this was simply such a delightful read with everything i expected going into this young adult novel of a girl going about her first teenage experiences and socializations out of her comfort zone in a theater camp! bea being a homeschooled sixteen year old who got into oxford, it's pretty reasonable why her parents did this wanting her to get out and experience the real world. she was a bit unbearable to me at times with her overanalyzing, though not as much as shelby was, but bea was definitely understandable due to her upbringing how she expected life to cater to her and thought she could prepare for every possible situation, right off the bat, i adored bea and nik's dynamic instantly. nikhil shah being the resident golden boy whose parents founded the camp and bea basically being the resident genius made for such an electric banter/argument chemistry that was right up my alley. they truly had me reading with the biggest grin on my face. with bea, with a checklist from her parents and her new friends adding to the list making it more daring, this overall story concept is something i think would be such a good romcom movie. long story short is a book i would highly recommend to anyone in need of a quick, teen cliché, leisurely summer read!!

this was so much fun!! shakespearen camp!! the TENSION!!! the flirting via shakespeare quotes was just GREAT

i adored the friendships so much i’m so happy bea finally found herself

this is a quick, fun book perfect for summer!

I absolutely loved this sweet YA romance! I dabbled in theater in Junior high and this brought back memories of that time. I always dreamed of playing Juliet, and it was so fun that the theater camp in this book put on Romeo and Juliet in the summer featured. I always enjoy reading a neurodivergent main character, and appreciated how the crew at camp accepted Bea. Nik was a dreamy leading man and Mia and Nolan reminded me of Janis and Damian from Mean Girls. I would recommend this to anyone who loves a YA romance!

Beatrice has to,prove to,her parents that she can handle living away from home. To gain experience, her parents insist she attend a Shakespeare Academy. She complies and experiences so much more than she ever dreamed. Per chance to Dream.
I am so glad I am long past the adolescent stage of life. Young adult readers can become acquainted with the bard while reading about the trials and travails of a teenage girl.

After being accepted to Oxford at 16, Beatrice's parents are not sure if they want her to go. They feel she is not socially ready to be on her own, let alone another country. In compromise, they agree to send her to a camp with a list of social tasks to complete. If she completes them, she can go to Oxford.
Unfortunately for her, she is sent to an acting camp and expected to act. Topping her list is to make a friend. For this child who was never around her peers, this seems insurmountable but Beatrice really wants to go to Oxford so she is willing to try. As it turns out, making a friend isn't the hardest task.
Opinion
This is such a feel good book. From start to finish, Beatrice keeps you in her grasp with wanting her to succeed. This book is something we all can relate to. In some way, we have all felt inadequate around other people. This book spotlights it and has Beatrice make a plan to overcome her issues. Her methodical thinking is something to make us all chuckle, because some of what she plans just should not work.
I think my only complaint with this book is that it ended. I really want to know what happened after she got what she wanted. Did she still call her friends? How was England? What happened with Nik (the antagonist?) If I might make a humble request, can we have a follow up story? Perhaps a novella or a bonus chapter? I might find myself with withdraws from this story.
Many thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of this book.

3.5⭐️ I enjoyed this book, and the idea of it. Beatrice a non social, anxious math genius wants to go to Oxford in the fall, her parents are worried that if she goes, it’s all she’s going to care about. They tell her if she goes to a theatre camp this summer, and learns how to be a “real” teenager, make friends, learn to be social, and check off all the points on the list they curated, she can go to Oxford.

Immediately, I related to Bea and her anxiety and the need to take social breaks. But at one point, the amount of times she literally ran away from her problems and belittled her friends interests of acting and theatre made me feel disconnected. I also adored Mia and Nolan, and felt more interest towards them.

While I did love the idea of a little enemies ti lovers at a theatre camp, I felt as though there was no connection between Bea and Nik, there wasn’t much development and I didn’t understand how they got to one point because all they did was argue, there was probably only one or two times where they actually sat down she had a conversation.

Overall it was a cute story and concept, the friendships were admirable and I loved reading about Bea’s journey, and seeing her come out her shell.

