** spoiler alert ** Henri (aka Halti) is a high school senior trying to navigate life. He's constantly dreaming of Columbia University while being active on his school's debate team as well as with his "business" Uptown Updogs, a dog-walking company. Corinne Troy is also a high school senior at Henri's school. She's obsessing over Princeton but learns that her socially "intense" behavior could hinder her chances of acceptance into her dream school. Corinne also happens to be a new dog-owner to border collie mix, Palm Tree. Her mom, Dean of English at Columbia University, hires Henri to walk Palm Tree several times a week.

Some shenanigans ensue (a trip to Montreal to visit a back-up school for Henri, multiple high school parties, a little bit of a "She's All That" transformation for Corinne) and Corinne and Henri become more than friends. While Corinne and her mother are away on spring break, Henri is in the Troy apartment watching Palm Tree when he realizes that Mrs Troy's Columbia email is open on her abandoned laptop. He end up sending an email recommendation for himself from Mrs Troy's account to the Dean of Admissions. It was at this point (approximately 70% into the novel) that I didn't think book could redeem itself. What Henri did made me feel cringe-y and I was incredibly disappointed in the character. I think it would have shown so much more of the character to resist the temptation to send the email because he knew it was wrong and it would jeopardize his relationship with Corinne. Up until this point, Henri was very likeable.

Of course, Henri was caught and I felt that his response to being caught was also disappointing. He didn't take full blame (the pressure to get into his dream school by his family and friends was a way for him to justify what he did) and didn't seem apologetic enough to him. Unfortunately, this one move from Henri completely turned me off from the entire book.

Up until this point, the book was trending at a solid 3/5 stars. It was a cute high school romance of a popular kid and a girl who was a little socially awkward but fell into her own.

Henri is a character I know, a charming student in one of my classes who is all too aware of how economic disparity is robbing him from the carefree life of his FATE classmates.

But more than Henri, who was blind to the sacrifice of his family and his own privilege, his best friend Ming and neighbor Corinne are the heart of this book, also characters looking to fit in but who call Henri on his stuff and hold him accountable.

Such a fantastic coming of age rom-com!

Henri is charming, intelligent, hilarious and more than anything he is determined. He has been dreaming of going to Columbia University for as long as he can remember. He’s so close to marking his dream a reality and has done everything he can to make it happen. He attends a prestigious academy, is on the debate team, and has been walking dogs for wealthy people to save money for college and help his parents financially as much as he can. He will do just about anything to attend Columbia so when his classmate, Corrine Troy, discovers that Henry’s dog walking business isn’t quite what it seems he is forced to introduce her to the popular kids at school rather than the truth be revealed.

Henri doesn’t know Corrine well except for her intense study habits and soon finds himself wanting to find out more about her each time they are together. The interactions between these two characters are fantastic. It’s hard not to fall in love with them together with Henri’s charm and Corrine’s sass and exuberance. I really enjoyed this book and it’s a story that has laughs, growth, and is completely entertaining.

First off, nearly every single Netgalley review for this new YA novel gives it either four or five stars (out of five), which to me indicates that it has to be something special. And after reading the first few pages alone, I can confirm it most definitely is. After only a couple pages, I desperately want and need to keep reading because the narrator Henri's point of view is just so relatable, authentic, engaging, and completely captivating.

This diverse (yes, this is what we need more of in the genre!!) teen romance is whip-smart, fun, and relatable for many readers. Henri "Halti" is a NYC native, the first-generation son of Haitian immigrants, who is the epitome of a charming, well-liked teenage boy. He's smart, a good kid, an entrepreneurial dog walker. He started his own part-time dog walking site/brand as a way to help pay for college tuition for next year, and his eyes are set on Columbia University. At first, he doesn't notice Corinne Troy as anything but the hyper-smart, annoying girl from school. She's sort of his school rival as they push one another's buttons. She's a very Type A student and seems perfect to him. After she moves into his building on the Upper West Side and her mom hires Halti to walk her new pooch Palm Tree, she soon discovers his scheme and blackmails him to help her become popular with their school peers (and seem less intense about academics) in exchange for her silence about the truth of his business. (Side note: I love Corinne, hahaha she's a gem and quite a fun character!)

It's a quick, fun YA read that I have a hard time setting down because it's just so enjoyable, even so early in the book. Philippe's tone of voice for Henri is so witty and genuine, which makes this book even more captivating. There's such a precious, innocent slow burn romance that's perfectly timed with the book's pace which was absolutely adorable and I can't stop smiling, it's that cute. By the ending, Henri did a stupid stupid dumb thing because he was so desperate to get into Columbia, and it made me so so pissed. But, in the end, that's a good thing for this book because I could feel his emotions and it made me feel things. In the end, wow, it's so raw and vulnerable, but then the epilogue delivers the cute HEA we all craved and that made me Smile

What we have here is a young adult book about a young black man (Haitian American), and the book is NOT an issue book! That's something we've talked about at my work (I'm a librarian) recently: teenagers/young adult readers aren't getting books about POC just living their lives. The books inevitably focus on a race or class issue. This book does have racism, classism, and stereotypes sprinkled in it, but they're just the narrator's (the male MC) thoughts. The plot is focused on senior year pressure, worries about getting into your dream college, and being in your first relationship. The icing on the cake is that Halti doesn't play sports. He's on the debate team!

