It Had to Be You by Lizzy Charles was a very cute bu very predictable book. Nothing really original but the characters were well-thought of. Some annoying "we're not talking enough" parts but I guess it might just be me who always shares too much of my feelings haha! Quick and cute read. Thank you NetGalley for the free ebook copy.

http://readdayandnight.blogspot.com/2017/05/it-had-to-be-you-by-lizzy-charles.html

This book was so much fun!  I loved the story and the characters from the very beginning and found myself really loving the relationship angle in the book.  Definitely a quick, fun read when you are looking for something romantic!

Even though bits of the plot were predictable, I really enjoyed this book and all the characters! It was a great read that you will fly through in no time!

It Had to be You was an adorable and super quick read. It was one of those stories that just came to life as I was reading and one I could easily picture being a super cute on-screen rom-com…who do I have to beg to make that happen?!

One of my absolute favourite YA tropes is the “fake to real relationship trope.” I loved how their relationship developed over time. From a fake relationship to appease his military father (who is very close with Edel’s parents), into a genuine relationship.  The story is full of other typical YA cliches and tropes that I’m a sucker for and found It Had To Be You to be an extremely fun and easy read, perfect for a lazy Sunday.

I definitely recommend this charming read if you’re in the mood for a sweet YA romance thats full of humour, drama and many adorable, swoon worthy moments!

I would first like to thank Chapter by Chapter Blog Tours for including me in the blog tour for this novel and providing me with a copy of the novel in exchange for a review! Every book that I have read that has been published by Entangled Teen Crush has been so good and so cute, and this book was no exception! I really enjoyed reading about Edel and James, and thought that their story was super adorable and interesting - the prospect of fake relationships is always a plot that ends very interesting. This book was so cute, and I loved how the relationship between Edel and James was able to grow despite what others thought of them. The entire plot twist that I did not see coming was crazy, and I genuinely did not think that they would be able to resolve the problem before it got out of hand. Emma was a great character to hate, especially with what she did to Edel (and her hair!). I am so glad that everything worked out in the end, I will definitely be reading more of Lizzy Charles' books! I highly recommend this to fans of a good contemporary novel and Anna and the French Kiss.

http://thepaperworlds.blogspot.com/2017/05/it-had-to-be-you-by-lizzy-charles.html

I love CRUSH books and was super excited to receive this one. I was also thrilled to see interracial dating as it appeared on the cover. For one reason or another, I just could not buy into the characters or their story. I'm hoping to try again at a later date.

This was such a charming story, it was the perfect mix of light-hearted humour and sweet romance. 
	Edel and James were both really charismatic and loveable, Edel took longer to warm up to because on first impressions I was convinced I was going to hate her. She seemed like a spoiled rich kid but as the story progressed, her character developed and we got to see other sides to her. The personalities of Edel & James matched either other so perfectly, her weaknesses were his strengths and vice versa. I shipped them for the moment they met, seeing how supportive and understanding they were of each other and watching their relationship play out was tooth-achingly adorable.
	I loved that the author went against all the cliches - the quiet nerdy girl was actually a force to be reckoned with, the bad boy wasn’t afraid to be vulnerable and share his feelings. Also, one of the most refreshing things about this story was that slut shaming was actually called out and criticised. More books need to follow suit on that one. 
	The story takes a turn about half way through that I wasn’t really expecting and I’m not sure I totally enjoyed but by then end I was completely engrossed again. 
	Overall it was a captivating, pleasant little story that managed to stay entertaining all the way through. I hadn’t read a Lizzy Charles book before but I’ll definitely be back for more in future.

If it's one trope I'm almost always down to read, it's the fake boyfriend/girlfriend trope.

It Had to Be You follows James Parson and Edelweiss Lee as they attend an exclusive boarding school. James is the captain of the football team and the popular guy at school. He pulls a lot of pranks at school and it had been the last straw for James and he must show his father, Colonel Parson, that he is serious about school before he pulls him out. Edelweiss is the daughter of a diplomat and has travelled the world and was homeschooled by her parents. She enrols in boarding school so that she can experience the things normal high schoolers do to prepare for the college life.

