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tori5497's review
4.0
4.25 stars. This YA romance was such a refresher. It was sweet, cute, and funny at the same time. Also loved Lara’s character development and her learning to focus on herself and it’s not ever a bad thing to focus on self love. Would recommend. Quick read!!!
prathaaaaaaaaaaa_'s review against another edition
started off strong, but oh god that ending dragged on
allysonmarie's review against another edition
3.0
This was a cute and fun listen, however, I felt that it was much longer than it needed to be and the plot seemed not very cohesive the way it transitioned to different points. Some of it just felt a bit unnecessary and did not seem to really serve the overall story so I got bored at points. It was overall fun though and there were lots of tie ins to the character’s Filipino background especially how it affected her family dynamic which was nice to see that represented.
andrea_author's review
4.0
Lara returns from summer vacation in the Philippines to discover that her best friends all have boyfriends, leaving her the odd person out. Pressured by her mom, Lara tutors long-time-frenemy James. With her friends otherwise occupied, she spends more and more time with him. They couldn't be falling for each other—could they?
This is the second book I've read by Wattpad Books. The things they have in common are a strong voice, good writing, great storytelling—but they fall short in terms of reader expectations for the genre.
This is meant as more of an observation than a criticism. This is an enjoyable book if you know what to expect:
- This is a bittersweet romance. There's no HEA or HFN—the ending is ambiguous. That's perfectly reasonable for YA, but the publisher describes this book as romance, and it's not.
- There are too many characters. One of the friend couples should have been cut. The number of family members was a little dizzying to me. As a reader, you don't need to mentally keep track of all these people. This is Lara and James's story. Just focus on them. The side characters don't matter that much.
- The inclusion of so much of the Tagalog language became confusing to me because I primarily listen via text-to-speech. Entire conversations took place in Tagalog with the English translations in parentheses. I understand the author's impulse to include this cultural aspect of the book, but it creates a challenge for visually impaired readers.
- The characters seem young to me, more like high school sophomores than seniors. They do mature a little during the course of the book.
- The physical pranks between Lara and James were a little off-putting, which made them not very likeable in the beginning. Again, this tapers off as the book progresses.
-There is some other-woman drama (or in this case, other-girl drama) but no actual cheating.
If you can overlook these things, this is a book worth reading. It's a pleasure to see how Lara and James grow. The ending is gorgeous and heart-wrenching. I hope the author will give us a sequel when these characters are a little older.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
This is the second book I've read by Wattpad Books. The things they have in common are a strong voice, good writing, great storytelling—but they fall short in terms of reader expectations for the genre.
This is meant as more of an observation than a criticism. This is an enjoyable book if you know what to expect:
- This is a bittersweet romance. There's no HEA or HFN—the ending is ambiguous. That's perfectly reasonable for YA, but the publisher describes this book as romance, and it's not.
- There are too many characters. One of the friend couples should have been cut. The number of family members was a little dizzying to me. As a reader, you don't need to mentally keep track of all these people. This is Lara and James's story. Just focus on them. The side characters don't matter that much.
- The inclusion of so much of the Tagalog language became confusing to me because I primarily listen via text-to-speech. Entire conversations took place in Tagalog with the English translations in parentheses. I understand the author's impulse to include this cultural aspect of the book, but it creates a challenge for visually impaired readers.
- The characters seem young to me, more like high school sophomores than seniors. They do mature a little during the course of the book.
- The physical pranks between Lara and James were a little off-putting, which made them not very likeable in the beginning. Again, this tapers off as the book progresses.
-There is some other-woman drama (or in this case, other-girl drama) but no actual cheating.
If you can overlook these things, this is a book worth reading. It's a pleasure to see how Lara and James grow. The ending is gorgeous and heart-wrenching. I hope the author will give us a sequel when these characters are a little older.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
toniatales's review
2.0
2 Stars |
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Disclaimer: I am in no way a harsh reviewer. If I liked a book, it's going to be getting at least four stars. However, I just had so many problems with [b:How to Be the Best Third Wheel|56785928|How to Be the Best Third Wheel|Loridee De Villa|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1633720502l/56785928._SY75_.jpg|88762016] that I just could not get over.
