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taynerdnarration's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.25
Thank you so much to Swoon Reads for providing an earc of this book via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 out of 5 Stars
"...strange, how easy it was to talk to a perfect stranger. Like, by not knowing who he was, I could tell him anything...Anonymity made me bold."
Set in Boise, Idaho, How To Speak Boy , is a YA romance centered around a pair of feuding speech competitors throughout their senior year of high school.
Seventeen year old Quinn Edwards wants nothing more than to beat Grayson Hawks at his own game. Scratch that. She wants to beat him at every game. Whether it's the coveted captain position on their speech and debate team, or coming in first at all of their tournaments, Quinn wants it all. Especially if it's at Grayson's expense. Grayson, however, seems to take it (it being Quinn's animosity) in stride:
"I'm on your bad side simply for being good at what I do. You take it personally. But it's not personal, I promise."
This uneven enemies-to-lovers balance is the first thing that made this contemporary feel a little bit off. It's hard to root for Quinn when she's consistently at Grayson's throat for no apparent reason. A job that becomes increasingly challenging given how charismatic Smith made Grayson's character. I mean his personality and swagger practically drip off the page. You'll be helpless to his charms, dear readers. Fortunately, this imbalance is quickly rectified by the introduction of the letters between the mysterious 15511 and 15211.
You see, after a graded school assignment is accidently put in Quinn's cubbie (15511) she has to return it to its proper owner, whom she only knows as the school ID number listed on the page (15211). Returning the misplaced assignment to its proper cubbie, Quinn leaves a note asking for her own assignment back from this unknown peer. This incident sparks a chain of back-and-forth banter that really elevates the book's game.
The mystery element is -- at times -- odd given that the "reveal" is provided in the synopsis of the novel. I mean obviously the characters don't know so it works, but I feel like this is probably a detail that should have been cut or edited differently in the summary so that we can experience this right along with the MCs.
Minor issues aside this was still a light and fun read. The scenes at the tournaments flashed me right back to my own days as a teenager on the high school debate team. And while adult me wanted to cringe at the misunderstandings and misread signals that take place throughout this novel, young me understood it because I lived it. We all did. It's this relatability and connection that always keep me coming back to books like this one.
While it wasn't without its flaws (and a major douche side character), I quite enjoyed watching Quinn learn How To Speak Boy.
All quotes were taken from an advanced copy of this novel and may not match the final release.
3.5 out of 5 Stars
"...strange, how easy it was to talk to a perfect stranger. Like, by not knowing who he was, I could tell him anything...Anonymity made me bold."
Set in Boise, Idaho, How To Speak Boy , is a YA romance centered around a pair of feuding speech competitors throughout their senior year of high school.
Seventeen year old Quinn Edwards wants nothing more than to beat Grayson Hawks at his own game. Scratch that. She wants to beat him at every game. Whether it's the coveted captain position on their speech and debate team, or coming in first at all of their tournaments, Quinn wants it all. Especially if it's at Grayson's expense. Grayson, however, seems to take it (it being Quinn's animosity) in stride:
"I'm on your bad side simply for being good at what I do. You take it personally. But it's not personal, I promise."
This uneven enemies-to-lovers balance is the first thing that made this contemporary feel a little bit off. It's hard to root for Quinn when she's consistently at Grayson's throat for no apparent reason. A job that becomes increasingly challenging given how charismatic Smith made Grayson's character. I mean his personality and swagger practically drip off the page. You'll be helpless to his charms, dear readers. Fortunately, this imbalance is quickly rectified by the introduction of the letters between the mysterious 15511 and 15211.
You see, after a graded school assignment is accidently put in Quinn's cubbie (15511) she has to return it to its proper owner, whom she only knows as the school ID number listed on the page (15211). Returning the misplaced assignment to its proper cubbie, Quinn leaves a note asking for her own assignment back from this unknown peer. This incident sparks a chain of back-and-forth banter that really elevates the book's game.
The mystery element is -- at times -- odd given that the "reveal" is provided in the synopsis of the novel. I mean obviously the characters don't know so it works, but I feel like this is probably a detail that should have been cut or edited differently in the summary so that we can experience this right along with the MCs.