This was cute. James and Edelweiss had a lot of chemistry and they were super cute together. It was cheesy, but not in a way that was empty. There was substance and depth to the characters and the situations they were in.

This was however, one of those situations where one of the conflicts arises from not talking to each other. Which, if I think about it, is probably a running theme in the fake boyfriend/girlfriend trope. Had they communicated better, the whole climax of the book probably wouldn’t have happened.

Overall, it was a short and fun read. I enjoyed the characters and their chemistry and that was what kept me drawn into the novel.

A high school drama in the style of Mean Girls utilising the fake dating trope. Told in alternating first person perspective of Edel and James this is a funny and cute contemporary novel based at a Boarding School.

Edel is the new student at a Boarding school after spending her entire life homeschooled. She is straight shooting and kind and is trying to get her bearing in a new place. Facing exams, a cute boy and a mean girl, what is she to do?

James has always been the class clown and he is inches away from his father pulling him out of school He is fun and lighthearted with depth. Through his fake relationship with Edel he really grows and finds meaning in caring for someone else.

With a combination of charm, romance and humour this book is a quick and loveable read. I really enjoyed the fake dating trope and how it played out in this novel. If you enjoy cute contemporary stories, meet-cute situations, sweet romance and the fake dating trope this book is definitely one for you.

** ARC provided in exchange for honest review **

“It Had to Be You” is a sweet YA Romance, which turned into out to be a fairly good read. Charles wrote an intelligent portrayal of teenager characters, both with complexity and depth rather than being stereotyped.

Edelweiss (Admittedly, I had the song from the Sound of Music stuck in my head during the first few chapters) is a home-schooled daughter of a diplomat, what she lacks in typical high school experience, she makes up for with maturity and world-views. Edelweiss convinces her parents to enrol her into an elite boarding school, determined to experience the high school lifestyle to prepare her for college. Edelweiss was a likeable heroine and although innocent and slightly naïve at first, she was certainly an active protagonist within the story. Edelweiss certainly was a great example of a female lead for readers; she had the right mixture of strength and vulnerability.

James, the male lead and a combination of hot jock and computer genius was the second narrator. At risk of being pulled out of boarding school, James and Edelweiss agree to a fake relationship – for James, this would help prove that he is serious about his studies and for Edelweiss, this would allow her to be harassed by guys and adjust to her new school. James was a fairly rounded character, his history was quite difficult to piece together – there were so many twists and revaluations – and despite his flirtatious and cocky exterior, there were vulnerabilities he had.

The relationship between James and Edelweiss was pretty refreshing; it progressed from a genuine friendship into romantic feelings. The only real issue between them was communication, which became quite tedious for me as a reader. When they both realised they were falling for each other, neither can actually build the courage to have the confidence to bring it up. This became somewhat infuriating as there was no real conflict arising until the end, the silence and their inner monologues of the “what ifs” held them back – hopefully their communication will improve in the sequel. What I truly loved about this relationship was that it was interracial and that was not an issue whatsoever – Edelweiss was white and James was black (mixed-raced to be exact) and their racial differences was never brought up or a source of conflict. I definitely feel like more authors should take note, writing a cast of racially diverse cast and making them more complex and humane needs to be seen more in YA literature.

Another aspect of this novel that stuck out for me was how brilliantly written the female characters were – specifically Edelweiss and her group of friends. It was energising to read a book with a group of young women who were genuine friends, had their own issues and still had each other’s backs. Edelweiss was not a lone woman surrounded by male admirers and cynical of other girls around her – which sadly, this is seen a lot within NA and YA literature – and instead we see her throughout the novel with three good friends, enjoying their company and lifting each other up when they’re down. Even Emma (who is the antagonist and bitter ex-girlfriend of James) feels like a character that could be further developed, originally introduced as a bitchy mean girl, she has a much darker vindictive side – I am hoping that Charles develops Emma’s character further to see different sides of her.

