booklovewithmelanie's review against another edition
5.0
This was so stinkin' cute! I loved the family relationship between Paige and Brendan and the arc of Cameron was really well done. I'm so glad I picked this up, I definitely needed a cute contemporary with all that is going on in the world right now and I could not be happier that this is what I chose to dive in to.
shelfimprovement's review against another edition
4.0
It took me a long time to fall in love with this book but I'm glad I stuck with it.
ginaauran's review against another edition
5.0
This is such a cute romance! I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a light and easy read, however, it also packs a punch. The main character struggles with some self worth issues which I think a lot of girls in this age range can relate to. I just really loved everything about this book. From the twists and turns to the immaculate humor, this book has been an absolute pleasure to read and near impossible to put down!
fringebookreviews's review against another edition
5.0
✨What thy fudge!✨
This book was more beautiful than Logan Lerman holding a triple chocolate hot fudge cake with Dylan O’Brien’s face on it. It had so many gorgeous, delectable layers; ooey-gooey melt-in-your-mouth characters; and just a plain and simple, grandmother’s classic recipe of enemies to lovers.
I simply cannot get over how many times I had to set the book down to just caramelize in the sweetness overload. This wasn’t a sugar rush; it was a sugar high-speed chase down to the nearest bakery where it got you another triple chocolate hot fudge cake just for the hell of it. I adored how Brendan and Cameron’s relationship started at rock bottom and climbed about five million miles in approximately 330 pages.
You’re not meant to love Cameron at the beginning, so don’t get discouraged. She’s abrasive and overly honest, but she’s also genuine and passionate. Her secret hobby was endearing and unique, and I love love love her new friend group. It truly felt like I was watching a movie—the relationships felt so real and vibrant. 10 Things I Hate About You meets the 2010s.
Brendan was a quiet, unassuming stud muffin (blueberry, extra sugar on top). His one-liners and quips were great, and he didn’t fit into a cookie cutter stereotype, no character in the book really did.
I’m having a tough time just describing the whole experience of this one, but I loved it. It was the perfect book to welcome me back to a life of reading and falling for guys in graphic t-shirts with surprisingly broad shoulders and never-would-have-guessed arm muscles. Life is good. Also that epilogue? Mixeth me up with eggs, sugar, flour and alloweth me maketh a cake of myself because t wast brainsickly valorous.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
This book was more beautiful than Logan Lerman holding a triple chocolate hot fudge cake with Dylan O’Brien’s face on it. It had so many gorgeous, delectable layers; ooey-gooey melt-in-your-mouth characters; and just a plain and simple, grandmother’s classic recipe of enemies to lovers.
I simply cannot get over how many times I had to set the book down to just caramelize in the sweetness overload. This wasn’t a sugar rush; it was a sugar high-speed chase down to the nearest bakery where it got you another triple chocolate hot fudge cake just for the hell of it. I adored how Brendan and Cameron’s relationship started at rock bottom and climbed about five million miles in approximately 330 pages.
You’re not meant to love Cameron at the beginning, so don’t get discouraged. She’s abrasive and overly honest, but she’s also genuine and passionate. Her secret hobby was endearing and unique, and I love love love her new friend group. It truly felt like I was watching a movie—the relationships felt so real and vibrant. 10 Things I Hate About You meets the 2010s.
Brendan was a quiet, unassuming stud muffin (blueberry, extra sugar on top). His one-liners and quips were great, and he didn’t fit into a cookie cutter stereotype, no character in the book really did.
I’m having a tough time just describing the whole experience of this one, but I loved it. It was the perfect book to welcome me back to a life of reading and falling for guys in graphic t-shirts with surprisingly broad shoulders and never-would-have-guessed arm muscles. Life is good. Also that epilogue? Mixeth me up with eggs, sugar, flour and alloweth me maketh a cake of myself because t wast brainsickly valorous.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
i_murph's review against another edition
4.0
*4.5
This novel had brought up a multitude of issues such as changing ones self for someone else and unconventional family situation. Personally I relate to both of these topics to some degree and I love how the authors represented imperfection. Although Cameron was portrayed as a horrible character, her attempts to "tame" herself, although initially not for the best reason, was beautiful character development and the new, true relationships she had achieved because of it was admirable. I loved how Megan and Owen - from Always Never Yours - had a cameos in the last chapter.
