3/5 Stars

Representation : Bi Main Characters, Gay Side Character

I received a Free E-Arc in exchange for an honest review through Netgalley. Thank you to the Wednesday Books and Netgalley.

I wanted to love this book because it sounded perfect for me, a YA novel similar to the selection and the bachelor but with a sapphic revenge plot line like how wouldn’t I like it. But then I read it and there were some parts I absolutely loved but then there was so much of it that I didn’t. I think some people will truly love this book and if you want a ‘YA’ romance revenge novel, that has some cheesy moments and some very cringy moments this is it. I just felt that it could have been shorter and that would have definitely helped my enjoyment.

Some of the things I did enjoy were the girl power themes of the book. Even though there were all of the girls who had dated the same man and were competing for him again, they felt like they supported each other (eventually). I also liked that the Bi mai characters didn’t feel stereotypical and felt realistic in their sexualities.

All of the things I didn't like will be in my review on goodreads where I can hide the spoilers.

I should have DNF’d this book but I was reading it so quickly until the last 30% of it which took me a while to get through (by my standards). That's on me for deciding to not DNF and please take everything I’ve said with a grain of salt because I know some of my favorite books are not well liked but this could be your new favorite and don’t let me stop you from loving it.

If you enjoy the bachelor, but want some revenge and sapphic fun sprinkled in this could be for you.

Full review on goodreads will have minor spoilers but they will be hidden.

This was absolutely incredible! Sooooooooo laugh-out-loud hilarious (i can't believe I laughed out loud so many times), zany and quirky and almost a satirical vibe, with a completely hatable villain, an incredibly lovable cast of characters (the way that the author fleshed out the two main characters with such distinct voices and motivations, as well as the huge cast of side characters, is amazing. Isaac, perrie and francesca were my favs), a concept that was soooo original, a really interesting vibe (it felt more like my own young adult life, which makes sense given the book's set in europe so the drinking age is lower which gave it a slightly more mature feel than most yas). I didn't see the twists at the end coming, and i loved following maya and skyes story, from the sexual tension and chemistry at the start through to them falling for each other and denying it, through to them giving in and the fear that came for both of them as a result.

Most of all i was impressed with the portrayal of jordy, the rich, charming asshole who collected girlfriends like souvenirs in every city or country his on-the-move family ended up in, before discarding them because he had to move with his family again. it was a really interesting look into how narcissists can manipulate the situation and change the details of how things went down to flip the script and make you sound like the crazy one. There's a line about whoever gets the story out first is the one whos version is believed and that really hit hard.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, so I was ecstatic and extremely grateful when St. Martin’s Press reached out to grant me a digital arc. Unfortunately, I think my expectations were set way too high, which led to this book’s downfall during my reading experience.

When I first read its summary, this book seemed to have everything going for it: great title, amazing premise, bi rep, a revenge story… it seemed tailored to my personal taste. Plus, it’s written by Sophie Gonzales, and I had already loved two of her books in the past. What could go wrong?

A lot, it turns out. I didn’t care about any of the characters or what was going on with them and even lost interest in the revenge story that had sold me on this book in the first place. I think this mainly happened because the pacing was so weird. It seemed to focus on the most random, trivial scenes and then rush through the important ones that were supposed to build and solidify Maya and Skye’s relationship. As a result, I couldn’t care less if they got together or not.

It didn’t help that I always got them mixed up in my mind when the story switched between their two point of views. Their voices and though processes read exactly the same for me, both kind of annoying and unlikeable for some reason.

In the end, I’m mostly sad because I really wanted to like this. I really tried. And it just didn’t do it for me.

I LOVED this book! Maya and Skye were so great in their story arcs, and the supporting characters were also really well fleshed out and given interesting storylines. It felt like reading a TV show/movie, and apparently books resembling The Bachelor are a weakness, even though I've never seen the show. I flew through this book, and this is definitely my new favorite book by this author! Again, very jealous of everyone who gets to read this in December for the first time!