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. I think in all aspects of the writing it fit well. I think it was well paced, there was character and plot development, and it was built on a really strong foundation.

Sometimes I feel like in books about teenagers, the author makes it feel like the characters are older than they are. But this felt really normal to me and like something that would actually happen to 16 year olds. I remember going to camp in the summer and I think this pretty well fit how I was feeling then.

Although at times I did find Bea a little insufferable because she refused to believe in anything Nik said. But it wasn’t to the point where I didn’t like her or would stop reading. I liked her character overall and I think she had a certain vibe to her that I kind of felt also.

I would love to have a friend like Mia. Someone who has your back, but would also kick somebody’s butt for you, and they aren’t afraid to call you out and tell you how it is.

I think I would have been happier if there was an epilogue. But conflictingly I’m glad that there wasn’t one. I think the ending was well paced, it didn’t feel rushed. I felt like maybe it was a little too out of character, but overall it was an enjoyable ending to the book.

4.5/5 rounded down

Beatrice learns to get out of her comfort zone!

Home schooled Beatrice Quinn was surprised that she was accepted at Oxford University to study statistical genetics but there is a problem. Beatrice is only sixteen and the only way her parents will let her go is by attending a Shakespeare theater camp and getting out of her comfort zone and learning to make some friends in six weeks. Beatrice planned on hiding in the background at camp but things changed when Nikhil Shah insulted her the first night and she made friends with her roommate.

We have all been there, doing things we aren’t comfortable with or stepping out of our comfort zones but Long Story Short is really about my teenage years and learning to stretch my boundaries with new activities or things I haven’t done before.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Witty banter is my favorite reasons to fall in love with a book, and LONG STORY SHORT has it in droves. I really enjoyed the back and forth between Beatrice, Mia, and Nolan. Also, I loved the verbal combat between Beatrice and Nik. I found it easy to invest in the characters and want them to succeed.

My only criticism is that I felt like Mia and Nolan were kind of too perfect as friends. Beatrice’s awkward inability to connect and her difficulty developing friendships got squished into an almost unbelievably short timeline. I get that the plot needed that, and I wanted to invest in the relationships, so I did. But I couldn’t help asking myself why her parents were so worried? All she seemed to need were two people who were simply willing to give her a chance.

I really liked that she had to go to a Shakespeare camp. The way those stories and quotes were used in the book added a lot of depth. Also, I enjoyed the quote match between her and Nik. I loved the way they used those quotes to trip each other up and as a whole other conversation, too.

On the whole, despite the super quick bestie plot armor, I really enjoyed reading LONG STORY SHORT. I think fans of KATE IN WAITING by Becky Albertalli will really enjoy this one.

***thank you to netgalley and Wednesday books for my early copy of this book!**

Genre: YA, Fiction
🎭🎵✨🇬🇧👗👫

I really enjoyed this story!

Beatrice gets into Oxford early admission without telling her parents, and makes a deal with them that in order for them to trust her going out of the country for university by herself, she has to go to a theatre camp for a month and check off a list of things they want her to do, such as making friends and being in the play.

Can she do this? What happens when the person who she argues with at camp the most turns out to be a crush with reciprocated feelings?

I loved this book! I thought the banter between Beatrice and Nik was SO GOOD, I never could get enough of it and there was plenty of flirty banter throughout the whole book. I also thought her newfound best friends- Mia and Nolan- were so fun, caring and supportive and I liked them a lot. They were patient with Beatrice, but were also still real with her and got her out of her shell. Even the enemy of Shelby became likable in the end of the story when she apologized to Beatrice for being mean and they became sort of friends.

Talking about the theatre aspect of this book, all of the Shakespeare references, final play and use of Shakespeare for the flirty competition warmed my Shakespearean heart. I loved that Shakespearean plays were what the story was centered around.

This YA summer romance was exactly what I needed!

Beatrice Quinn, homeschooled genius, is ready to move on to start her own life at Oxford but her parents aren’t so sure. Before they give their blessing, she must attend Shakespeare theater camp and complete a list of teenage tasks. She quickly learns that personal relationships are tricky… but maybe worth they’re worth it.

