All it took was the cover to convince me to read this book, but the truth is the story truly lived up to it.

You started it is a YA romance that one describe as Olivia Rodrigo had a baby with the book better than the movies.

Our fmc and her boyfriend broke up, and now her current ex, he’s dating a new girl. She’s furious and is determined to get him back, and by doing so she decides to fake date someone who she accidentally ran over his bike. The thing is these two characters have nothing in common aside from the fact that they have arab identity- but it doesn’t stop them from getting closer and falling in love <3

This was such a cute and swoon worthy book. Jackie Khalileh did it once again serving both coming of age stories, love, and diverse characters. Absolutely adored this book.

You Started It is a heartfelt, charming YA romance that beautifully balances humor, self-discovery, and the complexities of teenage love. Jamie’s journey from heartbreak to personal growth is relatable and inspiring, with her Type A personality and anxiety adding depth to her character.

The fake-dating trope shines here, as Jamie and Axel’s shared Arab heritage and contrasting personalities create hilarious and heartfelt moments. Axel, with his TikTok dancer charm and carefree nature, is the perfect foil to Jamie’s over-planning tendencies, leading to a slow-burn connection that feels natural and deeply satisfying.

Set against the vibrant backdrop of Toronto, this story is perfect for fans of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before or anyone who loves fake-dating romances with a fresh cultural perspective. It’s a reminder that sometimes the best experiences—and people—are the ones you never planned for.

This book is the EXACT vibe YA novels should bring to the party. Fun, relevant, and full of so much heart!

4.5/5

This is the cutest book ever, made my heart melt so many times. I absolutely adored Axel and Jamie. This being set in Toronto and them visiting all the places I grew up in was absolutely nostalgic. Axel and Jamie were very mature for their ages, I was a mess at that age lol.


Jackie, your second is even better than the first. Thank you for changing the narrative, for allowing spaces for Arab men to be leading men and being perceived the way they deserve. Free Palestine.

Thank you Tundra Book Group for the e-arc

I’m absolutely obsessed with this YA gem from Jackie Khalilieh. Each story she crafts is just healing my inner child. YOU STARTED IT follows seventeen-year-old Jamie Taher-Foster as she embarks on her final year of high school. She has the perfect relationship with her boyfriend - they’ve been attached to the hip - for years and her bucket list for senior year is ready to be tackled. Unfortunately, everything is thrown off course as days before the start of the school year her perfect boyfriend decides to dump her. And not only dump her unceremoniously to “explore himself outside a relationship” but to jump into a new relationship with the popular girl at school. After being caught spying on her now ex after running her car over a bicycle, Jamie promises to pay for the bicycle repairs if the new boy next door (and Tik Tok dance sensation) Axel Dahini agrees to pose as her fake boyfriend. And the hijinks commence!

I’m afraid if you’re looking for harsh criticism about the story or characters, you won’t find that in this review. I’m in love with this story through and through. Jamie is complex and really lovable in my eyes. She makes a lot of mistakes and self-sabotages herself (partly because of her anxiety diagnosis). I can’t even fault her for the choices she makes, even though I can see the problems clearly (as I’m almost a decade older than her). I love how steadfast and determined she is toward her goals. She lacks a lot of control externally, so she controls what she can hence her falling apart when her plans are immediately thwarted at the break up. It’s watching her put herself together the best way she knows how is satisfying of the journey. I root for her and I cringe at her. She’s the perfect YA romcom lead.

I think what’s really beautiful is how different types of love are depicted throughout the story. I think that helps keep Jamie grounded and she doesn’t realize it. This is definitely a “to be loved is to be seen” type of story. Jamie’s uncle and mother in their own ways (right or wrong) try to steer her to accept herself without compromising herself for others while enjoying the place and people she calls home. Khalilieh does a great job with the mother-daughter relationship; Jamie is ruthless at times with her mother but it’s always motivated with love for others and conversely her mother’s fierce protection and unshakeable belief in her daughter’s potential is so heartwarming. Those two are mirrors to each other in a lot of ways and it’s not pretty seeing them test each other. Also, I love love love Axel. He’s a sweet kid and seeing him interact and push Jamie to her best self was absolutely lovely to witness. Literally kicked my feet and giggled when those two interacted. Also, seeing him and his Arab family interact and kind of spur Jamie to confront her own Palestinian heritage made me gush. Seeing these characters being their best selves in these YA stories is so satisfying as a reader.

