I've been anticipating this to see how it's all going to end, I can't lie and this may make me mean but I was living for Finn being all tortured in this book!
The romance is so damn slow burn and I loved it because McKay has just done it so excellently! I continue to love Finn and Willa and how adorable they are together, and there's a nice amount of tension to keep you on the edge of your seat as you can't guarantee which way this is going to go! 
All in all I wasn't disappointed by this sequel and I enjoyed how it all came together!

I received a copy of this book for free– thanks to Netgalley and Entangled Publishing.
Rating: 3.5 stars

This book is a sequel to Emily McKay's How Willa Got Her Groove Back. How amazing it is when I first read the first book, I have never been to Austin and when I got sent this book from Netgalley, I'm now living in Austin. I loved the first book so much that I was very happy to have received a copy of this book. Anyway, if the first book kept you hanging, this will satisfy that need.

The book picks up from where we got left off from the first book. Willa's father marrying Mia McCain, Finn's mom & that's what our main characters are struggling with– their feelings for each other because they are pretty soon about to be step-siblings. This book is all about Willa and Finn's attraction to each other and their will to deny it.

<b> What I loved about this book: </b>
- Finn.
- Mariely.
- Finn's friends, Cabot and Dahlia.
- The way it resolved all the drama that was happening all throughout the first book up until in this book.
- I loved how the author made sure that the story is perfect and not to seem forced.

<b> What I didn't love about this book: </b>
- Willa's actions that sometimes border on immaturity.  I hated the fact that she doesn't listen or seem to trust people's actions and words that are sincere.
- The excessive use of adjectives to describe guys. <i>lol</i>
- The main problem gets a little too draggy. It gets tiring.

I loved How Willa Got Her Groove Back & although I can't say the same for this book, I really enjoyed reading it as it was such a light-hearted read that I just needed on my day-off. I really liked how Willa and Finn's finally understood each other and resolved all the problems they were having. 

Weddings, Crushes, and Other Dramas is surely a good book. I recommend this book to people who want an adorable quick-read. It was really enjoyable even though at times you get frustrated.. just like life.

This book was so fun! It also caused a tiny bit of an addiction to forbidden, stepbrother romance books. Granted, this is one of the best ones I’ve read yet. I couldn’t help but swoon and fall in love.

While I really liked the first book this one was kind of a struggle for me.  I really liked seeing what happened with these characters.

In the first book we learn about Willa and Finn's struggle with their parents getting married.  In this book you get to see the wedding and find out what happens with these characters.  What could possibly go wrong when soon to be step siblings have feelings for each other?

So I once again LOVED the characters.  The story was good as well.  However, I thought that the flow and pace in this book needed work though.  It was difficult for me to get through this book and I almost gave up on it but I'm glad I didn't.  

3.5 stars!

I loved this book it was interesting and an entertaining read that had me hooked from the very start. This is the 6th book in a seires in which i have read none of the others but i will be going back and reading the other installments because i loved this book so much

I didn't read the first book in the series but didn't really have problem catching up with what was going on.

I read Weddings, Crushes, and Other Dramas in less than a day.It had a very simple storyline with a  predictable plot but I still liked the cuteness of the whole novel.

It was a very quick and light read, it's good if you just want something to read in a short space of time.

Willa is beginning to wonder if everyone is right about her boyfriend Damien. Add to that some feelings for her soon-to-be stepbrother Finn and the stress surrounding the upcoming nuptuals of her father to Hollywood superstar Mia McCain, and the stress of making her class project a success is just too much. Finn has promised to stay away from Willa, but he just can't keep his feelings to himself, and he must deal with the abusive secret of his past in order to move forward and be truly happy. 

Cute read, lovely series.

this was a satisfying read. Glad to have read more about Willa and Finn. Happy with the outcome and the swoon worth moments in between

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

I have been eagerly anticipating the release of this book ever since I finished the first one with the ending that left me utterly frustrated. 
So yes it came as a shock to me when I couldn't seem to get engrossed in the book and I kept putting it down. Don't get me wrong, I still love Finn and Willa just as much as the first time I met them. But I don't know, now I just... can't enjoy reading the book. I kept rolling my eyes at all the drama. Good thing Finn and Willa was just as swoony. The chemistry was off the charts and I just wanted to scream at them to just kiss and make up already. I also love that the ending wasn't wrapped up nicely. Unfortunately I was expecting it to be entirely different so I was a bit disappointed with how things worked out. Overall, I'm not sure but I guess this is one of those "it's not the book, it's me" instances? Still though, if you loved the first one you should give this book a go. If only to get more of Finn being swoonworthy.

