LGBTQIA

Contains humorous moments.

Sophie's new release is about a reality TV show where Jordy gets a second chance to date his exes. We follow the ladies as they compete to spend time with Jordy. (The ladies' jealousy hampered my enjoyment.)

At first, it was a challenge to keep the characters straight. It seemed that the characteristics changed from Maya to Skye. I wanted to DNF, but kept going.

I do not agree that this should be for Young-Adult, when a guy has so many exes. Please, change the audience to ADULT!!

This was a super cute, engaging read with mostly likeable characters. The drama was enough to keep me entertained without feeling sexist or forced. I laughed a few times, almost cried a few times, and was kind of surprised the book was over because I could've read 100 more pages. Overall adorable and I'm happy to have read it.

Sophie Gonzales does it again! A great romance novel with interesting characters and a super fun plot. This book was everything you want from a rom-com. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic alongside the reality TV show backdrop makes the book fast and fun.

As usual, I found the resolution to the conflict too fast for my liking but that is typical of this genre as a whole.

This was such a cute read! I really enjoyed it the storyline was great and I really loved the characters and of course, I can't forget the romance!!! Honestly, though this was overall such an amazing read, and I would HIGHLY recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The story line follows Maya and Skye who both have dated the same guy. Maya thinks her ex Jordy cheated on her with Skye and Skye thinks Jordy was single when they were together. Both girls are invited to participate in a reality tv show staring Jordy and his ex girlfriends. But Maya has very hard feelings toward Skye so when they are bunked together during there stay of the show she is less then thrilled. As the weeks go on Maya is able to prove to Skye that he cheated on her and they form a pact to make it to the end. What wasn’t anticipated was developing feeling… but not toward Jordy. I actually really liked the concept of this book and the entire storyline. I was sucked in from the start and just wanted to keep reading! I will say the story line was a bit predictable but not in a bad way because the story was on you couldn’t help falling in love with ❤️Thanks to #NetGalley for the advanced readers copy. I highly recommend reading this when it releases November 29th, 2022! 📚 #bookstagram #bookreview

Full review closer to publication date!

I'd like to thank the publisher, St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

The premise of this book was so cute. I loved the bachelor-inspired show and how Maya and Skye’s relationship developed. It seemed to develop naturally, not too quickly. Jordy was a great villain, and the other girls on the show displayed the types of characters we see on reality tv very well. Maya had fantastic character growth. The only problem I had was the very last chapter; it seemed a little unclear in how it wrapped up the whole story. There were assumptions that I as a reader understood what was going on where I felt I needed more context.

Honestly every single book by Sophie is amazing! She nails it on the head every time, and Never Ever Getting Back Together is no exception. From the beginning the characters were lovable, except Jordy—by design of course. The humor always landed and I’m so appreciative that we’re getting more and more sapphic stories and bi-rep. Y’all definitely need to read this! Add it to your tbr ASAP :))

I ended up liking this book a lot more than I had originally expected to after reading some reviews! It brought back memories of all the cheesy dating reality shows I watched growing up. Very comical and light read.

The author did an amazing job at writing Jordy, I could not for the life of me stand him from the very beginning and the way you were able to pick up on how narcissistic and awful he was before the girls got to Chalonne was done well.

My only con with this book was the pacing, sometimes it felt incredibly slow and other times a little too fast, especially where Maya and Skye’s relationship is concerned but over all I really enjoyed it!!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! *

Rating: 3.75/5
Genre: YA Fiction

Never Ever Getting Back Together follows the story of the main characters Maya and Syke as they compete on a reality tv show. The tv show’s premise is a ‘second chance romance’ where they are trying to reconnect with their ex but as they spend time with the other contestants they learn Jordy (their ex) isn’t who he seems and they begin to have complicated feelings for other contestants.

