Member Reviews
I loved the family dynamics and friendships in this story. It was a so fun following their lives and the crazy mishaps they kept getting into. This is easy to relate to and was a fast read.
I really liked this author’s first book and couldn’t wait to dive into her second. The cover is so cute too! The narrator for this audiobook was great and did enjoy that part of it. When it came to the story I didn’t end up loving it but it is a nice story about moving out, growing up, and finding romance with the most unlikely person.
The book is told from one point-of-view and it comes from Brooke. She has just moved out and away from her mother and sister for the first time in her life. She has a good roommate so far and when the last one shows up it only gets awkward! When Brooke sees Jesse for the first time since high-school its in a towel and his kid brother is trying to yank it off. It was a pretty funny way to have them be introduced to each other once again.
Brooke’s family is a bit dysfunctional. She has an alcoholic father who isn’t in the picture and she feels like she needs to always babysit her older sister. I may not have had to deal with either issue in my life but I could understand her feelings on both. It can be hard to have siblings and when communication isn’t there things can end up boiling over and causing more strain in the relationship. I did like the sisterly bond, what we got of it, and how it was all resolved.
Jesse also has a dysfunctional family but his deals with divorced parents and feeling like he isn’t a part of the family on either side. It’s really sad that he felt this way. Brooke was there for him a couple of times when it came to him voicing his feelings and I just liked the vulnerability of it all.
Their relationship is very much a slow-burn because Brooke has to deal with the feelings she had in the past towards him and realize that people can change. Jesse shows how much he cares about her well being throughout and it made him a cinnamon roll in my books. I do think that their romance could have been a bit more developed since they didn’t really get together officially until basically the end of the book.
Overall, this was a cute book! I can see the upper YA group enjoying this one and feeling seen in it. Brooke is a very relatable character.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the free ALC in exchange for honest review. I expected more romance and a coming of age YA book. It was enjoyable and would be good as a beach read.
This was an adorable YA rom-com. I loved the main character Brooke with her anxious, insecure, over the top voice in her head.
Brooke is the friend every one can depend on--she is always the responsible one, always looks out for everyone, establishes rules and parameters, can clean any mess (especially of her drunken older sister) At 18, she is starting uni with all the typical fears and then some as she meets her housemates. First Harper ..fun, carefree--Brooke hopes to forge a solid friendship. Second, Jeremy...who turns out to be Jesse from school; Jesse who embarrassed her; Jesse who she has vowed to never speak to ever again.
Well this is awkward and the house rules are no unnecessary drama.
Turns out, it is difficult to not speak to a housemate. And as events unfold, Brooke and Jesse do develop and rekindle their friendship but Brooke always has her guard up as her humiliation at age 14 keeps returning to her mind. Being that Brooke is quirky to say the least, there are many moments that you can't help but just laugh how she plunges herself into scenarios that are over the top and far from reality and she also seems to escalate any issue at hand.
Readers will laugh, at her awkwardness, feel her pain, relive their own teen years, and utterly enjoy as the story unfolds of friends, families, and new beginnings.
When Brooke moves into a house-share for college, she does not expect to end up living with her high-school nemesis who also happens to be her first kiss. When Jesse starts to moves in, she connects all the pieces together and realizes that they will have to learn to live together with no drama which is their other housemates rule.
This book had so much potential, but just did not live up to the hype for me. I think we saw a lot of Brooke growing up and dealing with lots of her own issues, but there were so many opportunities are growth and even for romance to challenge her relationship with Jesse. Parts were exciting and interesting but the most of it did not keep me entertained.
Sadly i tried getting into this book. The plot did not grab my attention like the cover did. And sadly i dont remember much of this book it went in one earand out the other. I widh i could give this a higher rating but it bored me to death
This was a very cute romantic YA book. I loved the sexual tension with the characters. It has a great friends to enemies to lovers vibe. Easy read, good narrator!
