First of all, it was so much fun to read a YA novel set in Australia! Beyond that, I think Nina Kenwood nails the character of Natalie. You could understand why she might not think highly of herself in some ways, and if I have one complaint, it's the constant dwelling on her skin's condition. However, I really got the idea of how much it affected her, and I know so many of my students would love to see themselves in a character like this. Despite this blemish (ahem), Natalie's actions make sense from her perspective, and we understand why she feels like the odd person out, and why her new relationship is so appealing.

this book unfortunately fell into the category of being too juvenile for me to enjoy. I think the target audience will enjoy it though.

This was a lovely little romance that made me laugh out loud a few times. Natalie had a strong voice, and her story was a heart-wrenchingly and hilariously honest one about reckoning with life not turning out how you expected, finding friends and finding love, and the unexpected joys of realizing that opposites can attract. This was also AMAZING representation of what it's like to deal with really severe acne as a teen. It made me realize how often that gets downplayed or associated only with unpleasant characters in YA lit, and I'm really excited to recommend this to some of my teen readers for that reason. Affirming and lovely.

Nina Kenwood delivered a wonderful YA book. It was funny as well as interesting. The characters reacted to problems, just about how any young adult would react to the situations presented. Things like that, make the book more relatable to readers and it is something I really like.

Having Natalie “overthink” a lot of things really opens up your eyes to just how anxiety as well as flaws can make us vulnerable. It gave an insight to others, how those of us with anxiety literally question the silliest things i.e. a simple text message. The bond between the 3 friends is fantastic and I really loved that Kenwood showed how different all the friends were, but how those differences brought them closer.

The romance is great, but it felt a bit rushed. It was almost unbelievable how a girl with such insecurities would be willing to dive head first into this situation. Personally, I have anxiety and I would not be able to jump into some of the scenarios the MC jumped into.

Overall I did like the book, I actually felt as though it was too short. I wanted more talk about everything that was going on and less talk about the acne problem.......we get it, she had bad and.

I would still recommend this book to fellow YA readers.

-Stone

Plot: I really enjoyed it! Reading about Natalie's romance was really fun, and I liked how there were some twists and turns to the plot that I didn't expect.

Characters: I really liked the voice of the main character, Natalie! I also really liked all of the other characters, from her friends, to her family, to her love interest! I liked how well developed all the side characters were. Sometimes when you read a book you feel like the characters have no life outside of the part of the story you're reading, but with this book I felt like all the characters had lives outside of the book, if that makes sense?

The Cover: It's cute! I like it.

Overall: I really enjoyed this book! The voice of the main character was great, and the book had me literally laughing out loud multiple times! Definitely recommend.

3.5

Okay guys, I decided after finishing this book that I need to be more...true to myself(?) with ARC ratings this year. I sometimes tend to rate higher than what I actually feel and I don't think that's fair to anyone really. However, with this book specifically, I think it's truly a case of "it's not you, it's me." This book had a lot of parts that gave me butterflies and made my heart race and other parts that were so....truthful, that I had a lot of appreciation for it. However, it just wasn't for me. I have been mostly avoiding YA contemporaries lately and this just kind of reaffirms that I can't read them like I used to. I'm pretty sure that if I had read this in high school or even during my first few years of college, it would have been a five star read.

Even though I can appreciate the conflicts in this book, it's getting harder and harder for me to put myself back in those shoes and deal with some of the other immaturities that realistically come from being that age.

What I liked: Natalie the main characters has PCOS which I don't think I've ever read about a young character who has suffered through, which made her acne bad. When I say bad, I mean BAD. I mean like physically scarring but also emotionally scarring in a way that she changed her entire personality to that of a shut in during high school basically. You read about bad acne and typical puberty problems in a lot of YA books but this is the worst of the worst. That felt SO real and I felt for her so hard. But again, there were some aspects where I was trying to put myself in my mom's shoes more and trying to decide how I would have handled things for my own daughter if she had been suffering through that. We get first relationships, all of the messy bits that that can entail, we get college acceptances and failures, and friendships tested. We get all of that stuff in the realest way possible and while I LOVED that, I just couldn't love the book as a whole.

Again, I think a ton of people will really, really enjoy this. For being Kenwood's debut novel I really am impressed! I just...probably should finally take a break from YA contemporaries for real this time, lol.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for allowing me to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions!

3.5 stars

This is a solid contemporary realistic YA with a dash of romance on the side. It took me a little time to get invested in the characters, and I can't quite pinpoint why as the m.c. is pretty engaging.

I really like how the m.c.'s skin conditions are described and handled here. That may seem like an odd focus, but I don't feel like I really ever hear much about this issue in YA, and almost everyone's skin is terrible in their teen years. It's not the focal point, but it is a constant concern and consideration for her, and I think there's a ton of great empathy building happening here.

The relationships are also handled in a realistic and positive way. The m.c. deals with a lot of dishonesty and poor communication coming from those around her. I like that so much of this - in a very aptly teen way - centers on different people's insecurities. I also really like that the characters - for the most part - are able to work through these issues. There's a level of maturity here that I think serves as a realistic and perhaps aspirational model for readers.

