This was a mostly entertaining and adorable YA romance that had a classic ex-friends to lovers trope. It was cute and well written and showed promise for the author. I would definitely read more from this author in the future, particularly if they keep up with the cute themes and settings.

-- This review is several years past the review date due to the many issues of 2020, but a huge thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early copy of the book.

“Keep My Heart In San Francisco” is a charming, contemporary, and somewhat crazy young adult romance and was a fun novel to read.

Firstly, I must say that I have never read a story featuring a Bowling alley as the backdrop. The theme in itself tempted me to pick up this book and start reading. The author creates a unique plot about how Chuck needs to do questionable things to keep the family business running. Moreover, the author tackles the subject that most of us face in life at one point, which is adapting to change and moving from our comfort zone. I felt that I could relate a lot to the story from this angle.

Another highlight of the story was Chuck. Chuck is the highlight of the story, and I enjoyed how the author wrote her. Chuck has a lot going on, whether saving the business or her complex feelings towards her mother. Also, Chuck and Beckett share adorable chemistry. You know that even though Beckett gets on Chuck’s nerves, she still has feelings for him. The author depicted their friendship beautifully, and it was one of the highlights of the tale. Some of the memorable scenes between them were when she wonders if Beckett wants to be her friend because he does not kiss her or the ideas they come up with to save the alley.

On a side note, I loved how the author portrayed San Francisco. The city is one of my favorite destinations globally, and I adored how the author brought it to life and made me fall in love with it through the pages. Overall, “Keep My Heart In San Francisco” is a charming contemporary story about two ex-best friends coming together, and I enjoyed it.

This sweet, heartfelt, and charming romantic read will take your heart to a rollercoaster ride! Amelia is a sweetheart who writes beautiful books. After reading this, I just want to move to San Francisco immediately and explore the place. I love how this book remain so sweet and calm even if had discrepancies. Keep my Heart in San Francisco is a page turner and a must read! Nonetheless, this book is highly recommendable.

If I had money for the school I would get this right away but sadly money has been spent. This is adorable! It is well written and just sweet. The cover is adorable as well. Can't wait to share it with kids!

This was another fun YA romance book about “Chuck” (real name: Caroline) trying to save her family’s bowling alley with the help of Beckett (her former best friend). After overhearing that her father owes months of back rent, Chuck and Beckett start hustling bowling games to try to earn the back rent, so Chuck won’t have to move to Arizona.

I thought this was a super fun YA book. I can’t say I’ve ever given any thought to the underground bowling gambling ring! If you’re on a YA kick like I am, this is good one to check out!

Thanks NetGalley for the preview!

This premise really pulled me in but honestly the story fell flat for me. I was constantly waiting for the exciting parts to grab me but they never did. Beckett and Chuck were cute in a will they won't they way but felt like they were never quite on the same page. I think a lot more attention needed to be given to the mental illness portions and they were mentioned quickly in passing. Our characters made some risky and not great choices and portrayed themselves as the always believing they are invincible teens that do not set a great example for real teens. I think both teens were not ready for the very adult situation of debt and it showed in how they handled the issue.

A contemporary YA that was a great light-hearted read during the pandemic, my teen and I both read and really enjoyed this title. Past besties rediscovering their friendship, moving past their struggles and working together to keep Chuck in San Fran & save the bowling alley. Such a fun and unique title, I loved that this book captured my heart and surprised me with the depth of the characters and situations they were in.

this is such a cute book! My heart ached for the friendship/eventual relationship between Chuck and Beckett and rejoiced when they got along (hmmm-hmmm). Over all, the plot is very fun and honestly, it made me miss bowling and want to move to San Francisco. I need my own copy now.

This is a book that I cannot possibly review because I don't believe I ever placed a NetGalley request for it. Its premise looks interesting and that is the reason for my rating below. I hope that one day, I will be able to read it though. Thank you.

In “Keep My Heart in San Francisco”, Chuck wants to be a fashion designer, but her family’s bowling alley is having trouble financially. And if that happens then her family will move to Arizona and her dreams of going to FIDM are gone. So her ex-boyfriend hatches a plan to have her be a ringer to raise money to save the bowling alley. It is a cute tale for sure, and not surprising. The writing was enjoyable and it was a quick read. If you like young adult fast reads, you will like this one. My one critique though is that I felt there could have been more character development regarding her other friends. It seemed very one note sometimes.


