She Drives Me Crazy is a queer enemies-to-lovers/fake-dating story. I don't know how I was supposed to pass it up.

Scottie Zajac is desperately trying to get over being dumped by her ex when Irene Abraham backs into her car. To avoid some parental awkwardness, the girls pretend to be friends while their parents work out the insurance details. Which would be fine except Scottie gets roped into carpooling with Irene until Irene's car can get fixed.

They spend a week antagonizing each other, until Scottie realizes Irene would be the perfect fake girlfriend to piss of her ex. Irene is beautiful, a cheerleader, and the most popular girl in school. And amazingly, she agrees to go along with it.

This book has two of my favorite tropes. But it executed them in a weirdly healthy way. Scottie and Irene have an antagonistic relationship that turns sweet but still playful. Their relationship progresses slowly, and acknowledges how hard it is for Scottie to move on.

Some of the language and references in this novel make it feel like it was meant for a slightly older crowd. Though it's a YA story, there are references to things like John Hughes movies, and I don't know that those references will resonate with younger teens.

Overall, it was a sweet and fun novel, and I enjoyed it.

~I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.~

The sapphic YA rom-com that we all deserve. Absolutely perfect.

Now, it is no secret that I am a huge fan of Kelly Quindlen, she's one of my favorite authors. I loved Her Name in the Sky and Late to the Party, so I was slightly worried about picking this one up, however, my worries were completely unnecessary because this book was just as perfect as her other books.

The characters are extremely dynamic. You can tell that even the side characters have worlds of their own, and plots that don't just surround the main character. They were all so fun and well-rounded. I absolutely loved Scottie and Irene's relationship *chef's kiss*. They were perfect for each other and the enemies to lovers aspect was wonderful. It really helped the reader get a sense of both of the characters.

Honestly, I cannot say enough good things about this book. Everything from the family dynamics, dialogue, tropes, and fun was perfect.

Thank you, NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

TLDR: I have been known to ramble about Kelly Quindlen's books, but in short read this book!!

Sapphic Enemies to Lovers? Fake Dating? Sports coming-of-age romantic comedy? Kelly Quindlen really created a book with all the components to just insert itself as one of my favorite books of 2021. This book is somehow simultaneously heartfelt, romantic, sassy, funny, and adorable. I honestly cried during this book which was so unexpected.
I think this book also is really honest about relationships and love, despite it hurting me, I think that certain discussions, especially the ones surrounding Scottie's relationship with her toxic-ex Tally, were really important to have, especially since 'getting over someone' and healing before or during a new relationship are topics that are oft not seen in YA books, when they're really important to think about and even more important to younger readers who might just be entering their first relationship or their first breakup.
This book definitely takes influence of the classic romantic-comedies of the 80's, it is a love letter to the decade and to the music and movies of the era. It contains heartfelt declarations of love, a town rivalry, some of my new favorite background (please someone give Honey-Belle a prize, I love her so much.) The writing is also just a treat, especially the dialogue, it felt like the way that actual young adults talk and interact, and not just an attempt to imitate Gen-Z speech by inserting references or 'the lingo'. Anyways, absolutely go pick up this book in April because it is an instant serotonin boost.
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Review on Goodreads: Up Now
Review on Instagram: 1-21-21

thank you so much netgallery for providing me an ARC of this book.

in many lgbt (notably sapphic books), you notice that the plot is always heavily centered on the coming out story. this book, however, doesn't do that. it's a new take on a cliched trope that everyone adores, but in the best way possible. its enemies to fake dating to lovers, which in on itself is absolutely enticing as a plot, but besides that its SUCH a good read! it's super well paced, keeps you entertained and laughing, but also sprinkles in serious scenes and incredible one liners that left me teary eyed.

another thing i loved is that you're not always cheering for the main character–the flawed aspects of scottie is exactly what kept me wanting to read. she fumbles the ball (get it? bc she plays basketball) and i love the way the other characters respond. not only do you fall in love with scottie and irene, but you really do grow to love each and every character–the family dynamic you see in between the friends and family only added to the entertainment.

all in all, definitely a must read! kelly quindlen has never missed and i can't wait to get my hands on the physical copy of this book. everyone read it!!!

This was an adorably cheesy little rom-com, and I loved every minute of it.

If you are looking for something original, this isn't it, but goodness gracious golly gee was it adorable.

Why should you read this, besides that gorgeous cover?
- enemies to lovers
- fake-dating trope
- and there was one bed!

I read this book in one day. I couldn't put it down! I loved how flawless the writing was and how easy the characters were to read. I adored our main characters Scottie and Irene. Their flaws were front and center to this novel, and it really made them real.

