As they say, there’s a fine line between love and hate. As for Oliver and Elena, they're dislike of one another is the bi-product of a decades long feud between their two families. With online pseudonyms, they are able to get to know each other without the hindrance of names and faces that puts them on guard.

After a slow start and tepid middle, the story picks up with some fun hi-jinks and a sweet finale. I liked Oliver from the start, but I didn't really gel with Elena's personality. She was often times quick frustrated and defensive - two traits that I didn't like. It wasn't until the last 25% of the book that her behavior improved and by then it was hard to change how I already felt towards her. I still enjoyed the sweet ending and HEA, but with the slow beginning, it felt like it took too long to get there.

Any Boy But You by Julie Hammerle.....What a sweet heartfelt story that keeps you flipping pages. The characters are very likeable and relatable, Elena and Oliver were fun to see their stories unfold. I am enjoying Julie Hammerle she definitely know how to tell a story. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book from publisher via NetGalley.

When I read the blurb and the comparison to You've Got Mail, I was hooked. Throw in a Romeo and Juliet aspect and you have the awesome first book in the North Pole series.

This was a really cute book about two teens who have no idea why they are supposed to hate each, only that that is what is expected of their families. Even the people in the town have taken sides between these two families and it has always been that way.

For the most part, this was a fun, lighthearted story but it did touch on some issues that can be especially difficult to navigate during the teen years. I absolutely loved Elena. She's feisty and an amazing friend. Oliver was hilarious once he started to come out of his shell. I can't wait to see what's in store of the rest of these characters as the series continues.

*This is my voluntary review of an Advanced Reader Copy*

As an unrepentant fan of You've Got Mail and YA lit, I gobbled this book up, faithful readers.

Elena Chestnut's and Oliver Prince's families can best be likened to the Hatfields and the McCoys, northern Minnesota styles. Once in the sporting goods business together, they now operate rival stores situated right across the street from each other. It appears that the Prince business is doing a bit better, but that could be due to the growing popularity of a Pokémon Go-type game that Oliver created. Elena is decidedly unamused, a state not helped by the fact that her best friend appears to be buddying up to the enemy.

When Elena decides to play, she creates a game persona and immediately clicks with another player. OF COURSE the other player is Oliver, but Elena has no clue, just as he doesn't know that the girl he's been chatting to is the daughter of his father's enemy.

There are various subplots at play involving Elena's and Oliver's families, as well as Elena's best friend, but Julie Hammerle always keeps the focus squarely on her teen couple. Hammerle knows how to write for her audience, and teen readers (plus those of us who are well past our teen years) will love this book. It's sweet. It's cute. It's romantic. It's got some Feels. And it's just plain fun to read. Watching Elena and Oliver draw closer, despite their outward loathing of each other, is engaging and, well, fun.

It remains true in Elena and Oliver's world, just as it does in that of most teens, that parents can absolutely ruin your life. But sometimes they can come through when you least expect it. Just trust yourself, Hammerle seems to say. Trust who you are and how you feel, and trust your gut instinct, and you will turn out just fine.

This book was sooo sweet! I loved it so much! Though it did have its ups and down but overall, I really enjoyed reading this book.

The Chesnuts and the Princes have been rivals for decades. It’s natural for Elena Chestnut and Oliver Prince to hate each other as well. But both of their family business are suffering. To spice things up, Oliver codes a game and in between all these Elena and Oliver starts talking to each other without knowing the truth that whom they are actually talking to. What will happen when the truth comes out in the open?

The concept of this book was really interesting, I love these kinds of books where the characters at first don’t know the real identity of one another, then they realize they have known each other for ages. And also hate to love is my second favourite romantic trope. For Elena and Oliver, it was hate at first sight. Their families have been rivals due to a certain feud that happened ages ago but the rivalry continued. I would have been enjoyed this book more if the first half wasn’t so monotonous but things really took a different turn (for the good) in the second half which I absolutely loved.

