If you're looking for a YA that absolutely nails a particular tone and mood - buoyant and funny and character-driven, but with a sharp canny edge that keeps you from floating away on a sea of fluff - <i>Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute</i> is without a doubt worth picking up. I actually went back and forth a bit on the star rating, and on whether I should just stop giving things star ratings at all: while this book may never enter the pantheon of my personal favorites, not being angsty or grown-up enough (by design), it absolutely, resoundingly NAILS so many things that I think YA writing can and should be. And in that sense this book is not just enjoyable, but also smart and accomplished and extremely important. So, 5 stars it is.

Part of what delighted me in reading this book, as a long-time Talia Hibbert reader and fan, was watching how she so deftly adapted her tone and writing talents to a different type of story. It still felt like a Talia Hibbert book (emotional, readable, fundamentally kind, very British, extraordinarily funny), but it also clearly had a different mission and approach than her other work. This absolutely was not a case of an author just filing off their edges for a different demographic, or slapping numerically-younger ages on their protagonists. Rather, HSaUC struck me as a fundamental reconceptualizing of how an author's strengths can work across sub-genres and categories, and for that alone I think it might be worth reading if you're already a fan of Talia's adult romance work.

It's also worth reading for how delightful Bradley and Celine are. The two of them start off the book as academic rivals and enemies. Enemies in a way that is simultaneously really funny - hyperbolically, teenagedly funny - and clearly related to some very serious wounds and insecurities that they both carry, and which the book treats with respect and consideration. We get bits, in flashbacks and conversation, of how they started off as great friends, drifted apart, and came to both hate and obviously still love each other. This love-to-hate-you energy comes to a head as they both join an outdoor adventuring program. The program is led by Celine's idol and role model, and offers a scholarship opportunity that both Brad and Celine want, albeit for different reasons. The plot of the book takes us from the start of the program to its finish, interspersing their time in the woods with lots of scenes of them at school, with their families and friends, and interacting with each other.

Celine is a delightfully prickly teenager, whip-smart and very guarded. Watching her learn to open up - learn that it's ok to have "feelings about people" - made my heart grow several sizes. And Brad is an absolute sweetheart: both his struggles with OCD and his insecurity over his dream to become a writer are treated with such sensitivity. I loved how the author showed him presenting one face to the world (cocky and confident, but never cruel) and another to the reader (vulnerable, unsure, striving) yet he always felt like a coherent character to me. I think there's also some very valuable rep here in having a bisexual MMC in a YA romance- the way that feels unabashedly integral to who Brad is and how he moves through the world is really great.

Gushing aside, there were a couple things that didn't work for me. Most significantly, the book ran into pacing issues in the middle. I scarfed down the beginning in a whirlwind of charm and glee at meeting these characters and their unique senses of humor, and I finished in a greedy gulp, wanting to see them both together and happy. But in the middle there, I got lost in a meander long enough that I put the book down for a couple weeks and didn't feel too much urgency to go back to it (I'm so glad I did though).

I think part of the issue was that I was never really sure what the "outdoor experience" element was contributing to the plot? I expected it to bring higher stakes: problems to solve, forced proximity, humorous situations.... but it never really did. The whole thing felt a bit manufactured - and honestly the way they were "graded" on their performance in the outdoors made me a bit uncomfy, though that's probably an accurate reflection of how a corporate empire would run an outdoors empowerment scholarship program. That element took up a big chunk of the middle of the book, and probably contributed to my brief loss of engagement.

Still, this book is so, so worth it. I scrolled through my Kindle highlights in preparation for writing this review, and was amazed all over again at how sharp and fresh the writing is, and how much I already miss Brad and Celine. This book makes such a great addition to Talia Hibbert's backlist, and to YA romance as a genre. A real gem.

Bradely and Celine used to be friends, then he got popular and she..didn't. Enemies in highschool, they end up in a situation in which Bradely feels guilty and offers Celine a ride to an informative scholarship meeting. Both Bradely and Celine apply and get accepted to compete for a scholarship by camping out in the woods of Scotland and proving their leadership abilties. The two begin to support eachother through struggles that they are having, Bradely has OCD and wants to be a writer and not a lawyer like his parents want, and Celine has trust issues from her father leaving, and they end up being friends, maybe more.

This was a YA romance that was actually a romance. A lot of YA romances are more contemporary coming of age stories with a romantic side plot. This actually centeralized around the romance, the characters spent lots of time together and both felt like fully flushed out characters. I would have loved reading this in highschool, and I still really enjoyed my time as an adult reading this.

