Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC!

I quite enjoyed this one. I’m not really in the demographic, but it was nice to read something totally different than what I’ve been reading of late.

Two rival schools, Weston (girl’s school) and Winfield Academy (boy’s school), two leaders Doe, and Three. Prank wars. For once, they aren’t interested in each other which was a nice change from the usual pattern.

They find out their schools are merging next year and much chaos ensues. The story actually got a little dark for a bit, with some things involving a creepy teacher. Not sure that needed to be part of the story, but it did end up bringing the schools together, so in that way it did indeed help with the plot.

I’d definitely recommend this one if you want some good fun, with definite seriousness thrown into the mix.

This was a fun read! I enjoyed the coming of age story and the arc of the main characters. My only complaint was that there were too many supporting characters that were difficult to keep track of at times.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 3.5/5 stars rounded down.

I really liked the concept of this. I'm a sucker for fake dating, and I'm an even bigger sucker for academy/private school novels. I thought the synopsis sounded SO good, and the idea of prank wars also intrigued me...but the protagonist Doe is....well...obnoxious? Which, I GET is a point of her character. She's meant to be self-centered and obsessed with pranking (since she resolves it in the end)...but it was just horrible to read the self destructive behavior and literally not caring about anyone else due to her obsessions. Wells, though, Wells was amazing. I'm also a sucker for book boys who like books...especially those who reference SMUT as the topic of books.

I think there's a lot of good content in this book, but toward the middle there were way too many plot lines going on with the merger, the addition of potential transphobia from Doe's wishes, and then the plot line with the pervy teacher at the end coming to fruition. Especially if you're including something with teachers abusing their power, I think that should take the height of the plot...not just an addition to bring the schools together.

I did like Doe and Wells' relationship development, and Doe's redemption at the end...but I could not tolerate reading Doe's perspective.

I was approved for this arc on NetGalley so long ago and I stupidly waited to read it. Well, I’m kicking myself now.

This book has found its way onto my absolute favorites of 2022 because every single thing about it was perfect!

If you want a book with female empowerment, strong, diverse friend groups, great writing, funny banter, a rivalry, and the most adorable fake relationship situation, THIS MAY END BADLY is something you will need to pick up for yourself!

Doe and her besties are entering their senior year as Weston girls. And their rivals, the boys across the street at the Winfield school are the target of their shenanigans. These two private schools have participated in a generations-long prank war that Doe has now taken into her own hands.

Her arch nemesis, Three is one of the most prominent students from Winfield. And he is an insufferable jerk that she is desperate to put in his place. When the opportunity arises to best him come is the form of a proposition from Three’s cousin Wells, Doe finds herself unable to resist.

What starts as a fake relationship between Doe and Wells l, begins to form into something more… but Doe has trouble seeing past her hatred for Three and her dire need to keep Weston’s reputation strong. And this causes her to basically implode her whole life.

I loved this because it was so relatable. I know what it’s like to be so hyper focused on something that you lose sight of what is really important; what it was that it ever started for. And Doe was incredible. She was strong and kind and so compassionate. But she was stubborn and bull headed and, at time, could be her own worst enemy.

The characters that make up the rest of this book, like her group of friends, some of her foes (both in the all boys school and even some within her own school) and Wells (oh how I loved him) were all fantastic!! This book as a whole was something I enjoyed reading so much!!

This book also talks a great deal about needing safe spaces and the very real and very scary element of predators in schools who find themselves in a place where they can easily prey on young students. That was an aspect of the book that I didn’t see coming but loved how it was done so much.

This May End Badly by Samantha Markum

In this YA read, two rival boarding schools (one for boys and one for girls) find out that they must merge at the end of the year. The schools have participated in decades long prank wars and the main character, Doe, hates her boys school counterpart, Three, with a fiery passion. To get back at him one last time, she starts a fake relationship with his cousin which he agrees to in exchange for her help with stealing a family heirloom. I really enjoyed some aspects of this including the fake relationship trope and the way it addressed who exclusionary single gender schools can be for trans students, but there were so many elements that I just couldn’t buy. For example, the motivations for many of the characters’ actions felt super unrealistic and that bothered me throughout the book, but if you’re able to put that aside and go along for the ride, it’s a fun read.

And all that being said, I’ll be buying a copy for my classroom when it comes out on 4/12 because my 11th graders want books with the fake dating trope and who am I to deny them. 😍

Doe is a senior at Weston, an all girls high school. Her primary goal for the year is to win the long prank rivalry with the Winfield boys school across the street. But then the administration announces on the first day back that the two schools will merge.

The book raises some interesting questions about single gender schools. It highlights how they can provide a safe place for girls. But it also questions whether they are exclusionary of nonbinary and transgender youth. I appreciated a lot of the representation included.

I do my best to keep reviews I write spoiler free. For this book, I think there's an important issue that I will try to write about without spoiling the plot. But I wanted to warn first in case you choose to skip the rest of my review.

