I received this book as an ARC and thoroughly enjoyed reading it! The author describes it as inspired by Pride and Prejudice and K-dramas, and while I don’t really see the influences of Pride and Prejudice, I can definitely see the influences of K-dramas. Our two main characters, Mia and Noah, are type-A film school majors trying to make a name and a place for themselves in their own way and hating, in Mia’s case, secretly crushing on each other along the way. When Mia’ and her friend’s show proposal seems to be headed to the production graveyard, Noah, of all people, is the one who swoops in to save the day. But when the result is Mia having to run a dating show where her secret crush is a contestant, will she be able to step up and prove herself as a competent showrunner and keep her feelings at bay? The book chapters are formatted like a production schedule with little interview excerpts. I was a little confused as to why some people were getting interviewed for the first time 3 days into a 6-day show, but I also enjoyed it. I found the characters to be unique and interesting, but I also feel like some plotlines were hastily wrapped up, such as the frat brother plotline, which made the book’s ending slightly abrupt. What I probably liked most about this book was the slow burn! I love a good slow burn!!!

The Cuffing Game – Lyla Lee
A charming and hilarious rom-com that perfectly captures the highs and lows of dating. Lee’s writing is fresh, fun, and full of heart, making The Cuffing Game a delightful read for romance lovers who enjoy witty banter and swoon-worthy moments.

Thank you HarperCollins Children's Books and Netgalley for an advanced Arc of this book

This book follows Noah and Mia, Mia a college freshmen and Noah a college senior with a large online following + many other side characters through a enemies to lovers romance in a reality show tv setting.

Rachel's Review 3 stars. I thought the idea was unique, the cover was cute but honestly there was so much going on I never felt like I really connected with any of the characters or really understood Mia and Noah's connection. I would've wanted more build up of the enemies to lovers premise to feel like they had that underlying interest with each other under the guise of hatred. Enemies to lovers is one of my favorite romance tropes, but I didn't really feel it as much here and so when they became lovers there wasn't that build up that I usually expect to read.

Overall it was still a cute story with a unique plot, so still recommend giving it a read and see what you think for yourself since books are so subjective. Just cause it wasn't my favorite, doesn't mean you won't love it!

most of this book was cute. the idea overall, from the student-run show to the narrative structure, was pretty well done. i liked the characters, even the other couples on the show. the ending gets a little ridiculous even though it’s supposed to be more realistic portrayals of current young adults.

I feel that this book was marketed as more of a Pride and Prejudice remix than it really was. I’m not really seeing where the Pride and Prejudice came into play other than what was explained in the author’s note in the beginning.

While I appreciate the story that was told, I think I was anticipating something different and it just didn’t live up to my expectations.

✨✨ARC REVIEW✨✨
The Cuffing Game is so cute and fun. Starting off with the line, “ It’s is a truth universally acknowledged, that when there is a hot person, there is also someone with a crush on them.” Caught me hook, line and sinker. Mia truly wants her crush to go away so badly and it was such a fun ride to see her learn more sides of Noah. And Noah, sweet baby who just needs to take a step back from social media. Today these two give themselves a break and while they develop their crushes also show how to give others grace in emotionally trying times.

The Cuffing Game is a sweet cute read!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the opportunity to read an ARC of The Cuffing Game!

I read I’ll Be the One by Lyla Lee years ago and loved it—especially as a dancer myself—so I was excited to dive into her latest release, coming in November 2025. As someone who enjoys the academic rivals-to-lovers trope, this book had plenty of moments that kept me hooked.

We follow Mia, who secretly has a huge crush on Noah, the campus heartthrob—who she also hates, by the way. After watching him dance during a frat teaser event (not technically a rush event yet) and later making eye contact with him at a party, she copes in the most unexpected way: by brainstorming a documentary/reality show about people and their crushes. From the start, we also get glimpses of Noah’s personality—mainly how he loves to provoke Mia just to get a reaction out of her.

Without giving too much away, I was really intrigued by the dating show aspect set in college since it felt like such a fresh take, and that’s what drew me to this book in the first place! That said, some scenes felt rushed, and the lack of closure left me wanting more from the characters. I have a feeling others will feel the same once they read it.