Tropes: LBGTQIA+ rep; Mental Health Rep (OCD); Afraid to commit; coming of age; enemies to lovers; highschool; camping

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reading copy! This book was indeed “unfairly cute” as the title suggests, and I really enjoyed Talia Hibbert’s first Young Adult (YA) book. Celine and Bradley were best friends, then hated each other, and through a British youth scholarship program became friends and then more. I thought this book was super charming in a lot of ways. I really really love Hibbert’s writing, I think she’s one of the best contemporary writers out there, even beyond romance, and Hibbert really is great at writing romance. I thought the chemistry and charm between these two characters was great, with just the perfect amount of angst for a YA. Hibbert writes dialogue (inner and outer) like no one else, and she’s very funny and has perfect pacing. I loved the main characters Celine and Bradley, and thought the OCD representation was well done and enjoyed the family dynamics and side characters. My only argument with this book was that I am used to Hibbert’s adult romances (full disclosure, her adult romances are all my favorites of all time). I personally just do not connect as much to people under the age of 25, but I am an old, so I think that this book is an overall great addition to the genre of YA. I recommend this book for fans of romantic comedy, YA, OWN Voices (OCD representation), and Talia Hibbert.

This is my first book by Talia Hibbert and now I am planning to read her backlist. Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute was such a fast and joyful read to close out my 2022. It is an "enemies" to lovers story between ex-childhood best friends Celine and Bradley told in duel POVs.

I'm not a big romance reader because I dislike lack of communication as a plot device. This book was refreshing in the way Celine and Bradley resolve their differences and work things out throughout the story instead of leaving it for the last chapter pages. I also loved the survive the wilderness vibes as they compete with eighteen others for three academic scholarships that would help pay for university.

Definitely will be displaying and recommending this book.

Thank you Netgalley for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Talia Hibbert has done it again! I don't know how, and I won't even begin to question why, but gosh does she know how to write a romance!

I love that this book highlighted humor and feel-good funnies, while also allowing the characters to discover who they are. I found myself interested in the supporting characters as much as the main characters in this story (no surprise because that's just how good Talia Hibbert's writing is).

I'm so excited to listen to this audiobook and get the same feet-kicking, heart-fluttering, aww-melting moments!

Let me start of by saying that this truly was "unfairly cute." I loved getting to know Celine and Brad, and their quick-witted banter and funny quirks made the story that much better. Additionally, I greatly appreciated Talia's approach to writing a character struggling with OCD. This illness manifests itself in many different ways, and it was neat to see how Brad dealt with triggering situations.

This is somehow both an enemies-to-lovers and friends-to-lovers novel, and I'm so here for it! A huge thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for a free early copy of this book.

Happy Pub Day to Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute! Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book! I loved the Brown Sisters trilogy, so when I saw that Talia Hibbert was releasing a YA novel, I knew I had to jump on it.

HS&UC was an absolute joy. I loved the diverse cast of characters, body positivity, neurodivergence representation, and the care and respect that was given to all of those topics, and more! Bradley & Celine had the funniest banter and just the right amount of teenage angst that was relatable without feeling over the top. This rivals-to-romance YA romcom had me laughing, swooning, tearing up, and flying through the pages. I highly recommend this book if you like romcoms, even if YA isn't your thing!

Rating: 4.5/5

📖Book: Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute
⭐️Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✍🏼Author: Talia Hibbert
📚Genre: Teen & YA | Romance
🗏 Pages: 320
💕Tropes: Friends to Enemies to Lovers, Childhood Friends, Close Proximity, Miscommunication
⚠️Warnings: Parental Abandonment, OCD
🔖Readability: 4/5 italic font is used
🥇First Line: "Its the first day of school, and I'm already being forced to socialize"

Things to expect:
✨Duel POV
❤️OCD Representation
💞Plus-Size Representation
💛Grump x Sunshine
😂 Laugh Out Loud

If I'm suggesting a YA, that means RUN. This was laugh-out-loud adorable and just had me smiling the entire time. Two high schooler seniors who used to be friends find themselves signing up for the same woods survival adventure. They will have to work together to make it out, and maybe something more will happen. This was the cozy warm romcom I needed this winter, and I immensely enjoyed it. I can't wait for what Chole Brown has in store next.

Thanks to TBR & Beyond Tours & Penguin Random House for the advance reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Celine and Brad have the cutest romance I've seen in a while. I love the different types of representation that Hibbert always brings to her characters, and especially how it never feels forced or patronizing. This book was emotion, fun, hilarious, and I can't wait to read it again.