Minor issues aside this was still a light and fun read. The scenes at the tournaments flashed me right back to my own days as a teenager on the high school debate team. And while adult me wanted to cringe at the misunderstandings and misread signals that take place throughout this novel, young me understood it because I lived it. We all did. It's this relatability and connection that always keep me coming back to books like this one.
While it wasn't without its flaws (and a major douche side character), I quite enjoyed watching Quinn learn How To Speak Boy.
All quotes were taken from an advanced copy of this novel and may not match the final release.
samwlabb's review
4.0
After reading this book and Smith's debut, Match Me If You Can, I can state, with certainty that she writes my kind of books - super cute, filled with great characters, and adorable, swoony romance.
Quinn and Grayson seemed to always be in direct competition with each other, and when it came time to select the newest debate team captain, they were forced to share the role. It meant more time working together, and that meant lots of fun banter for me to read. I felt like Quinn saw Grayson as the enemy, but he didn't seem to feel the same way. Yes, he enjoyed winding Quinn up, but it felt more like flirting, if you ask me.
It wasn't just their banter that I loved, I adored both these characters, and though I learned some about them, as they interacted with each other, the real, deep revelations came via their anonymous letters to one another. The "You've Got Mail"-like plot line worked so well for me. I was enamored with the missives they wrote! They quickly became quite confessional in nature, and were sticky sweet to boot. I couldn't get enough of them!
Can we talk about Grayson? Grayson, Grayson, Grayson - what a great love interest! He was charming and witty, and I could feel the electricity between him and Quinn. I thought he was the perfect foil for someone like her, and they complimented each other so well. If I were a teen girl, I would have swooned from some of the things he said. But he wasn't all pretty talk. He was also a man of action, and that made me love him even more.
I was delighted by Quinn and Grayson separately, and I also loved them together, but there were many other things that kept me flipping the pages. One element, which is very important to me, is family, blood or found, and Smith gave me some wonderful examples in this book.
Quinn didn't have a ton of people in her life, but she had some high quality people. Her best friend Naomi was wonderful. These two young women were there to support one another, while still keeping it real. Quinn also had a fabulous mom. I loved the way Quinn was so invested in her mother's success, and how she worked hard to help her mother achieve her dream. Grayson was also pretty lucky. Yes, his parents had high expectations for him, but they were extremely loving and approachable, which I thought was important.
This book had a great rom-com feel, and I was left in a state of elation upon finishing it. Seriously, it was entertaining, engaging, and enjoyable from the very first page to the very last page.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
Quinn and Grayson seemed to always be in direct competition with each other, and when it came time to select the newest debate team captain, they were forced to share the role. It meant more time working together, and that meant lots of fun banter for me to read. I felt like Quinn saw Grayson as the enemy, but he didn't seem to feel the same way. Yes, he enjoyed winding Quinn up, but it felt more like flirting, if you ask me.
It wasn't just their banter that I loved, I adored both these characters, and though I learned some about them, as they interacted with each other, the real, deep revelations came via their anonymous letters to one another. The "You've Got Mail"-like plot line worked so well for me. I was enamored with the missives they wrote! They quickly became quite confessional in nature, and were sticky sweet to boot. I couldn't get enough of them!
Can we talk about Grayson? Grayson, Grayson, Grayson - what a great love interest! He was charming and witty, and I could feel the electricity between him and Quinn. I thought he was the perfect foil for someone like her, and they complimented each other so well. If I were a teen girl, I would have swooned from some of the things he said. But he wasn't all pretty talk. He was also a man of action, and that made me love him even more.
I was delighted by Quinn and Grayson separately, and I also loved them together, but there were many other things that kept me flipping the pages. One element, which is very important to me, is family, blood or found, and Smith gave me some wonderful examples in this book.
Quinn didn't have a ton of people in her life, but she had some high quality people. Her best friend Naomi was wonderful. These two young women were there to support one another, while still keeping it real. Quinn also had a fabulous mom. I loved the way Quinn was so invested in her mother's success, and how she worked hard to help her mother achieve her dream. Grayson was also pretty lucky. Yes, his parents had high expectations for him, but they were extremely loving and approachable, which I thought was important.
