How to Win a Breakup truly took me by surprise - this was everything I didn't know I needed in a YA contemporary. I mean... geeky STEM girls, fake dating, a charming baking-obsessed love interest and an anonymous gossip page???? This was just so much fun! I loved getting to know Samaya as she navigated the chaos that is being seventeen. Her journey of growth during this book was so lovely to witness. And the fact that we had not one but TWO hidden identities - It really made things interesting and kept me on my toes. I was hooked.

Daniel was an absolutely adorable character. I loved him and his backstory was so touching. I've rarely read a love interest like him and I need more male characters like this in my life. It's rare enough we get an Asian love interest but reading about a Filipino one was an excellent experienced. I loved the little nods to his culture and I could really relate as a Filipina. Daniel was 10/10. A soft boy who's also into sports? and baking? Too cute for words. Honestly, he's the best YA love interest I've read about in a long time.

Somehow this book struck a perfect balance of being light-hearted and fun as well as touching on much more serious topics like homelessness and privilege. Also, the diversity in this book was truly incredible and really enriched the story. I loved that we got to see a Muslim Indian MC, a non-binary best friend and a Filipino LI. This book made me remember what I love so much about coming-of-age stories and I can't wait to see more like this one in the future.

I really liked this story. It explores a bunch of different topics I didn’t expect and had an ending I didn’t see coming. I incorrectly assumed she would fall for one character before realizing it was happening with another and wasn’t really sure which way things would go. Both main characters were cool and it was nice to see that the MC was flawed and came to see her shortcomings. Also like how this character ties in to another character from the author’s other book. Overall, a great read that I would recommend others check out.

For a young adult book this is good. If you're into gaming this is very much into that world. Farah Heron delivers an excellent story once again with including so much representation. I

4.25/5 ⭐️

This was really cute. Samaya and Daniel got along so well together and they respected each other so much. The fake dating was really well paced and made sense. Most 3rd act breakups I’m not a big fan of but this one I understood.

I also really liked how Samaya came into being herself not some extension of her boyfriend and friends. The thoughtful discussions of being different classes was pretty thought out as well.

Overall, if you like fake dating and sunshine love interests I definitely recommend this book!

Thank you NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this book!

This is a true cheesy YA romcom, and it had me kicking my feet and giggling! Our main character Samaya is a grade 12 student dealing with a messy breakup turned messier when she goes back to school to an anonymous gossiper spreading absurdities about her online. With her reputation going down, Samaya concocts a plan to spread false information about her new date just to get everything off her back. Only it backfires massively when she posts a manipulated photo with a guy she’s never met, a guy who turns out to be volunteering at the same shelter she is.

But the guy turns out to be the charming and adorable Daniel Ramos, and he’s willing to help Samaya if he gets help to pass his calculus class. And so the fake relationship begins.

Honestly, this was a clear YA romcom twist to season one of Bridgerton, complete with Lady Whistledown. There was even a reference in the book about the show. While it’s cute and I had the time of my life reading, I felt like some threads of the plot near the end felt incomplete and a bit unsatisfying—who Whispers was, the whole Jayden thing, and even who ended up being LostAxis. I’m aware Samaya was dealing with her own issues and not truly expanding out of herself, but as a reader it would’ve been nice to see those breadcrumbs spread throughout. The only breadcrumb I could think of was for the LostAxis reveal, which I figured out way before it clicked for Samaya.

A bit of the writing also felt a little stilted. A few sentences went on and on. This was a rare case throughout the book, so it didn’t really take me out of the story.

I also felt like the scene hopping in chapters was a little hard to follow. Personally, I think it would’ve been better to add scene breaks rather than seamlessly transition from one scene to the other. Sometimes the reader was at school experiencing a conversation between Samaya and Cass, and the next second, Samaya was at the shelter.

But overall, this had the makings of a fun YA romcom and I had the time of my life reading. I loved Samaya and how she grew as a character! I also loved Cass and how they smacked sense into Samaya all the time. Aimee was fun too, though I’m really intrigued as to why they weren’t that close at the end of the book—I’m assuming the Jayden thing, but none of it was explained.

And of course, the main couple—Samaya and Daniel were absolutely the cutest pair! I adored Daniel and his little quirks. I could tell he cared for Samaya and fell for her hard, but also how much he cared for the people around him. He truly was the epitome of a sunshine character.

