Love Points to You is a lovely book with clean, sapphic romance, easy to read, (talk about writing), and great characters! Mention of an otome game? Yes! Main character who is an artist? Yes and yes! My small concern is the conflict. It is somewhat rushed, and then everything has been resolved quickly (ok). Overall, I enjoy the story! Check out Love Points to You if you like playing otome games and/or are an artist (regardless of medium form of art you use). As a bonus, there is an asexual representation!

I have received a free copy from NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Thank you!

This is insanely adorable! And the ace rep! Angela and Linda are so cute together I love how dire and confident Angela is. And how awkward Linda can be. I also like the dynamics with Josie. The romance is for sure the best part and I love that they’re making a game passed on a story that Angela has written. This is a more unique ya romance

First of all, this is of my all-time favourite YA covers. It’s so adorable. And I’m happy to say that the story delivered. We’re following Lynda, a teenager who is devoted to getting into her dream art school. Unfortunately, her father just remarried and she now has to share a room with her stepsister, Josie. What’s worse is that her father and stepmother are willing to invest heavily in Josie’s violin lessons and education, but not in Lynda’s passion. When Josie’s little cousin breaks her drawing tablet, they don’t even offer to replace it. That’s where Angela comes in.

Angela is Lynda’s stuck-up classmate, and she has an offer for her: design the art for her otome (dating) game and Angela will pay her generously for it, including buying her a replacement tablet upfront. Lynda doesn’t have a lot of options, so she agrees. And the more they work together, the closer they become.

This is a YA romance, but it’s just as much about Lynda’s relationship with her family. She’s angry at her father, stepmother, and stepsister—and honestly, for the first half of the book, so was I. She is being treated unfairly, but she’s also not willing to see from anyone else’s perspective. That soon gets her in trouble in all her relationship. Lynda is driven and ambitious, and she has very little time for anyone who doesn’t live up to her high expectations.

That’s partly what makes her and Angela such a good match. Angela is confident to the point of seeming conceited. She’s also ambitious in the sense that while Lynda is getting commissioned for her artwork, Angela is managing a team of people to design her dream game—I don’t know about your high school experience, but that’s outside of what most teens I knew were attempting.

This is a classic hate-to-love story, and Lynda is oblivious for much of the book that she obviously has a crush. To be fair, she’s on the asexual spectrum, and it takes her a while to realize she’s attracted to Angela. (Both Lynda and Angela are bisexual and on the asexual spectrum.) I enjoyed their romance, especially because I feel like I don’t read a lot of YA where the characters start casually dating (as opposed to world-ending, star-crossed romance).

Lynda is a flawed main character. She can be selfish and judgmental, and she makes a lot of mistakes. At one point, she blows up almost all the relationships in her life. But part of her arc is realizing that everyone else is flawed and messy, too. She begins to see her father, her friends, her love interest as more complex than she initially imagined. I also liked that Josie had her own arc, and her and Lynda slowly begin to build their own dynamic with each other, including rebuilding when things fall apart. Even the secondary characters felt three dimensional, like they didn’t exist just for Lynda’s story.

I recommend this for anyone who appreciates a messy coming of age story, asexual representation in romance, flawed main characters, or otome games.

Truly loved this book, I could not put it down when I started reading and honestly wanted to finish it in one sitting but I had work so I couldn’t. Lynda and Angela have great banter and chemistry where they give each other what they need. My only “issue” is that the resolution was a little too quick. I would have love more time for Angela and Lynda’s reconciliation because it feels like Lynda’s dad and Josie got more time with Lynda than Angela.

This one was super cute and exactly what I wanted when I picked it up. It's short, cute, sweet, and queer. And it also explores the family dynamics of parents getting remarried and step siblings.

I really adored the relationship our main character, Lynda, had with both the love interest, Angela, and her stepsister, Josie. There were a few different plot threads and I felt they were all given proper weight and wrapped up nicely. I enjoyed Angela's matter-of-fact attitude and the way the asexual relationship developed. It was great rep and it all felt really natural to me.

In the beginning, I was on Lynda's side with all her various frustrations with her family and friends and I was cheering her on! I will admit that by the end her attitude did start to annoy me a bit, but she got her act together and it was ultimately nice to see her grow in that way.

