins2022-02ISBN 9780063024809384 pages
Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry

Themes present

Racial/cultural content
Profanity
Sexual identity

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ViolenceScary contentReligious themesClimate changeGender rolesLGBTQ+ themes

Content themes

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Religious themes

PRESENT

Contains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.

About this book

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

Frequently asked questions

  • Is Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry appropriate for a 7-year-old?

    The search results do not indicate any violence in 'Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry'. There are mentions of themes like parental conflict and the death of a beloved elder, but these do not constitute violence. There are no elements of scary content in 'Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry'. The themes discussed do not include horror or frightening scenarios.

  • Does Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry have violence?

    The search results do not indicate any violence in 'Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry'. There are mentions of themes like parental conflict and the death of a beloved elder, but these do not constitute violence.

  • Does Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry have scary content?

    There are no elements of scary content in 'Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry'. The themes discussed do not include horror or frightening scenarios.

  • Does Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry have religious themes?

    No religious practices, beliefs, or ceremonies are present in the narrative of 'Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry'. While there are mentions of themes like faith and spirituality in related content, they do not appear to be central to the book's narrative.

  • Does Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry have racial/cultural content?

    The book addresses issues of racism and bullying, indicating that these themes are explored thoughtfully within the narrative. It highlights the impact of words and actions on individuals, particularly in a high school setting.

  • Does Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry have profanity?

    The narrative contains occasional profanity, including words like 's--t' and 'f--k'. This is noted in the context of teen discussions and interactions.

  • Does Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry have climate change?

    No climate themes or discussions are present in 'Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry'. The search results do not indicate any environmental activism or related content.

  • Does Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry have sexual identity?

    The book includes themes of 'rising sexual urges' and mentions romantic kissing, but no explicit sexual scenes are described. It is characterized as a contemporary YA romance with sexual tension.

  • Does Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry have gender roles?

    There are no explicit discussions of traditional or modern gender roles in the search results. The focus remains on the protagonist's personal journey rather than gender expectations.

  • Does Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry have lgbtq+ themes?

    No explicit LGBTQ+ themes or characters are mentioned in the search results for 'Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry'. The content focuses on various adolescent experiences but does not highlight LGBTQ+ identities or issues.