Overall, this was a good read and was very well developed with a rich cast of characters and a decent narrative.

I really enjoyed the book, it has everything I love in a novel from start to finish. I can’t wait to read what the author has planned next!

Edel wants the whole high school experience after being home schooled all her life. James just wants to make it to graduation without his father ripping him out of school for another prank gone wrong. Together they team up to help the other out. What neither expected was for feelings to develop and blur the lines between fictitious and reality. Will they be able to pull this relationship off? Or will one of them be sent packing?

I absolutely love reading books that revolve around a fake something or another. Especially fake boyfriend/girlfriend. There is so much good that could come from this circumstance and so much that could go wrong with it as well. Charles did a great job playing on all the wrongs and rights that seemed to explode from such a little white lie. I happily devoured every ounce of this read. I couldn’t get enough. 

There were some parts concerning a few characters and how they all tie together that seemed too convenient for the plot, almost like the author was reaching in those areas to make it work. I sort of wished the author had left it out because it made the story come off as unbelievable. At least to me. That seemed to be my only fault with the book. 

IT HAD TO BE YOU was such a cute, quick read that held my attention the whole time. I would love to see if there would be more stories to emerge from some of the other cast of characters. 4 Stars!

I really enjoyed this book! The characters were quirky and easy to love. The story itself had me laughing over and over, while still feeling for the characters and invested in what would happen to them and how things would turn out. Looking forward to reading more Lizzy Charles books!

This was one fun fluffy YA contemporary romance I real;y enjoyed reading.  Some YA cliches are there, such as one parent having passed away, however the author mixed it up by being the male protagonist's mother instead, and of course, the mean queen bee.  But YA cliches aside, I really liked that this book features some teachers/ headmistress which are easy to approach and easy to talk to, have a connection with the students, and enjoy their job.  I also really liked the female protagonist, Edelweiss's upbringing- she has an ambassador father and her parents take her all over the world, yet, she had a grounded upbringing.  Her parents instill in her a humble yet courageous attitude and encourage her to experience life, to reach for educational achievements, but without losing focus on things that truly bring you happiness in life.  Edelweiss and James are great for each other.  They defend and stand up for each other and are honest.  I really liked this book.

Leaving review on Goodreads and Amazon

My initial thoughts after finishing this book were that it was such a cute and adorable read! It definitely picked me up and I read most of it in ONE GO. Of course, I had to make some breaks, but even during those moments I missed going back to this story and the characters! This was 100% a light, fluffy and beautiful story that brightened my day!

Plot:
This book made me laugh and blush so hard until my cheeks were utterly red! The worst thing was that I read the first part of this book at school in-between classes, and sometimes even before they started. I was really engaged in the story and took every opportunity I had to continue reading. So there I sat, with my Kindle on my desk in front of me, trying to maintain composure and doing the best I could at keeping my blushes at bay and the gasps to myself.
I failed miserably and laughed out loud, squealed twice, and had my face burning with embarrassment that I felt for the main character. And in case you were wondering, EVERYONE noticed.
 
If there is something that stood out to me was that certain scene at the beginning of the book that I literally roared with laughter at. I couldn’t help the tears when I read that chapter, and I felt SO BAD for the main female character! Check out the summary for more information about the main storyline!
But poor Edelweiss has a lot of things to learn, and those first moments at Brokemore weren’t exactly what she expected the High School Life to be like.
I was blushing so hard and my face was red because I read that specific scene right before class started, but had to stop MID-CHAPTER!
I had then to endure 2 periods during which all I could think about was how screwed up poor Edelweiss was, and wanted nothing else but continuing to read!

Honestly, the beginning of this book was absolutely amazing and so enjoyable! I had the greatest time reading the first half and was excited to continue with the story after that great start. However, the middle part of the book was a bit more tedious for me and I did not enjoy it AS MUCH. There was a lot of miscommunication between the characters, and it frustrated me a lot.
I do understand why it was put there since it kept the storyline going. But it was still frustrating at times and it made my reading experience be lowered down. 

