What a cute and unique read. I was really sure what to expect with this one and was pleasantly surprised by it. I love how the author really dive into looking at what happens when you end up ‘finding’ the perfect person. Is that really what one wants and is best for them?

Katie is desperately seeking her perfect first kiss. With the help of her best friend, Libby, she gets a shot at that kiss when her perfect "Guy" comes to life! Along the way Katie learns a lot about herself, her friendships, and what perfection really means. Overall this story was very sweet. I enjoyed the relationships between all the characters (especially Katie and Theo) and it was fun to see Guy learn how to be a real boy.

However two things bothered me. First Guy's ending felt like there could have been more. It didn't feel very final, but maybe that was the intention. Second, the weird random fat shaming of Theo seemed unnecessary.

I was provided this book to read in exchange for an honest opinion. I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.


#YouWereMadeForMe #NetGalley

As much as I wanted to like it... I couldn't. The more I read, the more frustrated I got with Katie and other characters. The plot is very simple and reminds me of something out of a Disney Channel movie, but it was still intriguing. I thought the pacing was pretty good for the most part and did keep me going back to read more despite my frustrations. There wasn't much of a plot either. The main plot was that Guy was created and despite not knowing how (other than "science" and a peck on the lips). Any problem after could have been easily solved if it weren't for Katie. I would say it was character-driven, but even then Katie didn't grow much by the end of the book.

A light hearted book. Katie hasn’t had much look in the love department so when her and her friend Libby are discussing Katie’s perfect guy; somehow to their surprise he accidentally comes to life.
This is a nice book with some very good points and laughable moments reminding me of a 90’s romcom, however it just wasn’t fully my cup of tea. I loved that the story is told from Katie’s view point with Libby interjecting when it is moving too slow or if Libby has missed out a key component yet I did find some moments overly predictable.
I felt as though there was a lot of opportunities for character growth within the story that didn’t have as much opportunity to be developed which would have added to the story quite nicely.
If somebody has this on their TBR I’d recommend it as it is a light hearted read – perhaps a book for the poolside or beach?

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What happens if you accidentally build a perfect boy that wasn't meant to exist? Welcome to Katie's life, our main character in You were made for me. Fans of the movie "How to build a better boy" are sure to like reading this!
Katie just wants the perfect boyfriend for her first kiss. Katie and her best friend Libby decide, "hey why not just make ourselves one." Soon enough, through science and magic, we end up with a "perfect" guy who is very much alive. Through this book, we learn that there isn't such thing as perfection.
The style of writing in You were made for me is unique. It was as if the characters, Katie and Libby were trying to narrate the story for us. A novel told with humorous remarks popping in every so now and then.
You were made for me is a fun YA rom-com. The book follows friendship, cute romance, and includes diversity.

I received an e-book of this novel through Netgalley in exchange for a review.
REVIEWED: 3/16/2021 & 3/17/2021

I was surprised at how cute this story actually was. I just couldn't put it down. It was the perfect length and I think the story was paced well. I would love a sequel told from Guys perspective.

This book had me at Frankenstein retelling. It was a very enjoyable read. The writing was quirky and fast-paced, and I just kinda flew through this book. I did especially like the characters and the plot was overall just very sweet.

This had all the workings of giving me major nostalgia! I grew up watching movies like Weird Science and others. And this book made me fall in love with those 80's movies all over again. I loved the feel of the gender swap and how this one was full of humor! This is totally an escapism book to read if you are looking for something new and old all at once.

You were made for me was laugh out loud funny. I loved the banter between the characters and I loved the storyline. Guy is adorable and Kate soon finds out that maybe she doesn’t want a perfect guy. The ending threw me off a little bit and I’m confused about what really happened to Guy. Overall, it was a cute YA read that I would recommend to all fans of young adult.

Now this book was a weird journey! It started off as a 3-star read, then as it progressed I was like "ok, I'm giving this 2 stars" and somehow the ending made me want to give it 4 stars! Point is, we better get to the bottom of this!
First of all, I don't normally read that much romance, actually I choose YA books that are just romance very rarely, but this one caught my interest, since it labeled itself as "inspired by the 80s film Weird Science" and oh well no matter how silly those 80s teen rom-coms are they still got that vibe to them that's kinda nice, you know! So, I had to read this! But since I'm not a big romance fan, please note that some things that I found cheesy or too-much might be things romance lovers enjoy!

