I wasn’t a fan of this one sorry, I almost DNF’d it but pushed on.
The premise was great but I think the execution missed the mark. I couldn’t care about any of the characters, the main character Kate was just so damn annoying. The story kept getting interrupted by Libby as they were writing the story and Libby and Kate had little comments throughout the book. It kept pulling me out of the story. It was jarring.
The diversity and bulling discussion was nice to see but almost felt forced. Like it was added because they felt it should be included, it didn’t feel natural.

I did actually purchase this book myself because I was so late reading my arc but I’ll be passing it along to the library. It was a miss for me.

I would rate 3.75 out 5 stars.

I am a huge fan of Jenna Guillaume online - we're similar ages, both Australian and have a lot of similar interests - so I was really excited to be approved for this e-ARC.

This is the type of story that 16 year old me would have completely eaten up and honestly 32 year old me was not much different. You Were Made For Me is a delightful blend of teen angst and predictable OTT teen fun PLUS some Asexual representation to boot!

If this isn't made into an Australian teen rom-com then there is truly no justice in the world.

I have tried to read this a few times now and I don't think it's going to be for me. I feel like the protagonist is too young for what I was looking for and it didn't click with what I was wanting. The writing was still great though and the plot seemed interesting, but I think it was something different to what I was expecting.

A gorgeously written and hilarious story, You Were Made For Me reminded me stylistically of the real-life inspired fan fiction my friends and I wrote as young teenagers. The story follows two teenage best friends as they navigate their friendship, romantic interests and school bullying in the aftermath of their accidental creation of the ideal boyfriend.

The use of such a fun, well constructed narrative voice made the book's dramatised plot and dichotomous, trope-y characterisations feel relevant and consistent. While the main antagonist was only developed to a limited extent and largely adhered to the typical 'mean girl' trope (down to her two personality-less sidekicks), it somehow worked in the story, helping to make it a light but amusing read. Additionally, the use over-dramatised scenes and a plot that bordered on the unbelievable (in the best way possible) helped to develop an added layer of complexity in the novel as I began to explore the idea that perhaps the narrators where extending the truth. This idea isn't developed to a large extent, however, it was interesting for me to consider nonetheless.

While initially the characters felt a little two dimensional, towards the very end of the book, greater complexity emerged. The main character's best friend, for example, is shown to be more diverse in her sexuality than is originally suggested [SPOILER: she's asexual (for those of you looking for asexual representation!)] .

I also loved the general message that friendship trumps romance, and thought that the way the story concluded was wholesome and warming.

Overall You Were Made For Me was an adorable, almost nostalgic read with an original plot and forgettable but engaging characters. A great summer beach read!

*I received an electronic copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review. This did not affect my comments on the book in any way*

*I experienced some technical issues with the formatting of this eARC in that pages didn't load or were 'blacked out'. I have not reflected this in my rating, however it was a significant issue that I hope was resolved in the final published copy.

Searching for a light hearted read that will make you laugh but also has a deeper side? This YA novel has it! Lots of laughs to be found here with all the teenage awkwardness but also loved the exploration of friendship, sexuality, and what makes a healthy relationship. Short and super sweet.

You Were Made For Me follows Katie, an Aussie teenager who accidentally creates the perfect boyfriend, who's drop-dead gorgeous and completely devoted to her. But what if the perfect guy for her was next door all this time? Featuring a stellar cast of likeable characters, You Were Made For Me is a coming-of-age novel that's perfect for Australian teenagers.

While it has its cute and fun elements, it also has an unexpected (but pleasant) depth, as it explores the death of a parent, schoolyard bullying and friendship. I also loved that the book was written as a conversation between Katie and her best friend - while entertaining, it also kept the story flowing.

Thank you Pan Macmillan Australia and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I really loved Jenna Guillaume’s debut novel What I Like About Me – it was a fun, young adult contemporary read that addressed a lot of issues teens (particularly teen girls) face in our current day and age. I was really eager to see what Guillaume would do in her follow-up novel and I think she hit on a really interesting idea for the book.

Katie is sixteen, has a crush on the star of her high school’s football team and is persona non grata to the queen of the school. She’s an artist and writer and daydreams about her perfect boyfriend and her first kiss… and then accidentally creates him overnight with the help of her best friend. He’s the perfect boy: gorgeous, funny, kind and utterly devoted to her. But is it really what she wants?

There are a lot of things to like about this #LoveOzYA rom-com – it’s short, sweet and hits on a lot of insecurities teen girls have around boyfriends, relationship and school. There’s great representation of friendships – between girls and also between girls and boys – and also characters who have the courage to stand up to bullies.

