Lovely romance and interesting story. I wanted to like it more but it was still a nice read with great characters.

This coming of age story is a fun and enjoyable read for lovers of young adult romances. A lighthearted, summer read.

Such a fun and lighthearted read. I love the Shakespeare obsession the characters share. There was a bit of miscommunication trope which I don't love but this book was cute.

this was well written and i enjoyed the story. I loved the characters and the progression of their relationship. There were a few moments that made me laugh and i will be recommending this one to friends

*Long Story Short* by Serena Kaylor is an adorable, nerdy, fish-out-of-water rom-com that’s perfect for anyone who loves coming-of-age stories with a dash of summer camp chaos. It follows Beatrice, a socially awkward, academically brilliant teen who’s more comfortable with Shakespearean sonnets than small talk. When her parents challenge her to spend the summer at a theater camp to prove she can handle social situations before heading to college, Bea is thrown into a world of extroverted drama kids, unexpected friendships, and maybe even a little romance.

The book absolutely nails the awkward-but-lovable protagonist trope, and Bea’s internal monologue is both hilarious and painfully relatable. The friendships and banter add so much charm, and the romance? Super cute. That said, the plot can feel predictable at times, and Bea’s social struggles sometimes lean into stereotypes rather than fully fleshed-out development. Still, if you love nerdy heroines, summer camp shenanigans, and swoony YA romance, this one’s a fun and feel-good read!

This book totally exceeded my expectations. It’s heartfelt! It’s a blast! It’s genuine! And it definitely deserves five stars. I thought it successfully captured the essence of Shakespeare while also giving nostalgic summer camp vibes. The back-and-forth of the leads was super cute and entertaining, and I really enjoyed how the author crafted the enemies-to-lovers trope.

Giving this one four stars. Long story short was so cute and fun. I loved the setting and the summer vibes. I have a soft spot for nerds and this one was so sweet.

What a beautiful book! I love how the main character is autistic coded, and how her friends accept her exactly as she is - every change she makes, she makes on her own. I only wish her parents saw how amazing she was from page one, not needing her to change who she was so they could be happy!

This was okay. I really didn’t care for the plot or characters or writing style which was a bummer. Not for me, but others might enjoy and appreciate it!

Long Story Short by Serena Kaylor is a fun and heartwarming read about a shy math genius finding herself at a summer theater camp. The characters are lovable, the humor is great, and the romance is sweet, though the plot can be a bit predictable. A charming YA story about stepping out of your comfort zone!

I thought this book was very cute. It was an easy and quick read. The characters and story line weren't necessary original but it was well written. One detail that bothered me was that the main character was portrayed as autistic but it was never mentioned or confirmed. It would have been nice to have had that representation. I connected with the story and I was proud of how far Beatrice came in terms of growth throughout this story. Also loved that is centered around Shakespeare.

*Long Story Short* by Selena Kaylor is the perfect mix of heart, humor, and "Oh no, I can’t put this down!" The characters feel like your best friends — if your best friends happened to get into all sorts of amusing, yet relatable, predicaments. Kaylor's witty writing keeps you laughing while sneaking in some surprisingly deep moments. If you’re looking for a feel-good read that won’t take itself too seriously, this book is like the literary equivalent of a cozy coffee date with a friend who’s just as funny as they are wise. Highly recommend — just make sure you're not holding a cup of coffee while reading, or you might spill it from laughing!

Long Story Short is truly such a cute story and I absolutely loved reading it. I read it in one sitting and I loved all the characters in it. I was also really engaged with the plot and the writing style was so good.

I did receive this novel as an eARC from NetGalley.

Beatrice is going to a Shakespeare theatre camp! This is a kind of coming of age story with an enemies to lovers romance.

Beatrice an introvert math genius who’s been home schooled gets accepted to Oxford. Her parents decide to make her go to theatre camp in order to get out of her comfort zone and have a “normal teenager experience”. The camp is playing Romeo and Juliet.

Beatrice gets paired up with the best roommate possible that can take her out of her shell, there’s an evil queen bee, a gay friend very into fashion design, a Romeo love interest and a misunderstanding between the two main characters.

The characters made me smile, laugh, feel awkward and mad at the right times.

I liked the diversity in the characters but they felt a little stereotypical of a YA romance to me.

I am so surprised by how much I loved this book. Everything about Beatrice’s character development was so good and I loved being in her head as she figured out who she is outside of her ordered four walls.

I will say at first, everyone felt a bit stereotyped and they got attached super fast. Not that that’s surprising for a summer camp read, but the book at times felt like a bubble and the real world wasn’t knocking. It was very sweet how the friendships developed and felt like a large part of the story, but there still felt like there was something missing in them. That being said, I appreciated the support that they provided Bea as she ventured out of her comfort zone time and time again. I loved their unconditional love and appreciation of Bea as a smart human being, but also someone totally out of her depth. Their love and help were an integral part of Bea’s growth.

I absolutely loved Bea and her journey. Being in her head as she dissected and processed new social interactions and events felt very relatable. As someone who was involuntarily sheltered, I kind of loved seeing her approach to new things, and appreciated how cautious she was with her heart, because same. I found a lot of my young self in her, and enjoyed seeing her open herself up to new people and new experiences. Her unintentional banter and chemistry with the other characters brought a humanity to herself and the other characters. This element was what truly brought the whole cast to life for me and it’s definitely where Kaylor’s writing shines.

The Shakespearean themes were a lot of fun – the plays, the acting, the romance, the games – there’s just something about the Bard that brings people together. As a Shakespeare kid, I enjoyed revisiting the plays throughout the story.

All in all, I loved this book and I am so excited to see more from this author!

TW: bullying, underage drinking

Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
World Building: 4.5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Pacing: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
GoodReads Rating: 3.97/5

eARC gifted via NetGalley by Wednesday Books via St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.

My heart is literally smiling. Long Story Short it is a great YA novel that is unputdownable. I loved the setting because it gave it a summery vibe that I appreciate. I adored Beatrice and Nik, both were well-developed, rounded character, and I love the two of them together. The friendships were great too, I especially loved the satisfying ending.

Serena Kaylor has crafted a fun romance with wonderful rep and a colorful cast of characters. This story is quiet in all the best ways and really had me kicking my feet and giggling.

DNF
I think I just haven't enjoyed YA novels recently so this one just wasn't doing it for me. But that's entirely on me and my mood reading.

I loved this book! It's well-written, enjoyable, and a great read. Serena Kaylor did a great job of writing in a way that captures the readers attention, and makes you not want to put it down until you're finished! I would highly recommend it!

I loved this book! Watching this extreme introvert come out of her shell with the help of two of the most amazing people she finds as friends made for a wonderful story.

Having to attend camp for acting in order for her to attend Oxford at the age of sixteen she had to complete this one requirement from her parents. Sent with to do list created by her parents and then modified by her new friends you get to see how this introvert finds way to navigate around social situations. New friends, possibly an enemies to love situation and all the camp shenanigans make for a great story.