I enjoyed the characters but Elena was a complete jerk and I liked Harper, Elena’s best friend more than her. I feared I wouldn’t like her all, but thank god that changed throughout the 2nd part of this book. Both of them didn’t have any idea was the feud was about yet they thought it was okay to just hate each other without trying to find the actual reason. Nonetheless, Oliver still tried to be polite but Elena made it really hard.

I loved the character development in the later part of the book. The plot also took an interesting turn and it was pretty fun to read what was happening. It’s true that unless you are in that spot, you don’t really understand what the other’s person is going through, at least not 100% and that was exactly the case here. I liked the friendship between Elena and Oliver which slowly turned into a budding romance. There were specific scenes which were really really sweet and what Oliver did at the end, completely melted my heart! I definitely enjoyed how everything was executed.

Overall, Any Boy But You was a fun read. The plot was executed neatly though it was somewhat predictable. Nonetheless, I loved the romance between Elena and Oliver and wish I could have seen more of them. The writing was smooth and easy to read, the pace was a little at the book beginning of the book but it picked up its pace soon enough. I am definitely looking forward to reading more by this author.

Recommend it?

Yes.

A Romeo-Juliet-esque plot in a tourist town sounded like just the perfect February read (Valentine's day is so near). Before we begin, I must admit I was a bit skeptical about the book at first - romance-based plots are not really my thing, but I was in a reading slump (which is the worst) and well, anything goes at that time. I was, still, prepared to be bored or disappointed, but instead was pleasantly surprised that I went on and finished this book in one sitting. The plot kept me involved and interested right until the end of the book, and I was left with a slight buzz of euphoria (that could have also been the fact that I was able to complete a book in middle of said slump).

What made this book stand out for me is that though it is predominantly a romance, it also develops the characters and their other storylines pretty well. No interaction or character feels wasted, and the fact that almost everything looped back to the central storyline kept the story coherent and cohesive. Elena and Oliver are developing this simultaneous attraction to their respective online friends (who are each other) but they are also meanwhile struggling with instability in home life - Elena's family is losing money in the shop and wants to close up and leave town, and she has to think about college funding, while Oliver is dealing with his parents' divorce, his mother's expectations for him, and his introversion. The story comes together beautifully, and interspersed with an augmented reality game that will give you Pokemon Go feels, some comic moments and the short length of the book, this is one novel that you will enjoy to finish in a day. Recommended for all feeling the love in the air!

Rating: 4.25/5 Penguins

Quick Reasons: spontaneous moments of cute coupled with a realistic relationship = me in a penguin puddle; I'm such a sucker for enemies-to-lovers; star-crossed love meets Pride and Prejudice; some small geek/nerd culture references; complex characters and a plot with a TON of drama, angst, and resolution

Huge thanks to Julie Hammerle, Entangled: Crush, Chapter-by-Chapter, and Netgalley for sending me a free digital copy of this title in exchange for an honest review! This in no way altered my read of or opinions on this book.


---Another way he and his sister were polar opposites--she had some kind of magical powers that drew people to her, and Oliver was basically spray repellent for humans.---


Okay penguins, I have GOT to know: how do you all feel about enemies-to-lovers romance tropes? Because honestly, this is one of my personal FAVORITES! I've always been a sucker for star-crossed loves, and this book bridges the gap between the dramatic angst of Romeo and Juliet and the snarky tingles of Pride and Prejudice. Seriously, I'm not even dramatizing that--that's just EXACTLY what this book does, except in modern day...with cell phones, computers, and all that awesome delicious.

The romance is entirely realistic. There's no "love at first sight" to be found here, unless you want to count the opposite--hate at first sight. Instead, this romance goes to the chatroom...and anonymous profiles. I seriously ADORED how cute that made this entire thing--while we, the readers, knew exactly who was whom, our poor unfortunate star-crossed pair had no idea until it was too late. There was a sense of...innocence, maybe? in the ways their relationship started that had me flashing back to my own high school romance--in a good way, swear!


