Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Teen! I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A coming of age story where drama and second chances take center stage. A quick, standalone summer read that will have you flipping pages to the very end because you have to know what happened!

This book was good for a YA novel, but I honestly don't get the hype of all the 5-star reviews. I feel like 3 is generous. It was realistic in a lot of ways and heartbreaking, but there was nothing really mind-blowing. Someone said it was a YA Colleen Hoover. I disagree. I have loved every Hoover book way more than this one. To each his own. I will still purchase this for my high schoolers because I seem to be in the minority here.

Thank you so much to @Netgalley for this advanced reader's copy for an honest review.

This book about survival and surviving an unpredictable family features two teens Ellis and Easton, who have a complicated relationship, made harder by bad choices. The alternating chapters produce a captivating tale - the first chapter is from the end of their story and the second is from the beginning and each successive chapter brings the reader closer and closer to the middle of the story to find out why things went so horribly wrong. This is the first time I have read a book with such a structure and I found it both innovative and captivating. The characters were genuine and their back and forth made me feel like I was right there with them in high school. As I read the book, I kept thinking about what a great movie or TV show this book would be! Hopefully, someone with the power to make that happen will think that too. Recommended for those who love teen romance and coming of age books.

Many thanks to HarperCollins Children’s Books and Net Galley for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was a fun Reed! I have seen it recommended so many places, and it definitely lives up to the hype! The characters were fun and relatable and down to earth, the story was relatively fast paced and easy to follow. Overall a great standalone and I can’t wait to read more from this author!

The book of the summer! Some Mistakes Were Made, but not in my choice of reading this book. I've been craving a book that draws out the emotions you can only feel in your youth. The pinning, the anxiety, the blinding trust in someone.

In this story we alternate between the past and the present. I feel this brings real full circle experience of what the characters are going through, and helps build the suspense. We have our two main leads in Easton and Ellis. Inseparable since childhood, but things cause a divide when Ellis must move halfway across the country. Now she's back , but things are not how she left them, and people are not how she remembers them.

First loves, loss, and heartbreak. This book gives an honest view on the lifelong question: when is it finally time to let go?

This was a lovely, sad, heartstrings-pulling adventure of a romance story. I think what I liked most about it was that it was fundamental character flaws that caused all of the drama and conflict—nothing felt forced or manufactured; it was all very raw and real and painful. Ellis's terror about being abandoned or unwanted finally being realized in Sandry's terror about letting her follow the same path her father did and loving her too much to let that happen to her, and the way is was exactly the right move from Sandry's perspective and the worst possible thing Sandry could have done from Ellis's perspective... And I'm glad that there wasn't a single calm switch that got flicked at the end that made them forgive one another for the hurt they've caused each other. They both still stand by their own choices, they do not pretend that the other has not caused them pain, but they do acknowledge that they caused each other pain.

I will say that I found myself far more entranced by Ellis's relationship with Sandry and with the rest of the Albreys than I was with the central romance. Easton was by far the weakest part of the book, and I'm not sure what I was supposed to find compelling or interesting about him. Ellis I loved because of her central contradicting desire for love and family and her inability to accept that love when it was offered to her. What was Easton's central problem? He loved Ellis and couldn't find the way to make her express it back? I just wish there had been more to him as a person; I got annoyed every time he walked onto the page. I honestly think this story would have been stronger without the romance aspect at all.

That being said, the rest of the book more than makes up for the unimpressive central thread of the romance, and I believe the messages about the cycles of generational trauma, the inescapable nature of inherited poverty and pain, and the power of selfless, pure love—and its limits—were absolutely heartbreaking and lovely.

WOW. The tension between Ellis and Easton sucked me IN!! I love a good flip between past and present. It made the mystery and the intrigue so much more intense for me. I loved being addicted to this story! Every character made the story even more enjoyable. I loved the sad girl story Ellis had and how she just wanted to be loved and someone’s first choice. Easton’s story had me all tied up. I loved this book and read it in 2 days because I couldn’t get enough. Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for a review!!!!