It's tough for me to say the appropriate age for this book. Doe and her friends read as fairly immature, so I would normally suggest it as a younger YA. However, I was quite disturbed by the way that a male teacher was portrayed as a predator and how that was handled throughout the book. It didn't fit the rest of the book tone and set a poor example for young readers.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. These opinions are my own.

Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books for this incredible arc!

I love the fake dating romance trope and this book instantly became another new favorite for me this year. Doe and Wells make for a delicious and delightful team in this story and I loved every second of it!

The fast-paced, humorous and endearing world and relationship with these characters made me never want this book to end. Although the story is light-hearted and fun, there were some serious topics covered which made this tale more authentic.

I recommend getting your hands on this one! Definitely do not miss out on this witty romantic read. I cannot recommend this more!

Out April 12th!

DNF at 25%.

This is not the book for me. I like a good YA, so I don't mind that the characters were a little immature, but I do mind when they are unlikeable. Doe seems like the worst, and even 25% I have no real sense of her friend's personalities. There are also SO many characters and I can't keep them straight.. I also had a hard time following what was happening, especially when there was banter. The premise is good, but I didn't find myself wanting to finish.

This May End Badly centers around an old rivalry between a boys' school and a girls' school and the prank war between them. When a merger between the school is announced, the prank war escalates into chaos.

Doe is determined to prove that Weston girls and Winfield boys cannot mix. Weston has been a safe haven for her and she won't see it invaded by the terrible Winfield boys. In an attempt to win the prank war against the Winfield boy's prank leader Three, Doe strikes a bargain with Three's cousin Wells. They agree to fake date to get under Three's skin. As the prank war escalates, Doe has to decide if winning is actually what is most important.

This May End Badly was an enjoyable YA romance. The prank war was entertaining, and I enjoyed the friendships in this story. I love fake dating and pranks, so this ticked the right boxes for me.

If you like YA romance, pranks, friends bonding, fake dating, and main characters with a quick wit, check this one out.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my thoughts.

The Weston School for girls has been engaged in an epic prank battle with the boys across the street at Winfield Academy for a century. This battle is on-going, with literally generations of girls and boys taking part. Now that Doe is in her Senior year at Weston, she's determine to win the battle once and for all. She's a prank master and determined doesn't even begin to describe Doe.

When the Weston headmistress makes an announcement that Weston and Winfield will be merging the following year, their campus descends into chaos. Chief among the dissenters, Miss Doe. Doe is horrified. Weston and Winfield merging! She cannot possibly let that happen. Together with her best girlfriends, they vow to do whatever it takes to stop the merger.

One of Doe's targets is Three, the kingpin of Winfield Academy. Smart, wealthy, good-looking and popular, Three is the kind of boy that has the world in the palm of his hand. Doe just wants to knock him down a notch or two. She ends up making a deal with Three's cousin, Wells, to fake date, thus getting under Three's skin and throwing him off his game. With Three out of sorts, Doe should easily be able to outsmart the Winfield boys.

As the pranks begin to escalate, so does Doe's so-called fake relationship with Wells. Will Doe lose sight of her goals, give them up entirely for a cute boy, or achieve everything she's ever wanted?

The May End Badly is such a fun and cute YA Contemporary. Wells is one of the most swoon-worthy boys I've come across in a long time and don't even get me started on how great this fake dating set-up was! At first, I'll admit, I was a little confused by the passion Doe had for the prank battle, but the more I got to know about her as a character, the more it started to make sense.

Doe came to Weston after going through a very difficult time in her life. Her parents had recently divorced and Doe had been having some behavioral issues at her old school. Weston became a safe haven for her. A place where she could feel safe and grow. She wants to be sure Weston can remain that safe space for girls into the future. However, has Doe let her own experience blind her to that of others?

There are some really great friendships in this story. Doe's friend group is very close, but still not afraid to call one another out on bad behavior. Wells also has a strong and interesting friend group, so it was nice to see that with both the boys and the girls.

I loved watching Doe and Wells relationship grow. There were moments when I absolutely wanted to shake her, but I was definitely on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen between them. Additionally, I loved the humor in this novel. There is some great, witty banter, including moments that had me in stitches. I even loved the parents. They were funny and helpful, which was so nice to see.

My only slight criticism of this novel would be that there was an issue going on at the school, with a teacher possibly being inappropriate with students. Nothing about that storyline felt natural to me in the context of the rest of what was going on. This is obviously just my opinion, but it felt very forced.

It felt like there needed to be some tension at school, a villain, and this character was it. Oh and along the way we can stuff in some heavy social commentary. It felt completely out of place with the rest of the story. I don't know. I feel like I could have enjoyed this even more without that in there. It just felt disjointed to me. Phew, that was uncomfortable to say, but overall, yesssss, I had so much fun with this one. I became so attached to Doe and completely head over heels in love with Wells.

Thank you to the publisher, Wednesday Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'm looking forward to reading more from Samantha Markum in the future!

