This book wasn’t for me. The premise of this was so good! I just wasn’t living this one. I do have readers I will hands down recommend this to though. This is the part of working in a HS library that I love. I got to read to books that eh maybe I personally wouldn’t have finished but I go ahead because I know a reader will come along for it. This was one of those for me.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review.

This was such a good retelling (well, indirect retellinga) of 10 Things I Hate About You!! It's a childhood best friends to lovers romance between the guy who's pursuing the younger sister and his best friend. It's narrated entirely by ten best friend - I'm not sure if she was a character in the movie, but anyways!

I loved the narration and the banter and the emotional journeys 🥲 and the sapphic secondary romance was so cool and added so much to the final resolution, I loved it!

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

pretty cute and a nice little stry with some pretty predictable but still AWW-inducing plotlines! thanks for the arc.

Tessa and Joaquin have shared a deep friendship for most of their lives, a bond that has always been beautifully platonic. But when Joaquin turns to Tessa for assistance with his prom proposal, she begins to wonder if perhaps that platonic label needs to be reassessed. "10 Things I Hate About Prom" artfully delves into the complexities of relationships that we often take for granted, despite their long histories. Gonzales Rose masterfully captures the turmoil of questioning one’s feelings for a friend and the daunting fear of expressing those emotions. Tessa can be incredibly frustrating to root for at times, yet ultimately, her journey unfolds into something truly remarkable

This was not for me. I thought it might be a cute friends-to-lovers but I found myself not interested in the main characters; both were shallow and unlikeable to me. There was some family drama for Ivelisse but even that didn’t hold my interest (although I did feel bad for her). I guess I wanted more depth to their characters but it all felt surface to me.

This book was a cute YA rom-com. I always love the friends-to-lovers trope so this one was definitely a hit! I loved all the teenage angst and drama that comes with high school. This is the perfect read for fans of Lynn Painter.

As a friends to lovers fan AND a fan of Elle Rose, I NEEDED this! And when I saw it come up in the app, I had to read it immediately. And just like with her first book, I loved this one. Elle Gonzalez Rose has made my list of favorite authors!

So the number one thing I loved about this one was the writing style and the interactions between the two of them. How she couldn’t tell even without the little thing was beyond me. But I did like the way she figured out her feelings tho. She was intentionally messing up things without even knowing that’s what she was doing. And I really felt like that was a real thing. I am not really around teens much anymore, but when I was, I heard a lot of stories that were just like this one. And though I don’t actually like the idea of teens dating, especially senior year, I thought this was the most realistic of all. They are all toxic to each other until they find the one that they actually like lol

The romance(s) were so over the top cute! This book definitely solidified why I love friends to lovers books. The way they were so cute and laughing together, just ugh it was adorable. I knew where this was going as soon as she made that one decision at the assembly! And idk, the way she was trying to make herself think she didn’t know why she was doing that was also cute lol It was so corny and so much fun! The other romance, I knew where that was going as soon as that one person said she had a date but no one knew who. And I remember audibly squealing lol So cute!

Also I feel like I should add this in the case that anyone is like me……….. I was a little annoyed with the Queen Bee in the beginning. I felt like she was being hella rude turning down everyone but not telling why. But when I finally realized what was happening, I realized it was a kind of retelling on 10 Things I Hate About You. The Queen Bee is the Kat character lmao (Yes I realize I should have gotten that right away, but I haven’t seen that movie in a long time and I’m not actually a movie person anyway)

This was very cute and I hope that she writes a thousand more! Since I’ve finished this book I have been like hoping for another very soon from her lol And it looks like I get my wish! Apparently we get one in summer 2025 and another in 2025 that’s a queer thriller and [apkfjwahf y’all know how I feel about that! Now what do I do until I can get it in my hands?

This was a very quick read but the book was very flat for me. I did like the references to Shakespeare tho.

BOOK REVIEW - 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT PROM by Elle Gonzalez Rose

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I just wanted to express my gratitude to NetGalley, Joy Revolution, and Elle Gonzalez Rose for providing me with an eARC of "10 Things I Hate About Prom" for review. I really enjoyed reading it!

The world that Elle created in 10 Things I Hate About Prom is both nostalgic and refreshingly contemporary, which I found very engaging. As someone who appreciates a good YA romance, I felt that this book offered a charming take on the friends-to-lovers trope that is done much better than some of my other recent friends-to-lovers reads.

One thing that really stood out to me was the chemistry between Ivelisse and Joaquin. As best friends navigating the chaotic world of prom season, their relationship felt authentic and deeply relatable. Ivelisse's internal struggles and evolving feelings were portrayed with a blend of humour and sincerity that made her journey both entertaining and touching.

