I don’t typically read YA books. This was definitely not my cup of tea. Still a cute fun read! Would recommend to those who like YA.

Kasie West is an auto-buy author for me. I love her books so much, even as a woman in my mid-twenties. (Let a girl have her guilty pleasures, alright? ;))

This story was exactly what I needed for a summer read: CUTE, light-hearted, fun. I think this one fell a little flat in the character department, though. Normally, West's characters are my favorite part of her novels, but I just didn't connect well with Wren and Asher. Their relationship felt a bit rushed to me, and I ended up skimming some of the parts in the middle. I did love the D&D references and the fact that Wren worked in a pet shelter, though!

As a forever The Distance Between Us stan, I LOVED the reference to Dalton (those of you who have read it will know what I'm talking about ;)). And the cover is so cute! Even though this one wasn't my fav, you can never go wrong with a Kasie West novel!!

Well, I love Kasie West. That should probably be a good way to start any review, because anyone who doesn't like her other books may not like this one. But if you have liked any Kasie West, I'm sure this one will not disappoint. As with all of her books, she builds out some interesting characters. While her focus is on the main protagonist, this time Wren, there are those around her who get quality page time and are pretty darned interesting too. Asher of course, but her best friend is so much fun that I want to be her friend too. And Bean! The fact that this book is set in and around a shelter gave the story some unique elements to play off of, including the beat Bean challenges.

I also loved that the actual complication that came of Wren confessing turned out to be less of a complication to her relationship than other things. And I was actually almost crying when everything happened at once while in Tahoe.

I really don't have anything negative to say about this book except that maybe it could have been a wee bit longer so that I could have lived in the world a bit longer. Not that the book ends suddenly. It ends well and in a satisfying way. I just really wanted more time with the characters.

Wren overhears Asher being teased at a coffee shop. He is suppose to be meeting a girl he met online, and his buddy is mocking him. Wren pretends to be the girl, and the connection is made. A cute story overall, although at times a bit of teenage angst overdone for my taste (yes, teenage years where decades ago). Still enjoyed it though and would recommend this one.

I love Kasie West's books, and this one was no exception. I loved Wren and the way she likes animals more than people. I liked her journey and the family stuff. And Bean, the dog, was the absolute best. While Asher was cute and sweet, the romance was actually not my favorite part, though I do love the banter like in all of West's books. Cute, funny, and heartwarming!

Control freak Wren is used to following the list of rules she created for herself, but when she overhears Asher getting verbally destroyed by his friends for being catfished, she throws all her rules out of the window to save the day. Suddenly Wren finds herself fake-dating a boy she knows nothing about. Everything is perfect and before long, Asher has Wren breaking her own rules. But when the truth comes out, will Asher be able to forgive Wren for the lies she told? There’s only one way to find out….

Borrow My Heart is a super cute young adult novel. I had a great time getting swept up in Asher and Wren’s story. Wren was far from perfect, but her heart was in the right place. Nothing good can come from pretending to be someone else, but I thought Wren was rather brave rushing in to save the day. She never expected to see Asher again and certainly didn’t expect to fall for him. I loved the way Asher got Wren to open up, learn more about herself, and grow.

Borrow My Heart was everything I was hoping for in a Kasie West novel. It not only dives into the tough subject matters surrounding family issues and the not-so-glamourous side of social media but also delivered a sweet and swoon-worthy romance. I think a lot of teens (and adults) will find this story relatable and easy to read. This is a must-read for any Kasie West fan.

Kasie West has done it again with another outstanding teen romance novel. This time the story focuses on the subject of deceit, trust and multiple types of relationships. Wren is a closed off girl who struggles to create lasting connections with people because of the hurt caused when her mother left the family at a young age. But one night she overhears Asher and a friend talking in a cage about how Asher is probably getting Catfished and decides to help him out by pretending (without his knowledge) to be the girl he had been talking to online.
After a series of random events, Asher ends up helping out at the animal shelter where Wren works and together they are paired together to find a pitbull a forever home by the end of summer.
Throughout the summer both of them learn more about each other and themselves as they try to navigate a new type of relationship for both of them.
The story itself is very cute which is one of Kasie West's specialties, at least once a chapter I was either giggling or saying awe out loud. Very few authors tend to get that response from me but Kasie tends to do it everytime.

