Long Story Short is a light-hearted coming of age story centered around a teen attending a Shakespearean summer camp. Beatrice is genius level smart, introverted, and ready to go to Oxford in the fall. Her parents don't think she's emotionally ready to move away and strike a deal to send her to camp to get to know her peers and have some "typical" teenage experiences.

The story doesn't say Bea is neurodivergent, but it came across that way to me. She struggled to pick up on social cues and norms, only eats certain foods on each day, and panics at any situation she isn't prepared for. Maybe she's just supposed to be sheltered and extremely shy, but this seemed more than that. I did feel for Bea when she got overwhelmed or anxious, but I got a bit sick of her literally running away from any situation she didn't like. Bea also constantly made it seem like she was too good for acting and I disliked her superior attitude.

Mia and Nolan stole the show for me and I'd love each of them to have their own book. Mia immediately becomes Bea's friend and knows when to encourage her to try something and when to give her space. Nolan is funny and bold and didn't get nearly enough page time. These two are adorable and I would have them for best friends in a heartbeat.

I liked the summer camp setting and Bea enjoying new things and having fun. This is a cute contemporary and a good debut for Kaylor.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the copy

This was one of those books that I felt was written for a movie. I mean, the entire time I read it, it developed as any coming-of-age movie plot would. But I loved it!!

I am a sucker for a good "good girl/ "bad" boy" romance. And Beatrice was definitely a good girl, but also an interesting heroine to follow along. I was heavily interested in her progress with herself during the book, including all the friendships she made and with personal growth. Her romantic relationship with Nolan was cute to see unfold.

The pacing seemed to flow with the setting and plot, and I enjoy a good summer setting (child of Sarah Dessen over here!) My one qualm with this book is the direct cut out of cliche stereotypes by each character. I actually don't mind cliche too much, but I felt that for all the secondary characters that fell into these stereotypes, their development directly matched those in popular media, especially with Beatrice's "enemy" becoming good.

Overall, this was a cute read and perfect for the summer, especially if you are looking to fall in love with some YA romance again!

What an interesting way to introduce Shakespeare to young adults! I loved the camp setting and the love story was very sweet. I can’t help but wondering when a sequel might come out?!

I loved this book. Everyone can relate to learning how to be yourself. Serena Kaylor does an excellent job of creating characters that make you want to be their best friend. Beatrice is a protagonist I immediately rooted for.
I absolutely loved the friendship between Beatrice and Mia. The world of this book was so fresh and exciting. This is such a sweet love letter to theater kids.

Long story short by Serena Kaylor

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC!

I don’t even know what to say. This book was just SO adorable and made my heart melt.

I loved the chemistry between Bea and Nik, and how they almost confessed their feelings but someone or something always came between them

If you love a cute and light romance with lots of drama, enemies-to-lovers, and a ton of character growth, then this book is for you.

This was such an amazing book. I really enjoyed reading it. This was a great YA romance and an amazing summer read. Such a lovely story.

A girl who has been homeschooled her entire life and has spent her days dedicated to her projects and her dream of getting into Oxford... and when she does get in her parents wont let her go unless she agrees to go to theatre camp for the summer. Beatrice Quinn has always been socially awkward, in fact its to the point where she doesn’t have friends and spends most of her days alone just working on math and her passions. Her parents are concerned about what will happen to her when she moves all the way to England to go to school by herself and will only agree to let her go if she agrees to go to a theatre summer camp and prove she can socialize, so they give her a list of tasks she has to accomplish to prove to them she has and they’ll let her go. Easy enough right? Except for someone as painfully shy and socially awkward as Beatrice it might not be that simple. Beatrice finds herself in the Connecticut Shakespearean Summer Academy, and where she’ll discover friendship, heart break, and first love, as well as finding the confidence in herself to finally get out of the books and maybe just start living life. I adored Beatrice’s friendships in this book, Nolan and Mia were great friends who supported and helped Bea realize what it means to actually be a friend, they challenged her, helped her, and supported her as she took her first steps. My biggest issue came with Nik, the son of the famous actors who is the epitome of “tease the girl because you like her” except there was no chemistry between them, and the more he bumbled and messed it up the less I liked him. Bea’s first interaction with him ends with him calling her ugly and soon spirals into a competition that states if he wins she has to kiss him. Yes I get that he was “challenging her” and such but honestly, no, it just wasn’t for him. All in all it was a cute story about growing out of your shell and trying new things.

*Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Long Story Short is a witty and swoon-worthy Shakespeare-themed rom-com full of quirky characters and theatre magic.

