When I first requested this book, I didn't realize it was YA. But I immediately fell in love with it and read it within a day.
Finley is trying to make the most of her senior year with her dream of being in charge of her school podcast. But her boyfriend took that dream away from her, causing him to be her ex-boyfriend. She chooses to get revenge by enlisting the help of his nemesis.
Interwoven in her revenge story is a strong bond with Finley and her grandma, watching a loved one fade away due to Alzheimer's, friendship, new love and self discovery. There were so many good subplots within this story. I would recommend this to young adults as well as any other age group.

Received an eArc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Katie West does it again with another great Young Adult rom com novel. After her boyfriend tries out for Finley’s dream podcast host position at her school (and gets it using her idea!), she decides to steal something from him in return: the kicker position on the football team. Teaming up with the previous first-string kicker Theo (her boyfriend’s nemesis who has been sidelined after an injury) to teach her the ropes, Finley decides there is nothing better than revenge.

This was such a cute and fun story. I flew through it fast and enjoyed every minute. Revenge plots as a whole are rarely my favorite, but there were also some slide plots that kept my attention on the novel.

As a teacher, I love Kassie West because I know I can recommend it to my middle school students with no concern over content, which is hard to do sometimes for romance stories. I would highly recommend adding this to your middle school or high school classroom library, along with Kassie West’s other excellent stories.

I was hesitantly optimistic about this book, because while I love Kasie West I do feel like I'm getting a little old for YA contemporary. All hail the queen though, because I read this book over the course of two days and was utterly charmed. Finley was a wonderful character who I think embodied a teenager quite well (although it's been a few years since I was one, so I suppose I could be wrong on this account), and Theo was great. I think it would have been nice to see his POV on things (granted I'm pretty sure I always think this), but it still worked just fine only having the one POV and I don't feel like anything was left out. I loved the lesson this book told, and I think Kasie did an excellent job working all the way through this. It wasn't overly heavy handed, but it still got the point across. The other thing I really loved was that this book was more than just the main romance and revenge plot. The whole sub-plot with the grandmother was remarkably sweet, and I think it really added something to the story and made it feel more rounded and real. Upon reflection, I think there were a few things I would have liked to see included that weren't there, but they were small nit-picky things that in the grand scheme of things wouldn't have changed much. I think perhaps my biggest frustration was really with the parents. There was a scene at one point where the ex boyfriend shows up to our FMC house and is hanging out with the grandma and despite the FMC displaying distress over it the mom tells her to just go with it because the grandma is having a bad day and it seems to be helping her. Having taken care of my grandmother before I can not imagine disregarding my kid's feelings just because it would make my life a little easier. It did serve a purpose and help move the plot along some, but I do feel like that could have been accomplished just as well in some other way. That's honestly my only real gripe about the story, aside from the few small nit-picky things. I'm actually really glad I gave this book a shot, because it showed with the right story I can still enjoy contemporary YA from time to time. I can't wait for this one to come out, so I can recommend it to any teens that come through, and after her last shaky showing with Borrow My Heart I'm happy to see Kasie back on her game here. I'll once again be eagerly awaiting whatever she comes up with next.

Very sweet YA romcom with a fun revenge plot! Finley had gone through a really rough situation and came out on top. Her ex-boyfriend was the typical second-string jock who thinks only of himself and his personal gain. Throughout the story Finley starts to realize just how strong she is through training with her ex’s arch enemy all the while allowing herself to trust again. Like any romcom there is a shakeup moment where our main character is blindsided but in the end Finley is the real winner!

A quick read. Sweet story. Coming of age, learning about yourself and a romance all in one. Had me smiling and kicking my feet.

Genre: YA Romance / Clean
Rating: 4.5 Stars!

