Very cute read but I think I’m just not in the YA mood so it isn’t working for me right now. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free ebook.

Adventurous, charming, laugh out loud funny, with amazing writing from dual POV and fun characters you want to root for.

4.5 stars. This was super cute. A great lighthearted YA romance with characters I immediately fell for, especially Brad. Really appreciated the OCD rep. The whole “I love this person but refuse to acknowledge my feelings” thing is not my favorite, and I found it a bit frustrating after awhile, even though it did make sense for the character. I was also not the biggest fan of the falling out at the end, but those are minor quibbles with a book I really enjoyed and definitely recommend. I hope Talia Hibbert has more YA books to come!

To no one's surprise I absolutely loved this book. Talia Hibbert's writing is just really engaging. I was immediately sucked into this book and it did not let me go until the very end. I immediately fell in love with the main characters. They were just so much fun and I really thought their own personal journeys were interesting to follow. The dynamic between them was also EVERYTHING. They from the start had very witty banter and I loved that you could tell they were into each other even when they supposedly hated one another (I mean, most of their insults towards each other were actually compliments). I also really liked how their relationship developed. My favourite thing about this book though is that the reason why they aren't friends anymore isn't kept a secret from us for too long. I liked that we knew it pretty early on and we actually saw our characters work out, instead of it just being a "forgive and forget, but not really because it's going to come back later to bite us in the ass" situation. I also really liked the setting of the survival camp. I thought it was really fun. I also really adored the cast of side characters. They were all really fun and I loved how it really brought this book to life. So yeah, I adored this.

Thank you so much to Random House Children's for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

As an avid fan of The Brown Sisters series, I knew I needed to read this book. I love how Talia Hibbert portrays neurodivergent characters in her books and in this one we need to talk about Bradley Graeme. A bisexual teenager who has to deal with OCD and the occasional not-so-good intrusive thoughts.

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute is a juvenile story with a lot of TikTok references hence my rating because it just didn't feel the same as the other ones I've read. But don't get me wrong, I loved this book. I love how sweet and empathetic Bradley is and how he manages his thoughts as a teenager. However Celine... It was complicated. She's not very loveable as a person but I guess she's just a teenager. And that's how teenagers act sometimes: annoying and stupid. Nevertheless, she's definitely a good person that needs to learn how to express her feelings without hurting others and, ultimately, herself. So, in this book we see friends-to-enemies-to-friends-to-lovers having a camping experience while discovering new perspectives about life, love, and friendship. And sure, Talia Hibbert's writing which, I believe, is enough to make you read this book if you're a rom-com fan.

Will you ever find me in the wilderness? Absolutely not. Will I read about two teens, on the precipice of adulthood and all its responsibilities, who find themselves in the wilderness to develop resilience, commitment, creative, thinking, relationship building, and leadership skills? Absolutely YES!

Celine and Brad were absolutely delightful (not the right word, but you know what I mean) 😂 They’re both witty, and just scathing towards each other! They used to be BFFs, but now they’re not because… reasons of course. Reading them having a go each at other was hilarious. They weren’t perfect by any means, but I feel they were so well written! I highly recommend this book because though it dealt with heavier topics, the banter and the character growth was just lovely to see. Celine’s dad can fall down a cliff

Thank you so much to the author and @tbrbeyondtours for my review copy and allowing me a spot on the tour! I am in no way influenced in my review. Make sure to check them out for future tours🤩
https://tbrandbeyondtours.com/

𝔽𝕒𝕧𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕖 𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕖𝕤:
✨ I am weird, Bradley, and I don’t care. Sorry I’m not pathetic enough to fake my entire personality
✨ His behavior is his choice. You can’t control other people
✨ I always thought it was my duty to make my father feel the weight of what he’s done. It never occurred to me that he’s suffering already

Thanks so much to the publisher for sending me an arc of this. I’ve been a fan of Talia Hibbert for a while and was excited to read her latest work. Even though this is a bit of a departure from her previous work with it being YA, it still has so many elements that I love about her work. This was cute and extremely delightful. I love the mental health rep and the friendships Celine and Bradley were able to form with the other explorers.

- HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS AND UNFAIRLY CUTE is Talia Hibbert's YA debut, and what a joy it is. Hibbert's adult romance novels have the best banter, and this book is basically solid gleeful banter all the way through.
- Celine fits right in to the Hibbert pantheon of smart, headstrong women. I loved how driven she was, even when pointed in the wrong direction, and seeing Brad gently help her reassess was so lovely.
- I loved that Brad had OCD, and that instead of this being a discovery and diagnosis story, he already had a fair handle on it and was shown on the page using his techniques to combat intrusive thoughts.

I loved the Brown Sisters trilogy that Talia Hibbert wrote. I loved the way she captured characters who were mentally ill and plus-size. That representation continued in Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute.

