It was difficult for me to get interested in the story since Elliot was painted in a very negative light in the first chapter, but after reading I understand the necessity of it. I appreciate the acknowledgement of Tim being an unreliable narrator. While I started out despising Elliot (as a result of the negative way Tim painted him), I quickly warmed up to him and ended my read with Elliot as my favorite character. I was caught completely off guard by several twists and turns. The entire thing is worth reading even if just for the magnificent epilogue. My main criticism is that the magic system used, while an interesting concept, is under-explained to the point that it makes very little sense despite being a core part of the story. I wish it had been explained in more detail so I could have understood the relevance of it better. Overall, it was an enjoyable read though and I would reread it.

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my review!

All in all a cute YA book. The magic seemed like an afterthought for the first half of the book and I didn't understand why it was needed until the last half.

I feel like as soon as I was introduced to the two main characters I knew what would happen. If this featured two heterosexual characters, I would have rolled my eyes because we have all read and seen this story played out before (enemies to lovers trope), but *gasp* it's not a girl meets boy story.

Bisexual erasure is all too real (even in 2023.......) and it's refreshing to have great representation like this book! YA books like this give me hope for the next generation.

Many times did I want to shake Tim. WAKE UP. Just be honest! You are falling in love! Yes he does want to be with you! But alas, this is a young adult book and kids are naive.

Thank you NetGalley and Hardie Grant Kids for providing me with a copy of this book for review!

Let me start by saying this book is a hot mess. It’s like reading fanfiction. The prose, style and characters are great, the plot is batship and tropey, and the magic system feels like it’s relying on some kind of prior knowledge (in other words, severely underdeveloped).

But.

I loved EVERY minute of it. And if you love silly tropey romances and don’t mind a half-baked magic system, you’re gonna love it too.

Tim and Elliot are both such beautiful characters. It’s that classic enemies to lovers where one’s had feelings for ages and the other has been oblivious (and is still oblivious even once his own feelings develop). Their banter, the way they cared for each other, the casual ways Elliot would just touch Tim, all of it was perfect.

And absolutely every side character was brilliant, even the ones you didn’t like very much. It just felt SO realistic for a school environment at that age, the way everyone interacted with each other.

This book is also VERY obviously set in New Zealand and I love the way the culture shone through, from pieces of language to weet-bix and everything in between. Australian culture is quite similar and I love seeing those little things in fiction that make it feel uniquely ours.

This book is so charming! The voice is fun and the book fast-paced and fans of romcoms with a twist will love this. Elliott is such a soft boy and Tim the bi disaster, and I enjoyed reading as their enemies-to- relationship changed, figuring things out together. I also really liked the spare magic, and maybe that's because I was reading this as a contemporary set in New Zealand with a speculative twist. I would absolutely recommend this book to teens who like CARRY ON and SIMON VS.

An entertaining YA queer fantasy set in a magical boarding school in New Zealand. Tim and Elliott come together to get revenge on their exes, who left them for each other. Despite being previous enemies, they team up in a school project where they must look after an egg, who they name Meggan. Thus they quickly become roommates with benefits. The plot was a bit lacking in places but the story was easy to read and entertaining. I liked the relationships Tim and Elliott had with their friends and how they all worked together. Quick, fun read.

Tim TeMaro and the Subterranean Heartsick Blues is an enemies-to-lovers romance set in a magical high school in New Zealand. Tim and Elliot end up raising an egg baby together to get back at their exes and...well, stuff happens.

The story focuses almost entirely on Tim and Elliot's relationship. Their emotional journey, told from Tim's point of view, is told well enough, but there's an entire world around them that could have used some more exploration.

The setting was interesting, but underutilized. I found myself wanting more information about the school, the magic system, the cultural impact, and what the hack Tim's dad was doing.

