This is an easy 4/5 stars. Was it the best book I've ever read? No. The relationships moved too quickly and I didn't feel really connected to any of the characters. It just wasn't amazing. Nothing about it stood out. However. This book was still a good, quick, easy read that really shows what it is like to be a young adult navigating college, young relationships, the internet, and just life in this world and because of that, it made it a good read. A good palate cleanser. It was easy to be able to connect to the book and feel like I was in some place of both reality and book world. The best of both parts. Definitely geared way more to YA though. I would absolutely recommend to YA readers!

Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc!
This book was mainly told through blog posts, texts, emails and tweets and it was so fun to read that style! This story follows a young black girl named Sydney and her navigation through life and her freshman year of college. While this is a romance it touched on much deeper topics it still felt very on brand to how a young college student would feel and all of the ups and downs that they can experience in today's world. This book navigates friendships, family and relationships and digital media in such a realistic way that was refreshing to read. Syd seemed a little immature to me in the way she handled her conflicts with her friends, and there was a lot of talk of fashion writing but then it just kind of went away. Overall, I enjoyed this book.

This book isn't bad at all I think it's just not for me. I thought I would be okay with the formatting but it made it feel disconjointed. I think I got to know Syd but not really any of the other characters. Also the I love you at the end made no sense and came out of no where. I did really like the activist part of it though and how it showed Syd that she really could write and have it mean something.

I received an arc through netgalley.

Overall this was a very well rounded read! I love the era of entering school and not knowing where your actual major will lie. I loved this FMC and how she felt connected. I also loved the usage of blogging, twitter, having a support system, and the important topics that were discussed at hand. The arrest of the individual at a university was a jarring point but one that was entirely necessary for the narrative. The twist of who "X" actually was also drew me in, though a little predictable once a clue dropped several times.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for honest feedback.

This was an interesting and unique read—told entirely through blog posts, tweets, emails, and texts. That structure made for a fast-paced experience, but it also took a minute to find its rhythm. Early on, there’s a confusing moment where we’re jumping back and forth in time on the same day with no clear reason, but once that settles, the timeline stays pretty linear.

I’ll start by saying this book made me nostalgic for my own college days. While I can’t speak to the Black experience the way Sydney does, I did relate to the process of coming into your own identity during that time. But enough about me.

Sydney is starting her freshman year of college, feeling a little untethered. Her best friend, Malcom, is off at a different school, and though Sydney loves writing and fashion, she’s not naturally drawn to the college party scene. Still, she’s determined to try new things. She makes new friends, connects with a great mentor (who’s also her TA), and starts a new relationship with a fellow student named Xavier—all while chronicling her experiences on her blog. Then, one day, a mysterious (but refreshingly non-creepy) Twitter handle slides into her DMs, and she’s left wondering… could it be Xavier?

This book touches on everything you’d expect from a freshman-year story—friendships, first loves, figuring out who you are—but it also dives deeper. Sydney ends up unintentionally at the center of a larger campus conversation around race and activism after she writes a blog post about an incident involving Malcom’s roommate. She never meant to be political; she was just speaking her mind. But when the post goes viral, she finds herself asking: Does being a Black writer with an audience mean she has to be an activist, too?

I really appreciated the way the book explored that tension. Again, I can’t speak to the experience firsthand, but the questions Sydney raises—about identity, responsibility, and choice—felt thoughtful and timely.

That said, there were a few moments that left me puzzled. Maybe it’s the nature of the storytelling format, but sometimes it felt like we’d skipped a beat. For instance, Sydney asks the mysterious Twitter user to show her his artwork—but we haven’t seen any indication up to that point that he’s an artist. She also calls Xavier a genius well before we’ve seen any real evidence to support that. It’s only later we learn he’s on a scholarship, which helps, but I would’ve liked a little more development leading up to those moments. Still, I pretty much fell for Xavier the minute he bought Sydney comic books. Same, girl. I was also a latecomer to the comic world, but a proud nerd now.

One small moment that made me pause was when Sydney refers to herself as queer in a blog post. I actually had to reread it to figure out if she was quoting someone else or speaking about herself—it was that unclear. If it was a reference to her own identity, it’s mentioned and then forgotten in the same breath. It didn’t necessarily need to become a major plot point, but I would’ve appreciated a bit more reflection or clarity.