Debut author Kristin Dwyer describes her new novel, Some Mistakes Were Made, as a kissing book. But wrapped up in the outer layers of a kissing book is the powerful story of trying to break generational cycles of poverty and trauma.

Painful seperation
Ellis Truman has spent a year apart from her best friend Easton. One whole year without a call, a text… anything. Since then, she’s lived with her aunt out in California, far away from his family, her adopted family, the Albreys, after a mysterious incident tore them all apart.

But Tucker, the middle Albrey brother, convinces Ellis that she can’t miss his mother’s 50th birthday party, and reluctantly, she agrees. Even though it means returning to her absent mother, her incarcerated father, and… Easton.

As the story unfolds, we transition back and forth between scenes of Ellis’s childhood meeting Easton and falling in love with both him and his family. As a poor kid from a broken family, Ellis has always been the outcast at school. Easton was the only one who saw her for the person underneath, which is why she clung to him and his family so tightly.

A romance without the feels
While this book is primarily categorized as a romance, it is that element that fell the most flat for me. Personally, I did not enjoy Easton’s character. In almost every scene, he was either angry at Ellis or brooding about something. Yet, ultimately, we never get to see his wounds. We don’t know why he cares for Ellis so much or why he’s so broken without her. We see more scenes of Ellis pining for him than scenes of Easton himself. I never rooted for their relationship, so I never invested in the romance of the novel.

Family dynamics
One of the highlights, however, was the rest of the Albrey family. Found family is one of my favorite tropes, and it’s on full display here. Both Tucker and Dixon have a warm, funny sibling dynamic with Ellis that gives me all the feels. The relationship between Sandry, the matriarch, and Ellis, is what really tugged on my heartstrings. Anyone who’s had a chosen mother in their life will relate to the love between the two, which makes their time apart even more heartbreaking.

Ellis’s relationship with her parents was another powerful part of the story. For someone like me, who grew up always able to rely on her parents, it was jarring to see the life of a kid who came home to an empty house and lived with parents who cared more about their own happiness than their child. Every scene between her and her mom or dad hurt to read. Seeing a different kind of family dynamic opened my eyes.

Mixed feelings
While the narrative jumping back and forth between past and present added tension, I would argue that it is too much tension. From the beginning, we know that some event tore Ellis from the Albreys and drove a wedge between them, but we don’t learn what that event is until almost the end of the book. In my opinion, this is far too long. About a third of the way into the book, I was already bored and frustrated—even more so by the final reveal.

My first impressions of this novel were negative overall, but the more I reflect, the more I appreciate what it had to offer. Readers who love teen angst will certainly love the romance, and those who prefer family drama will find that as well. For all YA lovers, it’s worth the read.

🌧REVIEW🌧

THIS BOOOKKKK oh my lord. Shattered my soul. Everyone talks about how sad You've Reached Sam is... that book *is* sad, but this book is full of pain in every form. Honestly, the ultimate enneagram 4 book. I felt for these characters so much and just wanted to help.
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While this is kinda centered around heartache of a relationship ending, it is about so much more than a romantic relationship. We see pain and turmoil through friendship, relationship, and family struggles.
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10/10 5/5 stars, absolutely amazing. I can't wait to get my hard copy. ALSO the fact that this is her DEBUT novel YOU'RE JOKING so so so good. I need more.

Wow, this book was angsty but I really liked it. It made me feel so much. The book touched on many deep and intense themes. The characters each have their unique voices and I formed an attachment to them. I liked how it alternates between the past and the present. Ellis holds a special place in my heart and I know this book will stay on my mind for some time. Thank you NetGalley for this arc!

Some Mistakes Were Made is a beautifully written story about a teenager going through raw and complicated feelings of heartbreak. If you are looking for a story with second chance romance, found family, first love, and lots of angst then I think you would enjoy this book.