After losing her dream podcasting gig at the school to her now ex-boyfriend, Jensen, Finley plans to beat Jensen out of something he wants just as much - the kicker for the HS Football team. She enlists the help of Jensen's rival, Theo. Theo, a senior, was the primary kicker until his injury took him out as a starter. Sparks fly as Theo coaches Finley through using her soccer skills in intentionally actually winning the spot on the HS football team.

This was so cute. I loved Kasie West in the past and it's been a while since I read anything by her, but this book reminded me just how good her writing, her characters and her storytelling really are.

I devoured this book within a day. I had a hard time putting it down. It was swoon-worthy, it was sweet, and at times it tugged on your heartstrings.

I loved the important lesson that the author weaved into the story, that maybe revenge doesn't leave you as satisfied as one might think, the damage it could do, and how hollow it can leave you feeling if you let the anger win.

I loved Finley's grandmother and her story. I loved Theo as well, he was just such a great character. I loved how the two worked on building trust. I loved their little romance and how it unfolded.

I think my only thing is that I feel like the reason behind Jensen's sudden want to try out for the podcasting gig, knowing this is what Finley wanted and the behavior he exhibited afterward did not feel strong enough. I wanted more of a reason for his actions, as everyone else claiming how nice he is and how good he treats everyone just did not add up to why he decided to not only screw Finley over but also completely embarrass her.

Overall, I adore this author's storytelling. The sweet slow romance. Her characters and her books. It makes me want more. I'd love to go back and explore the books I've missed out on and waiting to see what in store she has for us next.

I really enjoyed this YA revenge focused romcom! Finley’s boyfriend betrays her and the whole story is her trying to get revenge. From the very beginning I wasn’t a fan of her boyfriend Jensen, he was a very annoying character and needed a rude awakening about life. Finley’s revenge plans don’t pan out most of the time, but there were lots of fun moments while she tried. Kasie West also added a side plot about Finley’s grandma’s past which kept me interested and added some more depth to the plot. This book is definitely worth checking out!

"You want to be the kicker for the school football team?"
"What? No. I don't know if I could get that good. I just want to show him up. March onto the field one practice, kick a field goal in front of the whole team, and then shrug Elle Woods style and say, What like it's hard?"

The banter. The revenge antics. The Grandma stories. All of it made Better Than Revenge such a CUTE read. This was my first Kasie West book but won't be my last! Sometimes YA romance can feel a little slow but this book had such good pacing and storytelling, I couldn't put it down. If you like: Taylor Swift references, She's the Man vibes (banter, sports training montages, ex's being put in their place), he falls first, grand gestures, and of course a happily ever after - this is for you.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Another classic, cute Kasie West novel! I think anyone who enjoys short, sweet, and at times deep romcoms (movie or book) will definitely have a good time reading Better Than Revenge!

Thank you to the Random House Children’s team & Netgalley for the arc:)

I love Kasie West so much! It's always a delight when a new release pops up because I know that no matter how the story itself goes, there will be a lot of flavor for me to taste along the way.

And this one was very good too!

Finley has prepared herself since forever to join the podcast from her school. And there she is, ready to interview—and amaze everyone—when her boyfriend not only steals her thunder but also her ideas and her spot. So she sets on revenge: she'll also test for his football team and get the place he could finally get now the team star got hurt.

We also get to learn her grandmother's story, which is lovely, and surely the most Kasie West this story could be.

Now about my opinion, a part of me questioned how someone can be so self-centered to the point of doing what Finley's boyfriend did to her, was that really believable? But I remembered a couple of times I've been in her shoes and sighed. Sometimes we expect book characters to be more humane than real people.

I also loved the romance in the book. Leave it to Kasie West to build up a good couple!

I don't know if it's the best book to be released on New Year's Eve, but this is surely one of the YAs I liked the most in 2024, so I'm glad it got done in time for that.


Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

Finley is a HS junior who has been working toward her dream of getting into an internship at the community college’s podcast team. The guaranteed way was to be one of two anchors on her high school’s team due to a partnership between the HS and CC. She’s been preparing for this for years. She feels really great about her audition and comes out to see her bf Jensen waiting for her outside. When she pulls him to leave, he stays and walks in to audition himself unbeknownst to her of his plan to do so. She’s pissed right? Like obviously… he’s never shown interest before, never taken any classes for broadcasting, doesn’t tell her, “helps” her with her audition, THEN she finds out he’s one of the anchors and she isn’t. THEN she finds out he auditioned with her other top idea she went back and forth on choosing for her own audition. THEN she finds out she would’ve been the anchor if he wasn’t chosen due to his position on the school’s fb team. THEN he unknowingly bashes her and her lack of skills to be an anchor on the school announcement system TO THE WHOLE SCHOOL. AND he doesn’t even have the decency to apologize for blindsiding her. Girl Finley, burn him to the grounddddddddd.

In comes Theo. Theo was the starting kicker on the football team. He’s a senior and missed the last game of the season with an ACL injury. The backup? JENSEN.

Finley with her 3 besties brainstorm how to go scorched earth and enact revenge on Jensen. Theo gets involved to help Finley as the wronged party. They land on taking something away from him he cares about like how he took away what she cared about… his starting kicker spot on the football team for next season. Finley used to play soccer so has some athletic ability but Theo would give her hands on training to actually be a football kicker.

Things I liked… Theo and MAXWELLLLL. Theo is so adorable with Finley. And Max… he was just hilarious 😂 this book read much like those teen movies in the 2000s and I’m not mad at it. It’s also interesting that the popular football player is the kicker. They don’t usually get much love in the media and also even in the actual sport.

I wish a few more things were explained like the Target bag, Deja’s skepticism, and why Jensen did it in the first place.

I think the author did a great job of having diverse characters list without it being so in your face about it. This was a cute YA romance. Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children’s and Delacorte Romance for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

5 ⭐️ Enemies to lovers, he falls first

As soon as I saw the dedication was to Taylor Swift, I KNEW it was gonna be good. It did not disappoint AT ALL.

This is definitely my new favorite rom com! It was very entertaining, I could not put it down and read it in one sitting. Finley and Theo are so adorable and their banter was perfect. I especially loved seeing Finley make her own podcast with her grandmas story, it was so cute. I truly adored this book so much, I fear this is the start of my Kasie West obsession.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Random House for this ARC!!!

A new fav from Kasie West!! This YA revenge story had so many layers and a lot of depth! While at the core the plot was driven by vengeance, it also deals with a grandmother who has advancing dementia, her early love story told in a podcast format, a new love, a great friend group, a podcast loving, football kicking FMC seeking revenge on her ex and the new guy who helps her and delivers the BEST grand gesture ending. Amazing on audio narrated by Jesse Vilinsky with an author Q&A included at the end. This is perfect for fans of authors like Lynn Painter and I can't recommend it enough! Many thanks to NetGalley for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

This book was so cute. I really enjoyed reading it. I love their relationship and the way he called her soccer star. I loved how you could tell immediately that he had been into her for a while and that was part of the reason he didn’t like her ex. The revenge part was fun. But I loved all the time these two spent together as a couple and getting to know each other better. I would definitely recommend if you are looking for a cute and entertaining read.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Children's | Delacorte Romance, for the opportunity to read Better Than Revenge by Kasie West in exchange for my honest review.

Better Than Revenge is a sweet, fast-paced read that had me giggling in delight! Finley is a funny, relatable MC whose journey from self-doubt to finding her confidence is both inspiring and heartwarming. Her drive to achieve her goals, even when things get messy, makes her such a standout character.

Theo, the love interest, stole the show with his top-tier witty banter and genuine care for Finley. Their chemistry is adorable, and their playful dynamic kept me hooked. Another highlight is Finley’s grandmother, whose love story adds depth and warmth. The bond between them is so touching, especially as Finley’s podcast weaves in her grandmother's history—what a sweet and creative touch!

