I was happy to discover this book didn't delve into toxic him versus her territory. It was actually a thoughtful, YA age appropriate examination of friendship and romance. Amanda Woody impressed me with her characterizations and present/past timeline.

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Viking Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

Exes & Foes follows two ex best friends turned enemies. They both like the new girl and decide to hold a competition for her. However in the process, they spend more time together and old feelings resurface.

The synopsis of this book caught my attention as it sounded fun and entertaining with the premise of best friends fighting for the same person but falling in love with each other instead, so I decided to pick it up. At the beginning, I wasn’t really enjoying it. The first chapter was heavy on dialogue that felt weird and cringey. There were also scenes that were meant to show the characters were awkward but combined with the dialogue it felt repetitive. However, the dialogue and writing improved after that. There were still some parts where I felt the writing wasn’t great and the scenes felt out of place but it wasn’t common. As the story goes on, you get to know more about the characters and the two main characters are built up with great detail.

More than just a romance, this book also explores friendship. I really liked the friendships in this book. I loved the scenes where the friend group interacted with each other. Those were the best parts of the book. I also liked seeing how the relationship between the two main characters, Caleb and Emma, improved. I liked when they interacted because it was funny and entertaining while also serious at times. The peeks into the past friendship between Caleb and Emma were moments of enjoyment for me as it helped me understand their characters better. While the other friends are a part of the story, the book remains focused on the main characters, Caleb and Emma and their relationship. I wish there were more of the other friends in the book and I think they could have contributed more to the story. This book also does a good job of handling heavy topics of emotional abuse and family issues through the characters.

Overall, the book improved towards the end and proved to be entertaining. If like me, the synopsis piqued your interest, go ahead and give it a try!

Emma and Caleb used to be best friends, but when Emma ghosted him in 8th grade, they both found new friends. During their four years apart, Emma made a move on anyone Caleb was interested in. Every. Single. Time. Caleb likes to move slow, and has a type A personality, so he's not as confident as Emma. So when they both are interested in the new student at school, they decide to let Juliet pick who she's interested in: whoever Juliet kisses first gets to ask her out, but until then they both try to make friends with her. Somehow, Emma and Caleb usually end up both hanging out with Juliet at the same time, which puts a bit of a dent in their plan; however, it allows them to grow a little bit closer despite their complicated past.

I haven't read a YA romance in a bit, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this novel. Caleb is adorable and the storyline is super engaging. There were a couple of tougher topics covered in the book, and they were handled really well. I will definitely be suggesting this for teens who want romance with a little bit of angst.

This was such a precious story to read. I laughed, I got teary eyed and most importantly, I smiled throughout the entire story... Jas was definitely my favorite character.
Thank you netgalley, the publisher and author for my ebook arc!

I was immediately drawn into this book by the explosion of fisticuffs in the high school lunch line. I wouldn’t exactly say things went downhill after that, but they did sorta flatline. This book read very middle grade to me. If you removed the few references to blow jobs and the shower scene, it would be very middle school. The plot was predictable and the characters so “different” that they come across stereotypical.

But I did enjoy the latter half of the book where the emphasis on Juliet fades a bit (she’s not like other girls) and we can really focus on Emma and Caleb’s relationship, past and present. Their rough past seemed very relatable and I was so hoping they could get their acts together by the end.

As an adult reader I would like to also add that I appreciated Caleb’s mom’s presence in the book and the wisdom she passes on to the youths. (I said youths, I really am getting old.) Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this arc, as always opinions are my own.

4.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley, Viking Books for Young Readers, and Penguin Young Readers Group for this advanced copy. You can pick up Exes & Foes on July 23, 2024.

I expected this to be a fun romp, and while it had several hilarious moments, Exes & Foes was also surprisingly tender and heartbreaking. Our main characters, Emma and Caleb, have several individual trials and tribulations to overcome, and I didn't expect their relationship to be filled with as much pain as there was love. I loved the flashbacks depicting their growing relationship as kids, and how those contrasted with the animosity between them in the present day. Both teens' growth was phenomenal, and by the end I wanted to cry tears of happiness for them. The found family was also incredibly sweet, and I loved how the five of them bonded over shared interests and identities and just pure love for one another.

If you're looking for a rivals to lovers romance, this def fits the bill! But more than anything, it feels like a second-chance friends to lovers connection between two broken souls trying to feel whole again. Don't hesitate to pick this one up!

Thank you PENGUIN GROUP/Viking Books and Netgalley for the eARC!

