*I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this ARC!*

Upon first reading the synopsis of this book, I thought it sounded pretty cute. A nerdy, math-oriented girl being forced to act at a Shakespeare camp for the summer? Sign me up! This book ended up having more depth than I was expecting, and I am always here for being pleasantly surprised.

Beatrice was an unusual character for a YA romance, in the best way. She is very statistically and logically minded. She doesn’t really let her emotions lead her (at least she thinks so 😉 ) and tends to say exactly what is on her mind, regardless of the social consequences. I really enjoyed seeing her try to navigate traditional American teenager-dom. It was like watching a socially awkward alien attempt to figure out how the youths of earth talk to and interact with one another.

I loved the side characters in this book. I felt like the friends were well developed and I loved seeing Beatrice start to trust them and lean on them more and more as the story progressed. Her friends Mia and Nolan were precious little weirdos and I loved how quickly they accepted Bea into their friend group. Her romance with Nik was so cute, and awkward, and will they, won’t they, and I was here for it!

I thought the list that her parents gave her (and that Mia and Nolan added to) to help her achieve key points of being a teenager was so cute and such a great plot addition. It really helped to hammer home the fact that Bea needed structure in order to achieve abstract concepts. I feel like the author hinted heavily at Bea being on the autism spectrum, without ever coming out and saying it. I could be wrong about that, but I enjoyed seeing this kind of personality celebrated in a YA romance novel.

This was a really cute read, and I absolutely think you should pick it up ASAP!

My Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I gave Long Story Short 4 Stars!

Beatrice lives a very structured and sheltered life. She is home schooled, has no friends or social interactions, and even eats the same meals. Her dream is to go to college at Oxford and when she is accepted, her parents make a deal with her that if she will go to a Shakespeare theatre camp and experience some new "teen" things, they feel she will be more prepared to go to Oxford.
Now she must survive theater camp and check things off her "teen experience check-list".

I really enjoyed this YA rom com that is a fish out of water story. It was fun and interesting without stressing me out! This one would be great for fans of Emma Lord or Julie Bauxbaum. I do have a small quibble with the boring title that really tells you nothing about the book. Needs a rename and a better cover but if you look past that, this is a good book.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy for review.

At its core, this book is a love letter to theater nerds. Only at a theater camp could Beatrice have found the weird and wonderful friends that she needed. This was a super cute and quick read with great summer camp vibes, and a bit of YA enemies to lovers thrown in. My favorite character of them all was Nolan and I would love to read an entire book about his adventures in the costume department.

A story about treading the waters of friendship, love, and self-discovery. This is a refreshingly light coming-of-age story, with a hint of enemies to lovers theme. This is a fantastic YA novel with a STEM female protagonist, and would be a great addition to a classroom library. G-rated, and covers the ins and outs of what it's like being a teenager (although a little stereotypical at times).

Beatrice (Bea) is 16 years old, and her dream has always been to go to Oxford. She was homeschooled by her parents, who are sex therapists, and received her diploma at 14. She's smart as a whip, but doesn't always approach things in the best way. Her dream came true when she received her acceptance letter to Oxford, but she breaks the news to her parents at a dinner party, and they have several concerns. Her parents don't think she's had the "teenager experience," due to being homeschooled (and an introvert in general). She has a large whiteboard in her room for notes, color codes problems and solutions, has a photographic memory, and doesn't socialize with anyone.

How could she possibly be ready to move to another country to attend school? Two words: summer camp. Shakespearean, to be exact.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

One of the things I enjoyed most about this self-assured debut YA romance is the sharp repartee 16-year-old Beatrice uses to defend herself from just about everyone else in the story. Bea is something of a wunderkind, having graduated from high school early after being homeschooled. Without telling anyone, she applies to--and is accepted by--Oxford University to study advanced mathematics, but her parents don't think she is mature enough yet to live and study far from her home in Berkeley, CA.

Bea has lived a rigid, solitary life, wearing her "uniform" of unflattering polo shirt and khakis every day and eating according to a self-imposed menu that never changes from week to week. She doesn't have any friends, and an unfortunate incident with a boy has led her to meet regularly with a therapist. Her parents' solution is to mandate a summer Shakespeare theater camp in Connecticut, where their daughter must complete a list of goals in order to gain their approval for matriculating at Oxford in the fall.

The goals include making a friend, hugging at least three people, and a host of other things that would be "normal" for any other teenager, but most of them are nearly unthinkable to Bea. It's fun to see how she is slowly and reluctantly sucked into friendship with her roommate and a few others who are willing to overlook her prickly personality and determined to help her attain her goals while learning to experience a teenager's life that she has never known. The supporting characters are well written and entertaining, and the writing is often breezy but full of emotion. This author is one to watch.

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

I was in the mood for a cute, summer read that didn’t take too long and would provide a good time; and Long Story Short seemed like the answer to my prayer.