Highly recommend this one if you're looking for a sweet YA romance.

Thank you, @delacortepress and @tbrbeyondtours , for an advanced copy of this book!

Love Points to You is a delightful high school romance that tackles deeper themes of self-discovery and family dynamics. The protagonist, Lynda, is a complex character with flaws—selfish and jealous at times—but her difficult relationship with her family adds layers to her personality. While some of her anger and actions may not be entirely justified, they’re understandable given her age and the situations she faces.

The character dynamics, particularly between Lynda and her sister Josie, were a highlight and their evolving relationship was heartwarming. The book does an excellent job of exploring identity, ambition, and creative passion, though the romance occasionally feels secondary to these themes. While the ending is uplifting, it feels a bit rushed, leaving some plot points—such as Lynda’s college plans—unfinished.

Nevertheless, the novel stands out for its fresh take on romance, strong representation, and unique premise. I also adored the charming stickers at the beginning of each chapter, especially the buncleaver ones! If you’re looking for a sapphic YA novel focused on self-growth and creative passion rather than just romance, this is definitely worth reading.

A swoony rivals-to-lovers romance between driven, practical Lynda Fan and her rich, arrogant classmate, Angela Wu. When Angela offers Lynda the chance to design characters for her Otome game, Lynda discovers things she never knew about herself…or her heart.

This was a cute and adorable read. I loved the concept and had a good time reading it. Lynda wasn't my favourite as I couldn't connect with her but she had her moments and I liked seeing her relationship grow and develop with Angela.

Overall, I enjoyed reading it and would recommend if you like:
Sapphic Romance
Rivals To Lovers
LGBTQ+ Rep
Coming Of Age
Asian American Rep

Thank you @tbrbeyondtours for having me on the tour for this book!! 💗

This was a sweet and fun story that deals with complicated family dynamics, the pressure of success, and falling in love. I really enjoyed how real this story felt, from parents lacking accountability to characters crumbling under pressure or just absolutely losing it. I'm also forever a fan of ace rep in relationships and with all the LADS my friends have been playing lately, the otome game aspect was right up my alley.

Love me some character development.

I haven't read a YA in a while but this delivered! The writing seamlessly blended in a queer & diverse cast without making it feel cringe. Change is hard and so is getting older. Lynda has her mind set on the future and kind of bulldozes her way through moving, falling in love, mending relationships and just surviving high school. She was such a flawed character that often frustrated me, but her actions were low stakes in the grand scheme of things (thankfully). Sometimes it's easier to be angry at others instead of confronting your own insecurities, but it takes growth and maturity to apologize, reconcile and move on.

No one was perfect in this story and I think that's why I liked it. Although, her dad still irks me.

Solid 3.5.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc!

This book follows Lynda as her father remarried. She has to move in with her step-mother and sister. Her parents are paying for her sister's violin classes instead of helping both of them. Angela, a girl from school, offers to pay Lynda to create art for her otome game. We follow Lynda as she falls in love with Angela and deals with her family dynamic. I thought this book was cool. I deeply empathize with Lynda coping with her father's choices. I enjoyed seeing her fall in love and get closer to her sister. Lowkey, I did not need a third act break up for Lynda and Angela. However, I understood where the author was going with her story. I am looking forward to reading more from this author!

My rating is more of 3.75.

Thank you to TBR & Beyond and Delacorte Romance for providing me with a digital ARC. All opinions are my own.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (3.5 rounded up to 4 stars)

Love Points to You had a lot of things I usually love in a YA romance—sapphic representation, a unique premise centered around game design, and ace representation (which is still too rare in queer YA romance). While I enjoyed the overall story, I have to admit that I struggled with the main character, Lynda. She was frustratingly arrogant and often selfish, making it difficult for me to fully root for her. Though there was some character growth, it didn’t feel like enough to truly redeem her flaws in a meaningful way.

Angela, the love interest, was much more likable, but for a book marketed as a romance, she was absent for a good portion of the second half. Because of this, the story felt more like literary fiction with a romance subplot rather than a traditional romance. The themes of ambition, self-discovery, and creative passion were well done, but the romance itself felt sidelined at times.

