Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC! I think what I learned from this is that I love lesbian romcoms with competitions. This kind of reminds me of The Henna Wars except Aideen and Meabh aren't competing against each other, but similar to 'The Henna Wars,' there's history there. They both give me such a nice vibe, like having a warm fuzzy blanket wrapped around you. I really liked the slowburn of their relationship. While I enjoyed the romance, I also found myself loving the supporting characters and the storyline involving Aideen's mom. Also, can I just say that I love Aideen? Not only is her inner monologue super interesting to read as she figures things out, but she was so funny too. This was overall just so good!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

If Deery Girls was a book.... 📘📚💙

𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀:
A queer coming of age story! When Aideen can’t solve any of her own problems she becomes the school’s “fixer.” Aideen is struggling in school because most of her time is focused on keeping her mom sober and finding food when her mom is off on a bender.
Will assisting others help her realize that she needs to help herself first?

𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:
This book was highly anticipated in the YA and queer communities. I really appreciated the story. What I liked most was that Aideen being a lesbian wasn’t her “struggle” in the story.
I also appreciated the growth Aideen showed in discovering what she really expected from “friends.” Aideen’s dry humor was fabulous. She was a heroine you love immediately and root for hard!

I don’t love YA books, but I’ll read them for a queer story. This is the kind of story I wished I had when I was younger! 💙🌈

Thank you @harpercollinsch and @netgalley for the eARC of this in exchange for an honest review!

This book was funny, creative, and a little sad. I'm not sure I've encountered a book that talks about what codependency in kids looks like until this book. This is probably also the first time in a while that I read a book and was sad it ended so soon. I also found it interesting that the book didn't make a big deal of being a lesbian or coming out; it was just natural and normal, which is how we wish it would be all of the time.

Not My Problem by Ciara Smyth definitely lived up to it’s pre-release hype for me! I always appreciate a story about queer characters that isn’t a coming out narrative. Don’t get me wrong, coming out stories are incredibly important, but we need more stories that aren’t coming out as well.

We follow Aideen, a less-than-stellar student who is full of excuses for missing classes and is dealing with an alcoholic mother and absent father. She gets convinced to push another student down the stairs, and not just any student, but a prissy perfect student who also happens to be the headmaster's daughter Meabh. After this favor she somehow ends up fixing minor problems for several other students, with repayment in the form of favors owed.

This book got off to a much slower start than I was prepared for, so it took awhile for me to get into, but by 30% in I was hooked. Meabh gave me so many Paris Gellar vibes and I loved it. I wish the romance had been a bit more prevalent, but I still would recommend this book to my students and all readers of YA.

This book was a lot of fun. I gave it a 3 out of 5, I liked this book a lot but it wasn't one of my favorites. The main character starts a "business" helping other people and through this she makes some new friends and a love interest. The main character also is trying to navigate through problems at home and through her friendships. She eventually learns to depend on people and ask for help. Also the little romance on the side.... is really cute and it's gay! Overall, I definitely recommend this and.... it came out today so go read it.

Wow, I flew through this book! After The Falling In Love Montage, my expectations were extremely high but this somehow exceeded those expectations. Both stories are not comparable but I have a feeling Not My Problem will leave a lasting impact just as TFILM did. All of the characters were so well developed and Aideen and Maebh were amazing but the side characters were also just as amazing. Kavi and Aideen's friendship was my personal favorite. The way it handles more difficult topics was done spectacularly. Overall, I would honestly go so far as to say this is one of my favorite books I've read this year!

I loved this! I was a big fan of Smyth’s, The Falling in Love Montage, so this book was on the top of my must read of 2021 list. My expectations were high, but this book met every single one of them. I’m happily surprised to say this, but I thought this book was actually better than TFILM. This is the kind of book that I think is just a must for YA fans. And even if you are not a huge YA fan, this book is written so well that I think you will love it anyway.

This book didn’t even give me a minute to settle in. I was hooked after a few lines and Smyth had me wrapped around her little finger for the rest of the book. The writing was so good and there were many brilliant lines. I can’t even tell you how many quotes I wanted to write down since I lost track. I love Smyth’s humor. She is so witty and it is the kind of book humor that actually works for me. If I wasn’t so swamped with reading, I’d be turning back to page one -as soon as I finished this review- to read this whole book again. There are so many lines and parts that I want to enjoy again and if you read my reviews, you will know I’m not a big re-reader so it’s a huge compliment to Smyth’s writing.

Unlike The Falling in Love Montage, this is more of a coming of age story than a romance. There is a cute, sort of enemies to lovers romance, but it’s not the main focus. However, I thought the amount of romance worked perfectly with the book. With everything else going on for our main character, the amount of romance was a good fit and I thought the couple was adorable too.