It’s cute, and quirky, and Katie and Libby accidentally creating the perfect boy, called Guy, is adorable. (As is Guy, to be honest.)

Katie’s on a journey to figure out what she really wants, and that includes ups and downs in her romantic life, with her friends and with her family. There’s drama, non of it unsolvable, and a lot of laughs to be had.

In theory, this would be my perfect YA contemporary romance, but one aspect really kept pulling me out of the story and that was the narration style.

Katie is telling us the events that took place leading up to the creation of Guy all the way through to the end of the story. She’s writing it down, recording it for history’s sake, and Libby, her best friend is helping. I don’t have an issue with that, but there are times when both Katie and Libby ‘speak’ to the reader and have conversations with each other and it really stopped the flow of the story for me. I understand it’s more of a comedic element, and perhaps the formatting of the e-Arc didn’t help in this case, but it was hard to tell the different in type between the main narrative and this on-going present-day conversation between the two characters and after a while it started to put my off.

So, while that part of the storytelling style bothered me, the rest of the book was just a fun contemporary romp about wish-fulfilment.

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

"The day I created a boy started like any other"

Oh boy.

(Excuse the pun)

I honestly have no words to describe this book. It was an absolute bundle of chaotic energy, good whole-hearted humour and beautiful characters that weren't hard to fall in love with. The story itself, was so unique and special that it was difficult not to find joy whilst reading this. I enjoyed every minute and every second spent reading You Were Made For Me. If the concept (of making a dream boyfriend and all the hullabaloo that goes with it) wasn't enough to persuade you, the characters, the banter and the wit was flawless and made for an enjoyable reading experience.

Narrated by main character, Katie, the book chronicles the bizarre experience of creating a dream boy out of a clay sculpture and all of the strangeness that comes with it. Guy, is everything Katie wants in a guy: he's Hemsworth brother good-looking, he's romantic and he cares a lot for her. Despite being perfect, Katie soon begins to question her happiness with a "perfect person" like him. But most worryingly, if Guy is really the boy of her dreams.

From page 1 I really enjoyed this book. It was so quirky, fun and dynamic and the way the book was structured really helped this. Some readers, I understand, would not cope well with the structure which goes between the actual storytelling to side-conversations with Libby but in all honesty, I think the style really suited me. It read like dialogue or, aloud, kind of like when your best friend is telling you a really strange but interesting story. I enjoyed it a lot and I know I've been saying that many times throughout this review but it really was a lot of fun and it did have a lot of sarcasm, wit and humour.

My only criticism (which in all honesty isn't really a criticism) is probably the enigma surrounding how they made a boy in the first place. The wit and humour covered it all up but I was left really wanting to know more and had strong suspicions that there would be fantasy ties in this book e.g, Libby is actually a witch and out of the benefit of her own heart she pulled a full on Enchantress-from-Beauty-And-The-Beast-moment to teach Katie a lesson. Even a wacky explanation like that would've provided filling for the massive loophole in the plot.

That being said, I did enjoy the ending and how everything tied together. It left me feeling very whole and satisfied as I read the last page.

ACTUAL RATING: 4.1 STARS

I read this book without much knowledge of what it was about and ended up finding it quiet enjoyable. I think there are a lot of topics that should not be missed in this book and a few heavy subjects that are great to learn for any young adult who comes about this book.
It was a funny & quirky storyline that did have me laughing out loud at times. A fun book with some great characters and very enjoyable!

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan AU for an ARC in exchange for a review.

I did not expect to love this book as much as I do.

I absolutely adored Jenna Guillaume’s first book, What I Like About Me (WILAM). It was so fun and lighthearted and so meaningful. In my mind, there was no way You Were Made for Me could be just as good.

I am so happy to be wrong.

You Were Made For Me is a fun, quirky and lighthearted story just like WILAM. But it’s so different to WILAM. It’s a completely different story, but it’s so good in it’s own right. I don’t think I’ve laughed so much when reading contemporary before. I ended up laughing so much I cried – it was an emotional rollercoaster, but it was just that good. I read the whole thing in one sitting - it’s so easy to get through.

I love when books are so easy to read. It makes the experience of reading so much easier and I don’t have to keep putting the book down to ask what the hell is going on :)

I remember seeing the title and cover and thinking how cute and somewhat predictable the story would be, but decided to read it anyway. Somehow I was approved for a review copy, and here we are.

The thing is, You Were Made For Me wasn’t as predictable as I thought it would be. Sure, two friends somehow Frankensteined their way into making a real-life boy (Guy) who is in love with one of them. And drama arises from that, to the point where the main character, Katie, questions Guy's affections for her.

