This May End Badly focuses on Doe, a senior at Weston School for girls. The school has been a safe haven for Doe after a difficult childhood. When she and her friends find out Weston is merging with Winfield Academy, the all-boys school across the road (and their pranking rivals), Doe struggles to figure out how to save her school. Along the way, she is confronted in her friendships, love life, and loyalties, and must decide whether the school that became her safe place is capable of being safe for everyone, or even at all.

Sometimes, exactly what you need is a bit of YA lighthearted romance and that is exactly what This May End Badly was for me. Not to say there are some heavier moments in this book, but it was a quick read with some really sweet moments between Doe and her will-they-won't-they love interest. Her relationship with Wells (and the character of Wells in general) was super endearing. I liked that even with the predictable tropes, the plot offered up surprising twists. It was also really refreshing that the romance wasn't the main focus or even the main conflict in the novel. I enjoyed watching Doe's priorities shift throughout the novel, but in a really believable way, with moments of stubborn ignorance. I do think the character could have been explored more deeply, but I think this is a successful YA novel all the same.

A few fun things this story has:
• a rivalry between all girls and all boys boarding schools
•lots of pranks
•fake dating
•kids fighting for what they believe
•loving friendship groups

This was an enjoyable story with a great setting. The rivalry was fun and I enjoyed the reasons for both sides brought up throughout the story. The fake dating was exciting (and also pretty cute). There’s an element of fighting for what the kids believe in, and that was a cool thing. Overall, I’d rate it at a 4.5. I’ll check out any other books this author writes!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me an early copy. It’ll be out in April!!

Great book. I really enjoyed the storyline and the cover! I can’t wait to read more from this author.

When I get fake dating, enemies to lovers, and strong female friendships ALL IN ONE BOOK, I’m guaranteed to be happy.

With This May End Badly, ALL the boxes get checked. All of them. I especially loved the boarding school setting and the rivalry between the two schools.

3.5 STARS

THIS MAY END BADLY is an adorable mix of fake dating, high school rivalry, and the importance of friendship. After reading the description, that this was a novel about a prank feud between an all-boys academy and an all-girls school I KNEW that I was in for an enjoyable ride...

And I was not wrong!

I LOVED the fake relationship between Doe & Wells - if only because you could tell SO EARLY into the fake dating that they were bound to fall in love! They had the perfect grumpy/sunshine dynamic and it had me laughing all the time. Any time the armchair in the bookstore was brought up, I just couldn't help but grin that Wells moved to make room for her almost subconsciously...just like he did in his life.

I thought the intense rivalry between Doe & Three was a little blown out of proportion, & the fact that (even though the prank war seemed to be carried out by two very specific groups at each school) no one got expelled for the antics, this was an enjoyable read!

I would recommend this to anyone looking for an easy, fun, summer novel!

All in all, this just wasn't quite for me. I feel it missed a lot of marks. The story was so close to being well done and then just fell flat?
The "romance" between Doe and Wells did not add up and I was kind of waiting for her to get together with Three the whole time, as it seemed they had more chemistry.
I know these characters are in high school, but I still thought Doe was incredibly immature and selfish and I was never quite rooting for her. No one in high school actually cares about a school rivalry as much as she does. Also her "horrifying secret" of having to be held back one year, no one would actually care about that.
I also absolutely did not like or agree with how the characters handled the teacher/predator situation. I feel like handling it on their own, without adults, no proof, and gathering all the letters would have potentially backfired and sends the entirely wrong message to any teen reading this book.
All in all, this had potential. Just missed the mark.

YEP YEP YEP. As I get older, I find myself enjoying YA romance a little less. This book was the exception. Doe and Three's fake relationship turns into something more real, as they continue in a prank war. It was a super fun plot that kept me entertained.

Though the title suggests otherwise, this book did not end badly. In fact it was such a good, hysterical ride that kept me fully entertained from beginning to end. I love the “us versus them” mentality of this book. It made for some fun pranks and laugh out loud moments because of the school rivalry. It’s one of the things that made school fun. A sense of community against an enemy and wearing your school's banner proudly. I will forever bleed scarlet and grey. OH!

Wells and Doe are amazing together. They have the perfect love/hate relationship that is funny because they know how to push each other, but also evident of their undeniable attraction that lies under the facade of animosity. Their storyline was one that I really like about this book.

At times Doe’s need to keep Weston legacy alive became too much. She was fighting a fight that she couldn’t win because of ideals she wanted to preserve and a loyalty that seems to be displaced. It became tiring watching Doe implode and the mess that was created in her wake.

Overall I enjoyed this book, but at times the immaturity did show and took away from some of the enjoyment. There were times Doe was a smidge unlikeable and I wanted so badly to show her the bigger picture. Throughout the story there were a lot of fun moments that outshined some of the awkwardness and the growth of the characters made you feel proud of them in the end. Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this ARC

This was a fun YA romance. The characters were interesting and I enjoyed the main character's creative pranks. The main character was rather immature but I didn't dislike her. I enjoyed her banter with her love interest.

This May End Badly....Did NOT End Badly. In fact, it ended the most perfect way any good book could end--with me crying in a pillow because it's over. I wasn't expecting to love this book as much as I did, but I'm so glad I gave it a try. I fell in love with the plot and the characters!! Such a fun, enjoyable, and emotional ride.