This is certainly not a bad book, but it could have gone deeper and shown more.

i think that this book was pretty fun, but it fell flat in a lot of different areas. the magic aspect of it wasn’t very developed, and i feel like it wasn’t touched on enough, like, at all. i often forgot that it even took place in a magical world or whatever. i feel like all i remember about it was that they went to a magical school ?? overall, it was a cute and simple book to get through, but i don’t think it’ll be very memorable for me. i also admire the pretty unique title and lovely cover. i’ve also noticed many taylor swift references in books lately.

also, i got this through netgalley, so thank you to netgalley for that !! <3

Studying at Fox Glacier High School for the Magically Adept, Tim Te Maro and Elliott Parker have never gotten along. Not that their paths have crossed all that much. But when Tim's girlfriend dumps him for Elliott's boyfriend, Elliott devises a plan to get revenge. They'll partner up for the baby egg project, and do it better than their exes.

What starts as an innocent project shows Tim and Elliott that they might be more compatible than they thought. What starts as a friendship evolves into no-strings-attached hookups. But when feelings start to spark between them, they realize that emotions can start to get messy. Especially when they don't know if the other person also feels them, too.

Thanks to NetGalley and Independent Publisher's Group for an advanced copy of Tim Te Maro and the Subterranean Heartsick Blues by HS Valley to review! I heard a pitch for this as a mini book conference I went to last fall, and it sounded right up my alley. And I was right! Plus, one of the comp titles was Red, White, & Royal Blue, so you know I had to read it.

Outside of having a really long title, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Tim and Elliott have excellent chemistry, right from the beginning. The way their relationship evolves throughout the book feels realistic, and you'll come to love these two goofballs by the end. And the magical baby egg assignment is such a fun concept! I don't know why someone hasn't included that in a book before. It made their whole relationship even more fun.

While the comp titles are Red, White, & Royal Blue and The Magicians, I think a more fitting comparison is Carry On. You've got magic, rivals to lovers, and a magical school. Sure, neither of them is a vampire, but the overall tone and story felt similar to me. So, if you love Carry On, you'll probably enjoy this!

My only qualm is that I wish the world building had been made a bit clearer. The whole magical school thing was cool, but I still wasn't quite clear on the magical system and how it worked. A few more details in that regard would have been helpful.

Outside of that, this is a super fun, light read, and it'll be a great one to add to your romance TBR!

2.5 stars actually.

Okay. Yes. I know that it is not the score that you surely expected to see from this book, and I think that I did not expect to give it this score either, but it was not at all a GOOD read.

Starting with something that bothered me a lot was the fact that the whole system of magic, or the school of magic or whatever it is that is in this book is NOT explained at all. If you tell me that there is magic, I expect a bit of development of an explanation that they show me how it works or at least how it is that they are in that school, what they see, what they do, more. Anything else.

Afterwards, the book is basically the relationship between two boys, which is left very poor. I would have liked there to be a PLOT but there is something interesting (beyond the romance) to read and to feel like continuing reading.

A very favorable point that I would like to highlight is that a character seems to not know exactly how he feels about his attraction to people. And how he commented on it, thinking, developing it was interesting because that gives rise to many people also being able to reflect on how they relate to others. But as with the above... it lacks development.

I felt it empty, entertaining because it has some pretty cool dialogues but it's not for the 26-year-old Magui.

Thank you Hardie Grant Children's Publishing, H.S Valley for the issue I read through NetGalley.

While I agree with other reviewers that this felt a lot like a fanfic, the character development still made it a fun & cute read. Tim and Elliott are such lovely characters and the warmth that Elliott shows is so sweet. There are a LOT of tropes in this book but it’s still a fun and quick read. The only complaint I have is the setting in under developed. I found myself really unsure of how to visualize the setting while I was reading and I found myself wishing there was touch more description of the location/school and the other characters. I think the lack of description made it feel more like a fanfic because it almost felt like it was assumed that we already understood/knew the setting.

3.75/5 stars, rounded up

First of all, I would like us all to take a moment of silence to appreciate that insanely gorgeous cover. The colors, the fonts, Elliott and Tim -- it's all simply *chef's kiss.* I could stare at it all day!

Secondly, this book was really fun to read. It's hate to love with queer magicians who pair up to take care of an enchanted egg, a little CARRY ON-esque. I would definitely read more in set in this world! (And I would love enjoyed more world-building to really get the atmosphere of it all. It could have definitely been longer!)