This book is going to be perfect for fans of Kasie West's other books but also a must check out if you like Rainbow Rowell, Jennifer E Smith, Jenny Han, or Stephaine Perkins. A complete must read for any teen romance reader.

I have been a huge fan of Kasie West for a long time now and was SO excited to read her latest book. While it was very cute and sweet it was also very short. I flew through the book and while normally that is a good thing I did not feel like it held my attention like most of her other works have done.

I would still recommend it for a quick and easy read and Wren and Asher are adorable but it is not on my favorite Kasie West books list.

I always enjoy a lighthearted teen romance, and Kasie West delivers again! I loved that the characters felt real and that the problems they faced (catfishing, social media, consent, impacts of going viral, familial issues) were portrayed realistically. It seems intended for a young audience and I think its perfect for teens.

I absolutely love the cover and premise of this story. I was drawn in right away to closed off Wren who was trying to do a good deed and help a guy out who was being catfished.

Wren and Asher meet at a coffee shop, but Asher thinks they know each other online. They develop a friendship and it turns into more, as Asher slowly gets Wren to open up to him. I loved the animal shelter and the oh so lovable Beans, the dog Wren was trying to get adopted at the shelter she worked at.

One thing I liked about this is the social media aspect. I think it's something important to talk about with teenagers today. How impactful it can be both positively and negatively. However I do think the conflict that happened related to this was wrapped up way too quickly and I wanted a little more resolution personally.

Borrow My Heart was a fun and quick read and I recommend if you love dogs and the grumpy sunshine dynamic.

I'll be honest...I am not the biggest YA reader. It's just not my go to. But I came across this book, and I'll admit, I was instantly drawn in my the cover (cartoon cover & animals?? say less), and the description was adorably cute as well .

Borrow My Heart was a cheesy, sweet, surprisingly-emotional fun YA read. Definitely the perfect poolside/beach read: it balances the light-heartedness of a rom-com, while still incorporating heavier topics and dynamics.

When we meet Wren, our MFC, she has just added another "rule" to her list of requirements for a boyfriend...a title she has never willingly given out, all the while thinking of ways to work up the courage to get her crush to ask her out. One thing we learn about Wren right off the bat? She loves rules, order, and predictability. So when she sees a (cute) guy, Asher, being made fun of by his friend for supposedly being catfished, she acts on impulse and pretends to be the girl he was waiting on. Nothing could go wrong...right?

I am a sucker for character development and I loved watching Wren go from her strict, rules-or nothing, stance on about every aspect of life, to breaking down her walls, and allowing some unpredictability (particularly if it comes with floppy Auburn hair) into her life. She opened up to Asher, almost from the beginning, and continued to question her desire to be an open book to him. I loved watching this translate into other areas of her life: her mom and sister, her position at the pet shelter, her openness on putting herself "out there", especially on social media.

I also really enjoyed the deeper messages this book explored, particularly the negative affects of social media. I think with this book being aimed towards a younger audience this message is so, so important, and was handled so well, and realistically. The way such a seemingly simple thing could really affect someone in such a negative way was really impactful. I would be lying if I said I wasn't emotional - I was holding back real tears there for a bit.

And how could I go this far without mentioning the true star of the show: Bean, the unlovable-lovable rescue (trust me: he's 100% lovable). I really enjoyed the way the shelter and Bean were woven into the storyline. They served as a back drop to propel the relationship between Asher and Wren, and provided comedic relief at the right moments. Plus, who can resist a sweet dog sidekick (especially when all parties get happy endings!)??

For as much as I really enjoyed the message and character development, the pacing of the book really made both of those points lose some of their impact. I felt the first half of the story was really drawn out, and like there wasn't a lot of plot really happening. The second half really picked up, and honestly, I wish we would have gotten to explore and go deeper into some of those scenes. I felt like some of the subplots were left unfinished, or rushed to wrap up. That, with the overall pacing of the story feeling a bit choppy, really impacted this read for me.

