I loved the author's previous books so thought I should give this a try. it was a fun story. I really enjoyed the concept. Great cover.

Such a sweet YA novel that is quick and easy to read, plus a lot of fun! The concept itself is unique and refreshing, setting itself apart from other YA romances. This book was engaging, filled with lovable and relatable characters and interesting friendship and relationship dynamics that draw you in.

Definitely the perfect summer read!

If a book makes me ugly cry, it’s getting five stars.

Important spoiler: this is not a friends to lovers book. This is true blue platonic love between friends who need a realignment in their lives. It's the summer before they leave for college, emotions are in turmoil, and a lot of issues have been stuffed down and ignored for protective reasons. This summer explodes everything so that besties Valentine and August have to clear out the junk of the past to get what they want at the start of their future.

Valentine and August have a summer business where at the request of friends or parents, they break up relationships. Carefully vetted, carefully planned, they both like protecting people from someone who is pulling them away from their best interests. The source of this business is painful and altruistic, and is probably the most devastating part of this book.

While there are moments that are funny, moments that are adorable, but there's also loss in this book and different ways of dealing with, and failing to deal with, grief. I was completely captured but this summery coastal world, this friendship, and the romantic relationships they embark on over the course of this summer.

Content warnings for parental neglect and abandonment, parentification, sibling loss, relationship abuse and specifically coercive behavior, and social media violations of privacy.

Read if you like:
💕 YA Romances
💰 Business of break-ups
🧠 Mental Health Rep
🤣 Flirty Banter

Valentine and August are best friends & running an undercover business to break people up that need freed from their current relationships.

These two adopt false identities and do what it takes to help the client's loved one come to his/her senses and get out of their relationship.

Whichever way you look at it, they are doing good: either freeing people so they can find a better relationship (per Violet) or freeing people from the self-deception that true love exists in the first place (per August).

I really enjoyed the teenage dynamics of the main characters especially when it came to their relationships with their peers and their business .

Thank you so much to Blackstone for my ARC in exchange for my review!

this was a very cute YA summer romance with a unique concept, which i really enjoyed! i also loved how the book talked about topics like grief and friendship.
the story is written in dual POV, but each of the characters has a side-character love interest, so the MCs don’t fall in love with each other - something i haven’t read in a long time! i thought their friendship was very sweet and i loved how they always found their way back to each other after a fight.
however, my issue with this book was that i somehow couldn’t get any connection to the characters - but that might also just be a me thing, since lots of other people here seem to love the book! unfortunately for me, i just couldn’t find myself caring about the characters, so i had to force myself to finish this. it definitely got better in the last 30% though!
overall i would still recommend this if you‘re looking for a sweet YA romance for the summer!!

This was precisely the frothy, fun YA romance to pull me out of a bit of a slump. The characters were lovable and dynamic They dealt with grief and guilt all while living in a plot that, while predictable, was thoroughly engaging in the best way. I was rooting for the characters the whole time and devoured the book in a single day. 10/10 would recommend.

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for my advance electronic copy via NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

Valentine and August are 17, best friends, and running an undercover business to break people up. If your loved one (friend, child, whatever) is in a bad relationship, they are the ones you call. They adopt false identities and do what it takes to help the client's loved one come to his/her senses. Whichever way you look at it, they are doing good: either freeing people so they can find a better relationship (per Violet) or freeing people from the self-deception that true love exists in the first place (per August). But when August falls for their latest case, will it turn their world on its head in the best of ways or the worst of ways?

I really enjoyed the teenage dynamics of the protagonists with each other and with the other adolescents in their professional and personal lives. At that age so much rides on popularity, group dynamics, and figuring out who you are and who want to portray yourself as. This one may be about mostly rich people in a beach town, but it has a strong mental health rep and witty, flirty dialogue. And it's about that great force--love, in all it's forms.

Content warning: manipulation, bullying, self-harm, anxiety, grieving, off-page death of a loved one

This one was a mixed bag for me. The premise sounded like it'd be fun and interesting but potentially frustrating to read and that ended up being my overall experience with the book.