So, at first, even though I was very much enjoying myself with this funny lil story, some things got to my nerves a bit! Like, the two protagonists had just created a living, breathing human and the only thing our main protagonist seemed to care about was how cute that new "life" looked and wanted to date him immediately. Like, girl, aren't you interested to know how that sci-fi event suddenly occured in your life? I get that wasn't the point of the book and how it was supposed to be focused of the romance and not explaining it, but still it felt weird how the protagonist didn't seem to care at all. Also, all she ever talked about or thought of was when she'd kiss the guy and the whole "not-like-popular-girls-I-haven't-been-kissed" trope was a bit annoying and got quite repetitive. Plus, all she started to care about was Guy (the guy) and she was ignoring her friends or getting mad at them for no reason, just because they couldn't stand listening to her talking about Guy all the time. And ignoring her friends over romance was so annoying! Yeah, as you can understand I didn't exactly adore the main character!

However, after a few more annoying things happened, it got so much more enjoyable towards the ending with all the drama that went down. And the very ending was definitely what won my 4 stars! It was so cute! I was waiting for it to happen the entire book and it was so cuuute! I actually let my phone down and smiled like an idiot to the point where I had an existential-reader crisis thinking whether I should actually start reading more romance. So that means that, in the end, it was good and satisfying!

Being Australian, I have been aware of this author for a few years and of this book, sometime in 2020 (noting Australian publishing date was August 2020). For some reason, however, I never thought to add this to my TBR as it just didn't seem to be my kind of read. I do love this cover though and as it popped up as a 'Read Now' on Netgalley, I just had to click that button, don't I...

I have to admit that I jumped into the novel not knowing exactly what I'm in for. At the start, this novel was quite fascinating where two teenage girls 'made' a perfect boy out of clay to meet the dreams of the main protagonist. The story is easy to read and I do love the growth of characters but the structure of the telling bothered me so I didn't particularly enjoy the read.

We have Katie Camilleri, the protagonist, who is writing this story down while her best friend, Libby, is standing over her shoulder, reading & interrupting with certain inputs of when to fast forward the story and what's to include in the story. At first, I really liked Libby's comments (snarkiness between BFFs are to be appreciated) but about halfway, I just found it disruptive and annoying. So, I guess, this structure didn't quite work for me.

Thank you Peachtree Publishing Company via Netgalley for the e-copy of this book in exchange of my honest thoughts

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Katie yearned for her first kiss, and she wanted to share it with a dreamy and dedicated boyfriend who adored her. Then one stormy night... it actually happened! Katie and her best friend Libby created a boy who was made just for her, but she soon she began to question how this perfect boy fit into her life.

After loving Guillame's previous release, What I Like About Me, I was eager to read her follow-up. Once again, I was treated to a fun and funny story which had a ton of heart. From its Weird Science beginnings to the many tropes it employed, the story read like a classic rom-com and delivered all those warm and fuzzy feels I was looking for.

The bits with Guy, the perfect boyfriend, were laugh out loud funny as they taught him how to navigate his new world, but it was the moments Katie shared with Theo which really owned my heart. Theo was her childhood best friend, and he was always there for Katie when she needed him. It delighted me to see these two renew their friendship, and it pleased me even more when it began to evolve. There were many meaningful exchanges between these two, where Guillame touched upon body image, loss of a parent, and mental health. I loved how seamlessly she wove these issues into this light and fluffy tale and gave the story just the right amount of weight.

The format of the this book was rather great too. It's told as a recollection of that time they created the perfect boy. It was mostly via Katie's perspective, but there were also these exchanges between Katie and Libby injected in there that never failed to make me smile. Super cute and super fun, these story linking bits were quite charming, and a great way to illustrate the friendship between these two.

Guillaume knows how to both make me laugh and warm my heart. This book was a lot of fun, but also had some substance. It reminded me to be careful what I wish for, that the grass is always greener on the other side, and to be aware of those wonderful things that are right in front of me.Katie yearned for her first kiss, and she wanted to share it with a dreamy and dedicated boyfriend who adored her. Then one stormy night... it actually happened! Katie and her best friend Libby created a boy who was made just for her, but she soon began to question how this perfect boy fit into her life.

After loving Guillame's previous release, What I Like About Me, I was eager to read her follow-up. Once again, I was treated to a fun and funny story which had a ton of heart. From its Weird Science beginnings to the many tropes it employed, the story read like a classic rom-com and delivered all the warm and fuzzy feels I was looking for.