ARC graciously provided by NetGalley

In Never Ever Getting Back Together we see Maya and Skye team up against Jordy when they’re put together in this Second-Chance Love reality TV show featuring Jordy, who is the ex boyfriend. All of his exes are there, wanting to rekindle their past romances. But Maya knows this is her one and only chance to get revenge against Jordy for cheating on her. Slowly, Skye and Maya start to build something within themselves that can change the course of the revenge plot. I was hoping this book was going to be better, I enjoyed Sophie Gonzales’ previous books and I am disappointed. The writing itself was great, the plot wasn’t. It felt very icky to read this story because of the way that everything unwrapped. And referring back to the writing, I felt like there was no sense of time and things were just happening. The idea of Skye and Maya finding love during the situation they were put in sounded SO GOOD and coming to read it just was very disappointing to see how everything came about, there was basically no connection to be felt while reading this book. This book is definitely not YA, these characters are basically adults, and it’s so unrealistic that they’re on a dating show.

This book was exactly the fun romp I wanted it to be. Bachelorette meets The Selection (minus the dystopia aspect...) meets the Princess Diaries, is how I described it to a friend of mine. It wasn't my favorite of the Sophie Gonzales books I've read but as always, YAY for bi girls, and strong female friendships.

ARC releasing 12/6/22. Maya is called to be part of a new reality show, where her ex boyfriend dates his ex girlfriends to find the one and sees it as the perfect revenge for cheating on her. Taylor Swift reference plus Bachelor vibes? Sign me up. Sadly, I was disappointed. I felt like the characters were too young for this plot to work well and they were all very one dimensional.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my copy of Never Ever Getting Back Together in exchange for an honest review.
Never Ever Getting Back Together is the classic story of girl falls in love with prince charming. Prince charming is everything but charming. Prince "charming" cheats on girl. Girl meets other girl when invited on a reality tv show for prince's second chances. Girl falls in love with other girl while teaming up to expose prince charming on reality tv.
There were many things I loved about this book for goodness’s sake I read it in only two days. I love the reality tv show aspect, and that the jerk was so hate able I loved it. I loved the banter and the humor of the characters and their (my fatal flaw like Maya's) interaction together as a group.
However, there are two reasons why I can't go higher in my rating. The first reason is the age of the characters I could not get over it of them being at the age 20 at most and already had more than 6 relationships. That these relationships on the show are from when they were 16 years old. I would of like for them to be more aged up around 24 or 28. The second reason I did not feel as much chemistry between Maya and Skye as a couple as I would have liked.
Don't let these two reasons be what stops you from reading this book because overall it is a fun read and is very much a joy to read it.

I received this ARC in exchange of an honest review. I do enjoy a romance book, but it took awhile to get there. Especially when in the beginning of the book, it was all about the lack of female friendship and cattiness that can happen. It felt that the females were being pinned against each other. Even when Jordy was the common denominator of the reason to all of it. Even with some of Maya's initial thoughts of Skye "she doesn't just get to watlz into my orbit and take my boyfriend and my pride..." Skye didn't know! I get that Maya was acting and thinking on emotion, but clearly no communication was had.

I am aware that that part of all the miscommunication is to cause the tension and the drama, but it takes so long. I think i'm just the type of person who hates cattiness and that type of environment feeling ganged up upon and it made me feel more for Maya. Especially when no one was listening to her and she's been telling the truth.

Ultimately, I read something that was different than what my typical interest (I'm not someone who watches "The Bachelor" franchise for example), but I think this will be a fun book for those who do enjoy reality style dating shows and definitely perfect for the YA book reading romance crowd and can definitely see this in middle-school libraries. There were many moments that felt like "reality show montage" moments, so the writer did a good job portraying a dating-reality show on paper. I also loved the representation. The whole time I knew I'd be upset if Maya and Skye didn't end up together in the end.

An absolute banger! Something about sapphics plotting the downfall of terrible men and falling in love in the process was wholly satisfying. Such a fun read!

Thank you to NetGley and St. Martins press for the ARC of this lovely book.
This book is all about “Second Chance Romance.” It was sweet and an easy read.

I loved the setting and the inner monologues of both Skye and Maya. I heavily disliked Jordy, obv.

I always like when a book wraps things up for the ending, which Sophie Gonzales did well.