I didn’t really know much about it going in, so I was surprised to find out just how much of a socially awkward person Beatrice really was. I mean I knew she was supposed to be a genius, and that usually comes with certain social difficulties but Breatice was on another level of inadequate, which was sort of painful to witness.

The rest if the cast were fun, though. But a little forgettable in my opinion. The whole story dragged on for a while which interfere with my plans of a quick read. Mostly due to the second hand embarrassment and the fact that I found everyone’s actions a little childish(?) even though it’s young adult it shouldn’t necessarily mean immature, right?

But there were also a bunch of fun parts that were enough to keep me going and at the end I liked it enough to finish it, even if it took me a long time.

I keep switching from 3 to 4 stars because I did think this book was such a fun summer read. A YA book set at a Shakespeare theater camp where they have to put on one big production by the end. I liked the setting and the people. The issue I had was with the protagonist. It's never stated she's autistic but she eats the same thing on a schedule, she's basically a genius, she has a routine with clothes, conversations, etc. So it felt a little icky whenever she was pushed too over her boundaries while at camp however, she was also given her space so it was a balancing act that sometimes tipped over in the wrong direction. That's how I also felt about Bea because while she was the underdog, she felt like the antagonist for a lot of it. She was pretty verbally aggressive and caustic towards the others but, she did eventually calm down. All in all, it was a balancing act of trying to deliver a cute summer romance while also being pretty dramatic. It did have its fun camp moments and a lot of learning that went into it.

I LOVED THIS BOOK. Literally everything about it. Bea/Beatrice was such a unique, but also so relatable MC. As someone who has trouble with certain social situations and cues, I really loved seeing a female protagonist like her. Mia and Nolan were such great characters and friends. I absolutely loved how they immediately brought Bea in and supported her, but also challenged her. The enemies to lovers trope was done incredibly well. I really liked Nik. He owned up to his mistakes and did his best to be understanding of Bea’s behavior and mannerisms. Having it set at a theatre camp was extra fun since I’m a huge theatre nerd. I love Nik and Bea’s Shakespeare battles. This was just such a good story of friendship and challenging yourself and gaining confidence.


Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced digital reader’s copy!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely ADORED this! What a beautiful, fun, and sweet romance! I could not get enough. FRTC

Thanks to Wednesday Books for the free book.
I absolutely adored this YA story about Beatrice who needs to learn how to be a teenager. While extremely intelligent, Bea lacks social skills, so she has to attend summer camp or else her parents won't allow her to go to Oxford. This summer camp sounded so fun - and acting and Shakespeare - are not really my thing. At first, I was trepidatious when I read that this was going to take place at acting camp because theater kinds of stories can be a hit or miss with me. But Kaylor fleshed out these teenagers and their drama so well. I was fully invested in Bea and her growth. I could relate to some of her social anxieties and faux pas moments, and I think the author did such a great job capturing the awkwardness of these moments. I thought the Shakespeare sprinkled throughout added to the story - especially the game, IYKYK. This is a book I wish I had had when I was a teen, and I hope it gets into the hands of readers that need it.

Beatrice agreed to attend theatre camp to prove to her parents that she could be “a normal teenager”, and she realized the benefits of being a normal teenager as she grew and discovered the power she always possessed.

This was love at first page for me. Bea was a kindred spirit. Her logical thinking, love of books, and introverted ways called to me. She felt like an outsider in her town and family. She liked structure and was not a big fan of change. All I could think was, “Same, Bea, same.”

Her wit and sardonic sense of humor were a draw for me as well. It’s not often I see so much of myself in a character. Needless to say, I loved going to camp with Bea. It was a pleasure watching her check items off her list of normal teenager experiences, and she was so fortunate to do so under the guidance of two fantastic new friends, Mia and Nolan. This fish-out-of-water setup resulted in a myriad of comedic situations which amused me to no end.

I am a sucker for a camp setting, and as far as camps go, this was a fun one. There is nothing more terrifying for an introvert than theater people. My sister was (and still is) active in theatre, and her super outgoing nature was always a bit much for me. In addition to the clash of introvert and extrovert, there were also all the normal camp trappings to enjoy.

I hope you don’t think this was an Eliza Doolittle type tale. Though Bea does indeed grow from her experiences, she also grew to embrace her favorite things about herself and allowed the things that were always there to shine.

The romance, the friendship, the Shakespeare, the camp shenanigans – I loved it all! When I finished this book, I was smiling so hard, my face near cracked in half. I am hoping that Kaylor is working on a sequel. Maybe make that spring break trip happen. I would jump at the chance to see what the college years have in store for Bea because spending more time with this a character so special would be a treat.

