I will start out by saying I adore Sophie Gonzales, and she has been one of my favorite new writers!

Unfortunately, this book did not do it for me. The premise of it through me--it's centered on a dating reality show but all of the contestants are teenagers... I have no idea why this book is YA. It would have been much stronger if the characters were older and it was New Adult, instead. Most of the guy's exes were from high school... it just left an odd taste in my mouth.

Additionally, I really wanted to root for the two love interests, but they felt a little stale. I don't think we really saw either of them develop or have much of a personality. By the end, I was ready for it to be over.

I will, of course, still be reading Sophie Gonzales's books, but this is not one I would jump to recommend to others.

3⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc!

This was a fun concept, but the timeline of everything felt a bit confusing. The elimination ceremonies would’ve been helped by being a bit more linear. I thought Lauren and Kim got eliminated together but realized chapters later I was wrong. Skye cuts her hair because of Jordy, yet I don’t remember him or anyone making any comment about it after (perhaps I missed it but if not, oof). I think this would’ve benefitted a lot more if everyone was a bit older. A bit weird to watch a dating show with people barely out of high school (what are the odds they all were even?). I will admit I didn’t feel a ton of chemistry between Skye and Maya, but I did like them together.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The premise of this book drew my attention right away. Imagine the bachelor but with his ex-girlfriends and the possibility of a second chance romance. I love reality dating shows so I immediately knew I wanted to read this one.

I enjoyed the story but the middle fell a little flat for me. I was rooting for the girls to realize who Jordy truly was the entire time. I loved Maya, Skye, and Perrie.

I recommend picking this one up if you’re a fan of second chance romance, enemies to lovers, and reality tv dating shows.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced e-arc copy.

I really enjoyed this one and even stayed up late to finish it. It's and easy, light-hearted revenge plot with non-gimmicky bi representation.

While I didn't really end up loving any of the characters, the hatred for one particular character was enough to keep me interested. A fun take on a bachelor-type show trope. I wish we did see more development of the female friendships/relationships that didn't revolve around their connection to Jordy; but the lack of that didn't take away from the book!

It’s extremely entertaining to sit down and read this book while also binging the first four episodes of Love is Blind. Two mediums, both featuring stories of reality tv show romance — one of first chances, and the other of second chances, one that is proudly hetero, and the other that is proudly queer. And because it’s reality tv, you know you’re going to walk away with af least one man you deeply despise (despite at times, his uncannily good looks). ‘Never Ever’ is the TSwift meta reference, sapphic, second chance, revenge love story of this year, and if you’ve loved Gonzales’ other books, this will not disappoint!

Things I loved about this book:
—enemies to co-conspirators to lovers
—reality tv hijinks including wacky dates and painfully scripted dialogue
—a full cast of wonderfully unique women that include a royals fanatic, a budding influencer, and more
—plenty of well directed rage

My one minor beef with the book is that none of the girls felt like teenagers to me — I was very surprised to learn they were 19 and not 25. There are elements of the story that make sense in context of this transitional period (college, traveling) but felt like they could have also existed with the characters aged up a bit. Of course, I’m in my thirties, so this is bias on my part, so take that with a grain of salt.

Regardless, investing in a copy of this book when it comes out (not far behind a new Taylor Swift album I might add) is sure to be a good one on your part. Thanks to NetGalley for the early review copy, all opinions are my own.

It's been two years since Maya's ex-boyfriend Jody cheated on her with Skye and she still hasn't quite gotten over it. Jody dates Skye for a bit before ghosting her. When Jordy invites Maya and Skye (and four of his other ex's) to be a part of a new reality dating show called Second Chance Romance both jump at the chance to be on the show.  Maya is looking to expose Jordy for the man he is and Skye is hoping to see if she can rekindle their flame. But what happens when two of the contestants fall for one another?

This was such a cute story where enemies become friends and then lovers. I adored these two main characters so much. I found the romance to be super cute. The story is well written and very YA. That being said... who doesn't want to get revenge on a cheating ex? Sophie knows how to write for her audience and I love that about her. The only thing I wish was different was that the storyline contained more of the reality tv show aspect. But overall this story was delightful and once again Sophie nailed it.  I loved the queer rep too.

And here I thought Gonzales couldn't get any better than her previous books! Pshhhh!
Man was I wrong!

Never Ever Getting Back Together by Sophie Gonzales is marvelous, full of all the wit and charm!

This book instantly became one of my new favorite queer YA romance contemporaries, it was absolutely amazing.
I find Gonzales to be such a strong writer.
The atmosphere she creates is fun/charming/adorable/magical.
There is just something about the way that Gonzales writes her characters, how genuine each of them comes across on the page, and how I begin to feel for every single one is pretty damn amazing.
The way her relationships are portrayed in this novel makes it stand out even more so.
They each have their own story and flaws... In which made me love them that much more!
The banter was great, chemistry is swooning and overall incredibly addictive!

I was stoked to read this! Now I'm pissed it's over!
Bring me more Sophie Gonzales, bring me more!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Wednesday Books,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this eARC!