A wonderful book! I really recommend if you want to have a good time ☺️

A cute fake dating trope. I loved the South Asian representation, and also the Canadian representation. Yes, it still took place in Toronto, but actual real places were discussed that made it clear rhat the author actually knows that places like Scarborough exist. This makes for a fun, and easy read that will leave you smiling.

I love a good light and relatively fluffy high school-set YA. Bonus points for a STEM-focused MC who knows she's smart and is proud of it, and a diverse cast of main and supporting characters. I loved seeing a school-focused FMC who also games and a friend group where gaming isn't looked down on, and I really appreciated how distinct Samaya's friends are (special shoutout to Cass in particular, who I just adored). I appreciated that even though the setup and conflict of How to Win a Breakup does revolve around Samaya's breakup with her ex, it isn't a "get him back" storyline. The fake dating plotline kicked off in a super fun way, and I really loved Daniel's character and the way Heron crafted an "opposites attract" romance with traditionally opposing high school archetypes (the nerds vs. the jocks). The resolution of the breakup plotline did lose me a bit at the end, but overall I enjoyed Samaya's arc and the development of the core relationship.

I enjoyed this book very much, it was cute and well done and even though I am very much not a gamer nerd and that aspect of the story went a little over my head, I really loved the characters and friendships and the slow romance between the 2 MCs.

YA fake relationship trope - and I loved it! I really loved and appreciated the diversity of the characters - there was a non-binary secondary character who wasn't made a big deal of. Very cute and heartwarming story!

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book is YA in both content and age group of the characters. Samaya makes you feel like you have slipped into the mind of a high school girl. She has made real life decisions based on boys and her catty friends and now she has to try and get on track before it’s too late. What’s the best solution for that. Fake dating of course! Make that terrible ex jealous!

Devin is Samaya ex who breaks up with her, leaves for the summer and comes back bearing gifts, but dating her ex. Insert eye roll.

Daniel is here to save the day as her fake boyfriend to make everyone jealous.

The relationships between these kids were a lot deeper than I was expecting and I loved the twists. I was sure I knew who the cat fisher was at least 4 times. I was wrong. The MC grows a lot though the story and I loved to see all the representation!

I love reading YA books set in current times. The troubles of high schoolers are the same as when we all went to high school, but social media and the internet add a layer I never had to deal with when I went to high school a few (cough) years ago.

This was my first by the author, but will not be my last!

Fake boyfriend, Jealous Ex, Secret Identities, High School Shenanigans, Math Genius gamer MC, Family, and Friendship.

These and so much more are what you'd find in How to Win a Breakup. Samaya is trying to get over the fact that Devin dumped her right before summer camp, and now school is back in session. How will Samaya cope when Devin returns from India but is now dating Samaya's friend?

Then she meets Daniel, who is supposed to be her online gaming friend, but isn't. One thing I loved about this book was the reverse grumpy sunshine trope. We constantly see the male MC in books as grumpy, but this time, that wasn't the case, and it brought all the emotions you could think of, lol. Because he wasn't portrayed as the stereotypical male, Daniel was such a unique and adoring character. Apart from being a hockey player, he loved baking and was kind to everyone he encountered. And he loved to love, despite the number of parameters set.

This is such a cute spin on the fake dating trope. Samaya is dealing with academic pressure, ex-boyfriend drama, and a potential catfish, and her fake relationship with her friendly volunteering partner Daniel leads to a lot of real personal growth. Thank you to Skyscape and NetGalley for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a fun, cute read. I like that the book discusses social norms and the difficulty that smart young women face in school (others thinking they copied off their boyfriend). The book gets you to think a lot about different stereotypes (a hockey player who likes to bake, female gamer, etc) I couldn't relate to the issues that some of the characters faced as children of India immigrants but I found the topic interesting. I would recommend this book to others.

Have I mentioned that I love grumpy sunshine? I freaking love it!! And when the grumpy is the girl? This is my jam!! Everything about this book was lovely!

Samaya is such a brilliant, thoughtful character. She is still healing from the pain of a breakup while her pain is being broadcast across the school.

Enter Daniel. Le sigh. I love him. That's all I have to say about that.

Overall, this was a wonderful book and I absolutely loved the best friend calling Sam out about her crap. And the growth!! I'm here for the growth!!

