I love Sophie Jordan. She knows how to write an amazing story. This book was no exception. I enjoyed the characters and how the story was developed. I look forward to reading more books from Sophie Jordan

I enjoyed this quick read. Told in alternating chapters of each friend it felt like get two love stories in one. It was really quick but it kept my interest the entire book. I would have loved to read even more about each character as they were both interesting and likable. There were some good lessons of how a girl should expect to be treated by a guy in here too.

The title doesn’t seem to really fit the story. It honestly should’ve been something to do with girl code, because that’s a lot of what this is about. At least from one girl’s point of view.

Two female narrators who also happen to be best friends. Flor, the popular soccer star who’s just been dumped by one of the hottest football players, Zach. And Willa, cellist, next door neighbor and best friend of Zach, too. The story begins with another friend being interested in Zach and the mention of girl code and how they should write the rules so everyone knows.

Much of this is getting to know the girls individually. How they think, what they want, etc. And of course, Willa has been in love with Zach for years. And of course, he’s never seemed interested. She’s hidden this from her best friend and is instead intent on working to get them back together. Flor has a broken family. Despite being rich and popular, she’s still lonely. She believes she’s meant to be with Zach...until she sees her tutor in a new light.

The narratives are good and different enough to feel like two separate girls. Initially, I found Flor’s story to be better, more compelling. There was more depth to be found. Willa crept up a little as she begin to admit things to herself and take chances. But I think her part is still cookie cutter romance. Not to say I didn’t like it, but it felt like a lot of other stories I’ve already read. Flor and Grayson were really cute. I could feel their attraction. And watching them get to know each other added to that. Whereas with Willa and Zach, most of that had taken place before we’d ever entered their lives. However, the author did a good job showing unacknowledged feelings between the two. It was believable.

But, speaking of believable...there are some things that just aren’t. I don’t want to spoil it much, but I didn’t really buy into how Grayson spent some of his time outside of school. Though I did suspect it after once scene, I didn’t think I’d actually be right. Maybe that stuff does happen today, it just felt like a bit too much in this book where so much was already going on. Sort of just piling more crap on top of crap.

This is also just too short. Things are being laid out and the next thing I know, I’m at 70% and things for both girls are going to either need to be wrapped up or saved for a sequel. I assumed it’d be the former and it was. There really wasn’t enough page left to solve two girls’ problems. So the ending was pretty rushed. I did enjoy how Zach and Willa solved theirs. It was very adorable. With Flor and Grayson, I was annoyed because she was angry over finding out about Willa’s betrayal...yet was ready to move on? That needed to happen sooner than it did. Otherwise Grayson seems like a rebound. Which, even though we know he’s not...her feelings needed to be taken care of prior to them deciding to be together.

Overall, it’s a cute read. Light and fun. Nothing too poignant here, but I think most contemporary fans would like it well enough.

This book was fun and cute to read. It is told in dual POV between two best friends, but I really preferred Flor's plot line. I liked Willa's family plot line, but her romantic one was annoying. I am not a huge fan the trope of best friends liking/dating the same guy and that is what Willa's plot revolves around. It was strange to me that Willa and Flor rarely hung out, for two people who are best friends it seemed odd. The ending felt off to me and is wrapped up in an odd way.

But, it was a cute and fun read. Especially Flor's plot line. I loved seeing her and Grayson's scenes. To be honest if the whole book was from her POV I might have liked it more.

I thought that this was a cute story with some nice swoonworthy moments, but I wanted just a bit more development in the relationships and the characters because I did like them so much. I thought the alternating chapters were good and the conflict between the characters based on the "girl code" but I found myself wanted just a bit more of their story. Overall I know that some of my students will love this story because it is a good YA romance and it does have some layers to it that grab the reader and leave them wondering how things will work out for this two best friends and their relationships. Thank you netgalley for an arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Actual Rating: 2.5 stars

I literally finished this book in one sitting, it was very addictive!

The premise of this sounded super interesting and I have really been in a fun and easy-to-read contemporary mood so this was a perfect book for what I needed.