The ending, while happy, felt a bit rushed and left some key plot points—like the otome game and Lynda’s college plans—unresolved. Despite these issues, I still enjoyed the book for its fresh take on romance, its representation, and its unique premise. If you’re looking for a sapphic YA novel with a focus on self-growth and creative passion rather than just romance, this might be a good pick!

I have not read enough LGBTQ books and this book made me realize I need to read more!

Though I am probably getting too old for high school fiction, I was delighted to see how mature Lynda was. She has a clear path on what she wants to do and how she's going to do it.

I just wish her family, in particular her dad, was more supportive. Though he sort of redeems himself, it felt like Lynda was put on the sidelines when he got married and her stepsister was put up front.

I love Angela and Lynda's relationship, they compliment each other so well. And I love the way they each use their talents to make such a great game.

This YA read is such a refreshing story that shows how families and their relationships can change. As well, the main character comes to terms with her sexuality all while trying her best to get into art school. For all fans of otome games, artistry, and a dose of high school drama this is the perfect read for you!

Love Points to You is a YA sapphic romance novel that offers so much more than I was expecting. Not only are we treated to a cute and flirty developing relationship between the main character Lynda and Angela, the book also delves into the stresses of family, growing up and thinking about the future and it focuses a lot on the passions and the huge commitments made by the characters.

I loved all of the characters in this book. Lynda was very headstrong and stubborn but cares deeply about her art and was mostly likable (more to come on her), Angela was smart and confident and Bora was the classic best friend who tells it as it is even if it’s not what Lynda wants to hear. Even Josie, Lynda’s new step-sister has a pivotal part to play in the story as she grapples with her own issues. The characters really make this book enjoyable and I loved the in depth back story each one gets that helps the reader to understand why they act like they do.

I liked how this book is about more than just a sweet high school romance. The plot involves the otome game creation and art design which was really fun to read about and I loved Buncleaver! It also realistically covers the characters feelings about growing up and trying to figure out what to do for their future as they make mistakes and some change their minds. Parental pressure is a big plot point throughout the novel which puts a strain on various friendships and acts as a catalyst for some of the bigger issues.

The book is told from Lynda’s POV which is great as it gives the reader more detail on what she’s always thinking and why she acts the way she does. Even though I often disagreed with the way she handled things, I could understand why she felt that way due to her family not being very supportive with her art unlike the way they treat Josie and her music talent. I felt angry for her for large parts of the book but towards the end, it reaches a crescendo as all her feelings come out and she hurts everyone she loves. Her ego gets in the way as she always thinks she is right and doesn’t seem to think of anyone else’s feelings.

The typical 3rd act big argument / break up trope also bothered me here as prior to this, Angela and Lynda felt like a refreshingly mature couple for a YA book and I liked how communicative they were with each other and their problems. But this all comes to a head when again, Lynda’s insane stubbornness and inability to think of others’ perspectives comes to a head in an ugly revelation.

However I did like the ending and think overall this is a really good story that has many complex layers. It’s a fast paced and exciting YA novel full of romance, drama and the worries that come with growing up.

amidst family changes, she is determined to make it into art school by herself. then comes an amazing opportunity from an unexpected person to design an otome game. where will this storyline lead her?

[★★★★.25]

thank you so much to alice lin, delacorte romance, and tbr and beyond tours for sending me an ARC through netgalley! this does not affect my thoughts about the book in any way. out now!

lynda isn’t the most likable mc, tbh i could understand her actions till like 50% of the book, and then it all went worse and i was like, girl stop!! the way i wanted to shake some sense into her *sigh* but again none of us are perfect and making stupid decisions is well both a human condition, and a mirror to our issues (most of the time..?) idk girl should’ve just sat down and talked to her family properly, but it’s so easy to get caught up in our feelings that we don’t stop to solve them rationally. (been there done that :’))

angela is such a cool character and i love her soo much!!! the way she had lynda tripping and fumbling ( ꈍ◡ꈍ) ngl i was kinda suspicious of her for a bit of time, cause girl was soo sketchy in the beginning!!! i was like, there’s something you’re not saying, aren’t you?? well, that was my trust issues speaking, so we’re good lol.

i especially adored the bond lynda developed with her stepsister, josie by the end of the book! it was so heartwarming to see them go from awkward strangers to sisters <333 and also, the title of this book is such a good pun!! all in all this book was soo cute and adorable, and you all should read it!!!