Brad has OCD and does seem to manage it very well. There are a few moments where those around him notice his compulsive behaviors, but Celine steps in to deflect in a way that supports Brad. There is a moment where Celine playfully punches Brad on one shoulder and then punches his other shoulder to even out the sensation. Brad tells her appreciatively that he no longer needs that, but it is lovely that Celine makes sure to do that for him. There is no moment where Brad’s OCD defines him or the way others see him.

I have a soft spot for the academic rivals to lovers trope, and Hibbert does it expertly. Celine and Brad used to be best friends, but they fell out when Brad made new friends on his football team and made Celine feel left out. Hibbert clearly sets out what caused the rift, and it’s hard to blame Celine for feeling hurt by Brad. They are able to talk about what happened and agree to be friends again before it slowly blossoms into something more.

Brad and Celine have such a sweet relationship. It feels so appropriately high school. Jordan, Brad’s best friend teases him that he’s in love with Celine, and Brad denies it but does say that he’s “a tiny bit obsessed with the idea of kissing her.” When he learns that Celine returns his feelings, he compares himself to a labrador puppy.

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute doesn’t take itself too seriously. The book is narrated in alternating sections by Brad and Celine, and Hibbert writes them in a way that is both funny and always authentic. It always sounds like a teenager speaking. When Celine throws mud at Brad, Brad observes: "There’s a visceral splat as it hits my chest, and I see satisfaction on her face for about 0.2 seconds before the expression vanishes like a snuffed-out candle. Her jaw drops. Her eyes are wide. She’s a bit like that painting, the one with the scream." The description is funny and paints such a clear picture of Celine’s reaction.

I had a great time reading Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute. I hope Hibbert continues to write YA because this book is so sweet and fun and addresses important issues.

Bradley and Celine have my whole heart. Friends to rivals/former friends back to friends to romance? Okay! I loved the entire concept. Brad and Celine were friends once then they grew apart and are now begrudgingly working together to survive an outdoor survival competition in the hopes of winning a scholarship. I thought it was a super fun book and I really loved the way OCD was portrayed in the story. I think so often an author will get it wrong and Talia Hibbert gets it so very right.

The book has the right combination of character growth, all the feels and humor and is an excellent romance for the young adult audience. I love all of Talia's books and this one really had me swooning.

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute | Talia Hibbert
A delightful friends-to-enemies-to-lovers embarking on a scholarship wilderness challenge.

Celine Bangura is brilliant, determined, and mildly TikTok famous; nothing will stand in her way. Enter Bradley Graeme. Brad and Celine have a heartfelt history with a heartbreaking schoolyard falling out full of misinterpretation. To my delight, this division seems unable to stand the test of some after-class group work and a broken wrist. Brad, feeling at least partly responsible for Celine’s injury (and resulting transport challenges), agrees to chauffeur her to the event that could open the door to both personal and educational opportunities. Despite her protests, Brad becomes an enthusiastic plus-one, infuriating Celine with his natural aptitude and beaming smile. As the challenge unfolds, the enemies struggle to resist the natural pull toward each-other. The scholarship is no longer the sole prize among the obstacles. But could they possibly become something more than doomed to fall apart?

YA Fiction is not my typical go-to, but Talia Hibbert is! I am so glad that I picked this one up because it is everything I love about complex characters and emotional/challenging decisions. I loved the small insight to British secondary school and the complexities of being a student and falling in love with your whole life ahead of you. I love that there is so much discussion about being true to yourself and recognizing the support of loved ones.

As expected from Hibbert, representation is on point. Seeing the characters wrestle with OCD/anxiety/inner thoughts and perceptions while using stable and healthy ways to manage/process both rationally and emotionally is eye opening and honestly educational. I wasn’t expecting the valuable input on mindfulness and emotional health, but that is just the cherry on top of this Maccies sundae for me.

4/5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Joy Revolution for providing the ARC for review!

Totally cute! I loved getting to know Bradley and Celine, and their journey from enemies to grudging allies to friends to being a couple (FINALLY) is everything. I think many of us can relate to the pain of bad friend breakups, especially when they happen during the early teen years, and I was so pleased to see these former friends patch things up and talk through their feelings and forgive each other. I also liked getting into their individual struggles: Bradley's OCD, his self-doubt when it comes to his future, his need to live up to his parents' expectations, and his desire to fit in and hang on to his friends; Celine's wariness of others, her drive to achieve greatness to spite her father, and her need to protect herself from emotional damage. This book covers a lot of ground - and time - but manages to keep everything tied together and rolling along. The supporting characters - friends, family, fellow students - round out the story and are delightful. Hilarious, sweet, and full of heart, this is a romance not to be missed.

Talia Hibbert creates amazing characters that are easy to adore and cheer for. I am a regular reader/devourer of her fiction. This book started a little slow for me comparatively, which caused me to look at the book information again and realize it is in fact a Young Adult Novel. Aha, no wonder if felt a bit slow in relation to other Hibbert novels.