Elliott and Tim (and all the friends/side characters) are precious and I loved watching their journey throughout this story, and their growth; not just in relation to each other, but personally as well. Plus, this book is FUNNY. Valley is a really enjoyable writer to read and this book had me cackling throughout much of it. (At least during those heart-tugging parts that I wasn't in my ~feels~).

Overall, a fun read!

A big thanks to Hardie Grant Children's Publishing and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

(4.5 Stars)

As a millennial, the need for stories centering around magical schools is strong. Luckily, H.S. Valley’s debut novel, Tim Te Maro and the Subterranean Heartsick Blues scratches that itch!

Tim has been recently dumped by his girlfriend for another classmate, and while he claims it’s because she saw something else in him, he starts to wonder if it’s because she could sense him thinking about other boys. Unfortunately, he’s stuck with her for their parenting-related assignment, until one of his least favorite people, Elliot Parker hatches a plan to ditch their exes and partner up instead! Tim is sure the long, intimate assignment will cause them to butt heads and fail… however, the opposite begins to occur, and feelings begin to blossom while caring for their magical egg.

This novel plops you right in the center of the story right away, so I was a bit intimidated by the lore and rules of their magic. You would think this was a sequel with how little explanation there was at first! However, after a few chapters, I was able to catch up with hints of how the students use their magic and craft their skills. The large amount of minor, yet meaningful characters allows the reader to feel as if they too have stepped into this new world. And while there’s plenty of moments of laughter and chaos, I found myself rooting for Tim and Elliot (and their little Meggan!) to succeed while falling in love.

H.S. Valley’s creativity continues to astound me, even days after finishing this heartwarming tale! While there are drops of inspiration from other young adult novels scattered throughout, the third act of this story is surprising and unexpected. It’s clear to see why they won the Ampersand Prize with this masterpiece!

Tim Te Maro and the Subterranean Heartsick Blues is scheduled to be released in North America on Valentine’s Day 2023! Many thanks to NetGalley and Hardie Grant for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. On its surface, it is a sweet, funny, enemies to lovers story exploring grief, parenthood of an egg and coming out. But Valley has also crafted a beautiful world set in an underground magic school. Set in New Zealand, the book has a rich magical system and world building that are certainly not the main focus of the book, but fascinating and creates a great backdrop for the story.

I really hope we get to see more of this world, and that Tim and Elliott can be our guides once again.

Time Te Malo and the Subterranean Heartsick Blues is a queer YA fantasy romance novel focusing on Tim and Elliott, two teenagers at a boarding school for kids with magical abilities. After both boys have been effectively dumped, they team up together on a school project - taking care of a giant egg - in order to get revenge on their exes, but both get a little more than they signed up for.

For fans of YA romance, this has all one could ask for - solid characters, a well-placed plot, and a good handful of favorite tropes. I also enjoyed reading a fantasy somewhat based on a culture not often seen in literature, especially YA, and it's done really nicely here. The book definitely feels like a product of fandom, so your feelings on fanfiction may be a good indication of your interest.

The only thing I really wanted more from this book was a little more depth. Granted, it's a romance novel, so there's not a ton of that in the genre in general, but I still wanted to feel like Tim and Elliott would still be lingering in my brain after reading, and I didn't really get that feeling.

Overall, though, it's a fun read for the banter between characters alone. I'd say it's a must for queer YA romance fans, even if fantasy isn't one of your favorite genres.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hardie Grant Children's Publishing for providing a copy for review.

Firstly, the things I liked was the representation (bisexual MC, gay MC, Maori rep, some diverse side characters) and the main relationship. It was easy to read, very quick and charming in many ways. There are a lot of familiar tropes that still come off as cute. It's all pretty low stakes, so the story feels cozy.

It's YA and the characters are 17 so the sexual content is all closed door.

For what I didn't like as much: The actual magic system is not very developed, giving way to a different type of magic not to do with the school categories themselves. The author includes "Minders" who can get in your head, but that's not really explored at all and has no real impact on the plot. The group of friends is extensive but most don't have clear characteristics and feel a bit unnecessary. I also found the relationship between Tim and his dad to be brushed over and not explored considering its background and Tim's feelings (or his mom's feelings).