Scottie herself is just coming out of a horrific break-up and isn't completely over it. Her situation was handled terrifically. Kelly Quindlen showcases the hardships and heartbreaks of first love through Scottie. Her character development was one of the highlights of this novel.

I can't say much about Irene's character since that would be considered spoilers, but something about having an Indian cheer captain just makes my heart so happy. As the reader, you see Irene grow throughout the novel and I loved seeing how multi-layered she was.

The only reason this isn't a 5 star read was that there was one aspect of the fake-dating arrangement that irked me. Other than think sticking point, I really loved this book!

This definitely should be on your preorder list :)

Thank you to NetGalley and Roaring Brook Press for the ARC of this book! All thoughts are my own.

My gay heart is SOARING right now. Oh my word. This was so cute, sweet, funny and heart warming I can not take it. I am in love with this book. I’ve never read a fake dating book about sporty lesbians but not that I have I need more. This was perfectly crafted and I loved it so much.
True rating: 4.5/5

I can’t not even begin to explain how much I loved Scottie and her fantastically crafted character arc. Her ability to become herself again was so wholesome. Irene is probably one of my favorite love interests I’ve ever read. I can’t get over it. How cute this was. The plot was well done. The writing was stellar. I loved seeing a group of friends like Scottie’s. Danielle, Kevin and Gunther were so supportive and loving. As were Scottie’s sisters. What a beautiful story. If you want a heartwarming, emotional, coming of age sapphic story- please pick this up. You won’t regret it. I mean ATHLETICS GAYS!! FAKE DATING!! What more could you want?

This is a cute and breezy YA romance that hits a number of tropes and plot points you'd expect, but that isn't a bad thing. Both Scottie and Irene have flaws and positives about them, and it was easy to root for them as a couple. I liked that Irene wasn't a stereotypical cheerleader who fit into a predictable box, and I also liked that through Scottie we got to explore true grief and loss of a relationship, and how it can make you do destructive things to yourself and to others. The story has a good amount of predictability, and a lot of the side characters aren't as fleshed out as perhaps they could have been. This wouldn't have been so bad had there not seemingly been efforts to dig a little deeper into some of these antagonists, but any character insight kind of got tossed to the side and forgotten about. But if you want something cute, feel good, and sweet, SHE DRIVES ME CRAZY will hit the right notes.

SHE DRIVES ME CRAZY was a fun foray into a genre I'm trying to explore a bit more. It's quick and breezy, and will assuredly make you smile.

Kelly Quindland is absolutely becoming one of my favorite YA authors. I love the way she portrays teens and how real and authentic they feel, and this book is no exception. It was one of my most anticipated books for 2021 that absolutely delivered. It features the phrase "gay Ginny Weasley" (if that doesn't make you want to read it, I'm not sure what will), amazing friendship vibes, supportive families, female athletes, and classic rom-com tropes all over the place. While it's a romantic and adorable romance, it's full of so much substance that it's a book I know I'll keep coming back to.

Hate to love, fake dating and a cute sapphic romance? Count me in.
To be honest? This was nothing like I thought it would be though!
My usual hate to love includes a lot of banter until they finally admit everything was simply sexual tension and they find each other very hot since ever. That was not it. 😂
They really HATED each other. Couldn’t stand the other and we’re really very mean sometimes.
For me it took a little too long for them to finally cut it and start talking like normal people, because it only happened after an incident at a party around 50% of the book was already over.
After that I started to like them a lot more together. I also absolutely loved the side characters and the whole „three sisters“ thing going on! Honey-Belle has a horrible name, but her character was exactly like her name, very sweet!

But it also turned out to be more than a hate to love romance!
This book is a lot about healing and coming back from toxic relationships. I wasn’t expecting that at all. And while I appreciate this topic in a YA book and also the fact that Scottie wanted to first take care of herself and her own needs and feelings it took a little away from the romance part of the book for me. I just didn’t get why they would stop talking at all for weeks/month(?). It’s okay to still talk to someone you like while still figuring things out for yourself without dating them immediately?
This part was a little dragging in my opinion. Kelly Quindlens books so far are all super slowburn romances, and I mostly don’t mind, but this part just wasn’t very exciting to read for me and all the additional drama in the end was also a little too over the top for me.
I loved the ending though, it was VERY very cheesy and made me tear up and laugh at the same time. It was very fitting for the book and the whole 90s movies and 80s music theme.

All in all it was a super american cliche highschool movie with cheerleaders, jocks, mean girls and the obligatory dance scene...but in queer and in book form. If you’re into that you will absolutely love this! It’s a super quick and fun read.

