This was fun but I think it had a little trouble connecting all of the little parts. Maybe if it was a bit longer then the friends could have been a bigger part and fit in better. Overall though, Theo and Finley were cute.

I received an arc through netgalley.

I'm a firm believer in reading YA even as an adult and I really enjoyed Better Than Revenge by Kasie West. Thanks to NetGalley and Delacorte Romance/Random House Children's for the advance copy!

here’s nothing sweeter than revenge, is there?

I thoroughly enjoyed the latest from Kassie West.

Finley is a perfectionist who practically has her whole life together. A podcast of her own, a football stud of a boyfriend, and a friend group that cherishes her every move.

But that didn’t stop the bad from effecting her, aka, Jensen stealing her podcasting spot that she’s been dreaming of for YEARS! So what does Finley do? She teams up with Theo, starting football kicker and Jensen’s nemesis, to make a revenge plan.

Read the book to find out the rest 😉

Jensen was a real tool-bag. He came off as being very self-centered and arrogant. I was a little cautious of Theo (because of what Jensen’s character portrayed him as), but I fell in love with him. He seemed to really lookout for Finley, helping her with football, and giving her grandma the closure she needed with Andrew Lancaster.

Title: Better Than Revenge
By: Kasie West
Pub. Date: December 31, 2024

Genre:
Fiction, Young Adult/Middle Grade, Romance, Drama

Trigger Warnings:
Loss, Grief, Dishonesty,

Recommended Age:
7th - adult

Summary/Review:
Finley has waited years for the opportunity to be a podcaster for her high school, and is thrilled to finally have the chance to become her high school's podcaster. She comes prepared with a few pitches on how to elevate the podcasts including kicking some ideas around with her boyfriend Jensen. However, Jensen betrays Finely in a way only the star of the football team can, and now Finley seeks revenge in the best way she knows how.

Better Than Revenge is a fast paced, young adult, clean romance. This novel captivates readers with its relatable characters and a plot-driven narrative that draws readers in from the very first page. While the central theme of seeking revenge on a boy may feel familiar for this age group, the story offers compelling twists that explore not just anger and betrayal but also forgiveness, hope, and the journey toward self-discovery. The overarching themes of belonging, staying true to yourself, and believing in who you are make this novel an essential read for secondary students. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait to add it to my secondary library!

Thank you to Kasie West, Random House Children’s, and NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

#BetterThanRevenge
#KasieWest
#RandomHouseChildren’s
#reluctantreaderreads
#advancedreadercopies
#NetGalley

I read the first two chapters of this book and LOVED it, that's why it disappointed me so much to have to DNF it at the third chapter because of content.

Content: gay couple and a reference to a bad word, all in the third chapter. That's when I stopped reading. 😭😭😭

Thank you for Netgalley and Delacorte Romance for providing me this ARC.

What a sweet, fun, creative, and honest romance book! Theo and Finley were awesome main characters who had very raw and real insecurities. It definitely reminds me of “I’ll Give You The Sun”. The sub plot of the grandma and Andrew was so so sweet, and Theo was ADORABLE I FREAKING CANT.

I really loved how Finley grew throughout the story, and how at the end she owned up to her mistakes and was able to truly see what mattered to her. I loved seeing Jensen finally get some revenge thrown his way (it’s about freaking time)!!

Theo and Finley had GREAT banter, and I loved the friendships and diversity that were shown in this book! It was awesome!

This book is so cute.

Finley has been has prepared to be a host on the high school podcast team for years. She’s got this audition in the bag! But then, her football-playing boyfriend, Jensen, decides to try out as well (using her idea!) and gets her dream role.

Left feeling confused and betrayed, Finley is determined to get revenge. Enlisting the help of her friends, they work to come up with the best scheme, but unfortunately, nothing is working and somehow he’s still coming out ahead?

Then, by chance, Finley is told her soccer-playing past may be good enough to compete for Jensen’s spot as starting kicker on the football team. Finley recruits Jensen’s rival and former kicker, Theo, to train her in secret.

Soon they realize they have a connection deeper than football and revenge. Can love really be better than revenge?

It’s very high school, in the best way. I could definitely remember those feelings and feel like it would be a big hit with that demographic. The pettiness and drama were hilarious. I had a lot of fun reading it.
I also LOVED the secondary storyline, and I thought it was well incorporated. It kept me engaged a bit more (given I'm certainly not a high school student).

This book was cute, but definitely read like a YA book (which it is, so I get it). I thought that for characters who are supposed to be rising Seniors in high school, the drama (and dramatics) was a bit much. Additionally, I think that moving on from an almost year long relationship to almost immediately dating your ex's nemesis was a bit hard to believe.