Let's begin with the overall premise of the book. After spending the summer before her senior year in the Philippines, Lara comes back to school only to discover that her three best friends have boyfriends, making her the third wheel. Introducing James, Lara's once best friend, whom she has known for her entire life because their moms are best friends. Turns out that Lara's three best friends- Jasmine, Kiera, and Carol- are each dating one of James' best friends- Mark, Daniel, and Logan. In this strange turn of events, Lara and James both end up being the third wheel.
I'm not going to lie, there were so many times that I found things that Lara said to be funny, and I loved the inclusion of the Tagalog language, with translations. Other than that, I could not get myself to like these characters. Throughout the entire book, there were just so many plot holes, grammatical as well as spelling errors. Not to mention the overall lack of character development and toxic relationships. I mean, when a person- or a group of people, in this case- keep apologizing for their actions, but make absolutely no effort to change their behavior, they were never actually sorry!
Spoilers below so please don't keep scrolling unless you want to read them:
*****
-Lara's friend group was just terrible. Lara's friends immediately forget about her as soon as they find themselves in relationships. They even lied to her, on multiple occasions, so that they could all hang out without her, only to post about it on Instagram? After all of this, Lara would get upset, then just easily forgive them as soon as they apologized. Multiple times. It felt as though Lara blamed herself for her friends' actions, which made it even worse.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Disclaimer: I am in no way a harsh reviewer. If I liked a book, it's going to be getting at least four stars. However, I just had so many problems with [b:How to Be the Best Third Wheel|56785928|How to Be the Best Third Wheel|Loridee De Villa|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1633720502l/56785928._SY75_.jpg|88762016] that I just could not get over.
Let's begin with the overall premise of the book. After spending the summer before her senior year in the Philippines, Lara comes back to school only to discover that her three best friends have boyfriends, making her the third wheel. Introducing James, Lara's once best friend, whom she has known for her entire life because their moms are best friends. Turns out that Lara's three best friends- Jasmine, Kiera, and Carol- are each dating one of James' best friends- Mark, Daniel, and Logan. In this strange turn of events, Lara and James both end up being the third wheel.
I'm not going to lie, there were so many times that I found things that Lara said to be funny, and I loved the inclusion of the Tagalog language, with translations. Other than that, I could not get myself to like these characters. Throughout the entire book, there were just so many plot holes, grammatical as well as spelling errors. Not to mention the overall lack of character development and toxic relationships. I mean, when a person- or a group of people, in this case- keep apologizing for their actions, but make absolutely no effort to change their behavior, they were never actually sorry!
Spoilers below so please don't keep scrolling unless you want to read them:
*****
-Lara's friend group was just terrible. Lara's friends immediately forget about her as soon as they find themselves in relationships. They even lied to her, on multiple occasions, so that they could all hang out without her, only to post about it on Instagram? After all of this, Lara would get upset, then just easily forgive them as soon as they apologized. Multiple times. It felt as though Lara blamed herself for her friends' actions, which made it even worse.
imcasid's review
2.0
no because this book is literally the epitome of what people say when they’re single but they’re not happy that they’re single but also like they constantly want to draw attention to it.
i gave it a read because i know the author’s sister and she kept telling me to read it but like it was not good
i gave it a read because i know the author’s sister and she kept telling me to read it but like it was not good
deluneth's review against another edition
5.0
"Oh. My. Freaking. Fishballs."
When I say that this book looked into my soul and destroyed me emotionally, I am not lying in the slightest!
Lara de la Cruz is a high school senior who returns from summer break to find her three best friends, Carol, Jasmine, and Kiera have gotten boyfriends while she was gone. Boyfriends who are best friends with her arch enemy James, causing the two enemies to be the third wheels in their friend groups.
Initially when I begun to read, it was a little difficult with all characters being introduced but before long I was sucked back into high school where the world feels out to get you and nothing seems more important than the friends at your side. I finished the rest of the book in a day, curled up on the couch and screaming "NO DON'T DO THAT!" only for the inevitable to happen.
The situations that Lara finds herself in are rather universal and I could easily say that many could relate to her experiences. With the addition of different cultural experiences, How to Be the Best Third Wheel is both familiar and fresh!