The bits with Guy, the perfect boyfriend, were laugh out loud funny, while they taught him how to navigate his new world, but it was the moments Katie shared with Theo which really owned my heart. Theo was her childhood best friend, and he was always there for Katie when she needed him. It delighted me to see these two renew their friendship, and it pleased me even more when it began to evolve. There were many meaningful exchanges between these two, where Guillame touched upon body image, loss of a parent, and mental health. I loved how seamlessly she wove these issues into this light and fluffy tale and gave the story just the right amount of weight.

The format of the this book was great too. It's told as a recollection of that time they created the perfect boy. It was mostly via Katie's perspective, but there were also these exchanges between Katie and Libby injected in there that never failed to make me smile. Super cute and super fun, these story linking bits were quite charming, and a great way to illustrate the friendship between these two.

Guillaume knows how to both make me laugh and warm my heart. This book was a lot of fun, but also had some substance. It reminded me to be careful what I wish for, that the grass is always greener on the other side, and to be aware of those wonderful things that are right in front of me.

A cute, fluffy, Disney-esque rom-com, You Were Made For Me is perfect for fans of 'How to Build a Better Boy'.

I received an ARC of You Were Made For Me by Jenna Guillaume thanks to the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Released April 1, 2021

Content warning: bullying

Blurb(s) thanks to Goodreads (because there are two and I like them both):

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

Katie didn't mean to create a boy. A boy like a long-lost Hemsworth brother: six-foot tall with floppy hair and eyes like the sky on a clear summer's day; whose lips taste like cookie-dough and whose skin smells like springtime.

A boy who is completely devoted to Katie.

He was meant to be perfect.

But he was never meant to exist."

"YA author Jenna Guillaume is back with a fun and modern feminist twist on the 1985 pop cult film Weird Science.

Sixteen-year-old Katie Camilleri can’t believe she’s accidentally created a teenage boy. A boy six-feet tall with floppy hair and eyes like the sky on a clear summer’s day. A boy whose lips taste like cookie dough and whose skin smells like springtime. A boy completely devoted to Katie. But silly musings and kitchen antics with her best friend, Libby, have definitely taken a whimsical twist into something bigger than Katie could have ever daydreamed. Turns out the consequences of fumbling a human being into existence are rather complicated. More importantly, does Guy, the golden Adonis Katie’s created, like her because he wants to, or because he has to? And will he be Katie’s very first kiss?

From the author of What I Like About Me comes a hilarious feminist twist on a classic narrative, loaded with laughs, mishaps, and plenty of 80s and 90s pop-culture callbacks. Jenna Guillaume’s entertaining romantic comedy novel features a humorous and relatable voice and will appeal to fans of Jenny Han."

Review:

The fact that I included TWO blurbs about this book shows how interesting I found it. It gives me flashbacks to the movie Life-Size where Tyra Banks is a doll that comes to life (gotta love Disney in the late-90s early-2000s! And that it was released over 20 years ago doesn't make me feel old at all. Nope. Not. At. All.). I will also say that the blurb says it's based upon a movie called Weird Science and that it references 80s and 90s pop-culture which may turn some away and it really shouldn't! It definitely didn't have the level of callbacks that were in Ready Player One, unless I am too young to get them. Yep, somehow too old and too young in one book review. 30 is coming at me hard all.

Katie is a bit... annoying, but that is who she is and having her not be a tad self-centered would make the story unrealistic. What teen isn't self-centered? As for everyone else, Guy's innocence is so endearing and I absolutely love her friends. The story moves quickly (I read it in a day) because you have to know what is going to happen next. There are so many complicated relationship (friendship and not friendship) lines that it was fascinating to watch them unfold.

There is some asexual representation, which I am always a fan of because it is a topic rarely portrayed in media or discussed. It was also done is a really great way.

My last rave is the way the story was told. I love the idea of Katie writing this series of events like a book with her friend Libby being the editor. It is like watching a real-time creation of the story over Google doc, complete with all the interruptions and clarifications that come with two people telling a story. It was really really well done. Those 'comment' sections flowed perfectly with the story and only added to the intensity of the scenes around them.

I highly recommend this story for anyone interested in what would happen if the perfect romantic partner appeared (whether you have found that person already or not)!

DNF. I really liked the premise but the writing did not work for me at all. It wouldn't be fair to the book if I finished reading and gave it a low rating.

