This book was so cute and fun and made me want to go adopt a dog immediately. This was a fun storyline with fun characters and I would recommend for anyone wanting a light summer read.

A cute, fun read. Of course, if there are animals in the book it's a must read! I really enjoyed the likeable characters and the story. Would like if there was another book after this one!

Quick Summary: A must love dogs/unbreak my heart YA romance

My Review: Borrow My Heart by Kasie West is a contemporary YA-ro that is totally relevant and hugely realistic. It is a sweet story that deals with family, relationships, social media, boundaries and life choices.

About the Book: When Wren steps in to save Asher from public ridicule, little does she know just how far her deception will take her. Soon, she finds herself in head over heels. When she becomes the subject of great attention and is viewed in a negative light, the relationship she has with Asher takes a massive hit. How will she choose to respond going forward?

Asher always seems to want to set things right. When he is put in a position of being played, his friend fires all cannons in his direction. He is surprised and delighted by the actions of Wren. Things progress in a positive manner and everything is looking fantastic...until it isn't. Will the choices he makes change what he has with Wren?

About Bean: Bean is a smile and a thank you. He charmed the socks off me.

My Final Say: This story was communicated so well. There was a lot to it. Under the surface layer, it got very real. There were several emotional hits that choked me up (I did not expect that.). Readers who enjoy socially relevant YA reads that have an edge as well as a light-heartedness will appreciate this book.

Rating: 4.5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: YA/T and up
Other: This would make a good YA Book Club read.
Re-read: Yes
Keeper: Yes

Thank you to the author, to the publisher (Random House Children's, Delacorte Press), and to NetGalley for making this work available for review in exchange for an honest review. The words I have shared are my own.

* A Goodreads review and an Amazon posting have been shared.

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.

Was really enjoying it but then things went downhill😞

Thank you so much netgalley, the author and the publisher for the advanced review copy if this book💗
"I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

Borrow My Heart is a fun YA summer contemporary that follows Wren, the girl who is all about control, until she sees Asher in the midst of being humiliated when the girl he met online ghosts him in front of his best friend. Wren decided to save him, pretending she is the mysterious online girl and while she stops the humiliation, Asher believes her too. Worst of all, Asher is nice and gives great hugs and suddenly Wren doesn’t want to tell the truth and lose him forever.

This one takes fake dating to a new level! I was was very pleasantly surprised at how the catfishing plot played out and wasn’t used through the entire book and the reasoning for the inevitable breaking point of the romance. In fact, I really wasn’t expecting the plot twist at all, turning what might seem like a predictable light romcom into a surprising and emotional contemporary tale. I really enjoyed all the animals and the Bean Games. I also was impressed by how emotionally affected I was by the family drama subplot and seeing how Wren’a broken relationships with her mom and family developed through the story. If you want an easy to read, light romance, with a touch of emotional damage this one’s for you!

Kasie West's books are always amazing, and as I've said in previous reviews of her books, this is no exception. I loved, loved, loved the characters and the romance and the, well, everything! Make sure you check out this book right away!

(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)

This was a fantastic book! You've got the characters having a random meet-up and then Wren becoming closer to Asher. She really started liking him for realsies leading to the tension that she had as she tried navigating those feelings. They were so adorable together. The suspense throughout on how she was gonna tell him and how everything would end up was amazingly written. I loved the writing and I can't wait to read what Kasie writes next.

In this young adult romance, Wren pretends to be the girl Asher has been talking to online to spare him some humiliation. She doesn't know him at all but swoops in to save the day without thinking much about the consequences. When the mistaken identity/catfishing begins, so do all of the other bumps in the road to avoid being found out as a farce. The situation only gets more confusing with fake dating. It's a fun but thought-provoking tale.

Kasie West always writes feel-good and adorable young adult romances! I really enjoyed the fake dating trope and the adorable dog and all the shenanigans of finally getting him adopted from the shelter.

This is an enjoyable YA read. The characters were likeable and the story was fun but also had some heavier elements to keep it from being overly fluffy. I did think the resolution to the main conflict came a little too easily and was somewhat far-fetched. The character's reasoning for his behavior which led to the conflict did not seem realistic and it took something away from the story for me.

Kasie West has a special place in my heart. Her stories are so cute and wholesome. First of all, I love this cover. So CUTE! Overall, this was a quick and fun YA.I just thought that the conflict was resolved a little too quickly.

Tropes
Grumpy Sunshine
Dog lovers
Meet Cute
Social Media

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this Arc in exchange for my honest review.

This was a fun, quick read. Even more enjoyable for people who love dogs and the grumpy sunshine dynamic.