If I had to point to a few critiques would be that the pace at which some of the conflicts resolved were quicker than I would have expected. I definitely think our story earned those resolutions, but I believe I need a couple more scenes between Jamie and certain pairings to feel like we deserved them at the timing that we did. That’s being super picky and probably one less edit was needed on the structure because I feel like that for the most part characters are fleshed out despite the first point of view restriction.

I say if you love the fake dating trope from TO ALL THE BOYS I LOVED BEFORE and teenage angst from Olivia Rodrigo’s albums this will be right up your alley. Meanwhile, I will patiently wait for Khalilieh’s next story for me to obsess over.

This was such a cute book! First of all the cover is so cute and it definitely made me want to read the book. And the romance was so cute! I would highly recommend!

I absolutely adored You Started It! Having also read Khalilieh's first book Something More, I was aware of the author's writing style and unique voice within the YA genre. Khalilieh writes such wonderfully multidimensional, thoughtful, reflective, and messy teen characters. All the while establishing and maintaining just the right level of tension to keep the reader engaged and enthralled. Once I started reading, I didn't want to stop!

While you could argue that there are three main characters (or even three and a half if you count Olivia Chen since she has more of a role to play in the last 25% of the book), Jamie Taher-Foster, Axel Dahini, and Ben Cameron, the most focus is given to Jamie, her budding relationship with Axel, and how he helps inform her character growth. I know a lot of readers will call her unlikeable, but is she unlikeable... or is she dealing with anxiety, a caring but controlling mother, feeling like she's not Arab (Palestinian) enough, a boyfriend of three years who cheated on her, and coming to terms with the fact that she invested all her time and energy into one relationship and has no other friends? I want to look at each of these aspects a bit more though. Jamie has had to learn how to deal with anxiety, how it manifests physically and emotionally, since the separation and divorce of her parents. She blames her mother's controlling behaviors for driving her father away. A father whose memory she holds in high positive regard while also being angry and confused about why he abandoned them. There's much more to it than that of course - hidden alcoholism, incompatibility, getting pregnant and married too young - but Jamie's mother has tried to shield her from these truths in order to protect her daughter. Jamie might perceive it all as her mother's need for control in the first half of the book, but she comes to understand the reasons and rationale more after she and her mother begin to communicate more openly. Jamie also feels very conflicted about her ethnic identity. She hasn't had much exposure or education about cultural traditions or language, because generational wounds are passed on when they are left untended (ie. the broken relationship between Jamie's mother and grandparents). When Jamie's three year relationship with Ben abruptly ends, she feels angry and betrayed and wants to prove that she's the better choice in comparison to Ben's new love interest. But again, after spending time with Axel under the guise of fake dating to get Ben back, it becomes clearer to Jamie that perhaps her old relationship wasn't all she thought it was. Jamie is such a relatable character, don't you dare call her unlikeable!

There's really meaningful intentionality in the depictions of the male Arab main characters in You Started It. Axel, with his magnetic charisma, kindness, empathy, and sweet easy going personality, and Amo Eli, with his avuncular humor, insight, generosity, and care for chosen family, are such necessary counterpoints to typical mainstream media representations of Arab men. The author's note at the end of the book does an excellent job at spelling this out. I really loved how Khalilieh incorporated weightier topics into this book. While the writing style, unique teen voice, and character tension/stakes are all present in similar ways to Something More, this book really stands apart. It would be an excellent introduction to YA romance that highlights the fake dating trope.

Highly recommend!

First of all I’d like to thank Tundra Book Group for sending me an ARC. This books follows a 17 year old through heartbreak, falling in love again, self love, and self growth journey. I’ve been in a terrible reading slump and this book completely reignited my LOVE for reading. It’s also one of the most diverse cast of characters I’ve ever read. Whenever I wasn’t reading this book I was thinking about it. I can’t wait till it’s release (may 20, 2025) I’m gonna need a physical copy asap!

*You Started It* by Jackie Khalilieh is a fresh, fun, and heartfelt YA romance that perfectly captures the chaos and emotions of teenage life. Jamie’s journey from heartbreak to self-discovery is filled with humor, messy moments, and unexpected connections—especially with Axel, the TikTok dancer she never expected to vibe with.