And finally, the ending - or near ending. I’m torn. I won’t spoil anything, but I was a little surprised by who Sydney ended up with. That said, while I probably would’ve been happy either way, I do think she made the right choice. As for the mysterious Twitter handle? Let’s just say… I saw that reveal coming.

Overall, Love in 280 Characters or Less was a fresh, thoughtful read. The format might not be for everyone, but it worked for me, and Sydney’s voice kept me engaged the whole way through.

This was a quick story about a girl's first semester away at college as she navigates everything that comes with it. Sydney has a passion for writing and that comes through in that this book is told through her blog posts and tweets. We really get a sense of her voice that way, along with her tweets and text messages. She struggles with the usual first year of college things: choosing her own path and not her parents', falling in love, making new friends and keeping old ones, and even a viral moment online that makes her the voice of a movement. I flew through this book and would recommend it for those in this stage of life:)

Stringfield does it again! Firstly, Thank you so much to NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and Feiwel & Friends for this early advance reader copy!! I literally inhaled this book in 48 hours. Love in 280 Characters are Less is a beautiful ode to the chronically online girlies and Black girls trying to find their footing as a freshman in college! As someone who struggled like a baby giraffe trying to walk for the first time as a freshmen in college, I definitely understand Syd's struggles. I feel like this really was more of a coming of age story, with a sprinkle of love and romance. So many coming of age stories focus on romantic partnerships, however, Love in 280 had love in all of its beautiful forms: platonic, familial, political, and online.

One sentence summary: Sydney Ciara embarks on her first year of college and she attempts to figure out exactly who she is, survive parental pressures, fall in love both IRL and on the internet, and decide on the path she wants to walk for her life.

This story is told entirely in online/text formats - which is absolutely executed beautifully! It reminds me of a book I read as a middle schooler that was entirely AIM Texts. Between Syd's tweets, blog posts, emails, text messages, and more, we really get a glimpse into a young Black woman's experience and we get to watch her crash out & grow. I feel like I am still mad at all the main characters, but that's just because that prefrontal cortex was not online at all! Malcolm, Xavier, and Syd all that to develop immediately! But that's what college is all about right? Finding yourself - flaws and all. My only critique is that I wish we could continue to follow Syd for her entire college experience! She's so adorable to watch figure out her life! 5 stars - I cannot wait to see what Dr. Stringfield writes next!

When I'm reading a college-based story, I always love when the details feel like actual, real life college. And this went above and beyond in that regard. I loved the way the story was told through Sydney Ciara's various social media/communication channels. I particularly loved the private and public blog entries, so you really got to see both sides of her and learn her feelings, as well as the image she was sharing with others. I also loved the detail with which Sydney Ciara's looks were explained - It was like Claudia Kishi of the Babysitters Club, and I loved those vivid descriptions. This was a fun college read that also had some real feels. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the look at this April 2025 release.

In this book, we follow Sydney, an 18 year old girl who is starting her first year in college. This book is read through her tweets, blogs, and text messages. We follow Sydney along her journey of college jitters, self-discovery, friendship, love, and even political activism.

Going into this book, I was expecting a cute YA romcom but this book was so much more. This book dealt with some pretty relatable topics, including racism and what it means to be black in America. I liked how we got to see Sydney’s growth throughout the book and I felt like most of what she would write about or experience was extremely relatable. I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend.

4.7 ⭐️

I really enjoyed the writing and format of this book.
Sydney is such a relatable character. She’s just starting college and has to navigate making friends and new classes without her best friend, Malcolm.
Speaking of Malcolm, I loved her friendship with him. There’s an incident in the book with him and I’m so glad their friendship survived it.
I also loved the relationships Sydney had with her family, especially her sister.
I loved Sydney’s journey and seeing her growth at the end of the book. The published posts and her private posts were my fav parts. I thought the way the writer formatted this book was so clever.
The little romance in this was cute and I’m glad she ended up with who I wanted !

Overall this was such a good read and I think every young person should read this!

