I really wanted to like this book, but I feel like it was just too sad for me honestly. I feel like Nellie had such a toxic friend in Britta and I don’t like how her mother behaved towards her. Jensen was nice but I feel like this would’ve been better plot wise if it didn’t have the loss and grief element.

This was a good YA novel. Nellie is a smart, organized valedictorian & Jensen is a jock & secret famous author, who has had a crush on Nellie for years. Various circumstances push them together, and they draw strength from each other in their grief.

It actually had some depth to it- death & grief, a serious romantic relationship, making adult decisions about the future, issues with parents, issues with friends. I saw some reviews that mentioned it was too much in one book, but honestly I didn’t feel that way. I thought that everyone could relate to at least one of those problems, especially as a high schooler.

Also, it was a cute, clean romance. I never know what to expect from YA books these days, so I appreciated that.

Fun Fact: I love you by Gina Lynn Larsen
⭐️4/5⁣⁣⁣
🥰YA Romance
🥰Childhood Friends
🥰Dual POV
🥰Disability Rep.

This was a Sweet YA Romance. Nellie gets her First Kiss during a game. Let’s just say it’s not the best first kiss.

Jensen and Nellie have been lifelong friends. He’s had a crush on Nellie for a long time.

Between the up’s and downs as well as the secrets, it will have you hooked!!
⁣⁣⁣⁣
I would highly recommend this as your next read!

A heartfelt, friends to lovers, dual POV, YA romance debut that features a secret best-selling fantasy author and the daughter of his mentor who are forced to work together to help fix their senior yearbook. I really enjoyed the bookish content and the emotional depth (death of a parent) in this book. It was good on audio and I would definitely read more by this talented new author! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Fun Fact: I Love You by Gina Lynn Larsen is not the story I was expecting. I was expecting a sweet and endearing YA novel that would fill me with all the warm, lovey-dovey feelings and hope of burgeoning first love. I was expecting two teens who’ve been friends forever figuring out that they are more. I was expecting end-of-the-year, high school senior shenanigans. This story has some of that, but mostly it is a trauma/drama filled with teen angst, meanness, and utter sadness. I don’t actually know how to adequately review this book. When I saw the cover and read the synopsis I thought, “This book looks like just the sweet and endearing young love story I have been looking for. Can’t wait to see how the author executes the secret-author trope. This book is going to be fun! I hope it’s a book I can recommend to my high school students!” But I didn’t have fun, per se. I was devastated. For a good majority of the story, I was beaten up emotionally. I want to be clear. Fun Fact: I Love You is a good story, it’s just different than what I thought. It is well written, highly engaging, and seriously fast paced. I devoured this book in less than 24 hours. The main characters, Nellie and Jensen, are excellently crafted teens. I was rooting for them the whole time, and I very much loved how their relationship grew from friendship to more. I will totally recommend this book to my high school students. BUT I will make sure to inform my students of all the trigger warnings (there are many) before I allow any of them to check this book out from my class library. And I will most definitely send them home with Kleenex after they check out this book because they are going to need it abundantly. Overall, I do heartily recommend Fun Fact: I Love You. Just go into this read knowing that it tackles some really big, sad, traumatizing subjects. It is absolutely not a warm and fuzzy, lighthearted, and sweet romance. It is so much more!

I received a copy of this novel in eBook form from the publisher, Shadow Mountain, via NetGalley, in order to review. I am under no obligation to leave a positive review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I've never read a book that lost me as fast as Fun Fact: I Love You. Straight out of the gate, this book feels too juvenile for a high school senior. It's possible that it's been a while since I graduated high school, but I feel like we weren't acting like obnoxious thirteen-year-olds.

If I had to compare the narration and dialogue to another book, Confessions of Georgia Nicolson come to mind and I haven't read those since sixth, or seventh grade. Not that there's anything wrong with writing a book for a younger audience, but you could set this one in freshman year and it would make just as much sense if not more. It would still feel a little put of place, but it would be more bearable.

So cute but deep too. I was hooked at the dedication! I love the author’s thoughts about unexpected plot twists in real life. This book isn’t just light and fluffy, but it isn’t depressing either. You will be immersed in the typical teenage drama found in high school, first love, popularity, friends and those you think are friends. But surprisingly it also touches on much heavier topics like family relationships, abuse, loss, and grief.