Bottom Line: I genuinely enjoyed the overall concept of this book, and how it took on relevant, deep-hitting topics, while maintaining an upbeat and fun overarching feel. Wren and Asher were both quirky in their own ways, and, as Wren so sweetly put it: "[w]as I the perfect size for his arms or was he just the perfect hugger? I wanted to think it was the first one, that we fit jut right together. (Same, Wren, same.) I love a book that proves me wrong, and that was definitely the case here - I thought I knew the twist for a while and thought it was obvious, but I was so on the wrong path and was excited to see the turn of events (though this was one spot I really felt like we could have gotten deeper and explored more!).

Kasie West continues to be my go-to when I need a pick me up. Incredibly cute, lighthearted, and just what I needed.

Love this book. It is so cute and I just wanted it to never end! Also that cover is just adorable. Loved it and would would want more!

I am picky with my YA novels, and I am so glad I took a chance on this one. It was so adorable. Asher has been stood up by the girl he met online, but Wren is there to save the day. To help him save face with his friend, she pretends to be the girl he has been talking to for months. Each day she sees him, she wants to confess the truth and tell him what really happened, but she is falling for him more every minute she spends with him. He is just a genuinely good human. When he even takes on the responsibility of helping her favorite shelter pup find a home, she knows she is done for. But while she is keeping a huge secret from him, she never thinks he could be keeping one from her as well.
I love the way that this teen drama was handled and it felt like it was done in such a real sort of way. Not bringing in extra teen angst, but just real about how we handle things when we are in high school. I really enjoyed this story!
Thanks to Random House Children's, Kasie West and Netgalley for an early copy.

I really wanted to love this book, but it ended up just being an okay read by the end. The beginning started off strong; Wren swooping in to save the day, her best friend at her side being honest but supportive, and the cute nerdy guy that could keep up with her sarcastic humor.

There were plenty of cute moments between the main characters that had me smiling, although it was almost always ruined by the fact that she kept putting off telling him the truth.

And the fact that he could've told her he knew all along, too, but never did? Then editing and sharing videos of her without getting her consent? Being shared online unknowingly, even to just "20 people" as he'd said, is just wrong. Especially when he knew how private she was with her life. How do you go about starting a relationship based on lies from both sides?

I did not expect to read about family and the struggles of an absentee parent, but it helped explain why Wren was the way she was in the beginning. Certain parts had me tearing up when they hit close to my own personal life. My only issue with this part of the story was how rushed the 'conclusion' to it was.

After the whole TikTok thing, I was ready for the book to be over. It wasn't necessarily bad or anything, but the ending left me disappointed and feeling like there was something missing. I loved that it involved dogs and a shelter since I love dogs, so that was a plus.

If you enjoy books with dogs, sarcastic main characters, and boys with golden-retriever energy, then this might be a fun read for you.

I don´t think this book was for me. I didn´t like the beginning of the story, the middle was okay and then I went back to not liking it in the end. The whole catfish thing was a no from me.

Spoiler:
What made it drop in ratings was the ending. I don´t think it´s okay to record someone and post about them without their consent. I actually think it´s really disrespectful. Personally, I think Wren forgave Asher to quickly. So unfortunately this book didn´t work for me at all, since I don´t think what Asher and Dale did was okay

🦇 Borrow My Heart Book Review 🦇

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

❓ #QOTD What friendships have you made since joining Bookstagram? Tag them in the comments to express your thanks! ❓

🦇 When a cute boy walks into her neighborhood coffee shop, obviously waiting for a girl he met online who possibly stood him up, Wren steps in before the boy's friend can tease him--on camera--for getting catfished. In her effort to save Asher from embarrassment, Wren continues the charade, waiting for the perfect opportunity to tell him the truth. When he arrives at the animal shelter where Wren works, her boss unites them with the task of getting the shelter's longest-staying guest, Bean, adopted. Will Wren tell Asher who she is, or fall in love with him before she gets the chance?

💜 Kasie West's Borrow My Heart is a heart-warming, cozy read. After her mother left her, Wren created a list of rules to ensure her heart never got broken again; rules that shattered one by one after she met Asher. Each time they interact, another wall falls, making Asher the first person to get through her defenses in some time. There are plenty of puppy-love shenanigans, both between the young couple and in their attempts to get Bean adopted. This is a cute, quick read full of warm-and-fuzzy feelings; ideal as a palette cleaner between larger texts.