But what I wasn’t expecting is how real the story would feel. The characters felt genuine, and their relationships with each other flowed so well. The issues they face, with Guy, typical high school bullying and general friendship and family dramas are so well written and come across so authentically. Katie’s friends, Libby, Theo, Alex and the rest of her friendship group felt so real, particularly with the way they referred to little things, like their formal not being a prom. There were all these little hints throughout the story that screamed Australia at me, and it’s always so lovely to read a story that incorporates all those things and doesn’t come off feeling silly. The relationship drama didn’t feel forced, and I liked how Libby pointed out how absorbed Katie was with Guy, and how she felt about it. The overall style of the book is really refreshing and uncomplicated as Katie and Libby add their thoughts as they write the story together. It really put emphasis on their friendship and how their friendship influenced their story – this book focused more on platonic relationships than romance.

All up, I really enjoyed this book. I am still wondering what happened to Guy since he did just disappear, but I’m not entirely sure how you could get rid of him - he's kinda like Frankenstein’s monster in that way :D

Do you remember when you were a teenager? When you were absolutely convinced that the cool guy is never going to be into you? Not least of all because he has a beautiful, popular girlfriend who happens to be your nemesis, but also because you know you're not in his league?



I remember feeling similar things to this, and to be honest, not only as a teenager. As an adult I spent many years as a single parent and there were times I believed it wouldn't be possible for me to meet the perfect guy. Luckily, I ended up meeting my pretty much perfect guy but it did take a long time.



What I didn't ever do though is accidentally create my own perfect guy (I had to rely on book boyfriends to fulfil that role) but that's exactly what happens for Katie. She's never been kissed and the boy that she really likes is oblivious to her existence. One night, after a rough day at school Katie and her friend Libby conjure up the perfect boy. When she goes to bed she has an anatomically correct clay figurine and when she wakes up there is 6 foot of Hemsworth-like boy in her room. What else are you going to do but freak out? And then you give them a completely imaginative name like, um, Guy?

Fortunately Libby and Katie's next door neighbour Theo are on hand to help with issues like where Guy can sleep because Libby's parents would freak if he stayed at her place. Theo has been Katie's friend for years. They have been there for each other through tragedy and triumph. But will their friendship survive Guy?



But here's the thing about creating someone so perfect. Guy has no life experience of his own. He has just popped into existence. Every time he eats something, it is the best thing he ever tasted. He has never been to school, and so just waits around for Katie to come home from work or school. He has to learn about working and money. The one thing he knows is Katie. But how do you know what they see in you when you made them to love just you?





I am not the target demographic for this book at all. I am more like the parent of the target demographic, but that doesn't mean to say that I couldn't enjoy the book. I enjoyed the back and forth on the page between Libby and Katie, and, obviously suspending disbelief, I enjoyed the premise of the book. It has that same kind of feel as movies like Freaky Friday and Big. And I definitely could relate to some of the issues around self worth as I did in this author's debut novel which I read last year. I think that there are certain feelings that you have as a teenager that you don't have to dig very hard to be able to find within yourself as an adult.

There is no doubt that this book is on the lighter end of the scale, but if you are looking for a fun read with a very Australian feel that still manages to cover off serious subjects such as grief, sexuality and finding your own identity, this was a pleasure to read.

One night, feeling disillusioned with the lack of romance in her life, Kate dreams up the perfect guy with her friend Libby. Tall, six pack, floppy hair that sits jusssst right, eyes the colour of a clear blue sky, looking like a long lost Hemsworth brother...⁣
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...and that’s exactly what Kate discovers in her bed that very night. She literally dreamed up a guy - aptly named Guy- who is devoted, hot, sweet and totally head over heels in love with her. Except, what does a perfect guy do all day, when you have other places to be...like school?? And more importantly, how do you keep your family from discovering him curled up under your bed??! ⁣
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In between all the usual teenage and school drama, Kate learns that ‘perfect’ may not be all that it’s scratched up to be...that maybe perfection doesn’t exist, and the beautiful imperfections are what make us unique, vulnerable and able to connect with one another. ⁣
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I loved loved loved this book guys! It was fun, sweet and perfectly captured the awkwardness of those teenage years with plenty of actual laugh out loud moments. It’s a coming of age story of friendships - the good kind, the shitty kind and everything in between. The characters were well developed and the dialogue was on point, which I find can be hard in this genre (teens, am I right 🙄). ⁣
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I found Kate to be frustratingly self obsessed at times, a little too hung up on her own problems, but this is just a product of her youth 😅. I felt quite sorry for Guy. He was trapped in his own Rosencrantz and Guilderstern- esque hell, where he was created literally to be Kate’s perfect guy. She was his whole world, but he wasn’t hers. Which left him with nothing much to do besides looking up Wikipedia entries and having snacks all day (which actually does sound like the dream though, no?). If you enjoyed Nina Kenwood’s It Sounded Better in my Head, give this one a go! ⁣
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Thanks to @macmillanaus for sending this my way ❤️.