I received an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This review was posted on 15th february 2017

 have adored this series and I am so sad that this appears to be the last book. I have enjoyed each and every book in this series and this one was no exception. We first met Willa and Finn in book 2 of the Creative Hearts series, How Willa Got Her groove Back however we have seen glimpses of them in subsequent books of the series and this book starts just a few short weeks before the wedding between Willa's Dad Matt and Finn's mum Mia.

Willa's mindset at the beginning of this book is very different to that of the first book and already we can see the growth in her character since we last saw her. I really connected with her in this book so it was great to see the growth continue. Of all the boys in this series, Finn has always seemed the most real to me ( and the most swoonworthy :-P ) so I kept wanting the two of them to get together already. However Ms McKay kept the tension between them perfect all the way through and this kept me turning the pages, eager to see where these two would end up.

This series itself is interesting in that it has been a collaboration between four different writers with each writer focusing on the 2-3 of the core characters of the series, kids attending the Next Gen Arts Academy in Austin. Though each book focused mainly of two of the core group the series and stories of the whole was continued fro book 1 through to book 6 and in this book we get a conclusion of both the story of Will and Finn as well as the over series ARC. I really liked Where Willa and Finn's story finished up where as some of the other couple felt a little unfinished with things I wanted to see. In fact I really enjoyed the entire journey of this book.

This book was a quick, easy and most importantly fun read with lots and lots of feels. It is most definitely a one sitting read with characters you will love and be thinking about long after you have finished the book.

I wish there could be more of this series and I give this story 3 3/4 stars
Sapphired Dragon XX

Weddings, Crushes, and Other Dramas is the sixth book in the Creative Hearts series. Each book in the series has featured a couple from the performing arts school in Texas that they all attend. Willa and Finn’s story began in the second book of the series when Willa’s father returns home with his new girlfriend, Finn’s mother, who is a famous actress. With their parents a new couple Willa and Finn are thrust together as future step siblings but the pair find themselves drawn to one another regardless even though they both fight the feelings.

Now it’s time for the wedding between Matt and Mia to take place which leads to Willa and Finn spending much more time together than ever. While practicing their dance lessons for the wedding and also working together on a senior project at school the two slowly begin a friendship while Willa also sees how her relationship she’s been in to avoid Finn is not exactly living up to expectations.

Even though this is the second book featuring Willa and Finn I do believe this one could still be understandable as a standalone if one chooses. You get glimpses at previous characters from the series in each of the books but the story is always one that can be understood without prior knowledge but this is a fun young adult contemporary series all throughout too if wanting to go back and read prior books.

My one disappointment would be that it took so long to work through everything going on in this that you barely get any Willa and Finn together in their story. Of course it was still nice to be reading what is going on with their friends from other stories and working out their dynamic but it also would have been nice to have the story a bit longer too instead of a feeling of a sort of rushed ending.

Overall, still enjoying the creative characters and situations in this young adult contemporary series and look forward to any additions there may be in the future.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆☆
Weddings, Crushes, and Other Dramas most definitely cannot be read as a standalone. The Creative HeArts series features four couples written separately by four different authors, all intersecting in the same universe. Willa and Finn are couple #2 in the series, with the first book of theirs being book #2 (this is their conclusion, but also the 6th in the series). Complicated? Yes. So if you're picking this book up to read as a standalone, don't do it. Go back to the beginning.

As a big fan of the series, I've been patiently waiting for more of Willa and Finn's story. Finn has been a large focal point by all the authors in all their books – he's a heartthrob, but also a strong friend to have in your corner. The reader can feel how appreciated Finn is by the creators of the series. Willa was lying just beneath the surface of the other books, seen and often times discussed, but never a scene-stealer. The couple are the perfect balance for one another.

Truthfully, this book had me wanting to reread their first novel before this book, in order to get the full impact, as they are my favorite couple of the series. May do that soon. Enemies with a push-pull romance, mixed with the taboo of the impending doom of becoming step-siblings. Their relationship is the height of forbidden romance. Angsty deliciousness.

If you're reading this review, debating if you wish to buy a copy, you either didn't heed my warning to check out book one in the series, or you're a series veteran. Either way, I'm not going to spoil the plot points. If you're reading this series, by book six, you know all the major players and their stories.

In a nutshell, Emily McKay has a fluid writing style, with characters that exhibit the emotional maturity befitting their age group, with realistic reactions/actions. Dual-POV, we hear both sides. Finn is our brooding, tortured artist, struggling with a conflict of conscience. Willa is basically in denial, closing herself off because it's easier to think Finn a player. As a grown woman, I wanted to shake Willa a few times, give her a piece of my mind, and set her straight. Then I wanted to give Finn a hug and some advice on how to deal with a teenage girl. Both had realistic reactions to the situation they were placed in, which makes for yummy reading.

