A Talia Hibbert book for teens! It's perfect and hilarious and so sweet, I just loved it. If you love the Brown sisters books, you are going to love Brad and Celine. Cannot recommend this highly enough!

I'm going into this review KNOWING that I wasn't the target audience, and that's okay. I'm so obsessed with Talia Hibbert that I wanted to read anything she wrote anyways.
I want to start off by saying, Talia is doing something so special for popular romance novels. Her highlighting of POC and individuals with illnesses (of all types) is miraculous. Characters like hers are rarely represented and they are ALL such gems.
There were some portions that weren't for me, but I think that's because even at 22 l've aged out of things like TikTok references and anything that will age a book too heavily in the next decade.
That being said, I adored the love story. It was sweet and satisfying and I loved both Bradley and Celine so much on their own- which always makes it easier to love them together. Their growth, both of their relationship and personally, was so heart warming to follow. I will read anything Talia writes, always.

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute is a YA novel by Talia Hibbert. We follow the main characters, Celine and Brad who grew up together but after a rift happens between them, they become enemies. After a series of events, they end up in the same wilderness group in the hope of winning a scholarship and they start to remember why they were friends (and maybe more) to begin with.

I was hesitant to pick this up with it being a young adult book. While I enjoyed Hibbert’s Brown Sisters’ trilogy, I worried that her writing may not transfer well to young adult. I’m so happy that this book proved me wrong. This book was delightfully age appropriate, touching in a lot of topics and challenger teenagers go through. Brad has OCD and I felt like it was handled very well in this book. Brad has learned how to cope with it and even though he had struggles, it never defines who he was as a person. Celine is delightfully quirky without it being too much. A lot of the conflict for her in this book surrounds her relationship with her absent father. I thought the relationship between the main characters was appropriately paced and I loved the friends to enemies to friends to maybe more trope.

My only complaint is that I feel like this book wrapped up too quickly. We really started exploring the characters’ feelings about one another as well as their feelings about the future and then we were at the end. I would have loved two or three more chapters to just explore more of the character dynamics in the final act of the book.

All in all, I think this is a solid YA contemporary that anyone in that age range can relate to. I loved all the different representation in this book and seeing a plus size female main character on the cover is always a step in the right direction for me.

Another delightful story by Talia Hibbert. This is a YA novel but for fans of the author it is a must read. Bradley and Celine are super adorable together. They had been friends as children until Bradley became a popular kid. The two were brought back together for the survival course then sign up for to hopefully earn a full scholarship. Bradley has OCD and Talia handles that with sensitivity. Celine and Bradley end up talking about the misunderstanding that caused their rift. I enjoyed this story and would reread it and highly recommend

I loved the Brown sisters trilogy, so was very excited to read this. It is a YA novel, but does not disappoint in the story of 2 teens falling in love and chasing their HEA. This was a funny, charming, easy page turner. I loved both of the main characters Brad and Celine and the dual POV. I’d recommend if you want something light and easy but not at the sake of plot or romance.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my review.

#HighlySuspiciousandUnfairlyCute #NetGalley

Talia Hibbert's young adult novel, HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS AND UNFAIRLY CUTE is an absolutely delightful, heartrending, and endlessly entertaining debut into teen fiction.

With equal parts humor and healing, Celine and Bradley traverse the deadly waters of what used to be all while competing to be the winners of an elite program that will fund their futures. Forced to work together and pitted against each other from the start, Celine and Brad must either confront the ocean of hurt between them or risk losing everything they've built, such as their carefully constructed walls and faux senses of self. What's the worst that could happen in the Scottish wilderness?

Summary:
Bradley Graeme is pretty much perfect. He’s a star football player, manages his OCD well (enough), and comes out on top in all his classes . . . except the ones he shares with his ex-best friend, Celine.

Celine Bangura is conspiracy-theory-obsessed. Social media followers eat up her takes on everything from UFOs to holiday overconsumption—yet, she’s still not cool enough for the popular kids’ table. Which is why Brad abandoned her for the in-crowd years ago. (At least, that’s how Celine sees it.)