This book was just adorable! I loved the quirky dog and the characters were so well fleshed out! The writing was beautiful and flowed so well!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC! All thoughts and opinions are mine!

Such a sweet and fun story. I loved the tie in with the animal shelter and that Bean was such a prominent character throughout the book. It was also great to read a true YA rom-com as so many are really pushing the boundaries anymore. Both Wren and Asher were like-able characters and was surprised by the catalyst for their fight. Thanks to the publisher for an early release copy for review!

I've been a big fan of Kasie West, but this new one left me a little wanting. It was cute, quick and enjoyable, but at the same time, the characters felt very surface and one-dimensional. The conflict felt rushed and like there wasn't enough of a consequence to actions. I also wasn't entirely sure of the timeline, but the romance felt rushed.

Kasie West is an author I truly enjoy. At one point, I was completely caught up with her backlist and had read everything she's put out. Borrow My Heart is West's latest and one of the first I am reading to try and get current again on her work. This story is about Wren who is essentially the careful daughter of a careless woman if you are picking up what I am putting down. One day she is visiting her friend Kamala at work and happens to overhear two guys - one of whom is about to be catfished. So, she pretends to be the person the guy is meeting, to save him from humiliation. Only, it spirals from there and Wren ends up falling for Archer. 

I really respect that Borrow My Heart was less than 300 pages, set during the summer, and full of dogs. It was easy like I was looking for. I enjoyed the different turns this book took, one of which ended up surprising me. The pace is fast -- if you want something you can breeze through while sitting on the beach or by the pool this is the one. Also, exactly none of the dogs die in this book. In fact, one dog that is tough to adopt out from the shelter Wren works at plays a large role too. Overall, this story was so cute.

Title: A Sweet and Engaging YA Romance with Relevant Themes - Three Stars

Review:
"On the surface, Borrow My Heart" by Kasie West appears to be a light YA romance novel, but it delves into a range of issues such as social media's negative aspects, catfishing, parental problems, relationships, and the importance of helping animals in need. While the book provides an enjoyable and sweet reading experience, it falls short in some areas, earning it a three-star rating.

The story revolves around Wren, a self-proclaimed control freak who relies on her own set of rules to feel secure. Her mother's abandonment during her childhood has shaped Wren's need for control. She finds solace in working with animals, particularly in her efforts to find a lovable dog a forever home. On the other hand, Asher is skilled with computers and video editing, hailing from a large family and having a tight-knit group of friends.

The narrative takes off when Wren, overhearing Asher being mocked by his friends due to being catfished, steps in and assumes the role of his online love interest. Despite the skepticism of his friends, Wren and Asher find themselves spending more time together, mainly at the animal shelter where Wren volunteers.

"Borrow My Heart" proves to be an enjoyable book that takes both characters on individual journeys while also embarking on a shared adventure. One commendable aspect of the novel is the clever and enticing chapter headings, which serve as a delightful setup for each chapter.

As the first book in a series, "Borrow My Heart" showcases solid writing and addresses real-life issues faced by its characters. The author effectively navigates these themes, providing a realistic portrayal of the challenges young adults encounter. This makes the book relatable to its target audience and allows readers to connect with the characters' experiences.

While the book offers a fast-paced and sweet narrative, it does have its shortcomings. The character development, particularly for Wren and Asher, could have been more nuanced and explored in greater depth. The story also follows a somewhat predictable trajectory, with few surprises along the way. As a result, the book lacks a certain level of originality that could have elevated it to a more memorable status.

In conclusion, "Borrow My Heart" is a solid YA romance novel that tackles relevant issues while providing an enjoyable and quick read. Its exploration of social media, catfishing, parental problems, and the importance of helping animals adds depth to the story. Although the book falls short in terms of character development and predictability, it still serves as an engaging option for YA readers seeking a sweet and relatable romance.

DNF @ 53%. I'm sorry. I've loved all of West's books I've read so far, but the secret keeping and almost hopping between two boys was icky and I didn't like it. I'm sure West has a perfectly good resolution for the characters, but I wont be listening to it.

This was another sweet and lovely book from this author. I really enjoyed the Wren and Asher, they were adorable together and apart. And the addition of Bean, the sweetest sounding Pit puppy, was the perfect wingman and also supporting character. I liked that Wren’s story was about much more than just finding love, as she had to learn to trust and open up after the abandonment of her mother, after years of irresponsible neglect. My one complaint was that this book was so short I was left wanting more: more of Wren’s family life, more of Bean, and more of Wren and Asher’s romance.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!