girlreading's review
4.0
this was everything I hoped it would be. it was fun, cute, warm, uplifting and unafraid to call out the crap hollywood puts its stars through. it's tropey in the BEST way (hello fake dating and there's only one bed). the friendships were EVERYTHING, the romance adorable and the casual bi rep was wonderful to see. I also absolutely loved Nati's journey with her Latinx and Brazilian identity. basically, this book has everything you could want in a ya romcom and now I'm desperate for a brenda x padma companion book please.
littlebookterror's review
lighthearted
3.5
I feel like the characters changed a little too quickly and the romance needed a big more time for that ending but this was still cute. More excited about her 2022 release now.
mariareadsbooksalot's review
4.0
I should start this by saying I am an absolute sucker for all things romance and all things with celebrities so when you mix them together, that’s my favorite thing. This book was super cute and quick. I liked both of the main characters and I love fake dating. I loved Nati growing into her own and getting to rebrand herself the way that she wanted to and not how others did. This book is a lot about growing into your own and finding who you are with some really cute romantic parts as well! This was a cute read and honestly this cover is one of my favorites of the year! Simply stunning I must add
resslesa's review
Cute but predicable. I wanted more swooney parts. I appreciated the female friendships and the celebrity angle but overall not enough development.
randomly_kait's review
3.0
This was interesting. It took a while before my attention was fully caught. The first 25-30 percent of the book kind of went over my head and I'm not sure that I could tell you what happened
marluisa's review
4.0
I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. The following are all my own opinions.
I read this book in two days and I genuinely could not stop smiling. I found myself rooting for Natalia and William from their very first meeting because their chemistry came so naturally (I mean, they serve fake dating AND "there was only one bed" tropes, what's not to love?). From skeptical to genuine comfort derived from the other’s presence, I had a great time reading! The cast of characters felt so real to me and it’s evident that the wide variety of representation was done with much love and care. If this book had come out when I was a teenager, I would’ve been just as in love with it.
I read this book in two days and I genuinely could not stop smiling. I found myself rooting for Natalia and William from their very first meeting because their chemistry came so naturally (I mean, they serve fake dating AND "there was only one bed" tropes, what's not to love?). From skeptical to genuine comfort derived from the other’s presence, I had a great time reading! The cast of characters felt so real to me and it’s evident that the wide variety of representation was done with much love and care. If this book had come out when I was a teenager, I would’ve been just as in love with it.
anawaka's review
lighthearted
relaxing
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
a_ab's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
I am trying to be very generous, but the book hasn't given me much to work with. It is offensively shallow, oversimplified, and bordering on vapid. I was lured in by the dedication and only kept reading hoping that at some point that dedication would become relevant, but apparently that was a random non sequitur.
However, there's one thing that this book has going for it - all that inquiry into PR tactics and publicity stunts has paid off: this book reads like one of them. It has a laundry list of trendy representations (atrociously tokenized, but prominently there), a carefully ticked checklist of most popular "teen themes" and tropes, and a sprinkle of randomly thrown in social commentary (mostly irrelevant to the plot, scenes and characters) - all forming an iron-clad recipe for publisher approval.
Far be it from me to reproach anyone for their hard-earned path to success, especially when it's not done by means of hurting others, so I am genuinely glad for the author. But I did not enjoy this book.
However, there's one thing that this book has going for it - all that inquiry into PR tactics and publicity stunts has paid off: this book reads like one of them. It has a laundry list of trendy representations (atrociously tokenized, but prominently there), a carefully ticked checklist of most popular "teen themes" and tropes, and a sprinkle of randomly thrown in social commentary (mostly irrelevant to the plot, scenes and characters) - all forming an iron-clad recipe for publisher approval.
Far be it from me to reproach anyone for their hard-earned path to success, especially when it's not done by means of hurting others, so I am genuinely glad for the author. But I did not enjoy this book.
kaiiribou's review
4.0
Really more of a 3.5, but rounding up for cuteness and leaving a smile on my face. This is extremely wholesome wish-fulfillment.
If I have a complaint, it's that none of the conflicts brought up are explored deeply. But tbh, the book is clearly aimed toward the younger end of YA and I know it would've been perfect for a 14 y.o. me. Mad respect for that, esp considering how saturated upper YA has gotten.
If I have a complaint, it's that none of the conflicts brought up are explored deeply. But tbh, the book is clearly aimed toward the younger end of YA and I know it would've been perfect for a 14 y.o. me. Mad respect for that, esp considering how saturated upper YA has gotten.