Super freaking adorable! I knew going in, having read Farah Heron's "Accidently Engaged", that yet another fake dating romance would be addicting but my expectations were blown away. I demolished this book in just an afternoon, not putting it down for a second.
First off, not only was the teenage pettiness done a-m-a-z-i-n-g-l-y, but the representation! The emotional conversations, the growth!!!! All in a YA book!
Usually, I find petty drama in books tedious and overly targeted towards women, however, I found myself turning page after page wanting to know what those two-faced little juveniles would do next. And I loved that Samaya's high school drama wasn't the only plot point- even though I found myself embarrassingly trying to guess each hidden identity and failing every time- Daniel hiding his past, the shelter, and Cass's side romance/story all added beautifully to the book.
Overall, this was a lovely, enjoyable read that will not leave you bored!
P.S Samaya was badass, telling off her ex, loved her.
Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the free copy provided in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Well this was the cutest book I've read in a long while! Firstly I want to say that I loved the diversity and cultural representation in this YA novel. Two of the main characters are of Indian descent and done is Asian. Another character is non-binary. The story focuses on Samaya, an overachieving high school student starting her senior year. She had been a part of the power couple at school until her boyfriend broke up with her in the summer. Now he's back at school with an updated look and a new girlfriend. Samaya spends her free time gaming with on online only friend. When she begins volunteering at a family shelter for leadership points at school, she meets a boy named Daniel who IS the boy in the picture of her gamer friend. But Daniel isn't that boy....he isn't into the same things, He doesn't play that game. Someone has catfished her. But Daniel is a great guy and he and Samaya make an arrangement where he will be her fake boyfriend and she will tutor him in math. Obviously they get closer while also trying to unravel the real identity of her gamer friend. The story was so well written and a lot of fun to read. It also made some great points about privilege and classism. I read a lot of YA novels and this was one of my favorites.

Farah Heron has done it again! Another wonderfully written diverse AF tale.

This is my first YA by Heron and I’m so glad I read it. Though I have been a fan of Heron’s other work, I wasn’t sure YA was for me anymore. But then I gave Lord’s Begin Again a try earlier this year and realized I was wrong. YA definitely still has a spot in my heart. Although I wish Heron was writing tales when I was in high school I’m so glad the current (and future) generation have access to stories like this.

Thank you Heron for writing this messy, complicated, but beautiful story. At times it frustrated me because it took me back to my high school days but that’s how I knew it was a fabulous book.

I feel like I have to get my hands on Tahira In Bloom now, but first I plan on reading the ARC of Jana Goes Wild because I have been waiting for Jana’s story ever since I read Kamila’s story. So excited to have all of Heron’s fictional worlds in my life.

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC and thank you @auntie.a.bakeshoppe for the cookies! How to Win A Break Up hits shelves later this month, pre-order your copy now!

This was fine. The romance was pretty medicate for me, the secondary conflict was dragging on for way too long, and the writing was very odd at times. The fake dating aspect of the story also felt very mechanical and the chemistry of the couple just didn't work for me. I enjoy the diversity of the story tho.

Loved the description of this book so I was excited to receive an advanced copy. This book hit all the right notes in a lot of ways. The main character was likable and her banter with her two closest friends was relatable and fun. I enjoyed the storyline's direction and the view into a competitive academic school 'for nerds.' The game creation portion was super fun and as a fellow gamer girl, I approve! The only stumble in the storyline was honestly how the book description didn't fit the story for the first probably 20%. It just felt disjointed in that way and I had to go back to the synopsis several times to make sure I was reading the correct book. Other than that an enjoyable YA read.
Thank you to Skyscape & NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this arc

The first part of the book was way more intriguing. It’s cool to see a character deal with heartbreak. Especially in a coming of age story. The characters are seventeen years old but often do things that a ten year old would do. Samya is a likable character. TW: cyber bullying and doxing. This book includes the fake dating trope which is typically a hit or miss for me. In Islam, Muslims don’t kiss until after marriage. The Muslim rep was disappointing. I’d love to see Muslim rep where the Muslim character actually talks about praying or going to the masjid or talks about things in the religion … like how S.K. Ali and Sara Sharaaf Beg writes Muslim characters. If you take out the Muslim rep this would be a 4/5 story for the fake dating. But it’s exhausting seeing Muslims represented like this and def makes this a 2/5 for me. Others who enjoy counting down with you will enjoy this. Adiba also does a good job of showing practicing Muslims. No hate towards the author - this is solely how I felt about the book.