The promposal escapades added a layer of fun and excitement to the narrative, highlighting the importance of friendship and self-discovery. I loved how Ivelisse's reluctant involvement in Joaquin's grand gestures led her to unexpected realizations about herself and their relationship. The exploration of teenage emotions and high school dynamics was both heartwarming and insightful.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book in the end. I struggled a little bit around 75% through - this may have just been me, haha - but I honestly couldn't stop grinning with feelings of wholesomeness through the final chapters because it was just that adorable.

Gorgeous book that I absolutely devoured!! The romantic tension between these two best friends was so thick you could cut it with a knife. I loved Ivelisse as a main character. She was very relatable, and I enjoyed how she handled the situations she found herself in, and the way she reckoned with her romantic feelings in addition to the complex feelings about her relationship with her mom. Absolutely amazing book!

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for the digital advanced copy!

One sentence summary: Ivelisse realizes she is in love with her best friend while helping him plan the perfect promposal for his crush (that is not Ivelisse)

My thoughts: This was a pretty cute YA romcom. I could totally imagine it as a movie and one I would absolutely watch! The friendship between Ivelisse and Joaquin was wonderful. I do wish there was just a little bit more to show their feelings for each other. The last quarter of this was really heartwarming though!

Overall, I’d recommend this one to fans of YA romance particularly friends to lovers stories.

4.5 rounded up to 5/5.

"10 Things I Hate About Prom" by Elle Gonzalez Rose is a delightful rom-com that brings together humor, friendship, and the trials of teenage relationships in a fresh and entertaining way.

At the heart of the story are Ivelisse Santos and Joaquin Romero, next-door neighbors and platonic soulmates. Their bond is tested when Joaquin shocks Ive by revealing his plan to ask Tessa Gordon, the school's popular girl, to prom. The idea of Tessa and Joaquin together seems like a mismatch, especially considering Tessa's past actions towards Ive. However, Joaquin is determined to win Tessa over with the grandest promposal Cordero High has ever seen.

What follows is a rollercoaster of events as Ive reluctantly agrees to assist Joaquin in his quest, despite her reservations. The dynamic between Ive and Joaquin is filled with witty banter, chaotic mishaps, and genuine moments of friendship. The writing is vivid and bright, capturing the essence of 1990s and 2000s rom-coms with its fast-paced narrative and quirky characters.

One of the strengths of the book is its exploration of the changes that come with growing up and navigating teenage relationships. As senior year comes to an end and their paths diverge, Ive and Joaquin must confront their evolving feelings and the uncertainty of the future.

Overall, "10 Things I Hate About Prom" is a fun and entertaining read that will appeal to fans of contemporary YA romance. With its lovable characters, humorous dialogue, and heartfelt moments, this novel is sure to leave readers smiling.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This is a perfect example for a textbook cliche high school romance. This is mushy, sweet, sappy, corny, and everything mixed in. All the characters were cute and even when it was frustrating it was enjoyable. There were a few parts I laughed and one I cried cause I’m a huge baby, so that’s a plus for me.

I think the target audience will think this is perfect. As someone almost 30 who didn’t care a thing about prom or romance over a decade ago, I thought a lot of this was silly and unnecessary. Do they actually do those huge promposals all over school now? That sounds like Hell. I was a big fan of Elle’s first book and this one was simple and felt like it got back to the YA romance roots.

This was a nice story with decent characters and development. I had a hard time believing most people made such a big deal about prom and Would deal with public rejection so easily. Also didn’t get why someone who doesn’t want to go to prom would try so hard to help anyone else. I guess I assumed there would be more to it. The realization the MC has about her feelings for her bestie also felt forced as well as the tension with her Mom. It wasn’t a bad book I just felt like quite a bit of elements weren’t realistic and made it difficult to remain engaged with the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

Super cute and quick read! Perfect for the age group length and voice wise.

A great friends to lovers story with just the right amount of tension to keep things interesting.

I'm a huge fan of the imprint, Joy Revolution, and of this author! It's her second book and I'm impressed!

Why do I love YA so much? I honestly don't know but man alive, I sure do.
This book is adorable. There is a fair amount of language in it, but the romance is just kissing. Do what you will with that information.

If you like 90s romcoms, I Cant Take My Eyes Off of You, promposals, friends to more, sabotage, plays and baseball, read this one and fall in love with Ivelisse's story!

I just adore prom season, love hearing about different promposals and just the whole experience is fun to read about. This was a perfect prom season book. A real friend to lovers’ type of book that just gives you hope for the main characters to finally figure things out.

We meet Ivelisse and Joaquin who have been best friends for the longest time. It's prom season and the promposals have begun. They've always gone to dances together but this time around Joaquin has a plan to ask out the most popular girl.

Ivelisse begins to realize that she may have more than just friend feelings for Joaquin. This realization causes her to consciously and subconsciously sabotaged every promposal he attempts. It's fun tread about how this goes about and what diverse ways he chooses to create these different promposals. Their dynamic is so good together you just must wait for the realization to hit. It was a cute read. Flowed smoothly, written well, and entertaining from the beginning to the end.

