The Review

Natalya Fox (aka Nat or Tal, depending on which parent you ask) has to make a decision: either she stays in Manhattan with her primary caregiver, her mathematician father, or she heads to the West Coast to spend her summer trying to mend her relationship with her mom by being the nepo-intern hire at her mother’s marketing firm. Thankfully, we don’t have to wonder what would have happened, because in this Sliding Doors queer YA rom-com, we get to experience both.

In one half of the novel, Tal decides she couldn’t miss her last summer before college away from home and stays with her dad. However, wanting his daughter to have new experiences, the deal becomes that if she stays, she must 1) find a job, 2) talk to her mom daily, and 3) finally introduce herself to the cute redheaded girl she has a crush on. In the other half, Nat decides she would like to attempt to rekindle her relationship with her mother. However, as her mom is still working long hours, she ends up meeting a new community of friends and the cute boy she shares a desk with (since the firm decided they needed a “none nepo hire” intern as well).

The potential to be attracted — romantically and/or sexually —
to people of more than one sex and/or gender, not necessarily at the same time,
not necessarily in the same way, and not necessarily to the same degree

Robyn Ochs

As a proud member of the “B” in LGBTQIA+, let me start off by saying I was VERY excited for this novel. Originally, I was planning on having Going Bicoastal be included in my “TBR June 2023 Book Releases” list. While I was writing this post, I decided, “Hell, I might as well see if this one is still available to request on NetGalley.” Not even 24 hours later, St. Martin’s Press approved me, and I was over the moon elated! Growing up, I was obsessed with the “Choose Your Destiny” series, and though this novel wasn’t necessarily an interactive story, the idea of a bisexual love story where the girl gets both the girl AND the boy chefs kiss. Thankfully, I was not disappointed.

Adler does a phenomenal job in showcasing the bisexual umbrella as it is and truly honoring the characters and their identities in an authentic manner. As Adler wrote on Goodreads, “This is my first YA book where the MC is already out, and there is zero angst on that front for her or any of the other queer and/or trans characters.” In a time where LGBTQIA+ YA novels are being banned “simply for existing,” it was great to see Adler not limit the characters to try to fit a conservative mold. Instead, she let them be their unapologetic selves from the start. When Natalya makes her first friend in LA, the agender barista Jaime, Adler uses they/them pronouns from the beginning – even before Natalya is specifically told their gender.

I also need to touch on how enjoyable it was to have Adler focus not only on Natalya’s sexual identity but also her Jewish identity. From the mention of summer camps to Shabbat dinner, it was important to me to see that Natalya maintained a Kosher lifestyle in the LA timeline, even though her mother has become more culturally Jewish. When Natalya attends Evan and Adam’s “Dinner Party”, Evan instantly changes the ingredients from lobster to imitation crab for Natalya’s food to accommodate her. Then, back home in NYC, we learn more about religious aspects of Shabbat Dinner, when Tal invites Elly to join dinner with her Orthodox Jewish neighbors. These small moments of inclusion made me fall in love with the book and Adler as a writer.

I also enjoyed the method Adler used to tell both stories. For the most part, all of the odd chapters are in NYC and the even chapters are in LA. If you decide you don’t like one of Natalya’s universes, you could just skip every other chapter and still have a fully formed plot line – but I wouldn’t suggest it since both stories in conjunction give the novel its “je ne sais quoi.” (I also have a sneaky feeling Adler may be a “Friends” fan, given the naming convention of every chapter snicker). It was also interesting to see how small aspects played into both story lines. For example, both story lines had Nat and her mom start a book club, both story lines she learned how to cook a traditional Shabbat dinner, etc. I found myself continently wondering what other moments would show up in both timelines. In the future, I would love to see Adler actually tackle a queer interactive novel, which lets the reader choose which love interest the protagonist ends up with. Based on Adler’s story telling ability, I think she could really do it justice.

Going Bicoastal is the queer YA rom-com I wish I could have read in 2006. Adler’s portrayal of the bisexual community is authentic and refreshing, and the lack of angst around the characters’ identities is a welcome change from the norm. The dual narrative structure of the novel presents a unique format in which readers get to experience both sides of Natalya’s decision, creating a heartwarming story about self-discovery, family, and love. Most importantly, the inclusivity shone in Adler’s writing creates a safe and comforting space for readers who often feel underrepresented in literature. Overall, Going Bicoastal is an entertaining read that will leave you feeling both satisfied and longing for more.

In the end, I give Going Bicoastal 4 out of 5 starts!