How Does 'Guess Who My Favorite Person Is' Explore Unrequited Love?

The novel 'Guess Who My Favorite Person Is' dives deep into unrequited love by showing how it slowly eats away at the protagonist's self-worth. Every interaction with their crush is loaded with hope and despair—they notice tiny details like how the other person's eyes light up when talking to someone else, but never them. The author doesn’t romanticize the pain; instead, it’s raw and relatable. The protagonist’s internal monologue reveals how they justify every small kindness as 'maybe they like me back,' only to crash harder when reality hits. What makes it unique is how the story contrasts their one-sided longing with the crush’s oblivious happiness, highlighting how love isn’t always fair. The side characters add layers too, like the best friend who watches helplessly as the protagonist spirals, making readers wonder when—or if—they’ll finally move on.

'Guess Who My Favorite Person Is' portrays unrequited love as a quiet, persistent ache rather than a dramatic tragedy. The protagonist’s fixation isn’t just emotional; it’s almost physical. They memorize the rhythm of their crush’s laughter, the way they tilt their head when confused, and even the scent of their shampoo. These obsessions are mundane yet heartbreaking because they’re so specific. The author cleverly uses mundane settings—a cramped school hallway, a rainy bus stop—to amplify the loneliness. In these spaces, the protagonist’s unspoken feelings scream the loudest.

The crush isn’t villainized, which adds depth. They’re kind but distant, unaware of the turmoil they cause. This realism makes the protagonist’s hope more painful. The narrative also explores how unrequited love distorts time. Days drag when waiting for a text, but years blur into a single, unresolved longing. Secondary characters, like a teacher who subtly notices the protagonist’s struggles, add quiet empathy without cheap solutions. The ending doesn’t offer closure, just the slow realization that some loves are meant to be felt, not returned.

What struck me about 'Guess Who My Favorite Person Is' is how it frames unrequited love as a form of self-discovery. The protagonist doesn’t just pine—they grow. Early scenes show them molding themselves into what they think their crush would want: pretending to love indie bands they hate or laughing too hard at bad jokes. But as the story progresses, these acts start to feel hollow. The turning point comes when they accidentally overhear their crush praising someone else’s authenticity. That moment cracks their facade, forcing them to confront how much they’ve lost themselves in the chase.

The crush serves as a mirror, reflecting the protagonist’s insecurities. Their love isn’t just unrequited; it’s misplaced, directed more at an ideal than a real person. The author contrasts this with side plots, like a classmate who harbors their own secret crush on the protagonist, creating a poignant cycle of longing. The writing shines in small gestures—a half-written confession letter crumpled under the bed, or the way the protagonist’s playlist shifts from 'songs they think their crush likes' to music that actually comforts them. It’s a subtle, powerful arc about learning to love yourself when someone else won’t.