Bought for cheap on kindle. Read before falling asleep for a couple of nights.

High schoolers trying to figure out if they love each other because they are friends or are they IN LOVE with one another. I wanted to like them both more than I did. We saw glimpses of good moments between them but mostly it was all very boring.

LGBTQ characters in prominent roles so thumbs up for that! ( )

* I got this book for review and gave it 3.75 stars*

I really enjoyed how this book handled more rare topics in YA books like anxiety and injuries in sports. I like the duel POV in this story but enjoyed being in ryan head more then Gabby. I think being in Gabby head was hard at points but some interesting and just seeing how her anxiety affected her. I like the concept of how this novel was structured but though the the structure of top ten moments could have had more of a connection to the presence to make it clearer narrative. I thought this book tackled boy and girl friendships and overall enjoyed the story. I hope to read more by this author in the future. ( )

* I got this book for review and gave it 3.75 stars*

I really enjoyed how this book handled more rare topics in YA books like anxiety and injuries in sports. I like the duel POV in this story but enjoyed being in ryan head more then Gabby. I think being in Gabby head was hard at points but some interesting and just seeing how her anxiety affected her. I like the concept of how this novel was structured but though the the structure of top ten moments could have had more of a connection to the presence to make it clearer narrative. I thought this book tackled boy and girl friendships and overall enjoyed the story. I hope to read more by this author in the future. ( )

(Shelved as made me cry but didn’t actually make me cry. That shelf is also for tear-jerkers and made me emotional to the point where I almost cried)

*An ARC of this book was provided to me by HarperCollins*

So not even getting to the actual plot, I love how the story is told. It’s got a really cool nonlinear narrative and like the back of the book says- this narrative is compelling. I can’t imagine the novel being told in chronological order it is perfect the way it is �

The story is about the complicated relationship of Gabby and Ryan, honestly who hasn’t had that weird relationship where you don’t know how you became friends with the person? You’re from two different worlds and it somehow clicked and I feel like every has this bizarre experience at some point? Very relatable.

The best part is that Ryan is a hockey player but not a dumb sports jock and Gabby is Bi (woot woot thanks for the rep) struggles with social anxiety which I don’t have personal experience with but it seemed pretty realistic?

This was the perfect stand alone book! ( )

Katie Cotugno’s books always have a way of surprising me. She develops these realistic and flawed individuals and we follow them through their daily lives. We see the beauty, tragedy, and monotony of their lives and get to experience it along side them. Top Ten is another solid installment that showcases the importance of friendship, what it means when that friend becomes more, and what happens if it doesn’t work out.

Things I Liked:
There was this overwhelming nostalgic feeling, while being so incredibly realistic, that made reading the story incredibly easy. It was nice looking back and reminiscing about Gabby and Ryan’s friendship with them as we see some of the more pivotal moments of their high school experience.

There were some surprises that I was not expecting. I loved how Gabby and Ryan’s relationship develops. It seems so organic, because we have followed them all this time and come to really know them.

For me the absolute highlight of this book was the friendship in Gabby and Ryan’s relationship is so open and honest. They have one of the most genuine friendship I’ve seen in a long time. You couldn’t help but root for them and wish them all the happiness.

Things I Didn’t Like:
I wasn’t the biggest fan of how time was framed. I really like that the story was bookended, but in between there was a lot of back and forth and could get confusing. Especially with the second-half of the school year coming before the first-half.

Overall this was a really satisfying and unique contemporary. I loved the focus on friendship and it’s importance. And how friendship are just as important as romantic relationship, and can be more meaningful. Gabby and Ryan’s story was beautiful and heartbreaking and loving. I expect nothing less from Katie Cotugno.
( )