Nellie Samsin is about to graduate from high school with plans to receive a degree in astrophysics. She doesn’t know her childhood best friend Jensen Nichols is a very popular author with the pen name Jen Dimes. She also doesn’t know her dad is Jensen’s writing mentor and a father figure in his life. He’s not the only one keeping secrets from her. The author does a good job showing both their points of view and the effect secrets have on a relationship. Thanks to Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC to use for my review.

This story surprised me, since parts of it did not go where I was expecting it to. The author tackles some difficult issues and heartbreak that I appreciated being part of a YA title.

This book has all the angsty feels of a YA romance. But there was so much more to it than that. There was real feelings, heartache, change of plans, a compelling dual POV, grief, frustrating friends, and so much more. It’s been a while since I read a YA book. The author does a great job.

Nellie and Jensen were great characters. Both experiencing the same tragic event, while trying to navigate the last few days of high school. I really liked Nellie. And I loved that Jensen was a secret author. (For fear of spoilers, I say much else about the story but I really enjoyed it!)

I also listened to the audio and the narrators did a great job.

I’m excited to read more books from Larsen. Especially a continuation of Nellie’s and Jensen’s story! (Hint hint)

I received a paperback copy from the publisher and a Netgalley approval. Thank you! All views are my own.

I went into this expecting a cute YA romance, what I got was a whole lot more nuanced. There was loss, betrayal, issues with friends, and yes, a cute romance. I loved how both Jensen and Nellie’s lives had been touched by her father. My favorite part, and what led me to pick up the book was Jensen’s secret role as a bestselling author.

*I received a free copy of this ARC ebook from the publisher; the review is my own.*

Based on the title and artwork, I had expected this book to be more lighthearted than it was. Yes, the last part of the description talks about a family tragedy and secrets, but outwardly, the book mostly gives off a happier vibe than what it actually is. It's not that heavy topics are bad--they're not. In fact, I appreciate that many authors of YA contemporary romance choose to tackle the hard subjects that a lot of young adults are faced with rather than solely write candy books. (For the record, I also like candy books.) But I went into this book expecting it to be more . . . fun, so I was a little disappointed.

Overall, I liked Jensen (18) and Nellie (almost 18). Their chapters were a little difficult to differentiate if I picked the book back up mid chapter, and sometimes there characteristics were told more than shown (for example, supposedly Jensen was a cocky player, but I never saw any actual evidence of it. I was frequently frustrated with their lack of communication and the unnecessary lies.

Although the ending wasn't bad, I wasn't quite satisfied with it, either. Not only do I still have unanswered questions (see spoilers), but it feels like everything is in limbo. And not in a way that hints at a sequel. The epilogue was more of a side note, as well.

Note: Death of a loved one.

This book is so much more than a YA romance. The story line has a lot of emotion and depth. It takes the reader on quite a ride. I am hoping there is another book to follow this one since there is so much more to Jensen and Nellie’s story.

I enjoyed this story. I thought it was cute and creative. I was expecting Nellie's tragedy to be much bigger, but I actually liked that it wasn't. Still a terrible thing, but just not as horrible as I had guessed. I really liked Jensen and Nellie together and how they helped each other be the best they could be. I didn't love how Nellie's relationship ended with her Mom. I had wished for more closure there, but I do understand why it was left the way it was. The epilogue was a little weird to me but intriguing. Overall I did really enjoy this story!

This was a great read! It would be a great read for any YA reader that likes to read books about high school and romance.

I am sorry but I couldn’t finish this book. I will probably try again in the future but it was not my cup of tea. It’s an interesting story but maybe for another time.

This was a fun read, a perfect end of the school year beginning of summer read. The characters are well written and likable and I can see this being a popular read in my HS library.

Fun Fact: I Love You took me right back to high school where life could be pretty emotional at times especially as a senior anticipating graduation. This book caught all those feelings along with crushes, a first kiss, & first love. But, it also deals with some heavier topics.

I loved the author’s writing style and was completely sucked into the story, but it’s not a breezy, lighthearted YA romance. It’s an emotional roller coaster as the main characters deal with tragic loss and difficult decisions. There are enough romantic, lighter, inspirational moments to balance things out. Overall it’s an enjoyable read that really does a great job of capturing teenage emotions, especially at graduation.

