This was a wonderful story that made me think of the movie John Tucker Must Die except better. I love a good girls teaming up story and how open and honest it felt, I loved how Skye and Maya had preconceived notions about each other because of their shared ex and overcame it to look at the source. Perrie was probably my favorite character even more than the romance. But I am one of those people who loves a well written side character. Anyway, do yourselves a favor and go read this magic.

3.75/5 ⭐️

i heard sapphic enemies to lovers and bachelor-type plot and i was sold. it was really entertaining and i always wanted to find out what was going to happen next. although, i thought it was sometimes underdeveloped and cringey. the book felt more focused on the mmc than the two wmc’s relationship which was disappointing. but, overall the plot was entertaining! it was a fun read to fly through when i needed something light. :)

comes out december 6th!! thank you @netgalley for the e-arc :) 💗

The Bachelor meets John Tucker Must Die but make it sapphic. Also, the Taylor Swift inspired title?! All of the yes! 👏🏻 👏🏻👏🏻

I already enjoyed Sophie Gonzales as an author going into this so I had high expectations and I was not disappointed. There are two bisexual MC’s (Maya and Skye) and a fun cast of other characters.

Maya is called up by reality TV producer Gwendolyn to come on a reality show to date her ex boyfriend, Jordy, again. Maya then tells her that she’d rather not date satan again, thanks. However, after some consideration and a call from Jordy she decides to go on the show…for revenge.

As soon as Maya gets to the set she’s roomed with the girl Jordy cheated on her with, Skye and things start off quite rocky.

I won’t give much more away but the way that the friendships (and something more for some of the characters…) develop and grow is authentic and relatable. Much like my favorite part of watching the show The Bachelor, the way the girls on Second Chance Romance bond (by the end) is absolutely delightful.

This was absolutely adorable and so fun to read

Five Stars
⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank You to Wednesday Books abs NetGalley for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review

This was a really great romance book, and I LOVED the enemies to lovers.

I wanted just a little more depth to the main characters and have them explore their deeper connection just a bit more than the author did. Although, that being said, I really did enjoy how light this book was and how cute the premise of the book was.

I also kind of felt like the revenge plot was a little tired by the end, and I wish they would have given us more of the "shooting" of the show. It felt like the book became very much not about the show they were shooting when they both wanted to stay to get to know each other.

Overall, this was a super cute book AND they stay together at the end.

Sophie Gonzales never misses!

The premise was so fun and done, I thought, believably and well. The ending was also satisfying and stemmed naturally from both Maya and Skye's characters and arcs, and I loved how Jordy was able to get what he deserved at the end as well.

Maya and Skye were both distinct characters with strong arcs and strong development and recognition of their flaws. Gonzales is expert at writing realistically flawed characters who mess up, sometimes dramatically, but whom you still end up rooting for. I also liked Skye and Maya's relationship and how after the truth came out there was no pettiness and they were able to reconcile easily, understand each other, and work together. I liked how they fit together and tempered each other's flaws and weaknesses.

I loved how developed the side characters (specifically the other girls) felt and how their relationships with both Maya and Skye progressed. The 'never have I ever' Jordy version scene was so clever and made me laugh. On that point, Gonzales's writing style is so conversational and natural, distinct to each character, and funny! I always enjoy reading it.

Overall, another hit from Sophie Gonzales. I will read anything this author writes.

I want everyone to play a game with me for a second: go to any sapphic book in existence, find the reviews saying they couldn't connect with the romance, and see how many of them have reviewed multiple mm books saying they loved it. Did you get 100%? Me too!

Funny how when two boys look at each other it's sweet and soft and precious but if two women get their moment suddenly the romance is dry and you just weren't feeling it. We see you doing this on every book sapphics ever get, and we're tired of you all. Just say you hate lesbians and go away and leave us to enjoy our romances in peace.

Sorry for hijacking this review with my rant, I have just had it up to here with the way straight women talk about ff romance!!!!!!!!