Another solid book from Sophie Gonzales. I love her stories and her writing, and the fact that she always makes me laugh.
Never Ever Getting Back Together follows Maya and Skye in a dual POV as they go on a dating reality show with their ex who they hope to have a second chance with (for romance or revenge), and the truth comes out about their 'relationships' and what kind of guy Jordy is.
I love the concept of a reality tv show and how Gonzales handled all the behind the scenes moments. The hijinks, the schemes, the girls & friendships on the show, Maya & Skye's handler, the revenge, even Jordy and his awfulness, made this such a fun and quick read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC! When I started this book, I have to be honest, I kind of looked at the title, skimmed the description and requested it, so I was under the impression Maya would get back with Jordy. Maya was also super annoying at the start. But I still didn’t want her to get with jordy, obviously, and then Skye came in and I was like oh ok that’s fine then they should be together. In most books, the big fallout in the relationship near the end is kind of drawn out, and I liked that this one was short and then Maya and Skye were back together! Overall, would definitely recommend this book

THIS WAS SO FUCKING GOOD! I've always wanted to read a bachelor style plot where two of the girls fall in love and this was even better because Jordy is such a toxic prick and I wanted him to be taken down so badly

Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of Never Ever Getting Back Together!

This book was an absolute delight from start to finish. I love Sophie Gonzales something fierce and she's an insta-buy author for me. If This Gets Out and Only Mostly Devastated are at the top of my favorites list, but Never Ever Getting Back Together has now claimed its place there as well.

I made a promise to myself to read more F/F or sapphic romance this year and I'm happy to say that this falls into that category! Never Ever Getting Back Together follows the story of two women, Maya and Skye, who both dated the same guy, Jordy. Maya and Jordy were dating while Jordy was also dating Skye. Uh oh. When the women are thrust together on the same reality TV show, Second-Chance Romance, they learn that they were played by the same guy and work together to try and take him down.

Although this book didn't resemble the plot of The Charm Offensive, it did give me some Charm Offensive vibes. Maya and Skye, although having gotten off to a rocky start, slowly become friends and then something more. The ways that Maya and Skye try and a) rehabilitate Maya's character on the show and b) take down Jordy were hilarious. With a cast of side characters including a girl who's only in it for the followers, a royal junkie, and a drama-loving PA, this book had it all and it clipped along at a comfortable pace. I never felt like it dragged and as the chapters go between Skye and Maya, you get two different point of views that really help round the story out.

Never Ever Getting Back Together would be considered YA, in my opinion. There is no explicit sexual scenes, but when it's suggested, it is fade to black, which is typical of the author. Although I normally read books with a higher spice level than this, it didn't impact my rating at all. I knew going in who the book was marketed for but Gonzales creates such as a wonderful myriad of characters with creative plot lines that the romance does kind of take a backseat for me.

I can't wait until December so that I can own a physical copy of this book! It was great and I'm so glad I get to hype it up over the next six months!

Oh my gosh. This was such a fun book- I really enjoyed the interplay between all the women chosen for the show, and the slow reveal of all of their shared experiences. Maya and Skye are great antagonists to friends to more. I will definitely be picking up more of the author’s work- this is a perfect lazy afternoon read!

The best work by Sophie Gonzales in the past few years. Though nothing will top Only Mostly Devastated in my mind, I was pleased to see the relationship develop through the premise of a reality
tv show. I also really liked how light hearted the language of the chapters was.

thanks to netgalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review!!

i tried to read this book but after the first few chapters i was simply not interested. the writing wasn’t very engaging for me. the plot seemed interesting from the excerpt i read but the actual execution wasnt so fun.

I think this was a really cute fast read. I liked how it was a competition show like the Bachelor but combined with Ex on the Beach. I think it was interesting/gross that the women were pitted against each other from the beginning, but that's Reality TV. I feel like the ending was a little rushed but over all a pretty average read.

I love this author, so having their team reach out to me to be one of the first to access an ARC I was thrilled! I'm a sucker for enemies to lovers and so I was full down for the ride this book would take me on.

Second Chance Romance is a new reality dating show where 1 bachelor has the chance to re-date his exes to see if they really are the one who got away. The perfect landscape for ex Maya to come in and give the world a taste for who Jordy really is. Spoiler; it's not the charity giver, feminist he appears to be. The only downside you ask? Having to be face to face with Skye, with whom Jordy cheated on her with.

The set up was incredible, I loved the tension and distrust between Maya and Skype, and the moments where many they didn't hate the other as much as they thought they did, but I did start to get confused on who's POV I was reading at times as both girls sounded very similar. This set me up to be a bit confused at times and begin to loose interest.

Overall I enjoyed it, but just wish there was more personality differences between the girls to differentiate them.