As a former theatre kid who loves Shakespeare, I had a feeling I would love this book. And Serena Kaylor did not disappoint! This Shakespeare summer camp coming-of-age story is smart, swoon-worthy, compulsively readable, and I simply adored it. Shakespeare quote battles that are basically just flirting? Sign me up! All the chaos of theatre and putting together a play? Been there, done that, miss it a lot. Seriously, reading Long Story Short made me nostalgic for my not-so-long-ago theatre days. There’s a particular kind of chaos magic associated with theatre and Serena Kaylor captures it perfectly.

The highlight of this book is definitely the cast of characters we meet. As fitting for a theatre camp, everyone is a little larger than life but in a good way. Mia in particular stole my heart with her colourful confidence and is definitely my favourite character out of the eclectic friend group Bea finds herself in.
I adore how supportive Bea’s new friends are of her. They accept and love her as she is, but also support her in trying new things without pressuring her. Fundamentally, Long Story Short is a story of stepping outside of your comfort zone and opening yourself up to new experiences. The book pokes fun at the transformation tropes common in coming-of-age stories. Yes, we get a makeover montage, but there is no singular “take off your glasses and become a princess” moment. Instead, Bea grows and experiments and learns, never losing who she is at her core: smart, resourceful, and loyal. The plot doesn’t try to squeeze her into a box of who she should be. She gets to learn and grow and change just as who she has always been and I loved that!

Speaking of Bea, what a wonderful heroine for this story! I love smart and nerdy girls and stories with more unusual main characters. Long Story Short is proof that everyone can be the main character in their own story. Bea, like all of us, contains multitudes. Yes, she is smart and a little awkward. But she also speaks her mind, is funny and loyal. The book makes room for her to be all of those things and shows us that we don’t have to fit into any box to be worthy of love and magical experiences.

Additionally, I really appreciated the mental health representation we get. Bea struggles with anxiety and the book allows her to navigate that in her own way. Her anxiety is part of her experience and the book doesn’t try to diminish that.

To me, this was the perfect summer read. It’s quick, delightfully funny in unexpected ways and just feels fresh and sweet, like strawberry lemonade on a hot day. I loved the romance way more than I expected to! Nikhil is a perfect counterpart to Bea and their banter was one of my favourite parts of the book. I’m not going to lie, I had to put the book down a few times to scream a little out of pure joy. If someone basically confessed their love to me using Shakespeare quotes I’d probably faint on the spot.

{4 ☆} If you’re looking for a great summer read, you should definitely consider picking this book up!!

This was such a cute and cheerful book that had a very good plot and that was filled with all these amazing different characters. It would be an amazing summer read and I highly suggest you read it when it comes out on July 26th.

𝘓𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘵 is different from the books that I am used to reading starting off with the main character. Beatrice Quinn (the statical genius and mc of this story) just got accepted the Oxford university at the young age of 16 after being homeschooled her entire life. (I don't usually read books like this because they usually don't interest me, but this one was amazing!!) Bea's parents are concerned that she hasn’t fully experienced the ins and outs of a normal teenage life, so they decide to send her to acting camp, a place for her to socialize, make friends, as well as memories. If you’re interested in seeing what the camp experience is like, make sure to check this book out on July 26th :)

Amazing debut by Serena Kaylor!! I will DEFINITELY be buying myself a copy of this book just so that I can have it foreverr :)

Thank you so so much, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for giving me my very first ARC. It means so much to me.

Beatrice Quinn is a teenage genius who is armed with an acceptance to Oxford and a plan....... That her parent's are not exactly onboard for. In order to prove that she is ready to be on her own in England, her parent's set a lists of tasks that she must complete and send her to the land of extroverts. Shakespearean Theatre Camp. We have the most hilarious side characters, a quirky female lead, and an enemies to lovers rivalry that absolutely sizzles.

I loved this story. As a Theatre kid (I'm pushing 30, can I still call myself a Theatre kid? Theatre adult?), this setting was my absolute dream. The friendships Bea makes in this story are so full of joy, love, and acceptance that my heart was bursting. The chemistry between our two leads is divine. and the banter shines. Nik is the boy teenage K-Lanie dreamed of. Sassy, British, and can quote Shakespeare? Yes, yes, and yes. If you're looking for a summer fun story, this one is for you.

Pub Date: 7/26/22

~Special thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was so fluffy and gave off the best summer vibes!

I read this so quickly and can't stop thinking about it. The character development of Bea was so great to see and I loved watching the relationship between her and Nik growing as the book went by. Although Bea was my favorite character, I did like the side characters as well.

I loved how Shelby didn't turn out to be the stereotypical mean girl that you see so much in books and movies. Mia, Nolan, and Nik were also great.

Age rating wise, this book is G-rated and very appropriate. There is some kissing between Bea and Nik, but besides that, there are no cuss words or sexual references. I really liked the slow burn.

