Special thanks to @mtvbooks & @simonteen for my gifted copy‼️

I fell so in love with this book it’s soooo cute and adorable. It’s a YA novel that will keep you engaged because Zeke had me laughing at his affection for Imogen. Not that it wasn’t cute but if doing to much was a person it would def be him. The boy was so in love and over the top with it. Imagine a guy applying all the right pressure to get your attention but he’s not the guy you want. I thought this was going to be a friends-to-lovers thing but it came with a twist because they almost went from friends-to-enemies.

Zeke and Imogen have been friends for so long that everyone around them thinks they’d make the perfect couple. With that extra pressure from friends and family Zeke thinks it’s only right to make Imogen his girl. But Imogen wasn’t sure if dating Zeke was something she wanted to do. So, she kissed him AGAIN confirming nothing’s there. But Zeke took that kiss to heart and was ready for marriage.

I loved everything about this book. The authors message posing the question can a guy and a girl be friends without catching feelings. In our MC’s case I would say yes and no lol Zeke proved that love will make you do some crazy things. The rumors, him being warned to fall back, Imogen’s 16th bday party, and what he said to her parents crossed a line that no real friend should but a childish boy madly in love would.

Overall, this was a great read highly recommend if you’re looking for something quick, cute, and fluffy but has messy drama. The author touched on themes involving a sick parent, financial struggles, entitlement, the complexity of teenage relationships, dealing with rejection, losing your virginity, first loves, and so much more. It was a must I add this to my top fav YA books of the year‼️

3.5 stars rounded up. This was sort of an interesting take on the friends to lovers trope, scratch the lovers. It's definitely not a rom-com, though it is all about relationships and people's expectations regarding other people's relationships. I found it refreshing.

The characters were messy and (mostly) realistic. The dual perspective saved Zeke. Without it, I think he would've been completely unlikable. Imogen definitely fared better and I rooted for her throughout. This wasn't a happy book, but it was interesting and satisfying to read.

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

I REALLY gotta start reading the synopsis of books that I might be interested in. I was so hype for this because I just knew it was going to be a friends to lovers book. But no, don’t kid yourself. If you are going into this and thinking there’s going to be an HEA, DON’T.

Ok so I know y’all are wondering wtf I mean by not knowing to not expect an HEA when this is the title lol But the story gets wild. I was expecting an HEA with someone else. But listen to me when I say, this is NOT what happens. There is no HEA at all in this book. If you’re wondering I would call this a Coming of Age book. It is not a romance, so please don’t think of it like I did.

Now with that being said, that doesn’t mean I didn’t like it. I definitely did. It was messy af, but it was good. Why was it messy? Because Lordt, this kid didn’t learn anything! From anyone. And they didn’t listen AT ALL. The character development does happen, but not until the very end. For which I was disappointed. Because I really read this whole book just to see this person start the same way they ended. It was a hot mess.

To be fair tho, they were not the only terrible person here. This book had TWO bad main characters. Because why did you let this happen in the first place? That’s your bestie and you let them go out like that? I can understand that it was their fault, but you had the chance to say something and you didn’t. And like I could understand if it was a rando, but it was your bestie? Idk that’s sus to me lol And to do it the way you did? My Gawd. I had second hand embarrassment and I wasn’t even there? That was so painful.

The plot to this was a bunch of drama. And I didn’t like that they were “rating” people or the whole “well let me just try this instead.” The sad thing? I knew it was so real. There was nothing fake about this. I’ve seen this happen in real life and just as disappointing as it was IRL it was in this book. But I couldn’t stop reading it? I HAD to know what was going to happen. Because I kept saying, ain’t no way they’re just letting this happen. It was just hit after hit after hit.

The only unrealistic thing in this book was the actual romance that came up. Because Idc how attractive you are, you aren’t going to just fall in love with someone because they looked at you. This was instalove at its finest. And YES, they’re teens, I know. But even they don’t just automatically love someone like this. It was wild and I was upset immediately by this. I just think they could have went about this another way. Because Lordt knows, when they were just trying to figure it out they still didn’t even know what if they liked this other person or not.

I also didn’t like that this innocent person got hurt in all this. While I know this happens all the time, I don’t think that person deserved it. This whole situation could have been avoided but this other person had to go over and beyond and do this extra shit because they were “hurt.” One thing I need y’all to check is your version of hurt and how you can refrain from hurting other people. I hope if nothing else this book starts some conversations on cheating, jealousy, doing shit just because, wrapping it up, and so much other shit. Because this whole thing was a hot mess.

I enjoyed this…. I think? If nothing else it will make people talk. But I think I wanted more for this, like at least an HEA. There is one, but not one you’d expect. This debut was a lot of fun but also a lot of mayhem. I hope more people read this and let me know what they think.

This was super cute and fun! The writing was relatable and the story was really compelling. I would absolutely read more by this writer and buy their books for the library.

Zeke is a star baseball player dealing with a sick father whose medical bills are piling up. He has dreams and ideals about how things should work, and a tough time of letting those go. One of those dreams is finally being with Imogene.

Imogene is a dreamer and a writer. She views Zeke more as a best friend or even brother, but everyone expects there to be more between them. How does she push past the pressure to speak her truth?

This was an engaging read, but not an easy one. Told from dual points of view, sharing the inside thoughts of both Imogene and Zeke, the readers is let into their worlds, including all of their worries, faults, and frustrations. It carefully touches on tough topics of expectations, loss, and sacrifice.

One thing I appreciate is that things get messy as lives intertwine and choices are made, and while there is growth and learning, there is no easy forgiveness or excusing of behavior. Consequences are real and appropriate.

What a debut!

How to Lose a Best Friend delves into the all too reoccurring phenomenon of young boys not taking no for an answer, and thereby ruining their friendships. This book was so unique, and depicted the all too real but never talked about issue of young men thinking they're inherently owed something by women just because they want it. And with Gen's family perpetuating this, all of the pressure is on a young woman to acquiesce, rather than teaching young men to understand that no is a full sentence.

This was truly a great read, and I think all teens (and even some adults) would benefit from reading it!

Thank you for providing me with a copy of this book. I really enjoyed it! I had a lot of emotions reading it and it reminded me why i don’t miss highschool. I liked how realistic it was without the typical happy ending.