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ammalek's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Fake dating troupes are always fun but we don’t always see ones like this, diverse YA -popular STEM heroine and Jock/ baker hero. It was a great story and I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.
anjanordh's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was a good book. The relationship between Samaya and Daniel was fun to read about. Sometimes I thought Samaya was a little bit annoying, but she showed growth and by the end I liked her. I enjoyed seeing stereotypes being broken with Daniel being a jock who enjoys baking and seeing a girl who is a giant nerd and loves gaming. Thank you, NetGalley for providing this ARC.
thepolishedbibliophile's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
Samaya and her friends brought me right back to the high school years as we navigate exes, friends and preparing for college with them. When Samaya begins to volunteer for a local shelter, she meets Daniel and the connection between them two is quick! I found myself having a hard time connecting with Samaya, at first, but by the end of the story I was rooting for her and glad to see her growth and self-discovery! Thank you to NetGalley and Skyscape! All thoughts and opinions are my own
radusreads's review against another edition
4.5
Loved everything about this one! It has gossip girl and lady whistledown drama happening but online and poor Samaya who had been broken up with before the summer is the center of all the tea. Her ex bf/friend is back when school starts up again and now with someone she knows. So her friends help her by posting a pic with her and the guy she's been playing online games with.
This turns into a huge problem as the guy in the picture is a guy at her new volunteer job and not the guy she was talking to online.
This was so sweet and had so many different important topics that are important for teens to hear about organically. Like gossip, toxic relationships, your worth isn't tied to your academic success or relationship partner. Also real life realities such as homelessness and extreme privilege. Also not putting everyone in a box by type and judging by their interests.
Thank you skyscape
This turns into a huge problem as the guy in the picture is a guy at her new volunteer job and not the guy she was talking to online.
This was so sweet and had so many different important topics that are important for teens to hear about organically. Like gossip, toxic relationships, your worth isn't tied to your academic success or relationship partner. Also real life realities such as homelessness and extreme privilege. Also not putting everyone in a box by type and judging by their interests.
Thank you skyscape
starsbookishhollow's review against another edition
hopeful
Thank you so much to the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Smart girl Samaya is dumped by who she thought was her picture-perfect boyfriend. Her job is sabotaged and her ex starts dating her enemy. Samaya isn’t winning the breakup until she meets Daniel. Daniel offers to fake date her in exchange for tutoring. What could possibly go wrong?
A lot could go wrong. And they did. However, it was handled very well. Elitism was a theme throughout the story and Samaya learning about her own was very well done. Daniel and Samaya had a very cute relationship and I was rooting for them the whole way through. As someone who’s half South Asian, the representation was on point.
Overall, it was a fun read and I’d recommend it to fans of Jennifer Yen and her book A Taste for Love!
bookish_selkie's review against another edition
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
5.0
How to Win a Breakup is the excellent story of Samaya- a talented gamer who just got dumped by her boyfriend, the school’s golden boy. Suddenly, the school is questioning Samaya’s math skills and ability to game. It’s unbearable- so Samaya leaks a picture of her with her online friend. It should be harmless- until she meets them in real life while getting her community service hours. However, some of what her online friend has said doesn’t match with Daniel in real life. Samaya must uncover who she was cat-fished by and why. Luckily, Daniel agrees to be her fake boyfriend to help with the cruel gossip. Samaya is horrified when she starts to develop feelings for the funny and sweet Daniel, which is strictly against their fake-dating rules. Samaya must choose if she will go against the parameters Daniel set for them and decide how much she cares about what her friends think…
Farah Heron is becoming one of my auto-buy authors!! I love how immersive and warm her writing is. Samaya and Daniel both feel so realistic and the type of people you’d want to be friends with. Heron’s writing is witty, while not shying away from important real-world issues such as discrimination, homelessness, and mental health. I loved how the fictional game felt so real! I became so invested in Samaya finding her way and deciding what/who was truly important to her. Samaya’s best friend Cass is another one of my favorite characters! I really enjoyed how they were so supportive of Samaya and also knew when to give her tough love.
How to Win a Breakup has fake dating, gender role reversals, and excellent representation. This book would be perfect for fans of Emma Lord, Talia Hibbert, and Tashie Bhuiyan. I would highly recommend it to anyone and I can’t wait to read what Farah Heron writes next!!
Thank you to Farah Heron, Skyscape, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Farah Heron is becoming one of my auto-buy authors!! I love how immersive and warm her writing is. Samaya and Daniel both feel so realistic and the type of people you’d want to be friends with. Heron’s writing is witty, while not shying away from important real-world issues such as discrimination, homelessness, and mental health. I loved how the fictional game felt so real! I became so invested in Samaya finding her way and deciding what/who was truly important to her. Samaya’s best friend Cass is another one of my favorite characters! I really enjoyed how they were so supportive of Samaya and also knew when to give her tough love.
How to Win a Breakup has fake dating, gender role reversals, and excellent representation. This book would be perfect for fans of Emma Lord, Talia Hibbert, and Tashie Bhuiyan. I would highly recommend it to anyone and I can’t wait to read what Farah Heron writes next!!
Thank you to Farah Heron, Skyscape, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.