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bedtimesandbooks's review against another edition
hopeful
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Alcohol
churrosmom'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? Yes
5.0
This book is SO FUCKING CUTE. I had a huge ridiculous grin on my face almost the entire time I read this book. It made me want to squeal and kick my legs in the air. It made me feel like when you see an animal that is so cute you just want to squeeze it.
The banter between the main characters is impeccable--witty, sarcastic, and never misses a beat. There were so many laugh out loud moments. This is how to write a rom com.
It actually took me a while to finish this book because I got addicted to playing Stardew Valley after I started this. I'm so glad I read this slowly and got to savor it because it was such a bright ray of sunshine I got to slowly enjoy over almost two weeks. I think I also stretched it out because I didn't want it to end.
This is my sixth book by Talia Hibbert and my favorite! I really hope she continues to write YA rom coms because this is perfect. Truly a delight.
Disclaimer: I received an Netgalley eARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The banter between the main characters is impeccable--witty, sarcastic, and never misses a beat. There were so many laugh out loud moments. This is how to write a rom com.
It actually took me a while to finish this book because I got addicted to playing Stardew Valley after I started this. I'm so glad I read this slowly and got to savor it because it was such a bright ray of sunshine I got to slowly enjoy over almost two weeks. I think I also stretched it out because I didn't want it to end.
This is my sixth book by Talia Hibbert and my favorite! I really hope she continues to write YA rom coms because this is perfect. Truly a delight.
Disclaimer: I received an Netgalley eARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Abandonment
Moderate: Bullying and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcohol
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.0
Well, this was adorable and lovely. It's my first Talia Hibbert book, but you know, I mostly read YA, so. It shouldn't be that surprising. But the way they develop characters and write such a cute romance, maybe I'll have to delve into the adult romance to read Hibbert's other books! I have heard spectacular things about them, after all.
Outside of Brad and Celine, the supporting cast of characteres was just as well developed. Plus, we get to see some great mental health rep, as Brad lives with OCD. Getting to see both of their points of views really helped develop the romance between them, as they are just perfect for each other and have fantastic chemistry.
Teen readers will definitely be drawn to this romance, and I can't wait to recommend it to them!
Outside of Brad and Celine, the supporting cast of characteres was just as well developed. Plus, we get to see some great mental health rep, as Brad lives with OCD. Getting to see both of their points of views really helped develop the romance between them, as they are just perfect for each other and have fantastic chemistry.
Teen readers will definitely be drawn to this romance, and I can't wait to recommend it to them!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, and Medical content
Minor: Cursing and Alcohol
onemorepagecrew'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
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: Panic attacks/disorders and Abandonment
Minor: Cursing and Alcohol
skyfluff8's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol
words_with_wendy's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
“Me and Celine, we’ve been best friends. We’ve been enemies. We’ve even been a secret. But right now? Right now, we’re everything. Anything. Whatever we want.”
Seventeen-year-old Celina Bangura spends her days creating TikToks about conspiracy theories for her 32,000 followers, acing her classes, and definitely not thinking about her ex-best friend, Bradley Graeme. Ever since their falling out several years ago, Celine and Brad have been enemies, exchanging insults and rivaling each other at academics. But when they both sign up for a leadership survival course, they’re forced to spend quite a bit of time together as they compete for a uni scholarship. While trekking through the woods, Celine and Brad also find themselves plodding through their past—both the messy and the good bits. So when sparks start to fly, can they let themselves trust each other? Or will things between them always be highly suspicious (and unfairly cute)?
HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS AND UNFAIRLY CUTE is exactly what you’d expect from a Talia Hibbert young adult novel: cute, sweet, hilarious, and deeply emotional. To say I enjoyed it would be a severe understatement. From the glossary to the acknowledgements, Hibbert dives straight into humour and heart. Celine and Brad are fantastic protagonists, both working through their own obstacles and so realistic. I also loved the cast of side characters, from Brad’s football mates to Celine’s quirky BFF to the friends they make in the woods. As a hardcore Brown Sisters fan, I can tell you with absolute certainty that Talia Hibbert is phenomenal in both adult and YA. Do yourself a favor and read HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS AND UNFAIRLY CUTE right away! You can thank me later ;)
(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Abandonment
Moderate: Bullying and Infidelity
Minor: Alcohol
purplepenning'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
4.25
A very British, very Gen-Z rom-com between a snarky, competitive, conspiracy-theory obsessed e-girl and her academic rival, the suave football star who used to be her childhood best friend before he dumped her for the in-crowd. When they both sign up for a wilderness survival competition, they have to work together while also competing for the grand prize scholarship. Have things become too tangled or will they emerge from the wilderness as more than just rivals?
This was a fun ride with a delightfully authentic mix of genuine kindness within blistering banter. Talia Hibbert nails it in this first book for Joy Revolution, Nicola and David Yoon's new BIPOC YA romance imprint!
This was a fun ride with a delightfully authentic mix of genuine kindness within blistering banter. Talia Hibbert nails it in this first book for Joy Revolution, Nicola and David Yoon's new BIPOC YA romance imprint!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Toxic friendship and Alcohol
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: Bullying, Cursing, Medical content, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content and Alcohol