I’ve never been a big fan of books…except when I find a great one. I’m very picky about my taste in books. Naturally, whenever I find a book that holds every key aspect, (humor, relatability, and a limited amount of “cheesy” content) I grow to be somewhat enraptured.
Recently I finished a book called You Don’t Live Here by Robyn Schneider. Being both raw and relatable, this book has it all.
This book is centered around Sasha Bloom who is left to go live with her grandparents after her mother dies in a destructive earthquake. They have specific expectations for who they want her to be, and Sasha is determined to be as little of a burden as possible. Full of privileged, wealthy families, Sasha finds that her new community is the polar opposite of her old one. Sasha becomes intrigued by one of her classmates named Lily. Knowing that her grandparents tend to be close-minded, she tries to steer away from telling them any information about her discoveries about herself.
This book is a great story about grieving, discovering your sexuality, and trying to fit in in a different environment. I found myself relating to this book in several different ways, and it was easily one of my favorite books that I have read. I would highly recommend this book to anybody in grades 6th to 12th that is looking for a great read!
Seeing as I have completed this book, I’m very open to receiving new book recommendations, so please reach out to me if you have a favorite!

CHLOE DIEHM
Hey! I’m in the seventh grade at City. A few things I’m passionate about are animals, writing, spending time with my friends, photography, and music.