I am not familiar with the author of This May End Badly, so I had absolutely no expectations when I started it. What did I find? This book is so good that I finished it in less than day. I couldn’t put it down.

The author’s writing style flows very well and is super easy to read. It made the story one where I felt like I was watching a movie in my head. I wasn’t simply reading words on a page - I experienced everything that each character did.

The characters are my favorite part of the story. They are all well written and unique, with amazing chemistry. The story itself is mostly fun and lighthearted, though it does touch on a few very important social issues in a very real way.

I will definitely read more from this author!

When I was scrolling through books to read, the cover immediately pulled me along with the title. Then I read the synopsis and was praying I get approved for this book. I was so excited when I got a message saying I was approved. It did not disappoint either. It has fake dating and enemies to lovers. The lead female is funny and strong. I am putting this on my physical book want list. I can't wait to reread this book!

This is the type of YA I get lost in. Doe was a strong but flawed heroine and I loved her growth throughout the story. The rivalry between the schools was fun and the banter between everyone was next level. I love me some expert level banter. This book touched on serious issues yet it wasn't weighed down with them. Last but not least, Wells. I could have been very happy with a Wells in my high school days. I look forward to more from this author.

This book was so hilarious and amazing - so many great moments throughout the story and I definitely would recommend this book.

Thank you Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the free ebook.

3/3.5 stars

Read for:
• Boarding school setting
• Fake dating
• Prank wars
• A love interest that reminds me a bit of a mix of Grayson and Jameson (for my fellow Hawthorne fans)

This premise sounded right up my alley - neighboring girls and boys boarding schools are all in on a prank war and trying to stop the two schools from merging.

I loved the setting and thought a lot of the book was really fun, but it felt like there was a bit too much happening at times. I probably would’ve enjoyed this more when I was a YA myself, but even as a high schooler who loved pulling pranks, I think Doe would’ve got a little on my nerves. Her obsession with the prank wars (at the expense of others and her future) felt too extreme for not having more of a motivation behind those emotions.

Although this wasn’t a favorite, I still thought it was enjoyable and I’m looking forward to future books from this author.

TW: inappropriate behavior/sexual harassment from a teacher. I agree with many other reviewers who didn’t love how this was handled in the book.

(TW: mention of sexual assault)

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Samantha Markum for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review! I loved this book - it was such a fun story and I was engaged the entire time!

This May End Badly follows pranking mastermind Doe and the rivalry between her school, Weston, and Winfield, the neighboring boys school. There’s a pranking war between the two schools, which was super entertaining to read about, but there’s also more personal rivalry between Doe and one of the Winfield boys, Three. In order to get back at Three, her nemesis, she decides to “fake date” his cousin Wells… until real feelings start to play in.

I really enjoyed Doe as a main character and seeing her relationship with Wells progress. The fake dating trope is one of my favorites and I really enjoyed it here especially. I thought her relationship with Three was a bit odd though, because it always seemed as if they liked each other as well. It was entertaining getting to learn more about their family and see the dark academia elements included.

There was a much deeper storyline to this book than I originally thought featuring a teacher that had sexually assaulted girls - so please be aware of that before reading!

Overall, this book was better than I expected and I really enjoyed it. I’m hoping it eventually gets a sequel because I’d love to see what the characters are up to at college! I’m rating it 4.25 stars

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: April 12, 2022

Rival boarding school prank wars? Enemies to friends? Fake dating trope? This inclusive YA contemporary romance has all three. It’s funny, fast-paced and relevant—and just an enjoyable read!

Note: this is definitely older YA, as there are some heavier and mature themes.

This was everything I wanted from a YA contemporary romance. Funny, entertaining, simple. But above all - wholesome. I read so much of adult romance that every once in a while when I come back to this genre, it’s books like these that remind me why young adult contemporary has been my favourite for a long time.

