A slow burn at the end of high school. I have to say that the book caught my attention, and I found myself making time to read more. It was thoroughly enjoyable, thoughtful, and the characters were quirky, which made for funny situations while the characters grew up. I gave this a five-star rating, and I hope to find other books by this author.

Robby Weber's newest adventure is a coming of age that gives a lot to readers. It's cute, it's romantic, it tackles some real issues and has a positive message. This book is medium-paced with a slower start, but a fast paced climax that will have readers racing to the last page.

This book centers around Zach, a soccer star who takes the fall for a prank he didn't commit. When he starts the community service he is required to complete, he learns several lessons around choosing to do the right thing, leadership, and even love. Ultimately, this is a cute addition to LGBTQIA+ YA and I think many people will enjoy it!

Check it out!

Goodreads review in link. Thank you for the book!

Marine biology and soccer, my two favorite things in a romance novel. Definitely a fun read. There are quite a few unnecessary commas it feels like in the book.

This was better than his first book, but i don’t think this author is really for me. I struggle getting into it and it just leaves too slightly disappointed.

I Like Me Better is a young adult lgbt story. I wanted to enjoy this story, but the author never pulled me in. I ended up with it on my DNF list. From the start, I could not comprehend why Zach took the blame. I kept reading, and I just didn't care about anything that was happening, as WHY DID HE TAKE THE FALL?

As adults, we like to believe that we've grown past those insecure teenage versions of ourselves -- the ones like Zack Martin, who winds up taking the fall for a vile prank pulled on the rival school, all in the hopes that it might put him in the good graces of the popular senior soccer captain, and keep the rest of their team out of trouble. We tell ourselves that we're nothing like Zack, that we would never take the blame for someone else simply because we're desperate to fit in.

But as I read through Robby Weber's "I Like Me Better," it became apparent to me, with just how much I resonated with Zack, that perhaps that insecure teenager still exists inside me. Initially, I hadn't anticipated finding much to connect with in Weber's book -- romance isn't usually the genre I gravitate to, but this wasn't simply a boy-meets-boy romance. It was full of the complexities of being a human in this society that deems you weak if you don't appear to have it all together.

Though I am long out of my teenage angst phase, I was still able to feel the pain that Zack felt as things started to slip out of place for him. My heart still ached when he did, and I, too, felt the suffocating weight of parental pressure that he had heaped onto his shoulders.

That said, plenty of warm and light-hearted moments span the pages, making this the perfect read for any day and a great addition to your YA collection.

I was so excited to read this book because there are not as many romance books with queer soccer players, but two weeks after reading this book I'm struggling to remember much of what happened in it. I know that this is a YA story and the characters are expected to be teens, but come on.

Ryan was a jerk of a character from the start and I can't believe that Zack couldn't see it. First Ryan is shown to have said some pretty toxic things to his teammates, then he wanted one of Zack's friends to take the blame for his inappropriate prank, all so that his college career isn't in jeopardy?

Zack needed some more therapy. The amount of validation he was trying to get some his old, toxic captain was concerning, and I'm honestly glad for him that one of his friends was willing to call him out on his crap. And lying about his community service to try to flirt with Chip? Did he really think that was going to go well? It did help Zack that his parents were pretty dysfunctional and had the wrong priorities when it came to guiding him into becoming a young adult.

Chip was the best character in this book, by far. He was so self-assured and had such a detailed plan for what he wanted. I'm shocked he fell for someone like Zack. Chip did help provide a positive role model for Zach and really helped him grow into a decent human by the end.

I did really appreciate that all the characters in this book were LGBTQ+ friendly and that there was nothing abnormal about boys loving boys.

This was a very sweet read. It was easy and quick. If you're looking for a coming of age, summer, rom/com then this book is for you. I loved the way this book spoke about environmental issues and reducing single use plastic. The main character, Zach, was very relatable - as he feels the need to please everyone and uphold the image he's made of himself.

An enjoyable and environmentally conscious queer YA novel about two boys spending their summer volunteering at the Marine Institute and getting to know each other along the way.

Zack Martin is a star of his high school soccer team and ready to be voted in captain for his senior year. With pressure from an older player he looks up to Zack takes the fall for him and confesses to a prank he did not execute involving a real shark. This lands Zack with community service for the summer and when he meets a cute boy he hasn’t talked to before, Chip, he quickly relocates his hours from
The library to the Marine Institute.

This is a great story for young/teen readers, especially young gay/queer boys who are looking for a story to see themselves represented that is reflective of the pressure they feel from sports/extra curricular, maintaining and apologizing in friendships and the hope and butterflies in finding someone. The struggle Zack goes through in regards to putting the soccer team before himself and beginning to recognize when he should apologize first are definitely things that teens will find relatable.

I did appreciate the author throwing in the caveat at the end about some single use plastics (such as straws) are important to individuals with disabilities.

