I picked up this book for the Romero & Juliet gay mob premise which sounded like a lot of fun and for the most part, the book delivers until it hits the fourth act where all of the tension suddenly collapses. It's a shame because I really enjoyed reading up until the end but the outcomes to leaving home felt too easy and sanitized after such a high body count and stakes through the rest of the book.

You know how some books you devoir in one sitting because you can't help yourself, and other books you have to force yourself to pace, because you know reading them too quickly will thoroughly mess you up and leave you in a book hangover for a solid week? THE FRIEND SCHEME is one of those special latter books.

I really enjoyed this book. Seriously. I can already tell that a lot of folks are going to have some trouble with the writing style, because it's not exactly verbose, but it <i>does</i> remind me of how a teenager would probably speak and perceive the world, which I found strangely endearing and really helped put me into Matt's head. Also, strangely enough, the pop culture references in this book were well done, too; most of the time, in YA books of this particular breed, the constant barrage of references to things in media at the time of publication drives me insane, but in this book? It felt fresh. Unique. Dorky in a way that served to further develop the characters rather than showing how cool and with-the-times the author wants you to think they are. Was it overdone? Maybe. Some people will probably say it was. But in my opinion, it went far enough over the line to cross back into "okay" territory for me, and I actually really liked it. I guess we'll see how well that holds up in a few years when I reread it!

Because that's the thing - I really want to reread this book already. This is one of those stories that would probably be just as fun to go through again, knowing what I know now about the characters and where the story goes. I think that has to do with the use of thriller tropes in an already fairly short YA novel; I breezed through this entire book in the span of probably four hours tops, but I spread it out over the course of a week because I wanted to really savor it. The pacing's great, the intrigue is fascinating, and I never felt like one part of the plot was doing more heavy lifting than the other. It all ties together really well at the end. Nothing felt wasted.

This was just a clean, easy, fun read. I went into it completely blind, other than knowing it was a queer YA own voices novel (aka my jam), and I'm really glad I did.

Thank you to the lovely beans at Macmillan for the NetGalley arc!!

This book is now published today so I now won’t be reading this as an arc. I appreciate the opportunity to read this book early and I am saddened that I didn’t get a chance to so. Thank you so much.

2.5* rounded up. Essentially, Romeo and Juliet a la Mafia, but more gay.

I don't hold anything against this book. I think it's great that we in the LGBT+ community are finally getting more books that are just plain nonsense, books in which the whole being LGBT thing isn't the whole conflict (or in this case, the conflict at all). This is definitely a great hi-lo book for an older teen guy, which I can also get behind. However, it very definitely did not live up to my hopes for it.

The thing that took it from being a solid 3-star book to being a 2.5 star book was the amount of pop culture references that were just shotgunned on to the page. There just wasn't enough time spent on any of them to make it feel like anything other than really rapid name-dropping among some dialogue that was already pretty awkward. I spend a lot of time with teens around this age (both interacting with and overhearing), and the dialogue was not remotely realistic, which threw me a little too. There was also an awful lot of suspension of disbelief required for the last 30% of the book and I honestly just wasn't sold enough to give it.

Overall, I would recommend this book for a teen looking for something easier to read but still thematically and interest-wise appropriate for their age, but for more advanced or older readers, I think it's a no-sale.

Seventeen-year-old Matt Miller never wanted to be a criminal. But since his father is a powerful mob boss, and his golden-boy of an older brother is next in line, Matt is expected to follow his family’s legacy. Then, he meets fellow teen, Jason, and the two spark a secret friendship—and possibly something more—that will change everything.

The Friend Scheme is a new young adult novel from Cale Dietrich, centering around a ‘forbidden romance’ between the son of a mob boss and his mysterious new friend. The core concept shines with the potential for thrilling action, an examination of criminal politics, and, of course, angsty romantic tension. However, the execution is, unfortunately, lacking. While the first few pages showed promise, the voice was soon too detached to keep my attention, or connect me with either main character. And despite enjoy the queer twist on this Romeo and Juliet type of tale, the stilted dialogue between Matt and Jason dimmed any possibility for an organic connection between them.

I particularly wanted to know more about the Millers' history and reputation as a crime syndicate, but sadly there wasn’t enough page-time spent on the subject, nor on Matt’s complicated relationship with his family, beyond their domineering parenting style. Instead, I yearned for a more extensive dive into the ruthless inner workings of this major criminal organization. Moreover, the moments which captivated me most as as reader were the subtle critiques of the heteronormative, toxic masculinity imposed upon Matt by Mafia culture, as well as his vehement rejection of these deeply harmful gender constructs.

Overall, The Friend Scheme is an engaging story at heart with a unique twist on the forbidden romance trope.

(Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing us with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.)

I honestly feel like I don’t really have that much to say about this book. It was just kind of… flat. I was excited to read this, it’s kind of a revamped enemies to lovers, Romeo and Juliet style romance. It was also a bit anti-hero esque, which I love. But it really just wasn’t that good, and some parts of the plot don’t make a whole lot of sense.

The first couple pages were excellent. I was getting hyped, ready for a stay-up-until-3am, can’t-put-the-book-down kind of story. I really liked Matt, simply because I love a good mob family (he was also just very likable). Jason was fine, I guess. To me it felt like he was just kinda there. Which is unfortunate since he’s the second most important character in the book. In terms of individual character development, I felt there wasn’t much there. They both come into themselves a little more by the end of the book, but that’s about it. I wish there was more to it. There was potential for there to be more to it.

One person I did really like was Cassidy, but I feel as though she just pops in and out really quickly. I wanted more of her and her friendship with Jason.

The dialogue, and writing in general, was a bit stilted and awkward. I realized this immediately after I finished reading those glorious first few pages. Some of the awkward dialogue might be explained by the fact that Matt is just an awkward kid at the beginning, but that’s not all of it. It still didn’t feel natural, and some of the things Jason was saying read very practiced. They were still cute together though✨

The plot was a bit of a struggle too. First of all, I feel like the fact that Matt is part of a mob family isn’t really talked about. His family is more just treated as super controlling, not A FREAKING CRIME FAMILY. My other issue is this: there was plot twist #1, which you were clearly supposed to expect, but then there was plot twist #2, which was clearly supposed to be a surprise. The problem was, it wasn’t a surprise, and it also felt fairly unlikely.

Speaking of plot, let’s talk about endings. This one felt rushed and unfinished. Things wrapped up far too quickly, and the epilogue felt tacked on and out of place. It left me reeling. I wasn’t quite sure what happened, or when it happened. I also felt as though some mention of Cassidy, and Matt’s family ought to have been made. It was almost like they were completely out of the picture, which doesn’t quite make sense to me.The book was moving along nicely for a bit and the *BAM* it was over. Very dissatisfying. There were multiple plot lines that never got completely wrapped up.

All in all, I had a fair amount of issues with this book, despite the fact that it was pretty cute. I probably wouldn’t recommend it, but it wasn’t a terrible read either. I’m pretty indifferent, to be honest.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. The above quotes were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

This was so disappointing. I was so excited for this book, I loved The Love Interest and the concept of this book sounded like something I'd love. I expected this book to be full of drama and keep me on the edge of my seat. But it did nothing for me. I would expect for a book about a child who grew up in a gang to be moody and action filled. This book was just to simple for what it was. This story should have been so much more intense and emotional. Both the main characters and story just felt so flat.

*My thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for gifting me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

It really kills me to say this, but I have to: ⭐ star

The Friend Scheme is a YA about how two boys from rival gangs with a bloody history meet and fall in love. Now they have to choose between their loyalty to their families and their feelings for each other.

This had all the makings of a great book. Romeo-and-Juliet forbidden love, rival gangs, the potential for a great, twisty betrayal and reconciliation...This should have been chock full of great tension and conflict and drama and romance, and unfortunately, it had none of those things.

I rarely one star a book because there has to be just absolutely nothing in it for me at that point. I was really excited about this one and sorely disappointed at the result. The writing was very bland, the dialogue would go on for pages and pages and move the plot absolutely nowhere. Not to mention it came off as extremely childish. For two boys who grew up "adjacent to death", the thought process of the main character was far younger than his seventeen years. There was essentially zero conflict, nothing that lasted, nothing that pushed the characters or made them grow. They were the exact same at the end as they were at the beginning as far as I was concerned.

It was just simply not for me. There was not enough to hold interest. I could barely tell the two leads apart. This one needed some more work.

The trope and the plot of The Friend Scheme are top notch. A romance where between the son of a mob boss and a mysterious boy he meets is used to improve the appeal of the characters, and then they end up falling for each other is basically candy for me. I even enjoyed both of the heroes and their reluctantly budding relationship. As up and down as it may have been. That being said the flow of the writing was what kept me peep sally, from fully investing. I even took some time after I initially finished reading to write this review.

I didn't connect with the story either. Honestly, I think this is largely in part to my inability to separate Matt and Jason, but aside from that, I simply couldn't go along with him working at this bizarre organization that seems like one big inside joke that never seemed funny. The dynamics - on both sides - feature such absolute extremes of good/bad, there's absolutely nothing to even 'take a side on,'

What I did was go back in and read some scenes that I’d highlighted, and reading them as a piece and not as part of the whole made me enjoy them way more. So I think what I’m trying to say is that I enjoyed this read, it’s entertaining in a very unrealistic way and as it’s my first from this author it felt fresh and fun, but the writing style may just not be for me.

