Thank you Random House Children’s and Netgalley for this arc, in exchange here is my honest review

Anything Talia Hibbert writes is a 5 star from me. ‘Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute’ follows two teens Bradley and Celine, who used to be best friends but now despises each other.
Every thing about this book was so cute and well put together. The text messages from each character and how it contributes to the book. AMAZING. The side characters were so fun to read. They contributed to Brad and Celine’s humor, making the book 10x better.

Watching Bradley and Celine build back their chemistry and coming to an agreement on their relationship was so heartwarming. As you read through the book, it shows both POVs from Brad and Celine and how they felt about their friendship/relationship. The chemistry between the two was just everything.

A fun and fast-moving YA novel featuring former best friends to enemies to friends/mutual crushes. Bradley has OCD and Celine has anxiety and when their friendships starts to change, neither of them handles it well. Eventually, they find their way back to each other and agree to renew their friendship, except they both secretly want more. Their witty banter while orienteering through the woods is fun and funny and made the book fly by. 4/5 stars.

miss talia hibbert never misses!

i loved the brown sisters trilogy by talia hibbert since i read them (and reread them) last year so you can imagine my excitement when i get approved for her ya debut that features my FAVORITE trope, academic rivals to lovers! i was ecstatic and it definitely delivered!

highly suspicious and unfairly cute is about two ex-best friends, celine and bradley who find themselves needing to work together on a survival course in order to win the grand prize and as they team up, start to find themselves growing closer... this is a simplified version of the plot so i just recommend you read it !

to start, while there's like the slightest hint of academic rivals, the story is more focused on how the two main characters go from childhood friends to rivals to friends to lovers. although not technically what i signed up for, it's done amazingly and i adore childhood friends to lovers as well so i enjoyed this book immensely. not only the romance but the characters themselves are exquisite and their troubles and quirks are wonderfully written. celine and bradley are quite literally so relatable in so many ways and they just feel so REAL. the side characters have depth and the friendships that form are incredible and heartwarming to read about. at times it doesn't feel like you're reading a book but you're with the characters.

and in talia hibbert fashion, this book is HILARIOUS both main characters are immensely smart teenagers who succumb to their idiotic tendencies quite a lot and as a teenager who's kind of smart and incredibly stupid i had so much fun reading their antics.

i laughed, i cried, and all together had a great time reading! thanks to netgalley and random house childrens for the arc!

Childhood friends turned rivals. We open the story to Celine and Brad whom have know each other practically their whole lives. Things happened and now they find themselves as academic rivals. They end up being paired in philosophy and well somehow they spend their time arguing then doing the work. Through a series of events, Celine breaks her arm and this begins the warming of the glacier between her and Brad. Brad finds out Celine’s plan to do a wilderness survivalist program to win a scholarship. Brad then signs up as well. Once the mud flies between these two a romance is born.

I love the complexity of the characters in this story. Some things may be trigger warnings to readers so I suggest looking into that.

4.5 stars!

"I wonder if Brad tells his perfect, plastic friends about the way we used to be. I wonder if he tells his only likable mate Jordan Cooper about me, and whether they talk about it seriously, the way they sit under the weeping willow on the field and talk about books."

This dynamic is everything I ever needed. It was literally the amalgamation of all my favorite tropes (with one tiny caveat). Childhood best friends/family friends and grumpy/sunshine with the girl being the grump. This book twisted the childhood best friends trope to also include some enemies to lovers as Celine and Brad had a falling out in early high school. This was the aspect I didn't care for as much, but it did make me realize I only like enemies to lovers if they don't know each other yet. For example, if two people are forced to kill each other but then they can't because they fall in love once they actually meet. In the case of this book however, Celine and Brad are "enemies" because of their fight, but they don't actually hate the personality of the other person (obviously lol, although Celine has her warranted observations about the type of people Brad hangs out with).

I found that resentment to be pretty realistic and relatable and it reminded me a lot of a similar dynamic in Normal People, as both feature a "weird" girl and soccer (sorry Brits) player who's popular and is slightly embarrassed to be seen around her. I like that both Celine and Brad have faults in this regard as Celine is sometimes too quick to judge his friends just for being popular and what he enjoys doing, like going to parties. But on the flipside, Brad is also too caught up in making friends just for appearances, even when those friends are assholes while he isn't.