The story is as much about personal growth as it is about romance, with Jamie learning to let go of perfection, embrace spontaneity, and find value in relationships that don’t fit neatly into a checklist. Khalilieh does a fantastic job weaving Jamie’s Type A struggles and anxiety into a relatable and uplifting narrative. If you’re a fan of fake dating, opposites-attract romance, and characters who make you laugh, cringe, and cheer all at once, this book is a perfect pick. It’s like a warm hug wrapped in the chaos of high school drama, first loves, and second chances.

Something More was one of my favorites of last year, and this one was also a great time! I read it all in one sitting; the pacing makes you wanna keep flipping pages. Jamie and Axel were super cute, and I loved the family dynamics as well! The characters that Khalilieh creates are really relatable and diverse, which is a joy to read.

I absolutely adore this book. We follow Jamie through her senior year of high school and there’s two love interests. Jamie and Ben break up and soon after Jamie meets a new guy named Axel. I absolutely love their chemistry and banter. Also, it was so refreshing to see IBS rep in a book! As a person with tummy troubles I appreciate the visibility. Jamie is Palestinian and this book touches on themes of assimilation, trying to understand one’s own culture, and growing up. I want to keep the review as spoiler free as possible so I’m not going to divulge too many more plot details.

Jamie and Axel are just so cute. They seem to have a ton of fun together which is so important in a relationship. I was giggling and kicking my feet throughout the book whenever they interacted.

This is the second book I’ve read from Jackie Khalilieh and it’s a solid 5 stars for me. It comes out May 20, 2025, I definitely recommend reading it!

Jackie, I cannot wait to see what else you do with your books in the future. Consider me a fan for life.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a free EARC of this book

I was so excited to get the digital ARC for this and let me tell you, it DID NOT DISAPOINT!!!

I've basically been waiting for this release since reading Jackie's first book early this year, Something More, which I had loved so much. This gave me the same feelings I got reading that one and I need everyone to read it.

I am honestly not even a big romance reader these days, but I will always have time for a contemporary young adult romcom!!! Something about these sort of books that just feels so nostalgic and make me so happy.

This story is about Jamie and Axel who are fake dating after Jamie's boyfriend suddenly breaks up with her. Together they embark on an adventure to cross off items from Jamie's "bucket list" of fun activities, which include things like going to the CN tower, Ripley's Aquarium, and a concert at Budweiser Stage (Yes, it's set in Toronto and as a soon to be Toronto resident, I loved that aspect).

While I loved how wholesome and cute this was, I also really appreciated the very real and relevant themes this addressed. Specifically, around Arab identify which was a really interesting conversation. I also really loved the anxiety representation in this and thought it was very well done (not to mention super relatable).

One of my favourite things about this book is the feeling of nostalgia. There is nothing that makes me happier than when a romance book feels like an early 2000s romcom that I grew up watching (think 10 things I hate about you, Clueless, etc.) And that's EXACTLY what this gives.

Thank you to the publisher, author & NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book! I voluntarily read this book, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
You Started It by Jackie Khalilieh
This read like a YA book but I’m not sure if it’s intended to be. 17 year old Jamie is heartbroken when her bf of 3 years breaks up with her and moves on very quickly. She enables Ben’s neighbor Axel to be her fake bf to make Ben want her back. Thai was a cute story. I like the representation in the book (Gay uncle, neurodivergent FMC.). Axel was adorable. I could not stand Ben. The 3rd act breakup lasted way too long. I think the book could have been a bit shorter. There were a lot of storylines esp towards the end.
It was good overall and I was invested seeing the 2 characters get their happily ever after.

I saw the vision that the author had for this novel, especially for the main character to connect to her family roots and background. However, the main character was unfortunately very self-centered; even when she confessed that she "loved" Axle, I did not get it at all. She did not want to take the time to listen to the adults in her life, was quick to attribute the minor thing of her boyfriend breaking up with her as "trauma," and was unfeeling in the way of using both Ben and Axle to get back at either guy. Axle demonstrated a surprising amount of maturity, but then he was using Olivia to get back at Jamie, which lowered my estimation of him. I was desperate for Jamie to find a friend by the end of the novel; I thought it was very isolating that she had no friends outside of her ex-boyfriend. That seemed to be a red flag for me against the main character; friends are what helps us develop our sympathy and caring for others, and it was glaringly evident that Jamie had no empathy or care for anyone besides herself. I do not believe there to be anything redeemable for me about Jamie, unfortunately. Also, I would have liked to see Axle be something more than a TikTok dancer; it felt a little cheesy on the page, to have that be taken so seriously (and this is definitely a critique from my own preferences, since I find that a bit cringey anyways). I want to recognize the author's work in getting this book published, but I wish my hopes and expectations were met.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Tundra Books for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book is one of my favourite reads of the year, a new ALL TIME FAVOURITE!!