Never Ever Getting Back Together is a ya romcom about Maya, a potty-mouthed, impulsive, extremely thoughtful girl who goes on a reality show to get revenge on her cheating ex boyfriend. There, she becomes roommates with the girl he cheated on her with, Skye, an independent (read: scared of romance), Type A girl with some questionable morals who is happy to go very cold on someone if they hurt her. Their shared ex Jordy is a total asshole, a misogynist, who's also super charming, a good liar, a great manipulator, and has some serious issues of his own when it comes to the spotlight being on his sister and not him.

It took me about ten chapters to get used to the tone of the book: it's almost absurdist, bordering on satirical, with some cartoon logic. If you're the kind of person who can suspend their disbelief around characters acting over the top, and the somewhat wild premise (though when I think about it, plenty of people on the bachelor are in their early 20s, as are half the girls on the show, so it's not that ludicrous), then you'll find it easy to vibe with this. If you like your contemporaries down to earth, you might find this harder to vibe with.

I really enjoyed this read. It was about a 4 for me until the end, but the twists actually blew my mind. I thought I knew where it was going, then I didn't, then I didn't again, then I didn't again. It's hard to surprise me, so I'm gonna bump this up to a solid 4.75, rounded up to 5 for goodreads.

Oh. My. God.
I cannot say enough good things about this book!! I was HOOKED from the very first page, and found myself itching to read more any chance I got. It's funny, dramatic, heartwarming, and super super adorable.
Maya gets an invite to be on a reality tv show, where her cheating ex-boyfriend Jordy re-explores his past relationships to find the one who got away. She goes on seeking revenge, and along the way finds love instead - but not with Jordy.
It's a beautifully written queer love story, with all of the tropes I love most - enemies to lovers, the oblivious denial, and a well-deserved revenge plot. This book had me squealing in excitement and biting my nails in anticipation at the drama. I just know this is going to blow up on booktok when its released, and I can't wait to recommend this to everyone once it comes out!!!

3.5 ⭐️

This book is dual pov, following Maya and Skye. Both girls are invited to participate in a reality TV show called Second Chance Romance where they date their ex boyfriend. Maya and Skye accept the invitation with different motivation. They end up being roommates at the mansion the TV show will be recorded at. Maya hates Skye for being the girl Jordy (ex bf) cheated on her with, thinking that Skye knew about her. They eventually become friends and even co conspirators. They both begin to fall for the girl who’s trying to seduce the man that broke their hearts.

my thoughts:
I was really looking forward to read this book, but I felt really disappointed because of the corniness and cheesiness (not in a good way). Characters were really unlikeable and did not have a lot of depth. Definitely enjoyed this book more in the 20-40%. Beginning was kind of boring, and the ending felt really dragged out too. I especially didn’t like Jordy. High-key a sexist egomaniac jerk.

Overall: not bad, very unique, but didn’t like the execution/maybe not even the concept?!

This is more like a 3.5, but goodreads doesn’t let me do that. Anyways. Maya dumped her cheating ex-boyfriend Jordy 2 years ago. Now she gets a call from a tv producer to appear on a Bachelor type reality tv show where Jordy will be dating various exes to find The One Who Got Away. She agrees, planning to get her revenge on Jordy on film. Of course, she ends up rooming with Skye, the girl Jordy cheated on her with. Soon enough, they’re teaming up to take Jordy down and also falling for each other in the process.

Cool concept, but…it would’ve worked better if they were all older. Like, it’s weird that they’re doing all this with a bunch of 18 (though I guess some are 19 or 20) year olds. I hear The Bachelor and immediately think Drama ™, but the drama felt kinda low stakes all throughout. That said, Maya and Skye’s romance was very cute.

Thank you to netgalley for the earc in exchange for an honest review! This is quite literally one of my favourite books this year, right up there with SHE GETS THE GIRL! I adored how both the perspectives of the crazy reality tv girl and the crowd favourite were explored, as well as the voice both characters had. Iconic. No complaints. The ending was twisty and dramatic but also supremely satisfying and I will 100% be hand selling this to every customer who asks for a quick fun romance and enjoys the bachelor even a little bit (or enjoys hating on it).

