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A review by _toristhoughts_
You Started It by Jackie Khalilieh
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved this SO much.
I read this author's debut Something More a little over a year ago and immediately fell in love with those characters & Jackie's writing. I've been following her on instagram and watching updates for her second novel and I was so excited to receive an arc of it!!
I was invested from start to finish and I absolutely LOVED Jamie. She's an incredible character and I related to her a lot haha. oh and her love of books & special editions was something that made me love her even more (for obvious reasons). everytime her "book buying ban" was mentioned bc she broke it by buying a special edition I laughed out loud bc that's *literally* me 🤣. I loved her growth & development over the course of the novel and I looooove Axel and her too. their chemistry was *chef's kiss* PLUS, you all KNOW I am *weak* for a good fake dating romance.
the only complaint I have is that some of the pacing felt just a little off at times? and it caused me to be pulled out of the story a teeny bit BUT it wasn't enough that it affected my overall enjoyment? it was just enough that I noticed 😅
anyways - first book of 2025 and it's obvi being added to my favorites list immediately. this releases towards the end of May and I highly recommend if you're in the mood for a contemporary romance with fake dating, he falls first 👀, senior year bucket lists, and a little opposites attract chemistry :)
arc review
MF; YA; single POV; Arab MCs
I read this author's debut Something More a little over a year ago and immediately fell in love with those characters & Jackie's writing. I've been following her on instagram and watching updates for her second novel and I was so excited to receive an arc of it!!
I was invested from start to finish and I absolutely LOVED Jamie. She's an incredible character and I related to her a lot haha. oh and her love of books & special editions was something that made me love her even more (for obvious reasons). everytime her "book buying ban" was mentioned bc she broke it by buying a special edition I laughed out loud bc that's *literally* me 🤣. I loved her growth & development over the course of the novel and I looooove Axel and her too. their chemistry was *chef's kiss* PLUS, you all KNOW I am *weak* for a good fake dating romance.
the only complaint I have is that some of the pacing felt just a little off at times? and it caused me to be pulled out of the story a teeny bit BUT it wasn't enough that it affected my overall enjoyment? it was just enough that I noticed 😅
anyways - first book of 2025 and it's obvi being added to my favorites list immediately. this releases towards the end of May and I highly recommend if you're in the mood for a contemporary romance with fake dating, he falls first 👀, senior year bucket lists, and a little opposites attract chemistry :)
arc review
MF; YA; single POV; Arab MCs