booksblabbering 's review for:

You Started It by Jackie Khalilieh

2.5

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The main character frustrated and annoyed me so much. 

Is this second chance romance? Fake dating? Revenge? 

When your long-term boyfriend dumps you and ruins all your lists and plans, you decide to enact a plan to get him back starting with dating the newcomer charismatic and popular Tiktok dancer Axel. 

Jamie and Ben both need to have friends. Their worlds revolve around each other which is clearly shown after they break up. But even then, they still never make more friends except for then revolving their respective new partners. 

Jamie…. She was so mean to her mum! She never thinks of anyone but her, and everything is the worst for her only and it is always someone else’s fault! 

I wish we got more of Silvia (Ben’s new gf) because we just see her as ‘the slutty enemy’, but I think we could have added so much more nuance by developing her further and maybe seeing her side. 

One thing I was excited for was the representation marketed. Jamie’s family is non-religious greek orthodox and Palestinian and her uncle is gay… we got barely ANYTHING on this. So much could have been explored and made way for conversation. Instead, Jamie’s uncle is the gay stereotype - always optimistic, amazing with advice and perceptive.  

I did like the tall girl representation because (being 5’7 which isn’t extreme tall but was when I was in high school), you are so aware of it and you think everyone is at all times too. 

Axel deserved better. As did Jamie’s mother. 

Audiobook arc gifted by Libro.fm.