While the plot is very good, never boring and keeps you turning the pages, the characters were the heart of the book for me. I loved them all. Aideen, is the perfect main character to be in the headspace of and every other important or secondary character was well done too. There were no cardboard cut-outs, instead everyone was really fleshed-out with their own unique voice.

This was the kind of YA that gave me all the feels. I did cry a little at one point, and had some misty eyes until the end, but the humor helped to keep this book much more in the feel good lane. This is the kind of YA book I love. I honestly have no complaints and am a very happy camper. I’m looking forward to gushing and chatting about this book as more reviews start coming in.

Overwhelmed with her personal life, Aideen has little sympathy for her enemy-since-middle school when she finds her crying in the bathroom. She's more than willing, however, to help her out, if it means pushing her down the stairs. Meabh needs more time in her busy schedule, and getting benched during her athletics seems like the perfect way to do it. After their plan gets overheard, however, Aideen finds herself running an accidental business helping students in unlikely ways. After all, helping other people is easier than facing her own problems.

This book is funny, lighthearted, and empowering, all while facing some tough issues such as racism, homophobia, poverty, broken families, and losing friends. It spins it all together exceptionally well, and it had me rooting for all the characters the whole way through. Aideen stole my heart, and watching her grow up was like looking at my younger self through a new lens. It had excellent representation of being a young queer girl, and all the confusing emotions that can come with that. Not My Problem is the perfect queer read for all the young adult readers looking for something potent, hilarious, and ultimately hopeful.

I really loved this book! It was so cute and so so funny! I really loved reading about Aideen’s relationship with her mom and how it shaped her world. The character development was amazing and all of the characters were so amazing! Loved it!

This was a great story about one girls idea to help out the spoiled kids so they owe her favors and I have to say that its genius!! Aideen is dealing with some heavy topics in this one. Mainly her mothers alcoholism. The plot was authentic and the LGBTQ themes was not a plot in the story. It was just there and that was wonderful that it wasn't at the forefront. Just for the fact that it shouldn't be. Wither the MC is straight or gay etc it shouldn't matter. I can't wait for more.

I enjoyed Ciara Smyth's other novel The Falling in Love Montage so I was excited to read her new release, and wow, I flew through this book in just two days!
One of my favorite things about Smyth's books is that romance is not at the forefront of the story. Family problems and family relationships are at the heart of the story, which I think adds so much depth to the characters.
I loved the two main characters and how their relationship progressed so naturally, I absolutely adored the side characters (I'm officially leading the ProtectKaviSquad!!), and the ending was perfectly done.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Not My Problem is truly a delight. The rivals-to-lovers trope was well done, and the characters were fully fleshed out and had great development. It was authentic and charming, but also really funny. Overall, this book really delivered.

This was a ton of fun. I definitely preferred this book to the author’s first novel. It felt far more authentic. It balances humor and tough topics deftly. An excellent read!

While hiding from her own problems, Aideen accidentally became the go-to problem solver for her classmates.

Smyth delighted me with her debut, The Falling in Love Montage, and she delighted me even more with Not My Problem. When I finished this book, my mind was bursting with all sorts of positive adjectives to describe my experience, and this book is one I will definitely be shouting about.

I was hooked into this story from page one. I immediately loved Aideen, even if I wasn't supposed to. It was easy to see that there was much more to her than met the eye. Her attitude and disinterest were her armor. She wore it to protect herself from feeling the full impact of her problems. Due to her mother's alcoholism, Aideen dealt with constant worries related to paying bills, having food to eat, and her mother's well being. But she still had the average teenage issues to deal with as well, such as her dismal grades and her struggling relationship with her best friend. This could be a lot for one person to deal with, which was why I was so excited when she starting the favor-for-a-favor arrangement. Her role as problem solver helped her make new connections and lead to breaching the barriers Aideen had built to protect herself.

Aideen learning to trust others with her problems and allow them to share her load was a big part of this story. It happened slowly as she grew to fully realize that she was forming honest friendships with those she had been helping. It was beautiful and touching, and I was really moved by the way Aideen's world grew and changed for the better.

I must admit, some of the most fun parts of this book were when they were "problem solving". The first assist Aideen offered was completely insane, and the capers that followed were even more elaborate and crazy fun. I loved how with each new problem, this little community grew. Aideen thought it was a quid-pro-quo sort of arrangement, but the bonds they formed were real. The interactions with Maebh and Kavi were especially stellar, as were the moments Aideen shared with Ms. Devlin (those excuse notes - 🤣).

Not My Problem was a complete package for me. Great characters, a touching story, humor, wit, and lots of heart. It was so satisfying to see Aideen stop hiding her troubles, open herself up to others, and accept their support.

