This book wasn’t bad I just had a really hard time getting into it. I thought I would really like the blog & tweets (there was a time when I was younger when I would only read books written in journal or letter format) but it pulled me out of the story. I had a hard time connecting to any of the other characters other than Syd.

I will be checking out other books that the author writes.

Love in 280 characters or Less by Ravynn K. Springfield is a comforting coming of age that puts readers into a cozy, yet adventurous mind while reading!

https://www.tiktok.com/@reading.with.madds/video/7491828039236521258?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Arc Review:

Such a powerful and quick read! I loved how this story was told through multiple media posts! A very thought provoking yet light hearted read!

This book felt like scrolling through my own memories of freshman year..... awkward, sweet, confusing. Sydney Ciara is such a relatable main character, trying to figure out college, love, and who she is, both online and IRL. The blog posts and messages made it feel super personal, like I was reading her diary. And as someone who loves fashion and spends way too much time online, I felt seen. If you’re into stories with Black love, digital romance, and a little bit of mystery, you’ll fly through this one.

Love in 280 Characters or Less by Ravynn K. Stringfield is a delightful coming-of-age story that is both refreshing and relatable. Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this book. Where was this novel when I was in college? I could have really used it!

The story follows Sydney Ciara Warren, a young woman navigating the complexities of college life, identity, and self-discovery. Stringfield does an outstanding job capturing Sydney's voice—it's authentic, relatable, and brimming with raw honesty. I found myself quickly drawn to Sydney's journey, especially since the author cleverly incorporates modern communication platforms like Twitter, texting, and blog posts into the narrative. These elements are not just a gimmick but are deeply integrated into the way Sydney processes her world. It’s refreshing to see how these forms of communication add a unique layer to the storytelling.

What stands out most about Love in 280 Characters or Less is that it's less about romance and more about personal growth. While there are moments of connection and even some budding relationships, the heart of the story is Sydney’s quest to find herself. I appreciated that Stringfield focused on this aspect of college life—how it’s often less about falling in love and more about navigating the chaos of becoming who you are meant to be.

This book is perfect for anyone heading off to college or for those feeling a little lost in life, wondering what direction to take next. It's an empowering reminder that figuring out who you are doesn't need to happen on anyone else’s timeline.

I’d highly recommend Love in 280 Characters or Less to anyone looking for a heartfelt, authentic story about self-discovery, identity, and the messy, beautiful process of growing up.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my first ever ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

This book was told from the perspective of freshman, Sydney through texts, blog posts, emails, etc. Because of this, the book moved at a relatively quick pace and you don't have to wait to get far along in the book before getting to know the main character really well. Personally, this formatting of storytelling is not my vibe and I think this factor is what led to me giving this title the rating that I did.

I really appreciated the journey Ravynn took us on alongside Sydney as she navigated her first year of college. Ravynn did a great job of encapsulating the joys and excitements of starting a new chapter while also realistically showcasing the nervousness and awkwardness that can also come with starting fresh and finding your footing in a new environment.

While the formatting is not one that I typically would choose to explore, Love in 280 Characters or Less was an engaging read that kept me entertained throughout.

I've really enjoyed this story. I love books told through non-traditional formats, and seeing both personal and private blog posts, Twitter DMs and feeds, and texts really built up a story of someone struggling to adjust to their first semester of college. What Syd goes through is so realistic. I struggled to find my own place those first few weeks of college, and it's so hard to make friends and put yourself out there. This captured that feeling perfectly in a way I haven't seen in other books following people in college, and I really believe it's because of the format used. The run of consciousness thing with the Tweet threads, how vulnerable Syd gets in her private blog posts, especially considering how open she is with the public ones, it just really worked to get across the difficulties of adjusting to a new environment and finding your place.

Also, any guy that buys someone a comic book just because is cool in my book.

Sydney is starting college at CVU and with that comes total freedom and new adventures. She’s navigating classes, making new friends, trying to hold on to new ones and maybe even finding love. While college isn’t going exactly as planned, her online persona seems to be thriving. What’s a girl gotta do to make it all come together?

I loved how this was told between blog posts, texts and tweets! I felt like this was super relatable as college was so nerve wracking at first. As time goes on, you find your place and I loved seeing Sydney navigate that.

