I have not read a fun YA contemporary romance in a while so I ate this right up in a couple hours of reading! It was exactly what I needed to get me out of this reading slump that I've been in the last couple of months.

While this may seem like a positive happy-go-lucky romcom, it actually delves into issues relating to social media, catfishing, dysfunctional family issues, and more.

We have Wren who has a list of rules for dating thanks to the need to have a sense of control over things in her life due to instability from her mother while she was young. We have Asher who gets catfished online by someone he met after being dumped by his girlfriend, and goes against every single rule Wren has meticulously thought out. But when Asher is seemingly being stood up by his online girlfriend, Wren steps in to save him from embarrassment. And that is how the whole whirlwind starts.

The author made many pop culture references that I thoroughly enjoyed, including Asher's dog being named Buffy, a comparison to Lord of the Rings, and even the mention of Taylor Swift at one point!

On the other hand, I do feel as though there were quite a few inconsistencies that could have been avoided that did make me roll my eyes or say 'what' out loud. There was a mistake in one chapter where Wren and her best friend Kamala were together, and twice, it says the name Zoey (Wren's sister) instead of Kamala, which was most likely an editing mistake but still led to confusion.

Additionally, I do think the problem that arises toward the end of the book was solved way too quickly and the ending felt very rushed, providing nearly no closure or content feeling.

This book was quick and fun and was exactly was I was expecting, which was needed at the time of reading! If you are a fan of Kasie West or just want a cute YA romance involving cute dogs (they don't get hurt I promise), then this might be the book for you!

Thank you to Random House Children's and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was soo cute, it was such a sweet story
I’m so glad i picked it up, i did not regret it
It was such a fun time, i loved it
Highly recommend it
4/5

Short and Sweet Review
Wren has a list of rules when it comes to who she wants to date, but those go out the window when she overhears a guy get chastised by his friend for being catfished, So Wren takes it upon herself to pretend to be the online crush. Wren is a control freak and likes order, but for some reason being with Asher a boy she knows nothing about puts her at ease, until she realizes that at some point she’s going to have to break it to him that she isn’t the girl he thinks she is.
Borrow My Heart has a main plot which is Wren pretending to be Asher’s online crush, then we have two subplots, one that involves Wren’s absent mother and another in which a dog needs to adopted. It was interesting to see how Wren got herself in the situation, and how she had to adapt to all the things that Asher and his actual online crush messaged each other about. I did like seeing how Wren ended up liking Asher and they were very cute together and bounced off of each other well. I didn’t like that Asher’s friend Dale was around all the time he was one of the worst third wheels. The romance was cute but there’s always some bumps in paradise, and I won’t spoil it, but it was kind of surprising. The subplot with Wren’s mother was good because it showed us why Wren has trust issues, and Wren’s sister is still willing to make things work with their mom but Wren knows to keep her expectations low and that’s how she processes how her mom left them. Wren works at a dog shelter and there’s a dog named Bean who has been a resident at the shelter for a long time, and Wren and Asher team up to get Bean adopted.
Overall the book was cute, there were some points where serious topics were brought up. This whole scenario with Wren jumping in to save the day is very unlike her but Asher brings out a different side of her which is more fun. Asher and Wren were a cute pairing and sometimes you find your person when you least expect it. Also how can you not like someone who works at an animal shelter and is good with pets? This was a match made in heaven.

This was such a sweet book.
YA.
Wren has rules, and her boundaries keep her from heartache and disappointment.
Asher thinks he’s meeting the girl he’s been talking to online, but when he’s clearly being stood up Wren comes in to save him from embarrassment.
Oh and the cutest cover!!! I know, I know don’t judge a book by its cover, blah blah blah. But it’s adorable, and so is this book!
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for my honest review!

really enjoyed this. Cute idea and a quick read.

I cried because of Wren’s walls and I sobbed with love for Bean.

This got to my heart. Deeper than I thought it was gonna be. Good depth on all of the characters. Potential for spin off books.

Special thanks to Netgalley and Random House Children’s for this digital ARC.