Having loved Sophie Gonzales’ Only Mostly Devastated, Perfect on Paper, and If This Gets Out, I was so excited to receive an advanced copy from Netgalley of We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together. I was hoping that this would be the book to pull me from the reading slump I’ve been in for weeks, and for the first few chapters, I was really vibing with it.

Even better, I discovered three chapters into the book that it was a dual perspective novel, my absolute favorite type of novel! But unfortunately, that’s when things started to go downhill because Maya and Skye’s perspectives read the exact same. I mean, there were so many times I had to go back to beginning of a chapter and check whose perspective it was from because I couldn’t differentiate the two. Which is probably because the reader doesn’t learn any defining characters about these girls outside of the fact that they hate their ex and want revenge. That is their entire personality, especially Maya’s (and by the end, I was tired of hearing how much she hated Jordy and how much she wanted to take him down).

And then there was the burgeoning relationship between Skye and Maya. I didn’t feel any chemistry between them—probably because they felt like carbon copies of each other—so it was really hard for me to root for them. The switch from hating each other to not hating each other happened so fast and seemingly without reason that I found it hard to believe.

All in all, I was very disappointed by this book, which I absolutely hate to say because I really do love Sophie Gonzales as an author.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for an advanced in exchange for my honest review!

Apparently I have a thing for books about dating shows… First I loved The Charm Offensive, and now this one captured my heart as well! Never Ever Getting Back Together was such a heartfelt, adorable and addictive read about friendship, letting go of the anger that controls you and falling in love when and where you least expect it, with wonderful well-developed characters and great bisexual representation.

The main characters in this book are Maya and Skye, who are both contestants on a reality show where their shared ex-boyfriend, Jordy, is supposedly looking for a second chance romance with one of his former exes. Maya however, is not in the show for a chance to win Jordy’s heart, but to expose to the world what a horrible, selfish, mean and manipulative person he is. The only problem is that when Maya gets to know Skye, and stop hating her for being the girl who Jordy cheated on her with, the revenge on Jordy might not even be the main focus anymore…

As always, Sophie Gonzales made a wonderful job with her characters. They are always fleshed out and relatable, both likeable and unlikeable at the same time and allowed to make mistakes and grow. I loved the dual POV from Maya and Skye and watching their love for each other develop from both sides. I also loved all the other female side characters and their strong personalities, and the way they all became friends (and not toxic competitors as is often the case in many reality shows) to support each other against their joint enemy.

I have only two minor complaints. The first one is that the beginning was a bit slow and it was a bit odd to have a reality dating show with teenagers. How many exes can you have when you’re barely 20 years old, really? It also took a bit too long for Skye to start believing Maya (or for Maya to explain the cheating situation in a way that made sense…), they really should have been able to sort that out much sooner. The other thing was the way Jordy was described. Sophie Gonzalez sure did a good job letting us readers immediately see what a scumbag he was, but I just wish that there would have been more to his character that could explain why all these smart and strong girls would ever fall for him in the first place.

But those minor complaints set aside, this was such a wonderful, fast-paced and addictive story about revenge, love and friendship with a completely nerve wrecking and unpredictable ending. I read the second half of the book feverishly, totally hooked and not able to put it down until I knew how it all would end. The writing style was so smooth and with so much banter and humor that I had so much fun reading it. But there was also so much at stake that my heart was beating nervously all the way through. I desperately kept my fingers crossed for the happy ending Maya and Skye deserved, but feared that Jordy would get away with it all as usual.

May and Skye was such a wonderful couple and I really appreciated how the bisexual representation was made in such a believable and relatable, but also warm and heartfelt way.

All in all, this was a completely adorable, sweet, witty and enjoyable romcom that I had so much fun reading and recommend with all my heart!

4.5 stars rounding up to 5.