🦇 As sweet as Wren and Asher's story is, it's also a little predictable. The source of conflict between Wren and Asher doesn't last very long, either. Forgiving him wraps the story up in a little bow before tensions can rise. I do wish we'd gotten more from this story; more cute moments between Wren and Asher, more character development between Wren and her mother, more funny moments with Bean. All in all, this is an entertaining, adorable read, but readers of Kasie West's previous works know she's capable of far more.

🦇 Recommended to anyone looking for a quick, cute book between longer, more complex tales.

💜 Read If You Love:
🐶 Grumpy vs Sunshine
🐶 Coming-of-Age Stories
🐶 Fake-Dating
🐶 YA Rom-Coms

🦇 Major thanks to the author and publisher for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book. #BorrowMyHeart #Netgalley @delacortepress @randomhousechildrens

I have read several of Kasie West's books, and they are always a delight.

Thanks to a mother who is flighty and downright selfish, Wren has put together a list of rules to protect her heart. When Asher is about to be humiliated by his friend Dale, Wren does something completely out of character to save the day. Her intention was for this new relationship to be temporary, but there was something about Asher that had her breaking all her rules.

Borrow My Heart was very sweet and charming. I enjoyed this twist on a fake dating relationship. It was also a bit of a reverse grumpy/sunshine. It was nice to have a happy-go-lucky guy for once in a book.

Borrow My Heart

By: Kasie West

Publish Date 13 June 2023

Publishers: Random House Childrens, Delacorte Press

Romance/ Teens & YA

#BorrowMyHeart#NetGalley

100 Book ReviewsProfessional Reader

I would like to thank both NetGalley and random House for allowing me to read and review this book.

Good Reads Synopsis:

When a girl overhears a guy getting verbally destroyed by his friends for being catfished, she jumps in to save the day—and pretends to be his online crush. A young adult romance from the critically acclaimed author of Places We’ve Never Been.

Wren is used to being called a control freak. She doesn’t care; sticking to the list of rules she created for herself helps her navigate life. But when a cute guy named Asher walks through the door of her neighborhood coffee shop, the rulebook goes out the window.

Asher is cute, charming . . . and being catfished by his online crush. So Wren makes an uncharacteristically impulsive decision—she pretends to be the girl he’s waiting for to save him from embarrassment. Suddenly she’s fake-dating a boy she knows nothing about. And it’s . . . amazing.

It’s not long before Asher has her breaking even more of her own rules. But will he forgive her when he finds out she’s not who she says she is? Wren’s not so sure. . . . After all, rules exist for a reason.

Book Review:

I really enjoyed this book. I gave it 4 stars. It is a refreshing book to read and quick.

I love the friendship between Wren and Kamala her best friend who supports her no matter what. I also love the family dynamic between her siter and Dad. Too bad the mother isn’t around. There is a reason for that.

The friendship between Asher and Dale is one of a kind and pretty typical for guys. Dale is hard on Wren because of his friend and doesn’t want him to get hurt just like Kamala doesn’t want Wren to get hurt.

I also enjoyed in the idea of Wren working in pet shelter with a funny name. I love how she became attached to a dog, Bean, that had a hard trusting anyone just like her.

I like how Asher and Wren worked together to find Bean a home.

This was such a great book minus the fact of the lies that were told or omitted.

I highly recommend this book for anyone to read even middle graders. There isn’t anything in this book that would harm them but maybe cry a little like I did.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t come out until June.

Kasie West is one of those authors who writes YA romances that warm your heart. Most of her stories include valuable lessons and cover serious topics alongside sweet, honest young love stories.

Asher and Wren are adorable. Wren is a bit uptight and strict in her plans but when she witnesses the negative side of social media in person, she finds her life taking a detour that teaches her that even the best laid plans need some flexibility.

Asher gets catfished by a girl he meets online and his so-called friend are laughing and videoing his failure. All of a sudden, a girl he’s never seen steps in and saves the day. When he shows up to volunteer with shelter animals, he runs into her again and the two begin a sweet little romance despite both of them trying to overcome personal obstacles.

You really can’t go wrong with Kasie West. Her books are the perfect mixture of fluff, life, and young love.