You can see my video review here:
https://youtu.be/m3XpkhwPhzM

BOOK REPORT for Keep My Heart in San Francisco by Amelia Diane Coombs

Cover Story: Montell Jordan
BFF Charm: Yay!
Swoonworthy Scale: 7
Talky Talk: Straight Up San Fran
Bonus Factors: Bowling
Relationship Status: Bowlmates

Cover Story: Montell Jordan
Um, this cover is so freaking cute that the author got a tattoo of the bowling pins from it! Amelia, would it be weird if someone else got a tattoo of your book's bowling pins? Asking for me.

The Deal:
Caroline Wilson, a.k.a. Chuck, is all set for the best spring break ever. No, she will not be partying in Cancun. She's going on a tour of her dream design school (FIDM) and stalking estate sales for the best vintage clothes San Francisco has to offer. But her plans get derailed when she and her ex-best friend Beckett overhear an argument between Chuck's dad and the landlord of their family bowling alley. Bigmouth's Bowl is in big trouble if Chuck's dad can't cough up the $8,000 in back rent he owes. And if Bigmouth's shuts down, Chuck will be forced to move to Surprise, Arizona.

The last thing Chuck wants is to spend her spring break with Beckett, especially after he betrayed her so badly last year, but Beckett has a plan to save Bigmouth's...a plan that involves breaking the law. He convinces Chuck to join him in a series of underground bowling games, where together they hustle players and make the cash they need to pay Bigmouth's back rent. But Beckett's hustle relies on Chuck being a better bowler than some of San Francisco's biggest pin pushers, and these guys don't like being played. The more money Chuck makes, the closer she gets to saving her family's legacy and her home in San Fran, but it also means she's digging herself deeper and deeper into a hole she can't climb out of.

BFF Charm: Yay
Chuck's been a bit of a loner ever since she and Beckett had a falling out. But not anymore, because *waves BFF charm in the air.* Chuck loves hunting for vintage clothes and has great taste in music. We could hit up estate sales together and listen to Father John Misty and go bowling. But we could also relate on a deeper level. On top of the stress of potentially losing her family business and the city she loves, Chuck has anxiety and depression. She sees everything in life through the filter of her mental health, which is extremely relatable, but she also did what she had to do for herself and her family. She's fearless and funny no matter what.

Swoonworthy Scale: 7
Beckett Porter is PRIMO book boyfriend material. I like a guy who has personal style in spades and isn't afraid to take a risk. He and Chuck have a lot going for them. They're former best friends who know everything about each other, but they also had a falling out last year that amps up the tension between them. And there's also a bit of harboring old crushes and nursing old wounds going on. So when part of Beckett's hustle involves Chuck pretending to be his girlfriend at the bowling games, the swoon is palpable. All my favorite tropes are present: best friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, fake dating. I want for nothing!

Talky Talk: Straight Up San Fran
Coombs delivers a debut novel that's quirky and cool, just like the city in which it's set. This is one of those books where San Francisco feels like a character in and of itself. You know that musty-in-a-good-way smell that hits you in the face when you walk into a vintage clothing store? Or the citrusy smell of floor wax in a bowling alley? That is what this book felt like. Maybe comparing a book to musty clothes and floor wax doesn't seem like a compliment, but I SWEAR it is. The details in Keep My Heart in San Francisco crackle with life, and Chuck and Beckett's hustle keep the plot moving steadily. You'll get lost in it quickly and wish you could stay there.

Bonus Factor: Bowling
I love bowling. I MISS BOWLING. The only sport I want to play is one that's mostly sitting around drinking beer. I actually took a semester of bowling in college. And I don't mean that as a joke. I got an actual college credit for a bowling class.

Relationship Status: Bowlmates
Haha...get it? BOWLmates???? Seriously though, Book, you and I were meant 2 be. You're cool as hell. You've got great style. You know how to hustle but also have a serious side. You've got all the traits I look for in a contemporary YA, which is why I loved staying up late with you every night.

I picked up Keep My Heart in San Francisco by Amelia Diane Coombs because it brought back the nostalgia I have for the old bowling alley I used to hang out at after school, which is now long gone. Not only did Amelia Diane Coombs provide me that, but she created a story with a lovely romance and honest mental health representation.