The Friend Scheme surprised me, it wasn't what I thought it was going to be, which was a solid romance with lots of crime and a dash of drama. Instead, it was a surprisingly thoughtful book about finding and standing up for yourself with a strong dose of romance and some family issues. 

The book follows our main character, Matt as he tries to avoid committing crimes with his mobster family while simultaneously living up to his father's expectations and his older, Perfect Mobster™ brother Luke. He ends up meeting this uber hot guy named Jason and falling for him, while trying to insist that it's just a friendship they have despite both obviously being interested in each other.

I enjoyed this book, it was a quick read, and the plot kept up a pretty decent pace, which I appreciated. I liked that Matt's relationship with Jason didn't completely end up overshadowing his thought process, or his relationships with his family. At the root of Matt and Jason's relationship was a really great friendship that had been built up so that they had a really good connection, and I loved that aspect of it so much. I was really impressed with how much Dietrich's writing and storytelling had improved from his debut, the characters felt much more fleshed out in this one.

My two main complaints aren't awful either, if you're willing to overlook them, then you'll probably love The Friend Scheme. The first complaint is that while Matt still felt more like a teenager than the characters in The Love Interest (who felt like they were in their 30s at times), he still felt...older than he was supposed to be. He made some bad decisions, but he communicated with everyone FAR too well to make him feel like a real teen to me. Not that teens don't communicate, but the way he did was in a way that I feel like you don't learn until you're in your early to mid-twenties, if that makes sense. Most of why he felt like a teen was because he fell into the basic teen boy tropes, which was disappointing.

My second complaint is that I feel like the book has been marketed wrong. It's pitched as a thriller, but it really wasn't. There was almost no crime, and most of the action was used as a way to motivate Matt to change his relationships. The large plot twist is also mentioned in the blurb right now too, which is...confusing to say the least. I feel bad even bringing this up, because it's not Dietrich's fault, but if you're looking for a book that matches how it's being marketed you're going to be let down.

The Friend Scheme is a romantic coming of age novel about family and finding yourself, with a side of drama and a sprinkling of crime. If you're looking for a well developed relationship between two teen boys, and the anxieties of falling in love (albeit, with some other issues), this book is for you. It's got a hopefulness to it that will leave you excited to see what Dietrich writes next.

The Friend Scheme
If you’re like me and was kind of let down by The Love Interest, then pick up The Friend Scheme and fall in love. This action-packed swoon fest was such a joy to read. I loved the development of both boys - even though it was from Matt’s perspective, the reader is able to tell what’s going on with Jason without it being explicitly written out. Big props to Matt’s older brother too, who defies the expectation of just a super macho/masculine guy. The ending felt a little rushed to me and didn’t quite fit with the rest of the story, but the first 80% of the book makes up for it.
Overall, loved this one from Dietrich!

I requested THE FRIEND SCHEME because of the cover and the premise. A queer Romeo & Juliet retelling in modern-day Florida? ABSOLUTELY YES.

I really enjoyed the cast of characters and the execution of an underworld crime-family in a decades long feud with another family. It was very entertaining during the read. The twist would have been a big surprise if it had not been mentioned in the NG copy (though I believe that's not the case in descriptions on other retailers/Goodreads). Dietrich's writing shows great potential, though I think the execution in this book wasn't quite there yet. I felt at times the dialogue between our protagonist Matt and his love interest, Jason, was a little unpolished, though they were both very likable and I found myself rooting for them. I am very excited to read future books by Cale Dietrich!

I really enjoyed this book! It was sooo good and the overall build of the friendship and then relationship was awesome. Very reminiscent of the slow burn in The Love Interest which I enjoyed also.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

If you want a m/m Romeo and Juliet, this is basically it….aside from the death, that is. I was excited to pick this up anticipating adventure, action, and romance. From the very first page, the characters and plot fell flat. For a book centered around a mob family, it didn’t have much plotting and high action until the very end when it felt like the author remembered that was supposed to be a major part of the story. Aside from being frustrated about the mob aspect, I was also frustrated with Matt and how cringey and cliche his inner monologue was. I feel like his character could have been so much more than a “typical” teen boy with family and romantic problems. There was an opportunity in Matt’s conflict with his family conflict about masculinity and violence. On top of all of this, I wasn’t particularly inspired by the romance. Matt constantly referenced how connected they were. Personally, the more you have to disclose how connected you are to someone and you do it frequently, it probably isn’t the case. I would rather have been shown their connection than told, repeatedly. This book had so much potential but fell flat when it came to the depth of the romance and the thrill and action promised from being centered on a mob family.