However, I wasn't really wowed by it! It wasn't super special, it was quite cliche and I think the romance between Willia and Zach wasn't well developed at all! They really didn't have much chemistry and I can't say that I was swooning over Zach - something about him just rubbed me the wrong way. I liked Flor and Grayson better, I could see their chemistry, but it felt too rushed for me and I thought there were some plot holes in Grayson's character development. Also, we needed more background on Grayson and Zach both because they felt suuuuuper 2D.

The book also fell into many cliched-tropes like the horrible stepmother and the absent father, and conflicts felt too easily resolved. Also, I was just not a fan of the ending. It was pretty rushed and didn't give me a sense of satisfaction unfortunately

Willa and Flor are two best friends in high school dealing with family drama, boy drama, and how to be the best friend possible and still be happy drama. Willa has secretly been in love with her best friend/boy next door for years, but when her bestie makes a move on him first she tries to support them. When Zach dumps Flor and she is heartbroken Willa tries to get them back together, since she knows she can't go after her bestie's ex.

Flor's home life doesn't feel very homey and when National Merit Scholar Grayson agrees to tutor her in math she regrets letting him inside enough to see her drama. She wants Zach back, but she has to admit there is a certain appeal in Grayson's strong arms and quick mind.

This read was super fun and quick, but it was full of heart and hope. All relationships are messy, and while Willa and Flor try and navigate all their different dramas together and apart we see two totally different girls find out what happiness is going to mean for them.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Good coming of age novel about acceptance and becoming the person that you are meant to be amidst social pressures.

The Willa/Zach plot was very relatable and sympathetic. However, I found the Flor/Grayson stuff a little silly. His secret identity was ridiculous. Plus, Dana's villainy was over the top and the attempt near the end to rehabilitate her a little was too little too late. This was fine. I probably would've enjoyed it in middle school or early high school. There just wasn't much there.

Full review on Goodreads. Cute read. Likable characters. Love that I enjoyed (I could forgive the insta-hot tutor situation). Ah, teenagers...

I loved this book. A 'girl code", family, friends, drama this book has a little of everything for young adults. Sophie B. Jordan is a great writer in that way. She incorporates her twists into the plot seamlessly and you don't really feel like they are a "twist". I really enjoyed this book, I think that it's a great reflection of the social situations young people experience today. A definate must read!

The me I meant to be was a cute high school romance that I really enjoyed. I fell in love with Willa from the 1st girl code and was rooting for her and Zach through the entire story. I was sure I would feel about Flor but as the story developed so did my feelings for her. My heart went out to her when she was going through her family issues. Can't wait to read Sophie Jordan's next book.

4.5 stars!

I loved this book! I couldn't put it down at all! Willa and Flor stole my heart and had me aching and rooting for their HEAs. I've read Sophie Jordan's books before, so of course I knew I'd enjoy anything new she wrote, but I wasn't expecting to be completely enthralled by these characters!

I will admit, I did feel like the ending was a bit rushed. I wish I would've seen more of Willa and Flor mending their friendship. Regardless, The Me I Meant to Be is a book worth waiting for!

I really enjoyed both main characters’ stories. Girl code can be a tricky thing to navigate. The author did a great job of writing with authenticity.

I'm not super sure what I was expecting when I requested to review this title.
I've read a couple of Sophie Jordan's books, and I knew that her writing style was very conversational.
It's easy to read quickly, because it's pretty simple. Her plots are usually really easy to guess, though, and that was the downfall of this book for me.
Which, I'm not sure why I didn't already know I'd guess the plot. It's pretty much every YA romance in a sense.
Either way, it was sort of enjoyable, just with it's simplicity.
I felt like there wasn't really any character changes, only at the end, really, and it kind of changed like the flip of a switch, so I wish there was more growth throughout the novel.
I was pretty much annoyed with Flor's POV at all times, too, but it's whatever.

If you need a quick romance that isn't going to throw plot twists at you, this is the one.