This book was engaging that dealt with real life issues. Honesty, the balance between pain and longing/love was a little off for me. For a younger audience there weren't too many non verbal signs the two MC's actually loved each other beyond the pain. For all the pain I didn't feel like the ending was satisfying enough but it read well overall.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperTeen for the eARC in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

I remember seeing Some Mistakes Were Made on Bookstagram months and months before it was released, and part of me was worried that it would not live up to the hype.

I am here to tell you that it did. And then some.

This story captures teen angst so well, through both the story itself and the first-person narrative style. I am a total sucker for Then vs. Now timelines, and the flashbacks to the beginning of Ellis and Easton’s relationship - and the gradual closeness and then destruction - were very well interspersed in the present day narrative.

I really liked that this story was not just about Ellis and Easton. It also deals with Ellis’ relationships with other family members, as well as herself and her past. There is a lot of heartache and heartbreak in Ellis’ story, and Kristin manages to convey all of those emotions in a very real and raw manner. While there are parts of this story that are very heavy, the resolution leaves readers with a lot of hope for our two MCs.

Excellent debut novel - I will definitely be reading more from Kristin in the future!

4.5/5⭐️
Genre: Contemporary Fiction/Romance
Age Level: Upper Young Adult
Content: language, 2 brief/vague open-door scenes

Ellis and Easton have been friends since childhood. He may have rescued her. Easton's home is where Ellis found family and where she thrived as a teen. She was sent away, but the mystery around that is centered on Easton's relationship with her. She is a child of trauma, he is the son of privilege and the mother that surrounded both with love is challenged by the grown-up relationship between the two. What happens to that relationship is the center of this book. Written with knowledge of the trauma that pervades the lives of some youth and with the understanding of the soul of a woman who wants to help, this book is one that will touch your heart. No doubt there is a relationship beyond understanding between Ellis and Easton. When Ellis is invited home to face it, the challenges of her past, present, and future are daunting. This book is well written, the plot interesting, and the characters developed from one who understands the young mind. I would put it at the top of my highly recommended books not just for YA book lovers but for those who love mystery, romance, and family survival stories. Thanks to #NetGalley#SomeMistakes Were Made for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I really enjoyed this book!!! Kristin Dwyer is amazing and this was such a strong debut. All of the characters were fun and fascinating and honestly, I just really enjoyed the book. It was a nice read.

This book surprised me immensely! It took me a mere 9 hours to read it cover to cover, and I immediately wanted to be able to read Easton and Ellis’s story for the first time again. I even read every word of the super long acknowledgments 🤣🤣

In an effort to “keep it real,” I would like to mention some mistakes that were made on my part. Firstly, I didn’t have a sufficient amount of tissues ready 🥹🥹 Secondly, I didn’t anticipate the need to finish the book in one sitting. If I did, I would have started reading earlier in the day to avoid staying up until very early in the morning on a week day 😴😴😴 Thirdly, I didn’t make sure I had enough page flags—especially the blue ones!!! To be honest, my highlighter also refused to do its job toward the end of the book. The audacity! The list goes on, but I’ll spare you.

I will stop rambling in a second, but I suppose it’s worth mentioning that Some Mistakes Were Made is now my favourite YA book of 2022, and you should get yourself a copy if you haven’t already! 💕

Some Mistakes Were Made is a young adult contemporary romance novel that explores important themes relatable the teen life of today and yesterday. For example: What it’s like to be in love for the first time, what it’s like to have your first heartbreak, and what it’s like to want to belong. This tender story will stir up a whirlwind of emotion. Get ready!


Ellis’ home life is a wreck. But she is a lucky girl because she has an adopted family in which to be a part. Mama Sandry is the matriarch of three boys. Sandry Albrey radiates a maternal warmth that one can’t help but be drawn to. You will be warmed to “see” how the Albrey brothers absorb Ellis into their sibling dynamic. They are even the ones to teach her how to do things like how to drive.
Tucker is a hunk and so supportive of Ellis, even if he gives her a hard time sometimes. Dixon is just funny and nearly perfect. The Easton and Ellis relationship is complicated and confusing. The brothers are at sibling odds throughout much of the book, but the conflicts seems somewhat good natured. Still there is a fierce loyalty among the brothers.