I loved everything about this book; from the prank wars the formed an integral part of the book to the friendships it’s basically centred around. That’s what made this book one that I will come back to in the future. Maybe even in the next couple of months, who knows.

The boarding school students playing pranks trope isn’t my favorite, but this one was generally well done. The characters were well developed and relatable and the story was intriguing and fast paced. I appreciated the feminist tone and the grappling with what single-sex schools mean for trans and non-binary people. I had trouble suspending disbelief sometimes and in particular with the storyline about the problem teacher, which bothered me as I just could not understand why or how it was handled the way it was—I lost the thread of the characters’ motivation a bit at that point. But overall it was a solid, thoughtful read.

Every fan of fake dating and rivalries needs to go read this the moment it comes out! This was my first time reading a boarding school romance and I was pleasantly surprised!! I enjoyed the prank war/school rivalry aspect of the book as well. This also included two of my all-time favorite tropes: FAKE DATING and RIVALS TO LOVERS!!!! The two love interests were so cute together and I was rooting for them the minute they started "dating" and when they finally got together I was so happy. I also loved all of the characters in this (even Doe, the main character, when at some points she could be super unlikable!) and enjoyed seeing their relationships with Doe.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an E-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

TW: sexual misconduct involving a teacher and a minor

I expected this book to be a cute lighthearted tale of a prank war between a private girls school and boys school that leads to two kids falling for each other. I was mostly right, but the book does address some serious issues.

While the big conflict in the book is between the rival brother and sister schools, the two end up fighting on the same side as allegations of sexual misconduct of a long-suspected teacher boil over. Through their work together, the group of boys and girls are able to get the administration make real change by removing the teacher and committing to hire additional resources for students.

On a lighthearted note, Doe makes a deal with the leader of the boys group, Three’s, cousin, Wells, to help get under Three’s skin. The two set out to pretend to date, and much like any teen movie, it goes well until they actually feel the spark, things implode and they find their way back to each other in the end.

I didn’t expect the book to end the way it did with the teacher drama, but it added an element of real-ness to what would have otherwise just been a cliche romance story.

Overall I think this was a really sweet story and a quick read. I would have given it 3.5, but I rounded up here.

Teenagers will relate to the social dynamics. At times I really liked it and at others I couldn’t help but feel frustrated by the self sabotage committed by Doe!

My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book. It was engaging, fast-moving, and entertaining. Two boarding schools, across the road from one another, have a long-standing rivalry. Pranking each other has been a long standing tradition, and the bar continues to be raised. However, the stakes are raised this year, and change is in the air. No spoilers, but here are twists and turns, and a difficult yet timely issue takes control of the latter part of the book, with an appropriate resolution. A fast read that is difficult to put down.

This May End Badly is possibly the best YA romance that I have ever read. It is absolutely adorable and you are totally hooked from the first page. We have great friendships, witty dialogue, and a fake dating trope!

I am typically not a big reader of YA romance but this one just grabbed me from page one and didn’t let go. I will say that I did struggle some in the beginning sorting out all of the characters because there are A LOT and the start but I eventually caught on.

Our protagonist Doe is a senior at Weston school for girls and is the mastermind behind pranks pulled on the neighboring boys school Winfield. Doe and her friends are carrying on a century long tradition in their fight against the Winfield boys. All seems lost when Doe finds out that the two schools are merging after this year. In a last ditch effort to win the prank war, she starts a fake relationship with the Winfield boy’s king Three’s cousin Wells.

The pace is pretty fast which I enjoyed and the writing is easy to follow. I just wish the chapters were a bit shorter but that is just personal preference for me. The writing style is very easy to follow and it was a quick read for me, despite the long chapters. I finished it in less than 24 hours on a work day so it was fast.

Overall I really enjoyed this read and would totally recommend it for YA romance fans. I really enjoyed the themes of growth and friendship and how the entire story wasn’t just focused on romance.