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I've LOVED Sophie Gonzalez's other books, so my expectations were high as I started reading 'Never Ever Getting Back Together.
Things I liked: I thought there were some cute/interesting twists in the plotline, especially towards the end, and some interesting/likable side characters (Perrie and Isaac).
Things I had trouble with: The character development for Maya and Skye didn't feel very realistic to me. There were too many places where the dialogue or inner monologue felt dry or wrong for some reason. It also took me a long, long time to get into the rhythm of the book, like until 30%.
I liked it enough to finish the story, but overall this just wasn't quite the book for me. I will still definitely still be on the lookout for the next Sophie Gonzalez book!

Never Ever Getting Back Together (coming out November 29th!) was such a fun read, I couldn’t put it down! If you like bi rep and enemies to lovers, definitely give this a read. I cannot wait to read more of Sophie Gonzales' work. Thank you NetGalley, Sophie Gonzales, St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for this Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest review :)

(This review is based on an advanced reader’s copy provided by NetGalley.)

Everyone else seems to love this, so maybe it’s a case of “it’s not the book, it’s me,” but this was very…fine? It is a fantastic premise, and honestly I hope someone else writes this premise someday, because I was mostly pretty lukewarm on the execution here.

Problems I had with this book:

1) I don’t understand why this was YA, other than the author being accustomed to writing YA. I like YA, I just think this particular premise would have made much more sense as an adult book.
2) The humor was very hit-or-miss — some of it worked for me, but a lot of it fell flat.
3) Dual POV in first person is hard to do well, and IMO this book doesn’t pull it off. I kept forgetting whether any given chapter was a Maya chapter or a Skye chapter.
4) Most of the characters felt not fleshed out enough. I never got all that strong a sense of who Maya and Skye were (especially Maya). Skye is a planner with mommy issues and Maya…isn’t. I didn’t get much more than that.

I do think the book did a great job with the romantic conflict. I’m picky about romantic conflict — it often feels contrived in a way that makes it hard for me to suspend my disbelief — but this conflict felt very believable. There’s miscommunication, but in a context where it actually makes sense; and even after they properly communicate, they have a substantive difference that they need to work through and that I can understand both perspectives on, which is exactly what I want in a romantic conflict. Unfortunately, even the romantic conflict mostly just prompted an intellectual reaction (“this is well done, I approve”) rather than majorly affecting me on an emotional level.

That said, if there’s ever a movie or miniseries adaptation of this book, I will totally watch it.

Recommended for fans of The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun or Her Royal Highness by Rachel Hawkins.

I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for a review.

I soooooo enjoyed this book. It had rivals to lovers. Second chance romance in a better way, where the original couple doesn't get a second chance (because helloooooo you broke up for a reason), but someone else does. AND it's sapphic.

Maya and Skye join the cast for a reality tv show, where they have to date their ex-boyfriend Jordy (gah even his name sucks). At the start of it Maya is under the impression that Skye knew about Jordy cheating on her and Skye is under the impression that Maya overreacted to Jordy breaking up with her. After figuring out that the other person isn't so bad, the two women team up to try and break Jordy's heart.

Overall, I think the writing was pretty decent. There was some times in the middle where it was hard to differentiate which POV I was reading because Maya and Skye read kind of similarly, but other than that I think it's a pretty solid read. Plus the assbag ex-bf reaps what he sows in the end.

I requested this book on a whim because of the Taylor Swifty title and honestly had no idea what I was walking into -- but MAN did I tear through this!

When I figured out it was like the Bachelor/ette, I squealed in delight. That franchise was one of my favorite guilty pleasures that I would indulge in - but adding that bisexual twist (I'm picturing Demi here) made it so much more fun! Also, Jordy was deliciously evil and I enjoy a good villain.

I was looking forward to reading this book for the longest time, and let me tell you, it did not disappoint!! When I read the synopsis earlier this year I was so, so excited.

Never Ever Getting Back Together is a story about six girls who attend a reality tv show called Second-Chance Romance where they try and rekindle their love with their famous ex, Jordy Miller. A complete and utter douche bag of a man.

Two of the girls, Skye and Maya, end up falling for each other instead.

As someone who used to watch the bachelor every week with my mom growing up, I was invested from the very beginning. The characters are so well written and the bisexual rep is amazing. I haven’t had a good laugh from a book in a while and this one definitely delivered!

Being the same age as both Skye and Maya, I was really cheering them on! I love seeing the power of teenage girls and I kept thinking of that new movie that just came out, Do Revenge.

Also, can we talk about how beautiful this cover is? And the title!? It’s just perfect.

I love bisexual women. Sophie Gonzales never fails to deliver, and NEVER EVER GETTING BACK TOGETHER was so much fun to read. This book has reaffirmed my hatred for fuckboys, and now I desperately need some girls to fall in love on The Bachelor.

I was so thrilled to be approved for this book on NetGalley! Not only was the Taylor Swift wink in the title enticing, but the plot made me so happy. This book was a great vacation read and a fresh romance novel for people on the millennial / gen-z cusp.