I really enjoyed the book. I thought some parts were really funny, and I understood all that school angst so well! I really liked the characters. I would love to see more books about the friend group, maybe Ming's first year in China!

Loved this book. Henri is a charmer without being smarmy, he's driven and focused and I couldn't help but cheer for him right out of the gate. I really liked the friendship between he and Ming and especially he and Corrine. This is a coming of age story, the story of a first gen american, with a little of Can't Buy Me Love or She's all That thrown in.

A great pick for teen section. Smart writing, relevant and a universal story that many teens will relate to.

An excellent sophomore novel. Philippe's main characters are so likeable and act like actual teenagers. There are a few books coming out this year about college admission fraud, but this one had the most heart of what I've read so far.

Henri Haltiwanger is almost professionally charming, and used to using that as armor, being a relatively poor kid at a decidedly rich kid NYC magnet school. He burns the candle from both ends and the middle as he manages a high end dog walking business, debate club finals, and ivy-league college applications. When the most intense girl at school figures out that his dog walking business isn't exactly a legitimate company, she blackmails him into helping her pad her social resume. What begins as something to save face turns into something more in just the most sweet, subtle way with snappy dialogue. Unfortunately, things can't always go as planned, and Henri makes an incredibly stupid decision with ripple effects that extend beyond just him, but also force growth for all those involved.

With a witty, funny, authentic guy voice "Charming as a Verb" explores the college pressure's high school seniors face, the financial anxiety of immigrant parents, teenage relationships, and how to follow your own path, rather than the one your parents set out for you. Secondary characters are pretty well fleshed out with their own flaws and motivations. The voice does trend toward more coarse than charming by the end, but finds its way back to middle ground by the epilogue.

This was such a sweet (and, perhaps obviously, charming) YA novel where conflict took a backseat to character exploration and the development of mostly chill interpersonal relationships. I was not a big fan of the central conflict, which arose about 70% of the way through the book, but it was resolved somewhat quickly and comparatively painlessly, making for an overall reading experience that was both chill and comforting. The novel doesn't shy away from real-world, real-stakes issues, like living up to immigrant parent expectations, being a scholarship kid in an elite private school, and the terrible unfairness of wealthy privilege and the structures of power and access that come with it, but it manages to do this with a deft, easy hand. Most of the characters in this are kind, which I still think is a rarity in YA (or any fiction...or even real life), and it was fabulous. I adore central character Henri almost as much as I adore Corinne--both are so well-developed. And this book is FUNNY. So many of the characters are legitimately laugh-out-loud funny, from snarky pop-culture references to clever wordplay to sarcastic quips. It was a joy to read.

I enjoy Philippe and was excited to read this book. His characters are always authentic and real, and it did help me understand the pressure kids are under today, which can be easy to forget. I also really enjoyed the humor and friendships. My only personal issue is that I teach middle school students (heavy on 6th graders), but I would recommend this to my older students. I also sometimes cringe at the open alcohol consumption in YA books. I know it's realistic and I know it happens, but I don't want to condone anything plus I'd like students to realize that it is not a teenage requirement.

Ugh, I devoured this.

Black teenage love!! (& one is a Haitian American MC!? And the other is black american:) YAY multiple types of black kid rep!) This was adorableeeeee.

Also, kids of color prep school representation is so so much yes (I’m incredibly biased and I don’t care, it’s important). You’ll know these two MCs if you’ve overlapped in life. Maybe a similar scholarship crowd, a working class neighborhoods, or the world of private schools etc. These are kids a lot of people know so I’m happy to see them as MCs in a YA book!

If I’m being my most critical, it’s a little longer than it needs to be and could be tightened up a bit—- but I felt so cozy in this world and with these characters so I didn’t mind.

Final sidenote- both of the MC moms in this book (a firefighter and a college prof at Columbia) were badass and wonderful which I also appreciated.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers on an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This new YA novel had me at the dedication page: “To the New York City subway system and all the breakups I’ve eavesdropped on while riding. (Y’all are messy.)” Henri is used to getting his way. He’s top of his class at the Upper West Side’s FATE academy, can debate anyone about anything, and smiles his way through life. He charms his family, his neighbors, and just about everyone except for his classmate Corinne Troy. When she discovers his slightly dishonest neighborhood dog-walking scheme, she offers him a deal. She won’t tell his neighbors the truth if he helps her with a makeover. Ambitious Henri sees the benefits of this plan and agrees, but as he and Corinne “work” together on remaking her image, their relationship changes in ways they didn’t expect. Hilarious and heartfelt, these teens felt so real—making a mix of wise and not-so-wise decisions, learning to be themselves, and dreaming of their futures.