This book had a great rom-com feel, and I was left in a state of elation upon finishing it. Seriously, it was entertaining, engaging, and enjoyable from the very first page to the very last page.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
missnewvillage's review
4.0
I am so surprised that I enjoyed this book considering that I didn't even know it existed before this month. I entered a giveaway and subscribed to the author's newsletter as a result. I didn't win the giveaway, but the author did a preorder campaign that included library requests. So I requested it from the library. This book was so easy and quick to read. Quinn is a senior in high school. She's a little introverted, but she is an amazing oratory speaker. Her biggest competition is Grayson. Even though she tries to keep her distance from him she ends up with conflicted feelings about him. Also, she ends up having a pen pal relationship with am unknown student in AP Government and Politics after their test papers get switched. I loved the characters in this story, especially Quinn and Greyson. I love seeing them go from rivals to people who like each other. I will say that the events that take place during the state championship surprised me, although I can see how some people might have seen it coming. I understand that character's motivations for why they did what they did and why they author wrote this, but I felt it was a bit rushed in delivery. But overall I really enjoyed this story and would recommend it if you want a fun and easy contemporary book with a likable main character.
I do have to note that the synopsis of the book is a HUGE spoiler because Quinn doesn't find out who her pen pal is until the end of the story. Yet the blurb tells you exactly who he is. I really wish the synopsis didn't do that.
I do have to note that the synopsis of the book is a HUGE spoiler because Quinn doesn't find out who her pen pal is until the end of the story. Yet the blurb tells you exactly who he is. I really wish the synopsis didn't do that.
reader_fictions's review
3.0
An improvement on Smith's debut. How to Speak Boy isn't particularly memorable (I read this about a fortnight ago and already scarcely recall it), but it's a fun, swift, hate-to-love romance. If You've Got Mail but with debate team rivals sounds good to you, then this might be worth a read. I liked the ship, but the characters needed to be more fully fleshed out, and the book needed a few minor little surprises in terms of plot. Engaging and cute, but lacking freshness.
bohan_identity's review
1.0
I don't enjoy writing a review that isn't praising a book. But I also think it's not fair to give a low star rating without justification. This was an ARC I got free from a local bookstore. This book is not ready to be published though I think it has a good concept. On paper, this book has everything I want in a book. Unfortunately, it got bogged down by metaphors and similes, as well too much tell, not enough show. Don't tell me that a character is blunt and honest without regard but then never show that happening.
I guess it just boils down to false advertisement. It was a hate to love story because neither of them hated each other. It was barely a version of You've Got Mail because we don't even see most of the letters where they're supposedly falling in love.
I just think it could've been improved and after a lot of changes are made, hopefully it can be edited because the amount of metaphorical language was clunkier than platform shoes that are a size too big.
I guess it just boils down to false advertisement. It was a hate to love story because neither of them hated each other. It was barely a version of You've Got Mail because we don't even see most of the letters where they're supposedly falling in love.
I just think it could've been improved and after a lot of changes are made, hopefully it can be edited because the amount of metaphorical language was clunkier than platform shoes that are a size too big.
kcmmp13's review
4.0
I throughly enjoyed this book. It was a quick read for me. I loved the characters because they were relatable, fun, and genuine. I found it refreshing that while Quinn was great at debate, she still struggled in other areas of school and wasn't a genius. It made her seem more normal and down to earth. As for Grayson, he is fairly good at most things, but that's due to family pressures and studying from what we can tell since it's told from Quinn's perspective. I wish we got more insight to his life and saw how he interacted with friends. It seemed as if he had none.
I liked Quinn's best friend Naomi and thought their interactions were fun and supportive of each other. There was one scene in the book that was a bit heart-wrenching, but otherwise the book is lighthearted, fun, witty, and smart.
If you like enemies/rivals to more, You've got Mail, and/or competitive MC's, this book is for you.
I liked Quinn's best friend Naomi and thought their interactions were fun and supportive of each other. There was one scene in the book that was a bit heart-wrenching, but otherwise the book is lighthearted, fun, witty, and smart.
If you like enemies/rivals to more, You've got Mail, and/or competitive MC's, this book is for you.
miya's review
2.0
shit that was 'bad'. like cringeworthy. and sooo repetitive. and straight. and white (even though the love interest is biracial).
tiana smith desperately needs to take some classes with maurene goo in how to write cliches without being boring af
tiana smith desperately needs to take some classes with maurene goo in how to write cliches without being boring af
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