Still, this was a fun, quick read—I finished it in one sitting (minus a short break to do laundry). Overall, I’d rate this 3.75 stars. It was cute, entertaining, and had moments that literally made me kick my feet!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I loved this book! It was so cute, and I love the concept behind a school hosting a dating show.

The story follows Mia, who is going to her dream film school in California. She dreams of being able to escape her small town but still misses her family so much. In one of her classes, Mia is pitching a new dating show documentary, only to find out that they didn't like her idea. Mia goes back to the drawing board, and in comes Noah. Noah is famous online and is very creative. Even though Mia and Noah hate each other and fight in class all the time, Noah agrees to help Mia rework her show. After Noah's edit, everyone loves his ideas, and she gets the green light. Mia originally wanted to make her dating show more of a documentary, but with the new changes, it ended up being a reality TV dating show! Mia hates reality TV but knows this will be her one shot at making a show. The only problem? She now must navigate how to create her show while also crushing on one of the contestants.

I loved Mia and Noah! I thought that they were so cute together. Both of their characters grew so much throughout the book; it was nice to see. It was nice seeing Mia be able to put down her walls and finally admit that she likes Noah. I love a good enemies-to-lovers book, and this one was so good! I also loved the scene where they were out at the fire. It was nice to see them open up to each other and see past the person they thought they knew.

I did think that the ending of the story was a little abrupt, it was still such a fun story! Overall, it's worth a read and an easy 4/5 stars for me!! I'd love a second book where we see Noah and Mia continue their relationship with each other, especially after he graduates!

ugh i adore lyla lee!!! after reading her sapphic adult romcom i was def interested in reading her YA and it 100% held up!! i almost think she works better in this space without getting too young for me personally and the romance was so stinking cute 🥹💖

I really enjoyed The Cuffing Game. Its range of representation and humorous moments made it very wholesome and sweet. The whole dating show was done well, and while the romance was rushed at times, it still felt realistic overall. Thank you, NetGalley and publishers, for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Giggling and kicking my feet because this book felt so fun and absolutely adorable. The TV concept was so interesting

The idea behind this book is cute. Creating a dating show in college and being forced to watch and work with your crush. There is a lot of representation in this book. However, I feel like it fell short on some of the moments. There could’ve been more opportunity for sparks and chemistry behind the main characters than what there was. It seemed like a good book for a younger audience than YA, but there is a lot of emphasis on the characters sexuality. Overall, it was a decent, cute book.

A mash up of modern reality tv with a splash of "P and P".

That's how I would describe this YA romance featuring an Asian American and her Asian love interest. Not enough books on the shelves with their representation so this was a lovely departure from the standard fare. Other characters gender and sexuality backgrounds are just as varied.

Noah's larger than life presence in social media masks internal fears akin to Mr. Darcy while Mia's opinion as to Noah after an unfortunate comment shares similar vibes to Elizabeth Bennett's.

Enjoyed this author's writing in "I'll Be the One" . Her similar writing style is evident here as well. The book cover's character art and background is also spot on.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, HarperCollins Children's Books , via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

#TheCuffingGame #NetGalley

thank you netgalley and the publisher for an advanced e-arc!

unfortunately, this book was so disappointing. i thought it seemed so cute based on the adorable cover art and the whole pride & prejudice inspired, but it completely fell flat for me.

to start, i felt like the characters all lacked depth. even though i just read over 200 pages of mia & noah, i really couldn't tell you much about who they are as individuals besides they're in film school and "hated" each other. that "hate" for each other also makes no sense to me, especially when it's very clear from the beginning that mia is just attracted to noah? at best they were both just annoyed by the other. also, the age gap... it's not really a big deal, but a freshman and a senior is a little bit of an ick for me, just because they're at completely different places in life. he's 6 months from being a real adult going out into the job market with his degree while she's only 18 and 6 months out from high school.

the romance was also pretty flat. i can't even tell why mia & noah like each other behind mia finds him hot and noah likes to argue with her. it doesn't seem like their feelings progress beyond that at all. it came across as more of a wattpad type romance story written by a teenager i would've loved when i was 13 instead of a romance written by someone in her thirties. and i'm not saying i needed this to be a very sophisticated novel, but it failed to meet my expectations when compared to other YA romantic comedy novels out there.

to be honest, i found the small side characters to be 100% more interesting than the main characters, and i found myself wishing that THEY were the main focus of the story. even then, though, the romance between those characters also felt very elementary— why did they all move so fast? everyone was suddenly all loved up even if they'd only known each other for 1-2 days.

overall, this book was just very disappointing. maybe the author's adult romance debut will be a better read, but as of now i don't have any interest in reading her other works. i do believe her writing style seems more fit for a younger audience, even younger than the typical YA reader.