The last thing Maya wants to do is reconnect with her evil ex, Jordy. But when she gets a call offering her a spot on a reality show with all of his exes, she contrives a plan for revenge. Sure, this means facing the girl that Jordy cheated on her with, but Maya knows (thinks) she can handle it. With a mix of classic tv tropes, a sprinkle of something new, and helpful friends and producers at every turn, Jordy’s going to get what he deserves, and Maya just might find love where she least expects it.

This book lived in a strange world between YA and adult, where most of the time I was reading I pictured the two as grown women yet knew they were younger.
That being said, this is a great book for those looking to get into YA books without a strong feeling of the intention for a younger audience.

Our two main characters and the supporting cast are really likable characters. Maya and Skye alternate perspectives and it did get a bit jumbled at times. Maya and Skye have wonderfully fleshed-out and clear backstories, but their voices aren’t really distinct enough. That being said, barring the mild confusion at times, the POV shift really made for an enhanced love story.

Nothing makes a book more binge-able than a really evil antagonist. And Jordy, our guy, is so fucking hittable. End of point! I’m a hater at heart!

I love when I get to simply read reality tv. It’s great. It’s the best form of leisure (see: The Charm Offensive, D’vaughn & Kris Plan A Wedding, Patricia wants to cuddle, etc….)

I thought that the enemies to lovers trope is done SO well, and while there was room for their characters to grow, their miscommunication was short-lived and felt realistic.

Overall, if you’re looking for a fluffy, heartwarming romance with characters that you’ll love to sink your teeth into, this is the book for you!

I did not like this book at all, and DNFd a little over halfway through. The writing felt stilted, the characters thin, and I HATED how the first half of the book hinged on women disliking each other. Not even just the two main characters, but all of the women on the show. This was definitely not for me.

Did I gravitate towards this book because of Taylor Swift? Yes....
Was it worth it? Absolutely!

Who doesn't want to read about a reality tv contest where you get to have a second chance with your ex. Except your ex is literally trash, but who cares about him when you have better chemistry with one of his exes who's also competing. Maya came for revenge, Skye came to rekindle her lost romance for Jordy but they both didn't expect to pull the ultimate twist on him and fall for each other.

" 'Make it to the end...' Rosie shoots onto her knees as it clicks. 'And reject his ass on TV.' "

Aside from it's spectacular title (which fits the book PERFECTLY well) this book pleasantly surprised me and is now a comfort rom-com.

This book was honestly just a fun read, with funny quirks and dialog. I have not watched the bachelor or bachelorette but I do feel that if you like any kind of "trashy" reality tv this book will be a lot of fun. The dialogue is just too much, had me actually laughing out loud.

"All of our contestants are paid in memories, laughter, and, if they're lucky, a healthy dose of romance! How can you put a price on the chance to find true love? It's worthless!

'I think they mean priceless," Rosie stage-whispers.

'That, or they've gotten to know Jordy," I say lightly."

The fact that the author was able to make Jordy so insufferable is truly admirably. The shocking factor of some of his gaslighting, backstabbing and manipulation really makes you get on Maya's side. The need to expose him is too strong!

The person who gets their version of events out first is the one who gets to author the history books. Writing history is easy. Rewriting it is the tough job."

My biggest critique is that I wish this was an adult book instead of a YA one. I forgot multiple times that these characters are actually 18, fresh out of high school and it honestly didn't add much to the story. If anything I think it held it back. The fact that the show featured a main guy having a second chance with his past girlfriends, but everyone is between 18-20 so most of his girlfriend's where in highschool? And he's had 6 exes that all had some kind of connection?? It was easier to just read the story and forgetting about the ages, otherwise it really threw me off. (Although the book sometimes made this hard to forget T^T)

"And he's hoping to re-explore every inch of you! What in the unholy f*ck is this?"

ever seen a love triangle and just thought, "those two boys/ two girls should just cut their losses and date each other?" sophie gonzales wrote it.

this book was hate mail to all the ex-boyfriends out there who think all their ex girlfriends still want to date him when really they just want to date eachother. the book version of "Me and your girlfriend playin' dress up at my house". when your ex thinks you want him but you really want his girlfriend.

Thank you, Net Galley and Wednesday Books, for the advanced copy!

When her now famous ex-boyfriend, Jordy, reaches out to ask Maya if she would participate on a tv show that is being described as a “Second-Change Romance” to try and reconnect while doing so in front of the whole world. When she agrees to participate, she didn’t realize that her “nemesis” Skye would be participating as well.

If you are into reality TV (think The Bachelor, The Bachelorette), this book is for you! This has everything you want in a book about reality tv…..cattiness, gossip, drinking, love, ex’s, competitions and laughter! A good read if you need a laugh and love reality TV!

Maya was cheated on at 16 by her boyfriend Jordy, who is now a royal-adjacent pseudo-celebrity setting up a bachelor style reality TV show where he goes back to date his exes. May agrees to be involved in the hopes that she can get revenge on the boy that hurt her, but ends up finding a connection with the last person she would have expected...

I do love Sophie Gonzales - she has a real talent for relatable characters and coming of age romances. This one is a definite favourite with plenty of drama on top!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review