I liked the main characters and their friendship. It was refreshing to read about a solid male-female friendship that didn't have any hints of romance. The actual romances didn't really do anything for me.

The premise of the story was hard for me to stomach at times. I didn't like how manipulative it felt and I kept waiting for things to fall apart. The characters had good intentions, but I felt bad for their targets and know I would've been upset if I'd been in the clients' shoes.

All in all, though, I'd say this story was a well-written, quick read with endearing characters that occasionally make frustrating choices.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

Let me preface this by saying that I absolutely adore Adriana Mather's work. I am a Killing November enthusiast and a How to Hang a Witch defender.

August and Valentine have been inseparable since they were kids and have always been dreaming up businesses. Now, they run Summer Love, inc. where they break up couples at the behest of their families or friends (after an intense vetting process of course.) While originally started to give August catharsis after his sister passed away in an accident (due to her awful boyfriend), now the two have managed to become successful. But what happens when August falls for a case? One who doesn't even know his own name?

I liked this. A lot. But I don't know if I would say I loved it. If you're expecting some of the supernatural chaos or the fast paced action of her other YA works, this won't be for you. This book is much deeper than I expected. It discusses loss, love, familial strain, and grief. It has the quirky elements of a rom-com, the swoon-worthy banter that Mather is known for, and an engaging plotline. But it just felt like something was missing. It somewhat dragged a bit in the middle, and then sped up a bit too much at the end. It had its moments, but I don't think it's a book I would read over and over again. The line drawings weren't included in my copy, so that felt like it was missing as well (not the book or Mather's fault, but I do feel like I can't fully review the book without that context, since art is a major piece in the book).

It was cute and sentimental, and while it takes place in summer, it felt a bit heavy for a summer book.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review!:)

Everyone needs that one person who is always there. August's and Valentine's story shows us that friendship is a great gift to always cherish.

Best friends, business partners, and neighbors, August and Valentine, aka Tiny, are in the summer between high school and college. They are working their last case, which will hopefully give them enough money to cover tuition. What line of work do they do, you ask? They are “breakup artists”, hired by family members and friends to secretly break up relationships that have gone toxic. They have done amazingly well in this business for the past two years, and so far have managed to not fall in love with any of the people they have broken up and have kept the whole thing a secret from their friends and family. That is, until they take this last case and nothing goes according to their very well thought out plan.
Both August and Tiny deal with other issues, like depression from the death of a loved one, fear of the future (especially as they think about leaving for college), fighting with your best friend, and various family drama, so while this appears to be a lighthearted easy read, there are some tough times to work through, making this a well-balanced and highly recommended read.

This was a cute story that while having romance, featured the best relationship as a friendship between the two main characters. I loved that element.

(Thank you to Adriana Mather, Blackstone publishing and NetGalley for letting me read this ARC)

I’m gonna start this review off by saying “wow, this book was really good!” because it really was.

The story is mostly (as you can tell by the description) about love and friendship but also about loss, dealing with grief and some family issues. And it made the book feel a whole lot more relatable in my opinion. On top of that we had August’s and Valentine’s friendship being absolute goals and them being an amazing duo that did anything to make their dreams about going to Berkeley come true by creating Summer Love to help August to be able to pay the tuition fees.

Even though the main focus here were August and Valentine’s friendship and business as well as August falling for Ella, there were also the fact that we got to know about Valentine’s parents and then also Valentine’s relationship with Bentley and also August’s struggle with his sister’s death and having to help his mom financially in order for the bills to be paid.

Although I thought that the book was really good and that both the storyline and writing was awesome, there were some small bits here and there that were a bit too predictable for me that made me bump the rating down from 5 stars to 4 stars because I felt like they were too predictable. But that could just be me.

However I did however still love the book and the story and highly recommend it! I will also read the author’s other books because I liked their writing, so definitely recommend reading this book to anyone who loves a YA with rom-com vibes

Thank you so so much to Blackstone Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC! I was excited to read this from the moment I saw the cutie pink cover 💖

Synopsis: Some people say breaking up is hard to do. Other people make a summer job out of it. August and Valentine have just been hired for their biggest job yet and if they want to attend their dream college, they have to pull this off and fast.

