Not Here to Be Liked by Michelle Quach

Not Here to Be Liked by Michelle Quach

Not Here to Be Liked (2021) by Michelle Quach is a sharp, witty, and incredibly honest Young Adult contemporary debut novel. It treats the classic "enemies-to-lovers" romance setup as a launchpad to explore complex, real-world themes like intersectional feminism, institutional bias, and the double standards high-achieving young women face when trying to lead.

It stands out in the YA landscape for giving readers a fiercely uncompromising, unlikable-and-proud female protagonist.

The story revolves around Eliza Quan, a brilliant, fiercely dedicated high school junior who has poured her life into her school newspaper, The Bugle. She has checked every box, paid her dues, and is the absolute shoe-in to become the next Editor-in-Chief. She isn't warm or bubbly, but she is unquestionably the most qualified person for the job.

Everything shatters when Lenny DiMartino, a charismatic, easygoing former jock, decides to run against her on a whim.

Lenny doesn't have half of Eliza's experience, but his application essay is "inspiring" and he possesses a natural, effortless charm. When the staff votes, Lenny wins the position simply because he is well-liked. Devastated and furious, Eliza vents her frustration by writing a raw, scathing op-ed detailing the casual misogyny and systemic double standards behind the school's decision—calling out the fact that a quiet, average boy can slide past a highly qualified girl purely on "likability."

When the essay is accidentally published, it goes viral across the school, sparking a massive feminist movement. Suddenly, Eliza is positioned as the reluctant leader of a campus-wide gender war.

To smooth over the massive public relations nightmare, the school principal forces Eliza and Lenny to work together as co-editors and execute a series of highly publicized joint projects to prove they can collaborate. But as the two are forced into close quarters, Eliza makes a horrifying discovery: Lenny isn't the shallow, chauvinistic villain she painted him to be—he's actually a sweet, genuinely supportive guy. Worse yet, she might be falling in love with the literal face of the patriarchy she's trying to dismantle.

Language: English.

Genre: Romance.

Binding: সেলাই করা বাইন্ডিং

Quality: Premium Quality Books.

Printing: High Quality Printing.

Paper: Eye Friendly paper (Cream White)

Cover: Matt cover (Paperback).