Samaya se envolver num furdunço que eu nem sei como começar a explicar. Mas vamos lá: 1. Sam namora Devin por dois anos, porém terminaram em maus termos, 2. ela começou a jogar online com um jogador aleatório e que nunca conheceu pessoalmente, mas que uma vez mandou uma foto para ela, 3. o termino dela foi publico, oq acarretou em fofocas e era o assunto principal de um ig de fofoca estilo gossip girl, 4. pra recuperar a reputação, ela disse que tava “saindo com o carinha que ela jogava” e até rolou manipulação no photoshop, 5. ela tinha que completar as horas voluntarias para se formar, 6. ela entrou no programa de confeitaria de um abrigo e trabalharia com um outro voluntario de outra escola, 7. o rapaz, Daniel, que trabalha com ela na verdade era o carinha da foto, 8. agora para manter a reputação Sam e Daniel fizeram um acordo de relacionamento falso.

ufa, terminei de fazer o resumo do livro sem dar spoiler do livro a fim de te convencer a ler ele pq eu simplesmente amei. ao mesmo tempo que eu amei o livro, eu só conseguia pensar “nossa que livro bom, quero terminar logo para saber se vamos terminar com final feliz”, mas tbm pensava “minha nossa, não quero terminar nunca pq esses personagens são muuuuuito fofos”

sério, esse livro me fez lembrar pq eu as vezes amo ler YA.. aqui nos tratemos sobre um drama adolescente que aborda assuntos como: oq valida nossa existência? que situações está ok fazer aquilo que os outros pedem pq e aquilo que esperam de ti? que momentos tu pode ser “egoísta”? o quão longe tu pode ir sem se perder em um relacionamento a longo prazo quando jovem?

são uma series de reflexões que na adolescência a gente pode não ter, mas alguém que já passou por essa idade consegue ver com clareza e alertar, mas pq somos teimosos dizemos “ai tu só quer saber de mandar na minha vida”, mas que talvez sendo trazida de maneira diferente ~um livro~ tu consegue perceber os padrões e escapar deles.

eu amei a sam e o desenvolvimento dela, um casal biracial entre um descendente de indianos e filipino. um que tem uma vida financeira e familiar estável e outro que desde muito cedo não sabe o que é ter um local para chamar de casa e que percebem que pouco importa quanto tu tem para estar com alguem, mas como tu faz essa pessoa se sentir. aff, esse livro me deixou quentinha e eu não esperava gostar tanto ♥️

Although I haven’t read any books by this author before, I had heard good things about her works, so I impulsively hit download when I saw it on Netgalley. I mean, some thought did go into the decision: I read fake dating in the summary, and we all know I am a sucker for fake dating stories. How to Win a Breakup was an adorable romance that also navigates dealing with your prejudices.

A summer has passed since Samaya suffered a devastating sudden break-up that also cost her a summer job that would have looked great on her college applications. When the school year starts with her ex Devin immediately getting together with her frenemy, Samaya and her friends Cass and Aimee photoshop her into a photo of her longtime gamer buddy, LostAxis—whom she’s never met IRL—to imply that they’re dating. However, when Samaya starts volunteering at a family shelter, she meets Daniel, the boy in the picture—but it’s immediately clear that he’s not LostAxis. After she confesses that her entire school thinks they’re together, he agrees to fake dating her in exchange for calculus tutoring, but this comes with its own set of obstacles.

The romance was so cute! Daniel and Samaya can’t be more different, but he’s so earnest and cheerful that she can’t help but be drawn into him. Their fake relationship is relatively easy; although they hadn’t really known each other beforehand, they quickly become friends at least. I liked reading about how they bond despite having vastly different interests, and even begin to take an interest in hobbies they previously disliked but the other loves.

A large part of this book is the prejudices Samaya has, whether consciously or not, and the ones she faces. She comes from a comfortable middle-class family and grew up with kids whose families are incredibly wealthy. When she starts volunteering at the shelter, she quickly realizes that she should be more grateful for the wide net of support she has. It’s also clear that she holds some unconscious biases toward jocks, for example. While she doesn’t condescend to Daniel as his tutor, she still holds a preconceived notion of jocks in general that she has to get over.