"Anyway. The point is: he was Bradley Fucking Graeme and he was too special to play a crudely drawn role in some tacky 2000s high school movie. But he didn't even know it."

Speaking of Bradley Graeme. I can't tell if I'm in love with him or if I am him. Maybe both. He has OCD, goes to therapy, constantly makes Dune references to combat his intrusive thoughts, reads modern sci-fi and fantasy, and is going through a crisis about being a writer. I mean. Hello?. Oh, also he's on the varsity soccer team. Like can we drop this man into my life stat. (I also loved the casual bi rep!! Brad is bi, but it's not a big part of the story at all).

Celine was also iconic. She doesn't care what a single person thinks about her (cough cough, except maybe, just a teeny bit, Brad) and is super driven when it comes to academics. She is dealing with the emotional turmoil of a father who left her, and I found that aspect very interesting and handled really well. I also lovedddd her mom. Of course, Celine is also a grump and severely emotionally repressed. BUT, when I say that I mean outwardly. It's frustrating when characters are emotionally constipated when it comes to internal reflection (like, grow up), but Celine is not like that at all. She's very self-aware of her emotions, she just can't say them out loud (because, ew). I loved seeing Brad rope that out of her, it was necessary but also so funny. Also the way she handled Brad's OCD 😭😭 literally perfect. Like she didn't belittle him or make him seem crazy, she just remembered little details of things to do or avoid.

This is a fabulous YA debut from Talia Hibbert and I hope she writes more!

"No arguments in Philosophy, no bitchy comments in the halls. You'd think we were ignoring each other, but whenever our eyes meet, he gives me this tiny, tentative smile and says: "Hey." And I reply, helplessly, "Hey." And then we lapse into a silence I don't know what to do with."

The title is very apt for this book! It is also unfairly cute. I'm glad Talia Hibbert has crossed over into YA, after writing in adult romance for so long. She makes the transition successfully and full of adorablness.

Ahhh, another Talia Hibbert. <3 Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a delight! In this new YA rom-com coming out next week, Celine and Brad are ex-best friends and arch-nemeses. Celine is a perfectionist and conspiracy theorist who signs up for an outdoor challenge to get a full ride scholarship to her dream college. Bradley is a football star and cool bro...except that's just the crowd he's in. He's bi, OCD, and has a secret dream of writing a novel. Brad ends up on the outdoor adventure with Celine and they become friends again, ultimately falling in love.

<I>Highly Suspicious</I> does a wonderful job navigating mental health struggles in teens, but I wouldn't expect differently from Hibbert. It had a bit of the sunshine/grump trope, which I enjoy, particularly when the woman MC (in M/F pairings) is the grump. Bradley is MC GOLD and I loved him so so much.

Once again, I am wishing I took some notes, but it was just very enjoyable...

If you've been a fan of Hibbert and wouldn't mind reading something YA, I really highly recommend it!

This was the perfect little post-Christmas treat! Talia Hibbert is one of my favorite romance writers, but I was a little nervous about her first YA book, and of course I should have trusted her. I’m pretty picky about YA romance, but this checked all my boxes, and will likely check lots of yours — friends to enemies to lovers, grumpy sunshine, and of course wonderful mental health rep that I’ve come to expect from Talia. I loved Celine and Bradley’s personalities, but I did think there were elements that could have been followed through on a bit more. Small gripes though! I recommend picking this one up when it’s out Jan. 3!

Thank you Random House Children's, Joy Revolution, and Taliah Hibbert for an advanced Readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Things you’ll find in this book:
- Enemies to Lovers
- Forced Proximity in the way of camping
- Sarcastic Alien Believing heroine
- Bi Hero with OCD
- Parental Abandonment (and dealing with that trauma on page)

Things I enjoyed:
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The banter was so amazing that I would laugh out loud or find myself grinning throughout the scene. I also loved Brad’s friendship with Jordan and seeing him at least have one friend where he can fully be himself. The build and the pace of the book was wonderful, and I felt so engaged and just wanted to keep flipping for more.

