It started with a song. If you were on the internet in 2015, you probably remember the music video—two girls in a sun-drenched suburban backyard, a brewing tension, and that explosive moment of realization. It was "Girls Like Girls," the anthem that essentially crowned Hayley Kiyoko as "Lesbian Jesus." But fast forward to 2023, and that five-minute music video transformed into something much bigger: a full-length novel.
The Girls Like Girls book isn't just a cheap novelization. Honestly, it’s a bit of a miracle it exists.
Usually, when a celebrity writes a book, you expect a ghostwritten, glossy mess that lacks any real soul. This is different. Kiyoko spent years living with these characters—S Cole and Ruby Oliver—and it shows on every single page. It’s raw. It’s sweaty. It’s that specific brand of teenage yearning that makes your chest ache even if you’re well into your thirties.
The Long Journey from Music Video to Best-Seller
Most people think the book was a quick cash-in. Not even close.
Hayley has been vocal about how she felt she "owed" this story to her younger self. The music video was a snapshot, but the novel is the whole photo album. It’s set in 2006, which is a very specific choice. There’s no TikTok. There are no easy ways to find community. If you were a queer kid in 2006, you were basically operating on vibes and secret glances.
The story follows Cole, who is grieving the loss of her mother and finds herself shipped off to rural Oregon for the summer. She’s messy. She’s guarded. Then she meets Ruby, the girl who seems to have everything—including a boyfriend.
It’s a classic setup, sure. But the execution is what makes the Girls Like Girls book stand out in a crowded YA market. It captures the terrifying friction of realizing your identity in a space that doesn't have a name for it yet.
Why 2006 Matters for the Story
We take for granted how much the world has shifted. In the mid-2000s, "coming out" wasn't always a celebratory Instagram post. It was a risk. By setting the book in this era, Kiyoko taps into a specific type of isolation.
Cole’s internal monologue is heavy with the weight of things left unsaid.
- The dial-up internet struggles.
- The reliance on physical proximity.
- The absolute terror of someone looking at your journal.
These aren't just "vintage" flourishes; they are central to the plot. The stakes feel higher because the world feels smaller.
This Isn't Your Typical "Coming Out" Story
One thing that people get wrong about the Girls Like Girls book is assuming it's just about a girl realizing she's gay. That’s part of it, obviously. But really? It’s a book about grief.
Cole is dealing with the "before" and "after" of a life-shattering loss. Her attraction to Ruby isn't just a romantic subplot; it's a lifeline. It’s the first time she feels anything other than numbness after her mother's death. Kiyoko handles this with surprising nuance. She doesn't let the romance "fix" the grief. Instead, she shows how they coexist.
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Ruby is equally complex. She isn't just a "love interest" trophy. She’s navigating the suffocating expectations of a small town and a family that demands perfection. When she and Cole interact, it’s electric, but it’s also dangerous.
The Realism of the "Messy" Teenager
Let’s be real for a second.
Teenagers are often annoying. They make terrible decisions. They hurt the people they care about because they don't know how to handle their own emotions.
Kiyoko doesn't shy away from this. Cole is frustrating sometimes. She pushes people away. She misinterprets things. Ruby can be hot and cold in a way that will give anyone who has ever dated a "closeted" person serious flashbacks.
This realism is why the book resonated so deeply. It’s not a sanitized, "perfect" queer story. It’s a story about two people who are barely holding it together, trying to find a piece of themselves in each other.
The dialogue feels authentic. It’s not overly polished or "Sorkin-esque." It sounds like two seventeen-year-olds trying to be cool while their hearts are pounding out of their chests.
Comparing the Book to the "Girls Like Girls" Music Video
If you’ve seen the video a thousand times (like most of us have), you’ll recognize the bones of the story. The pool scenes. The fight. The longing looks across a fence.
But the book fills in the "why."
In the video, Ruby’s boyfriend is just a generic obstacle. In the book, the dynamics are much more layered. You see the social pressure. You see the history.
Interestingly, the book actually changes some of the "vibe" of the original source material. It’s grittier. It’s less about the aesthetic of summer and more about the heat—the literal heat of an Oregon summer and the metaphorical heat of suppressed desire.