I enjoyed all the characters and what part they played in this book. This wasn’t about the two of them though, there were secondary characters we learned about and got to experience their story as well. We also got to understand the dynamic between Ive and her mother which had a bit of turmoil as all relationships do, especially at that teenage stage. Compromises and truths come out between them and it’s a beautiful thing to experience, especially between a mother and daughter. I can sympathize.

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for some entertainment with a prom twist.

Merged review:

I just adore prom season, love hearing about different promposals and just the whole experience is fun to read about. This was a perfect prom season book. A real friend to lovers’ type of book that just gives you hope for the main characters to finally figure things out.

We meet Ivelisse and Joaquin who have been best friends for the longest time. It's prom season and the promposals have begun. They've always gone to dances together but this time around Joaquin has a plan to ask out the most popular girl.

Ivelisse begins to realize that she may have more than just friend feelings for Joaquin. This realization causes her to consciously and subconsciously sabotaged every promposal he attempts. It's fun tread about how this goes about and what diverse ways he chooses to create these different promposals. Their dynamic is so good together you just must wait for the realization to hit. It was a cute read. Flowed smoothly, written well, and entertaining from the beginning to the end.

I enjoyed all the characters and what part they played in this book. This wasn’t about the two of them though, there were secondary characters we learned about and got to experience their story as well. We also got to understand the dynamic between Ive and her mother which had a bit of turmoil as all relationships do, especially at that teenage stage. Compromises and truths come out between them and it’s a beautiful thing to experience, especially between a mother and daughter. I can sympathize.

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for some entertainment with a prom twist.

Small Business BookTok ARC Reviews: “10 Things I Hate About Prom” by Elle Gonzalez Rose

Note: This ARC was given to me for free by the author and I am reviewing this book voluntarily.

It's Prom Season, and tensions will be scorching!

Ivelisse can care less about the chaotic, clique-like chaos that is Prom Season. She just wants to spend the rest of Senior Year with her best friend, Joaquin! When Joaquin wants to ask Tessa, the most popular girl at their school, to Prom, Ivelisse reluctantly agrees to help him come up with a Promposal! Will Ivelisse succeed in helping Joaquin, or will her best friend realize that what we wanted was in front of him the whole time!

This is truly an exciting YA Romance reminiscent of 1990's and 2000's Rom-Coms! From the comedic will-they-won't-they dynamic between Ivelisse and Joaquin to the Prom hijinx, Elle Gonzalez Rose does an excellent job of telling a Coming-Of-Age tale of the changes that come with relationships as we grow up. Through Rose’s writing, the commentary conveyed is that when changes appear to be on the horizon, one shouldn't let fear and doubt dictate or get in the way of the family, friends, and loved ones in their lives or the here and now. As an Afro-Caribbean/African American woman, it also means the world to me as a reader to see strong Puerto Rican representation portrayed in the form of the main character and love interest! If you’re looking for a captivating read that's reminiscent of “10 Things I Hate About You”, then don't miss out on this book when it hits online shelves on May 14, 2024!

Rating: 5/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

-Tropes to Expect: Friends-to-Lovers, Pining, Promposal Hijinx, Coming-of-Age Narrative, Slow Burn Romance, and Self Discovery Narrative.
-Trigger Warnings: Family Conflict, Relationship Anxiety, and Implied Divorce.

This was a fun and modern take on how to tell your friend that you love them while poking fun at the insanity that has become proposals. It is also a sweet homage to "10 things I hate about you."

There was a lot in this book, not just the budding romance between friends. Elle Gonzalez Rose managed to bring in a lot of heart about what it is like to be a high school senior, trying to balance wanting to move away for school and yet being tied to home. Ivelisse and Joaquin have been best friends and neighbors for years. Ivelisse is being raised by a single mom who has just started dating like crazy and Joaquin is living with his grandmother after his sister has gone off to college and his mother moved back to Puerto Rico. Joaquin comes back from spring break and has decided he wants to invite Tessa Hernandez to prom via a big promposal. Tessa is the ultimate "it" girl and Ivelisse is still resentful over her involvement in a freshman year breakup. Ive starts to help, but at each effort, something goes wrong, accidentally at first, but then on purpose. Along the way, she realizes that she has feelings for him as well. All of this is happening while she is waiting desperately to get off of the waitlist at Sarah Lawrence rather than head to Rutgers with the rest of her class. It was a fun read that I could see a lot of teens enjoying.

I enjoyed that this had 10 things I hate about you vibes. I think the author does a great job with the friendship between our characters and how they have grown and changed in that friendship over the years.
I liked the look at prom-posals, even though I think they are totally blown out of proportion. But it was a good way to bring these friends closer. There are so many cute moments in this book. And I loved the look into the theater and how much it means to Ive.
The relationship between Ive and Joaquin is great and I liked seeing it grow and change. I felt like I was there with these characters.
I think a lot of teens will like this one and find it relatable.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!