Although it took me a little time to get invested (hence the 3.5), there's a lot to like about this one.

While this book had me compulsively reading to see what would happen next, I wasn't overly a fan of Natalie and Alex's relationship. It just felt weird that this brother of her best friend who has always been so distant suddenly became the person she felt closest to? And I know that she was going through a lot and probably needed someone new who understood her, but I don't know. It was her best friend's older brother and I felt like she should have known him a little better already? I did like their conversations and Alex was always super understanding and sweet. But I wasn't a fan of Natalie's views on herself and sex and relationships, just because it felt like she wanted to jump into something she wasn't ready for, and I get that she was feeling the pressure because her best friends were together and having sex and she thought she should have been as well. But I don't know, it was just the way she talked about things that had been feeling iffy on her. I liked Vanessa and how understanding and great she was. Lucy and Zach were the greatest and I loved how protective Zach was of her. It was overall a fun read, but didn't hit any high points with me.

This book surprised me. I was expecting a basic cute romcom book. It was so much more than that, and it is definitely above the similar types of books out there in the bookuniverse. The MC voice is raw and authentic in the very best way. She has multiple feelings at once which is always more realistic and refreshing. I was so impressed. There are so many students I would pass this to because of that.

This book also nails some of those early love vibes incredibly well which is both nerve racking and oh so fun. And finally, an extra shoutout for how well done the MCs voice in her experience of struggling with her SKIN !!!, friendships, and parental divorce. Excellent.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 because of the strength in the authenticity of this MC voice!

**Review will be posted on my blog nearer to publication date on March 7, 2020**

Thank you to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for giving me a chance to read this eARC.

It Sounded Good in My Head is a surprising and delightful read that left me smiling. The story is set in Australia and follows Natalie who is full of teenage insecurities and who can blame her? She’s suffered from bad acne in her adolescent years, and it was so bad she was teased relentlessly. Medication has helped her but it’s left her scarred, and so anxious. Thank goodness for her best friends Zach and Lucy, who know the best of her and maybe this someone new who will see past her insecurities and hopefully like her too.

What I liked:

*Natalie’s teenage insecurities are on point. I never suffered from bad acne until after I turned 19, but my sister suffered from it in middle school. It eats away at your confidence, makes you feel horrible and especially in high school where everything seems magnified – it can be awful. Natalie’s fears have made her into an anxious person, especially about her appearance. All the thoughts in her head, I’ve had them – haven’t we all?

*So happy Natalie had two best friends, Zach and Lucy, she could count on. I liked knowing her true thoughts about when said two best friends started dating each other, but the fact they might a cool trio made me happy Natalie had a support group. And I love Zach’s family who treated her like their family also.

*The awkwardness in this book is so funny and cringe-worthy, I felt for Natalie at the first party she attends with Owen and Alex. It was giving me anxiety just reading it because I wanted her to be okay. And all the awkwardness between her and Alex hooking up or trying to get together was so real.

*Natalie’s voice is strong. I got swept up in her thoughts and insecurities. We even get back story on some of her reactions, like the boys who teased her about her pimples. 😒 She tells us how she became so anxious – and we see her try to wade through social situations and a lot of times failing at them. What I love about Natalie is that yes she will flee a situation and break down and cry but that doesn’t stop her from getting up the next day and living her life as best she can with her anxiety. It’s scary to like a boy when you aren’t even sure what is there to like about yourself. Alex was the somewhat non-perfect guy to like because hiding under what she thought was “perfection” was someone as insecure with his life also. We don’t have it together folks! I mean, who really does?

Things That Made Me Go Hmmm:

*The story starts off with Natalie’s parents announcing their divorce and though it seems like a big issue, I felt like it faded to the background. Maybe it was how Natalie was coping with the situation though – she does talk more to her parents about it closer to the end of the book but it’s an amicable parting so maybe there was much drama there to begin with.

*Natalie and Alex’s relationship happens pretty quick in the timeline of this book but it’s due to the both of them stumbling around trying to figure what they are doing. It’s not insta-love since she’s known Alex for a long time, but Natalie tries to move the relationship to the next level pretty quick, again, due to insecurities.

Final Thoughts:

I absolutely enjoyed reading this book! Natalie’s insecurities and anxieties are so relatable. I liked watching her go from a girl who seems absolutely terrified to be at a party to the girl telling Alex what she feels and showing him her scars. 👏🏼 I was so proud of her. This is a wonderful debut book that teens will be able to relate to and I look forward to reading more books from this author.

***Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***

A cutesy teen romance. This was probably not meant for me as the audience, but I appreciated what this author brought to the table.

Here’s a comment I’ve never made about a book before: I don’t understand the title. It was never mentioned and no one ever says anything or implies anything like it anywhere in the book. So, there’s that.