This novel had brought up a multitude of issues such as changing ones self for someone else and unconventional family situation. Personally I relate to both of these topics to some degree and I love how the authors represented imperfection. Although Cameron was portrayed as a horrible character, her attempts to "tame" herself, although initially not for the best reason, was beautiful character development and the new, true relationships she had achieved because of it was admirable. I loved how Megan and Owen - from Always Never Yours - had a cameos in the last chapter.
clementinerosereads's review against another edition
4.0
I liked it. I found it sweet and light but the romance really only started 75% in. I liked the correspondence to Shakespeare and the overall character development though!
tibcanread's review against another edition
4.0
CW: verbal abuse from parent to child and from parent to parent, depression
If you liked 10 Things I Hate About You or She's All That or enjoyed Taming of the Shrew, then you are absolutely going to love this book.
If I'm Being Honest reads exactly like a 90s teen movie and honestly I am wishing they would turn it into one because damn, it would be perfect. Cameron's character development from beginning to end was so good and while the story itself was completely predictable, I had a fun time with it. Probably because it felt so similar to some of my favorite movies.
I do have some issues with it though. Every father figure in this book was a piece of shit parent and the two moms that made an appearance weren't that great either but for different reasons. Cameron's mom seems to deal with some pretty severe and unchecked depression (something I will touch on in a minute) and Andrew's mom is only seen drinking and using her child as a DD. While I know not everyone has a perfect family because, really what is a perfect family anyway, but why did every single parent that was shown have to be so bad and not great to their kids? And why did Brendan and Paige's father have to be basically a copy of Cameron's dad?
Now, let's talk about Cameron's mom. Cameron's mom clearly deals with depression and Cameron spends most of the book shitting on her for how her depression affects not only herself, but how it affects the house, i.e. it's messy and she doesn't always have the energy to make dinner and has a tendency to rely on other people rather than get actual help. Not only does Cameron shit on her, but the man she reproduced with is constantly berating her for everything and is down right mean and nasty to her all the time. While I understand Cameron being frustrated with her mom for not being the mom she needs, but she's also not being helpful by being a slightly lesser version of her father to her either. And in the end, Cam and her mom end up starting a running routine and suddenly she's fine and has a job and a new boyfriend and everything is really glossed over and it really didn't feel that realistic as someone who has lived with depression their entire life. I don't know, it just felt weird because that's not exactly how depression works.
Anyway, I still had a blast with this story and was sad that it was over when I finished it. Now I'm trying to figure out a fancast for the sadly nonexistent movie and all I can think of is 90s Heath Ledger for Brendan and someone help me!
If you liked 10 Things I Hate About You or She's All That or enjoyed Taming of the Shrew, then you are absolutely going to love this book.
If I'm Being Honest reads exactly like a 90s teen movie and honestly I am wishing they would turn it into one because damn, it would be perfect. Cameron's character development from beginning to end was so good and while the story itself was completely predictable, I had a fun time with it. Probably because it felt so similar to some of my favorite movies.
I do have some issues with it though. Every father figure in this book was a piece of shit parent and the two moms that made an appearance weren't that great either but for different reasons. Cameron's mom seems to deal with some pretty severe and unchecked depression (something I will touch on in a minute) and Andrew's mom is only seen drinking and using her child as a DD. While I know not everyone has a perfect family because, really what is a perfect family anyway, but why did every single parent that was shown have to be so bad and not great to their kids? And why did Brendan and Paige's father have to be basically a copy of Cameron's dad?
Now, let's talk about Cameron's mom. Cameron's mom clearly deals with depression and Cameron spends most of the book shitting on her for how her depression affects not only herself, but how it affects the house, i.e. it's messy and she doesn't always have the energy to make dinner and has a tendency to rely on other people rather than get actual help. Not only does Cameron shit on her, but the man she reproduced with is constantly berating her for everything and is down right mean and nasty to her all the time. While I understand Cameron being frustrated with her mom for not being the mom she needs, but she's also not being helpful by being a slightly lesser version of her father to her either. And in the end, Cam and her mom end up starting a running routine and suddenly she's fine and has a job and a new boyfriend and everything is really glossed over and it really didn't feel that realistic as someone who has lived with depression their entire life. I don't know, it just felt weird because that's not exactly how depression works.
Anyway, I still had a blast with this story and was sad that it was over when I finished it. Now I'm trying to figure out a fancast for the sadly nonexistent movie and all I can think of is 90s Heath Ledger for Brendan and someone help me!
wintxrfell's review
i’m a sucker for the popular girl/unpopular boy trope so i ate this up fr.
etiemens's review against another edition
3.0
Fair warning, the end of this book has spoilers for their other book Always, Never, Yours