Alex Light

Okay, I admit it, I read the negative reviews before, but I really wanted to like this. I mean, the cover is really cute and I just love YA.

I could have given this 3 stars, if I would have been generous even 3,5. I mean, the fake dating comes out of nowhere. We know literally nothing about the characters, they know nothing about each other. They fake date. Okay, sure. Could have let that slide. But the characters aren’t really that interesting, they are total clichés and Becca is quite show more overdramatic. I mean the books in the river scene obviously made a lot of reviewers remove a star. Read the other reviews, I have nothing to add… (It has been 1,5 years since I listened to this and am still shaking my head in disbelief thinking of this specific scene…)
So yeah, the book was really nothing special and not very convincing.
But the completely unnecessary sex scene really annoyed me. Could have been a rather unoriginal and surface level but cute and clean YA romance. But with this scene in it, I don’t want to recommend it to anyone.. show less

“Your eyes are nice. They’re like the ocean. Calm.”
“Oceans can be deadly.”
I was starting to think Brett was too. Or at least the way he made me feel was. Like I was standing on the edge of a cliff. Or riding a roller coaster that only went up.

This book reminded me of the feeling of falling in love and how truly scary it is. Being vulnerable and allowing myself to be open to people entering my life when that gives them the opportunity to leave later on is terrifying.

One of my show more favourite tropes is fake relationship so the fact that this had that trope and didn’t butcher it makes me extremely happy.

The characters and the way they interact is probably my favourite part of this book. It genuinely had me kicking my feet and giggling at certain parts. show less

I really wanted to give it at least two stars - it was an easy, quick read. BUT I just could not believe anything. I generally like the fake dating trope and in romance books I don't need to believe everything. I can swallow quite large frogs, I think. So I really tried with this one, but no, no no. I really didn't understand why they went for this fake dating thing and how it so quickly became real dating. A bookworm and the hottest football player, the hottest football player who is just a show more nice guy who had never dated anyone before? And don't even get me on their parents. Becca's father, who seems to have been very close to her, moves a few streets over in the same small town and never sees her again in five years? How is that even possible? Her mom who really sucks at baking decides to devote her post-divorce life to baking and opens a successful bakery. Brett's father's cheating also all sounded wrong. How that other woman appeared at the gala? Why? Maybe if I were 15, I would have liked this book. Who knows. show less

I found this to be a super fun read. I always love books that tackle both fake dating as troupe but also have both lead characters POV. I also liked how this book dealt with harder topics like divorce and the family drama. I also really liked being in becca head and seeing her as book lover. I love that this book also focused so much on their friendship and a fun cast of side characters. I would def read more by this author in the future.