However, I liked this book for many reasons. First, I was pleasantly surprised to find it set in Australia! That was cool and made me be constantly on the lookout for differences down under - of which there were plenty. Like New Years in the summer and Tim Tams and Nido (which is milk powder). The way they refer to schools and uni and “bathers,” too. Very cool. 😎

I was able to completely relate to the raging insecurity of Natalie, too. Completely. As well as her complete lack of any dating experience as a high school graduate. Been there. Was that. I think the author conveyed all of it so truthfully. It was refreshing to have this person as the star of the story, as I think there are more of US than we believe.

Finally, while I don’t usually like nice, neat, tidy endings, I’m glad she got hers. And here’s my weird “real” insistence coming through: did he have to call her gorgeous? Not sure how real that is. But that’s okay. I allow it. 🤓💜📚

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, I received an eArc of this book in exchange for a honest review.

I feel like for a long time I was suffering through romance books I didn’t enjoy – for the most part I couldn’t get into them. Everything felt unreal – even when I was a teen. Those teens were glorious and immortal, and for a long time I thought I was the odd one out. It has only been in recent years when reading YA romance that I started to see some of what I wished I could have read reflected in new books. And I mention that because this book was relatable on a whole new level. It felt real and it felt honest.

First off, this book did make me remember what my teen years were like. I never dated myself, but Natalie goes through some of the same thought processes and situations that I often thought about or encountered. Not the all girls school part, but a lot of it. Natalie has a chronic condition that affected her appearance and she always felt ugly and unlovable. And I was overweight (still am) and so I really connected with that feeling. The feeling that no one would ever like me for who I was – and it felt so great to see that reflected in this book. I about swooned when we get more in depth with Natalie’s condition. She isn’t perfect – but her personality is amazing.

I love Natalie as a character. I think we see a wonderful character arc for her. We see her start to grow up, but we also see her struggle with her emotions, and her life and everything else. I found it very touching and was moved at moments in this book. Both with pity and laughter. There were some great moments in this book that made me chuckle and I really liked the bits of humor interwoven with more serious issues.

I liked the supporting characters as well, they fell into the friends category and they pushed the story forward, but they too also had little plots set in their own world that Natalie slowly uncovers. And I loved Alex.

I loved Natalie’s relationship with love and romance and it was beautiful to see it unfolding. As I said previously: tears and laughter. This is honestly a lovely book on so many levels. I don’t think I can say enough good things about it, other than I flew through it in a few days between working.

Kenwood’s writing is also stellar. I was invited in and drawn into the book with this writing. This was an amazing book, and it is one I definitely would like to own once it is published!

3.5-4 stars

This book wasn’t really what I was expecting. The main character has some major self esteem issues and has really bad aches issues. She finds out right out the back that her parents are getting divorced. After finding out this news she kind of decides to do things out of her comfort zone which leads her to her best friends older brother who has had a crush on her.

I feel like this book has a much deeper meaning than what I expected and I think they made the main character pretty flawed and relatable which I feel like a lot of readers will really enjoy!

I felt like this will be great for teens. As a mid-20’s woman, I feel like this book gave me anxiety that she also has within this book. It was definitely interesting and it was the rollercoaster every good teen book needs.

A relatable body positive, anxiety novel that a makes the ordinary extraordinary. For all the girls who deal with the "growing up stuff" like acne and bra shopping and finding ways to coax yourself out of your comfort zone . . . Natalie wraps up high school, waits for college acceptance, and moves past all of the things that hold her back. There are steps forward and back as she navigates her parents' divorce, her friends falling in love, and finding a guy of her own, but the story feels so real, like it could be going on somewhere out there in the great big world as you read.

NOOOOOO!!!!!!!! I was so upset that this book ended so fast it left me wanting more. Natalie is one of those adorable characters you'll be rooting for till the end. . I definitely loved the romance between Alex and Natalie and wanted much much more. Alex was the perfect guy for her and this was a cute romance for anyone who struggled through high school. Nina Kenwood needs to write me another book soon because I can't wait to read another story by her

This book definitely took me by surprise. I wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did since the beginning was a bit on the slower side and it lacked when it came to plot points.It was also hard to feel a connection towards any of the characters, including the main one Natalie. Luckily as the book progressed, it got a lot better.

Natalie's parents are getting divorced. To her and everyone, they were the perfect couple. It was hard to connect with her on this because my parents are still married but I can see why this would be a great connection for others. As the story progresses we start to understand her better, like how awkward she is and what it's like to hit puberty. All of this was relevant because as a woman, I had been there. I also am very awkward, especially in social situations like parties.

The awkwardness doesn't stop there though. The relationship between her and another character is hilarious but also so true and real. There are minor fights, issues between friends, understanding exes, and learning to try to be yourself around the person you like. It felt good to read something that honestly felt like me when I was figuring out the whole dating thing.

Even through all of that, she still has her support system. At times it can even be rocky with her friendships especially with how the book ends. It goes to show us that life can never be planned out, sometimes we just have to wing and hope that everything works out like it is supposed to.

Overall, I enjoyed this one. It had realistic characters that make realistic decisions.