I found the ending mostly satisfying but also frustrating to this reader. Then again I’m not sure what I think should have happened between Easton and Ellis. In this reader’s opinion, Kristen Dwyer knocked this one out of the ballpark. She left me wanting more.

Ellis and Easton have been inseparable since childhood, but after some poor choices lead to Ellis’s life being upended, her moving to California, and not speaking to Easton, everything changes. A year later, she’s back in her hometown and forced to confront her past, Easton, and the feelings she still has for him.

This book hit me in all the emotions and was the most beautiful journey. I loved the alternating timelines and how we slowly saw Ellis and Easton’s relationship from the beginning and where it all went wrong was slowly revealed. This book was heartbreaking and hopeful and messy, much like first loves feel in the moment. I loved how it touched on class discrepancies, how family can be chosen, and how it tackled addiction. This book is easily one of my favorite YA novels I’ve read this year. These characters felt so real and I felt all of their emotions right there with them. I loved this one so much.

Thank you to Harper Teen for the advance copy.

Wow, did this book pull me in. I love when a story makes me feel, and this book did such an incredible job of making me feel every single thing the main character felt. I don't even know how to properly put into words how completely and wholly invested I was in this story, and how deeply I felt for Ellis throughout.

I think a lot of us can relate to the way Ellis felt in this story, which is likely why it was so moving. She not only lost someone she felt was her true love, but his family too. She's in a new place with new people (except for Tucker, Easton's brother, who becomes sort of a lifeline for her) and it's hard. She clearly feels so lost, and I can vividly remember feeling like this the first time I went away from home. And of course, when she comes back, everything is just... different.

Ellis's feelings and emotions are just so real and so raw, I don't know if I can think of another book that made me feel so deeply for what a character was going through. And while her romantic feelings for Easton were certainly a huge part of the story, it was far from the only issue on Ellis's plate. She mourns just as much the loss of his family, who had taken Ellis in and treated her as one of their own. Especially important, because Ellis's own family of origin was kind of a mess. Her loss of the Albreys was extra tough for her- she had felt like they had chosen her, and loved her when no one else seemed to, and them reneging (in her eyes) that love was in effect proving what she'd thought about herself all along.

Ultimately, the story is about Ellis finding herself, while rebuilding these relationships- if they can even be rebuilt- with people who meant so much to her. But first, she has to figure out who she wants to be, and understand her place in the world, too.

Bottom Line: Following Ellis's story was an absolute pleasure, and one I could not put down. I laughed and cried with her, my heart broke and soared with hers.

overall review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
hmm I’m still not 100% sure how I feel about this book. nothing about it stood out to me and honestly the whole time I was reading it, I felt dissociated and unconnected to the story, the characters, and the plot. I am also very disappointed because I had very high hopes and have been excited for it since I first saw it announced on the author’s Instagram.

plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I could see where it was going, but the way it was executed was not my favorite.

world building: ⭐️⭐️/5
there was almost no world building in this book. usually I’m not a fan of excessive world building, but there was almost not enough for me.

writing style: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
it wasn’t personally my favorite, but writing style differs for everyone!

characters: ⭐️/5
oh man. the characters… first of all I was really disappointed by the lack of diversity. usually even in the worst books, there will be some sort of token, stereotyped bipoc or lgbtq+ side character, but there wasn’t even a single one in this book 😭. now, sure. I understand it being hard to write a character that you don’t personally relate to, but let’s talk about the characters the author DID include. out of ALL the characters in the book, I did not relate to/like a single one of them, and they all felt extremely stereotyped and exaggerated to me.

now take all this with a grain of salt because this is all my personal opinion, and this is the author’s debut novel.

read if you:
like family drama
like childhood friends to estranged enemies to lovers
like books with lots of flashbacks