Something More by Jackie Khalilieh: Book Review

Something More is the debut novel by Canadian author Jackie Khalilieh. Released in June 2023, the book introduces readers to Jessie, a 15-year-old girl trying to find her way in her first year of high school. Jessie received a diagnosis shortly before starting high school that explains everything to her, yet she doesn’t want anyone else to know. She’s not ashamed, she’s just tired of being judged by everyone.

Synopsis from Goodreads

Fifteen-year-old Jessie, a quirky loner obsessed with the nineties, is diagnosed as autistic just weeks before starting high school. Determined to make a fresh start and keep her diagnosis a secret, Jessie creates a list of goals that range from acquiring two distinct eyebrows to getting a magical first kiss and landing a spot in the school play. Within the halls of Holy Trinity High, she finds a world where things are no longer black and white and quickly learns that living in color is much more fun. But Jessie gets more than she bargained for when two very different boys steal her heart, forcing her to go off-script.

My Opinions

I decided to read Something More after reading You Started It in 2025. I am so grateful that I finally read Khalilieh’s debut novel. A bonus for me is that it is set in the Toronto area, which I love.

Khalilieh has a way of writing realistic characters, based on her own life experiences. Jessie’s parents are Palestinian, making Jessie a first-generation Palestinian-Canadian. With that, Jessie is trying to balance her parents’ wishes and desires for her and her siblings with what is happening in school.

I found Something More relatable, even though my high school years are far behind me. In many ways, I saw myself in Jessie, though I never had the desire to be in a school play. Jessie’s relationships with those around her were ones I heard about from my two girls as they navigated the life that is high school. There’s making friends, losing friends, crushes, dating, breaking up, and the heartache of it all is described perfectly in this book.

Something More is classified as a young-adult romance. But to me, it is much more than that. To me, this is a contemporary slice of life that is so relatable.

My biggest issue with the book was the ages of the main characters. Jessie turned 15 before we ever met her, and she’s excited to start high school in grade 9. Levi just turned 16, and he’s in grade 10. Maybe it’s just me, and the fact that my birthday was later in the year, but those ages feel off for the Canadian education system. My youngest daughter turned 15 in the middle of grade 9, as her birthday is in January. Also, at one point in the novel, Levi is driving alone at age 16. If you don’t live in Ontario, Canada, you may not see that as a flaw. But in Ontario, you don’t get to drive alone until you’ve been driving for at least a year, and you can’t start driving until you turn 16. As I said, this is an issue I have because I know the details aren’t quite right. And in other places, these ages and actions may be correct.

Overall, Something More has plenty of fun and drama! There’s character growth, messy families, and lots of fun. If you enjoy Lynn Painter’s YA books, I honestly feel you would enjoy Something More.

Are you looking for some more books to read? Check out my bookish lists, book reviews, and monthly reading wrap-ups.