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margaret_rose_reads123's review
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? It's complicated
5.0
Sophie Gonzales has done it again! Never Ever Getting Back Together is the queer YA reality dating show novel of my dreams! Have you ever found yourself watching the Bachelor and thinking…. “Not enough queer people here” or “whats going on behind the scenes” or even “imagine they’re all trying to date the same Ex! Ha!!”. Well that last one is the basic outline of the books plot! Main Characters Maya and Skye both agree to join the new Reality Dating show to date their mildly famous/royal adjacent common ex, Jordy Miller. Jordy, no good lyin cheater, actually cheated on Maya with Skye, and then arranges to have them bunk together in the same room for the show. Yikes!!
What I will say is that I LOVED the concept, and the couple that makes it out of Second-Chance Romance, and was rooting for them to win all along. No spoilers 😉
What I will say is that I LOVED the concept, and the couple that makes it out of Second-Chance Romance, and was rooting for them to win all along. No spoilers 😉
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Sexism
Any trigger warnings are experienced indirectly, and are very clear for the reader to see the character flaws. The “toxic relationship” is minor. Think YA novel level of tw.ashleyj_reads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Gaslighting and Sexism
funshine3's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I loved the idea of the book but I think the characters needed to be older and hated how the girls were pitted against each other. But I found the romance between Skye and Maya cute
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Infidelity, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Body shaming and Cursing
ruthiedr89's review against another edition
funny
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Infidelity, Misogyny, Classism, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Sexism and Panic attacks/disorders
the_vegan_bookworm's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Sophie Gonzales is a hilarious author, and her works never fail to make me laugh out loud. "Never Ever Getting Back Together" is no exception. There are brilliant one-liners and zingers throughout the story, and the semi-ridiculous plot is so much fun to read. You find yourself rooting for Jordy's complicated downfall pretty much immediately! All of the side characters are interesting and likeable. Maya and Skye are wonderfully compelling.
My biggest note about the book is that it focuses very heavily on the revenge plot, which makes the romance plot weak by comparison. The chemistry between Skye and Maya doesn't feel believable as romantic partners, though they pair off well as enemies and co-conspirators. Sophie could have spent more time developing the romance and attraction between these characters, though this would have required simplifying the revenge plot. As it is now, it felt to me a little bit like "two hot bi women in forced proximity so of course they just get together", though I know this wasn't the intention.
The ending feels sort of lackluster for the same reason. It centers a lot on the relationship dynamic and since I felt like that was under-developed, the stakes never felt especially clear for me.
I think it's a wonderful book, but I wouldn't especially recommend it as a romance. Instead, I think it's great contemporary fiction with some light romance thrown in!
My biggest note about the book is that it focuses very heavily on the revenge plot, which makes the romance plot weak by comparison. The chemistry between Skye and Maya doesn't feel believable as romantic partners, though they pair off well as enemies and co-conspirators. Sophie could have spent more time developing the romance and attraction between these characters, though this would have required simplifying the revenge plot. As it is now, it felt to me a little bit like "two hot bi women in forced proximity so of course they just get together", though I know this wasn't the intention.
The ending feels sort of lackluster for the same reason. It centers a lot on the relationship dynamic and since I felt like that was under-developed, the stakes never felt especially clear for me.
I think it's a wonderful book, but I wouldn't especially recommend it as a romance. Instead, I think it's great contemporary fiction with some light romance thrown in!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Minor: Sexual assault
micaelacccc's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting, Sexism, Infidelity, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship
piperrhoads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Gaslighting, and Car accident
Minor: Biphobia
dogoodwithbooks's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
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
5.0
CW: cheating, explicit language, gaslighting, parent abandonment (mentioned), drowning, sexism, car accident (mentioned off-page), slut-shaming
I would like to thank NetGalley and Wednesday Books, a division of St. Martin’s Press, for providing me a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Maya ends up taking the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to humiliate her ex-boyfriend, Jordy Miller, on national TV by winning his new reality show, Second Chance Romance. However, she doesn’t take into account the fact that Skye, the girl Jordy cheated and left her for, would end up on the show. Even having to share bunk beds together, Maya and Skye realize they can work together to expose Jordy for who he is.
After reading the first chapter, I knew I was going to love this book. And rightfully so. Never Ever Getting Back Together has been getting a lot of talk in the bookish community and I was excited to have been given an e-ARC to review before it releases at the end of the year.
The whole concept of Second Chance Romance and how it's written in the book is definitely a unique component to the plot. I could not stop laughing at the production team’s attempts to get Maya to join the show. While it occasionally spurs out to say and do cheesy things, you get to see first-hand what it means to be on reality TV.
I also loved Maya and Skye’s relationship. Personally, it was great to see their banter throughout the book and their transition from enemies-to-friends-to-lovers. It also features a dual POV between Maya and Skye, which definitely helps the plot and can allow you to get inside their heads.
So if you want to read a book that takes forced proximity to a whole nother level or want to find a book that you can easily somewhat tie a Taylor Swift into, you will definitely want to read Never Ever Getting Back Together.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Wednesday Books, a division of St. Martin’s Press, for providing me a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Maya ends up taking the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to humiliate her ex-boyfriend, Jordy Miller, on national TV by winning his new reality show, Second Chance Romance. However, she doesn’t take into account the fact that Skye, the girl Jordy cheated and left her for, would end up on the show. Even having to share bunk beds together, Maya and Skye realize they can work together to expose Jordy for who he is.
After reading the first chapter, I knew I was going to love this book. And rightfully so. Never Ever Getting Back Together has been getting a lot of talk in the bookish community and I was excited to have been given an e-ARC to review before it releases at the end of the year.
The whole concept of Second Chance Romance and how it's written in the book is definitely a unique component to the plot. I could not stop laughing at the production team’s attempts to get Maya to join the show. While it occasionally spurs out to say and do cheesy things, you get to see first-hand what it means to be on reality TV.
I also loved Maya and Skye’s relationship. Personally, it was great to see their banter throughout the book and their transition from enemies-to-friends-to-lovers. It also features a dual POV between Maya and Skye, which definitely helps the plot and can allow you to get inside their heads.
So if you want to read a book that takes forced proximity to a whole nother level or want to find a book that you can easily somewhat tie a Taylor Swift into, you will definitely want to read Never Ever Getting Back Together.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Sexism
Moderate: Gaslighting
Minor: Car accident and Abandonment
teaskate's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A pretty cool concept, which I adored. I always wondered about the behind the scenes of a reality show so that book was a interesting read. Also the main couple was cute. I recommend this book if you are looking for a vacation sweet lighthearted romance read. Thank you :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, and Sexism
readingqueerly's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
This includes all my favourite tropes: secret realtionship, enemies to lovers, shitty men getting what they deserve, sapphic happiness. And mix in a reality tv dating show (and the Taylor swift title of course) and I just had a great time reading this.
I was scared this would be too long when I first saw the page count, but I feel like the pacing was done really well and made sure every plot point and character got enough time to be present. I think the only thing I would have liked more was perhaps some more tension between the two women. Their first romantic moment together felt quite abrupt for my liking but I do see how it fits within the plot. Still I like to learn for my couples lmao. Once their story together got started though I was all in.
A fun read for anyone who thinks The Bachelor should just be gayer.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol