This is so... *heavy sigh* hard to review.

This book made me feel tired. But also thoughtful (growing up and communication) and somewhat thrilled (the Sam factor).

This book is not for everyone. It's moderately realistic, but also so full of teen drama of the most ridiculous kind (terrifyingly realistic, actually).

I didn't love this book, but I did not hate it either.
Make of that what you will *shrug* ( )

The plot in one sentence: Religious straight girl realizes lesbians are people too.

Maybe that's a little harsh, but not very. It's exhausting to read the protagonist's emotional development (during the moments she's not daydreaming about some boy's abs): "Oh, I guess [lesbian former best friend] falls in love with girls, just like I fall in love with boys." *eye roll*

Adding to that, the writing is painfully bad. It's laden with so many unnecessary adjectives it's actually distracting. And at 352 pages with a story that could easily fit 250, the novel drags on and on. If the novel had been self-published, the lack of editing would be understandable. But for Bloomsbury, a major publishing house? Embarrassing.

Finally, the representation of abusive parents is terrible. Protagonist Colette's mother is homophobic control freak. But, in a sudden plot twist devoid of any realism, she realizes the error of her ways. Not buying it.

I wanted to read this because it sounded like a nice summer read, and also based on friendship. I wanted to find out what happened between their friendship and what it is that Sadie has been keeping from Colette.
The story is mostly told in Collette's present, but she does have sections that go back to when her and Sadie were such close friends as kids. It is nice to get these glimpses of how they were together and that they had a long history as best friends. It also makes me relate with Colette even more because it shows me what she is missing in her life.
Where we start with Colette's story there is so much change going on. She is supposed to go on a summer mission trip with her straight and narrow chaste boyfriend Mark, who is graduating and going to college while she will be in her senior year. One of her current closest friends, Luisa is applying for a senior year abroad. So, after being dumped by Sadie (as she sees it) those are the closest people to her because even though she has a lot of people in her youth group and town that she knows she isn't really close to them.
When Sadie approaches her about the summer in Greece, Sadie says yes right away, surprising them both. But then she is waivering on if she can go, if her parents would approve, and what about her planned and fund raised trip to Costa Rica? She isn't sure about that status of her future with Mark. This began the process that continued through the book of Coley (her nickname) realizing who she really wants to be instead of playing a balancing act from the "Good Colette" that her parents and their high expectantions and moral/religious values weigh on her. On the other side she wants to break out the brave/fun Coley that says yes to trips and wants to get to the bottom of the seperation with Sadie.
I actually didn't guess Sadie's secret until a little before Coley herself found out. I guessed a lot of things, things that could actually make an interesting story if it were the secret, but finally all of the "you don't know" and the judging/downer/mean looks from others. Sadie's side of the story actually makes a lot of sense and I could see how she could have percieved everything that happened, but I also feel for Coley. Over time she lost her best friend and the fun and lightness from her life.
But she realizes that she needs to open up and let others in more, as well as make decisions for herself based on feelings, on facts and not on expectations. I ended up enjoying her talks with her father, because even though he has the same beliefs as her mom, I think that he goes about showing them better. Yes, there is talk of religion, but Coley isn't quite sure I don't think, she's just grown up with the background, and in church, so she is a little more towards the conservative because of her upbringing. But Coley's mom is the more vocal and pushes it to Coley as well. I know that, as a christian mom, she wanted to protect Coley, and wanted to pass along what she believes and values. But... the makes mistakes, but I also liked that she finally admitted she was wrong how she handled things and was more willing to actually listen to Coley. So, it is really one of the first times I can think of where a parent shows such growth.
The romance is nice, although at times, I think it is coming close to stepping into areas that make me a little mad. (There is semi-cheating, dishonesty/secrets.) I know that Mark is a good guy and he will be great boyfriend, but I just think that he and Coley hid too many things from each other, and they were just comfortable together, it was accepted, but I don't think that they were really in love, and didn't have the chemistry that Coley for sure desired. There is another guy that comes into the picture, and their chemistry and eye flirting as well as him being semi-forbidden made my toes curl, but I also think it taught Coley a lot.
I like the direction and the emphasis on friendship, and second chances, as well as actually verbalizing problems instead of making big decisions and actions based on assumptions. Where they ended up and how things looked for the future really fit the book, and I was satisfied with the wrap up. But mostly I love the hope for the future, for new things, maybe even a sequel, hint hint Ms Carter. But even if I don't get more of their stories or romance, then I like where it ended.

Bottom Line: Story of Colette discovering who she is as well as big emphasis on friendship and second chances.

Sadie invokes Colette’s three year old promise ‘to come’ when she says “I need you.” Although these former best friends have not spoken in three years, Coley feels she must honor her promise and accompany Sadie to her cousin’s wedding in Greece, against her conservative Christian mother’s wishes and abandoning her summer of community service in Costa Rica with her ‘too perfect’ boyfriend Mark. Coley misses Sadie despite not knowing why Sadie stopped talking to her. Whenever Coley brings up the subject, Sadie avoids answering, until the situation explodes: Sadie’s former girlfriend, Rose, is at the wedding and Colette is serving as Sadie’s date to show Rose their relationship is over. However, Coley did not know Sadie was a lesbian. To complicate matters, Coley is falling for Sam, Sadie’s adopted brother from Haiti. Finally, Coley is having erotic dreams and is getting emails from her mother with biblical quotes about the immorality of sex. How could her mother possibly know?

There is a lot going on in My Best Friend, Maybe: Colette’s learning about and accepting Sadie’s sexuality, her mother’s role in their estrangement, her excitement with Sam contrasted with her restraint with Mark, her learning to be herself, not someone else’s expectation. Teens in relationships will identify with Sadie and Rose. Teens learning something new about a friend will understand Colette’s reactions. Teens realizing a parent might be wrong and following your heart instead of rules might be the best avenue will identify with Colette. This fast paced, enjoyable book exceeded this reviewer’s expectations. ( )