I am so glad I came back and gave this book a chance as it wrecked my emotions! I was so angry with Lara's friends and the annoying Jack while laughing at Lara's quips and quirky behavior. As the funny friend in the group, I definitely saw a lot of myself in Lara. And the love stories here? Absolutely stunning and devastating! I actually cried! Which a book has not made me do in soo long let me tell you!
I finished this last night and had to sleep on my review because I was so stunned by the beautiful ending that left me longing for a sequel!
Loridee De Villa's debut novel is definitely worth the read (I have already convinced two of my friends to buy it when it comes out!) and I desperately need to add it to my book shelf as a comfort read!
I definitely look forward to any future novels from Loridee!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
When I say that this book looked into my soul and destroyed me emotionally, I am not lying in the slightest!
Lara de la Cruz is a high school senior who returns from summer break to find her three best friends, Carol, Jasmine, and Kiera have gotten boyfriends while she was gone. Boyfriends who are best friends with her arch enemy James, causing the two enemies to be the third wheels in their friend groups.
Initially when I begun to read, it was a little difficult with all characters being introduced but before long I was sucked back into high school where the world feels out to get you and nothing seems more important than the friends at your side. I finished the rest of the book in a day, curled up on the couch and screaming "NO DON'T DO THAT!" only for the inevitable to happen.
The situations that Lara finds herself in are rather universal and I could easily say that many could relate to her experiences. With the addition of different cultural experiences, How to Be the Best Third Wheel is both familiar and fresh!
I am so glad I came back and gave this book a chance as it wrecked my emotions! I was so angry with Lara's friends and the annoying Jack while laughing at Lara's quips and quirky behavior. As the funny friend in the group, I definitely saw a lot of myself in Lara. And the love stories here? Absolutely stunning and devastating! I actually cried! Which a book has not made me do in soo long let me tell you!
I finished this last night and had to sleep on my review because I was so stunned by the beautiful ending that left me longing for a sequel!
Loridee De Villa's debut novel is definitely worth the read (I have already convinced two of my friends to buy it when it comes out!) and I desperately need to add it to my book shelf as a comfort read!
I definitely look forward to any future novels from Loridee!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
kthornette's review against another edition
3.0
“Why is it so hard for us to spend time together now? Are they simply tired of our group? Do they laugh more with their boyfriends than they do when we’re together? Is our friendship not interesting enough for them?”
Thank you, Netgalley, for the arc!
Filipino MCs always get bonus points. So do Canadian MCs. So this book scored those right off the bat. Lara is like me for other reasons so I appreciate being attacked. (Fictional men are better, though). I related to her struggles with being a third-wheel and her imposter syndrome. I wish we got more on the latter.
I do like the format of the story with all the tips, but the flow was off. Nothing was cohesive and the parts felt choppy. A lot of the dialogue was cringey, especially with some of the teachers.
Lara, girl, you need new friends. You too, James, but mostly Lara. I know they were there for you in the end, but seriously.And their boyfriends were the same dude in different fonts.
Possible
But overall, it was a nice and enjoyable book.
Thank you, Netgalley, for the arc!
Filipino MCs always get bonus points. So do Canadian MCs. So this book scored those right off the bat. Lara is like me for other reasons so I appreciate being attacked. (Fictional men are better, though). I related to her struggles with being a third-wheel and her imposter syndrome. I wish we got more on the latter.
I do like the format of the story with all the tips, but the flow was off. Nothing was cohesive and the parts felt choppy. A lot of the dialogue was cringey, especially with some of the teachers.
Lara, girl, you need new friends. You too, James, but mostly Lara. I know they were there for you in the end, but seriously.
Possible
Spoiler
but I hate how it was very obvious that she’d end up with James from the start. Although it was super cute how they were both third-wheels. They were really cute and I like how they developed through the story. I think this could’ve been a cool fake dating story. But was all the cheating drama necessary? I mean, sure but why? I wanted to like the dude. I do appreciate how this book didn’t make them ultimately end up together by the end. It was different and bittersweet, and I respect that.But overall, it was a nice and enjoyable book.