Pros:
-I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again I love Sophie Gonzales’ writing style, it’s causal and doesn’t require much thought while also still being interesting
-I really enjoyed to getting to see the drama between all the contestants as well their developing friendships; each contestant was different and it was cool to see their various reasons for agreeing to the show
-there were so many cute scenes and I especially loved all of Maya’s witty lines

Cons:
-from 70-85% felt a bit slow as lots of the contestants had been sent home so lots of the plot points felt like they were grasping at straws

*Review to be posted on Instagram at a later date closer to publication

I liked this so much more than I was expecting to. If you were a guilty pleasure Episode lover (like me), you'll devour this because it is quite literally an episode story in print. But one of the better episode stories: the ones you're willing to spend all your gems on and actually get around to finishing.

The story was quite well written and the plot was entertaining and kept you hooked. It didn't move to quickly or too slowly, and I loved how the relationship between Maya and Skye was executed. I wish we'd had the chance to explore some of the side characters more: they were a bit one dimensional and had very little page time. Jordy, however, was written fantastically. Gonzalez nailed the two-faced, charming but dangerous energy he had and you could see throughout both how terrible he was and why people continued to fall for it.

I had a couple reservations: number one, it didn't make sense that the book was young adult. Considering the number of exes he had and the fact that it was a reality dating show, as well as the fact that a large portion of the cast behaved the way people in their 20s would, it definitely should've been new adult with the characters finishing university at around 23-24. But otherwise, the book was excellent and the story is every bit as interesting as it sounds. I would totally recommend this as a light, page-turning read. Read this when it comes out in December

This was a fun read! I really liked following the reality show/producer interference aspect of the story because that's something I have a personal interest in! My only complaint was a lack of development between the main character and the love interest; to me it felt like they were nearly strangers and then they were making out. But other than that it was a fun setting and honestly kind of campy!

I wanted to like this book so much more than I did. It has a lot of elements I should enjoy: light romcom, bi representation, female friendship/found family. It’s short and has sweet moments, so I’m not mad I read it, but I probably wouldn’t recommend it either.

I feel like this book doesn’t know what it wants to be. I was so confused about their ages because they were about to go to college but seemed to have the maturity of middle schoolers but were also going on a Bachelor-style reality show and getting wasted every night? I get that it was in a different country so they could drink, but it still made me feel real “yeuch” that they were clearly preying on kids who didn’t know better. Or seemed to theoretically know better but then forget how reality tv works every other chapter? The main conflict comes from some massive failure to communicate, which luckily does get resolved sooner rather than later, and the book does pick up a lot more once it does and we’re not spending as much time with the asshole ex-boyfriend. Who is a caricature bad guy, but whatever.

Also this book has the weirdest stance on college. The main character starts out the book like, I’m going to go to med school and show this guy I’m not an airhead and then by the end decides to travel instead of going to college. Like do you girl, I’m not exactly “everyone should go to college immediately after high school, it’s the only path” but there’s so much middle ground between committing to a bajillion years of education to become a doctor despite having no interest in it and just like “nope college must not be for me then”?

I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book, provided by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really wanted to love this book. My main issue is I felt this book should have been "aged up" all around, as it felt pretty heavy for a teenage book. I mean Jordy is a manipulative, entitled douchebag who had dated and discarded 6 girls - seems it would be better for a mid to late 20s crowd. With that being said, I adored the banter. I'm a banter girl at heart. It's my favorite part of most books! I'm still giggling, days later, over an exchange between Maya and her sister at the beginning of the book.

The dual POV book is between Maya, ex-girlfriend of Jordy, and Skye, the girl Jordy cheated on Maya with. Also worth noting? Maya is a dramatic bi, like uber. Jordy calls all his past girlfriends to be on this dating show kind of like The Bachelor, and Maya and Skye end up roommates. in the mansion. As Maya is set on revenge, and Skye is kind of set on getting back with Jordy, they learn Jordy is a master manipulator and worked them both over, and they fall for each other.