Fun romance with a few twists along the way. Set between two rival boarding schools facing a merger, the main characters create a fake relationship to meet their independent goals. Characters grow through the story and find out who they want to be on the other side. Entertaining and I couldn't put it down.

What a great fun and cozy read! I am a sucker for all things fake dating and boarding/prep school shenanigans and this book delivered on both fronts. I instantly fell in love our main character-- her voice was fun and distinct-- and the love interest because what is a great fake dating book without a boy that's whipped? The backdrop of the boarding school and prank war was interesting and it greatly added to the development of Doe. I really just had the best time reading this book! From the friendships to the romance to family, it was all done in a genuine, funny, heartfelt way. And I can't *wait* to get my hands on a physical copy because that cover makes me lose my mind, it's true.

This was such a cute book! I couldn't put it down once I started it.

The story starts off in the midst of a prank war between two schools, and the main protagonist is adamant about making sure her all girls school wins the war against the rival boys school by the end of the year.

But this book was so much more. I honestly don't think that the description did it justice. This was absolutely a fake dating trope done right. The relationship between Doe and her friends was so much more enticing to me though. And you watch Doe struggle with her own self doubts and insecurities and the way that she has to come to terms that things around her are changing, and it might not be a bad thing.

I teared up at a few different points but I was definitely laughing out loud for others. Definitely wish I had this book in high school. This is a great read for young adults.

Prank wars are one of my favorite tropes in books - they just leave me giggling! And I absolutely loved that aspect of this book. The main character? Not so much. She was so self-centered and ends up lying to her friends about completely insignificant/unnecessary things... And by the end of the book, not much has changed. That being said, I did really enjoy the writing and the budding enemies to lovers romance with Wells. I did have some issues keeping all of the rich Winfield boys straight, but oh well. Weston girl for life!!

*Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review*

This book is so cute and fun, I loved every second of this book. The setting was a lot of fun and the characters were all so love able, except for a certain one and before I get further I’d like to mention a TW there are mentions of SA in here if that makes you uncomfortable at all.

Now let just say Doe and Wells, are so sweet and I loved getting to know them every page turn. Doe’s growth in this book is absolutely amazing the way she goes from being so involved with one thing for so long and slowly starts to find herself is beautiful. Wells is up there with some of my favorite romance guys, he’s the handsome guy that sneaks up on you and slowly softens for his love interest and I’m here for every minute of it.

I adored these characters and how the changed throughout the book and how the all slowly started to understand one another. I loved the message that you don’t absolutely have to know who you are when your are going after high school because your life is just beginning.

My only complaint I think this book could’ve benefited from a epilogue of some sort.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC, I absolutely adored this read.

Okay... I really did not expect to love this book as much as I did. I thought I was over the whole fake-dating trope, but it turns out I am very much NOT. I found myself giggling like a little girl, anxiously anticipating the next romantic scene as soon as one ended.

This lovely YA romance follows the students of two rival private high schools, one all-girls and one all-boys, and the schools alternate playing pranks on each other. For main character Doe, this rivalry is a top priority — she's determined to defeat the boys school and leave a lasting legacy after she graduates this year. But her obsession with the rivalry quickly becomes all-consuming, and she finds herself lost in layers of schemes against the boys' school that threaten to destroy her friendships and her future.

Every character in this book, despite whatever flaws each might have, is extremely likeable. And the dialogue is so clever and witty, it's almost hard to believe that these are high schoolers. Between the fast-paced, quick-witted rivalry and addictive build-up to a swoon-worthy romance, this book is nearly impossible to put down.

Admittedly, the attempts at LGBTQ+ inclusivity didn't always hit the mark, sometimes feeling like an almost irrelevant afterthought. Still, the fact that this is not "an LGBTQ+ novel" but rather a typical YA romance that happens to have LGBTQ+ characters is still an important form of representation, and that is what this novel does particularly well.

If you're looking for something a little light-hearted, fast-paced, and just flat-out fun, this one's for you.