This was based around Sydney’s first year of college, but the message held so much more than that. It asked a lot of really good thought provoking questions and I appreciated how raw it was.

Overall, this was a beautifully written coming of age story!

4/5 ⭐️
Love in 280 Characters or Less by Ravynn K. Stringfield

This coming-of-age story was such a refreshing and adorable read! We follow Sydney through her freshman year of college, and the story unfolds creatively through tweets, blog posts, texts, and inner thoughts. The format made it feel so real and current—I was smiling, laughing, and nodding the whole way through.

The banter kept me engaged and reminded me of my own college days—figuring out who I was, juggling new responsibilities, navigating friendships, and figuring out the world of romance. Sydney’s journey is relatable and heartfelt.

If you love a little slow-burn romance wrapped in a smart, modern narrative, this one’s for you. Ravynn K. Stringfield captured the college experience with warmth, humor, and authenticity.

Thank you for netgalley and the publisher for the digital ARC
These opinions are mine and honest.

What a delightful coming of age story about a young black woman juggling the rigorous world of academia, parental expectation, social media influences, first love, and self discovery! I was blown away when I saw this was a debut novel because the writing flowed like water and before I knew it I was turning the last page.

As a near-40 year old woman, I felt nostalgia for a time I took advantage of. That time in a woman’s life when she’s no longer a child but also completely clueless in how to be a woman. I absolutely adored Sydney and her raw, unfiltered view on the world. Soooo many important issues, feelings, and topics are discussed.

As far as the romance, I enjoyed it but I definitely think it took more of a backseat—AND THAT’S OKAY. I loved the meat of the story so much it felt like the romance was just enough.

And can we take a minute to gush over that adorable cover??? I’m loving this current trend!

♡ coming of age
♥ poc fmc
♡ rigorous academia x self discovery
♥ first love

{I was gifted a complimentary copy of this book. All reviews are my own.}

This book gave me a nostalgia feeling. It reminded me of the show moiesha when she would write in her diary, and I like the blog , and text message format. The way the author speaks about living has a black queer women was done great. I was getting confused in some parts of the book with the relationships. This was an okay coming to age read.

This delightful story presents a clever twist on storytelling, weaving its narrative through the modern tapestry of blog posts, emails, texts, and tweets.

At its heart lies a charming tale of a Black girl embarking on her inaugural semester of college, expertly balancing a multitude of experiences.

The innovative format shines, seamlessly addressing profound themes while preserving a sense of whimsy and the delightful chaos that accompanies the college journey. The protagonist's odyssey is both relatable and uplifting as she navigates the exhilarating highs and daunting lows of newfound independence and self-discovery. Through the snippets of digital correspondence, her interactions reveal the richness of her relationships, the humor woven into her daily life, and the hurdles she encounters while juggling academics, friendships, and personal growth.

The author skillfully intertwines humor with heartfelt moments, inviting readers to immerse themselves in the intricacies of contemporary college life through the eyes of a young woman discovering her voice. This distinctive narrative style not only captivates but also provides a refreshing lens on the themes of identity, resilience, and the vital role of community.

With each message and post, readers are beckoned into a realm that feels both genuine and vibrant. The protagonist's journey is a celebration of strength found in authenticity, rendering it an essential read for anyone embarking on their own path of self-exploration.

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

I love a book written in multiple formats!! This book had that — tweets, emails, texts, blogs. It was so fun! But it also felt a little confusing at times to follow because of its formatting. At times I couldn’t completely follow along and had to determine if it was a private blog post, public, etc etc. I felt like it improved a bit in the end and I’m hopeful this won’t be the same when it’s printed!

The first 60% of this book felt a bit slow and underdeveloped. The story really picked up in the second half, however, that point I did feel a bit disengaged.. there is a lot of good stuff in the second half but since the first half dragged on so much, I felt like I just wanted the book to end.

I really liked the way the story was told through blog posts! It added an extra layer of fun that would have been different if it was told in a different way. I also liked how it followed Syd's first year of college, as I am currently a college student going through these same things. Something I didn't like was who Syd ended up with, just because I was biased towards one of the guys. Other than that, it was a really good book!

