It’s official: Lynn Painter is the queen of YA. Full of whimsy, pop culture references, and romance swoonier than it has any right to be, the Do-over is a real winner.

I generally really enjoy time loop stories; it’s an interesting storytelling device that can lead to some stellar character growth. It can get overused, though, and it doesn’t always land. Thankfully it worked really well in this story and never felt repetitive.

Emmy and Nick were so adorable, I loved their dynamic. Lynn Painter’s banter is always top-notch

I do wish the ending had been a tad more fleshed out. I really would have liked to see a little more how some plot points turned out. The last line was great though!

Content Warnings

arireadsitall's review against another edition

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emotional funny inspiring lighthearted fast-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

This book just made my heart so so happy! Lynn Painter I am obsessed and need to read everything you write. This was so cute but also full of so much emotion. It read like a fun teen rom com and that alone has me sold!!

Content Warnings

rybass08's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Content Warnings

katievallin's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny 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

2.75

Content Warnings

nyquillll's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted tense 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

3.25

I’ve been in a sappy romance spell, and this book was pretty good for the romance feels.

I really liked seeing how the relationship and comfort ability level with Nick developed “over time” (iykyk). I also really enjoyed getting a glimpse back into the teenage mind and seeing life through her eyes. It made me picture myself at that age, someone who also people-pleased to the nth degree to try and keep the peace around her.

The DONC was honestly scary and refreshing to read - to see the FMC take charge of her life and say what was really on her mind. Granted, I think there are nicer ways of going about things, but I think it took guts after the fact to own up to her behaviors and accept the consequences.

I think this book also deals with the idea of falling in love not necessarily at first sight, but in a matter of days. It makes me think of the innocence of first loves and high school love that isn’t as susceptible to life in the same way “adult” love is, for lack of a better comparison. Just that the love the two characters find for one another truly seems to be born of “I felt so fucking lonely and you make me feel seen, and for that I appreciate your existence and presence in my life, no matter how short.”

This book dealt with divorced parents/remarried parents, effects of split custody on the child, death of a loved one and the grieving that follows, idea of perfection and planning to avoid discomfort, how we know it’s love versus not, advocating for yourself, taking responsibility for your actions, and building the courage to confront your problems head on.

The more I write this review, the more I realize I liked this book a lot and enjoyed the life lessons it included along the way. I normally am not one to believe in falling in love in one day can happen, but the way this book presents it, I could dig it. :)

Content Warnings

booksandcoffeewithlexi's review against another edition

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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

5.0

Content Warnings

isabelvegga's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

“I fell in love with you on Valentine’s Day, Emilie, but I need more than just seven minutes.”

Such a cute read!!!💓💓💓

I enjoyed so much, I laughed and smiled but also almost cried.

I felt identified with both of them, Em and Nick, I love them🫶🏻

✨

“For
The Lonely,
The Daydreamers,
The ones who find their friends between the pages of books—
YOU MATTER, and your happy ending WILL come. Sometimes the wait is just longer in real life than in fiction.”

“I adored my dad.He just sometimes forgot about me if I wasn’t standing right in front of him.” x2

“Love is not what is, but what isn’t.”

“I was fascinated by people whose parents were still together. It seemed surreal and impossibly beautiful to me, the idea of living out all of your childhood years with both parents, together in the same house.” x2

“Existence is the default. Merely existing, emotionally, is the baseline. Happy is, like, this floating, fluid thing that’s impossible to hold on to. Elusive as fuck. Sometimes you get lucky and have it, but it’s only a matter of time before it slips back out of your hands.”

“Then, um, I have to confess that I think I’m obsessed with you. With this.” I swallowed and said, “With us.”

“I like knowing you, Emilie Hornby.”

✨

Content Warnings

calamitywindpetal's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted relaxing 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

Content Warnings

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