The plot of this reminded me a little bit of the 80s movie Weird Science, where a couple of geeks create a ‘perfect woman’ through computer hackery and an accidental power surge. In You Were Made For Me, it’s two girls, Katie and Libby, who create a ‘perfect boy’ through a combination of Katie’s clay modelling skills and some accidental alchemy from Libby. Katie’s the driving force here, the primary storyteller (though Libby interjects occasionally) and the one who needs a ‘Hemsworth’, because Katie has never been kissed, and at sixteen, she thinks it’s about time.

This is just utterly, completely charming. Though it’s delicately infused with Australian flavour, many of the story’s themes would be relatable to teens the world over - cyber bullying, relationship drama, struggles with figuring out one’s sexuality (or lack thereof - lovely to see an asexual character represented), figuring out a teen’s evolving place within different kinds of family units. It has the feel of a teen movie - I was imagining the young Heath Ledger from 10 Things I Hate About You in the role of Guy - and I genuinely hope it does actually get made into a movie, hopefully in Australia because the local flavour of it definitely adds to its charm. Everything about it was an absolute delight.

Five stars for a wonderfully imaginative and funny Australian YA story with a relatable heroine and an awesome cast of diverse characters.

What a light-hearted, fun and just down right adorable read this was from Jenna Guillaume! This was the perfect book to read whilst in lockdown as it had me laughing out loud all the way through 😂 I loved how the book was written in a fun way but also mixed in more serious topics as well such as inclusion, perfectionism, bullying and sexuality in a way that will resonate with the teens who will read this book! My only tiny criticism is that I found the parts where it jumps into conversation between Katie and Libby a little clunky at times which took a while to get used to but I still think this is a wonderful YA read!
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A big thank you to Netgalley and PanMacmillan Australia for this advanced digital copy to read and review! You Were Made for Me is out TODAY! ✨

Another great YA romcom from Jenna Guillaume! Filled with her trademark humour and heart, You We’re Made For Me was an absolute romp!
Instant favourite!

I was delighted to receive a copy of Jenna Guillaumes' second novel, You Were Made For Me. And rightly so! Immediately you are submersed into teenage angst, a protagonist and her best friend who are laugh-out-loud funny and that classic Guillaume writing style that is so easy to read.

You Were Made For Me is a light and fun read, it broaches subjects like bullying and family loss in a gentle way, as well as the dangers of social media. But at its heart it is a warm and fluffy novel about a girl who wants to be loved perfectly, and through her rose tinted glasses, she is blinded to what she already has.

I think I am a little too old to fully enjoy what creative genius this book is. 16 year old me would have loved this, would have read it over and over. The creative way it has Kate and Libby interjecting over the story breaks through the traditional style of wrtiting and makes it fun and feels more real. This will definitely be a hit for those on the younger side of the Young Adult age range.

Kate and Libby's friendship is what gives this book its substance. It is warm and real. Libby's sarcastic nature gives You Were Made For Me, the down to earth addition that it needs. And don't even get me started on the spud that is Theo. He is kind and gentle and honest. He is literally the perfect boy next door.

You Were Made For Me is a heart warming, coming of age title, with some science stuff thrown in for good measure. We see Kate grow so much throughout this book and even though I saw the ending coming from the very first page, I still loved it and it was still adorable.

Thank you to Pan Macmillan for sending me a review copy of this title. All thoughts are my own.

You Were Made for Me by Jenna Guillaume is a hilarious romcom that you need in your life! It follows the story of Katie who somehow managed to create a living boy out of clay with her best friend Libby. This boy is real, just like Pinnichio became a real boy after the Blue Fairy blessed him. This boy is like a long-lost Hemsworth brother: six-foot tall with floppy hair and eyes like the the sky on a clear summer day. The perfect dream guy. A guy named Guy, who is completed devoted to Katie because that was what he was born to do.

After Katie and Libby create this hunky seventeen year old, they find themselves dealing with bigger problems. How to keep him a secret but let the world know he exists a the same time? Cue in craziness, teen drama, self-love and growth!

You Were Made for Me is the love child of Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging and literally all the best Hallmark-like Christmas movies (minus the Christmas part). This book made me laugh, made me gasp, made me relive how stressful it is to be a teenager trying to figure out life. It’s light-hearted and sweet, making it the perfect book to devour when you need some feel-good entertainment in your life.