I loved everything about this story! The representation, the coming of age feel to the story, the uniqueness behind the blog entries that Sydney creates. I appreciated the thoughtfulness about what it is like to be a black girl in her season of self discovery for the first true time when she is out on her own. Thank you to the publishers and the authors for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My initial end of book thoughts is that I am thoroughly impressed. I loved the format selection of having us (the reader) follow the FMC's digital presents while following her story as a new college student. The plot was intriguing and I actually managed to be caught off guard when I thought things were painfully obvious. I will read more from this author.

- LOVE IN 280 CHARACTERS OR LESS is a lovely coming of age in the digital age novel. I loved Syd and identified deeply with how she was torn between following her dreams and doing what was expected of her.
- Without spoiling anything, I did find the love triangle piece of the story a little silly, as it was pretty easy to see what was going on. There are are a few things that felt like disconnects for me: Syd complains repeatedly of not being able to make friends while multiple people are actively making her their friend. Something happens to Malcolm’s roommate Jay, who Syd has met, and she barely acknowledges that it happened to Jay and instead fixates on how it could have happened to Malcolm.
- Regardless, I still enjoyed this book and hope to read more by Stringfield in the future.

Thank you, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley, for this E-ARC!

Things this book made me feel against my will: nostalgia, sadness, motivation, like I need to get off my ass and get back to writing those books. It wasn’t even a direct hit; simply experiencing Syd navigating her new space and life at college took me back to those days and sparked that fire in my chest. A lot of what she felt was how I did at the time, and some of those feelings are still the same. Being in Syd’s head was fun; she’s funny, headstrong, a little awkward, and has so much care for her people. I love how relationships were portrayed, and I think a lot of readers will find pieces of themselves reflected in these characters. This book was a mirror of life and everyday activity, from the mundane to sudden swerves that’ll force readers to the edge of their seats.

I’m not sure if this was the arc, but the formatting took me out of the story. As much as I loved following Syd on this journey, I wasn’t fully immersed in the story because it was told through journal entries, social media posts, comments, messages, etc. There was a thick glass wall between me and this story that I didn’t like at all. As someone who has a vivid imagination, instead of being a bystander, I mostly saw Syd sitting at her computer writing all of these events. I hope that makes sense. There weren’t any in-person scenes where I saw her interacting with other people and the world; she told me about everything. And I don’t like the internet enough to enjoy this form of storytelling. I would’ve loved to see her at Thanksgiving with her family, on that first date, her interactions with her sister and best friend, etc. Like I said, it might’ve been the arc format and not the whole story, but I had a hard time connecting fully because of that separation, and it felt like I was missing chunks of a full picture.

Overall, this was great and something I’d read again if the published version is full and more dynamic. I think this is a great story for anyone (bonus for writers), but mostly college students or people who’re going to college for the first time.

The plot lines and characters felt underdeveloped and I found myself struggling to connect with the fmc.

The only reason I didn’t DNF this book is because it was so short. However, I would have much preferred a longer book that took more time developing the plot line and creating a relationship between the reader and the characters.

Of relationships mean so much to you (allegedly), why are you so quick to burn bridges. It feels like rather than working through any of her issues, Syd Ciara just packs her emotional bags and runs away. I would her like if at least once she reflected on how her own actions had consequences and stopped blaming everybody else.

Further to that point, there are several scenes within this book that should have felt more emotional. For example, when the fmc finds herself losing friendships left and right, she mentions being heartbroken but the reader never gets to feel that heartbreak. Perhaps this could have been achieved with deeper character development, but it feels like all of the pivotal plot points were brushed off and left feeling unremarkable. On the flip side, the writing for the happy moments are done beautifully and I even found myself smiling along at some scenes.

I also adored the storytelling style of this book. The entire story being told in the form of texts, tweets, blog posts, and emails was unlike anything I have read thus far. I think this style also fits in perfectly with who Syd Ciara is, a chronically online romantic.

This book was beautifully chaotic in the best way. The love, the banter—absolutely swoon-worthy and so much fun. I really enjoyed watching Syd navigate everything happening around her. I found myself relating to her at so many points—especially as a chronically online girl myself. Honestly, I might just start a little blog now because it sounds so peaceful and reflective!

I loved seeing how she processed it all and figured out how to move forward on her own terms. It was a quick read that kept me intrigued from start to finish, and I can definitely see myself rereading it. I’m even getting a copy for my baby who’s heading to college next year—this is that kind of book.

Big thanks to TBR & Beyond and Ravynn K. Stringfield for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!