---The truth was maybe Oliver had had it all figured out, maybe his system had worked perfectly, but only before he started chatting with proud_hoser and learned what he was missing. Once he'd let her into his life, his plan to remain emotionally anesthetized was ruined. He couldn't go back. He'd spent a whole day trying to go back, and it wasn't working. He was no longer an unfeeling robot. The Tin Man had grown a heart.---


The plot is not necessarily "action-packed" because, hullo, contemporary romance...BUT. There are a ton of delicious snark fests between our main characters/the rest of the cast. There are also a ton of nerd/geek culture references that I found myself giggling and fawning over. And while the plot isn't action-filled, it moves along at a decent clip regardless; I read this in a matter of a few hours, NEEDING to know how things worked out for Oliver and Elena.

This was well-worth the read, penguins. The roMESS is adorable and endearing; the read is fast and entertaining; and the characters are bound to steal your heart from your chest and run away with it (I know they did mine!) I recommend this title to lovers of cutesy contemporaries, star-crossed lovers, and the mysteries surrounding small-town family feuds. Put down the Pokemon Go! and pick up this book; this is one Stash Grab you won't want to miss!

I received a copy of this book from netgalley for review.

This is the second book I've read by Julie Hammerle and I enjoyed them both. Any Boy But You is a cute romance. Oliver and Elena are kids of two families that hate each other. The feud goes back a long time and the kids are taught to hate each other. Oliver creates a game and Elena starts playing. They have user names and they start talking to each other online, not knowing who they are talking to. Both of them start falling for each other and then learn their true identities. I really loved Oliver who was a bit socially awkward.

I was sold when I read You've Got Mail in the summary, and it delivered.
This was a cute read. Mrs. Hammerle's writing style is super; she managed to intertwine this book with great characters, a fun romance, while at the same time touching on some serious subjects too. It was all well executed. I had a hard time putting it down, and I look forward to reading more from this author.

Any Boy But You

Julie Hammerle




ANY BOY BUT YOU by Julie Hammerle is the first book in the North Pole, Minnesota series.


Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book contains swearing, snowball fights, and sexual tension that could melt the North Pole. Read at your own risk.


ANY BOY BUT YOU is the story of Elena and Oliver. Their families are rivals as both families own sporting goods stores, but lately both stores are really really slow. Oliver comes up with a Pokemon Go type of game to bring some traffic to the Prince store. Elena knows she has to come up with something to help her family as well, but right now she has accepted Mrs. Prince's offer to tutor Oliver.........her arch enemy. Elena agrees to do it because she wants to earn money for Spring Break and knows her parents won't be able to help her.


I really felt bad for Elena and Oliver. They didn't know why they were supposed to hate each other, just that they did. They had no idea what the history behind the feud was and when they find out, they are shocked. At the same time, they start texting each other on the game APP but don't know who they are talking to as they have user names not real names. I really enjoyed the banter between Elena and Oliver and I totally got why she would think ANY BOY BUT YOU. What will happen when they find out the truth of who they are texting? Will their feelings of hate grow or will they pursue how they really feel?


ANY BOY BUT YOU is a very cute, sweet, Teen romance. I really enjoyed learning the history behind the feud of these two families. If you like You've Got Mail and Gilmore Girls you are going to love this story. I've never read anything by Julie Hammerle, but I really enjoyed ANY BOY BUT YOU and look forward to reading more by this refreshing author

This was a cute story but nothing more than that.

I was very intrigued of how things would play out between the families. When I read the description my mind went directly to Romeo and Juliet. But the hatred the families had between each other was too silly for my taste. I wished the reason behind their feud was more impacting, something that will make us say "Wow! that was the reason".

The parents were very self-centered well not Oliver's dad I liked him.
Because of how the Elena's parents dealt with things, Elena had to take care of things which made her moody and not likeable. I didn't like how she treated the costumers or any one she came in contact with. I understand she is a teenager she wants to have a life and do things teenagers normally do in their free time, but she took her frustration on the wrong people, did things the wrong way. By the end she did make a change for the better but for me it was too late I already had disliked her attitude thru most of the book.