Chuck and Beckett are ex-best friends that team up together to help save Bigmouth Bowling Alley, Chuck’s family business. Chuck doesn’t particularly care about the bowling alley itself, but without the bowling alley, Chuck’s future in San Francisco is in jeopardy.

I loved Chuck and Beckett. They both have their flaws but are good-hearted. It was fun reading about them trying to repair their friendship and watching their relationship bloom into something more. I understood both of their perspectives regarding the incident that broke their friendship, and I’m glad that through some illegal activity to raise enough money to save Bigmouths, they were able to reconcile their issues. I did predict the eventual train-wreck with their get money quick scheme coming a mile away though.

The mental health representation through Chuck and her family was very honest and quite possibly my favorite part of the story. Amelia Diane Coombs highlighted the need to be more open about mental health and how mental health is a spectrum. It’s not a one-size-fits-all sort of label. Chuck’s struggle was heartbreaking, and I loved the growth she had through the story.

If you’re looking for a YA romance that’s a bit quirky and has mental health representation, check out Keep My Heart in San Francisco by Amelia Diane Coombs. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Initial Thoughts

I was super excited to grab an e-ARC of this book. I love bowling and it’s definitely a family sport for my relatives. The cover is super cute and I am really trying to read more contemporary books this year so this seemed like a win-win.

Some Things I Liked

Enemies to lovers but also best friends to lovers tropes. I thought the blend of these two tropes was really well done. Beck and Chuck used to be best friends but after a rift forms between the two, they became enemies, at least they did in Chuck’s mind. I really enjoyed how these tropes flowed from one to the other.
Mental health representation. I loved that this book had healthy conversations about mental health as a theme. As a person who has suffered with depression at a young age, this was a book that I really could have used back then. I am so glad to see the stigma of mental health issues is starting to lift and literature and characters that promote healthy actions and conversations are becoming more commonplace.
Bowling as a theme. I also loved that a lesser known sport was featured in this book. Most people casually bowl around once or twice a year, if that, but for Chuck and her family, bowling was their whole life. It was such a cool concept and I really enjoyed it.

Series Value

While I’d like to read more about Chuck and Beck, I think their story is complete. We really didn’t meet too many other characters that could hold their own in spin-off stories so this world and story feel complete for me.

However, I will be on the lookout for more of Amelia Diane Coombs’s books. This was a great debut and I can’t wait to see more.

Final Thoughts

I really loved this book. I would have read it all in one sitting if not for the fact that it was 1:30 AM when I was only halfway finished. I had to save the second half for the next day. This was a book I wish I had read 10 years ago, because I really could have used it. But, I’m so glad it’s around now.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommendations for Further Reading

Tweet Cute by Emma Lord – if you liked the themes of enemies to lovers and family businesses, try this stand alone by Emma Lord.
More Than Maybe by Erin Hahn – if you liked the family business aspect as well as characters who want to break out on their own, try this new release (came out earlier this week).

Very cute romance with a solid plot that made me want to go bowling the entire time! The stakes were high. The romance was perfectly believable. And the determination of the MC to save her family business was heartfelt and real.

I feel like every young adult contemporary I've read in the last month or so has gotten three stars from me. I don't know if I'm in a rut or if these types of stories just don't appeal to me as much as they used to? Because while I did like Keep My Heart in San Francisco well enough, I mainly kept reading because it was quick and I didn't dislike it. Caroline "Chuck" Wilson has to spend her summer working at Bigmouth's Bowl, her family's bowling alley, instead of focusing on how to get herself to the fashion school of her dreams. But when she finds out they're actually in danger of losing the place, she decides she's going to save it with the help of Beckett Porter, her ex-best friend. They decide to earn some quick cash by.. bowling hustling? (Yes, really. Who knew this was a thing?) Honestly, I could've done without the money scheme because it's just a terrible idea and felt really out there. What appealed to me the most was the history between Chuck and Beckett, watching them get a second chance at friendship (and more!), and Chuck's own personal journey that ties back to her mother. If the book had focused on those elements more and a bit less on the lengths Chuck will go to in order to save the family business, I might've really enjoyed the book.

Do I recommend? The author's writing was engaging and I definitely flew through this book but the story itself just wasn't for me. So if you're interested, I'd recommend borrowing it from the library.

