I enjoyed this story, but it took me a long time to get through. Normally I fly through Talia Hibbert’s books, but this one took me over a month to get through. The book jumps around settings and will skips months and weeks of the timeline. I think that just threw me off.

The characters are likable, but the plot was a bit predictable.

I love that’s there’s real representation of the anxiety associated with OCD. There’s also a character with Celiac disease—which I also have, and the joy she has when there’s gluten free options was so real.

Overall, I thought the story is good. I think as both a YA fan and a fan of the author, I had higher expectations that just weren’t quite met. But, I would definitely recommend it to my middle school students who want a sweet enemies to lovers story.

Unfairly cute is definitely a good description. Add all the heart eyes here.

Talia Hibbert has a way of writing characters that you just relate to. While ultimately going in, I sided with Bradley because I found Celine unlikeable at first, she really grew on me as a character. Once I started understanding where her snark and barriers came from, it was easy to see why she was such a closed off character. Watching Brad pull her from her defensive shell, I immediately started rooting for this friends to enemies to more duo.

Diversity and representation is always present in Hibbert's work and she does it so well. Having a Bisexual male character in a lead role that wasn't labeled as queer was such a refreshing take and I couldn't get over how well it was done.

This was such a cute romcom book! I loved both of the main characters. Celine was frustrating but moreso because she reminds me of myself. I am not good with emotions and i always worry about the endgame and assume the worst. This leads to withdrawing and refusing to participate in things at times lol

I love that Brad wasn't like typical jock. The OCD gave him a diff dimension than just he's top dog at the school who just wants to please his dad. We have seen that so much so I was happy to have more to him.

The will they won't they saga is right up to the end but you get little wins along the way. It was syrupy sweet too but i loved it. I couldn't put it down.

This book was fun and very cute. I really loved the OCD rep and the Queer rep. Both were very well done.

However, the pacing of this book really dragged for me. And a few scenes just seemed to go on and on without it adding much to the story.

Overall this was a good read, but not a great one (for my taste).

So adorable, I had a permanent smile as I read. The characters were so sweet, I cared about their struggles and their feelings. The plot was simple but relatable. Hibbert’s writing was so fresh and funny. Truly the perfect way to start 2023.

Well this may have been the best book for me to start off 2023 with. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC and sorry I was so slow getting to read it. Here we go!

Bradley and Celine hate each other. But they didn’t always. They used to be Bradley and Celine. The Bradley and Celine. When they got older, they had a friend-break up. But a broken wrist leads to an offered ride leads to them somehow looking out for each other to survive in the wilderness. All this time together makes Brad and Celine remember why they were friends in the first place and maybe realize that there are even more feelings exist along the way.

This is a story of finding yourself and growing up while trusting your friends to be there for you when you fall. Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute is the kind of hilarious, heartfelt story that our teens need! Talia Hibbert’s voice is fun and engaging, and made me want to root for these two the whole time.

“I don’t enjoy snapping at Celine. It just… happens. This girl would provoke the Pope.” (Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute, Chapter 3)

Well, it’s definitely cute. So so cute. I loved the characters, individually and together. They have great backstory and obstacles to overcome. Their animosity is hilarious and so sassy without being annoying. And in true Talia Hibbert fashion, even though this one’s YA, there is great chemistry and sensible dealings with mental health and emotional forays. It’s not gimmicky or laden with dramatics, it’s a beautiful story of two 17 y/o’s growth and aspirations.

Is it as enthralling or heart racing as her adult books? No. And, despite my applauding above of the unnecessary dramatics, I do think it could have been heightened a bit. I hoped for more expedition scenes, more down and dirty and game smarts on the page. It was mellow.

But still, the overall experience is adorable and filled with resilience and feeling. As a YA Comtemporary I’d recommend it to many.

* I received a free early e-copy from the publisher

I’ve always enjoyed Talia Hibbert’s books, and this one was definitely cute, but I think it was a bit more drawn out than it needed to be. That said, to be fair, I think that could be due to having listened to it on audio – and the first quarter of the story felt very slow.

It could also be due to the fact that I haven’t read many YA lately, but even still, it was a cute story with characters representing mental health from all directions, and I truly appreciated that.

When two high school students find themselves in a competition for college scholarships, these two once-best-friends turned enemies reconnect… but now it might be more than just friendship. But what happens when things start to spiral? Can they handle the tumultuous events of life in their relationship? Can they do it together?

Tropes:
- Forced proximity
- Friends to enemies to friends to more
- High school/ YA
- Mental health rep: OCD
- LGBTQIA+ rep

This was a very cute YA contemporary! Loved the inclusion of a bi lead, as well as the OCD rep. I also really enjoyed the over-the-top bickering and bantering in this. Hibbert really shines in her writing style!

I knew right off the bat that I would love this book. Talia Hibbert has become one of my favorite authors. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone!