As a big fan of the author and series, the reason I couldn't hand out a perfect 5-star is two-fold: I wished the story was slightly longer, and I'm well-written novella's biggest fan. A few more pages to tie up loose threads to create solid character building. Also, the adult in me appreciated that this is a young adult novel, keeping it clean for the younger readers. However, the ex-teenager that I used to be, knows that teenagers are not saints. So my only complaint on the not-so-realistic front is the lack of hormonal responses from our kids. Nothing explicit, simply true-to-life. We have a pair of step-siblings in love, living in the same house, so the reader missed out on a lot of tension buildup without any payoff. There was an opportunity for a few heart-pounding moments, which would have been comical. But that's just what I felt was 'missing' from the story.

I look forward to book seven, as well as Emily McKay's next book.

Young Adult age-range: 14+

*This book was received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

*Actual rating 2.5/5*

I enjoyed this book but found both Willa and Finn to be quite annoying. The plot also seemed to drag a bit and I had to physically leave the book and come back to it because I was getting so annoyed with Willa and Finn's actions. Overall this was a light read that was fairly enjoyable.

Willa’s father- Matt  was marrying Mia who was one of America’s most famous actresses and known as America’s sweetheart. Mia had a son named Finn that would also be with them he was a couple months older than Willa and ready to graduate in five months just like Willa. Finn was hot and Mia felt attracted to him and resented Finn because he was so hot and unattainable. m even though she had a boyfriend named Damien. Willa’s father was a cinematographer. Mia’s mom had died when Mia was eleven and until a couple months ago it had been pretty much just Willa and Matt even if Matt was gone a lot with his job.  Finn felt an inexplicable pull come over him whenever he was near Willa. Finn excited Willa more than her boyfriend Damien did so they stayed away from each other as much as they could. Finn thought he was falling in love with Willa but fighting it every step of the way. Willa’s best friends were Himesh and Mariely since freshman year. Willa was the lead writer for the Senior Seminar - a web series. Damien is the male lead  and horrible as the love interest but Willa doesn’t know what to do about it. Then Willa decides she wants to break up with Damien as he isn’t what she really wants. She goes to Finn for advice and he kisses Willa and it is her very first kiss. They are now staying at home while their parents are on their honeymoon for the better part of the  next three weeks. Finn was excited that Willa had kissed him back. 
I absolutely loved this story. The plot was absolutely great. I loved the way it was written. Willa going out with Damien to protect her heart. I felt bad the Willa was so scared of loving and being let down as she basically had been all her life.  I felt like i was there with Willa and Finn and everyone else. I loved how Mariely pointed out to Willa about why she went out with Damien and made Willa reexamine why she did the things she had. I can’t think of anything i didn’t like about this YA story. It was the best one I had read in a long time and my new favorite. I loved the characters and the ins and outs of this story and I highly recommend

I really enjoyed this tweens-YA read. It was cute, fluffy, didn't have much teenage angst, and had a nice ending. Willa is a braniac who's about to have the hottest stepbrother ever. Finn's a hot superstar's son who's decidedly trying to ignore his cute soon-to-be stepsister. But things don't end up how they planned... Exactly what I needed after a really stressful week!

Left review on Amazon and Goodreads

Thank you to Entangled Publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to review this novel. This in no way influenced my review.

When Willa’s daddy falls in love with Mia McCain, her life gets turned upside down. She gains an insanely hot step-brother, her boyfriend turns into a name dropping fame hunter and the paparazzi is following her around like it is their business (it kinda is). What happens when you put two unrelated teenagers in the same house and warn them against any funny business? You are about to find out.

Willa is the nerdy gal, who finally got her guy. For some reason though, I kept thinking it was the wrong guy. Her boyfriend sucked royally. Just wait to the wedding scene. Willa is a bit naïve on what the marriage between her daddy and America’s Sweetheart movie star really means. She also stays with her boyfriend a lot longer than I would have. I liked that she fought the attraction between her and Finn with all of her might.

Finn is adorable. He tries to protect Willa at all cost. From dancing, to shoe shopping, to putting up with her fame seeking gold digging boyfriend. He tries so hard not to develop feeling for Willa, and even tries to be the mean guy. Yet, it is so hard for him to avoid coming to her rescue time and time again. 

My biggest issue with the book was that it was told in two points of view, Willa’s and Finn’s. Normally, this doesn’t bother me. I actually love a book told in multiple points of view.  Yet here, Willa is in first person and Finn is in third person. It was hard for me to wrap my head around. Ultimately, this is the reason that it was 3 stars instead of 5.  