The story beautifully balances humor, romance, and personal growth. Finley’s realization that revenge isn’t the answer made for a satisfying arc. My only minor wish was for more insight into Jensen’s motives, but it didn’t take away from the overall charm.

With lovable characters, witty banter, and heartfelt moments, Better Than Revenge is a fun and memorable read. I can’t wait to see what this author writes next!

🎧🩷🏈 I have been a huge fan of Kasie West’s romances for YEARS and “Better than Revenge” was so much fun!

I loved Finley’s friends and how they encouraged and supported her. A lot of romances have one side character friend mentioned offhandedly, but I loved how often her friends were a part of the story. In vague terms so I don’t spoil anything, the part with the flowers was one of my favorites!

I also loved the “heart” of this story being Finley’s relationship with her grandmother. Their exchanges were so interesting and I loved the message! Since there was a lot happening plot wise, I wish there was more happening to strengthen the character connections. I feel like this was the only relationship in the story that felt fully fleshed out. I would have loved to see deeper interactions between her friends or even with Theo.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is an adorable and really enjoyed reading it! Finley’s journey from feeling betrayed by her boyfriend to finding herself on the football team (and, of course, falling for Theo) had me hooked from the very beginning. I couldn’t help but root for her as she navigated the complexities of high school, revenge, and personal growth. Her determination to get back at Jensen was so relatable, but watching her realize what truly mattered—her own goals and passions—was even more rewarding.

Theo and Finley’s dynamic was great! Their training sessions were so much fun, and I loved how they started out with playful banter that gradually turned into something deeper. I especially enjoyed the quirky workouts Theo set up, like goat yoga—it was such a unique and hilarious touch! The more time they spent together, the more I could feel the chemistry building, and I couldn’t help but smile at how their relationship evolved.

The author really captured the ups and downs of being a teenager, mixing humor with emotional depth in such a natural way. The romance was sweet and real, and the characters felt like people I could actually know. That said, I did feel a little distracted by the subplot about Finley’s grandmother’s high school romance. It took away from the main love story a bit, and I wished we had more of Theo’s side, especially around his injury.

Even with that minor issue, this book was still such a fun, heartwarming read that left me with a smile on my face. If you haven’t read a Kasie West book yet, this is your sign to start—and if you’re a fan of hers, you won’t be disappointed!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Finley dreams of becoming a famous podcaster and has her eyes set on being a part of school's podcast team for senior year. What she doesn't expect is her boyfriend, Jensen, to swoop in an audition for her dream spot AND get it! Best way to get over a broken heart-- revenge. Finley enlist Jensen's nemesis, Theo, to help her learn how to be the best high school kicker for their high school football team.

This YA romance was cute, endearing, and well-done. Finley and Theo's interactions with one another are mature in the way they communicate and interact with each other and the world around them--Sometimes, so much so, I wondered could a 17 and 18 truly be so mature in relationships this early on. Finley's side story with her grandmother ties in beautifully with Finley learning to take chances and forgive. The reader watches Finley and Theo fall for each other while Finley uncovers one or her grandmother's first loves. This way a quick read that kept me engaged and saying "Ah, that was cute!" at the end.

This was a cute story and I enjoyed it very much. The characters were super relatable and I enjoyed the chemistry and banter they had together. This was the first book I have read by this author and it was great. I’m definitely going to see what else they have to offer because their writing style is very much like other authors that I adore.

This was relatable, well written, and just genuinely adorable. What I think I like most about Better Than Revenge is that it would be perfect for a mother daughter book club. A romance that a 14 or a 45 year old can find equally enjoyable. And in the end, despite being an adorable couple, both MCs clue into the fact that knowing, supporting, and respecting yourself is key to making any of the rest of it work. I don’t say this because I think it’s trite, I say this because I think it’s earned by both characters. Good representation across more than one category, but still a small suburban town in California. A great easy read that was absolutely something that I needed.