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A review by tsamarah
Better Than Revenge by Kasie West
emotional
funny
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
4.5
Better Than Revenge is the latest young adult romance release by Kasie West, known for Sunkissed! and Place We've Never Been. The novel follows the seventeen-year-old Finley Lucas, who decides to plot a revenge plan against her football-clad ex-boyfriend Jensen when he stole her idea and landed on the school podcast's spot she has ever wanted. As she concocts the perfect plan with her best friends, she wittingly recruits Theo, her ex's arrogant nemesis, as part of her project. Can she act on her vengeance while discovering a better love for herself?
Before I begin, I'd like to confess that this novel is technically not my first dive into a Kasie West universe. I did try to read Places We've Never Been, but both the story and writing didn't hit my emotions enough to make me care to finish the book, so I decided to mark it as unread—I only ever reached around 20% of it, and I am so sorry. However, her present comeback hit out of the park for me as I believe that the story emphasizes more self-discovery than romance, and she features one of the most relatable main characters to date, albeit her situation is pretty much miserable.
The plot is something we might've seen before: a story of vengeance that leads to a newfound belief in respecting ourselves and discovering the things that are worth the most in our lives. West approaches this topic in subtlety, elaborating on why the vindication feels important to regain Finley's sense of autonomy, particularly on how small yet relentless actions of gaslighting could lead to this embroiling determination—it is quite the unsettling example too. West illustrates how self-deprecation and gaslighting go hand in hand without making the perpetrator look like the bad guy. In contrast, we, on the disadvantageous side, are treated like crazy people for defending ourselves. She also showcases the deeply rooted sense of envy and insecurity that pertains to the need to dumb down other people to make themselves feel better, and for me, it feels ominous because it is something that we can visibly see when it happens to other people (or in this case, fictional characters), but unable to recognize once we are the victims of the same treatment.
In return, it influences the character construction of Finley as the protagonist. West introduces us to this passionate, multi talented teenager with podcasting dreams and a sassy mouth. She is quick to banter, filled with numerous ideas, and empathetic with her friends, so much so that she knows where she is wrong. Yet, we see how Finley is also a fragile little thing—an exact figure of a people-pleaser in general that, in some cases, she painfully demonstrates her unwillingness to see the bad of people and maintains a status quo on how people are "nice" that she needs to stick around with them.
It is both sad and relatable, even for me. We've all been in similar situations where we need to grapple with any semblance of acceptance because our confidence depletes so much before we finally grow a backbone to do something for ourselves and only ourselves. As a result, the more dominant emphasis on Finley's self-discovery journey feels genuine and empathetic, fitting the purpose of the novel's title itself.
On the other hand, as the male love interest in the book, I find Theo's characterization to be quite surprising because I had assumed that he would be this typical "bad boy" type of high school jock that is usually the preferred stereotype in high school romance. Theo is still a high school jock in this novel, but he looks so normal that I can't seem to pinpoint him on a particular trope. His moments of cockiness don't seem to be so forceful that it makes him less likable; he has scenes of nerdiness and looks open to anything that is thrown his way. Even his relationship with Finley as a friend and a romantic partner never hints at ulterior motives; his kindness is just an instance of his "it is what it is" attitude—seeing things the way they are, being straightforward without anything to hide.
Their personalities are the reason why I find their chemistry to be marvelous as friends and couples. Sometimes, you don't need characters with opposite characterization or extreme miscommunication to make their relationship work. Sometimes, you need characters willing to be upfront with one another—the ones who can support you when you're on your worst days and the ones who can call you out on your bullshit, which is why Finley and Theo work tremendously together in this novel.
What about the supporting characters, like Jensen, Deja, Maxwell, and Lee? As I've mentioned before, West excels at showcasing a gaslighter who is smart enough to make himself look like a saint in a situation, which is what Jensen is in this novel. Some readers might think the resolution of Finley's conflict with Jensen may be disappointing. Still, Jensen's dejected disposition at the end of the story is good karma for Finley because it showcases how pathetic Jensen is despite his efforts to act like the best person in the room.
Deja, Maxwell, and Lee are wonderful friends of Finley. Funny enough, this group of best friends consists of characters falling on stereotypical tropes of high schoolers: there's the star athlete like Deja, the jokester like Lee, and the nerd like Maxwell, including Finley herself as the ambitious all-rounder. West's decision to create a friend group that doesn't settle on a specific type broadens the environment where these people can stay tight as a group. Yet, they are implied to have different interests that fit themselves as individuals without being judged. I genuinely appreciate West avoiding unnecessary drama to uphold a particular "spice" to ascertain Finley's self-discovery.
Going back to the plot, I find the small portion of investigation and live podcasting subplots a delight in this novel. The main plot has already tackled heavier themes. Hence, West exhibits tidbits of podcast sessions, and its preps is her displaying a lighter tone to balance the entire story—the characters are silly, curious teenagers, and most of all, shown to have the most joyful adventures.