I am just like the other reviews out there; I absolutely love this book and found it relatable. Doe was a strongly written character and her pranks were great. I loved her growth throughout the book too. This book has it all: loveable characters, fake and boyfriends, real boyfriends, pranks and surprises. Definitely one the better YA fiction books I have read in a long time.

Highly recommended! Will definitely be getting a copy at publishing.

Thanks to Netgalley, Samantha Markum and St Martin's Press Wednesday Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

AVailable: 4/12/22

Of all my favorite romance tropes, fake dating might top the list. Throw in enemies to loves and I’m hooked, so I was very excited to start This May End Badly. Right off the bat, I absolutely loved Doe’s friendship with her Weston girls and her love of her school was so endearing. I was also a little bit in love with Wells from his very first appearance, so I couldn’t stop grinning once their fake dating plot was hatched.

Based on the blurb, I was expecting a lighthearted YA romance, but was surprised and impressed with how many weighty issues this book covers! In addition to the fun and boys vs. girls boarding school rivalry, This May End Badly tackles gender parity in education, sexual harassment/assault, and gender identity and inclusion. Doe’s reckoning with each issue and her evolving stance on the merger was very well done. When a main character makes a couple bad decisions, it can sometimes be hard to keep rooting for them, but Doe had so much humility that I was never frustrated with her. I did feel that some of the time spent covering these other issues detracted a bit from the main plot. There was a lot going on and I was sometimes impatient to return to the rivalry and romance. I think even removing one of the side plots would have made the book a bit easier to follow and better paced.

I do wish more time had been devoted to Doe and Three’s rivalry and that we’d been able to see them interact together more often, but that’s a testament to how well they were written. The ending was perfect and I can’t wait to re-read!

THIS WAS SO GOOD. The world Markum builds is so vivid; the pacing was quick and engaging, the dialogue fun, the characters compelling. I loved everything about this and can't wait to read more from this author. Am especially excited to get it into kids' hands.

I love a fake relationship - a favorite trope of mine!!! This was not steamy, but the chemistry and tension was strong throughout the book. Funny, cute and entertaining - a perfect rom-com!

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Incredibly entertaining! Epic pranks, fake dating and a merger of rival schools...what could go wrong? Samantha Markum does not disappoint in this YA read and fake dating trope. Adobrable!

I really enjoyed this book! The author has great comedic timing, I’ll definitely be reading more from her!

Thanks to Wednesday Books for the ARC.
This book had so much potential. I absolutely loved the prank wars in the beginning. But it was so busy. I wanted a prank war with some teenage romance and got so much more that detracted from the plot. I think the second half plot point could’ve been it’s own book, and for that reason, I ended up skimming the last 40%.

This May End Badly has a really fun premise.

Two rival high schools are involved in a full on prank war against one another. When a merger threatens the way of the schools history/legacy...one head boy and one head girl take the prank wars and rivalry to the next level.

I thought this was extremely readable and had a great flow. Markum has created fun dynamics between friendships and eventual romantic entanglements. The main love interest is a very fun character, plus he had a fantastic name (IYKYK) so I basically read this book for him.

What I felt fell short for me was that there were too many things going on that dragged the plot out. If you would have taken one element out of the plot I felt like it would have been a much more digestible story to read. The story was trying to tackle fake dating, friendships, drama, parental coming out, coming of age and a couple of other elements i'll redact for spoilers. Doe was also a really hard character for me to relate to. She had way too many self destructive behaviors and patterns that really hurt the people around her on a consistent basis in her quest to come out conqueror.

I think the author is a talented writer and it will be fun to see what she comes out with next! i've seen some really strong reviews for those who have loved this so don't let my review stop you if this sounds like something you'd be interested in.

TW*closed door romance, sexual harassment, an abundance of condom jokes (felt gratuitous but also not my type of humor), some mild strong language.

I really enjoyed the themes in this book. It had the prank war epic, boarding schools, enemies to lovers trope and fake dating. Doe was an easy main character to relate to- she loves her school and her friends fiercely so fiercely that she takes their prank war to a whole new level just to try and protect the school from a merger that she believes will hurt the school. I liked how Doe grew and recognized her faults, while also making a point to fight for the safety of all students at her school. No one should feel unsafe or uncomfortable. The romance aspect was well done and felt realistic instead of cheesy.

I was given an advance copy of this title for my honest opinion.

This books title says exactly what I personally feel happened with this book. It just ended badly. I wanted to like this book. There was so much potential for this book. Two people torn asunder by their rival schools, coming together to make someone jealous. The comedy that could have ensued and didn't. The story was painful, the characters themselves were kind of painful. None of it seemed to come together. There was just so much else going on personally in both main characters lives, that to say they were a bit angsty would be an understatement. The fact that you have to read the entire book to find out why they are acting as they do also doesn't probably help the story move along. I did appreciate the growth that Doe goes through however. And I do love how at the end of the book she uses her skills to help support a fellow student who doesn't feel comfortable coming forward. So there were some highs, but the lows truly outshined the highs. Overall I give this book 2.5 stars.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book.