4 stars

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and InkYard Press for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I will start with what I enjoyed about this book and I liked that it operated in a world where the main character's sexuality was just accepted. However, this led to his queerness not being a part of his personality. I felt like in order for the author to create a world where queerness was accepted and "normal" he sacrificed using the queerness as a part of showing who the whole person is.

I enjoyed the build of the relationship of going from friends to boyfriends in a slow manner, but did not enjoy the internal monologue of the main character particularly in response to his relationship with chip and not being able to understand it. I did like the dates and the descriptions of the dates, even if they felt like they might have not been dates highschoolers would go on.

I did not feel as if anyone was a fully realized character but instead just tropes of who should be in the story. in fact I think the most fleshed out character was the dog. I also felt as if the author in an attempt to create complexity relied heavily on being a child of divorce, with this being maybe the defining characteristic of inner turmoil for more than one character.

The ending did not feel as if it was earned. I know that highschool emotions run big but nothing in the end felt natural to the story. Why would he think quitting the soccer team was the best answer? I also feel as if maybe the two protagonists did not belong together but it is a highschool romance and it does not need to be the end all be all, one true pairing. I just wanted more for chip and even for zach.

This review was posted on my goodreads but will not be posted on my bookstagram.

Review will be posted after the HC Union’s demands are met. I stand with the HCUnion and will not be giving written reviews of HC books until they come to an agreement with the union.

Something I appreciate about Inkyard press is that they have a keen eye for authors who tell stories for teens very well. I have never read anything from them that did not feel authentic or raw, and their books tackle topics that historically have been avoided in YA very well. I Like Me Better is no expedition, and I bumped this up on the book club I lead for teen readers because I cannot wait for them to meet Zack and Chip.

I Like Me Better feels safe, and I think that’s what makes it special. It approaches big feelings and conflict that teens experience, but in a way that helps them navigate what’s going on. This book was wonderful and I cannot wait for my students to have it:

Book Review for: "I Like Me Better" by Robby Weber
Source: ARC from NetGalley
Score: 4/5 stars

The book "I Like Me Better" follows Zack as as he takes the blame for a prank by the out-going captain of the soccer team and now has to spend his summer completing his volunteer service hours for the prank.

The book has quite some depth as it deals with issues of high expectations and mental health, relationships, and self-love.

Plot:
The book begins with Zack, the upcoming soccer star, taking the blame for a prank by Ryan, the out-going senior soccer captain. Because of this, Zack has to spend his summer completing community service. While serving his hours, Zack meets Chip and is instantly infatuated by him. The book then works through Zack's relationships with his team mates and trying to become closer with Chip.

Although the plot seems very bare, there is a lot the book unpacks. From the lens of being a high-level athlete, we see Zack have to work through struggles with team mates and his own self-worth. We, then, see him trying to win over Chip and be a trustworthy partner.

Overall, there was a lot of content that showed Zack's growth throughout the book.

Writing:
The book was easy to read and felt authentically YA. The chatter between characters reflected the age quite well without feeling forced. Sometimes, the scenes felt overly descriptive and even repetitive but it wasn't often enough to feel like the pacing was bogged down.

Although, it was slow to start, the book picks up and moves along quite quickly.

Characters:
The cast of characters are quite likable.

Zack is your typical frustrating teenage character who is dealing with high school drama, but his journey through this book is quite reflective and he actually grows as a person.
His friends and team mates all serve a purpose and their personalities fit well with the narrative. Meyers and Beckett are his angel/devil buddies, and Noel is that thorn in Zack's side that pushes him on and off the field. Finally, Chip serves as the adorable love interest and he is super wise and mature... of course he is.

Overall, the characters were enjoyable to read and it was nice seeing Zack's growth throughout the book.

Finale:
Overall, it was good to see a m/m romance centered around the sports-realm. The book looks at relationships between team mates, friends, and potential partners. This was an easy read and does a good job discussing that change isn't easy but it might be worth it.

Thanks to NetGalley and InkYard press for this digital Arc.
I started off really excited for this book. It’s nothing new content wise but I’m always happy to see more queer rep in YA. That being said I wanted to love this book. But Zack was way too unlikeable for me. He was supposed to be unlikeable but his redemption wasn’t enough for me. That being said, the love interest, his friends, teammates all were wonderful. I think I would have enjoyed this story more from Chip’s point of view. To watch Zack change and grow without the internal monologue.
The biggest win in this book for me was the lack of homophobia. It’s so rare to see a MLM book that takes place in a masculine space, such as a high school sport, that doesn’t include teasing or hazing or worse. The fact that everyone in the book was supportive was a breath of fresh air.

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

3.5 stars rounded up.

This book started out slow and rather stale for me, but I kept pushing through and I'm glad I did. I ended up really enjoying it. Zack made me want to shake him sometimes because, oh my god, talk about being a dense seventeen-year-old boy sometimes. But his character growth from the beginning to the end was palpable.

I loved seeing the relationships between Zack and his teammates, in particular the little rivalry between he and Noel.

And Chip. Oh, Chip. So adorable. Although sometimes I forgot that he was younger than Zack because he acted so much older. His voice didn't exactly scream teenager, but then again I suppose he's also into conservation and space, so he's not your typical sixteen-year-old.