She Drives Me Crazy was extremely sweet, and it was a delight to read. It included some of my favorite tropes, and it managed to be both funny and thought provoking. This is a great read if you love books that deal with recovering from toxic relationships and the journey to self-acceptance and love. Both the main character, Scottie, and her love interest, Irene, were very relatable, and their relationship seemed realistic, while still being cute. However, I would've loved if the book would've explored the Charlotte's intentions and motivations a little more. The book did sort of explain why Charlotte did what she did at a surface level, but I just wish the readers were given a clearer insight on what she was thinking. Despite that, this book was charming and endearing, and I definitely recommend it.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for sending me an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

She Drives Me Crazy is a fun and quirky sapphic YA that I enjoyed every minute of reading! Scottie and Irene are such wonderful characters and I loved the way the story unfolded to reveal more about them, both to the reader and to each other. Kelly Quindlen also lets her characters make mistakes and deal with emotions in ways that feel deeply realistic, taking the story to where it needs to go while also letting the journey to get there be bumpy at times. I particularly found Scottie and Tally's journey together as characters to be really meaningful as Scottie slowly learns how to get over her ex. The story itself was super fun and I quickly fell in love with all the lovely characters in Scottie and Irene's life and the friendships they were part of. I also absolutely loved the banter between Scottie and Irene as they slowly got to better know each other. Many thanks to Kelly Quindlen for writing another wonderful sapphic book that is sweet and fun and filled with messy and kind characters. I loved it!

Very cute romcom novel with very enjoyable characters! I’m always nervous to read romance YA because it can often be written very poorly. However, this book was quick-paced, funny, cute, and full of sweet little cliche moments that I thoroughly enjoyed. Yes, it was corny. But I still liked it all the same. A good quick read, full of wonderful LGBTQ rep!

3.5! This was a really cute read! It includes the fake dating and enemies to lovers tropes. I really enjoyed the writing style. I loved how this book tackled the theme of jealously and grief after a breakup. I also liked how it handled the feelings after getting out of a toxic relationship and how it's not always black and white. Both characters took time to heal and acknowledged that the other was deserving of their best self.
However, a few things in this book stopped me from absolutely loving it.
I had a problem with how the fake dating came into place. It never sat right with me how Scottie paid Irene to come out. I know it was stressed that Irene made the decision, but due to the circumstances it kind of felt like she had no other choice. On top of that, these two really despised each other, and while I never saw the moment where the two clicked into something more, it felt a like a 180. Scottie was unnecessarily rude to Irene and she just didn't deserve any of it.
Of course, it was made up for by the end, but I was still really salty towards Scottie. Irene was the best character. All in all really cute and quick read.

Archenemies to lovers is my FAVORITE trope, and Quindlen really nails it with this book. This book was fantastic. Scottie is on the girl's basketball team and Irene is the head cheerleader for their school. Irene previously embarrassed Scottie in front of everyone by having her car towed at a party, and Scottie and Irene have been enemies since. However, after a rear-end in a parking lot, they devise a plan to help each other out by FAKE DATING (my second favorite trope). What ensues is a big learning experience for both Scottie and Irene; how to be open and vulnerable, how to grieve and heal from heartbreak, how to let go, and learn to love again. This is definitely a great book and once I hope to see people enjoying and reading when it comes out!

Scottie is a basketball player who is still in love with her ex. Irene is a cheerleader who is trying her best to not only prove to her family that cheerleading is an important sport but to prove that she is more than just a cheerleader. Scottie crashes into Irene’s car and thus begins the fake dating, enemies to lovers, rom com. Scottie offers to pay Irene money to fix her car and in exchange Irene would pretend to date her so Scottie could make her ex jealous. The only problem is that they are enemies. Irene is a funny and really mindful and sweet person as you get to know her.I absolutely fell in love with her. Scottie has a LOT to work through and its a bit messy but in the end it all works out. I loved their friends though, Honey-Belle was a sweetheart! I love getting read about sport sapphics and its so nice to read about supportive parents and families. Overall, it was a nice read.

*Thanks Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Being 28, almost 29, sometimes contemporary YA can miss the mark for me. Especially in a high school setting. However, I have no complaints about She Drives Me Crazy.

We first meet Scottie, an out lesbian girl who is still reeling from a breakup with her first love and trying to make the most of her senior year. But when an accident with a 'popular' girl occurs in the high school parking lot, suddenly a lot more attention is on her. Including her ex-girlfriend. Scottie decides to make the most of it, even if Irene is a girl that had her car towed the year before out of spite.

What ensues is a heartfelt story of finding yourself again after losing yourself in a relationship, a story of acceptance and family and friendships. The banter between the two girls is quick and sharp, but it is never malicious even at their worst. I really enjoyed the sincerity between Irene and Scottie because they're never anything but themselves with each other. Irene is also a cheerleader fighting her own battle to be recognized for the athleticism involved in the sport, which as a former cheerleader myself I can attest is very much true!

