Michelle Quach’s Not Here to Be Liked digs deep into the messiness of teenage ambition, identity, and the challenges of being a feminist or a woman in a setting where popularity often feels more valued than principle. The story centers on Eliza Quan, a high school junior who’s poised to take over as editor-in-chief of her school paper. She was extremely qualified for this position and was confident about her win – until Len DiMartile, a former athlete with little journalistic experience, decides to run and unexpectedly gets voted the most, What follows is a fiery examination of gender biases, competition, and the expectations placed on young women in the patriarchal society.
Eliza’s perspective is sharp and occasionally unforgiving, especially when she pens a manifesto about her frustrations with sexism that accidentally gets published. This moment is intense as her manifesto is raw and vulnerable, clearly written in the heat of the moment. Her words reveal the kind of anger that’s often stifled, showing how fed up she is with always having to “play nice.” Instead of smoothing out her emotions, Quach lets Eliza’s feelings sit front and center, unpolished and a bit jagged. I found this to be one of the book’s strongest aspects because it’s honest. Eliza isn’t asked to apologize for her anger, and Quach doesn’t sanitize her feelings for comfort.
What stands out about Not Here to Be Liked is its take on “likability”. Eliza’s journey makes us question why we’re so often told that women need to be agreeable to succeed. In the book, Eliza notices how her assertiveness is viewed negatively, while Len’s similar qualities are either brushed aside or even admired. For example, after her manifesto goes public, Eliza is quickly labeled as “angry” or “hostile,” labels that Len would likely never face if he were in her position. These reactions from her peers reveal a lot about the subtle ways ambition is accepted or rejected based on gender, and Quach brings this to light without being overly didactic.
Another great layer in the story is Eliza’s relationship with Len. Their interactions are filled with tension, especially as she starts to see him as more than just her rival. Instead of making her feelings for him a distraction or a sudden compromise of her ideals, Quach uses them to explore the complexities of Eliza’s beliefs, which is being a pro-feminist. Len doesn’t magically alter her perspective; instead, he challenges it, making her think more deeply about what feminism actually means in practice.
Quach’s writing style is refreshingly direct and unembellished, with a dry wit that reflects Eliza’s personality. She doesn’t overcomplicate the story with flowery language or unnecessary details, keeping the focus on Eliza’s perspective. The dialogue is natural, and Quach uses subtle humor to bring out character quirks, especially in scenes with Eliza and Len. This simplicity makes the book easy to engage with while giving the story an authentic feel, as if we’re watching Eliza’s thoughts unfold in real time.
Overall, Not Here to Be Liked stands out because it captures the internal conflict of fighting for what’s right while still learning what that means. Eliza’s journey is unvarnished and real, and the book doesn’t offer easy answers. It’s a thoughtful, bold story that lets its main character be angry, ambitious, and real in a way that feels genuinely impactful and young adults would find it relatable.
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