These days, there’s nothing between them other than petty insults and academic rivalry. So when Celine signs up for a survival course in the woods, she’s surprised to find Brad right beside her.

Forced to work as a team for the chance to win a grand prize, these two teens must trudge through not just mud and dirt but their messy past. And as this adventure brings them closer together, they begin to remember the good bits of their history. But has too much time passed . . . or just enough to spark a whole new kind of relationship?

I have heard great things about Talia Hibbert as an author and this was the first time I was lucky enough to read one of her books. It did not disappoint. This was a fun story of two teens figuring out who they are and who they want to be.

Take everything I love about Talia Hibbert's Brown sister's trilogy, put an adorable Young Adult spin on the story, and you'll get Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute!

From page one, I loved the characters, especially Celine, the British slag used throughout had me laughing at times and the story is one that will really resonate with young readers.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book.

I love The Brown Sister series from Talia Hibbert, so was excited to learn that she has written a new YA romance. It didn't disappoint. It was sweet and funny with diverse, nuanced characters and mental health representation. Celine is a conspiracy theorist TikTok creator who is hellbent on becoming a corporate lawyer. She joins an outdoor competition to impress her personal hero and hopefully score a scholarship. Her ex-best friend, sci-fi-nerd-turned-jock, Bradly also ends up in the mix, forcing the two of them to spend a lot of time together in the forest. In the process, they work through their past issues and get to know each other again. You'll be shocked to know they end falling in love. Yes, I could have used a little bit more at various points of the plot, but overall it was another winner from a great author.

Talia totally knocks it out of the park with this book! Her first foray into YA is amazing. Very glad to have black British characters from her for a change (esp the love interest) and some young, fresh perspective. They lost some of the lingo on me, but I appreciated the glossary.

I really like Talia Hibbert. Her books just make me laugh so hard and usually cry a bit, too and certainly make me feel enveloped in the places where they are set. I love the British-ness, too. The overt, almost in your face slang and such just make me so happy. I dug it! 💜📚

This was such a delightful book! I love Brad and Celine. They were amazing MC. I am so glad this book was in dual POV so we could see both their perspectives. So excited for this first selection from Nicola and David Yoon’s imprint.

Reviewed for NetGalley:

Maybe I was too out if touch for the UK lingo (even with the foreward glossary) and Tik Tok references to fall in love with this one.

Everything we love about Talia Hibbert absolutely translates to the YA genre. Appropriate steam, heartwarming confrontations with real life people, situations, and adversity. Big fan.

*Thank you to Joy Revolution/Random House Children’s via NetGalley for the ARC*

Before we begin, I have to say I’ve read and thoroughly enjoyed all three of the Brown sisters’ stories so I didn’t hesitate to request an ARC for Hibbert’s YA debut, Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute. So I’m enthusiastically biased already but also holding her to a high standard. That’s my disclaimer…

…Ok now that I have officially finished the book and rated it a SOLID 5/5 (I’m so stingy with my 5’s it’s borderline ridiculous! There’s no reason for it!) I can say with full confidence Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute is everything!

When reviewing for an ARC, I like to highlight passages so I can refer to my favorite moments, exceptional passages, or just things that tickle me and let me just say my copy probably looks like one of Bradley’s textbooks! I can’t stress enough how effortlessly Hibbert can bring her characters to life, down to their mannerisms, their setting, their banter, everything!
Small examples include:
“I jerk in my seat, appalled that he would have the gall to speak to me so casually. For God’s sake, we are enemies.”

“I’m not usually this annoying, but she’s infectious. Like the flu.”

“Give me five synonyms for hypocrite, and yes, you’re allowed to use your own name.”

“Very, very quietly, Celine screams.”

“’Aren’t you two cousins?’ Thomas demands in the dark.”

I know, random selection of quotes but my point stands. Hibbert is funny as hell and her characters are so effing delightful! Ok, i’m getting sidetracked with my gushing here. Let’s back it up.