I also really appreciated a F/F YA that isn't about coming out, but about healthy relationships. It's a great find and one I look forward to seeing on the shelves!

Highlights:
-Sapphic
-Enemies-to-lovers
-Fake dating
-Sports rivalry
-Biracial couple
-Discusses and highlights cheerleading as a sport and cheerleaders as athletes.

Cute sapphic romance with lots of angst. Scottie is a basketball player, Irene is a cheerleader and they both believe they have a good idea of who each other are, but there may just be more that meets the eye with both of them. They get into a fender bender and now Scottie has to drive Irene to school. Just when it's about to end, Scottie comes up with a deal that'll help them both out. They fake date so Scottie can make her ex she's still pining over jealous and Irene can pay for the damages of her car. Easy to manage without catching feelings right?... WRONG.

This book was short and sweet. Also this cover is 😍


**Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review**.

5/5

The sapphic enemies-to-lovers and fake dating sports rom-com the world deserves. In this quintessential YA contemporary, two arch rivals strike a bargain, after a fender bender presents them both with an unexpected opportunity. Scottie wants payback. Her girlfriend dumped her right before transferring schools and she has to play against her basketball team every weekend. Enter Irene, captain of the cheerleading team, and Scottie’s salvation. Irene wants nothing more than to be taken seriously by the people in her life, but needs money to pay for the damage inflicted on her car, and Scottie’s offering. The catch: Irene has to date Scottie publicly for four months, and no sooner. It might not be the perfect situation, but stranger things have happened, and with these two at the wheel, who knows what will result.

Kelly Quindlen has done it again folks, and I’m beginning to wonder why I am even surprised at this point. This whole book was just a love letter to the queer community through the form of an 80’s style romantic comedy and I am here for it. The exploration of forgiveness and moving on from first love is such a force for good in this novel. Tie that in with queer characters that simply exist in their own space and you get to the bottom of why I adored this, and the authors previous work, Late to the Party. Both have such different vibes, but are amazing illustrations of the kind of books I’d love to see more of within the YA contemporary genre. Specifically queer stories. She Drives me Crazy gives a raw and honest look into high school relationships and a loss of self worth that sometimes accompanies giving all of yourself to another person. Scottie’s emotional journey is one that I think a lot of people will be able to relate to, and I’m so glad time was taken to thoroughly examine every side of it. While this book does serve playful banter with a side of sapphic angst, there are some more deeper moments that make it the perfect kind of nod to the 80’s romantic comedy. In fact, this gave me such a strong Dirty Dancing meets Say Anything vibe, which the author definitely intended to come across while reading. It’s got an epic soundtrack, funny background characters, and the classic big romantic gesture that is a part of any of these films. This book really is the whole package. Snarky and humorous, with the best execution of the fake dating trope I have read in a long time. Maybe it’s the fact that this whole book revolved around two enemies inconveniently falling in love and becoming a lesbian power couple, but it's unrelated that it’s also one of the best contemporaries I have read this year. What else is there to say other than big romantic gestures are clearly superior and will be making a comeback after this book releases. I will it to be so.

Trigger warnings: homophobia, homophobic language, alcohol consumption (underage)

This book was so much fun to read! The drama of high school sports, relationships, and social media was the perfect combination in this fun YA romance. A diverse cast, lots of emotional character growth, and an enemies to lovers trope were exactly what I needed- I couldn't recommend this book more! I did knock it down 1⭐️ because some of the antagonists' actions felt repetitive and unnecessary.

Trigger warnings: moderate bullying and homophobia, brief mention of a car accident

Oh man, this book was a joy to read. Silly and lighthearted, while also reminding us not to judge too quickly. The book follows Scottie, who is guided by her own heartbreak into make some questionably ethical choices after a (literal) run in with Irene, her cheerleading nemesis, leading to a fake dating ploy to get revenge on Scottie’s ex-girlfriend. Cue the enemies-to-lovers trope, but make it gay. I was sold by the description, but the book itself solidified that. Their banter, as well most of this book, had me giggling like I was in high school again. As an adult queer woman, this is what I wish I could have read as a 17-year-old. With queerness not being catastrophic, just a part of life and all its drama.

While it was delightfully campy, I loved watching Scottie grow as she worked through her feelings in regards to a toxic ex, and towards her own self-worth. Quindlen gave us a gem here, filled with high school in all its glory: sports, rivalries, dumb decisions, growth, young love, and more. I read it in a day and will be picking up my own copy when I can!