Reviews

What's Not to Love by Emily Wibberley, Austin Siegemund-Broka

sylviaafayee's review

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

dulceeep's review against another edition

inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

anaelements's review

4.0

it was weird reading a rival to lovers where the ML actually does hate the FL at first. i'm too used to the ML being whipped and acting like a rival just to be noticed.

astravars_thrubooks's review

5.0

'Ethan and I, we're nuclear fission. The explosive energy of pushing apart. We're messy, disruptive, uncontrollable.'

Academic enemies to rivals with benefits to lovers. I loved how driven Alison is, that they had self-aware conversations and a whole lot of chemistry despite their combativeness. Everything was a reason to compete, the pettier the better xD It made for awesome banter! The angst *chef kiss*, the dynamic was really fun to read and the way all of it plays out was really entertaining.

and this :

'I do know I haven't been pining for you this whole time. I'm not the kind of guy who's awful to a girl because his feelings are unrequited. And I don't think you're the kind of girl who'd fall for a guy who treats her poorly.'

Yes, thank you.
New Wibbroka fave (after thinking Always Never Yours was a fluke, I'm very happy about this <3)

idgetfay's review

3.0

This was really enjoyable to read and definitely kept me engaged. The premise was super similar to others I’ve read: a ruthless rivalry between overachievers that leads to more. The authors strike this really interesting balance with their characters… it’s like they enjoy treading the line between flawed and downright unlikable, and it’s clear in their authors’ note that they know it. Our main character is absolutely insufferable at first. She is judgmental, short-sighted and no fun at all. The love interest is similarly obnoxious… there seems to be no reason at all for him to be as annoying as he is. In fact their very rivalry upon which this whole thing hangs is childish and rather pointless. I felt like the part before things started to shift went on a bit too long… I was looking for more humor, more hidden affection to be clear from the start. Instead it was vitriol that exploded into lust and THEN we went from there. While I absolutely love a good argument that turns to kissing, and this was no exception, I will admit it seemed out of the blue to me despite knowing that was where this was meant to be heading. I wanted more frenemies I guess. At the same time, I really appreciated that one character wasn’t just super into the other from the beginning and handling it poorly… it was nice that whether it was rivalry or affection, these two characters were mostly on the same page, nothing unrequited. Basically, I enjoyed reading this a lot and will read more from these authors… but I don’t think they handled my favorite trope quite as well as I hoped they would. I will say, they do seem up to the challenge of making unlikable characters likable in the end, and it’s refreshing, even if the character growth is a bit heavy handed.

cojack's review

3.0

2.5, but maybe closer to 2? This is the least charming, least believable "opposites attract," "will they or won't they?" YA romance I've read. Irritating characters. The same thoughts and scenarios over and over and over again. Waaaaaayyy too long. If I wasn't reading this as a work assignment, I would have tossed it before the halfway point. There are some good passages, but most of the story is straight-up tedious.
Read my full review on Common Sense Media: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/whats-not-to-love

norassick's review

2.0

Stars are for the academic rivals arc. It was messy, but enemies to lovers tho<<<3

bibliorey's review

4.0

”High school holds a unique immortality for everyone. It clings on to your identity the way elementary and middle school don’t, or first boyfriends or first jobs. For whatever reason, high school lingers.”

This was such a quick and cute read. Just like the synopsis, it did remind me of the Netflix show Never Have I Ever. Academia enemies-to-lovers was such a cute concept however I think the story could’ve been more in terms of character development and the plot. I simply think the story was too simple and that it could’ve had more ✨ spice ✨ to it. Nevertheless, I did enjoy the story and it was a fun read indeed. It was also very enjoyable to read how relatable it was when Alison is struggling with the fact that high school is coming to an end and that the next step in life, the big step, the college step is going to happen. I could relate to that so much as I was struggling with that issue too last year.

This is a great book for YA beginners too because the writing style was easy to read, the reading process too was a breeze. I feel like YA beginners would really enjoy this. Personally for me, out of all the books written by Emily and Austin, Always Never Yours will always have my heart kept in a locked safe ❤️ Nothing beats that story for me hehehe

ivy's review

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

kthornette's review

3.0

Come on academic enemies-to-lovers, I’m rooting for you. I loved Rachel Lynn Solomon’s Today, Tonight, Tomorrow so freaking much.

I like how Wibbroka’s books touch upon different themes surrounding the end of high school, having only read 3 of them so far. Also, I see you Time of Our Lives reference, I see you. This book attacked me on many levels, specifically with Allison. I liked that and I like her drive and how she knew what she wanted in life. The only thing I really liked about Ethan was that he didn’t seem to give a crap about the “romanticized high school memories” which is also like me.

But about Ethan and Allison themselves? Yikes…

Since this is a YA enemies-to-lovers, I knew they would end up together. At the start, I wasn’t rooting for them since their “married couple bickering” was immature and toxic at times. I get their whole competing in grades, extra-curricular activities, and Harvard acceptance, but they would go too far in my opinion and they knew that too. It didn’t help that they or other people had to make the comments or jokes that they fit together regardless. At least there were people who pointed out their toxicity. But you know what? They were cute by the end though.