My thoughts: After back to back thrillers all month, this was just the easy, heartwarming palate cleanser I needed! It had the fluffy and cheesy storyline that you would expect from a YA romance, but it surprised me with so much more. I wasn’t expecting some of the heavy emotions that added so much depth to the story. I found the side plot on how to be a true friend to someone in the midst of navigating grief and loss so touching. The author handled the sensitive topics with care. I really liked the writing style, the dual POV, and development of the side characters. I’d love a continuation into the college years, maybe with an Ella and Bentley POV!😍 I had such a fun time reading this, I’d recommend to those looking for YA/clean romance or just an easy read.

So, I really liked this book. The idea was interesting but I liked how the story unfolded and just how serious both characters were about the business. I also liked how the side characters were well defined and helped provide a clear picture of our two MCs. The connections both characters develop felt realistic and made it easy to root for both of them. It was also nice to see a solid friendship where they both took care of each other and care so deeply. It was a sweet story that I read pretty quickly. Definitely a story to check out about friends supporting each other and falling for people along the way. 4.5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

Looking for a summer read that's equal parts heartwarming and hilarious? Look no further than Adriana Mather's "The Breakup Artists"!

Meet August and Valentine, two teenage masterminds behind Summer Love, Inc., a business that specializes in breaking up bad relationships. Armed with fake identities and a flair for the dramatic, they're on a mission to save other lovebirds from themselves. Valentine sees their work as if they are guiding souls away from romantic disasters and towards the promise of true love. But for August, it's personal. He's haunted by his sister's tragic death, blaming her manipulative boyfriend and doubting the existence of soulmates altogether. Enter Ella, the girl who turns August's world upside down. She's not just any girl – she's their newest client. And August has been lying to her about everything, including his own name.

Mather's storytelling shines in "The Breakup Artists," blending heavy topics like grief with laugh-out-loud humour and unforgettable characters. August and Valentine's friendship is a breath of fresh air in a genre that spends so much time romanticizing friendships, showcasing the beauty of camaraderie and shared dreams.

With its witty banter, genuine characters, and heartwarming storyline, "The Breakup Artists" is a breath of fresh air in the YA genre. Trust me, you'll want to dive headfirst into this delightful romp and emerge with a new appreciation for the power of friendship, love, and healing.

Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This had such an interesting premise, and I was so happy to get this ARC! August's development through the novel was so fun to see, and I adored Ella! Will absolutely add to reader's advisory lists.

After a personal experience with a relationship turned tragedy, August and Valentine start a business to help friends and family intervene by befriending people in dangerous relationships and offering them a new perspective and support for change. When August meets Ella, he has trouble separating himself from his persona and their relationship develops in surprising ways. Meanwhile Valentine is left watching her best friend crash their business. Will the truth come out?

Told from 2 perspectives, this one was a bit difficult for me. I really enjoyed Valentine's sections but didn't enjoy the August sections. As always, your mileage may vary.

This was great quick ya book that had a little bit everything. I also stayed up way to late finishing it. If you are looking for a book about romance, friendship, grief, and moving on,this may be the book for you.
The only think missing is, it lack diversity in the characters.
4.5 stars

In a world where most new YA books seem to follow the same structure and tropes, this was such a breath of fresh air.

Valentine and August have a unique summer job: they get hired to break people up. For every new job, they create entirely new personas, use aliases, and have strict rules that prevent them from falling for their targets. But, when they start a new case, August can't help but feel like something is different with this one. And soon, he finds himself breaking all the rules.

'The Breakup Artists' is a unique, well-crafted story about friendship, love, grief, growing up, and so much more. It has some of the best and funniest banter I read but it also portrays very relatable fears about leaving for college, healthy male-female friendships, strong character growth and development, and how hard yet necessary healing from trauma is. For lack of a better phrase, I really loved it and look forward to reading Mather's other work.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.