I had a hard time getting into this book in the beginning, but I was eventually SQUEALING in girlish delight as the story picked up. I would absolutely love a sequel to follow Bea across the pond. 😍 If you love YA, this is definitely a book for you!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Man, this book was so cute! I feel like Teen Me would have really loved it! I mean, Adult Me really likes it too but you know...

I really loved how Beatrice came out of her shell, especially when she was so determined to just get through the four weeks of summer camp and mark off a checklist from her parents. It became so much more than that and I feel like Beatrice will look back on this summer camp and say that's when things in her life really changed. Her friends, Mia and Nolan, were such great supporters and not only challenged Bea but were there for her when she needed them and didn't allow her to be alone. While Bea wanted to be grown up and really seems to be grown up, she's still just a teenager and has a lot to look forward to in her life. While I did find that her parents were supportive, I think they often have to remind her of this, lol. They do seem confident in her and that's nice to see.

The enemies-to-lovers trope is done really well here with Beatrice and Nik. In fact the fact that the entire Shakespearean quote duel even exists between them is really cool. Were there times that I felt Nik wasn't as fully developed as a character like Mia and Nolan? Yes, and I think it's just because we aren't around him as often as Bea is with Mia and Nolan. We get a lot of tidbits about Nik but nothing super substantial until about 30% left in the book. I found it really adorable that Nik seemed to be the one who fell for Bea first and was trying to get under her skin but in a good way. I did think parts of the books were predictable, especially since Beatrice came with a "list" put together by her parents and added on by Mia and Nolan. I knew someone would figure it out and it would cause a rift but to be honest, I didn't think it would be Nik.

I grew kind of tired of the "beef" between Shelby and Bea. It just seemed petty, but I suppose that's how things (still?) are when you're a teenager. Shelby seemed to have a lot going in internally and didn't know how to handle it without isolating those around her and even those she cared about.

I really enjoyed the supportive parents as well and how the adults in this book weren't total trash. Like this book specifically created nice adults and it was good to read because sometimes I feel like we don't get enough of that in other books.

This was definitely a cute read and I look forward to what else the author has to write.

A perfect example of a coming-of-age story, made all the more dear to me because I was also a theater kid! I loved that Beatrice slowly, slowly broadened her horizons, and that Nik didn’t give up on Bea, even after their relationship got off to a terribly rocky start. (He was kind of a dick). I would love to read books about Mia, Nolan and Shelby, too!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

If you’re a fan of High School Musical-esq tales or enjoy new takes on Shakespeare, you should enjoy Long Story Short, the YA debut from Serena Kaylor. This contemporary romance has the right balance of friendships and love interests, with plenty of personal growth for the main character and a very satisfactory ending.

I started Long Story Short in a slight reading slump, so while it took me a bit to get into the story, halfway through I found my groove and found myself smiling so much. Was there a specific moment in the book that won me over?? Why, yes, there was! An adorable Shakespeare quote-off between our main character Bea and Nik, the son of the camp founders. So stinking cute!

My affection for these characters only grew stronger as I read, and while there is plenty of drama (it is a Shakespearian summer camp!), the story never crosses over into the overly cheesy territory. Some of the characters may seem a bit stereotypical in the beginning, but their many facets shine through as the reader gets to know them.

One of my favorite things about the book: the friendships. Bea has been very closed off since an unfortunate event in her past and she finally opens up to new experiences, spear-headed by a few new friends, whom I loved so much. Well-rounded, supportive, and funny, they are just the kinds of friends everyone needs, but they also have problems and lives of their own.

This sweet story had me cheering Bea and her friends on, wishing I would have come across a Shakespearean summer camp back in the day, and fondly remembering my own high school experience on the stage. A heartwarming read for the long summer days!

This was a fun summer read. I enjoyed following along on Bea's journey towards finding her voice and opening up.