The narrating was *chef’s kiss* spot-on, really felt like I was inside Matt’s head, feeling his feelings and rooting for him 110% through it all. He tries so hard to do right by his family and live up to societal expectations, even as he twists himself into a miserable pretzel in his attempts.

This isn’t so much a story of ‘finding oneself’ - Matt knows exactly who he is and what he wants when we meet him. He just doesn’t think it’s possible to pursue his dreams or to be with the type of person he wants to be with. Societal norms and family obligations have set him up to be a completely miserable 17-year-old, despite being surrounded by family, beautiful beaches, and lots of money. He is unable to share his true self with the world and it’s not very surprising that he has no friends when we first meet him.

It is heartbreaking to have a narrating character be so in-touch with themselves, but to have such low self-esteem and feel so trapped. Matt’s insecurities and awkward moments are the result of the environment he was brought up in; societal expectations and traditions of masculinity, gender, and putting one’s parents’ wishes before their own. He’s constantly in performance-mode; pretending to be what his family expects, rather than what he really is, under threat of his world imploding around him. He truly believes his family wouldn’t just out-cast him, but that they’d actively hunt him down for the rest of his days, should he go against their wishes. That’s the mob for ya.

Readers are introduced to Matt on the day he first meets Jason and it quickly becomes apparent that the boys’ circumstances are similar to ‘Romeo and Juliet.’ Their friendship and mutual growing attraction can only flourish if they don’t discuss their families, even though the ‘family business’ is a huge aspect of both their lives. We watch as Matt’s feelings for Jason grow and witness his inner conflicts and self-talk over whether he can continue to hang out with (and make out with) Jason or if he’s betraying his family by doing so. He wants to be smart, he wants to be loyal, to his father who raised him as a single parent and his older brother who looks out for him and gives him advise.

It is easy for readers to become invested in Matt, to feel his feelings, and relate to his situations. It is also deeply satisfying to watch the positive changes he makes for himself towards the end of this book. Hang in there through the rocky parts, it gets better.

I absolutely love this book! It’s not your predictable trope-filled romance novel. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, something happens that changes everything. Highly recommend.

I absolutely adored Cale's debut so I was super pumped for his second novel. Although it had his signature writing style, angsty relationships, and intriguing plot, it fell a little flat for me.

I failed to really connected with the characters or be invested in there dramas.

I loved this book so much. I love the dynamic of showing a boy who is pressured to show “masculine” characteristics even though he likes things his family doesn’t understand. The cute interactions between the couple will bring a smile to your face. This book had me really feeling for both leading characters in a Romeo and Juliet situation!

I think the author did a good job with the emotional element but I failed to be really invested in the external element of the plot with the families.

Marked as one of summer's hottest, and most anticipated reads, The Friend Scheme is perfect for those looking for a feel-good, light cliche romance.

The best I can explain for it is that if you love the warm and fluffies of Hallmark Christmas movies, then you'll more than likely love this book with the same amount of heart. It's idealism and perfect companionship with a happy ending for everyone.

Meanwhile, I'm not one for that fanfare. Which is fine. Those books and movies are making money well without me feeding into their capital. However, in my personal review I must point out the glaringly obvious. Which is that the dialogue Dietrich writes is often unrealistic and far too idealized for any real life person to say. Thus, making it hard to fully immerse oneself in the story when every time a character talks you're sent right back out of it with increasingly cringey ways.

Since this was my first book from this author it prompted me to go ahead and look up if this dialogue tick was unique to this book, considering there's a scheme afoot, or if it's a writing trait. Relying on the voices of others, I'm disappointed to note that I'm not alone in pointing this quirk out, it's in Dietrich's past work as well. Bummer.

And yet, I pull through that only to get to my second concern. And possibly the most alarming? Going into this judging by the cover alone I expected the main and his love interest to be of a mixed racial pairing. The artwork certainly shows us a white male with a darker male beside him. And yet, no, nope, wrong, not true. Both Jason AND Matt are "pale skinned" and white. There's multiple written proof of that in the descriptions given to us time and time again. The most that changes is towards the end when Jason gets slightly tanned.

But does that warrant a misleading poc looking character art on the cover? Or was it to be clearly assumed that this one person, whom I gather is Jason on the left there, is just in a major dark spot that changes his looks so drastically?

I mean... honestly I just feel so confused by it. Even more so because I spent most of the book trying to figure out who was who only to come to the realization that the cover completely bamboozled me.

In the end, The Friend Scheme gave me everything I hoped for from it, but ultimately just wasn't my cup of tea.