I am just in love with Kasie West's books, they are just so so cute. This one was no exception. Though I have not read all her books she is an auto buy/read author for me so I definitely had to request this one. I also have maybe fangirl'd a little hard to have been approved for this since I love Kasie so much.
Bean is my sprit animal form, I have for sure looked at someone and been like no no you are not for me.
Though Wren pretended to be someone she was not and Asher made a mistake I really love their cute little romance. I honestly could not think of a better way this book could have gone.
This book was fast paced and short and it really just made me feel good and I think you should all check it out as well.

Such a cute book with one of my favorite tropes! Fake dating to real dating is always entertaining to say the least. I love the growth that Wren goes through. Katie West has done it again!

3.5

A cute, light romance, which I completely expected. I generally know what I'm getting when I read a Kasie West book, and she rarely disappoints. The characters were likable and the plot was fine. I really enjoyed this up until about 80% in when the conflict came about. I felt like the conflict itself made sense; however, the aftermath didn't. Once Wren figured out what was going on, she seemed pretty resolved to not talk to Asher again. However, when she got the chance to, I feel like she forgave him way too quickly for what had gone on. Everything felt very rushed and unsatisfying. I also didn't like that there was never any resolution with Wren's mom, especially considering everything she's done. She was there more for a plot device as she's the reason Wren is the way she is. But she leaves at one point and you never hear anything about her again. Had the ending not been so rushed and a few loose ends tied up, this would have gotten a higher rating.

I really enjoyed Borrow My Heart and Wren's journey to realizing that she doesn't have to be in control all the time. It was sweet of her to swoop in and try saving Asher from humiliation and interesting to see what lengths she goes to to keep the lie concealed. I am a fan of West's sweet romances and Borrow My Heart is another great YA book.

#BorrowMyHeart #NetGalley
Wren likes to make lists of rules. Living in a home with a single dad and not trusting her mom who walked out on her and her sister wanting to live her own life. Wren decides she is going to become the person who shows up when two boys are waiting for someone who she is sure is catfishing them. She starts to pretend to be someone she's not because she doesn't know anything about the person that Asher met online. Wren starts to become friends with Asher as he volunteers at the pet clinic where she works.
Wren is slow to trust her mom and doesn't want to have a relationship with her. Her dad has always been the steady one and puts his daughters needs before his own.

I appreciate the approval on this one but I couldn’t get it to go to my kindle and I couldn’t read it. Very disappointed.

Borrow My Heart by Kasie West is about Wren, a teen who is pretty closed off after being abandoned by her mother. Wren doesn't date because she doesn't want to get hurt. Enter Asher, who is being openly mocked by his friend for being catfished by the girl he's been talking to online. Wren can't stand to see someone putting themselves out there only to get hurt and steps in to pretend to be the girl.

I really enjoyed this book. Wren's family relationships were really well developed. I love romance (especially YA) that has meaningful friendships and relationships for the MC. I also LOVED the shelter dog Bean that Wren wanted to find a home for. Bean's storyline was so fun and sweet as Wren and Asher worked to find the stubborn dog a home.

Thank you to Netgalley and Delacorte Press for an e-ARC!

Kasie West writes the perfect summery romance stories every time! This has all the charm that the author is known for, and is exactly the kind of story kids are looking for! I will for sure be recommending this one to any teens I know or see in the library.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Children’s for the ARC.

🌟🌟🌟🌟 4/5 stars

Kasie West is one of my favorite YA authors and Borrow My Heart is another sweet, entertaining story. Wren loves her lists and her rules. However, she throws the rules out the window when she sees adorable Asher about to be humiliated after being catfished. Wren pretends to be his online crush and everything starts to spiral out of control.

This was such a lighthearted and warm book. Kasie West books always feel like summer and this one is no different. I enjoyed all of the characters and (of course) the dogs. The storyline is definitely fun and chaotic, but West adds emotional heft with family drama. Overall, a great YA romance for fans of Lynn Painter and Sarah Dessen!

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Borrow My Heart is a cute young adult read that others will love during the summer months coming up!

Wren thinks she's doing Asher a favor by pretending to be a girl that she feels he's being catfished by. She doesn't mind if that's not realistic, she has a set of rules and her life is controlled by them... until they aren't with Asher. Volunteering at the animal shelter, helping get a dog adopted and hanging out at the ocean are just a few of Wren's antics with Asher. But what will happen when he realizes that she isn't who she truly is?