The romance was cute, I did cheer for them. But I wanted it too be more intense. I understand that in some YA books the romance has to be cute and adorable but when I say intense it doesn't mean sex scenes. It means I get chills when I read about them saying something or act a certain way. Chills when they even look at each other from afar. I think it fell flat in that area.

Oliver was the character that made this fun too read, also his sister. For me both of this character saved this book.

The cover and blurb for Any Boy But You led me to expect a sweet teen romance. While the romance itself was "clean," I was surprised to find a fair amount of profanity in the book and several bisexual/homosexual characters whose same-sex attraction was not presented in any moral context. A character "comes out" to her best friend, and it's treated as if she's discovered she likes Coke better than Pepsi. There's absolutely no personal, social, or familial considerations of the effects. Even for those who have no moral compunctions about same-sex lifestyles, it seems odd not to have a single character bat an eye at the revelation or even express any surprise.

From a storytelling perspective, the characters fell flat, and even the main characters did not come across as likable. I thought I'd warm up to them, but by the end, I still hadn't developed any affection for the hero or heroine (or their friends or family for that matter). Maybe that could be overlooked if the dialogue was snappy, the plot original, or the outcome surprising, but that wasn't the case. The resolution is predictable and cliche.

All of that said, the writing is solid, the editing is excellent, and the setting is cute. The pacing didn't drag, and despite my disappointment with the characters, I finished the story.


I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

A "Romeo and Juliet" type tale without all of the killing and death. Star crossed lovers and a family feud make for an enjoyable read. Readers will be sucked in from the very first page and will be eagerly turning pages to see what happens next. Definitely recommend!

I want to thank Netgalley, Entangled, and the author for a chance to read this book for an HONEST review.

So this is basically your normal RomCom--Modern day Romeo and Juliet set in North Pole, MN

Like typical Romeo/Juliet style many moons ago there was this feud between the two families for reasons that are unknown at first. (you find out towards the end of the book) You have the Elena Chestnut (Juliet) and Oliver Prince (Romeo) who have grown up taught to hate each other but as fate would have it they end up having feelings for each other. What makes this book different is one 2 sporting goods stores are involved in a town where it is Christmas 365 days a year (yep that's right 365 days) an the Chestnuts have one an the Prince's have the other...during a app game that the Prince's came up with is when Elena an Oliver start talking not knowing who the other is an BOOM! instant chemistry! I'm not saying it wasn't a bad book because it wasn't...it was a really good book just a normal RomCom

I felt that this book was a bit hard to get into at first. I had issues relating to the MC. But after a bit, I felt that it was a good read. Nothing overly super special for me. And honestly I had higher expectations for this.

2.5 stars

I loved the premise of this. I adore the idea of arch enemies secretly falling for each other even though they don't know it. Sadly it fell a bit flat for me.

I liked Elena and Oliver well enough. They're both standoffish and sort of bitchy, but it's mostly due to a ridiculous feud that's been going on between their families. And man, did that cause a lot of dramatics throughout the story.

When Elena and Oliver started acting nicer to each other, the banter between them was cute and it was easy to root for them. Perhaps my downfall came from the Pokemon Go-like game that was the basis of the plot. I didn't get why people loved that game, and that carried over into reading this.

Overall, it was cute and I was intrigued to see how it ended, but it was also a little overdramatic for me. I'm not sure if I would read any others in the series.

**Huge thanks to Entangled Teen and NetGalley for providing the arc free of charge**

One of my favorite YA novels from last year was Julie Hammerle’s The Sound of Us; you can read that review here. What made that novel stand out so much to me, besides its theme, was the characters. They were uniquely drawn and not falling into stereotypes. The same holds true for Any Boy But You.

Oliver is attached, almost literally, to his computer. He can develop a game or play games and not be under pressure to be popular like his sister. If he doesn’t put himself out there, he doesn’t risk getting rejected. Elena, on the other hand, wants to be out with her friends, but she’s stuck minding her parents’ sporting goods store while they’re off doing who knows what (seriously, what are these people doing that their teenage daughter is responsible all the time for the shop? Both sets of parents sound way more immature than their kids, but then I’ve seen that in real life when people get caught up in grudges, etc.).