Thank you NetGalley and Peachtree Publishing Group for an eARC of this in exchange for review. All opinions are my own, as usual.

DNF at 35%

To be completely honest, I haven't read this in close to two months. I've been sitting on it, deciding if I wanted to keep going. Through the countless times I saw this eARC on my phone, I never felt compelled to pick it up again. My one worry going into this book was the lack of personality of the created love interest. I've seen this trope played out a lot and all of the guys are lifeless (pun intended). Just because you don't know how a human/robot/alien thing was magically made doesn't mean he can't have a personality. This is a magical realism book after all, you can break the rules. If you like this trope, I'd definitely give this one a chance (I also read it might be queer, so that's great), but it simply wasn't for me.

This ARC was provided for review, but in no way affects the following impartial and unbiased review:
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3,5*
Pros: Looking for that early-2000s teen movie feeling? This book is just for you (you'll know exactly what I'm speaking about once you read it)! It is light, fun and wholesome, and still frustrating because they're teens, but whatcha gonna do? Characters are easily relatable. Entertaining dialogues and writing style. Special shout-out to the support shown to artists that struggle with their self-worth and seeing the beauty in their creations.
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Cons: Almost a DTF due to all the tropes and cliches, but once I started reading it as a Disney Channel-type of story, it was fun and nostalgic.

It was a solid read. I hadn't had much luck in this genre, but this really hit the spot for me. The best kind of friendship, balanced with an awesome romance plotline. TBH, I would never know who to choose, both were just awesome characters. The writing was smooth and fluid and I completed this in just one sitting.

This was such a cute YA romance! It captured all of the feelings and troubles of growing up and wanting to experience love and life perfectly. It read very much like an old school Disney Channel Original Movie which I loved. The writing style was also interesting, breaking the 4th wall having the characters comment on the story that they were recounting. I appreciated the Filipino and asexual representation! It’s rare to have that in YA! I can’t speak on the accuracy of the asexual rep, but as a mixed race Filipino, I appreciated reading about a character I could ethnically relate to. Moral of the story, the idea of perfection doesn’t exist; if you yearn for perfection, you’ll be chasing forever.

I liked the characters a lot, but sometimes I wished we got more from them. I didn't have a ton of strong feelings one way or the other towards Katie, but I think she and Libby together are cool. In the book, the story is told as if Katie is keeping a document of everything that has happened. There are a few interjections from Libby every once in a while, and I found that to be quite enjoyable. I like seeing them interact as best friends, and it keeps things interesting and fun. They include this even after the serious scenes, so this book is definitely good for those who want to read something that's constantly light-hearted. One of these serious things is Theo's past. I really like Theo's story about his mom and his relationship with Katie. Sometimes, I wanted to see more heartfelt interactions between them and dig a little deeper when it came to Theo showing his feelings. However, their friendship still showed to be an extremely special and precious one. Speaking of precious friendships, let's go back to Libby's character. In this story, Libby later reveals that she believes that she is asexual. While I wish the representation was even more prominent, I understand that it's hard because, at that point, Libby doesn't even fully understand her sexuality yet. She's still trying to figure it out, and I assume that reading about a character that doesn't have everything figured out can be just as rewarding and important.

Perhaps it's just me, but the humor in this book is kind of more sexual than I'm used to when it comes to YA books. This really stood out to me towards the beginning, and I found myself rolling my eyes a little bit. There were also a few moments that I found questionable. A few times, the book brought up Theo's weight and the fact that he gained a little weight. I'm not really sure how much weight though, I just know that it's been commented on a few times throughout the book. I'm not a huge fan of these fat jokes, and I felt like they were probably unnecessary, or at least some of them. Mikayla Fitzsimmons is portrayed as the mean girl in this story, so perhaps the weight jokes were apart of her role; however, it perturbed me a little bit when one of those jokes came from his sister. I'll also never understand the reason Katie was so adamant on being called Kate, but then at the end she says it's okay to call her Katie. Maybe I missed it, but I don't recall the book mentioning the significance to being called Kate instead of Katie.

Overall, this was an easy, fun read. It was...interesting to see Katie go from someone who was freaking out about wanting a perfect first kiss to someone who has kissed three different guys in the span of months. I'm not totally positive about what they ended up doing with Guy, but he is a sweet character, so I hope he'll be able to become his own person and find his own path. The plot was pretty interesting, and it's a nice change since I'm so used to reading cliche scenarios (don't worry, this book still has a few cliches if you like those).