I adored the whole cast of characters, this book had me going through every emotion, and was such a wonderful reading experience!!!

I highly recommend checking out this spectacular book when it is released, 20/5/2025!!

Genuinely really sad that I ended up dnfing this. I don't think I took into account that this was geared more towards teens than young adult readers. There were a few instances where I cringed, but I do think that's because I'm an adult now. Looking at this from a teens' perspective, I do think it would be enjoyable as the characters could be perceived as relatable, complex, and there are many representations that I appreciate.

I do wish I enjoyed this more than I did <3

You Started It is the second novel of author Jackie Khalilieh. Just like her first novel Something More I was struck by just how complex and three dimensional her teenage characters are. You Started It is about 17 year old Palestinian Canadian Jamie Taher-Foster who at the end of the summer before entering Grade 12 has created a bucket list of items for her and her boyfriend Ben to check off through the year. The only problem is Ben who has been away all summer breaks up with Jamie as soon as he returns. In one of the best meet cutes Jamie convinces 16 year old Tik Tok sensation Axel Dahini a Lebanese Canadian to be her fake boyfriend in an effort to win Ben back. I loved Axel! I loved how Jamie grew and took herself out of her own comfort zone while she was with him.

You Started It is deep, sweet and laugh out loud funny. It touches on internalized racism, mother-daughter dynamics, IBS and anxiety disorders. I loved it's portrayal of Arab men and we could all use an uncle like Amo Eli. I also loved that the bucket list centred on all the amazing places in Toronto. This is one of the best YA books I have read this year. A definite five star read
Thank you to Netgalley and Tundra Books for an Advanced Copy. This is my honest review.

I really enjoyed this as a romance novel and how it worked in this universe. The overall storyline worked well together with the characters and in the story. I enjoyed the way Jackie Khalilieh wrote this and was glad I got to go on this journey with the characters. It had that element that I was hoping for in the young adult novel and was glad I was able to read this.

3.5 ⭐️
I flew through this book, like literally finished it within hours. it was good, I liked it and I think the ending was sweet. I think their fake dating ended way too early though, it could’ve been stretched out to make the plot feel better. I do like how the author navigated the complex mother-daughter relationship and showing how Jamie coped with her dad leaving. I really enjoyed how Jamie wasn’t discomfited by her Palestinian lineage and tried embracing it after meeting Axel, even showing her mother that it’s nothing to be ashamed of. I related a lot to Jamie as I am half Indian and I didn’t grow up learning the culture or language like she didn’t, even though my Dad understands Hindi. I wish I had that experience. Jamie feeling like a fraud or not “Arab enough” in front of Axel’s parents really hit home as I’ve been told I’m not “Indian enough” before and it sucks. Enough about me…
There was a lottt of Gen Z references and slang which, is fine, but took me out of the story just a little bit. I didn’t like the few scenes where her uncle and mom invalidated her feelings or cared about others’ feelings over hers, kind of overlooking her experiences and emotions that she was going through. I also feel like Axel should’ve had to grovel a bit more for what he did and how he acted towards Jamie instead of putting all that burden on her. overall, a cute read that explored a lot of intricate topics pretty well.

Such a cute teen romcom taking place in the heart of Downtown Toronto. Being a Toronto native, it was so interesting to read so many iconic landmarks and be able to recognize what the characters were talking about. I was squealing like a kid again reading the story and think this book would be best read for 14 to 15 year olds who want a cute fun romance with some mature topics when it comes to relationships but not going into anything explicit. All the characters are loveable and they feel grounded and real as they aren't just one dimensional and have complexity with some of their own struggles. Ben was a very frustrating character to read but written in a good way where you see it's a lost teenager who doesn't really know how to navigate relationships and life. Also the main character feels very autistic coded which I have no clue if the author was aiming for that but it was a nice to see. Overall, a very cute and fun read.