Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a cute story. I kind of knew from the beginning that Caleb and Emma would wind up together (not mad about it!) but watching them get there was very enjoyable. I was kinnnnnd of hoping for a poly ending but was definitely ok with what we got. There was a lot of representation here, and the story was well done in an age appropriate way for a book that is classified as YA. The book does touch on some sensitive subjects (parental abandonment, bullying, etc.), so just something to keep in mind if you aren't in the right space to read about those things. Characters were well developed, and book had a good pace.

amanda woody never misses with her books! they just have so much heart to them i don't think i could ever hate them. this was so beautiful, heartwarming and lovely at the same time. jdjnejrfqejrfjqerhf i loved it SO much.

Thank you to Net galley for approving my ARC of Exes and Foes.

While the book had a good premise, I found it very hard to read and finish because of the way the characters spoke and their behaviors. It all came across and very cringey and over the top to me. However, If the way the characters converse with each other does not feel the same to you as it does to me and you’re looking for a short book to pass time, I would recommend this book.

Amanda Woody has stolen my heart again with this YA second chance romance. So funny, so tender, well developed, flawed characters. Character growth as individuals and as a couple. So so so much to love about this book.
Thank you to netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

Exes and Foes features an atypical love triangle: Emma and Caleb knowingly compete for their mutual friend's affection.

I did not find this competition enjoyable to read about. Labeling it as a competition makes Juliet seem like a prize, not a person. This competition isn't about what Juliet wants or whether Juliet is even interested in either of them. While still reading, I thought I would end up giving this book 2 or 3 stars because I genuinely dislike this major plot point.

That said, sometimes I read a book and give it all the stars simply because of the way it made me feel. That's exactly what happened with Exes and Foes. This book took me through the entire spectrum of emotions. I felt for every character. In fact, I was so emotionally invested in their lives that, at times, I had to take a break from the book and calm down.

In my opinion, that's where Amanda Woody's genius lies, in their ability to craft gut-wrenchingly authentic stories that make the characters seem like long-time friends. Plus, Woody really delivers on diverse LGBT+ representation in this book.

Bottom line: Even better than their debut.

Dear Amanda,

We all can have this terrible voice inside our heads that we’re not good enough. I know you worry readers won’t like your books. That your books aren’t good enough.

But Amanda, do you know how many people liked THEO? And would do anything to get that sequel you wrote? Do you know how THEO made me smile and gave this warm fuzzy feeling in my chest? And please know, Exes & Foes made me feel the same way!

The moment I started reading Exes, that smile I had while indulging THEO returned to my face. I grinned, I chuckled softly, I burst out laughing, and sometimes my chest tightened and a lump closed off my throat. You have a gift, Amanda. A gift to write fantastic character dynamics with so much vibrancy. I fell in love with badass Emma and awkward (her words) Juliette, and Caleb literally took a piece of my heart so he could live there forever. Even though I loved Juliette, I wanted Emma and Caleb to get together so badly. And when they finally did, after some hurdles, my heart fluttered.

Please, Amanda, never doubt yourself again. You’re one of those authors whose books I’d read without even reading the blurb.

Love,
Marieke

A fun story between friends, but also one that dealt with deeper topics. While I know this is for a younger audience I didn’t enjoy it as much as i was hoping for. I did like her first book alright but the writing style for this one dragged a bit for me. I did like the mmc but I didn’t have a preference for any character in particular. I did like how it ended though.

I enjoyed the first book I read by this author, "They Hate Each Other". This novel had similar dark overtones from some truly dreadful parents, but despite these problems and other self-inflicted emotional wounds our two protagonists made it through in the end. Unusually for the books I tend to read, the two main characters were in a heterosexual relationship (though they had plenty of queer friends themselves, plus some demisexual and ARO/ACE leanings thrown in for good measure).

All good fun and I look forward to Amanda's next book!

The beginning reminded me of one of my fav Bollywood movies of all time, so I spent the whole time fancasting those actors in here.

The character development and backgrounds (including families!) were fleshed out and well-done, the story was absolutely adorable, and the book balanced out humor and the heavier topics.

I love me some chaotic besties, and this one deliverrrred!! I was thinking the ending might be poly, but I'm okay with the way it did end! Well-done and a must read!

This book had me all weepy at 2:30am because I had to stay up to binge read the ending.

The story follows ex friends/lovers competing for the new girl that is quickly replaced with their journey to rekindling their friendship and righting the wrongs of the past.

The stories with their families were the star here. They were well written and developed for both of them, and even though their family issues were different, the author seamlessly integrated over the course of the book how these relationships impacted their lives. Really well done character development in my opinion.

I didn’t feel a ton of attachment to any other characters besides Emma and Caleb, but I felt like their stories with their respective families stole the show more than the competition, which fell to the wayside. I loved the arguments between the two of them, and the not so subtle hints to their obvious affection for each other. You could feel the intensity of their emotions, their anger, sadness, joy. It was a roller coaster of a read for someone who really puts themself in the shoes of the characters.

