Rating: 3.5 Stars

A friends-to-more romance featuring promposals? Yes, please.

I was pretty much all over this book. Between the description and my enjoyment of Mandelski's prior book, The First Kiss Hypothesis, I knew I could expect a fun and cute romance, which would leave a smile on my face.

Things that stood out for me

• The friendship between Alex and Bailey was sort of special. When Bailey and Alex were together, they enjoyed such an ease and could just be themselves. Bailey comments at one point about how there are two versions of Alex, and I must admit, I like the Alex who showed up when Bailey was around. Yes, it was sort of a secret friendship, but not for the wrong reasons. Therefore, I was able to forgive Alex for that.

• The movies!!! Bailey being an aspiring filmmaker talks about and watches lots of films in this book. Some of my favorites were the ones Bails and Alex watched together in an attempt to watch all the top teen movies. Great movies references abounded as well, and I awarded bonus points for the Lloyd Dobbler references.

• The promposals were lots of fun. We didn't have such things when I was in high school, so although I find them a little over the top, the romance lover in me can't help but smile when I hear or read about one.

• I was sort of shocked at quickly Alex wormed his way into my heart. I found my heart aching for him pretty early in the story, and I just wanted to shake him and force him to tell Bailey how he felt. The way these two doubted the other's feelings made me a little nuts, but it was fun holding me breath and waiting for it all to work itself out.

• The culmination of all our patience does payoff with a super cute rom-com ending.

What could have been better

• I would have liked an epilogue, because there were a few things that were talked about often over the course of the book, but we were never told how it all worked out.

• I wish the secondary characters had been utilized more. I felt like a lot of this book was scenes between Bailey and Alex, or their inner monologues. I understand, that Alex was sort of keeping Bailey a secret and that Bailey was either at work, school, or with Alex, but there were some fun characters, who I would have liked to have gotten to know better.

Overall: An adorable opposites-attract, friends-to-more romance with a lots of movie worthy moments.

Everything I hope for in an entangled teen crush book! I just loved Alex and Bailey's story. The popular style two friends who like each other but try and fight it is retold her thought Alex and Bailey. Two teenagers who are very different but find a friendship in the express lane of the grocery store. It closing in on prom season and when Alex finally tries to make a move, Bailey throws him for a loop. The story that follows is fun to read and these are both very believable characters who are dealing with real problems. It was also nice to see some familiar faces from Mandelski's prior novel. Thank you netgalley for an arc of this fun, swoony YA read.

This book was so adorable. It had everything that I love. First person narration alternating chapters between the two main characters, Ales and Bailey. Unrequited love and and a cheesy romance. It was perfect. Alex and Bailey meet at the grocery store where she is a cashier. They are complete opposites yet become really close friend with unsaid feelings. She is smart, focused and works hard for every dollar she has. He is rich, spoiled, has not goals and everything comes easily to him. Their signals totally mix and much angst is caused where they go back and forth throughout the book about prom, being friends, not being friend, not going to prom and then the big finale. I loved it! A perfect quick summer romance read! Thanks to NG for the ARC! Super cute and loved both the MC's. They are smart and clueless both at the same time. Don't miss this one!!

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

This is a fairly meh teen romance, kinda cute, kinda cliche. You could pass. 2.5 rounded up

The Quick Cut: A girl and guy who are secretly friends find themselves feeling romantic towards one another during the season of prom offers.

A Real Review:
Thank you to Entangled Publishing for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Typically, romance novels are seen as fluff stories that serve to provide nothing more than an emotional high for the reader. The great ones do so much more than that - providing complex characters with depth, plenty of chaotic connections to create some problems for the central couple, and more than a few intense chemistry sessions to hook the reader to what's happening.

Unfortunately in this case, none of that occurred with the dragging story about two teenagers in their senior year of high school. Alex is your typical jock who is the star player on the hottest team (for this school it is lacrosse) and rich parents with a reputation for breaking hearts with his constant short term relationships. Bailey is a girl with 2 jobs, poor parents, and a dream of becoming a filmmaker. These two meet and become friends with each one secretly holding a crush for the other. As the near the end of their senior year, Bailey asks Alex for help to prompose to another guy - an elaborate scheme to ask a person out to prom that is common at their school.

The overall idea sounds good enough to start, but the problem is in the execution. You're starting with a very cliche story here and need some sort of twist to diversify it from the plethora of other YA romance books available out there. Too bad that never happens... our romantic leads stick to their stereotypes like there's no tomorrow. I couldve handled that if something else would've happened to change the formula up, but it doesn't happen.

When you write a book that's 200 plus pages long by the typical romantic formula for a teen couple... It gets old quick. Even with the guy and girl switching off narrator duties every chapter, I kept tuning out. Why should I read this unless I am given a new experience? At the end of the pages, there wasn't one here.

With a storyline and characters that do not divert from the stereotypes, you're better off reading something else that puts a spin on the old favorites.

'Love and Other Secrets' tells a story about a friendship between rich lacrosse player Alex and a poor ambitious girl Bailey. Even though they go to the same school they belong to completely different circles but they meet almost every day and enjoy watching teen films together. Both unsure of the other's feelings make disasterous decisions connected with upcoming prom. Prom that Bailey is about to film so that she could win a scholarship at university. Will they finally get to know their true feelings? Well, it's for you to check out! It's an enjoyable reading material!

I received this copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. This book was ADORABLE! I love a good love story. Alex and Bailey were so meant to be together, you could just tell the moment you started the book! I'm so glad they worked everything out in the end.

I am so in love with "Love and Other Secrets"- it's gooey and adorable and all the things! Alex and Bailey are secret friends- they met while Bailey was working one of her two jobs at Publix in the express lane where Alex was checking out. Alex eventually invited her to hang out, and since then, they have been spending a lot of time together- as friends.

Bailey dreams of being an award-winning director- well, actually those are goals because she is working as hard as she can to get there. And she is currently putting together a film to try to get into NYU on promposals. She is filming them when she sees them and also interviewing various people about prom. Promposals in their town often go viral and are a big deal. Bailey hasn't given much thought to prom herself, but she knows staging her own promposal would be the icing on the cake for her video. In order to make it the best, she enlists an expert and her best friend, Alex.

Alex is not relationship material, not really dating anyone. Every year, he's had girls stage elaborate promposals for him- last year, there were two and he said yes to both. This year, he only wants to go with Bailey and is planning to ask her when she asks him to help her stage a promposal for someone else instead. Trying to be a good friend, Alex agrees and even comes up with an outrageous idea (cow!). However, as they both secretly like the other, the planning becomes more complicated than they would have expected.

There is so many misunderstandings and so, so much romantic tension in this book! Although I was initially rolling my eyes a bit at the whole prom thing, by the end, I was all in and I think it was the adorably perfect setting for this book! Alex and Bailey's section are told in alternating points-of-view which makes both of them so endearing. I had a hard time putting this one down and I loved every minute of it! I also definitely laughed out loud a few times while reading it (so I was THAT reader). Adorable and absolutely delightful, this is sure to be a hit with YA audiences!

It doesn't look like this is part of a series, but I am really hoping that it will be, because there are so many amazing secondary characters (Caleb NEEDS a book! Maybe even bold, brave and oblivious Devon!). So let's get on that, please! :P I loved this world and characters, and I absolutely am sad to leave it with the end of the book!

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Cheesy high school love at its best.
I really enjoyed it.
Promposals, sexual tension, and high school
Moo