You know that episode of good luck charlie where teddy finds out spencer was cheating on her with skylar so they join forces to take him down? Those are the vibes.

Every time I start a Sophie Gonzales book I wonder how it could possibly be better than the last, yet her romances have me giggling and twirling my hair every time.

Never Ever Getting Back Together is a brilliant concept from the get-go, following Maya and Skye try to take down Jordy, their mutual ex who would fill the role of James if this was the folklore love triangle (J NAMES CAN CHOKE!!!). And it’s all on a bachelor-esque reality tv show with Jordy at the center with all of his exes competing.

I absolutely adored the way this story progressed, with all of the fun reality tv challenges, the development of the romantic relationship, and the excellent, sharp humor in Gonzales’s writing. All of the characters felt truly authentic and I was rooting for every single one of them (except Jordy).

I always highly recommend Sophie Gonzales’s work, and Never Ever Getting Back Together is no exception. It’s a lovely, quick read with sapphic representation that feels effortless in the best way.

*Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for allowing me access to this arc in exchange for an honest review*

thank you to netgalley and wednesday books for the arc! wow sophia gonzales you have done it again! she truly is a must read author for me forever and always, so so talented! jordy oh gosh i hated him so much he literally was the worst i loved to hate him, even his name is stupid!!! issac on the other hand love him, he deserves the world! i think he was such an important character and truly is an icon! skye and maya oh my heart i loved watching the two of them come together and both see them heal from the pain jordy put them through! also this book did a beautiful job about how often men try to paint women as villains! especially when they themselves are the villain! also definitely did a great job with showing the reality of reality tv! i loved the ending, i do feel that some things weren’t wrapped up as much as i would’ve hoped they were but they were minor things so it wasn’t super important! also perrie my queen! i loved her from the moment she was introduced, she is a top 3 character honestly! i felt the storyline was so unique and the book felt realistic for the premise! overall i really enjoyed and can’t wait for its official release!!

Two girls with nothing in common except for a toxic ex-bf. They start hating each other but they end up falling for each other on a reality show. (They are bi-sexual in case you need more explanation.) It's an interesting idea. The ex-bf certainly deserve everything he got.... definitely karma... :) Living well is definitely the best revenge but who can doesn't want to see a douche bag ex get what he deserve? :) I love stories about reality show (eg The close up, The Charm Offensive and If the Shoe fits were both terrific).. so it is kind of a must-read for me based on that. Totally enjoy it.

A fun read.

Don’t let the title fool you: this book is Reputation-era Taylor Swift all the way. Gonzales seems to have written this book for everyone with a crappy ex who just wants revenge and will almost blindly do anything to get it and I for one am SO here for it. Not only does this story absolutely deliver on it’s promise of revenge, it does so with smatterings of tropes done beautifully: there was only one (bunk)bed, rivals to friends to lovers, misunderstanding - one that I generally can’t stand but Gonzales does well - and a truly fun cast of characters. The leads, Maya and Skye, fit together believably, especially given their initial introduction, and rub off on each other in really profound ways; Maya curbs her impulsivity and learns to value her own voice while Skye learns that some spontaneity is good, especially when you have a community behind you.

One thing I’ve loved about Gonzales’ writing between this and her previous novel “If This Gets Out”, is the exploration of private vs. public lives and how reality can get twisted. In “Never Ever Getting Back Together”, Maya and Skye find themselves on a reality show, shuttled around by producers looking for a story and watched by the world who believes whatever narrative those producers spin. As readers, we get the distinct joy of seeing how fabricated the final product really is. Everyone on this second chance game show has their own motivations and almost none of them are pure, the “leading man” is actually a heaping pile of trash, and almost none of the romantic moments on air were genuine. Personally, I ADORE these behind-the-curtain narratives and hope to see more in the future!

I would suggest this book to anyone who has a driving desire for revenge, any Reputation-era Swift fan, and anyone who’s ever had the thought “what if a dude cheated on two bisexual women with each other, the women dumped him when they found out, then got with each other?”. This book answers that question and then some.