Thank you Talia Hibbert and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!! 🤩

Celine and Brad used to be bff’s and now? They’re academic rivals who want to win the same survival course in the woods for a full scholarship to their university of choice. Celine wants the accolades (and to stick it in her dads face), Brad wants it because he wants to mess with Celine which turns into him realizing this could be a good opportunity for him. While they’re competing, they vow to act like their past isn’t a thing. This leads them to remember why they were friends and why their friendship ended.

I loved the Brown Sisters trilogy, and had such high hopes for Hibbert’s YA novel. This book was seriously unfairly cute 😋. Hibbert did a good job of building background info, while also building such awesome moments for the characters. I loved the OCD and Queer rep, it was done well, and made me love the characters more. I found myself giggling and swooning (I’m also pretty sure I cried but we won’t talk about that). I can’t even say more because it’ll give things away.

If this isn’t on your radar, it should be!!!

Honestly, I just want to gush and rave about this book. I adore Hibbert’s adult romances and wasn’t sure how her style and work would translate to the YA sphere, but she does it seamlessly.

Bradley Graeme and Celine Bangura are childhood friends turned enemies. He is beloved by all. She is…not. He is sunshine. She is…not. He is popular. She is a conspiracy theorist with way more social media followers than friends. His family seems perfect. Hers is…not. They are rivals at school and avoid each other otherwise.

Well, they avoid each other, that is, until they are forced to work together as a team. In the wilderness. As they both pursue a prize that could change their futures.

And maybe, just maybe, that forced togetherness will bring them together again. Can they be friends again after the past hurts they inflicted upon each other? Are they maybe something more?

Hibbert manages to capture this coming-of-age story with care. We see vulnerability here, mental health rep, bisexuality rep, a reframing of the past, a shifting concept of one’s future, young love, dealing with past hurts, taking on responsibility for one’s self and one’s actions, the love and support of family and what it looks like when that is fractured, what it takes to redefine yourself on your own terms. And Hibbert’s writing style just makes you want to read more.

I highly recommend it and look forward to reading more of Hibbert’s books—both adult and (hopefully more) YA.

I received an advance copy of the book from Random House Children’s, Joy Revolution, and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.

TALiA HIBBERT??? YA????
SIGN ME UP
The brown sisters series is one of my favorite series of all time, and when I saw the opportunity to read her first YA novel?? I was so incredibly pumped.
Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute wrapped me in a warm hug, and didn’t let go until I was a puddle of happy tears,

THIS DELIVERED OKAY.

Celine: suspicious, sarcastic, sometimes emotionally avoidant, kind, and driven.
Bradley: creative, athletic, sweet, witty, and very particular.

Amazing chemistry

Best friends to rivals to lovers.

Exploring the forests of England/Scotland. If you are an outdoor girly, this book is for you ( i for one would rather glamp)

As always, the side characters DELIVERED.

TW for Mental health talk, but it is written with Talia Hibberts signature way of tackling how we talk about mental health in a calming way almost??? I dont know how to explain this but it like she made you tea and is speaking in a whisper

Rating: 4.5 stars

Rep: BLPOC, OCD

Characters

We know Talia Hibbert for her fantastic characters in Adult Romance Novels, and Highly Suspicious and Unfairly cute was no different. Celine and Brad were characters that were different from each other, and their dynamic was fun to read. Celine was a character who knew what she wanted, and she was focused on that. Contrary to Celine, Bradley was a character who wasn’t sure what he wanted at the start of the book. Over the course of the novel, Brad figured out what he wanted, also that he was going to live his life for himself and find out what makes him happy. Celine and Brad went on a journey in this book, and I loved seeing them grow over the course of the novel. The supporting cast was also fun to read about, and I enjoyed them.

Plot

I’m not a big camping person, but I loved the expedition elements. I loved seeing Celine and Brad over the course of the story because, like their character journeys, the plot also helps them on their journeys. The stories with their families were interesting as well, and I wanted to see where they were going to go as I was reading.

Writing

Talia Hibbert is an excellent writer. I love how she tells a story, and how she uses distinct tones to tell a story. Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute had some light and fun scenes where you could tell that the characters are having a great time. This novel also deals with some very real topics, such as OCD, doing what you want to do for yourself, and having your own goals. Talia Hibbert tackles these with care and heart.

Romance

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute is at its core, a romance. Celine and Bradley had an incredibly sweet romance. They were best friends, who had a falling out, and then they developed feelings for each other. What made the story even sweeter was that you saw the passion the couple had for each other.

Enjoyment/ Recommend for

I really enjoyed this! The novel was fun while still discussing some very real topics. I recommend this book to fans of YA romance. Also, folks that enjoy diverse books would enjoy it.