Posted to Goodreads: Caroline "Chuck" Wilson loves living in San Francisco. She loves her family's old bowling alley and she loves their big old house. She will do whatever it takes to stay in the city where her heart belongs and she has to do something fast because the bowling alley is on the cusp of being evicted. Chuck is frantic and willing to do anything to save her family's business. Enter Beckett Porter, Chuck's former best friend and now enemy. Beckett offers to introduce Chuck to the world bowling hustling to help her earn the $8000 to save her business. Chuck reluctantly agrees determined to keep Beckett at a distance but as the two spend time together the harder it is for them to deny their feelings.

I wanted to love this book but I just didn't. I never really warmed up to Chuck or Beckett. Their relationship felt more than a little forced. Also, the idea of hustling at bowling games was fun but Coombs didn't actually realize it well with those parts feeling almost a little boring. Plus, Chuck's struggle with mental illness should have been a great storyline but it just felt an afterthought. This book had potential to be great but unfortunately, it never got beyond feeling uneven.

This might've had the most ridiculous premise of any book I've ever read, but I had fun. Trying to save her family's failing bowling alley by going undercover and hustling games to try and make eight grand in a week with her former best friend and crush, Chuck Wilson has a lot on her plate. Many hi-jinks and adventures ensure in this story. I enjoyed seeing Chuck and Beckett's relationship reform after a fallout in freshman year but the actual plot is so wacky it was definitely hard to take it seriously at time. But it was still a quick and light-hearted read.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Keep My Heart in San Francisco is a must YA read for the summer! Its the perfect pick me up in the midst of all the tragedy occurring in the world right now. It offers a great getaway to a cute story of a young girl trying desperately to stay in the city that has her heart. Although she was wary to admit it, someone else has her heart tethered to the city and old feelings resurface.

A wonderfully written story about love, family, mental health, suicide and friendship!

I didn’t really enjoy this story. I was immediately put off by the idea that Chuck would do some illegal bowling hustling to try and save her family’s failing bowling alley. I was more bored by the bowling parts than I expected I would be. Plus, it was too outrageous for me to get past the whole premise. I wanted to like the romance, but it was all so much manipulation on both of their parts, that it really didn’t feel honest to me. I thought Chuck’s fears of her depression and bi-polar tendencies were well portrayed, but all just turned out too predictable in the end. And I never really understood what was going on with Beckett’s dad. And what was the point of writing Mila into the story?

The family business is failing, and Chuck knows that if it fails, she will be forced to leave San Francisco. She loves this city! It's a part of her, and she would do just about anything to stay. But she wonders if it's worth reconciling with her former best friend after his betrayal?

I won't lie. I expected this to be fluffier than it was. That said, I throughly enjoyed it anyway.

Chuck was looking to keep her heart in San Francisco, and she did a great job showing me why. I absolutely love when a book takes me places, and Coombs deftly whisked me away to San Fran. She took me throughout the city, showing me places that are well known, as well as some I had was unaware of. Her admiration for the city was clearly displayed throughout the story, and I had a fantastic time touring the city with her.

I also loved Chuck. She really spoke to me. She was very witty, a bit snarky, and she charmed charmed the pants off of me. Her loneliness and struggles with her mental health were things I easily related to, but I was also fond of her passion for fashion. I ate up all the little fashion and design morsels peppered throughout the story, and I loved trying to imagine what she was wearing. I have a soft spot for creative types, and it was fun getting to peek at her design dreams.

Though Beckett betrayed Chuck and seemed to give up on her, I had nothing but love for him. It was wonderful watching him and Chuck reconnect, because they were both sort of lost without each other. Chuck and Beckett experienced a lot of disappointment in their year apart, and they survived, but they were so much stronger together. These two knew each other inside and out, and it was nice to see Beckett fighting to save their friendship.

Then, there was bowling. Fact: I am a terrible bowler, but I grew up around it and rather enjoy the game. I liked being immersed in the bowling world with these two, and I found the game sequences quite exhilarating. I was happy to be cheering for Chuck as she attempted to save the business and couldn't stop hoping that she could turn her family situation around.

Overall: I found this to be a wonderful story of family, friendship, and mental health, which warmed my heart and had me rooting for the little guy to win.