Never Ever Getting Back Together centres on Maya and Skye, two girls who seemingly have nothing in common—except for the toxic ex they share. When they’re invited on a reality TV show and given the chance to re-date Jordy, both accept, but Maya has ulterior motives. She’s not looking to fall in love again, and she’s certainly not interested in playing nice with Skye, the girl Jordy cheated on her with. When, to her surprise, Skye becomes a willing accomplice in exposing Jordy’s lies, the girls discover they have more in common than they originally thought. But will the feelings between them survive their desire for revenge?

This was fun! My two favourite parts were the delightful banter between Maya and Skye (I wish there had been so much more!), and then all the truly ridiculous comments made by and about Jordy throughout the novel. Although some of them were pretty outlandish, they’re witty enough that you can bypass how on-the-nose they are. Jordy is definitely a caricature, but Sophie Gonzales fits a lot of humour into his remarks, so it didn’t bother me.

One thing I loved especially was how bisexuality was handled. Both main characters are bi, and there’s a lot of internal and external dialogue about what that means for them. In one particular instance, one of the girls describes the process of having to come out over and over again—trying to be casual about it, but constantly having concerns at the back of your mind over how the other person will take it. To me, that was the realest, most relatable part of the book.

In general however, I did find the characters to be pretty shallow, which made it harder to root for them. I was more or less rooting AGAINST Jordy, rather than FOR Maya and Skye. I cared less about the romance than I would have liked; it would have been much more engaging if they were more fleshed-out beyond the fluffy romantic scenes. Same with the other contestants, one of whom has no goals or personality beyond “gain more followers”. There were also quite a few side characters (sisters, mothers, best friends, fathers) who are briefly introduced and then have zero relevance ever again, which annoyed me.

Overall though, a very solid read to pick up if you’re looking for a light queer romance full of hijinks and an antagonist you'll love to hate.

The Charm Offensive is the stick against which all queer reality dating romances are measured. Sadly this was no charm offensive.

It started out a little odd for me, once I realized that Maya was only 18. Because really, who put someone on a reality dating show with exes that were essentially the ones they had in high school? Then I thought okay, maybe this is YA. But it's not being published as YA. It's just, literally, a reality dating show with a bachelor who is only 20 years old.

Not going to lie, there was plenty about this book that I found charming and entertaining. The star-crossed romance, however, was not one of them. Some might like the idea of enemies to lovers with two bi exes. I certainly did. But there was no spark and no real tension in the narrative and once they stopped hating each other it was as close to instalove as you could come. Sure, you had all the requisite moments of coming to each other's rescue and making out in a pool. But there was just a lot of unfilled promise. The whole thing was tragically short on glee and joy.

Would I recommend as a filler book? Absolutely. There's even enough angst in it to make it a little less than straightforward - not quite contrived, but also not fully fleshed out. And that royal twist? While it made for a good fictional kingdom setting, it really made absolutely no difference in the end to the story. (Not an American Royals read alike in the slightest)

File under: wanted to love. But it just didn't hold up next to the competition.

When I read the description for this book, I was hooked & knew I had to read it . The romance was great. I liked that the banter wasn't forced & neither was the attraction. Another thing I really liked was how the reality show was written so well that it seemed real. The twists at the end were mind-blowing. My only complaint about this book is it should've been written in a more adult like manner rather than YA.

Jordy Miller has a lot of ex-girlfriends. Instead of treating a new girl right, his solution is to bring ALL of his exes on a reality dating show to re-date them just incase! What he didn't bargain for is that when you're a cheating dirt bag not all of your exes will come back with good intentions...some will come back with revenge . Maya agrees to do the show to get back at Jordy for how he humiliated her. What she doesn't plan on is Skye. *insert heart eye emoji*

I was originally obsessed with the premise of this book. Queer representation on dating shows has always been abysmal. My main complaint really was that this is a book about adults (on reality tv) written at a YA level. It just felt a bit mismatched. I will say this would make a FABULOUS Netflix movie though!