She also faces a lot of prejudice as a gamer at her school, where she’s started a game development club. It was so frustrating to read some of the things her classmates would say to her, especially since one of them turns around and begs her to come play at his guild because he needs her skills. Like, how hypocritical that he didn’t consider her to be a real gamer yet he needs her gaming skills!

There were some other things that I was frustrated at, just because of the nature of the circumstances, but I won’t get into them since they’re pretty spoiler-y. What I did love was Samaya’s relationship with her friends, especially her best friend Cass. They defend her wholeheartedly and don’t hesitate to let her know when she’s in the wrong.

Also! While I had heard of Heron’s other young adult book, Tahira in Bloom, I hadn’t read it. Tahira is Samaya’s older sister, but I can definitely tell you that you don’t need to read that book in order to fo

Overall, How to Win a Breakup was a cute fake dating book. I ended up really liking the characters and the story, even if I was a little frustrated at some points. If you’re looking for more stories with fake dating, you should look into How to Win a Breakup!

This is lovely YA with a focus on friendship and what that means. I really liked how the nerds were considered cool and jocks were not. For me there was a little too much petty drama, but that's because I haven't been a young adult for a very long time.

This was a cute read, I really liked Sam and Daniel and how cute they were together,
Daniel was amazing and showed Sam she already was too. I loved her growth and her realizing through the help of her supportive friend Cass, and Daniel’s honesty with her, that she did not have to be anyone but herself to be cherished.
Daniel was a sweetheart with a heart of gold.

Devin was a turkey.

I do not miss high school lol!

This book was SO much fun. Fake dating, meets total opposites, and baked goods- it's perfect.
What is better revenge than dating (or fake dating), an adorable hockey player with a love for sweets? Actually dating the hockey player who loves sweets.
The main character is so hardworking and independent. I love it. She grows a ton through this story and it is so great to see.
Samaya (AKa GreenEggsAndSam) is a girl trying to get over her breakup, and losing being in the "it couple" at her school, all with trying to get everything ready for applying to college, getting her service hours and her love for gaming and getting posted about on the school's gossiping page and getting catfished- it's a lot. So her solution literally appeared right in front of her, Daniel, her soon to be Fake boyfriend.
this book is so much more than just a coming of age, or a romance- it has so much growth and covers so many topics I recommend everyone give it a read.

From baking brownies and lemon squares to playing video games and hockey, this story has has it all. Samaya went through a journey of discovering true friendship, finding out who she is and what's important in her life. This was a story I wish I had when I was a teen.
After her boyfriend of two years broke up her, Samaya needed to do something to win the breakup especially since her Ex was able to move on so quickly.
To complete her volunteer hours, Samaya starting volunteering at a shelter where she met Daniel, a boy who played hockey and loved to bake.
She concocts a plan to come out on top but then discovers what's truely important in her life.

I would highly recommend this book!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the other to read and review this story!

I loved this read. Of course, I am a sucker anything that has a great fake dating plot. Throw in some volunteer work, baking, and a shady past? Sold. Would read again and again.

⭐️Rating: 4/5
❣️Tropes: Fake dating
Would I recommend this book?: Yes! Will definitely be seeking out the author’s other books to read as well!


Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest opinion. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!


Review:

This book felt like a return to slightly corny early highschool YA romance in the best possible way. It used a great (and personally, timeless trope) of fake dating that felt perfectly done. The love interest Daniel was super endearing from the start and only got better as the story went on. The author manages to do a slight role reversal within the trope as we have the girl gamer with the male baker for our main pairing.

There was a plethora of identities and groups represented in such a a way that they weren’t the core focus but weren’t overlooked as they so often are. It’s a hard balance to find and it was done seamlessly. For example the inclusion of a non-binary character. It was never made a big deal and didn’t change anything about the story but it was also so meaningful to find. Additionally there is great representation of the volunteer/shelter work being done, as well as insight into second generation immigrant life.

