Reviews with content warning for Biphobia - This May End Badly

This book had much more depth than I expected. It confronts a lot of “good intention, bad execution” experiences and how we often justify our own actions in effort to meet goals. There is very positive representation of queer identities and how black and white thinking leaves little space for people to be who they are. I really enjoyed this book!

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allyordyna's review against another edition

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emotional funny medium-paced

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

3.75

Man, took me for a ride in this girl v boys boarding school rivalry. If you’re wondering why it’s so long, it’s because it brought up so many important themes: divorce, anger management, friendship, sexual harassment, honesty, sexual orientation, gender diversity and inclusivity, family support, etc. Mc struggled a lot, but grew a lot.

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danileah07's review

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funny fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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libertyreads789's review

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emotional funny hopeful 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

3.75

Before I get into the review, I want to say a quick thank you to both the publishers over at Wednesday Books and NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This May End Badly is about two rival schools with a long history of prank wars. Senior Doe, chief prankster at Weston, is thrown for a loop when she finds out that the Weston School for Girls and Winfield Academy for Boys are merging next year. In order to get under her rival(Three)’s skin, she convinces his cousin to fake date her. Will everything go to plan--will they be able to stop this merger--or will this all end badly? This May End Badly releases on April 12th and is available for preorder now.

I have to start the review by saying that this book did something that very few contemporary novels do which is make it hard for me to put the book down. I was so invested in this fake dating/prank war scenario that I read two thirds of this book in a day. If anyone has been following my blog lately, they know that this year has been hard for me on the reading front, so reading anything two thirds of the way through in one day is such an achievement. I found these characters so compelling and so realistic. Even the enemy’s extended family felt grounded in reality which I loved. This book also does a good job handling tough topics well--sexual harassment, inclusion, bullying, family issues. It was also a fun world to just be in and explore. I guess it’s true that I will never get enough boarding school stories in my life.

The ways this story struggled for me were mostly pacing/time management. I felt like we had such a heavy topic to deal with at the end of the story that I wish we had done more with it in the beginning. It is mentioned briefly at first, but the story is so centered around the fake dating and the scheming up pranks that it kind of gets lost. So, the pace feels a little disjointed. Also, as someone who has admitted to being a complete masochist, I wanted more angst out of the fake dating scenario. I felt like the author had some great scenes for the couple that were fake dating, but I wish there was more mutual pining. God I love me some mutual pining. The last real note that I have for the novel is that I wanted more from the family drama Three and his cousins are dealing with throughout the novel. Maybe this one goes back to pacing. I just wish that I had a better understanding of their family and the drama.

Overall, this is a great contemporary/romance for anyone who enjoys young adult or fake dating or seeing a cute couple in a bookstore once in a while.

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brittanyisbooked's review

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lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I had a difficult time getting into this book, but once I did I was absolutely hooked and could barely put it down! We follow Dorothy Saltpeter (Doe) on her senior year at the all-girls Weston boarding school. Early in the school year, they discover that Weston will be merging with the Whitfield Academy all-boys boarding school across the street. Doe thinks this merger is an absolute insult to the legacy of Mallory Weston and forward thinking for women to get an education, and she must put an end to it.

In addition to the merger, Doe and Three (Nathaniel Emeric Wellborn III) are the leaders of continuing the prank wars that are so ingrained in Weston/Whitfield life. Doe decides that as a senior, and with the schools merging, she needs to take her pranks to the next level. This, ultimately, is the plot line that drives the story forward. Following Doe's obsession with the pranks, her creative execution of the pranks, and her friends and foes that all get involved is something that kept me engaged the entire time, and really threaded the beginning with the end.

Of course, this story also includes a few teen relationships and lust and love. I was really rooting for a couple of the characters while reading, because I felt like as a reader, we were seeing their genuine sides, which the characters in the book were often missing. This was another thread that really brought the whole book together, but more in terms of character cohesiveness than plot.

Finally, I loved that there was a lot of forward thinking acknowledged in the novel that never felt forced. It was integrated with the plot so effortlessly, but just the mere mention of bisexuality, lesbians, transgender, and more, is something that isn't always done or done well. Though only a small part of the story, I was so pleased to see that it made a way in, especially in a young adult novel. The only thing I didn't love so much were the character's nicknames. They all made sense, but for some reason it really bothered me. I also actually prefer the original title, Weston Girls Take No Prisoners, after reading the novel.

I absolutely think this book will be one of the ones to watch in 2022 and I would highly recommend it. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press (Wednesday Books Imprint) for the Advanced Reader Copy of this book.

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janaikam's review against another edition

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funny inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

E-book Arc Received from NetGalley.

This is an absolute must read if you like fake dating. The rivalry and ‘games’ played between characters really adds a level of questioning what’s really going on and what’s going to happen next. The story as a whole is just funny while bringing up serious subjects while still being light hearted about it. Honestly very good read and highly recommend.

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Reviews tagging 'Biphobia'

This May End Badly by Samantha Markum

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allyordyna's review against another edition

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janaikam's review against another edition