I hate everyone but you
Gaby Dunn
I hate everyone but you
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Gaby Dunn
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to start fresh in a new place, far from everyone you know? Ava and Gen are best friends who text and email each other while facing the ups and downs of their first year of college. Will their friendship stay strong even when everything around them is changing?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores the challenges and joys of starting college through the eyes of two teenage girls who stay connected via texts and emails. It touches on themes of friendship, identity, mental health, and coming out, making it suitable for readers aged 9-12 who are ready for stories about self-discovery and emotional growth. Parents should note the book includes discussions of mental health and LGBTQ+ identity presented in a heartfelt and age-appropriate manner.
Why we rated I hate everyone but you 12ME
I hate everyone but you is written at a Level 7 reading level across 344 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, I hate everyone but you works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate I hate everyone but you as 12ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, I hate everyone but you explores friendship, coming of age, family, lgbtq+ representation, and mental health — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, coming of age, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781250129321
- Pages
- 344
- Publisher
- St. Martin's Publishing Group
- Published
- 2017
- Type
- Fiction