If you’ve seen You’ve Got Mail with its battle between the super-sized, money-backed bookstore versus the indie children’s bookshop, then you have a taste of the ideology driving the Prince’s and the Chestnutt’s feud, as Elena and her family have remained in North Pole, MN while Oliver and his family have transplanted from Florida in order to run the shop after the passing of Oliver’s grandfather. Add in the anonymous messaging, which allows Elena and Oliver to get to know each other and you have a wonderful homage to the movie.

Taking a cue from this summer’s Pokémon Go phenomenon, Oliver develops an app for a treasure hunt game that involves finding stashes and answering trivia questions regarding one of North Pole’s famous hockey playing citizens.

The ending has a grand gesture and I am always a huge fan of those!

As you can see, there is a lot to enjoy and love about this novel. And, at its heart, is the question of feuds and grudges and knowing when to make amends and letting go of things you can’t control, of deciding what’s important and putting yourself out there and taking risks.

Immediately before I began writing this review I discovered that Any Boy But You is part of a series taking place in North Pole. Yippee! Very excited about future installments!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Any Boy But You by Julie Hammerle is a breath of fresh air.

This novel was a fun, quick read. The pages kept going by! While being fast paced, and funny at times, it also taught some valuable lessons, some came from the kids, not the parents. It was really neat how the town worked together. Lots of little lessons, but not bogged down with politics or love triangles.

Great book!

I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

the princes and the chestnuts have two things in common. sporting goods stores and a mutual dislike for one another and their entire families. oliver prince and elena chestnut have both been brought up in the family tradition of mutual dislike and would gladly continue it if it were not for the fact that oliver needs some help bringing up his latin grade and elena is trying to make some extra cash by tutoring since her family's sporting goods store is failing.

she'll take the princes' cash but she'll still gladly blame them for her family's current misfortunes, even if it's not really fair. the store had ben suffering for a while. both stores had been actually, since they were facing greater competition from larger chain stores. and while north pole, minnesota was sort of a tourist destination given the town's ridiculous name most people didn't think much of the north pole when it wasn't christmastime.

oliver isn't a sporting goods kind of guy. it's the dead of winter, and growing up in florida didn't give him the chance to beef up his winter sports skills. at his heart oliver is a programmer. and to help his dad out he's created an app that will hopefully help drive up the store's business and will look good on his résumé. of course, when his mom busts him on his antisocial behavior and sets him up with elena chestnut as a latin tutor while banning him from his laptop the day after the app launches, he's more than bummed out.

and so both elena and oliver are not in the best of moods when they are forced to interact with each other. neither of them has any intention of playing oliver's app game either. oliver because his original intention was to be on the look out for bugs, but since his electronic device ban does not include his phone, playing the app is the only way he can interact with it, he gives it a whirl. it's also his way of checking on his twin sister's managing of the app while he's out of commission. elena gives in when the prize becomes too tempting and she figures there's no reason why she shouldn't throw her hat in the metaphorical ring.

the app has a chat component, and soon both elena and oliver are chatting with an opponent that neither of them realizes is the other. not knowing their identities they begin to open up to each other. and soon they are telling each other things they've never confessed to anyone else.

i love this kind of secret identity story because the characters are interacting with each other on two different levels and get to see different sides of each other. when they finally put the whole picture together it's always so satisfying, because they can understand one another more fully. and that's what happens with elena and oliver over the course of the story. it actually takes them a while to figure out that they've been chatting with one another. and they both react pretty strongly to that information and things are complicated by other family drama.

the best thing about any boy but you is seeing how elena and oliver's relationship develops and deepens. and the novel also has a great cast of characters in this town, some of whom who will be great candidates for sequel stories in the series. i can't wait to spend more time in north pole, minnesota. and i've never said that about somewhere cold ever.