I admit that I've read very similar fanfiction, which is not a mark against it. I love fanfic. However, I think that the characters suffer a bit because of this since fanfic assumes the reader already knows the characters (this isn't so much for the main characters, Tim and Elliot, but for the side characters), and I think this is why the side characters don't have much in terms of depth.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Book felt unfinished. I realize the goal here was probably to have a romance that just happened to be set in a magical school, but it really could have used some more fleshing out. Especially since the readers who are likely to pick up this book are going to be attracted to the magic aspect and expect more of that.
I also didn't feel like there was a central conflict with high enough stakes to get invested.

I’ve known about this book for a while (it came out in NZ in 2021!) and have desperately wanted to read it - I mean, look at that cover! Plus, it’s a mix between the Magicians and Carry On, two series I absolutely love? Sign me the heck up. I was ecstatic to see this on NetGalley!

This book follows 17-year-old Tim Te Maro, who attends a magical underground (literally) school in New Zealand. He’s lived on the grounds since he was ten years old, as both of his parents are professors there. He has a small, solid group of friends, and an even larger group of not-quite-but-almost enemies … which includes Elliot Parker, the spoiled pretty boy who sets Tim’s nerves on edge. When Tim’s girlfriend breaks up with him for Elliot’s sort-of-ex, they reluctantly decide to team up for an important school project - in order to piss off their exes, obviously.

Tim’s a bit of a mess at the beginning - and frankly, throughout the entire book - because not only is he a hormonal teenager, he’s questioning his sexuality, oh, and his dad disappeared a few months ago. So when the closeness of the project with Elliot turns into something more, he lets it happen … and well, it obviously doesn’t go as well as he hoped.

Because, inevitably, feelings happen.

This was a delightfully fun book, full of interesting NZ terms and culture that I got to look up and explore, and a magical system that is unlike any other I’ve read about. The enemies-to-lovers trope is one that i am a fan of, so I obviously enjoyed that aspect of it, but I also found myself invested in Tim’s feelings and his relationships with his friends and family.

I’m excited to see what else Valley writes, and I really hope there will be another book with Tim and Elliot, as the end leaves you with lots of questions!

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Out February 2023.

I liked this book. I always love a friends/enemies to lovers troupe. Tim was a great character and I adored his friends. I was a bit confused on some of the magic elements. Some were explained and a lot wasn't. Also the relationship between Tim and Elliott felt rushed and incomplete until the end. The ending was great that it wrapped up the story nicely. Overall, it was a good story.

What can go wrong when you and your rival get dumped, and your exes begin dating each other?

Tim Te Maro is not having the best time of his life; his parents recently separated and his dad left leaving everything behind, he is also struggling to figure out his sexuality so his girlfriend breaks up with him. But heartbreak and a new school project will bring him and Elliott, his lifelong enemy, together.

Tim Te Maro and the Subterranean Heartsick Blues is a warm story about first true love. The story is set in a magical school, but all that takes a backseat and we are entirely focused on Tim coming to terms with falling in love and accepting that maybe he has been wrong about Elliott all along. H.S. Valley does a wonderful job narrating Tim’s internal monologue and struggles. The way Valley created a magical world, but used many references to the real world made it easy to get comfortable in the setting and not question the magic system too much. However I feel like the story could have used a couple more chapters to tie up loose ends. All the supporting characters are just forgotten once Tim and Elliot go on to fix their issue. I only hope this was done purposely and a sequel is on the way.

[4.75⭐️]
This book was presented as an union between Red, White and Royal Blue and The Magician, I haven’t read The Magician but I loved Rwrb so I was all in and in the end it didn’t disappoint!!
Also I would add that this was very much a version of Carry On but with more romance involved and less fantasy.
All the egg-baby thing is just hilarious! I loved it so much and I think it was a super fun and cute pretext for the love story.
One of the things I liked the most is that there wasn’t a third act breakup and any unnecessary drama which is something I’m a bit tired of seeing in romance, so just for this it gets a lot more points.
This book was very easy to read and kept me entertained till the end and it quickly became one of my favorite books that I’ll absolutely reread. So if you want a cute and funny love story you have to read this book!!
I also have to spend a few words for this cover, it’s just gorgeous! I could spend hours staring at it 😍 I must have it in my library immediately