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katievallin's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Mental illness, and Bullying
Moderate: Medical content, Toxic friendship, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Abandonment, Racism, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Infidelity
beckyyreadss's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
4.0
I wanted to read this book because I adored the Brown Sister’s series and I wanted to read more of Talia’s work. This book was so damn fluffy but had some great reputation of OCD and parent abandonment which hurt my heart and made me want to hug the MCs.
This book has two points of view. The first one is Bradley Graeme and he is pretty much perfect to the eyes of everyone else. He is a star football player and is top of most of his classes except the ones he shares with his ex-best friend, Celine. He is wanting to be a writer, but his parents have big plans for him to go to Law School. He is also worried about dealing with his OCD when he goes to university. The second point of view is Celine Bangura. She is obsessed with conspiracy theories and she makes Tiktok videos on her take from UFOs to holiday overconsumptions and she’s got a pretty big social media following of people who love her videos. However, it’s not cool enough for the popular kids’ table, which is why Brad abandoned her for the cool kids years ago. These days, there’s nothing between them other than petty insults and academic rivalry. So when Celine signs up for a survival course in the words to get a free ride to whatever law school she wants, she is surprised to see Brad next to her. Now they are forced to work as a team for the chance to get the prize, these two must trudge through not just mud and the forest, but their messy past. Has too much time and will they be able to get their dream university.
This book was so fun and fluffy and inclusive and had a really strong storyline. I love the banter and the humour between Celine and Bradley. I wanted to hug both Celine and Bradley, they are so strong and were both dealing with personal and family issues but we still trying to suppose everyone else. I say this in every single review and I don’t care - I love how Talia Hibbert writes the rep that she does when it comes to disabilities and disorders. The way she wrote about Bradley’s OCD and Celine dealing with her father abandonment. Like all of Talia’s work, this book was fast paced but didn’t feel rushed. I loved Bradley, he was so freaking sweet he was giving me tooth ache. But honestly, he was adorable and I wish there was 100 Bradleys when I was in high school rather than 100 Donnos. The way he was always thinking about others and then worrying about his intrusive thoughts just made me cry. Celine questioning the whole personality because of her dad being a dick made me cry. But I loved when she bumped into him and he was like Celine is that you and her response was I'm sorry do I know you - I was laughing so damn hard.
I don’t think there was any weakness, though I would have loved an epilogue to see how Bradley and Celine did at university. There were just some questions I would have liked to be answered.
This book was so adorable and basically like the Brown sisters series just without the intense smut.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness
Moderate: Bullying, Medical content, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Alcohol
boba_n_books's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
What a sweet YA romance! I didn’t know I needed the trope of childhood friends to enemies to friends to lovers, but I LOVED it.
The OCD rep was also incredible. I’m glad it wasn’t just a stigma and was more of an accurate representation of what people with OCD experience on a daily basis.
Highly recommend this and Talia’s other books.
The OCD rep was also incredible. I’m glad it wasn’t just a stigma and was more of an accurate representation of what people with OCD experience on a daily basis.
Highly recommend this and Talia’s other books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, and Mental illness
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, and Medical content
Minor: Alcohol
axel_p's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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? Yes
4.0
Super cute
I want a sequel
I want a sequel
Content Warnings
Minor: Abandonment, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
thebankofbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Abandonment, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Medical content
drlove2018's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Bullying
Minor: Abandonment
kendal_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Mental illness
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Bullying
dcreads16's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Bullying
Minor: Alcohol
queergoth_reads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.5
Do you ever just have an author that you'll instantly buy their latest book without question? Talia Hibbert is definitely one of those authors for me. I'm not sure if I even read the blurb before I bought it. Which did mean I was a bit confused for a second when I realised it was YA but I love YA romance too so it wasn't an issue.
This book follows Celine and Brad, ex-best friends and current enemies. Celine is following the Plan and signs up for a prestigious survival course and she is not happy when Brad decides to join too. Slowly the two redevelop their friendship for the sake of completing the course but it soon becomes more than that.
I really loved this. The story itself is good but the characters are what make it. They are so rich and real. I love how much Talia Hibbert draws on her own experiences for characters and she does it again with Brad and his experiences and management of his OCD. It's always wonderful to see positive representation of mental health conditions. Was also a huge fan of Brad being bi. I feel like I don't see a lot of bi men in "straight" romances. I was also a huge fan of the introspection of the characters. They get criticisms and they learn and grow and realise things aren't always black and white.
My only real criticism is that I feel like the romance blossomed pretty quickly. There are a lot of time skips for the story so it is totally believable that it was naturally developing but it felt quite quick from my point of view.
I needed a book like this when I read it and it really helped me relax and enjoy reading when things have been going a bit awry.
This book follows Celine and Brad, ex-best friends and current enemies. Celine is following the Plan and signs up for a prestigious survival course and she is not happy when Brad decides to join too. Slowly the two redevelop their friendship for the sake of completing the course but it soon becomes more than that.
I really loved this. The story itself is good but the characters are what make it. They are so rich and real. I love how much Talia Hibbert draws on her own experiences for characters and she does it again with Brad and his experiences and management of his OCD. It's always wonderful to see positive representation of mental health conditions. Was also a huge fan of Brad being bi. I feel like I don't see a lot of bi men in "straight" romances. I was also a huge fan of the introspection of the characters. They get criticisms and they learn and grow and realise things aren't always black and white.
My only real criticism is that I feel like the romance blossomed pretty quickly. There are a lot of time skips for the story so it is totally believable that it was naturally developing but it felt quite quick from my point of view.
I needed a book like this when I read it and it really helped me relax and enjoy reading when things have been going a bit awry.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Mental illness, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying and Medical content
abby_can_read's review against another edition
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
This was adorable. Friends to enemies/rivals to lovers with a medium burn. There were some parts that I found slow. I loved these characters and their antics and banter.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, and Mental illness
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Bullying
Minor: Medical content