*Blissful sigh* my heart is ✨CONTENT✨

This is the YA enemies to lovers romance of my soul, the banter, the humor, the competitive dynamics between Alison and Ethan were subpar and everything I could’ve wanted. This is truly a gem in the YA contemporary world and this duo never fails to deliver an entertaining yet meaningful story. I will always recommend any book written by them.

First off, I want to thank Penguin Teen for sending me this book through NetGalley for review!

3/5 stars

What's Not to Love is a contemporary "enemies" to lovers story about two high school rivals. Allison and Ethan are competing against each other at almost every moment in AP classes, student government, the school paper both trying to beat the other. They both long to get into Harvard and win their "game" so when their principle asks them to plan a high school reunion they jump at the chance to take the lead. However, with all the time they spend together feelings between the two start to get confusing as their rivalry turns into something else.

There are things I enjoyed about this book and things I didn't. Let's start with what I enjoyed. I don't typically enjoy the high school settings in books as I feel like a lot of authors don't understand current high school or it feels too juvenile even for high school but I was surprised at the accuracy of the school setting. But, I should say this felt accurate to my experience but it may not be yours. I did feel connected to the characters in the sense that I too joined every club I could and basically dragged my sleep schedule through the mud to make sure my college application was robust. I felt for Allison's exhaust from school and her desire to succeed. I think there were good conversations about after college and the struggles that come with not knowing what you actually want to do because you spend so much time just trying to get in. I also think the romance once it eventually developed was kinda cute and they grew on me.

What I didn't like. Ethan and Allison were pretty annoying. Until maybe the very end they both drove me crazy with their antics and honestly the disregard for others around them. They were pretty toxic and I didn't see how a relationship was going to grow between them because it felt like there were just insults and malice between them rather than the occasional competitive jab. I can't say much about Ethan because we don't see his point of view but he's definitely the pretentious guy I would not like in high school. I can say more about Allison as we hear from her point of view. Allison is kind of a brat or maybe she's just a pretentious know it all that is too full of herself to notice anyone else or their feelings. Allison is just straight up so mean to her sister and literally insults her multiple times and that drove me crazy. There is kind of a resolution but I wish her sister would have ripped her a new one because god was she driving me crazy. I didn't actually enjoy reading this story until 50% in as the first part just frustrated me and left me wondering how these two characters we're going to get together because there was no chemistry just hatred. I don't think this is a bad book I just don't think it's my favorite. I would read work from these authors again I just think this book missed the mark a little especially with the main characters.

Alison Sanger and Ethan Molloy are bitter rivals. They compete on tests, papers, AP classes, the school newspaper, everything. When their principal assigns them the nearly impossible task of salvaging the planning of a previous class’s reunion, they have to work together for once. Of course that means plenty of arguments and opportunities to one up the other.

So yes, we have a nerdy teenage enemies to lovers romance with forced proximity and I couldn’t be more on board with this. Although I wasn’t their level of crazy with grades and extracurriculars, I was definitely on the nerdier side of things and I loved getting good grades. So I could definitely relate to a lot of this. Plus, Alison’s lack of excitement about getting her license was completely me.

More than anything, this book made me think a lot about high school and the nostalgic side of it. Why is high school this time that some of us never fully let go of? Are we forever linked to that time and those people? How important is it to have fond memories to look back on?

I loved Alison and Ethan’s banter and back and forth competitiveness. It was so fun to see them realize there might be more there. However, I would’ve liked them to move past enemies a bit quicker. That might just be personal preference though.

This is such a cute story! It's always the least person you thought you will far for doesn't it? Very romantic, charming and relatable!

Thank you @PenguinTeen for sharing an early copy of this lovely book! Wibbroka are some of my favorite authors. I have loved everything I've read by them and this book was no different!

Likes:
- I really related to Alison in not wanting to go party and be all crazy in high school, but not in the typical 'I don't fit in, I'm so sad' way. Alison was super proud of all of her decisions and I loved that.
- The relationship between Alison and her best friend. Wibbroka NEVER SKIMP on their side characters.
- Speaking of WOW the sister relationship. And the incredibly insightful Mom.
- I WANTED TO PHYSICALLY LIGHT THE MALE PROTAGONIST ON FIRE FOR SOME OF THE THINGS HE DID but that means it was just good writing :P Like for real my face was hot I was so mad.
- The little appearances they always tack in of past couples from their books. It is so much fun and reminds me how the person we see across the street or in the next booth over has a varied story of their own.

Dislikes:
- It took a long time for the story to get off the ground.

YA is an underappreciated genre for so many reasons, but this. THIS IS WHY I KEEP READING IT. Wibrokka's stories are timeless. They are poignant and messy and beautiful and everything I needed before I went to college. They are still something I need now. I love these authors and this book is truly excellent. All I have to say is GIVE ME MORE!