With Celine in particular, I felt so connected with her due to the lack of a relationship with her father and how she handles that situation in her life. It was heart wrenching and just handled so well.

Things I didn’t enjoy:
The lack of an epilogue. I would have loved to have seen them at least a couple of years in the future. I feel like while loops were closed, there were still conversations that Brad and Celine hadn’t had about what the future, come college, entailed and I would have loved to have had that closure for them. So it felt slightly unfinished for me.

Overall:
I’m a romance reader by default, so while reading a YA I had to constantly remind myself that it was a YA, both in how Brad and Celine communicate to the overall romance aspect of it. With that said, it had all the marks of what I love about Taliah Hibberts books.

This was my first Talia Hibbert book and I enjoyed every second of it. This is also her first YA novel and I would highly recommend it.

Brad and Celine were best friends growing up until a few years ago when they became sworn enemies. Now during their final year before university, they are both competing in a wilderness survival competition for the chance at a full scholarship. The two must put aside their differences in order to work together, and reignite their friendship in the process.

I was smiling so hard throughout this book. Go pick it up next month!

Read if you like:
• Talia Hibbert
• friends to enemies to friends to lovers
• YA romance
• funny and adventurous reads

Thank you NetGalley and Joy Revolution for this eARC. This review is my honest opinion and thoughts. There are also minor spoilers so please read at your risk.

This book was an absolute delight!!! Talia Hibbert’s YA debut is a literal gem. A lot of people are probably going to be going into this book thinking it’s just like the Brown sisters books but it is not. It is deeply YA in all aspects.

The main characters Celine and Bradley are literally delightful because they feel like true teenagers. Both of them act like they have it all together when in reality they don’t. They are allowed to make mistakes and learn from them. So many YA books have the characters acting like full on adults. In some circumstances, that is okay. But with this book, the characters had flaws but they also could grow.

All of the chapters are written in first person but some chapters will have either Celine and Brad narrating or have one of them. The book is also divided into months and the timeline is great. It feels as if time has passed by quickly as you read it.

The supporting cast of characters are also fabulous. We have Celine’s mom and sister, Brad’s family, their school friends, and the people they meet in the wilderness program. All of the characters brought something to the table, being great foils to our MCs.

As for the setting, it was very English in the best way possible. In the front of the book was a glossary of terms which I know will help a lot of American readers. British readers will be fine and will feel absolutely seen on the page. With the book taking place during the last year of school (sixth form which is slightly the equivalent of the American high school’s senior year), the stress about college applications is apparent and any reader who has gone through that stress or will be going through that stress or are even currently going through it will feel appreciated.

Overall, I give this a 5/5. It was a fantastic YA debut from both Talia as well as Joy Revolution. I am so excited to see what the Yoons have in store with this imprint.

Once again, thank you so much to NetGalley and Joy Revolution for this eARC.

This first foray into YA territory for Talia Hibbert was adorable! it retains all the banter and great relationship development of her old books without the steam. I really enjoyed the characters, Bradley is adorable and Celine has so many quirks yet is a wonderful quick as Young woman through out.

If there’s one (or two.. or three) thing(s) you can count on when picking up a Hibbert? It’s banter. Also, chemistry. Also also a variety of diverse representation. And while she’s shifted gears to a younger target audience in this, her debut YA, all of those things are still very much present here.

I don’t think this is going to be a very long or articular review because I’m swimming in that glowy squishy “I have no notes” feeling. Though honestly? My one complaint might be the ending. In the sense that.. it ended. Rude. But also it is one of those quicky endings that does maybe feel, just a bit, abrupt.

Everything else? So great. The aborted friendship, which became a nemesis slash enemies situation, only to revert back to friendship, and then more? Each stage was so well done, feeling gradual, natural, and genuine. These characters felt so real, so alive, but that’s typical Hibbert, too. I will say, though, that I think Bradley was my favourite of the two leads. He is just such a sweet cinnamon roll of a human and I appreciate everything about him.

Also, while there was some element of a complicated family dynamic present, it was a different spin of things I’ve seen done in YA before and I loved it. I loved all the dynamics, actually, familial and sibling. Big win there.

