Scan barcode
A review by izzymannellasbookshelf
You Wouldn't Dare by Samantha Markum
emotional
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
I don't want a "man written by a woman"; I want a guy written by Samantha Markum. She got me with Wells & Three from This May End Badly, and she KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK with Graham Isham (and Milo!!!) from this one.
The book definitely took a hot second for me to get into, but once I got into its rhythm, I didn't want to put it down. It had:
x fwb (sort of?)
x best friends to lovers (ughh love that)
x diverse cast (important important)
x and all around compelling characters. (The things I would do for a Graham Isham in my life...)
The story centers on a dramatic and maybe a little self-centered main character, Juniper Nash, as she navigates the summer before her senior year of high school. She works part-time at her mom's diner and spends the rest of her summer watching cheesy tv, practicing for community theater, and hanging out with her three friends: her childhood bestie Milo, her bubbly female friend Lucy, and of course, the only boy to match her energy and rival her when it comes to dares--Graham.
Her and Graham had a thing last summer, but they had a falling out, and all she wants is to make things less weird between them. She just wants things to go back to normal and to have her old friend back. Unfortunately, much more is about to change, and all because of her mom's boyfriend Paul and his no-sugar-coating-things daughter, Tallulah.
This story was a bright and entertaining summer read indulgent in teenage drama, friendship, and love. There's something about the way Markum writes romantic relationships that legit gets me every time. I'm obsessed.
The book definitely took a hot second for me to get into, but once I got into its rhythm, I didn't want to put it down. It had:
x fwb (sort of?)
x best friends to lovers (ughh love that)
x diverse cast (important important)
x and all around compelling characters. (The things I would do for a Graham Isham in my life...)
The story centers on a dramatic and maybe a little self-centered main character, Juniper Nash, as she navigates the summer before her senior year of high school. She works part-time at her mom's diner and spends the rest of her summer watching cheesy tv, practicing for community theater, and hanging out with her three friends: her childhood bestie Milo, her bubbly female friend Lucy, and of course, the only boy to match her energy and rival her when it comes to dares--Graham.
Her and Graham had a thing last summer, but they had a falling out, and all she wants is to make things less weird between them. She just wants things to go back to normal and to have her old friend back. Unfortunately, much more is about to change, and all because of her mom's boyfriend Paul and his no-sugar-coating-things daughter, Tallulah.
This story was a bright and entertaining summer read indulgent in teenage drama, friendship, and love. There's something about the way Markum writes romantic relationships that legit gets me every time. I'm obsessed.