Brooke is finally on her own in Melbourne for university. She is moving into a new place with two roommates and ready, she is so ready. Her father always bails on her, she is the one that always cared for her mom and sister. She is tired of worrying about people and the consequences of their actions. She worries about anything and everything. She plans for everything and anything. She is always over prepared.
When Brooke moves into her new place and meets one of her roommates, Harper. Things seem to be going okay, other than an unexpected tenant in mouse form. Then, of course, the one person she doesn’t want to be her other roommate is, in fact, her other roommate. Jesse and Brooke were friends early on in high school and then he hurt her, badly. Afterwards, everyone knows they can’t get along. This is going to make Harper’s house rule “no unnecessary drama" hard to follow, but Brooke sure is going to try.
I empathized with Brooke and really liked reading about her struggles with worrying about every possible outcome of every situation. I totally felt people judging her for not drinking, too.
Jesse was a good character. He and Brooke had history, both have struggles with their fathers, and both clearly like each other but can’t admit it. I enjoyed watching them work on mending their relationship.
There were quite a few fun scenes The date with Henry was hilarious. The fake dating scene out was on point. Although I wasn’t a huge fan of Lauren, I did grow to appreciate she wasn’t as terrible as I expected. Harper was a wonderful friend and roommate.
If this sounds like your thing, I’d recommend giving it a try. Solid four star book.
TW: Anxiety, poor relationships with family
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an arc of this audiobook. I apologize if misspelled any names or locations, I read this via the audio narration. Thanks to Maddy Withington for bringing the characters to life with the narration.
What happens when high school enemies unknowingly become room-mates in University? This was an absolutely delightful YA romance.It had me giggling throughout! Our heroine Brooke is so type A and filled with anxiety, getting to be in her head is a trip. Then we have our hero Jessie who is so sweet and patient. I enjoyed all the side characters as well. I hope Brooke's sister Lauren gets her own book.
This was an okay second chance/enemies to lovers/roommates to lovers romance, but it was just not very memorable for me. I didn't dislike it, it just didn't stand out to me.
This one was cute! Friends to enemies to roommates to lovers.
Brooke is off to uni and SURPRISE! Her high school nemesis is her new flat mate. Poor Brooke, in high school her and Jesse were friends, then an awkward kiss and Jesse being an idiot turned them into enemies. Now they have to live together and all their pre-kiss feelings are creeping back in.
This is a short and cute read. The audio was awesome, Maddy Withington nailed it. Absolutely check this one out.
Unnecessary Drama
Nina Kenwood
Narrator: Maddy Withington
Pub Date: August 8, 2023
Unnecessary Drama was a super cute YA book by author Nina Kenwood!
Brooke, the main character, has left her home to attend College in Melbourne (Australia). She is anxious about this new experience and her roommates. Brooke is a super organized person, full of spreadsheets, lists, and is one to always follow the rules. Her organization and high expectations can sometimes make her anxious around others who are not the same way.
Her house has one rule: no unnecessary drama! When Brooke realizes one of her housemates is Jesse, her former friend from high school who was responsible for humiliating her at school, she is determined to not let his presence ruin her new experience at College. It turns out that Jesse has actually turned into a pretty good guy. Will Brooke be able to move forward and forgive Jesse?
I will say, perhaps my favorite part of this book was Brooke’s character and her thoughts and behaviors. While there were certainly funny parts about this book, I think this book will really resonate with those who are more on the anxious side, like Brooke. Perfect for anyone heading off to College/University, this book will help those leaving home for the first time, dealing with unexpected situations, and learning to be on your own.
This was a feel-good book and such a joy to listen to. The narrator, Maddy Withington, was just perfect! With this being an Australian romance, I felt her voice as the narrator was spot on.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Posted on Goodreads on April 26, 2023: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram (full review) on August 8, 2023: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Instagram (mini review) in Late July/Early August 2023: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on August 8, 2023
**-will post on designated date