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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
reflective
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
I’m a fan of both Olivia Cole and Ashley Woodfolk, so when given the opportunity to preview their collaboration I jumped. I was excited for this novel as the premise is a trope that I enjoy. What is more fun than seeing two heartbroken people work together to get revenge on the one who hurt them, but end up falling for each other instead? Wait…that came out wrong. Reading healing come in the form of new love makes for a fun time.
The novel is told in dual perspectives between Beau and Charm. I’m honestly not sure who I liked more. Both Beau and Charm had awesome moments and both had moments where I was annoyed with them. Both girls are confident in being queer so it was frustrating to see how they were both taken in by the ubiquitous Maia was using them to sort out her own issues. Granted, that peak high school behavior but it was nice to see Charm, especially, grow into understanding and embracing her self-worth as her relationship with Beau grew as well. I guess you could also say “Call Your Boyfriend” is also a “friends to lovers” trope because Charm and Beau through their revenge plan, the two develop a true friendship first. While they are not completely honest with each other (obviously) they do open up to each other in ways that haven’t opened up to others and share their hopes and dreams with each other. Both girls are on the cusp of adulthood which is both a time of excitement, but also a time high anxiety as teens are trying to decide what direction they want their life to go, at the same time dealing with parental expectations that sometimes contradict what the teen may want. Both Charm and Beau are in this exact position and they bond over this feeling. They “see” each other and I enjoyed the fact that their relationship grew from this notion, rather than their commitment to the Plan.
While I did enjoy most of the novel, what left me with a “meh” feeling is that the book just kind of ends. I thought I had more to the story so when I realized I was on the last page I thought “that’s it?”. I was confused. I feel like the novel needed an epilogue as, to me, the story didn’t feel finished. Was the main conflict resolved, yes, but I needed to know what happened after and this lack of knowing has been unsettling.
The writing of the novel was definitely solid, as expected from Cole and Woodfolk, so I hope they plan to collaborate again in the future.
emotional
hopeful
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
I LOVED this book! The two main characters were well-fleshed out and seemed like real teenagers with how they reacted to things, the decisions they made, etc. I loved both of them for different reasons and I thought they had great chemistry. I wish we'd gotten a little bit of an epilogue but otherwise I have no complaints!! Obsessed! Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC!
To be published July 1, 2025.
This was a cute, teenage read with a group of friends navigating new feelings, their own identities, relationships with family and with each other and offered a full cast of queer and non confirming characters. I was rooting for some and wishing demise for others throughout and while it felt a little predictable, it was a really enjoyable read.
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC!
This was a cute, teenage read with a group of friends navigating new feelings, their own identities, relationships with family and with each other and offered a full cast of queer and non confirming characters. I was rooting for some and wishing demise for others throughout and while it felt a little predictable, it was a really enjoyable read.
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC!
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-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
Even though it’s a plot from a million teen movies, there was nothing formulaic about this book. Written with so much heart, can’t wait to bring this to school and give it to my students.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia, Racism, Sexual content
Got this as a free ARC at a sapphic movie screening partnered with a local bookstore so that’s a win.
I enjoyed it more than I initially thought I would! It was cute.
All three of them should just kiss
I enjoyed it more than I initially thought I would! It was cute.