Overall, I would give this book four stars. It's the perfect book to read on the beach during the summer.

enemies to lovers bonding over their shared love for Shakespeare... what more could you ask for? Another addition to my long list of cute summer reads <3

I want to exist in this book forever. Seriously, I'm in love with Nik and Bea and their theater camp romance and banter and misunderstandings and flirting. I want to be best friends with Mia and Nolan and have them in my corner and teach me how to be a teenager. I want to go to a Shakespeare camp even though I'm not a theater kid or interested in Shakespeare. THAT'S how good this book is, because Serena Kaylor makes you want all of this through an immersive experience.

Bea is a genius, with no social skills - it isn't confirmed in the book if she has a diagnosis but I would compare it to some presentations of autism. She desperately wants to go to Oxford for college but her parents won't let her unless she proves she can improve on her social skills and "learn to be a teenager". Nik initially is a jerk to her, let's be honest - but quickly makes up for it with well chosen Shakespeare quotes and banter. All of the characters were phenomenal and well written.

I never wanted this to end. I appreciate the growth Bea made, especially with her parents, but I also feel her parent's needed to budge a bit more to compromise. Yes, Bea's actions were often selfish and not considering her parent's wishes, but her mom also continuously tried to force her to be someone she wasn't and that didn't so much change by the end. I would've liked to see more concessions from her parents.

Anyway, a full 5 stars to this fantastic YA contemporary with an enemies-to-lovers trope.

**Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review**

I LOVED a Long Story Short. What an adorable story! I absolutely loved each character and I was hooked from the start. I wanted to know about every detail of Beatrice's story, how the final performance of the play went, what her parents thought, if she got to go to Berkeley and if she would get to make true friend and possibly more?! The Shakespeare aspect added such a fun, sweet touch. Who doesn't want to see two enemies with chemistry off the charts engage in a Shakespeare battle? I thought it was such a creative modern way to incorporate Shakespeare to a story. Okay, I'm off to research adult theatre camps, bye!

I had a great time reading this! I didn't have a lot of expectations coming in, apart from 'involves Shakespeare but not a retelling', but it genuinely surprised me how fun this was and how much it spoke to me on a deeper level.

First, the fun! I LOVED Beatrice's friends Nolan and Mia and how affectionate, familiar, and supportive they were with her. I also liked the romance! Nik and Beatrice had a believable dynamic that developed from bad first impressions to banter to one-sided flirting and two-sided attraction, and I loved how understanding and genuine Nik was with Bea. The Shakespeare quote-off was hilarious. The way Nolan and Mia commentated on their clear chemistry and mutual attraction (and the flirting that is so totally unintentional on Bea's part) always made me laugh (eg saying Nik's Shakespeare quotes were basically a love letter; pointing out that they loved Bea and NIk's interpretation of Benvolio and Mercutio where they were clearly more in love with each other than the women they were pursuing in the play). I think flinging Beatrice into a nest of theatre kids was a fantastic idea because that's one way to fast-track you into intense socialization.

I think Serena Kaylor's writing style fit Beatrice's voice well and contributed to the ease of read of the story. I also appreciated the way Beatrice was coded as autistic but her voice (and character as a whole!) didn't fall into that stereotypical overcorrection of always being stilted and unfeeling. And that ties into the thing I loved most about this book: Beatrice herself, and how she was written.

Bea was what truly made the book for me. She could misunderstand social cues without being oblivious; she could discuss her lack of social skills and difficulty with new situations without coming off as self-pitying. She could be awkward *and* emotionally expressive; she could hate new situations *and* still be confident; she could mess up *and* still be loved and given more chances; she could be honest (and, at times, insensitive) *and* willing to course-correct without compromising who she was at her core. This was a story about Beatrice learning to interact better in the world and changing the way she saw other people, but it didn't press the narrative that she needed to change to be 'normal' to be accepted. This is something I needed to read and something I think others do as well.

so good! Such a sweet enemies to lovers story. I read this book in one sitting, then immediately searched up Serena Kaylor in hopes of reading her other books but was shocked to find out that this was her debut!.
I was a little worried that the start was a little slow, but after finishing the book I realized that it was the perfect amount of buildup for the character development of Bea. Enemies to lovers is one of my favourite tropes (especially in a contemporary setting) in romance and this book did it so well! The slow burn was just perfect and I think the story ended exactly where it needed to. Not only that there was a perfect balance of romance, friendship, and ’self-searching’;I love how readers got the chance to actually know Beatrice, instead of her simply being the main character who’s only role in the book is to fall in love.
I cannot wait for Serena Kaylor’s future works!!

This book was SO FUN! From life-long Shakespeare loving adult readers like myself (I go to a Shake festival yearly and can't count how many plays I've seen) to YA readers who haven't had much of an intro to Shakespeare yet, it touches on his plays perfectly and puts just the right amount of Shakespearean language in the book to not be difficult to read or follow for a beginner and make it a fun guessing game for readers, along with the characters who are participating in the quote bet!