The slow burn relationship between them was pretty darn cute. There was something so wholesome about their friendship and budding relationship that I loved.

There were some scenes that could have transitioned better and there were a few things I wasn't on board with. For starters, can we just agree as a collective that the third-act break-up is overdone? Also, their fight was kind of silly because Chip told Zack he should go to the charity match but now he's all convinced Zack is a horrible human being? I get being mad -- Zack said he'd be there for him and then let him down. But to jump right from "I'm hurt and disappointed" to "you care about nobody but yourself" is a bit much. Then again, they're teenagers and hormones are running wild and everything is the end of the world, even if you are a mature science geek.

All in all, this was an enjoyable, cute romcom with a good message. I would recommend it to a friend.

got a netgalley arc of this a long time ago because CUTE COVER also description and it has a soccer ball in my obsession era, all signs pointed to me liking it but GOD that wasn't the case, honestly i didn't hate it, Chip was adorable(so adorable that I'm forgiving the name), he was a force of nature i loved everything about him he is the true hero of this book (along with beck and meyers) but zack god i get the only kid of divorced person fighting for attention but? I didn't feel for him, he just felt like a kid who needs some good therapy? he acted like a kid honestly so i can't fault him it's true to a T, but he made this book less enjoyable because ew seeking Ryan's approval (horrible human being btw), overall second half was amazing and the cover truly is so so pretty once again<3

When a star soccer player takes the blame for a prank he didn’t do in order to cover for the captain’s prank and protect the team... things begin to spiral for him, especially when he begins his community service at a seaside conservation center in order to try and win over the cute intern who wants nothing to do with him. Zack Martin has it all: he’s a shoo in to be the next captain of the soccer team, he’s popular ( to the point where theres an 8 foot tall poster of him around school), he’s got two best friends, and he’s good looking... except things are not as great as they seem. He’s suffering under the pressure and anxiety that being popular is, he feels like at any moment he’s going to be a disappointment to someone. He’s so focused on trying to look good and pleasing everyone that he’s crumbling apart and upsetting everyone. When the captain of the soccer team pulls a prank he ask Zack to take the fall for him and Zack agrees because the guy said he’d come clean about it right before the vote for captain and that Zack would be protecting the team by doing this... except now everyone thinks he’s the kind of person who would do such a thing. it doesn’t help that he has to do community service now and now has to juggle not only practice and conditioning the team but doing community service all while trying to find time to hang out with his best friends. He also happens to run into a cute guy named Chip who turns out to be head intern at the seaside conservation and Zack immediately starts working there to try and get Chip to give him a chance despite Chip rejecting him. Zack is breaking under the lie and the fact that he is beyond stressed. He can’t seem to get along with his teammates or make them actually like him, he’s fighting with his best friends, and he doesn’t know how long he can keep lying to Chip. Can Zack sort this all out before it explodes in his face and he loses himself? This one wasn’t what I was really expecting, I was hoping for a more summer cute seaside read but what I got was the very drama filled journey of a teen who can’t seem to get his priorities straight and keeps making the wrong decisions. The romance wasn’t really there for me either, like they just didn’t seem to have that much chemistry and I honestly would have been happier with Zack ending up alone and growing from this entire experience. Zack has a lot of growing to do in this book and there was a ton of soccer teammate drama and friendship drama in it. Overall if you are looking for story about someone who is growing and learning to be themselves then this is for you, it has a light romance in it too.

*Thanks Netgalley and Inkyard Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

*3.5 stars*
I Like Me Better follows Zach, the star player of the soccer team and future captain. However when Ryan, the current captain pulls a prank Zach takes responsibility and his summer Is changed drastically. He has to do community service at a marine institution where he meets Chip, a guy he may or may not be falling for.

I Like Me Better is a classic coming of age YA. It has the basic plot of self discovery through friendship and love and it was overall really cute! Zach is a pretty basic character however I really enjoyed Chip. If you're looking for a cute, easy read I definitely recommend this.

4.5/5 Stars

Robby Weber's sophomore novel is even more of a perfect YA beach read than his debut. I Like Me Better feels just like a perfect sunny day at the beach, warm and light but with exciting moments and great people. Though a little slow in the beginning, by the middle, I was invested and the book is impossible to put down in the third act. The book overflows with queer joy. Zack, the main character, is sometimes frustrating, but always relatable.

2.5* Unfortunately this one want a favorite. I was really excited about the summer atmosphere and connecting sports to environmental conservation. However the plot got sort of muddled and lost sight of the goal for most of the book. And while the main characters were reasonably developed with their own motivations and flaws, every other character made no sense at all. Many characters flipped and flopped so much from one chapter to the next that it was really confusing and honestly made the reading experience less enjoyable. Relying too much on telling us what characters were like then showing us the complete opposite, made every attempt at characterization or character development impossible. The romance was cute overall and I enjoyed the payoff but even that was a little predictable.