How many other things can I say I enjoyed or loved? Probably lots more. But instead, I’ll just say this : read this book!

This was SO CUTE!

this quick and easy YA readI I've always loved the friends to enemies to lovers trope so this was right up my alley.

Bradley and Celine used to be best friends and now they can't stand each other. But when Celine signs up for a survival course in the woods and Bradley also goes, they have to learn to work together again.

Of course they learn that they might not dislike each other as much as they think. If you loved her Talia Hibbert's Brown Sisters collection then you will most likely love this one.

Thank you to Net Galley for the Arc. All opinions are my own.

Truly delightful YA romance featuring fun, flawed characters who genuinely care about each other. The secondary friendships were also terrific, and the camp setting was terrific. I would enjoy reading more YA books from Talia Hibbert!

This book was SO cute! I am not typically a big YA fan, but this was truly adorable. The title is perfect for it. The characters were absolutely adorable. Driven, flawed, self-aware characters and their relationships are even cuter. The dynamics and growth, both personal and in their relationships, was great, although not always realistic. Overall a really cute, fun YA read.
Bradley is a football player, top in his classes and manages his OCD well. Celine is a social media influencer, top in her classes and the opposite of cool. They were best friends until Bradley abandoned her (Celine's opinion) and now find themselves avoiding one another. Until they are forced to work together on a survival course in the woods. They both have a lot at stake, so must open up past wounds in order to win the grand prize. Will they be able to move forward and forgive past wrongs in order to carve a path in their future? 
Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

I would say that overall this book was consistent with previous Talia Hibbert books that I have read. If you loved her Brown Sisters collection then you will likely love this. If you are like me and felt the Brown Sisters collection fell a bit flat then you will likely feel the same with this.

This was a quick, cute fun YA read. I enjoyed that none of the characters were perfect and were all dealing with the regular teenage stuff along with some neurodivergence. One of the things that threw me off were some references that seemed too old for teenagers (though I got from being in my 30s!). Overall I love this author’s writing.

This is Talia Hibbert's first foray into YA and I think she did a wonderful job. I love a good friends to enemies to lovers story and Bradley and Celine were both great.

Bradley and Celine used to be best friends but then a rift happened between them and they're not friends. Not even close. When Celine signs up for a survival course in the woods and Bradley also goes, they have to learn to get along again. Or at least work together. What they end up learning is maybe they don't dislike each other near as much as they've thought.

Celine was such a confident heroine and I loved that. Bradley was a sweetheart and I think Hibbert did an accurate job depicting his OCD. Loved that representation. I enjoyed this one a lot and the end left me with a smile on my face.

“Me and Celine, we’ve been best friends. We’ve been enemies. We’ve even been a secret. But right now? Right now, we’re everything. Anything. Whatever we want.”

Seventeen-year-old Celine Bangura spends her days creating TikToks about conspiracy theories for her 32,000 followers, acing her classes, and definitely not thinking about her ex-best friend, Bradley Graeme. Ever since their falling out several years ago, Celine and Brad have been enemies, exchanging insults and rivaling each other at academics. But when they both sign up for a leadership survival course, they’re forced to spend quite a bit of time together as they compete for a uni scholarship. While trekking through the woods, Celine and Brad also find themselves plodding through their past—both the messy and the good bits. So when sparks start to fly, can they let themselves trust each other? Or will things between them always be highly suspicious (and unfairly cute)?

HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS AND UNFAIRLY CUTE is exactly what you’d expect from a Talia Hibbert young adult novel: cute, sweet, hilarious, and deeply emotional. To say I enjoyed it would be a severe understatement. From the glossary to the acknowledgements, Hibbert dives straight into humour and heart. Celine and Brad are fantastic protagonists, both working through their own obstacles and so realistic. I also loved the cast of side characters, from Brad’s football mates to Celine’s quirky BFF to the friends they make in the woods. As a hardcore Brown Sisters fan, I can tell you with absolute certainty that Talia Hibbert is phenomenal in both adult and YA. Do yourself a favor and read HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS AND UNFAIRLY CUTE right away! You can thank me later ;)

Content Warnings: Strong language, divorce, infidelity, absent parent, hospitalization, OCD, anxiety, bullying

(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)