I read this over the holidays and definitely enjoyed this one! Brad and Celine were great main characters and I loved getting inside both of their heads through this story. Their romance felt so real and believable, and the banter between them was excellent. I appreciated that although their were some misunderstandings, those didn't necessarily drive the entire plot as Celine and Brad were mature enough to communicate with each other but the book still had really good tension! It was well done. Also I appreciated the thoughtful approach to OCD and anxiety in this book. It is a super cute and sweet romance!!

(3.5 stars, definitively)

Talia Hibbert's debut YA novel is, without a doubt, a success. There's witty banter, there's diverse characters, there's personal growth, mental health chats and realistic character arcs like none other! While this book reads YA, the characters feel very mature and grounded (unlike some other YA I've read before...). If you're a fan of Talia Hibbert or a YA connoisseur, make sure you add this one to your TBR pile! Also this cover is just the cutest thing in the world. 🥰

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's / Joy Revolution for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I rarely pick up YA, but I think Hibbert did a wonderful job of writing a story that will appeal to many ages. I struggled a little with the cadence of the book – some sections felt too long, others felt rushed. However, overall I really enjoyed this book. She handled some difficult topics well, and included a perfect balance with banter and light moments. Hibbert always includes great representation with her characters, and the OCD representation in this book was well done, especially from the perspective of a popular high school student. Hibbert has become an auto-buy author for me, even including YA. This book was also a reminder that I have no desire to go back to high school, but that adulthood also has a lot of the same drama and emotions.

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-arc!

This YA novel follows Celine and Brad, who were once best friends but had a falling out after a huge argument. Now, he is one of the most popular guys at their school and a star athlete and she is a conspiracy theorist content creator. The only time they speak to each other is to insult each other. But they are forced to work together when both of them sign up for a survival course in the woods for a chance to win a grand prize.

When I saw that Talia Hibbert is writing a YA novel, I was really curious about it. After reading the synopsis and from the cover, it looked like an outdoorsy book, and I was kind of hesitant to pick it up because I usually don’t go for books with that setting. However, as I was reading, there was not much of that element. I thought the majority of it would involve the competition, but it was kept on the back burner. Because of this, I felt that it did not have a plot to begin with. The saving grace was the banter. I loved Brad! He is so charming, kind and such an adorable character and it was my first time reading about a character who has OCD. I was really conflicted about Celine. I liked her, but she was a bit judge-y at times. But I understand that it stems from her dad’s abandonment. Then, there was this scene where her inner monologue was so cruel to one of her camp friends just because they were concerned about Brad’s wellbeing and were unaware of his OCD. I understand that she is protective of him, but she was too quick to come to his defence when nothing even happened. Overall, it was a cute love story, but the story could have focused more on the competition.

Listen. Is Talia one of my favorite authors? 100%. Did she absolutely crush her YA debut? Without a doubt. Thank you, Talia, for writing such a delightful story and thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

I'm so excited to have a new Talia book in my hands that I don't even know where to start or how to sum up my feels. Basically, it's freaking adorable and I love it. But I think I'll do some bullet points with my top takeaways.

-Ex-best friends to...something more? squeeeeeeee

-I love that the female MC, Celine, got to be the grumpy one with so much ambition, and Brad, the male MC, got to be the sunshine one with OCD and the most caring heart. I just want to give both of them big hugs and tell them they're awesome.

-Banter. lovely banter!

Ok, I got distracted trying to find some of my favorite parts and ended up rereading it. Please do yourself a favor and read all of Talia's books.

Well... needless to say, this was indeed, Unfairly Cute.
Of course, no one is surprised. We knew it would be. Talia Hibbert wrote a YA Romance? Say no more.
This is light, fun, banter-y. The characters were fun and loveable. The romance is adorable. It's giving "Heartstopper" vibes with its loveable cast of characters and pure sweetness. Trust me- have this one ready on your shelf for when you have one of those days and just need a book that feels like sunshine.

Thanks you to NetGalley and Random House for the advance copy for review. Opinions are my own.

I don’t read many contemporary young adult novels but when I heard Talia Hibbert was writing a new book I knew I would read it regardless. This book did not disappoint!

In Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute, Brad and Celine are finishing up their last year of High School before going to University. Throughout the story they both go experience inner struggles concerning their futures, wondering what path is really right for them. Meanwhile they become explorers in the great outdoors competing for a prize and come to realizations about themselves, their families, and what kind of lives they really want to live.

One of the things that made it a stand out for me is that It’s largely character driven, which is my favorite kind of book. The plot is still fantastic but there’s a real emphasis on characters and their growth. Hibbert’s writing makes even the more minor characters memorable to the reader.

This book is full of wit, banter, angst, heart, and true love. It’s a roller coaster of emotions in the best way possible.

Thank you so much to net galley for my arc!