I didn’t realize how much this book would charm me the longer I read it—at the beginning, I thought it was only going to be a YA contemporary romcom about two exes competing to woo the new girl. However, it is truly a character study and relationship study. These teenagers sound like actual teens, I love the meaningful yet casual moments talking about queer sexuality and gender identity, and Caleb’s mom is the best.

Caleb and Emma’s character arc—both individually and together—is really beautiful and aching. Juliet, Alice, Jas, and Ms. Daniels also have their moments. I definitely cried quite a few times over the writing and the fact this book maybe hit a little too close to home.

The only thing I wasn’t too crazy about was the third-person memory scenes of “back then.” I think this could have been accomplished in first person or woven into the general narrative of the story.

Also: hooray for a MF bi4bi story. We need more of these.

This was a cute book about two friends who are arill in love with one another even after having not been friends for a few years. Instead of admitting their feelings and confronting each other about why they stopped being friends they decide to compete over the new person at school. I identified with both Caleb and Emma in regard to their familial issues. It was also nice to see that sometimes we don't always get the happy resolution with our parents. Sometimes we have to say our peace and set a boundary and let them know our worth. I look forward to reading more of Woody's work.

I really loved this book. As a teacher in high school I’m always looking for books to give to my students. This one is perfect for them.
It’s a lovely story about being good enough and being loved. As a plus I really liked the character development. A big plus for me!

Amanda Woody's "Exes & Foes" is a rollercoaster ride of emotions that hits all the right notes for fans of rivals-to-lovers tropes. From the first page, you’re sucked into the delicious tension between Emma and Caleb, two ex-best friends turned sworn enemies, each with their own vibrant quirks and undeniable chemistry. Woody masterfully balances humor and heart, making you laugh at Emma's chaotic antics one moment and feel for Caleb’s struggle to maintain his orderly world the next. The competition for Juliet’s affection is less about winning the girl and more about discovering the complexities of love and forgiveness. By the end, you'll be rooting for Emma and Caleb to not just mend their fractured relationship but to embrace the messy, beautiful possibility of something more. Perfect for fans of chaotic bisexuals and endearing grumps, "Exes & Foes" is a heartfelt, witty must-read that feels like a warm, comforting hug.

This was such a fun, emotional read! I saw myself in both of the main characters because of their internal voices telling them they aren't good enough and that was me thru all of school and early adulthood. This book is sooooo good at showing the different type of toxic relationships people can have and how to stand up for yourself and just being accepting of different people and their sexualitys. It's definitely a perfect young adult book with amazing lessons! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC!!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group for the eARC. 2.5 stars. It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t my cup of tea. I initially liked the concept but it just didn’t sit right with how they were treating Juliet and how they would talk about her. I feel like it had so much potential but fell a little flat with the character development.

I really liked the cover and the concept (I do love a bisexual love triangle), but unfortunately after three weeks of trying to get into this book, I ultimately DNF at 22%. While what I read was well written, the voice wasn’t distinctive enough and the characters fell flat for me—I found them unlikable and couldn’t connect to any of them. Unfortunately, I need to be invested in at least one character to keep reading.

I also didn't like how Juliet was being treated like and object or prize instead of a person, but I suspect the book would've eventually addressed that and had the characters wise up about how that behavior was wrong.

While this wasn’t my cup of tea, readers who bond with the characters will probably enjoy this more than I did.

I received an advanced copy from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving this review.

This charming, fun, and fast-paced rom-com touched on some tough topics (definitely read the trigger warnings) while keeping a primarily light tone. I appreciated that the MCs had realistic relationships with their parents and had to come to accept that they did not deserve how they had been treated by their families.

I love the childhood friends-to-lovers trope, and I appreciated how the reflective chapters gave us a window into Caleb and Emma's past friendship so that we, as readers, could understand how they worked so well as friends. Their enemies-to-lovers journey was also dealt with very well, as they were forced to confront their problems and deal with them head-on.

The representation in this book was fairly well-written, although I find it frustrating when the MCs are white and have a diverse group of friends who are there to assist their journey. This book very much fell into that trope, which was probably the worst thing about it.

Some of the writing felt a bit dramatic, but I think that style will work well for actual teens reading this book because when you're a teen, you do feel like everything is the most dramatic thing happening.

Honestly I would give this 3.5 stars!

Exes and Foes is a cute, queer, romcom about a set of best friends, turned enemies, turned rivals, and ultimately lovers. I liked this book a lot and I would read from Amanda Woody again. (I read almost the entire book in one day) I felt at times like it was a little young for me, namely some of the dialogue –mostly Juliet made me feel like the book may be too young for me. I thought the characters were charming and funny, and Emma especially reminded me of a childhood friend that I had.