Both the main plot of the fake dating relationship as well as the subplots of the school instagram page and the identity of LostAxis were all equally interesting. I found myself engaged with all the different elements the entire time. My only complaints are that occasionally it did feel too juvenile, but only in small sections.

I love Farah Heron’s books. This was a fun read, I would recommend it to others for sure. I gave it a three star rating.

Imagine your favorite High School TV show or movie, what would it be like?
Teenage identity crisis/ drama
Social awkwardness
First love or crushes
The need to blend and fit in
THE NERDS/ THE JOCKS/ THE GEEKS / THE POPULAR Ones all these social circles
Gossips and jealousy
Figuring out yourself and your future
Breakups and heartaches

Well, this book has all of the above and much more😉
I won't talk so much about it coz I think any word might spoil it for you so I will just say prepare yourself for a lot of sweets and desserts in addition to so much talk about video games.
I loved the main characters Samaya and Daniel, of course, they had their flaws but the authors handled their characters perfectly especially them being 17 years old, the most confusing age.
In a nutshell, loved and highly recommended
Add it to your TBR and make sure to pre-order it.
Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for granting me this ARC of #HowToWinABreakUp in exchange for my honest opinion.

Once part of her school’s golden couple, gamer and math superstar Samaya now finds herself single while her ex basks in the adoration of a new love interest (who happens to be Samaya’s frenemy) following his summer glow up. Her solution to the school gossip that portrays her as a tragic figure? A relationship upgrade with an unlikely figure: a jock.

This was my favorite YA read so far. The romance. The characters. The conversations. The mystery. It’s got it all. I loved the diversity of characters and experiences. As the parent of teenagers, the story also felt so relatable and authentic. While I read this as a digital ARC, I’ll definitely be buying a copy when it’s published!

Farah Heron wrote this first-person POV romance with care and kindness. She seamlessly included LGBTQIA+ and diverse characters. She touched on the immigrant experience and how having immigrant parents shapes expectations and desires. Her writing about the unhoused experience was equally deft.

I didn’t always like Samaya, especially when she was consumed with winning the breakup but I understand her drive. High school can be toxic and having high-performance expectations from family and teachers adds to the pressure.

Daniel was charming from the first - his commitment to baking for the shelter was sweet. I definitely cheered for him to pass calculus and to also get to fulfill his culinary school dream.

High school was a long time ago for me but this felt authentic. I cheered hard for Samaya and Daniel. Loved the nerdiness. The food descriptions were mouthwateringly delicious. This book with its colorful and complex characters captivated me into devouring it in one sitting.

I must say that the reason this book first caught my attention was the book title. I haven't read this authors books before but i liked her writing in this. And love how she had dedicated this book to the brown gamer girls.
So the story follows a girl named Samaya who is a senior in high school. When her boyfriend dumps her and hooks up with her frenemy Samaya should figure out a way to not let her ex win this break up. Comes in Daniel , the handsome hockey jock and baker who she meets at a volunteer bake sale.
This has a fake boyfriend trope which i love.
This eArc even had a recipe on the back. The book was really exciting for me to read and would recommend.

I loved this book, it was such a cute read about two high schoolers, with a fake dating trope and a little bit of mystery in a catfishing side plot. The book was full of baking, video games and adorable moments between the two main characters. If you go into this book expecting hockey because of the male main character you will be disappointed, only about 5% of this book had to do with hockey.

I won’t lie I’ve started reading less and less YA books because I’m finding that I’m growing out of the kind of writing style it has but my god I had absolutely no problems with reading this.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an E-ARC to read and review.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

How to Win a Breakup focus on Samaya entering her senior year after being broken up with at the end of the school year. After her ex returns and seems to be in a new relationship, Samaya soon convinces her new volunteer buddy Daniel to fake date her after she realizes she was catfished by someone pretending to be him.

This is a very cute and quick read. This is great book to get you out of a reading slump and also as a female working in the STEM field I enjoyed seeing a character that had the same interests that I did as a teenager and identifying with some of the struggles she went through in the book with her classmates.