Thankfully there was some self-discovery that happens, which is really what saved the book for me. The epilogue was nice, but I do wish we had found out more about what happened with Finley and her podcasting journey. Oh well.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Kasie West for giving me the chance to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This book was a very enjoyable read. I read it in a few sittings and was hooked after just a short time reading. The story was well paced and the characters were well developed.

This was very cute. Kasie West does a great job with sweet YA rom coms. Theo’s affection for Finley is adorable, and their first kiss scene is DREAMY. I loved the lesson the FMC learned at the end, and I loved that both main characters challenged each other in their weaknesses. I didn’t love everything in about but overall it was a cute read. Plus in her acknowledgements West says “prioritize your peace” which was my motto all of last year, and it’s so true.

I received an advance review copy for free from the publisher via Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

"Better Than Revenge"
by Kasie West
Young Adult Romance that I could not put down!
Loved it and will recommend to my high school students.

I liked this book. It was another sweet romance from West with some edge of revenge.

Finley was a good character to follow through this story because she had so much to prove. She was intent on getting back at her ex-boyfriend which involved showing off her podcasting skills and being a good daughter/granddaughter. I loved her journey and seeing how she evolved as a person and in her relationships. And I thought the ending gave me exactly what I needed from Finley and her journey.

I really enjoyed the side plot of Finley's grandma and her story. I was a little odd that the story was a romance revolving around a man who wasn't Finley's deceased grandpa, but it was a fun one anyway.

I think I would have liked more emotion from Theo? Or maybe to have seen more of a journey for him? He went through a hard thing, injuring his knee and losing his college football scholarship. I would have liked to have seen more of that journey and how he was coping. He was kinda always smiley and jokey around Finley, which is fine, but I wanted to see more of his pain and development.

Overall, this was a good read. Not my favorite book in the world, but I enjoyed myself.

Better Than Revenge was an awesome read that was hard to put down. I'm sure I am not the only one who can relate talking ideas out with a close friend or significant other to help gauge how the idea may work, or if it's worth it. In this case your idea and all credit is given to this person who turned in your idea. What's the Best way to get over it or move past it and your friends suggest revenge. While you are initially against it, you eventually decided to go for it and find better ways to get revenge than you ever expected. And finding your revenge. Will you find new goals in dreams or will you stay spiteful.

Kasie West continues to be one of my favorite authors. Better than Revenge was cute and sassy like we are used to from Kasie. The thing that truly made this story for me, though, was Finley's grandma. I am a sucker for a story within a story, and this one was unexpected and beautiful.

"Better Than Revenge" by Kasie West is a delightful blend of romance, revenge, and self-discovery. Seventeen-year-old Finley is determined to outsmart her ex, Jensen, who stole her dream podcast job. With the help of his nemesis, Theo, Finley embarks on a journey of unexpected love and personal growth. As their connection deepens, Finley struggles to balance her quest for revenge with the budding feelings she has for Theo, whose own secrets complicate things. West’s signature charm, humor, and relatable characters make this a heartwarming read about love, betrayal, and finding your own path.

This is an ARC with NetGalley. I really enjoyed this YA Romcom. The subject matter of podcast and football, made it unique. The story had a great flow and I was invested in the characters. The additional plotline and relationship with the grandma was sweet, and added to the plot. Overall,quick, light read, and I am interested in other stories by this author. #ya #romcom #betterthanrevenge #netgalley

I love a good YA story and no one does it better than Kasie West! This book was like a cozy nostalgic read with a perfect amount of teen angst that reminded me exactly how I felt when I was that age too! I loved it! Thanks so much for the advanced copy!

Finley has everything all planned out. She's going to earn her spot on the school's podcast which will lead her to her dream internship, which will lead her to all her dreams. But the day of tryouts, her boyfriend, Jensen, decides on the fly to also try out for the spot of podcast host. Even worse, he uses her idea to win the spot.
With the help of her friends, Finley decides since Jensen took her dream, she's going to take his. She's going to use her soccer skills and the help of the outgoing kicker of the football team to take Jensen's dream of being the starting kicker. The ultimate revenge plan!
I loved this book so much! It was a fun Rom-Com driven by revenge with a wholesome conclusion. I think the very end of the book was a little underwhelming and I would've liked to see more into Finley's future after everything settles, but loved the book overall!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a thoroughly readable and enjoyable YA rom-com. The protagonist, Finley, is sweet and relatable and her cast of friend are charming and entertaining. The love interest is well-developed and the podcast about Finley's grandma is a nice touchstone.

Recommended to those that enjoy this genre.

Cute, light and a fun read. Definitely more not he YA side that others in this category, but a darling story.