Not My Problem is a fantastic and imaginative coming of age novel that is witty and humorous while still dealing with difficult but relatable topics many teens face today. The writing was top notch and the characters were brilliant. I really enjoyed reading as relationships developed and storylines played out in a way that made me instantly fall in love with the characters. The lesbian representation was done well, though there wasn't much of a romance storyline until the very end. All in all, the story is mainly about friendships/relationships and what I really appreciated was the piece about knowing when to let certain friendships go.
*ARC copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Funny, heartwarming, and surprisingly sad at times, NOT MY PROBLEM is a whirlwind of a book about friendship, mothers, and problems. I was a huge fan of Smyth’s debut, and her sophomore novel definitely stood up to reader expectations.

Not My Problem by @ciaraiswriting ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I received this advanced reader copy via @netgalley and I fell in love. The narration was so real and honest. This book hit me in my own vulnerability. Everyone has trouble asking for help on some level, but this really did show it is ok to ask for help.
All of the characters were jumping off the page in their authenticity. Especially Aideen, who might be the funniest narrator I have ever seen. I also found myself appreciating the small details of the enemies to lovers and opposites attract romance. The main characters are lesbians, but their sexualities were not discussed very much. They were not lesbians in a straight world. They simply exist. It was very refreshing to see.
I truly loved this book so pick it up when it comes out on MAY 25TH!! and thank you to @harpercollins and @ciaraiswriting again for this arc.

I loved this! I went in with high expectations because of how much I loved The Falling In Love Montage, and yet Not My Problem surpassed them all. While it's true that I'm a total sucker for almost any sapphic romance with snappy banter, Not My Problem also resonated with me beyond the adorable slow-burn. The way that both Meabh and Aideen's very different struggles were both treated with compassion and understanding was really lovely to see, and I also felt that it was one of the most true to life representations of interactions between teenagers that I've seen in contemporary young adult romance. None of the characters were reduced to stock teen movie archetypes just for plot convenience. Instead, they were allowed to be flawed and complex, even the ones who had only good intentions, which was really refreshing.

Also, I have a massive crush on Meabh, but that's beside the point.

*** Thank you HarperTeen and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for honest review. ***

Not My problem is a great book; it brought me back to the school days when I was a teenager. I found myself smiling while reading about Aideen’s journey. She is funny, caring, and lovable. However, her story with her mother broke my heart. And even though I loved all the characters in the book, I didn’t like her mother.

“Will there be drinking and drugs and sex at this party?” Mam asked.

I was surprised, like Aideen, that her mother bothered to ask her about the party after what Aideen went through before this question.

When Aideen’s father came to the house, Aideen was so upset with him, and she went to spend the night with Holly, her best friend. Aideen’s mom didn’t call to check on her sixteen-year-old girl.

The very next day, Aideen came home after school and her mom wasn’t there; there was no food in the house and her mom took all of Aideen’s savings and left her with nothing. Aideen tried to call her mom, but she didn’t answer. She went out looking for her mom in a nearby bar, and she wasn’t there either.

It was like someone hollowed out my inside.

This was heartbreaking for me; I nearly cried for this child. Aideen had to walk to a nearby church to ask for some food. The way Ms. Smyth described Aideen’s feelings at that moment was brilliant. I could feel Aideen’s pain completely.

Now let’s talk about the other characters. They were real and complex. I liked Kavi; the way he talked was irritating but funny. I wondered sometimes if he ever stopped to take a breath while talking without stopping!

Meabh was something else.

I didn’t like her at first. I thought she would be another version of Tracy from Election Movie (while I thought Reese Witherspoon was brilliant in this movie, I hated Tracy) so I, subconsciously, thought that Meabh would be a copy of Tracy. She wasn’t, and that was a good surprise. I really liked her, and I liked the romance between her and Aideen (the romance wasn’t central to the plot and it came very late, but it was a good romance)

Overall, the book was funny, easy to read, and enjoyable. Ms. Smyth talked about important subjects like child caring for an adult, child abuse, and alcohol abuse all together with mentioning Aideen’s struggling in school and friendship between the characters. I highly recommend this book to adults before teenagers.

4/5 stars

TWs: alcohol abuse/addiction, child neglect, child caring for adult
there might be more I didn’t pick up on.

This book hit close to home in far too many ways that I needed to take a step back for a few days to reflect before I could give my feelings. This book perfectly encapsulates the life of someone on the edge of disaster and I appreciate that kind of representation in books. I loved the found family aspects of this book to pieces. It was funny, clever, had amazing characters and I LOVED Aideen, her journey, and her romance. However, I do wish it had one more chapter to wrap everything up more with the mother subplot. Seeing more of Aideen opening up and being comfortable with her friends would have been nice for me as a reader to know she's going to be okay. . Overall a fun read I could not put down and truly connected to.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperTeen for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.