Thanks for NetGalley for providing this advanced copy of the book.
If you combined a bit of ‘To all the boy I’ve loved before’ a tiny bit od ‘Sarah burgess is a loser’ and the great Rep of ‘Never have I ever’ you get this young adult book.
I only really picked this book up because of the South Asian Main character and really this aspect could not have been executed better imo! Her heritage didn’t play a big role in the book or was shoved in your face it was really just a girl – who happens to be South Asian. And still you saw the little things like warming up biryani and wearing lehengas to Prom! It just felt so natural and nice to see a South Asian Mc whose heritage isn’t the main and only issue.
Not to mention the nonbinary representation which also felt very organic and not at all forced. (and himbo rep too. Twice!!)
Apart from the representation the characters were okay. I didn’t feel a connection to the Main Character Samaya since I found her choices kind of questionable and dramatic at times. But if you are less critical when it comes to, for example Young Adult Romance Netflix Movies, then I’m sure you won’t have a problem with that. Additionally, she was a big difference from other YA-Romances because she really knew her worth for once!! She was girlbossing if I might say so.
I was a big fan of the Love Interest, who was this really funny himbo and I really loved how Samaya and he interacted and I could really feel the chemistry between them. They got me kicking my feet, just sayin.
The supporting cast was also really nice, but I just wished to see a little more of them.
Many of the plotlines were kind of predictable but I have to say that the Plot twist was really shocking and in hindsight it made so much sense too??? I felt really dumb for not getting the clues earlier!!
Sometimes you just need a cheesy YA-Romance, so if you’re looking for something like this, this book with great rep (!!!) should be considered an option.

Thanks to netgalley for thr arc.

I had a fun time starting this one, but as it goes deeper, it starts to feel off in my view. Firstly, the writing is great. I applud the author for her ability to master a great writing skill, and I love reading the story. However, the plot and characters are what makes me feel off for some reason. None of the characters excites me or makes me relate to them. They are basically 17 year old but most of the time they act like a 10 year old. Dont get me start on Samaya's circle of friends. Samaya also doesnt seems to have a backbone and blatantly follow and agrees her friends' advice like all the time. The racism and sexism potrayed in this book feels a bit lacking. I feel like it could have been tackled better. The Muslim rep is nice, but i wish i could see an actual muslim rep where they actually pray, cover their aurah and not doing skinship like touching or kissing. But the important messages like Samaya's newfound self-confidence and her own backbone are great to read. At least the ending gives a nice closure.

I’ve been out of school long enough now to remember all the feelings of competition, insecurity and jealousy but not have it bring me down. Social circles are hard and it’s no easier for it couple for Samaha and Devin. When cultural and parental roadblocks cause the break up of the century, the only thing to do is rise above bigger and better. Bringing in Daniel as her fake boyfriend to get through a couple of school events, the two become closer and closer and learn more about each other, and themselves, in the process. Entertaining and plenty of kids with big hearts to root for!

This book OMG, I loved it. It had everything a cute contemporary romance needs. Nerds, fake dating turned real, jocks, character growth and more.
This ya romance is set in lovely Canada with south Asian main characters. I love seeing people of other cultures become the main character. There were even some LGBTQ side characters which really round out a book for me personally. It feels more normal that way.
I mean can someone find me a cute Danial type closer to my age in real life because damn. I think I am in love, he is a bigger jock guy, makes sweets, and is the nicest person ever. Yupp I am in love.
I can't wait for you all to read this book it was just so cute, had me smiling and feeling all the other feeling through out.

Another YA win for Farah Heron! The emotions and the drama feel super honest and real for a seventeen-year-old who's recognizing her own self-involvement as well as her privilege. I loved Daniel, her love interest, and also loved that their relationship itself didn't have a lot of angst around it and that they were very up front with what they needed from each other. The villain reveal(s?) felt a little too rushed at the end, especially the Whispers one. 4.5 stars for a very enjoyable read!

Thanks to Skyscape and NetGalley for the ARC.