I think a couple things that detracted is I really dislike when books use a lot of modern slang/references, like “unalive me” or an obscure reference to The Greatest Showman, because I feel as though they don’t hold up to the test of time and date the book quickly. I also found it really hard to understand what they saw in Juliet at the beginning because her quirkiness felt more irritating than compelling.

Overall it was a wonderful read and I highly recommend all YA fans to read. It will grab your heart and twist it all over the place.

Thank you to Penguin Group-Penguin Young Readers Group, Netgalley, and Amanda Woody for the eARC. All opinions written are my own.

Exes & Foes is an adorable romance book about friendship, family, and healing. I thoroughly enjoyed read it. All of the characters were super cute and I love all the representation!

Just an all together lovely read!

I had a hard time getting into this book because I really didn't like Emma for most of the book. I also kept coming back to the logistics of this girl living in her car for an entire year - what did she do in the winter? Or all summer, when there was no school? And her nutrition? A month (at the start of the book) would have made much more sense. Regardless, I just really didn't like Emma and didn't think her character made sense.
I *did* like Caleb a lot, as well as Jas, Alice, and Caleb's mom. I was more meh on Juliet, but that may just be because I don't enjoy that kind of person in real life.
The conceit of an explicit competition for Juliet's affection was definitely icky, which literally every person who heard it acknowledged, but Caleb and Emma just kept at it anyway?

I loved this book! This story was sweet, had a lovely cast of supporting characters, and featured great rep (of multiple identities that I will leave unsaid for spoiler reasons).

Emma and Caleb were both written so thoughtfully, and Juliet was so much fun. This book—similar to They Hate Each Other—did a great job of balancing heavy topics and humor. (Also similar to THEO, it describes a lot of trauma, so check trigger warnings!) I laughed and cried within same scenes, and it pulled me out of a reading slump!

I loved THEO, and Exes and Foes did not disappoint. Amanda Woody has become an auto-buy author for me, and I am so very grateful to them for writing this wonderful book.

Emma, Caleb, and Juliet have my entire heart. I love each and every one of them, and Woody's story had me laughing, crying, and cheering for them the whole way through. I read this book in a single sitting and it was like a warm hug. I cannot wait to read literally every single thing that this author writes for the rest of forever!

This was SO good it was actually insane. Simply reading the synopsis I knew this was going to be great, but somehow this exceeded my expectations. I loved the way parental relationships and friendships were portrayed in complex and nuanced ways. I felt like all the other characters were very well fleshed-out, unlike in some books where they’re not. Each character was a distinct figure, which I really appreciated. And of course, the romance was VERY good. I think this one of my top five books of all time, and I’ve read a lot of books. I also enjoyed “But They Hate Each Other” by the same author. This is definitely worth checking out!!

I really loved Amanda Woody’s book They Hate Each Other and I was so excited to get approved for an ARC of her latest book. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher! All opinions here are my own. :)

This book follows two (slightly chaotic) bisexual ex-friends Caleb and Emma who both have crushes on the new girl at school. They make up a competition that whoever the new girl kisses first, wins and gets to date her.

Things I loved about this book:
So many different queer identities were in this book - it was refreshing and yet felt so normal. This is exactly what I want to see in more books, especially YA!
Emma and her fiery side was so much fun, but she also deep down was very thoughtful and sweet. She worried about being a burden to everyone else.
Caleb was so sweet and I just wanted to hug him. He is a caretaker and cautious, and he has these sweet and thoughtful personality that comes out around the ones he loves.
Juliet as the newcomer was so relatable and I have felt like them before when it comes to being too much.
The whole friend group was wonderful and supportive. I loved their vibes. So so good.
Caleb’s mom 😭😭😭😭😭.
I liked how people called Caleb and Emma on their $hit!
That super sweet and lovely ending had me all giggly and swoony.

Fully recommend this one - especially if you liked THEO!!

This book provided a delightful experience – the narrative revolves around two former best friends fighting for the affection of the new girl. The characters were charming, and the portrayal of the main characters' relationship was beautifully executed. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it. Plus, the art on the cover was mesmerizing, had to admit it was what first drawn me to request this book.

I had wished this one would've ended in a polyam relationship, but I was happy with the ending that we got. This book does deal with some heavier topics, but overall it's a mature YA book, which I've heard Woody is good at, which makes me want to pick up her other book after reading this one. The character art on the cover drew me in, but I stayed for the characters themselves. I loved Caleb with all my heart.

This book is a great choice for those who enjoy ex-best friends to lovers, queer representation (there's a character on the ace spectrum), and coming-of-age romance in young adult literature. The novel deals with some hard themes, but they are handled well. I have enjoyed this author's books in the past and look forward to their next release. The story's premise of two former best friends fighting over a love interest was captivating and well-executed. The whole novel was dynamic and enjoyable. Amanda Woody has a talent for writing relationships beautifully! I loved how Emma and Caleb's friendship and bond developed. If you're a fan of Becky Albertalli or Alice Oseman, I highly recommend this book!

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.