# Noah Can't Even

By Simon James Green · Noah Can't Even, book 1

Profile: https://hahafiction.com/books/noah-can-t-even-039531ad/

Noah Grimes hopes a romance with Sophie will help him fit in at school. Instead, his best and only friend, Harry, kisses him at a party, leaving Noah with feelings he had not planned for.

## What makes it funny?

Even kissing becomes an overthinking exercise. Noah invents elaborate reasons why continuing would be the polite thing to do, while struggling to admit how much he likes it.

### The comedy at work

Noah’s fussy inner commentary makes a social stumble feel enormous. His wish to prepare for every possibility keeps colliding with people who act on their feelings, giving the embarrassment an affectionate edge.

### Try this if…

For readers who enjoy an awkward teenage lead, first romance and comic mishaps with emotional consequences. Noah can be exasperating, but his family troubles and confusion give the comedy something tender to return to.

### Good to know

The story includes teenage drinking and kissing, an absent father and a grandmother with dementia. It is the first Noah book; Noah Could Never is the sequel.

## What to expect

- Genre: Contemporary & literary · Romance
- On the shelf: Coming of age
- Kind of humor: Situational comedy
- The atmosphere: Warmhearted
- Audience: Young adult
- Format: Novel
- Length: 320 pages
- Published: 2017

## A few distinguishing details

- A first kiss accompanied by a private debate about good manners
- The only friend who upends Noah’s plan to get a girlfriend

## Sources & further reading

- Author commentary: [Simon James Green media kit:2026 first-volume cover](https://www.simonjamesgreen.com/media-kit)
- Publisher: [Scholastic August2017 Trade Parade, page22](https://www.scholastic.co.nz/media/3468/nz-august-trade-parade_lowres.pdf)
- Book information: [Book Notification: Noah Can’t Even series publication order](https://www.booknotification.com/authors/simon-james-green)
- Review: [Kelly McCaughrain: Noah Can’t Even review, Awfully Big Reviews](https://awfullybigreviews.blogspot.com/2018/10/noah-cant-even-by-simon-james-green.html)
- Author commentary: [Simon James Green: Noah Can’t Even](https://www.simonjamesgreen.com/books/noah1)
- Author commentary: [Simon James Green: How I Got Published](https://www.simonjamesgreen.com/blog/how-i-got-published)
- Reading sample: [The Pewter Wolf: Scholastic blog-tour authorized extract](https://thepewterwolf.blogspot.com/2017/05/noah-cant-even-do-extract.html)
- Book information: [London Review Bookshop:2026 paperback bibliographic listing](https://www.londonreviewbookshop.co.uk/stock/noah-can-t-even-ne-green-simon-james)