In the end, is Better Than Revenge good? No, it is absolutely way better than I expected. The story is excellent, perfectly translating what it means to have something better than doing revenge. I'd recommend this for those who seek light young adult romance with more highlights in their character development or have been genuinely a Kasie West fan for a while.
Before I begin, I'd like to confess that this novel is technically not my first dive into a Kasie West universe. I did try to read Places We've Never Been, but both the story and writing didn't hit my emotions enough to make me care to finish the book, so I decided to mark it as unread—I only ever reached around 20% of it, and I am so sorry. However, her present comeback hit out of the park for me as I believe that the story emphasizes more self-discovery than romance, and she features one of the most relatable main characters to date, albeit her situation is pretty much miserable.
The plot is something we might've seen before: a story of vengeance that leads to a newfound belief in respecting ourselves and discovering the things that are worth the most in our lives. West approaches this topic in subtlety, elaborating on why the vindication feels important to regain Finley's sense of autonomy, particularly on how small yet relentless actions of gaslighting could lead to this embroiling determination—it is quite the unsettling example too. West illustrates how self-deprecation and gaslighting go hand in hand without making the perpetrator look like the bad guy. In contrast, we, on the disadvantageous side, are treated like crazy people for defending ourselves. She also showcases the deeply rooted sense of envy and insecurity that pertains to the need to dumb down other people to make themselves feel better, and for me, it feels ominous because it is something that we can visibly see when it happens to other people (or in this case, fictional characters), but unable to recognize once we are the victims of the same treatment.
In return, it influences the character construction of Finley as the protagonist. West introduces us to this passionate, multi talented teenager with podcasting dreams and a sassy mouth. She is quick to banter, filled with numerous ideas, and empathetic with her friends, so much so that she knows where she is wrong. Yet, we see how Finley is also a fragile little thing—an exact figure of a people-pleaser in general that, in some cases, she painfully demonstrates her unwillingness to see the bad of people and maintains a status quo on how people are "nice" that she needs to stick around with them.
It is both sad and relatable, even for me. We've all been in similar situations where we need to grapple with any semblance of acceptance because our confidence depletes so much before we finally grow a backbone to do something for ourselves and only ourselves. As a result, the more dominant emphasis on Finley's self-discovery journey feels genuine and empathetic, fitting the purpose of the novel's title itself.
On the other hand, as the male love interest in the book, I find Theo's characterization to be quite surprising because I had assumed that he would be this typical "bad boy" type of high school jock that is usually the preferred stereotype in high school romance. Theo is still a high school jock in this novel, but he looks so normal that I can't seem to pinpoint him on a particular trope. His moments of cockiness don't seem to be so forceful that it makes him less likable; he has scenes of nerdiness and looks open to anything that is thrown his way. Even his relationship with Finley as a friend and a romantic partner never hints at ulterior motives; his kindness is just an instance of his "it is what it is" attitude—seeing things the way they are, being straightforward without anything to hide.
Their personalities are the reason why I find their chemistry to be marvelous as friends and couples. Sometimes, you don't need characters with opposite characterization or extreme miscommunication to make their relationship work. Sometimes, you need characters willing to be upfront with one another—the ones who can support you when you're on your worst days and the ones who can call you out on your bullshit, which is why Finley and Theo work tremendously together in this novel.
What about the supporting characters, like Jensen, Deja, Maxwell, and Lee? As I've mentioned before, West excels at showcasing a gaslighter who is smart enough to make himself look like a saint in a situation, which is what Jensen is in this novel. Some readers might think the resolution of Finley's conflict with Jensen may be disappointing. Still, Jensen's dejected disposition at the end of the story is good karma for Finley because it showcases how pathetic Jensen is despite his efforts to act like the best person in the room.
Deja, Maxwell, and Lee are wonderful friends of Finley. Funny enough, this group of best friends consists of characters falling on stereotypical tropes of high schoolers: there's the star athlete like Deja, the jokester like Lee, and the nerd like Maxwell, including Finley herself as the ambitious all-rounder. West's decision to create a friend group that doesn't settle on a specific type broadens the environment where these people can stay tight as a group. Yet, they are implied to have different interests that fit themselves as individuals without being judged. I genuinely appreciate West avoiding unnecessary drama to uphold a particular "spice" to ascertain Finley's self-discovery.
Going back to the plot, I find the small portion of investigation and live podcasting subplots a delight in this novel. The main plot has already tackled heavier themes. Hence, West exhibits tidbits of podcast sessions, and its preps is her displaying a lighter tone to balance the entire story—the characters are silly, curious teenagers, and most of all, shown to have the most joyful adventures.
In the end, is Better Than Revenge good? No, it is absolutely way better than I expected. The story is excellent, perfectly translating what it means to have something better than doing revenge. I'd recommend this for those who seek light young adult romance with more highlights in their character development or have been genuinely a Kasie West fan for a while.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Gaslighting