Katie felt like a teenager and reminded me of myself during those years. Being so stressed out cause due to the lack of romance and trying to fit the social norms of what it is to be perfect. Katie is a bit obsessed with having the perfect kiss, perfect boyfriend, perfect mural that she becomes a tiny-bit self absorbed. Her friends call her out on this through-out the novel until she finally realizes that and learns that being perfect is overrated because no one and nothing is perfect (maybe except Guy, he’s is LITERALLY perfect). Katie’s character growth and personal growth did not revolve around Guy (or any guy) but herself and she got there with the help and love from her friends.

Which moves me to my next topic, the friendship dynamics in this novel are PERFECT! Libby and Theo, are Katie’s best friends and honestly the fact that they are willing to call her out on her nonsense, fight and make-up and love each other is something more YA novels need. Because real friends call you out on your BS and are there for you while you’re being silly and shower you with love afterwards.

Guillaume deals with the complicated teenage feelings about appearance, friendship, bullying, love and identity so well. We have a character who realizes that they are asexual and that character’s friends respond by wanting to learn more about their identity and supporting them. It was so beautiful I nearly cried.

Even though I am no longer a teen, I felt very seen in this book. I wish books like these were around when I was a teen, because it’s just so pure and deals with topics toxic idea of perfection in a realistic manner without pulling any punches. Also the book ended with the characters still learning about who they are rather than having everything about life figured out. Let’s be real even in your twenties you are still learning about yourself and figuring life out.

Honestly this book need to be made into a Netflix Original Film ASAP because it’s such a great story.

LGBTQAI+ inclusivity? CHECK. Mashing stereotypes? CHECK. Soft boys? CHECK! Characters of colour with depth? Check. Dogs? Check! Present parental figures? CHECK! RELATABLE STORY? CHEEEECK!

For real, add this book to your TBR. It is the fun heart-warming book you need in your life amidst of the 2020 dumpster fire.

I enjoyed this book, it was cute and fun. It tells the story of two young girls who create the perfect boyfriend. As you can imagine perfection is never what it seems and this takes us on a fun journey of young relationships and considers what is the perfect first kiss.

Being Australian it was great to see a book set locally.

As I said this was cute and fun. The story is narrated by our two main characters Katie and Libby who are bestfriends and I really enjoyed their banter and the cuts to them narrating the story.

My favourite character was by far Theo, Katie's next door neighbour and close friend, he added some good insights and realism to the story and I would have loved more from him.

All in all this is a solid book with a fun premise, it was a quick and easy read and left me feeling happy.

Representation: Libby (side character) is Filipina-Australian, Theo is plus-sized.

Content warnings: racism, fat shaming comments.

Thank you to Pan Macmillan Australia for the digital advanced reader copy of this book. I was provided a copy in exchange for an honest opinion – this has not impacted my views at all.

At 16 years old, Katie Camilleri has never been kissed. It’s something she’d like to change as soon as possible. Preferably with Declan Bell Jones – the boy she has a crush on. But he’s been kissing the most horrible person Katie knows – Mikayla, bully extraordinaire.

One evening, Katie and her best friend, Libby, decide to create the perfect boy.

It’s all in jest, of course.

Until it it’s alive and awake in Katie’s bed.

Naked.

Guy is literally the perfect boy. He’s handsome, kind, loves dogs, and the best part? He’s already head over heels in love with Katie!

So why is she still thinking of kissing Declan Bell Jones?

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I honestly do not remember the last time that I laughed that hard and out loud so many times than when I was reading You Were Made For Me.

The story itself was simplistic but so wonderful. It was peppered in with amazing anecdotes, and my favourite Aussie-isms.

I don’t want to say too much because this book isn’t out in the world yet – soon, though! You can pre-order a signed copy of the book from Booktopia via the link above.

This is going to be one of my top books of the year, I know that much for sure.

I laughed so hard that I cried – more than once! I couldn’t get over just how utterly incredible this book was.

There were so many “oh my god!” and face-palming moments throughout this hilarious book. When I think of this book, I can’t stop myself from smiling.

I had family visiting while I was in the middle of reading this book, and I was telling my 16 & 17 year old nieces about it because it was that funny. Both of them want copies because they loved the sound of it.

I highly recommend this book to any human, young or old. There is something for everyone in here, I think.

A light and fluffy read. I enjoy YA, even as an adult, but the interruptions from Libby, while Katie is telling the story, were not my cup of tea. However, younger readers might not mind that technique.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.