But this book was still ultimately cute, extremely embarrassing at times, the good type of romance cheesy, and SO adorable. It read super quickly, and every chapter kept me wanting more.
It was definitely a page-turner that I could NOT put down! 

Characters:
James was such a caring guy, even though he messed it up sometimes with his BOY habits and poor choice of words. But either way, he made for such a cute boyfriend I couldn’t help but fall in love with!
For Edelweiss I felt really bad. She had an unfortunate beginning, but she was SUCH a slaying queen and her attitude inspired me SO much! She let NOBODY overpower her. She stood her ground flawlessly and really made a great job at controlling all of her emotions during petrifying situations, walking with her shoulders back and a chin raised high. She was an empowering and VERY strong-willed main character.
Her parents and the parental figures in this book were SUPER well written as well! They were involved, and we also learned a lot about which values Edel’s parents had made sure they taught her while bringing her up. Often in YA we never get to see the family, and even though they were far away, we still read about how involved and caring they were for their daughter.
They also ALL gave SUCH good advice sometimes!!!

The characters from It Had to be you were over the top intriguing to me. Asides from James and Edelweiss, whom I loved, I was super interested in EVERY other character that we met!

But unfortunately, none of the other ones were developed as much! Truthfully my only critique, I think, is that there was SUCH A GREAT set-up for most of the characters in Brokemore Academy (for example most of James’ friends and SURELY each and every one of Edel’s circle of girls, the Headmistress Creighton, and also James’ dad!), but we saw almost nothing about their backgrounds!
There are a thousand other characters too that I am DESPERATE to read about! Lizzy Charles made me feel super intrigued about each of them, and I was hoping everyone would be developed MUCH more.

The book is clearly centered in James and Edelweiss, but there is so much more to everybody else I NEED to read more about.
I am hoping sequels will be released soon so that I can get to see MORE about them. But even if more books are written (which apparently will happen because this is the start of a series), the book really lacked the development of the other characters that would have made it feel complete.

Overall Thoughts:
Basically, I need more. My love and need have not been satiated and I need to find out RIGHT. NOW when any more books are coming out!
I highly recommend this if you are looking for a pick-me-up, funny and swoon-worthy romance that will brighten your day, if you are looking for a book that will get you out of a reading slump, and if you liked anything by Jenny Han, if you enjoyed It Started with Goodbye by Christina June or Geekerella by Ashley Poston!

This had such great Boarding-School vibes and I felt SO happy while reading it! I had a blast while enjoying my rainy day at home and listening to my May playlist on Spotify! There is no doubt you’ll be able to read this in one sitting and have an awesome time all the way through. I recommend you listen to some music while reading this, too. Especially the classic shower-songs!
I am left feeling giddy and happy, but I still need to know more about the rest of the characters! I hope the sequel is released soon!

Rating Report:
Cover: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5 stars
Writing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars
Pacing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars
Swoons: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 stars
General Book Feels: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars

Enjoyment Rate: 90%
My Overall Rating: 4 stars!  
**This review can be found on my blog in the link bellow, as an on-going giveaway for the Blog Tour currently happening as of the 24th of May, 2017.**

Rating: 4/5 Penguins

Quick Reasons: super cute, endearing romance; absolutely love the "fake to real" relationship trope; not sure I buy that they "love" each other after such a short amount of time, but I'm willing to overlook this; Edel's character arc is well-rounded and entertaining

Huge thanks to Lizzy Charles, Entangled Teen Crush, Chapter by Chapter Book Tours, and Netgalley for sending me a free digital galley of this title in exchange for an honest review! This in no way altered my read of or opinions on this book.


---"I'll never get elected to the student council if we're caught like this."

He pauses, whipping his head around. "Student council? You're joking, right? I'd have pegged you for a cheerleader."