This is by far my favorite YA romance I've ever read. Absolutely adorable and fluffy without being unbelievably unrealistic. I was skeptical if Talia Hibbert could craft a YA, some authors attempt to write outside of their usual target age and they can't do it. Hibbert is unstoppable. This felt like one of her stories but so wonderfully teenager, it was such a scrumptious read. I will never doubt Hibbert again and will read whatever she writes. I do appreciate that there was no sexual expression, meaning I can suggest this to kids who aren't interested in that content but do want romance. Thanks to NetGalley and Joy Revolution for an early read in exchange for an honest review.

Celine Bangura is set on the life that she wants to lead, which includes being a lawyer. When given the opportunity to chase her dreams of being a lawyer with help from her idol, she's all over it. She just doesn't expect her arch nemesis, Bradley Graeme, to also take the opportunity. We learn more about Celine and Bradley's past relationship and how they rekindle it.

I absolutely loved this book. The humor was witty and not at all forced and I really liked the character development. As a special education teacher, I appreciated some awareness for OCD, mentions of therapy, and the use of coping strategies throughout. I was rooting for Celine and Bradley throughout the book as they struggled to figure out who they were as individuals and with their relationship.

As a fan of Talia Hibbert's adult rom-coms, I was slightly skeptical going into this: her first YA release. I was so pleasantly surprised with this book. It was effortlessly funny and sweet. The romance was my favorite part but that's not to say that the plot wasn't intriguing and unique and the characters well-developed and loveable. Friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes but I may have a new favorite with this friends to rivals to friends to lovers although it's not nearly as catchy. I was in love with both of the main characters from page one and so deeply invested in their romance. Having both main characters' perspectives was a refreshing and welcome change of pace to the other YA rom-coms I've read. Each character had unique and distinct voices, even the side characters. It was real and messy, filled with teenage problems of first love, college applications, and familial expectations. Talia Hibbert can give me a YA romance any day of the week.

4.5 stars!

Talia Hibbert truly doesn't miss, and I loved this YA debut from her! Celine and Brad were so sweet, and for a YA book, the characters were very mature and well-developed. There was a great cast of supporting characters as well; I hope we see them again. I would love to see more after the ending of this book and hope we get to see more of this world in future books! Overall, a lovely, heartwarming, sweet, and totally age-appropriate (for the teens!) romance.

Loves:
- Second chance/friends-to-lovers
- LGBTQIA+ representation
- OCD representation
- Content warning at the beginning of the book!!!
- The glossary explaining all the British terms
- The publisher - Joy Revolution - is an imprint focused on telling BIPOC-written and featured romances

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Children's/Joy Revolution for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

TW: parental abandonment, OCD

I loved this YA Book. If this was my last YA book I read ever I would say I closed it out in a bang. It was well written, super cute, loved the characters and what they represent. The parents were amazing.

I rarely read YA books and this isn’t my typical genre. The story was fun, high stakes scavenger hunt for your future. The writing was good and didn’t feel “dumbed down” for a younger audience. Celine and Bradley stopped being friends due to Brad being embarrassed of the “weird” hobbies.

I would totally recommend for a YA audience.

I absolutely loved this book. I wasn’t sure when I first started reading if it would be complete love, but these characters stole my heart.

This friends to enemies to lovers was just perfection. From Brad and him having OCD to the complex family relationships for Celine, was truely beautiful to read.

I loved their chemistry. I loved how they found their way back to each other. I loved their friend groups. It gave me a bit of Heartstoppers vibe it that context. It was just an absolute joy to read.

It is a true YA. So if you are a YA or love YA then I highly recommend! Definitely one I would live my kids to read when they are old enough.

Celine signs up for a survival course, hoping to receive a college scholarship. She discovers she's on the same team as her high school nemesis and ex-best friend Bradley. Can they cooperate long enough to keep each other out of trouble?

Well, this is just adorable. Smart, funny, and heartfelt, it delves into the angst and idealism typical of teens. The author is as adept at YA as she is at adult fiction, which is saying a lot. If you like romantic comedy, this belongs on your must-read list.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!!

Talia Hibbert did it again! Not that I had any doubt. God, I enjoyed this SO much! The characters were so fleshed out. Bradley was such a cinnamon roll. So beyond sweet and caring. Even when he and Celine weren't friends anymore, you could tell how much he adored her. Celine was an absolute badass. She might have thought she was bad with feelings but to me, she wore her heart on her sleeve.

The conflicts were believable and everything was wrapped up perfectly, in my opinion. So hopeful and realistic. It was a bit of an emotional rollercoaster (for me!) but I loved it.

The pop culture references didn't bother me at all, and usually I'm not a fan of them. Everything that was referenced made sense. We're one day away from 2023 and people are surprised a TikTok "influencer" would end up a character in a book?

Anyway! I really have nothing negative to say. It was a pleasure being able to read this and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Talia Hibbert can do no wrong in my opinion. I wasn’t sure about her foray into YA because part of what I loved so much about her past novels is how well she writes the spicy bits! And while I still prefer adult romance just in general, Hibbert’s wit and humor shine through to make for a super cute and funny friends to enemies to friends again to lovers adventure.