The main character was such a delight, watching her find herself and blossom with friends while completing her "become a teenager" list brought me right back to all the feelings of first friendships, first romance and first time getting on a stage!

I felt the romance was a little forced and confusing, because just like Bea, I couldn't tell Nik was "in like" with her for a long time, I thought he was just messing with her like her previous experience.

First of all, thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for an e-copy in exchange for an honest review!

Overall, I really didn’t enjoy this book. Between the lack of chemistry and the “he’s just teasing you because he likes you trope,” it just was not for me. I really didn’t like most of the characters and felt many of them were very stereotyped. Not to mention the parents!!

Beatrice’s parents were one of my least favorite parts of this book. Despite being therapists, they actively attempted to force Beatrice to change her entire personality. Not only did they claim she’s not a “true teenager” due to her interests and non-traditional school experience, but they decided the best way to fix this was to send her to camp (which was completely against her hobbies and personality) to “fix” her so she could go to college.

One of my other notable issues with this book is the trope of “he just teases you because he likes you”. It was increasingly apparent throughout the time that Bea and Nik knew each other. I really didn’t care for that aspect of their relationship, especially when her friends used it to justify their beliefs that Nik liked her.

Finally, I just couldn’t get into the premise of the story. It was incredibly manufactured. Almost all of the “twists” were obvious and predictable. For example, her friends adding things to her list, the list in general, and Nik having a kiss as a reward were just some of the poorly done plot movers.

All in all, I just don’t have much to say positive about this book. I was overall disappointed with most aspects of the characters. While the idea sounded intriguing, I wouldn’t recommend this one.

THIS. WAS. SO. CUTE!!!
Beatrice, the secluded, homeschooled nerdy teen protagonist of this book, gets accepted into her dream school - Oxford. She's thrilled, but her parents have their concerns, mainly about her social skills. In an effort to prove she's ready to move to England for college, she agrees to go to a month-long Shakespearean acting summer camp with a list of "normal teenager activities" to engage in by the summer's end. Along the way she makes life-long friends, finds herself, and gets caught up in a dramatic feud with the camp's resident heartthrob.
It's a really adorable coming of age story, with a protagonist reminiscent of Mia Thermopolis (The Princess Diaries) combined with Cady Heron (Mean Girls) and a vibrant, lovable cast of accompanying characters. Cheesy in the best way possible, fast-paced, and an adorable portrayal of the enemies-to-lovers trope. The attention to detail in this book is impressive, as is the author's knack for character building. I've completely fallen in love with these characters, and desperately wish I could read more of their adventures. I highly recommend for anyone else who enjoys nerdy English literature references as much as this former English major.

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, for providing an ARC of Long Story Short by Serena Kaylor.

When I first read the premise, I was instantly intrigued. Outsider, Beatrice Quinn, who is too smart for anyone her age (and beyond) is told that in order for her to attend Oxford University in England, she needs to have some normal teenage experiences. Her parents make a list for her and send her off to Shakespeare camp in Connecticut where she has to complete the list or stay home another year. Beatrice - who becomes known as Bea - is determined to finish the list and more to show her parents that she can not only live her life, have normal teenage experiences, but that's responsible enough to attend her dream university.

The characters in this book were standouts. Beatrice was so relatable. Although I'm not a math genius (in fact, math was my worst subject), I always felt a little bit like an outcast. I preferred books to people and most of the time, I still do. I also didn't have any serious relationships until I was older and it was great getting to see Beatrice come into her own over the course of the story. Mia and Nolan - her BFFs - were hilarious, amazing, and supportive. Shelby, Nolan's sister, and the antagonist for the majority of the story, was less intriguing. She makes a move to make up with Beatrice at the end of the book, but I still found her extremely unlikeable.

And then we have Nikhil, or Nik, Shah. His parents own the camp and are famous stage actors. He, of course, wants to follow in their footsteps. When a rogue, and frankly rude, comment on the first night pits Nik and Bea against each other, you might think they won't ever get over their differences and become friends... Or something more. I LOVED Nik's character. I'm always a sucker for a character with a British accent, but I loved his personality and how he constantly teased Beatrice to try and bring her out of her shell, or, how he tried to protect her. There were several instances where he tries to go after her that had my heart swelling in size.

I honestly can't find fault with any part of this book. I didn't even know this was a debut novel until I did some research on the author. Whatever she writes next, I'll read. This was fantastic in every way. Although YA sometimes lacks the spice I'm used to reading, there is something so thrilling about the crush and the chase. And that is the reason I still read YA. That is the reason this book worked so well for me. It wasn't angsty by any means, but it made me feel and that is the most important thing to a reader like me.