"I don't jump."---


There's just something about contemporaries that, recently, have me falling head over feet to get through. I don't know if it's that I can "turn off my brain" and just enjoy the journey, or something else entirely...either way, contemporaries have been calling my name a LOT lately. It's a good thing I've got a ton of them on standby for such occasions, I suppose?

Regardless--this was SUCH a cute, entertaining contemporary. I sat down expecting it to be just like all the rest...and instead found myself sucked straight into the story. There's something adorable about Edel that I couldn't look past, and something searingly steamy about the "fake to real" relationship. 


---"Great job out there," Edelweiss says when I reach her.

"You still have no clue what I'm doing on the field, do you?"

"You catch the football and run. What else is there to know?"---


The character arcs are also entertaining and enlightening. I really enjoyed that we got front seats to both James' and Edels' changes over the course of just a few short months. Many of the side characters also step into their own, and I loved seeing how they each brought something new and unique to the table. Learning the intricacies of familial relationships--the the rules of boarding school--right next to Edel was a great way to bridge the gap between characters and readers, in my opinion. The fact we got to watch her interact with and react to the varying situations that crop up only helped to more vibrantly paint her across the page. This was, in fact, true of all the characters; due to this, they all were bright sparks of personality woven into the pages.

In the end, I had a ton of fun (as I usually do!) stepping out of the chaos of my own life and into the chaos of someone else's for a little while. Lizzy Charles wrote these characters with intricate, vibrant personalities--and made me care for each of them as individuals. The plot, while not inundated with action, was fast-paced and entertaining all the same, and I cannot wait to pick up another Lizzy Charles novel in the future! I definitely recommend this to lovers of boarding school settings, bad boys struggling to change, and "fake to real" relationships. Care to redefine relationships? Pick up this book!

Edel and James's story was somewhat predictable, but still a whole lot of fun to read. They each had interesting characters, with growth over the course of the story, and the secondary characters were important to the plot as a whole. Very enjoyable YA novel.

Let me start with this, what a stinking cute story. I have to admit that I was hooked from the beginning. I'll be honest when I started this book I had a little bit of a hard time connecting with Edel, mostly because all I could think was she was this pretentious rich girl. Thankfully as the book went on I came to realize she was just a normal teen, and I also realized that I was judging her just like a normal teenager and I felt kind of bad for that. She's starting a brand new school, which she's never even been to school in the fist place! She just wants to have that normal teenage experience and this is basically her last chance before being thrown in to College Life and trying to adapt to that.

Also can we talk about the "meet cute". I am a sucker for a good meet cute whether it be in a book, on a show, or in a movie. Granted I would have been pretty upset had I been in Edel's position, but I think James saved it. I felt like I knew a little bit about how things were going to go with this, but then again I was pretty surprised with things that were happening. The whole time I was questioning things but I still kept wanting to read and keep figuring things out.

Yes, this book is extra cheesy, but isn't that what makes contemporary's what we love? I know personally that I really love cheesy contemporary books because it just makes me fall in love with the characters even more and gives me that butterfly feeling in my stomach. That is how I know I've found a good contemporary novel. Sometimes things seemed a bit convenient when twists happened, but I never lost that butterfly feeling with this book and I just felt that it was so cute I couldn't stop reading it.

If you are an avid contemporary reader I would suggest this from you. It is such a fun and easy read that just pulls you in and makes you want to continue to read it. It really is hard to put it down until you realize that it's over. I am so excited to know that this is technically a first book so I'm excited to see how the next novel will go and what will happen!

Only people who have lived the 90s will know what I mean when I say: This book kind of reminded me of that movie "My Date with the President's Daughter". Just because James starts dating the daughter of a diplomat. I don't know the connection, but that's what I thought of. This is a quick, light-hearted read. I was able to read it in a few hours (in between life and watching rowdy brothers). Lizzy Charles has done a great job to bring a new, different story to the world. I highly recommend you pick it up. :)