LONG STORY SHORT
BY: SERENA KAYLOR

Such a lighthearted and fun read about theater camp and a homeschooled math genius getting ready to go to Oxford. This was such a fun read and I enjoyed the relationship between Beatrice and Nik, the theater camp setting and playing the role of a well developed normal teenager. Better said than done, but the story arc and the was Beatrice developed her character was such an enjoyable read.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for providing an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

Pub date: 7/26/22
Genre: YA romance, coming of age
In one sentence: Homeschooled math genius Beatrice Quinn has been accepted to Oxford - but she has to prove to her parents that she can live on her own by surviving the Connecticut Shakespearean Summer Academy.

I love YA coming of age tales, and Beatrice's character truly blossoms during this book. I loved her passion for math and determination to get to Oxford. Her summer camp friends were the best friends she could have asked for - helping her learn to open up to others and trust herself. I had a bit more trouble with the romance - it didn't feel as genuine in the text as Beatrice's friendships. That being said, the Shakespeare summer camp setting was a winner, and I still enjoyed this book! 3.5 stars.

Thank you to netgalley and Wednesday Books for giving me a chance to read this arc! Long Story Short is a beautiful debut and a perfect summer read. I flew through it in one sitting. What's not to love about theatre kids at camp, stepping out of your comfort zone and growing into yourself? This is exactly what Bea does. In order to be allowed to attend Oxford in the fall, her parents send her on a trial run to overcome her social anxiety: a Shakespeare camp in the middle of nowhere. Despite her scepticism, Bea makes friends immediately and they are delightful.
Mia is mesmerizing and Nolan has golden retriever energy. It is in the characters that this book really shines. The enemies to lovers arc is executed beautifully and the heaps of sarcasm in this novel are very much appreciated.
I never thought that a competition about who knows more Shakespeare could be romantic, but I was wrong. It is. And it's one of my favourite scenes in the book.

Skylit tells such a powerful story with is book. Beatrice! I loved her! I saw myself in her and it was amazing to see somebody with true anxiety in such a wonderful book. Highly recommend this lovely story!

3.75⭐
G for a YA book good for any young adult

Wow, I have conflicting feelings on this book. In the beginning, I considered DNFing it because I was not loving the story, but by the end, I could not put it down and wanted to see Beatrice get a happy ever after and how the Shakespeare camp Romeo and Juliet play went.

So what was good? Beatrice is the quirky science loving girl who doesn't quite feel like she belongs and as a science lady, I loved seeing that represented in a YA book. The banter between Bea and Nik was fun and I loved watching Bea figure out how she felt about him. And my favorite thing is just how much Bea grew throughout this book--it was truly a coming of age and figuring out your life book which was so satisfying.

What was not so good? The characters were stereotypical and one dimensional, so even the characters that changed over time did not experience a ton of growth. Each side character has their one unique trait, but other they served as way to help Beatrice grow as a person and that's it. It made me care about the story less and interrupted the pacing in the first part of the novel.

This is an own voices neurodivergent book. I am neurotypical so it is hard to judge, but I felt like some of the actions Beatrice's parents took created some of her stunted socializing skills. Compared to Helen Hoang or Chloe Liese, I just found the neurodivergent representation in this book lack some depth and encourage readers to check out own voices reviews.

Overall this book was a solid debut though it had some challenges in execution. If you enjoy Shakespeare and YA coming of age, this could be a good one to pick up.

Summer camp was never on Bea's carefully laid out academic plan but she's gotta go or her parents won't let her go to Oxford. So off to Shakepeare camp so goes and her whole world changes in a very good way, Bea makes friends (Mia is a standout) and finds first love in Nik. It's a delightful read about a smart young woman expanding her horizons. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Meant as a YA book (and highly recommend for them) but I'm nowhere near that age and enjoyed it as well.

This book is adorable! It was a bit of a slow start for me but after about halfway through, it got much better. I found myself laughing out loud and not able to put it down! I love that Beatrice tried something (several things!) new and really grew as a character. I felt like she was on the autistic spectrum and I wish the author would have clarified if she was. Nik was also a really interesting character. I enjoyed how many mistakes in communication there were because these are all teens after all and it felt realistic. I could have done with a few less supporting characters because they took the focus away at the beginning. However, this was such a cute story of friendship and I highly recommend reading it!

I loved this book! I wish I had it when I was a teen. It was a beautiful compilation of growing out of your comfort zone, friendships and romance. The main character, Beatrice. was someone i found myself rooting for with my whole heart. Her social awkwardness was something I found to be very relatable and I loved watching her step out of her comfort zone and make friends, no matter how hard it felt in the beginning!

Her friends she made on camp were so wholesome and wonderful. Even the bitter Shelby has amazing character growth and ended up being one of my favorites. And our love interest Nik is swoonworthy; sweet, witty and full of Shakespeare one-liners.🤣

This book was cheesy and predictable, but I really enjoyed it. So much so that I even stayed up way too late last night finishing it because I couldn't fall asleep otherwise.

The idea that someone that is so socially isolated comes out of her shell so quickly was a little hard to believe, but I appreciated that she still struggled with her identity throughout, it made the trope more believable.

I think younger teenagers would like this book, older students may find it a little sophomoric.