The story is a cute, fast read. If you are looking for a forbidden love, with a side of fangirling you will not go wrong with this book.

My Rating 3 out of 5 stars

Favorite Quote “That seems like a Darcy-inspired pickup line if I’ve ever heard one.”

Other People
Mariely- Willa’s bestie
Damien- Willa’s boyfriend

I don’t have any background or anything with this series but I decided to pick it up because it sounds really interesting to me. I haven’t really read any contemporary romance that features stepsiblings as main characters. I don’t know, it just feels a little weird to me, so I try to stay away. So really, I have no idea why this book caught my attention.

Willa’s dad is getting married to Finn’s mom, Mia McCain, who happened to be a super popular celebrity. I can tell how much controversy and gossip that may stir, so Willa found herself in the middle of them all and it wasn’t all pretty.

Willa and Finn have different personalities, yet they complement each other. Their polarities made the story very interesting. I also quite enjoyed the whole “let’s-pretend-we-don’t-have-feelings-for-each-other-since-we’re-going-to-be-practically-siblings-anyway”. It was really fun to see the whole thing, romance included, unfold.

It was enjoyable overall, but a little inconsistent in terms of the pacing. Some things I found too cheesy and cliche as well, but it was a good one!

Willa is happy to be the maid of honor in her dad’s upcoming wedding to uber-celeb Mia McCain. She’s not as excited about her infuriating and gorgeous step-brother Finn McCain being the best man. Willa finds it harder and harder to ignore the attraction between them that only seems to grow the more they’re together. But Finn’s feelings for her can’t be real right? Wrong.

Finn has never felt anything more real than what’s going on between him and Willa. And he’s determined to prove that to her, despite those in their way.

So this is part of kind of like two different series. Overall, the Creative HeArts series, and then more specifically the Willa & Finn series, in  which this is book two. I didn’t know this was the second book until after I requested it from Netgalley. Oops. I will say though, that I actaully don’t think you need to read any of the Creative HeArts books to get whats going on here or even read the first Willa & Finn book. Everything still worked for me and made sense. This can definitely work as a standalone. Yes, you’ll get more of the beginning of the relationship or story if you read the first Willa book, but where we pick up is also a fine point.

This book alternates pov between Will and Finn. I’m totally fine with dual pov, but what I thought was weird was that Willa’s chapters were in first person and Finn’s were in third. I would’ve just rather had it stay all in a first person perspective.

I liked Willa. She’s smart, a bit nerdy, strong and sassy. She doesn’t really back down from who she is. Yes, she’s a little insecure and doesn’t always make the best life choices, but she’s a teenager and this is a contemporary so realistic. I liked how loyal and friendship based she was. But this extends to her dad and step-mom as well, even though they’re not all on the best terms. 

Finn was also pretty likable to me, even though Willa saw him as a jerk sometimes. He’s obviously spent time thinking about Willa and the possibility of a relationship, or if they could even have a relationship with there soon to be step-sibling status. But also she has a boyfriend. He does a pretty good job of the typical boy move of pushing her away. In terms of his good qualities though, he really likes Willa and has taken the time to get to know her personality, moods, and just the little important things. I thought it was cute. Willa calls him Darcy-esque and it’s pretty on point.

I’m going to put it out there that I’m not usually into the step sibling romances, but honestly this book did it in a cute totally appropriate way. I mean they’re teenagers when they first meet , like older teenagers, and like they didn’t grow up together so it’s not like they really see each other as siblings or have that type of feelings toward each other. Other people don’t really see them as siblings either I feel like since this is happening so late in their life.

I liked that Willa had a boyfriend though. It added a whole other layer of complication beyond the step siding thing.

The parents bothered me, just like in a lot of ya novels they’re so out of the loop. I’m not like putting this as a bad thing on the author because they seem like the type of character she was going for, I’m just more so expressing my frustration with the adults as characters and how they acted if that makes sense.

Overall, it was a fun and quick contemporary. I haven’t read much in the genre like it subject matter wise, with the whole famous step-mom and step-brother romance. It’s not like a die hard favorite, make you feel, life changing contemporary or anything, but it was fluffy and light. Nothing too heavy, the perfect way to relax on a Monday night for me really. You can find the book on Amazon.

I've noticed a trend of step sibling romance novels which always struck me as a little weird. However, this book is able to take something that's normally taboo and make it charming and endearing. My only problem with the book is something that's my fault- I didn't read all of the Creative HeArts books so I felt like I was walking into a story and missing some pieces. However, this book was still enjoyable and I look forward to having my students read it.