HSaUC is about two former friends, Celine and Bradley, turned enemies, turned competitors, turned lovers, who are in high school gearing up for college. They have an opportunity to compete for a full uni scholarship via an elite explorer’s program that tests their skills as leaders while facing the elements of nature, as well as their own personal battles: OCD, abandonment issues, imposter syndrome, just to name a few. Hibbert does a fantastic job of portraying the ups and downs of high school alongside mental health crises and how to navigate conflicting feelings. I couldn’t praise this book enough for making it ok to admit things are hard, even if it’s just talking about emotions or ambitions that might seem silly or being brave by being honest. But she still manages to show effective ways to overcome and potentially prosper. All while making me snort with laughter. And fall in love cause it’s still a love story after all. Seriously, Hibbert’s writing is a gift! I’m hoping she does more YA books (alongside her regular, more adult stuff), because I would have loved to read about diverse characters like this when I was younger.

I can’t wait to see the reception Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute gets when it publishes in January ’23.

I fully expect to enjoy anything written by Talia. The Brown sisters series made me a fun. So of course, I wanted to read her YA book. And let it be known, I was super excited to see two Black teenagers on the cover.

Talia did not disappoint. She’s such a vivid storyteller. You get lost in the characters’ worlds. Brad & Celine were a funny pair, with their banter and repressed feelings.

I really enjoyed watching their friendship blossom. Even if it wasn’t going to be anything more, I love when old friends can find a common ground and reconcile any differences.

I loved both of their “quirks”. I love “imperfect” characters.

I definitely plan on buying the physical copy when it’s released!

Definitely cute! I love Talia Hibbert's adult romances so I was very curious to see how she'd fare in YA and she didn't disappoint! Her signature wit and humor are all over the page along with wonderful characters and relationships. The two teen protagonists grapple with real issues such as an absent parent, OCD and anxiety, the specter of college, etc.

The romance aspect does unfold in a somewhat formulaic way, but I did appreciate that - in the tradition of Hibbert's other work - conflict wasn't dragged on too long.

Celine and Bradley were childhood best friends until they became teenagers and Bradley started fitting in with the football players, forcing them to become enemies. In their final year of school, they reconnect when they both are chosen to participate in an outdoor enrichment program with the possibility of scholarships for college. As they spend more time together, they fall back into a friendship and something more.

I was so happy to receive an eARC of this book after loving The Brown Sisters trilogy. I was excited to read Talia’s YA debut and it did not disappoint. The characters were strong and I liked their unique personalities; Celine was confident and unapologetically herself, and Bradley was charming and so incredibly kind. They just fit so well together. The side characters were equally compelling. I liked that both Brad and Celine were able to heal in their personal journeys while also healing their relationship with each other. The outdoor enrichment program was such an interesting idea and setting for this YA romance. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this.

This was so darn cute and wholesome! The two heros and their ex-friendship has the book starting off on a enemies to lovers trope BUT then it changed into friends to lovers which is my favorite. I don’t have personal experience with some of the themes in this book (absent parent, OCD) but I’d like to think that Talia Hibbert does justice to a diverse range of characters and their unique differences/personalities in all her books. I enjoyed the whole wilderness competition and that there wasn’t a ton of drama within the group competing. So refreshing. Just such a cute, funny, and sweet read!

Highly Suspicious & Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert is Talia Hibbert’s debut foray into young adult fiction & just like her adult fiction, she absolutely scored a win with her fantastic writing, wit, unmistakable humor & an adorable love story.
This book features an ex-best friends turned enemies to once-again friends to more with the cutest couple. One of the main characters, Bradley, has been diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD. I am always extremely grateful for any sort of mental health or disability representation & Talia Hibbert continues to deliver wonderfully on that front. As I don’t have OCD, I can’t speak to the accuracy of the representation, but I will say that I absolutely loved how his family & friends acted & reacted to Bradley, especially when he was struggling.
The author has the incredible ability to simultaneously pull at your heart strings while also making you genuinely laugh out loud. I also think this book would positively make the cutest movie! This is just the type of story that makes you smile as you read it.
This just proved, without a doubt, that I will happily read & love anything Talia Hibbert writes. I’m so thankful for their incredible writing & their continued representation in the most amazing love stories.

Massive thanks to NetGalley & Random House Children’s for the arc, which I voluntarily read & reviewed. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

Highly Suspicious & Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert comes out January 3, 2023!