The bestselling authors of books like Time of Our Lives, If I’m Being Honest, and Always Never Yours are back with their newest YA romance What’s Not to Love. Set to be published on April 20th, writing duo/IRL couple Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka (known by their fans as Wibbroka) show just what happens when your nerdy nemesis turns into something more.

I think I am officially a Wibbroka fan! This book is a fun enemies-to-lovers romance that will have any YA lovers severely invested in Allison and Ethan’s rivalry/relationship! While both of them seem WAY too invested in one-upping each other, their character development (especially Allison’s) is really well-written and makes this novel even more entertaining to read. The enemies-to-lovers aspect doesn’t feel forced or toxic at all and instead shows that sometimes love and hate really are two sides of the same coin.

Having the main characters be seniors in high school, there was naturally an emphasis on enjoying your youth while you can and the impending graduation/college fears many people face; however, what I liked about this book was that it emphasized doing things your own way. Allison isn’t the type to go to parties or do crazy things for the sake of being young and yet she doesn’t regret any of the choices she’s made to get to where she ends up in the book, which was really refreshing to see. I also really liked the underlying theme of life not ending up the way you anticipate it and that sometimes you just have to roll with the punches.

I highly recommend this book if you're looking for a quick read (I literally read it in less than 24 hours) or something to make you feel like you’re back in high school again or that your not alone while experiencing it in the present. I look forward to reading through the rest of Siegemund-Broka and Wibberley’s backlist collection and cannot wait to see what they will write next!

*I received an ARC from Penguin Teen in exchange for my honest opinion.

The last half of What's Not to Love was golden, so I'm not sure what happened in the first half. I will say I have a vomiting phobia, so the book spending the first few chapters talking about food poisoning wasn't the most pleasant experience for me, but even outside of that it wasn't very enjoyable. It felt very info-dumpy for a while, and Alison didn't have very many redeemable characteristics. My favorite parts were when she and Ethan interacted, which we got way more of the second half which is one of the reasons why I loved it so much more.

I didn't care for Alison's perspective on nostalgia and not feeling like she was treated as an adult. I also didn't care much for her and her sister's interactions. I just wanted more Ethan. But those parts of the book smoothed out in the second half and meshed with the story much better, so I ended up enjoying them and understanding Alison better.

One of the best parts of the story though was how funny it was. I laughed so much, and there were a lot of sweet moments toward the end.

Overall, I don't think I would read a book by this duo again, but I don't hate the fact I read this, and if you find yourself getting tired of it in the first half, I would say keep going cause it's worth it.

One of my all time favorite romance tropes is that of Enemies to Lovers, so this one was a must for me, and IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT. As I was reading this novel, I was picturing each character starring in a 90’s rom-com. Fun, silly, lots of miscommunication, and all the bickering. All this before the inevitable happens (reference said trope). I totally recommend this book to fans of ‘To All the Boys I’ve Love Before’ and ‘Fangirl’.

Quick, and such a fun read worth reading over the weekend out in the sun!

* Thank you to Penguin Teen for the advanced copy for my honest review*

Alison and Ethan compete with everything.. and I mean everything. They’re in the same classes and the school newspaper, and it’s caused friction for everyone around them, like teachers and classmates. They have all out on competitions on who can turn in their tests the fastest or who can score the highest on assignments. This sort of competing can’t be healthy, but what if underneath it all, it drives a desire for something more real?!

I loved the banter between the two characters and their competitions felt real. I also loved that their animosity turns into a lust that neither of them saw coming. But when that kind of heat happens it’s bound to be an outcome and I was here for it. Here for the confusion and can this last and what does it all mean. And this story puts all together in a nice present wrapped in a bow!!
I also loved that two characters from a previous book made a surprise appearance in this story... I might have squealed!

Emily and Austin know how to write a teen romance. I haven’t been disappointed by anything they’ve written so far.

What an adorable read! Rivals to rivals-with benefits is a new one for me. Total Rory Gilmore vibes and I loved every minute of it! And Ethan is such a witty, endearing character! He's like Paris Gellar but funnier and more relatable. Such a great read!

If you enjoyed Today, Tonight, Tomorrow, then this is the book for you! Filled with good 'ol rivalry banter and academic-based competition, this is another must-read from this rom-com author duo.

I really enjoyed the banter in this book. It gave me a vague Elizabeth and Darcy feel which, of course, only made me like it more. Their rivalry was also a lot of fun, but it could get intense sometimes. Honestly, we don't really even see the romantic side of their relationship until halfway through. There is nothing more than mutually agreed upon destruction until that halfway point. I wouldn't have minded if a little bit of the romantic feeling awareness began sooner, but it was okay as is.