A huge thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Publishers, and Lyla Lee for the opportunity to read this book!

Normally, I don’t read YA novels, but this one was so cute and lighthearted—I’m really happy I picked it up. The premise immediately caught my attention—an unrequited crush who publicly broke our FMC’s heart, only for them to find themselves in an enemies-to-lovers dynamic? Sign me up! From the prologue alone, I was completely hooked, which says a lot because I usually skip them.

One of my favorite aspects of The Cuffing Game was the dual perspectives from our MMC and FMC. Seeing both sides of the story added depth to their dynamic and made their evolving relationship even more compelling. And let’s talk about the reality show setting—The Cuffing Game was full of drama, and I was completely invested. The contestant interviews were such a fun touch, making it feel like I was actually watching a reality TV show unfold.

Beyond the romance and drama, I really loved how much growth we saw in the characters. Many of them overcame huge obstacles—whether it was coming out, admitting their crushes, or learning to be true to themselves while on TV. Those are not easy feats, and it was so rewarding to see each of them develop throughout the story.

I also really appreciated the diversity in this book. It’s not often that we see such a wide range of gender identities and backgrounds represented so seamlessly. It was refreshing and made the story even more engaging.

Overall, The Cuffing Game was a fantastic read—fun, dramatic, and full of heart. If you love reality TV drama, strong character dynamics, and an engaging enemies-to-lovers romance, this book is definitely for you!

The Cuffing Game by Lyla Lee is a delightful, modern YA rom-com that gives Pride and Prejudice a fresh, K-drama-inspired twist. If you’re a fan of enemies-to-lovers, reality TV shenanigans, and slow-burn romance, this one’s for you. The story follows Mia Yoon, a determined college student with big dreams of becoming a filmmaker, and Noah Cho, the campus heartthrob who’s equal parts charming and infuriating. When Mia ropes Noah into starring on her self-produced dating show, The Cuffing Game, sparks fly—both on and off camera.

What I loved most about this book is how light and enjoyable it is. It’s the kind of story that doesn’t take itself too seriously but still delivers all the feels. The romance is sweet and satisfying, with just enough tension to keep you hooked. Plus, the nods to Pride and Prejudice are clever and well-done, making this a great introduction to modern Jane Austen retellings for readers who might not be familiar with the classic. And if you’re a K-drama fan, you’ll definitely appreciate the tropes and vibes woven throughout.

The Cuffing Game is a perfect pick for anyone looking for a fun, feel-good romance that doesn’t require a lot of heavy lifting. It’s got heart, humor, and just the right amount of drama to keep things interesting. Whether you’re a teen, an early adult, or just someone who loves a good love story, this book is a charming escape that’ll leave you smiling. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

The Cuffing Game is a sweet romance that will appeal to teens and early adults alike. Focusing on film students Noah and Mia, it's inspired by Pride and Prejudice. Mia and Noah hate eat other but have to work together when Noah becomes a contestant on Mia's reality show, The Cuffing Game. There are a few twists and turns, but mostly this is a satisfying romance that doesn't take a lot of heavy lifting to read. I will definitely get it for my library.

2.75 stars arc review
The whole dating show idea is the cutest and freshest idea I’ve ever seen, but
1. I felt like at first, Mia hated Noah because he said something about not liking her and she went mad, and later when they got together, she didn’t even acknowledge it.
2. Secondly, the whole book seems like pitching stuff together. While the idea is lively, it lacks potential.
3. She said some mean stuff abt him, and there’s no apologising or closure to that, it lacks something there.

But on the contrary, it’s a fresh read