Nellie Samsin’s a 4.20 GPA student and Valedictorian who has her future all mapped out, including a five year plan. A game at lunch though changes everything and leads to her first kiss which is anything but enjoyable. Her best friend Jensen finally decides he needs to make a move especially after Nellie’s kiss with his best friend.

Jensen’s got his secrets though. He’s a best selling author whose identity is well hidden. When tragedy strikes Nellie’s life, he’s there to help her cope while dealing with his own grief. As graduation looms and his secret’s about to be revealed, will Nellie feel betrayed as she’s felt betrayed by so many others in her life?

I thoroughly enjoyed Nellie’s and Jensen’s relationship. Jensen’s such a thoughtful, supportive guy. He’s had a crush on Nellie for years, but has kept that along with his successful profession secret. I loved experiencing those butterflies in the stomach feelings of first love with them.

The mixed emotions and feeling lost at high school graduation were also captured so well. I loved Nellie’s Valedictorian speech which had me in tears. Along with her tragic loss, Nellie has to grapple with friend betrayals & parent issues. Some things she handles well while others she doesn’t. I loved how Jensen and his mom were so supportive of her. I enjoyed Jensen’s writing process in dealing with his characters.

Definitely looking forward to more books by this author. Recommend this book to older, mature teens. Please see the content warning if you’re sensitive to death, abuse, or grief (warning potential spoilers). I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided.

CW: death of a parent on screen, mention of child disability as a result of abuse, absent/neglectful parents, suggestion of parental infidelity, parental drinking, passionate kissing only with some innuendo.

“He looks at me like I’m his entire world, and I feel the galaxies spin around us.”

It’s been a really long time since I’ve been in high school, but YA books always seem to transport me to the rose-colored glasses times of those angsty days. Nellie is ready to graduate and gets her first kiss at school…from her crush…with the luck of winning a game. And unfortunately, it wasn’t all that. Watching the last few weeks of her public education play out in surprising ways touched every string of my heart in so many unexpected ways.

Gina Larsen has a way of writing that drew me into the story and allowed me to feel. There are some heavy and deep topics, especially things that blaze a trail through grief, trauma, secrets, and unknowns, but the hope lining the clouds is sweet. Coming-of-age and adapting to one’s circumstances is always inspiring to me.

This friends-to-lovers tale encapsulates all the emotions and is a story worth reading.

Nellie can’t wait to graduate and get away from her very aloof and difficult to please mother. She adores her dad, but sees cracks growing in the marriage. And her “best friend” is pretty toxic, so there’s that, too.

After Nellie and Jensen work late one night to complete some last-minute yearbook pages (been there, done that), Nellie realizes she hasn’t heard anything from her father all evening. She asks Jensen to go with her to his office at the university and check on him.

Jensen can’t let Nellie know that he has spent hours in that office with her father, his writing mentor who has helped him publish a couple of phenom best-selling fantasy novels.

Both are shattered when they find him dead at his desk.

As they rekindle their childhood friendship in the wake of the tragedy, their relationship becomes stronger and deeper. If only Jensen wasn’t hiding such a big secret from Nellie. He begins to reveal pieces of his life to her, but is unable to tell her all. Nellie takes great comfort from their friendship, and particularly from Jensen’s mom, as her own becomes more and more difficult to live with.

Of course, there are misunderstandings and setbacks on the way to their happy-ever-after, but they make sense.

Honestly, Nellie and Jensen are the best written characters in the story. Supporting characters are a little bit flat, but serve their purposes. Dialogue is natural.

Possible Objectionable Material:
Parental infidelity and death. One character’s family has escaped from domestic violence, which left a sibling permanently disabled. Deception, though well-intended.

Who Might Like This Book:
Those who like high school coming of age stories, especially of the second-chance love variety.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book is also reviewed at https://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2024/07/lets-start-july-with-bang.html

Fun Fact: I Love You by Gina Lynn Larsen was a clean YA romance. Once I started I had to know how it ended and was hooked all the way to the end. There were a lot of unexpected things that always kept me wondering and guessing. The main characters were sweet and lovable. My heart hurt for the tragedies both faced in their lives.

Some triggers
-Abuse
-Neglect
-Toxic relationships (friend and mom)
-Death of a parent