This was an interesting book. Sydney is trying to figure out where she fits in a new world with the people around her. From going to having a super close friend to trying to navigate the entirely new world of college Sydney turns to her writing and friends to help her figure out what she is doing. College can be difficult in the best of times. Luckily for Sydney she connects with a young man through social media, but when her real life and the relationships she is creating online merge will she be able to navigate another change. I think this book is extremely realistic on the many issues young people face when going off to college and will resonate with a lot of readers.
Thank you to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

Wow, just wow. What I assumed would be a typical New Adult book with some college antics turned out to be so much more. Not only did Ms. Stringfield deliver a book with that, but with heart, and deep emotions. When finishing this book I wanted to be a better writer, and someone who made a difference in what she cared about. This book is also a testament of how black Americans are treated by the color of their skin and not by their traits as a human being. This book was exceptionally written, with an ending I didn’t call, though I did call one aspect of it. (You’ll have to read to see if you see what I saw!)

This book hit me like a ton of bricks. It is a perfect description of all the conflicting emotions that happen in your first semester of college. Wanting to keep friendships from high school, make new friends and expanding your inner circle (which is so scary), and a first relationship, ALL while trying to do your best and get good grades! Syd is so brave in the decisions she makes throughout the story, and I WISH I had been that brave at that age. The structure of this book is so unique and I ate up every word!

It took me some time to get into this book, but I wound up founding myself enjoying it. Having to try and navigate both life and love in a digital age is a challenge and seeing it all written out this way feels very relatable. It’s open and honest, and while I know I’m not the target audience, I enjoyed it.

love in 280 characters or less follows a young black woman, sydney, through her first semester as a college freshman. it is a story of self identity and coming of age, told through sydney’s blog posts, tweets, and texts.

i think the way that ravyn stringfield chose to write the story through these online tidbits was such a good creative choice. as is referenced in the novel, so much of our digital life is intertwined with our real life and we find ourselves having to navigate how that works as we grow older. sydney is a relatable and likable main character, and i couldn’t help but root for her. my only real complaint with the story is that the texts/tweets, or i guess the voice of the characters themselves, didn’t feel necessarily like teenagers/young adults just out of high school. it felt more like written conversation forced into this “funky” format at times, but it didn’t take away from the overall enjoyment of the story.

thank you netgalley for the e-arc!

Honestly, the beginning kinda dragged for me, but once it picked up, I thought it was pretty good. I saw “X” coming from a mile away—but honestly, didn’t mind it. I’m still not sure I totally agree with Sydney picking Xavier over Malcom (Malcom had my vote), but I get why she did. What really stood out was how the book handled the incident with Jay—real, messy, and well done. I liked how Sydney’s role in it all unfolded.

was written very well and the use of blog posts, twitter, and texts kept it interesting. different than what I usually read but I like it!

3.75 stars

I enjoyed reading about Sydney Ciara's journey. Sydney is a college student who's on a journey of self-discovery. This was a quick and easy read. The story is told through blog posts, tweets, and text messages. Personally, it took some time to become comfortable with the format.

Love in 280 Characters or Less has such a fun concept—told through blog posts, tweets, and messages, it follows Sydney Ciara as she navigates her first year of college, her writing dreams, fashion interests, and a bit of romantic mystery.

There’s a lot to appreciate here. I especially liked getting a glimpse into college life through the eyes of a young Black woman—it felt honest, relatable, and well done. I fully acknowledge that I am not the target audience for this book, so I want to extend grace on that front.

That said, there could have been more. The characters and plot didn’t feel fully developed to me. Syd is supposed to be this fantastic writer, but her posts didn’t always reflect that, which made it harder to connect with her voice. She also talks a lot about wanting to write about fashion, but after a few early outfit-of-the-day moments, that thread sort of fades away.

Overall, the book has heart, and I really wanted to love it—but for me, the writing didn’t quite deliver on what the story set out to do. It’s a solid read, and I can absolutely see others loving it more than I did.

Love in 280 Characters is a modern day tale of looking for love, heartbreak, and self discovery all within the digital age.

This book is written in a very corky style that almost makes you feel like you are scrolling a dating site. The author uses social media posts in under or exactly 280 characters or less. It deep and raw and shows you the side of relationships no one ever tells nor prepares you for.

This in my eyes is a most read especially if you have ever used online to look for love or to even find your own self worth.