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onemorepagecrew's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert is the sweetest, most smile-inducing YA romance. I devoured the author’s Brown sisters trilogy (not YA, definitely spicy) last year and was excited to see how the author would handle her first young adult romance. It’s all the humor and heart of her prior books and it perfectly captures those teenage years.
In the book we meet Brad and Celine, two childhood friends who drifted apart in high school and became frosty academic competitors. They are both signed up for a survival course in the woods with a chance to win a university scholarship and forced to work together.
As they get to know each other again and they are forced to lean on each other, they rebuild a friendship with, much to their surprise, a few romantic sparks. There’s also their family dynamics and working through their personal aspirations, all that teenage pressure when you first start finding your place in the adult world… it’s really just so well done.
It’s such an adorable and heartwarming story, the pages flew by. If you have a teenager or if you enjoy YA books, don’t miss out on this one.
Content warnings: Abandonment, Panic attacks
Parent awareness: Alcohol, Cursing
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Alcohol and Cursing
yadira315's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Talia Hibbert book's never fail to make me smile and I'm constantly reminded of why i love reading so much. This book was so funny and cute! her humor had me literally laughing. I love how how she made us feel invested in these characters. The characters had amazing chemistry and found themselves through their friendship. They each take accountability for their flaws and have so much growth throughout the book. I love the representation in this book and the way she portrayed Brad's OCD showing us the importance of having positive coping skills. The title does not lie and it is an unfairly cute YA debut novel!
Content Warnings
Minor: Abandonment and Cursing
caseythereader's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Thanks to Joy Revolution Books for the free advance copy of this book.
- HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS AND UNFAIRLY CUTE is Talia Hibbert's YA debut, and what a joy it is. Hibbert's adult romance novels have the best banter, and this book is basically solid gleeful banter all the way through.
- Celine fits right in to the Hibbert pantheon of smart, headstrong women. I loved how driven she was, even when pointed in the wrong direction, and seeing Brad gently help her reassess was so lovely.
- I loved that Brad had OCD, and that instead of this being a discovery and diagnosis story, he already had a fair handle on it and was shown on the page using his techniques to combat intrusive thoughts.
- HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS AND UNFAIRLY CUTE is Talia Hibbert's YA debut, and what a joy it is. Hibbert's adult romance novels have the best banter, and this book is basically solid gleeful banter all the way through.
- Celine fits right in to the Hibbert pantheon of smart, headstrong women. I loved how driven she was, even when pointed in the wrong direction, and seeing Brad gently help her reassess was so lovely.
- I loved that Brad had OCD, and that instead of this being a discovery and diagnosis story, he already had a fair handle on it and was shown on the page using his techniques to combat intrusive thoughts.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Medical content, Bullying, Cursing, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcohol and Sexual content
readingwithtrey's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Celine is a popular TikToker whose page talks about conspiracy theories but that popularity doesn't quite trickle into real life. Bradley is the super popular kid that everyone loves. He's the poster kid for confidence on the outside even though he has a secret that he's not confident enough to share. He and Celine were once close, bonded by their shared "weirdness." But when Brad suddenly becomes popular and "outgrows being weird," something happens between them that ends their friendship for good. Or does it?
This is my first Talia Hibbert book, and I am so sad to say that because this was everything I could have ever imagined and more. I devoured it in a matter of hours staying up way past my bedtime because I just couldn't put it down. It was relatable, inspiring, and so stinking funny! It was a (somewhat) lighthearted read. I could see so much of my teenage self in both Celine and Bradley and that caused me to be deeply invested in their stories. I wanted them both to succeed and be happy.
The banter in this book was literal perfection. I laughed so much and could really feel the romantic tension build. It was also a breath of fresh air for the male MC to be open and in touch with his feelings. Although the miscommunication trope was technically in there, it wasn't overdone and I really appreciated that.
One thing I also really loved was that therapy was normalized in this book. As someone who put it off for years due to the stigma that can come with it, it was refreshing to see these teens so open to it.
I highly recommend this read if you enjoy: enemies to lovers, second chance love, slow burn love, and lots of banter.
Thank you to Joy Revolution and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review! This is one that I will definitely be adding to my bookshelves once released.
This is my first Talia Hibbert book, and I am so sad to say that because this was everything I could have ever imagined and more. I devoured it in a matter of hours staying up way past my bedtime because I just couldn't put it down. It was relatable, inspiring, and so stinking funny! It was a (somewhat) lighthearted read. I could see so much of my teenage self in both Celine and Bradley and that caused me to be deeply invested in their stories. I wanted them both to succeed and be happy.
The banter in this book was literal perfection. I laughed so much and could really feel the romantic tension build. It was also a breath of fresh air for the male MC to be open and in touch with his feelings. Although the miscommunication trope was technically in there, it wasn't overdone and I really appreciated that.
One thing I also really loved was that therapy was normalized in this book. As someone who put it off for years due to the stigma that can come with it, it was refreshing to see these teens so open to it.
I highly recommend this read if you enjoy: enemies to lovers, second chance love, slow burn love, and lots of banter.
Thank you to Joy Revolution and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review! This is one that I will definitely be adding to my bookshelves once released.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Bullying and Cursing
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