Ms Hibbert has done a remarkable job explaining OCD from Bradley's personal habits, thoughts and fears; and in turn coupling them with the coping measures and exercises he uses. She normalizes and empowers getting professional help, certainly something more of our youth and adults need to hear.

I would recommend Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute to young and old readers.

I wish I was in a better place in my life so I could appreciate this book even more. Talia writes anxiety so well.

Celine and Brad are friends turned enemies. Their moms are best friends and it was only logical that they would be too. That is until things changed in high school and Brad became popular. Celine considers him a fake and a sellout. Brad thinks Celine is haughty. As they both end up in the BEP program, they end having to "tolerate" each other and eventually end up dating. Through some hiccups, they both achieve their academic goals and end up happy together. This was a fun read full of witty banter like only Talia Hibbert could achieve.

Talia Hibbert does it again.

this book follows Celine and Bradley, former friends turned enemies who end up together on a survival trip with a scholarship on the line. With that comes camping trips, lots of car rides, and tons of forced proximity. Coupled with the teenage angst between the two

What I really loved about this book though was seeing the slow-burn romance between Brad and Celine develop. Celine was so resistant to him and watching him slowly break down her walls and see the two trust each other was delightful. This is also a Black love story which I feel like we rarely see especially in traditionally published stories.

It really was an amazing read. I’m normally not a fan of YA, but this was great. I’d love to see more time spent together and a look into the far further for these two but overall, highly enjoy!
Thank you NetGalley & Publishers for the ARC!

While I originally jumped at the chance to review a new book by Talia Hibbert, author of the sweet and steamy Brown Sisters series, I didn’t realize that this was a young adult fiction. Ugh, not my favorite genre. If I do read YA, it’s usually something about teenagers getting their super powers.

So, that said, here goes. Celine and Brad used to be best friends until Brad started playing football and hanging with the cool kids. Celine, who had no interest in being cool, let their friendship die, although she blamed Brad for leaving her in the dust even though he had tried to include her. She also has grand delusions about making her father regret leaving their family for a new one by winning a scholarship that his law firm is sponsoring. She imagines he’ll see how great she turned out without him. All the typical stupid teenage drama and small-minded thinking that comes with a YA story. High schoolers always think they know everything when they know nothing, which is why I hate this genre.

Anyhoo, there’s some team-building competition in the woods for the scholarship and a chance for Celine to meet new people and reignite her friendship with Brad. It was decently written but I found Celine to be super annoying and am glad I don’t have to read about her anymore.

This is really 2 stars for me but I’m adding a star because of my genre bias. If you like YA fiction, you’d probably like this.

Thanks, @netgalley for the advance copy.

This book was unfairly cute. The banter! The friends to enemies to reluctant friends to lovers! I spent so much of this book giggling and wondering how this is my first Talia Hibbert book but at least now I know what my next few reads are going to be! Thanks so much to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC. This 5 star read has filled me with so much happiness and I hope everyone loves it as much as I did.
 
Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute follows Celine and Brad, two high school seniors (for those of us who had to look up what secondary school was since this takes place in England) that were childhood best friends turned enemies when Brad became popular and Celine was left behind. We get dual POV in this book so reading their “hatred” of each other just made me giggle because it’s two people clearly in love with each other hiding behind their supposed enemy status. Their reluctant friendship when they both apply for and get an opportunity for a university scholarship with a foundation run by one of the country’s most prominent lawyers was absolutely adorable. Their interactions as they become reluctant friends and realize that what they feel for each other may not just be friendly kept me hooked.
 
I found it difficult to put into words just how much I adored this book and Talia Hibbert’s writing. I truly cannot wait to read her backlist and I look forward to whatever she’s going to publish in the future.

In “Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute” we follow two teens Celine and Bradley who are archnemesis. They are forced to work together in a camp and it might help with their complicated relationship. The book is written in dual P.O.V.

I absolutely loved the writing style of Hibbert and couldn’t get enough of the story. This isn’t my first read by the author, and I wasn’t disappointed at all. The witty banter between the two main characters was perfect. I couldn’t stop laughing every time they started bickering. I had the feeling like I was standing right next to them. I even managed to give them voices in my head. (Is that strange? Please tell me I’m not the only weirdo.)

I particularly enjoyed the parts where the author talked about mental health issues (in this case OCD) and how the family of the concerned MC and the MC himself dealt with it.

“Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute” was my comfort read and already my favourite book of the year. Yes, I know we only have the 5th day of the year, but hear me out: This book is AMAZING! You just have to read it. The characters are adorable, the book is addictive and I promise that you won’t be able to put it down.

Happy Pub Day to this precious book! I dare to say this is going to end up in the 2023 year end lists as YA fave for a lot of people (and we just started the year, mark my words!)

This book was so precious and so fun. Let me add that Talia Hibbert's writing is the best and that's why I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. The story overall is cute and the characters, oh, they're my children.