Alison's parents are the literal best! I think they were my favorite part of this book. They were so laid back and so funny and just made me want to read a whole book about them. There was a lot of comedic relief whenever they were in a scene. I just wish I could have them in every book read.

One negative is that I didn't always feel consistency/understand the two main characters' personalities. I'm not sure if their development was rushed or if their personalities just weren't clear enough to me, but something wasn't quite right. Sometimes, when they would say things or do things, it just didn't quite line up with what I knew about them. I haven't been able to pinpoint what threw me off so much about them, but once I figure it out, I'll add it here.

Overall though, this book was a delight! I loved the enemies-to-lovers trope and appreciated the lesson on life after high school this book provided.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed a gifted and advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

As someone who has been an overachiever their entire life, this book was insanely relatable. When I first started the book, I was slightly worried that I would find the characters of Ethan and Alison annoying, but luckily, they were written in such a way, that I wanted to be involved in their rivalry as well. I think this book would be perfect for everyone who love the enemies to lovers trope, especially because it is an example that could actually happen in the real world. The middle of the book was kind of hard to get though as Alison was having some major internal conflicts, but the ending of the book was so worth it. This book was adorable, and has become one of my new favorite contemporaries.

I was really excited to read What's Not to Love. I think the authors real life love story is so cute and I've enjoyed their other books. This one didn't work quite as well for me as some of their backlist, but I also think I wasn't in the right mood for YA. DNF for now, but I will try it again at a later time.

Thank you NetGalley and Viking Books for Young Readers for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I was super excited to read this book since I love a good contemporary romance...especially enemies to lovers. Alison and Ethan have been enemies forever. They compete at EVERYTHING academically—who gets the highest score, who finishes the test first, etc. They’re forced to work on a 10 year reunion together, and tensions run really high. Their competition and hate for each other grows so strongly that...it turns into something like love?

This book was cute. At first, I thought that Alison was a little too unrealistic. She’s not just an overachiever, she’s like a super overachiever times one thousand. I also worked really hard in high school, but I can’t seem to figure out how she did everything she did. It didn’t feel like there was enough time for how busy she apparently was. I also thought that she was kind of annoying. She also has an older sister who moves home after all of her life plans falling apart. Allison just doesn’t get it and believes that she’s better than her sister since she has her life figured out. To be fair, I might’ve also thought the same thing at 18. Now, I’m 24 and I completely understand Alison’s sister. Alison does come to be more empathetic and actually listen to her sister, which made her way more likable.

I enjoyed Ethan and Allison’s relationship even if I wanted to yell at Allison half of the time. She was very suspicious of Ethan (rightfully so), but sometimes I just wanted to be like PLEASE give him a break. There was definitely chemistry between them and it was fun to read their banter. My only gripe was that I felt like Ethan’s character fell a little flat. I feel like I only really knew him on a superficial level until the last couple of chapters (which, so did Allison).

Overall, it was a sweet book. It reminded me of the show Never Have I Ever, minus the “trying to lose my virginity” theme. I think it’s a good book to read when you need a light read (especially if you have been bingeing fantasy books). If you’re a little bit older than HS, it’s also a good book to reflect back on where you are at vs. where you thought you’d be!

I will post my review on Instagram (https://Instagram.com/larissasbookshelf), goodreads (https://goodreads.com/larissasbookshelf), and tiktok (@larissasbookshelf) a week before the publication date (04/13/2021).

Thoughts and Themes: I was actually pretty surprised with how much I enjoyed reading this one. I was a little concerned going in to this book because from the look at the cover it isn’t something that I typically read. I’m glad that I gave it a try though because I enjoyed remembering what it is like to be in high school.

Right from the start of this book you get the enemies to lovers story of our two main characters which is great. I really liked the competition between these two characters and how realistic it was. I liked how there was no outside pressure on these two students to be exceptional so it was was their own choice to do this.

I also liked how things didn’t quickly progress into these two characters being in love with each other. I liked how this was complicated for them to navigate and they struggled with these new feelings. I liked watching them not know how to interact with each other when it wasn’t something they were used to.

There were so many moments that I thought were hilarious and it really reminded me of watching people in my high school courses. I remember being in the school for advanced studies and watching everything be a competition for people. I remember the teachers fueling this competition so I really liked how this story made it so that the teachers and other students were frustrated by the competition.

Characters: In this story you are introduced to a few characters through the perspective of Alison. You get to meet Dylan, who is Alison’s best friend, and Ethan, who is Alison’s rival. I really liked the friendship that you see between Dylan and Alison and also liked how Dylan’s relationship with Olivia affects this. When I was reading this book it really made me want to hand it to my best friend as a like I’m sorry for the person I became when I was dating in high school. I liked how we see Dylan on her own and then Dylan with Olivia to point out the big difference there is.