I thought that the heavy topics of the novel were handled with grace, including absent parents, and emotional abuse from a parent. I also appreciated that these things weren’t necessarily resolved in the book. That there wasn’t some silver lining bow on top, and everything wasn’t great as a family. Because often, it doesn’t work out that way. People are capable of amazing growth, I believe that. But I thought that the way these subjects were handled was very realistic, and I appreciated it.

Tremendous thanks to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for the opportunity to review before publication!

I freaking loved They Hate Each Other and sadly this book didn't live up to second book hype. I felt like the characters were a bit 2 dimensional and some parts of this felt over dramatic. I wasn't the biggest fan of Emma's character and I wish we found out the reason why her mum was so horrible towards her.

I liked Jas and Alice and Caleb's descriptions of himself made me giggle (gangly squid). There was plenty of queer rep which I loved. I will give it to Amanda, they have made me cry in both books they've written.

Overall this was an ok book but sadly not as good as the first one.

Thank you to Penguin and Netgalley for the eARC

EXES & FOES is a YA romance about two ex-best friends who set their sights on the same girl and decide to compete for her affection. as you can probably imagine from the premise, things get messy and complicated, especially as we learn more about caleb and emma's past and what led to the end of their friendship. i was kicking my feet, giggling, twirling my hair the whole time. i loved how caleb and emma seemed to bring out the worst but also the best in each other. their connection was so deep, despite having fallen out four years prior. to put it simply, they were each other's person. this was such a fun, heartfelt and swoony YA romance and i had such a great time reading it!

read if you like:
- bi/demi x bi
- small angry gf x tall gentle bf
- queer found family

thanks to netgalley and penguin teen for the advanced copy! EXES & FOES is out july 23.

Exes & Foes, written by Amanda Woody, is a charming and unique young adult romance that follows the journey of two former best friends as they vie for the affections of a new girl. This heartwarming tale is filled with endearing supporting characters that captivated me with its delightful storyline.

I cam e for the queer threesome-potential, but stayed fro Caleb and Emma's adorable friends-to-competitors-to-lovers arc and Juliet's charming (though mostly offscreen) journey to identifying as nonbinary. Originally I was a little upset at the het-presenting conclusion, but as a bisexual woman I appreciate that the book still validated this option as queer. And I absolutely loved the friend group dynamic with all characters, even when in "competition mode" over Juliet--and especially when this included supportive calling-in of the potential ramifications of this competition!

Overall, would recommend and I will be looking for other books from this author, who was new to me.

Strait-laced Caleb and spitfire Emma used to be best friends, but they haven’t spoken since eighth grade, when she dropped him with no explanation. Now seniors, they crash back into each other’s lives when Caleb attempts to save new-girl Juliet from a creep’s unwanted advances, and Emma saves *him* from getting beat up with a well placed knee to the creep’s groin.

Realizing that they’ve both developed a crush on Juliet, the two former-friends agree to a competition. They’ll both pursue Juliet until she kisses one of them. Loser has to back down for good. Except, bubbly Juliet seems more interested in hanging out as a group (She’s never had such supportive friends before!) and the more time Emma and Caleb spend together the more unresolved feelings begin to resurface.

Caleb and Emma’s opposite’s attract dynamic makes sparks practically leap off the page. Their friendship has been complicated by past hurts, but their shared history keeps drawing them together. It’s this magnetic tension that propels readers through the story’s somewhat overdramatic premise through to it’s raw, beating heart.

There are moments, especially at the beginning of the book, where Juliet comes across as very one-dimensional. This is somewhat a side effect of Caleb and Emma viewing her through a lens of romantic competition. As we get to know her better, we begin to uncover some layers. Her struggles with past toxic friendships and subsequent negative self-image aren’t central to the plot, but they provide a nice counter-point to some of Emma’s own fears about being a toxic friend.

And now for some less composed thoughts:

- If I had a nickel for every time I read and loved a 2024 YA release about ex best friends healing their damaged relationship while simultaneously falling in love I’d have two nickels and I’m very pleased that it’s happened twice because I love friends to ???? to friends again to lovers
- (nickel no. 1 was This is Me Trying by Racquel Marie)
- these two have big “animals that bonded together at the shelter and can’t be adopted separately” energy except the animals are a greyhound and just the angriest kitten in the world
- Caleb’s mom goes straight into the Awesome YA Parents hall of fame