2.5

I struggle with this book. There were elements I liked, then aspects that I just didn't understand. At its core, this book was doing wayyyy too much. There were too many characters, I could barely keep track of everyone, not enough backstory, a slightly unlikeable main character, a SA storyline that doesn't come into play until the very end of the story, the "war" between the two schools, the pranks, the fake relationship, the rivalry with Three, grades, friendships, college applications, history with divorce and bullying, anger management and probably more. It's just straight up too much. I just want to know why Three was named Three. I feel like if this book focused more on only a couple of these aspects it would've been more enjoyable and successful. Doe is not very likeable, she's obsessive about things that don't add up (I understand her anger, however in my opinion, her feelings and personal opinions do not justify her actions). I found it odd that she was so consumed with this "war" when she's a Senior who's leaving the school. She lied to her friends constantly and was self-centred and hypocritical. I did like that at the end she went on a personal journey of growth and did change her opinions. I also enjoyed reading about her relationship with Wells. It was lovely, he's lovely and I wish there was more of that, it was a bit too much of a slow burn. I appreciate the diverse cast of characters and I did enjoy the world created by the author. I almost wish this was highly edited but kept with the same spirit of the story. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free preview in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the characters in this book, the friendship bonds, the struggles, the teamwork.

The main character had started over after a troubled past. She is a born leader. Her love of pranks and loyalty for her new school has brought together a group of girl friends. Always the mastermind and in control, but when the rivalry pranking schools start to merge together, things go haywire and she loses her role as the beloved leader.

I highly recommend this book. I am hoping for a sequel. Because of the characters, I want to know what happens next.

This was an adorable YA read. I was definitely frustrated with Doe's friends but whew was Wells swoon-worthy. I think the plot of the novel is well done and I love that the story brought attention to people in positions of authority abusing their power, as well as showing how others have the ability to help. An inspiring read.

Thanks to #NetGalley, Samantha Markum, and the publisher Wednesday Books for the early copy of this book in exchange for a review.
I really enjoyed this YA book because it deals with real issues that young and teenage girls are facing in todays society. This matters because I feel girls and women are considered delicate and are not always taken seriously.

In this story, the main character Doe attends an all girls boarding school and leads her group of friends in pranking the all boys boarding school and making it memorable as their time ends on their senior year. Doe is upset when she learns that the schools will merge into one at the end of her and her friends senior year. This isomething Doe is very upset about and will do anything to save the schools from merging. Including fake dating the head of the boys schools cousin to get under his skin.
As the pranks get crazier and crazier, real feelings develop and when a teacher starts acting inappropriate, Doe has to decide what is most important in school and in life.

I highly recommend this book when is comes out April 12, 2022!

What a fun, smart book! A relevant young adult novel that is equally enjoyable for adults. This book initially seems to be a campus novel involving prank wars, but it quickly develops into a substantive novel that addresses friendships, romantic relationships, gender identity, and education. At its heart, the book is about friendships, and it made me wish I had friends like that when I was in high school. It felt like some of the characters were way more emotionally mature than their chronological age, but that did not detract from my enjoyment of this book. Highly enjoyable read!

Guess I must be getting too old to appreciate the young life of pranks, fake dating, and almost getting kicked out of school. The snootiness of rich kids isn't my cup of tea. That being said the author tried to make a fun story with intervals of social justice of sexual harassment and gender indentity. Doe and her friends lead in pranks against the all-boy school next door. In anger, Doe fake dates the cousin of Three, the guy she hates most, of which of course she falls in love. Loses friends over the lying and selfishness her friends identify her with since combining the schools isn't that bad of an idea. Deals with family relationships which really turn out good in the end. I was never really drawn in by any of the characters.

I love a good fake dating, cutesy, fluffy book. And this was that!

A school rivalry between the Weston girls and the Winfield boys, has a way of getting out of hand. Senior Doe and her closest friends are determined to win the war before their time at Weston is over.

A super fast read filled with fun characters, witty dialogue, and great relationships, this book helped pass the time at 4am when my newborn was insistent that I hold him while he slept.

This book was such a great read and I couldn’t put it down. It was super cute, I loved Dorothy and Wells. 🥰 Just what I needed! I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s story telling and writing and am definitely going to have check out more by her.

I liked how I could picture the characters, their interactions and the places. I also liked how she highlighted the intersections of gender identity and the show of activism for all to feel safe - that was cool especially for seniors in high school. The plus side was that the book still felt light & cute overall - makes me want to go find someone to flirt with 😆

I also really appreciated how it showed the consequences of her lies in real time and how she was manifesting her anger and sense of belonging into saving her school. I am hoping for a college prank wars sequel.

I received this eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely adored this book! There are funny and strong female characters, cute and unexpectedly sweet guys, and an all out prank war between boarding schools. The lead girl Doe isn't perfect and is realistic and entertaining. She's snarky and bold and even though she gets a bit too obsessed with the pranks, she is loyal to her friends and the girls at school.

The story plays out over the course of Doe's senior year at Weston, an all girls boarding school. Doe is ready to make the most of her last year and come out victorious in the prank war against the Winfield boys' school. When she learns that the schools will be merging into one next year, Doe panics and seizes an opportunity to get under her enemy's skin.

The whole plot idea was so much fun and had a lot of originality in it. There's also a slow burn romance that I loved and some great friendship goals. I'm stunned that this is a debut novel and I can't wait to see what comes next!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book and all opinions are my own. Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the copy.

What a cute little romance. It was adorable and quirky. Couldn’t put it down, I did enjoy reading it it was just a little too slow for me