I also liked watching the relationship that Alison and Ethan have with each other and how it affects those around them. I really thought it was hilarious to watch Alison’s parents mock her about Ethan and insist that something was there between them. I liked watching how those around them such as teachers and class mates got frustrated with the constant feuding.

Something that I wasn’t really a fan of though is how these characters weren’t too developed. I wanted to know more about them beyond their feud. I did wonder if that was intentional though so that we could see that there wasn’t much to them besides that. I really wanted to know if there was more to them than this fighting.

I was skeptical for the first third of this book. It seemed just very standard YA Rom Com. But then, boy did it pick up! I zoomed through the second half of this book and ended it with a huge smile on my face.

High school seniors Alison Sanger and Ethan Malloy have been academic rivals for as long as they can remember. And senior year brings the ultimate competition: who gets into Harvard. But, as we all know, there's a fine line between hate and love...

This novel is pure YA enemies-to-loves goals. I mean, it's a textbook example of excellent execution of the trope. I also think it helped that I related to these overachieving characters, in that I was a bit of an overachiever myself. Ethan is also totally my type, #bookfriend goals, if he were ten years older or I were ten years younger lol. Basically this book is what I wish my high school experience had been, and maybe would have if I had been hot *insert laughing emoji because I'm millennial*

I think this book would be great for folks looking for a light romcom, can relate to Alison and Ethan's competitive tendencies and academic drive, or maybe just someone who wants to really think about what it means to be in high school. In the end, I really enjoyed this one.

I'm torn between 4 and 5 stars, since the beginning was slow, but i'm going to round up because it left me with positive feelings! 5 stars - 8/10

Thank you to Penguin Teen for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

I liked this one. I’ll admit the cover sort of threw me I didn’t know if I wanted to read it, but I thought it was a really great enemies to lovers. It reminded me of me and my friend in High school.

My favorite romantic trope is easily hate to love and this book was just that. In the beginning of the book we learn Alison and Ethan truly loathe each other. They compete over anything and everything and they always have to one up the other.
With books like these you are just waiting for the inevitable, for them to realize how much they like each other. When both Alison and Ethan realized there was something more to them then just this constant rivalry it was amazing.
I think this is my favorite book by this author duo. The romance, chemistry, character growth was great and I loved reading every bit of it.

I found this book to so fun to read. It put a smile on my face and prob will go down as being on my favorite hate to love romances. I really loved the two leads in this book. I also loved how this book was focused on the end of high school and also planning of big party. I also really related to alison as a character. I also really loved the character of ALISON and related to her in some massive ways. I also loved how this book tackled the end of high school. I def really enjoy the cameo of the time of our lives character. This book def dived in to more of the "hate" then i was expecting!! Such a great read!!!

Okay so I really enjoyed Wibbroka’s first book and after reading this one I read their second book as well and enjoyed that but this one oH MY GOODNESS. WOW. This was peak rivals to lovers energy and so perfectly executed my mind was blown!

Basically this book is about Alison and Ethan competing for valedictorian. They’ve been taking the same classes all four years of high school and this is the final stretch. Except the principal forces them to work together on a high school reunion… chaos ensues!

Right away, the tension between the two main leads was palpable off the page. It was so fun to see their academic rivalry especially because Alison stated in multiple times how everyone around them absolutely hated their rivalry and could see how toxic of an environment they had created for each other!

I’m a big sucker for character development so seeing Alison and Ethan grow up throughout the book was just phenomenal for me. I loved hearing the internal monologue range from ‘I’m going to DESTROY THIS MAN’ to ‘dang it but he’s kinda hot though’. It was truly so much fun to read.

This doesn’t affect my rating, but it’s just really funny to me when I read YA and the characters think that high school is supposed to be the best time of their lives and the time for them to make the most of it because growing up I always heard that that was university (which I agree with). So in this book, seeing all these high schoolers talk about the four years of high school as if that was their peak and determined their entire life was really funny.

Going off that point though, I thought it was really cool to see this extremely judgemental character (Alison) think about this exact thing in relation to her older sister who is stuck at home after college and to Alison, it seems like her sister is just wasting her life and is missing out on life. I actually related to the older sister a lot (Don’t know how I feel about that whoops).

This is one of the most well done rivals to lovers books I’ve read because of the nature of the characters’ relationship and how perfectly it was executed where it didn’t feel too rushed or convenient. I loved the inner turmoil and the tension and oof, the banter and their RIVALRY was just phenomenal!

I would recommend this to anyone who loves to read about rivals to lovers, sabotage, being forced to work together when you most definitely hate each other, the school newspaper, and unintentional lessons learned through your driver’s ed teacher. I would recommend this to anyone who loves really stubborn and hilarious characters, interesting family and friendship dynamics, bonfires and volunteering, and being mistaken for a couple when you hate each other!