Oh me oh my, I love me some Ben Phillipe. So wonderfully witty. So refreshingly smart. So utterly charming, just like the main men in his books. I do a lot of highlighting when I read them......there’s just so much good stuff that I want to remember/make note of for another time. But, more than all that, I feel this longing to be friends with the characters in the books or, better still, Mr. Phillipe himself. What say you, sir? Do ya need a 57-year old Librarian from Queen Creek, AZ who reads too much and wishes she had one-tenth of your talent in your life? Just let me know. 🤣
I really dug this book. Like, a lot. 💜📚

This book was utterly, should I say it? Charming! I also listened to the author talk about this book on a panel today and it really gave insight into the characters. There is some sex mentioned and curse words so this book will not be for everyone. But it is really cute and funny and I think a lot of teen readers will fly through it.

Thanks for the ARC!

Henry Haltiwanger! Ahh, you precious baby! Oh man, as a mom I loved this one so much. Charming as a Verb so perfectly captures the struggle of growing from a boy into a man: Who do you listen to? What do you do when things are unfair? How do you balance getting some good breaks, but things still being stacked against you? WHAT ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO DO WITH YOUR LIFE?!

Charming as a Verb is the complete package - fast-paced, hilarious, and insightful. The tension and conflict is multi-layered. The characters have a biting, yet self-deprecating wit. As funny and enjoyable as the book is, the scene in which Henri is choosing between the right or wrong thing had my eyes bulging out of my head and my heart racing. I was completely invested! I highly recommend this one for your next bingeable YA read!

Content: Sex is mentioned and a few times it is on the table, but nothing happens. Cursing is infrequent, but extreme (f-bombs). "Ethical" pornography is seemingly normalized through one short dialogue exchange. Drugs are non-existent, and also mentioned with disdain.

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

By all definitions, Henri Haltiwanger is charming. He’s also perfected the method of charming people to an art, from his dog-walking clients who just drool over him to the other students in his prestigious high school. As the son of Haitian immigrants, his one dream for as long as he can remember has been to attend Columbia University. After Henri’s interview with a Columbia alumnus goes awry, Henri will do just about anything to secure his spot at the school. Enter his “intense” neighbor and classmate Corinne Troy, whose mother is a dean at Columbia. When Corinne sees through Henri’s not-entirely-honest dog-walking scheme and blackmails him into helping her change her image at school, Henri agrees…mostly because he sees a possible solution to his own problem. Amid the pressures of the final months of high school and the flurry of college applications, Henri and Corinne find themselves getting much more than they bargained for, both with their goals and with each other.

This was a fun read that brought me back to the excitement and anxiety of my senior year of high school. The descriptions of applying for college and the apprehension that goes along with pressing the “submit” button and waiting for a reply were spot-on. However, the romance seemed to move very fast and was not entirely developed, and some of the characters felt one-dimensional and left much to be desired. I was not a fan of Corinne’s abrupt and short-lived change from studious to wild because it did not feel true to who she was, especially since she reverted right back to studious once she got what she needed from the change. Despite these flaws, the second half of the book was entertaining and kept me engaged. Overall, it was an enjoyable read, but not the best book I’ve read this year.

(Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing us with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)

E ARC provided by NetGalley

I loved this book. Henri's voice is funny and snarky and dare I say, charming?? This is my second Ben Philippe book and while I loved his first, this one is my favorite. Plus, that cover?

Read it, love it. Thank me later.

(link on goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3444172129?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

4 stars

This is such a readable and realistic novel, and the latter quality made it visceral to experience!

Halti - the main character - is flawed but incredibly likable. He's a senior in high school, facing ALL of the pressure, experiencing some socioeconomic struggles and related feelings, trying to be a good son to his parents (both excellent characters), serving up a really fun kind of friendship to Ming (his best buddy), walking a bunch of hilarious dogs (Palm Tree is a fantastic dog name), and trying so hard not to implode under the senior year/college bound pressure.

At first, I was getting some _The Sun Is Also a Star_ vibes since the college admission and interview processes are so central, but there is so much more to this work (as there is to Yoon's). Halti has a lot of growing to do. It's painful to wait with him for decisions, it's endearing to watch him connect to so many wonderful people, and it's heart wrenching when he makes bad choices....and he does do that at times. The level of anger and disappointment I felt at certain points in the novel were - to me - very good signs. I really grew to care about these characters and be deeply invested in their successes and development.

I didn't realize how much residual trauma I have around applications and admissions until I read this, but it was absolutely worth the cringing and discomfort. These are well drawn characters in challenging but realistic roles. They make choices, pay consequences, and do not win or lose too much for this reader's taste.

I loved this book. The characters and the pace were perfect. The author is genuinely funny and knows how to create an atmosphere that is fun for the reader. This book makes you laugh and cry and stir in your favorite reading chair. Check it out and have some fun.

I loved FIELD GUIDE, so I was excited to read CHARMING AS A VERB. It did not disappoint!

Things I liked: charming and likable narrator, a view of an immigrant experience, enemies to lovers. This book will be extremely relatable to students who feel similar pressure to be all things to everyone.

Things I didn't like: a glossed over friends with benefits relationship that just disappeared without resolution (very minor though)

I will definitely be adding this to my classroom library!

*ARC through Netgalley*