When Shakespeare is at the heart of a novel, then said novel needs to be up-to-par. In the case of Long Story Short, author Serena Kaylor not only pays homage, she makes Shakespeare’s work exciting and accessible to fans and novices alike.

At the center of Long Story Short is Beatrice, a teenage mathematical genius with an eidetic memory who, after being homeschooled her whole life, dreams of attending Oxford. Beatrice has some serious “personality quirks” — eating a specific meal for each day of the week, wearing the same “uniform” every day, not wanting to take part in social situations. Some of these peculiarities come from being a very smart, homeschooled kid, but her behavior also reads as someone who is neurodivergent, which Kaylor never really addresses.

Theater camp is the exact opposite of Beatrice’s life in every way, and it’s fun (and many times moving) to watch her explore and learn from new experiences. Anyone who was/is ever socially awkward will immediately relate to Beatrice. Her social anxiety is palpable. She feels authentic from the first page to the last.

So, too, do Kaylor’s supporting characters, especially Beatrice’s new friends Mia and Nolan. This dynamic duo add color, laughter and a layer of glitz to Long Story Short. They are friends in the true sense — immediately coming to Beatrice’s defense while holding her to the same standard they hold themselves. Neither is afraid to put Beatrice in her place when needed, and yet, it’s always done with compassion. Most importantly, they give her room to grow.

As the love interest, Nik begins out a bit formulaic — hot, British, rich, etc. He turns out to be a lot more layered — thank goodness — as does Beatrice’s “enemy.”

Long Story Short is one of the better young adult romances out this summer. Its characters are nuanced. Its pacing is spot on. And it’s just plain fun to read.

This was a sweet story and the perfect balance to what I was expecting. I had so much fun reading this, it’s currently extremely warm and this combined with the weather? Absolutely breathtaking. I like flawed characters who slowly develop throughout the book and this was no exception. I had so much fun getting to know them all and I enjoyed the romance just as much!

Thanks to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for sending me an e-ARC of Serena Kaylor's "Long Story Short". All opinions are my own.

And I fell from the pedestal
Right down the rabbit hole
Long story short, it was a bad time
Pushed from the precipice
Clung to the nearest lips
Long story short, it was the wrong guy

If you are looking for Taylor Swift's "Long Story Short" in novel form, then look no further! Bea, a 16-year-old mathematical genius, has just gotten accepted to Oxford for college - but her parents don't think that she can handle that level of socialization. However, Bea gets them to agree to let her to go to Oxford on one condition - she has to go to a Shakespeare summer camp and complete a list of "How To Be A Real Teenager" objectives. As Bea goes about completing her list, making fast friends, and fighting the director's son, she learns just what it means to live and love outside of her comfort zone.
LSS is such a cute story!! I thoroughly enjoy theatre-based narratives and this one is no exception. Add to that the way that Kaylor handles the neurodivergence of Bea and you have the icing on the cake. Please please please pick up a copy of "Long Story Short" through your local library and/or bookstore and read it ASAP so I have more people to scream online with.

Thanks so much to NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of "Long Story Short" by Serena Kaylor, scheduled to release on July 26th, 2022!

This novel follows sixteen year old Beatrice, who has been homeschooled her entire life and is somewhat of a genius - at the very least, she is a gifted child. She is able to apply to Oxford and ends up getting in, much to her surprise. Her parents do not take the news well - and not just because she blurts it out in the middle of a dinner party with her parents' friends and son present. They are deeply worried for Beatrice because while she is very academically intelligent, her social skills do not reflect those of a typical teenager. Her parents are very reluctant to let her experience what else the world has to offer at such a young age. So they sign her up for a Shakespeare theater camp with a list of conditions that must be met by the end of the month. Once she arrives and slowly starts to make friends, they too add some additional tasks for her to complete before the end of the summer as well.

Overall, I would rate this book a 3.5/5 stars!

Omg!! I absolutely loved this story. Beatrice has to be the best character ever. I could not stop smiling throughout each page and also feel everything she felt. I loved the way the story progressed and the rest of the characters were just spot on. Fantastic read!!