Vibes
Asian FMC's
Queer-Ace & Bi
YA

9.79/10

"I don't write anything weird or depraved if that's what you're wondering. Seh adds. I enjoy a smutty story now and then but nothing ... hard core."

Characters-10

I loved the characters in this!!! Lynda and Angela were great, and I loved the bond the two of them had throughout this book. Lynda and Josie had a rocky start as step siblings, but they discovered a bond in the end. The supporting characters such a Bora, and Lynda's Aunt Mindy were also fantastic editions to this story.

Setting-10

The town where Lynda and Angela lived was charming. I loved seeing all the shops where the characters spent their time, and all the locations in this book. The setting helped tell the story.

Wrting-10

The writing in this was easy to read, and easy to get into the story. In terms of style, I enjoyed the lighter moments, and heavier moments in this story. Lynda and Angela's passion for art and otome games comes through in the writing.

Plot-9.5

I enjoyed this story. I found it very cute as it was rivals to lovers, but they had an understanding of one another, and what the other one wanted. There were family and friends moments in this that I also loved.

Enjoyment-9.5

Love Points to You was a fun story with great characters

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Childrens for sending me this ARC.

2.5/5. The premise to this book was really promising. I always enjoy plots having to do with gaming and gaming culture. Angela, Josie, and Bora were all great characters and I’m happy the author let us spend so much time with them. Unfortunately, the main character of this book was almost insufferable. Most of the plot of this story is Lynda berating her friends, family, and partner. It makes it incredibly hard to root for a main character like this. I almost wanted to see her fail to teach her not to act like that.

I also didn’t buy into the chemistry of the romance in this book. It seemed that Lynda was only interested in Angela to better her art skills and get her into school. The way Lynda spoke to and about her parents, as someone who is long past teenage years, was so frustrating. Overall, I think this could be a quick read for a younger reader, but just not for me.

This was a sweet, fun read! It was easy to get stuck in and feel at home with the characters, as we join them on the ups and downs of being 16.

The book is equal parts about the romance and about the platonic and familial relationships the main character, Lynda, has. I particularly enjoyed the relationships with her peers; with her best friend Bora, her love interest Angela, and her step-sister Josie. I found these characters the most engaging, and I felt the most invested in their storylines.

I also enjoyed the themes about finding and following your passion. Most of the main characters are passionate and determined in a particular creative endeavour, and they all have very different approaches. While I would have liked to see this explored more particularly towards the end, it brought a lot to the characters and to the story.

I would have liked a bit more of a conclusion, or perhaps an epilogue to tie up the loose ends. I also found Lynda’s parents quite frustrating (and not in the way I was meant to!). They had an almost Cinderella-esque level of favouritism towards Josie, which combined with the frankly bananas amount of money Angela was throwing around, made it sometimes feel a little reality-TV and over the top. A personal frustration of mine was the wildly unrealistic way Josie’s violin tuition was run, which also took me out of the story a bit.

Although it did have its drawbacks, overall this was a very enjoyable, light-hearted read, that celebrates following your creative passion.

I received a free copy for an honest review.

Lynda agrees to design a character for a seemingly self-important classmate in exchange for a new ipad. Lynda is determined to get into art school and needs an ipad to make her drawings so she sees this project as a means to an end. Plus she needs money. Creating a video game based on a choose your own love story plot brings up a lot more than she thought it would. This was a cute story that kept me engaged to the end. Perfect YA romance. Thank you Delacorte Romance for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This was such a cute book! An adorable high school romance that dives into much deeper topics in such a wonderful way. The book discusses feelings of failure, blended family dynamics (and the feelings that can come with it), death in a family, and the idea of standing up for yourself, even against those that should stand behind you. I thought the main character was such a realistic teenager and loved the details surrounding that period of time (worrying about college apps, trying to be perfect at everything, and dating woes). This was a lovely first read for my March TBR and I think all teenage girls should read it, not for the surface story, but for the lessons that linger beneath the words.