What Critics and Fans Actually Said
The reception was surprisingly strong for a debut. The New York Times highlighted how Kiyoko managed to translate her songwriting ability into prose. Fans, meanwhile, turned the book into a literal movement.
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It wasn't just about reading a story; it was about reclaiming a childhood many queer people felt they missed out on.
"I wrote this book for the girl I used to be, who didn't think a happy ending was possible." — Hayley Kiyoko, during the 2023 book tour.
That sentiment is the heartbeat of the project.
Addressing the "Cringe" Factor
Look, some people find YA fiction a bit much. The drama can feel heightened. The emotions are dialed up to eleven.
But that’s exactly what being seventeen feels like.
The Girls Like Girls book leans into the "cringe." It leans into the awkwardness of first touches and the devastation of a misunderstood text message. If you go into this expecting a dry, literary masterpiece, you’re missing the point. It’s a commercial YA novel designed to make you feel things. And it succeeds.
It also tackles the specific intersection of being a person of color in a predominantly white, rural space. Cole’s Japanese-American identity isn't just a footnote; it shapes how she moves through the world and how she perceives the "safety" of the spaces around her.
Why You Should Care in 2026
Even though the book came out a few years ago, it remains a staple of queer literature. Why? Because the "Summer of 2006" vibes are timeless.
We live in an era of hyper-connectivity. Sometimes, reading a book where the characters are forced to actually talk to each other because they don't have smartphones is a relief. It forces a different kind of intimacy.
The Girls Like Girls book also serves as a reminder of how far media has come. Ten years ago, a major publisher might have asked to "tone down" the queer elements or make the ending more ambiguous. Today, we get the full, unapologetic version of Hayley’s vision.
Nuance in the Ending (No Spoilers, Sort Of)
Without giving away the final pages, it’s worth noting that the ending is polarizing for some.
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Some readers wanted a fairy tale. Others wanted a tragedy.
Kiyoko lands somewhere in the middle. It’s a "Happy For Now" ending rather than a "Happily Ever After." It acknowledges that while Cole and Ruby have found something beautiful, they are still kids. They still have to grow up. They still have lives to lead.
This choice makes the book feel much more "grown-up" than your average celebrity-penned novel. It respects the reader's intelligence. It knows that life isn't wrapped up in a neat bow just because you finally kissed the girl.
Actionable Steps for Readers and Fans
If you’re looking to dive into this world, don't just stop at the last page. The "Girls Like Girls" universe is actually quite expansive if you know where to look.
1. Watch the Original Music Video First
Seriously. Even if you’ve seen it, watch it again before you start the first chapter. It sets the visual palette for the entire book. You’ll start to see the "Easter eggs" Kiyoko hid in the prose—descriptions of clothing or lighting that mirror the cinematography of the 2015 video.
2. Listen to the "Girls Like Girls" Audiobook
If you have the choice, go for the audio version. Hayley Kiyoko narrates it herself. There’s an intimacy in hearing the author speak the words she wrote, especially when those words are so clearly tied to her own lived experience. Her voice adds a layer of vulnerability that you might miss just reading the text.
3. Explore the "Expectations" Album
The themes in the book—longing, displacement, and hidden identity—are all over Hayley's debut album. Listening to tracks like "Sleepover" or "Curious" while reading creates a sort of multi-sensory experience that fans have dubbed "The Kiyoko Method."
4. Check Out Modern Queer YA Peers
If this book hits the spot, you should immediately look into Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo or Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour. The Girls Like Girls book sits in a lineage of stories that prioritize the internal lives of queer girls, and these authors are the masters of that craft.
5. Reflect on the "2006" Setting
If you’re a younger reader, take a moment to look up what it was like to be a queer teen in the mid-2000s. Understanding the lack of legal protections and the social stigma of that specific era will make Cole’s bravery feel much more significant. It wasn't just a "vibe"; it was a struggle.
This book isn't just a piece of merch. It’s a legitimate contribution to the canon of Sapphic literature that managed to break out of the "celebrity author" bubble by being genuinely, painfully honest. Whether you were there for the music video premiere or you're just discovering it now, the story of Cole and Ruby is one of those rare ones that actually sticks to your ribs.