I enjoyed reading Kasie West's Borrow My Heart and loved the focus on the different animals. Dungeons and Dragons references as well as dog races made this book one end on a smile for me. I recommend this cute, fun young adult read for those who enjoy rescue dogs and medium length chapters.

Kasie West books always manage to hook me. This book had a few tropes I HATE (absent parent, slight love triangle), yet I managed to read and enjoy it in 3 days which is almost unheard of for me. I also thought I had the whole thing figured out before the halfway point, but I ended up being wrong. The path I thought it was heading, I was not really excited about, and the path it ended up taking caught me pleasantly by surprise.
I liked main character Wren and love interest Asher. It was kind of a grumpy/sunshine relationship (Wren/Asher) and it was really fun to see Asher pull Wren out of her shell. Wren's mom is the absent one, she left them and Wren has not forgiven her. It has made her withdrawn and she doesn't trust people. I understand this and how it fit into the story, but I'm just so over the absent parent. I did love the friendship between Wren and her best friend Kamala. Kamala totally accepted Wren's slightly grumpy personality and loved her for it.
This book starts out with Wren hearing Asher's friend making a bet with him. Asher has been talking to Gemma online and his friend Dale thinks it's a catfish and will not be meeting them. If she doesn't show, Asher has to do something embarrassing for TikTok. Wren decides to pretend to be Gemma. Obviously Wren and Asher fall for each other, but it's based on a lie. Also, Wren works at a pet shelter and there is a dog, Bean who matches Wren's grumpy, people hating personality and he's the BEST. Asher tries to impress Wren by taking a volunteer position at the shelter and they end up trying to rehome Bean by the end of the summer. Shenanigans commence. Like I said, I thought I had this book figured out at like 40% and I was totally wrong. The "problem" was more enjoyable (not for the characters obviously, but it was a more enjoyable storyline for me) and the way it was resolved punched me in the heart (in the best way).
If you are a Kasie West fan, or like a quick, fast romcom, I definitely like this one.

A cheesy romance that couldn't hold my attention.
2 stars for meet mute that was cute excuse the pun!


*****************I received an ARC for my honest opinion from NetGalley.**********************************

Thanks to publisher and netgalley for the arc.

This wasn't what I expected at all. Very childish and plot was adorable at first but then dumb. Disappointed expected more from this for some reason?

I've always enjoyed Kasie West books, so I was overjoyed to receive the ARC. Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and Tbrbeyondtours! It's a cute and enjoyable read. I like the theme of catfishing, which happens all around us.

West accurately describes the negative and positive effects of social media use. Like Wren, I dislike presenting myself in photos and even social media videos. Nonetheless, social media has a significant impact, as Asher did to Wren. Even though I don't trust Asher, who appears nerdy, and wonder if he lies to Wren throughout the book, their interactions make me smile and my heart flutter.

My favorite is near the end of the book, when everything about Asher starts to unravel, making me nervous.
Wren's part-time work at the animal shelter is fascinating, and some of the family conflicts that pepper Wren's story make me want to throw a rock, particularly at her mother lol. Fortunately, Wren has a wonderful father, sister, and friends who adore her.

West's writing is always a delight and very easy to understand, with light but powerful themes that earn this 3.5 out of 5 stars from me.

Wren overhears a young man talking with his snide friend, at the local coffee shop, when she is visiting her friend who works there. Apparently Asher is waiting fro a date that he has only met online, to show up, and his friend is telling him it isn’t going to happen.

He seems to nice, that hse changes clothes in the back, and come in the front door, pretending to be his date, to save face for him. From there, basically, they start dating, but there is something else going on, that Wren can’t put her finger on. Why does he seem to be still taking to “her” online, when he has Wren’s cell. He will ask if their date is still on, when this is the first she has heard of it, for example.

She keeps telling herself, she will let him down easy, and let him know she knew he was getting catfished, and she just wanted to save him, but she finds herself falling in love with him. Plus, he gets along well with the unadoptable dog at the animal shelter they work at. That basically seals the deal.

I really enjoyed this fast YA romance, but, but, but, the ending seemed rushed. However, given that I loved the rest of the book, I would say that I would still recommend this one.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book comes out the 13th of June, 2023, from Random House.