I didn't connect with these characters much. But it might be because I'm older. The storyline was cute as hell, and like I mentioned, the banter is really good!

Ok this book was EVERYTHING! Queer rep? Check. Takes place on the set of a reality tv show? Check. Witting banter, one liners and 80s music? CHECK!

What a fun and wild ride this read was! I absolutely loved Maya and Skye and the rest of the women in this book! It being set on a reality show was so fun and made for great world building and fun plot twists!

I want to immediately read it again it was so fun and captivating!

Never Ever Getting Back Together is the epitome of a feel good, cheesy romcom, and while that worked for me I understand that it won't for some people. The premise is pretty easy to follow, as it surrounds a reality tv show similar to ones like The Bachelor, and the drama is there to keep you interested. I really liked the two main characters, although there were a few moments where dialogue and character choices seemed a bit over the top, still, it fits within the genre. Overall I had a really fun time with this book and would definitely recommend it to any romcom lovers, especially for those looking for more WLW recs.

This story had a great premise, but ultimately it fell flat for me. I constantly found myself wanting more background info on the women, especially Skye and Maya to give more context to their characters. Also, I know Jordy was supposed to be the bad guy…but he was so deeply unlikeable that I hated any scene he was in. Ultimately, I enjoyed how the story came together and the “win” all the women got when Perrie was able to leak the video to her followers. Overall, fun read that I’d recommend to people who like this genre. Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received an arc in exchange for an honest review **

This book reminded me of mean girls in a way. The girls were definitely in it for themselves, especially near the end of the book. I'm glad that the author wrote it the way that she did, with then ending up together, as it provided a much needed break from the "typical" of the genre. It gave me such a sense of satisfaction to see everything on the show come to fruition.

Wow. I loved loved loved this book! As a lesbian watcher of The Bachelor(ette)(in Paradise), a sapphic story about two contestants falling in love with each other instead of the lead of the dating show they’re on was exactly the read I wanted. It filled the hole in my heart while I’m waiting for a new season, too!

“Never Ever Getting Back Together” by Sophie Gonzales is about two girls, Maya and Skye, who are cast on a fictional reality dating show called Second Chance Romance. They and four other girls are competing for the love of their mutual ex, Jordy, who is a royalty-adjacent man adored all over the world. Maya, however, is not exactly there for the right reasons. When she and Jordy broke up, it was because she found out he was cheating on her with Skye. Of course, Jordy was able to change the narrative to make Maya out to be the “crazy ex-girlfriend.” Now, she goes on the show with one goal: win, and reject Jordy on national television.

Falling in love, however, was not her goal. Nevermind that she’s falling for fellow competitor Skye, and not the show’s intended love interest.

This book has all the drama and cheesy scandal of great reality TV, plus the heart and sweetness of a genuine romance between Skye and Maya. Jordy, meanwhile, is the perfect villain that you’ll love to hate. With the cast rounded out by lively producers and a tight knit group of girls in the competition, interactions between every combo of characters are a delight to read. I want to give a special shout out to Perrie and Isaac, the most iconic side characters ever! They are delights.

Gonzales’ writing is witty and evocative, and each POV character has a unique and recognizable voice. Skye and Maya have well defined personalities and motives. Their progression from rivals who can barely stand to be in a room together, to friends, to eventual lovers, feels realistic and appropriately paced. The development of their relationships with the other girls, especially as the girls open their eyes to Jordy’s flaws, makes for an extra rewarding reading experience. This book knows the importance of friendship between women, and I love that about it.

I’ll admit, like a number of other reviews I read, that I didn’t realize or expect this to be a YA book. It didn’t occur to me until I got to a fade to black scene, lol. Honestly, I really liked how this book blurred the line between age categories. The main characters are mainly in their late teens, but because they are out of high school, it gives the book a slightly more mature feel. I may just have been biased because I expected the characters to be older, like in most real dating TV shows. This book, while YA, has great crossover appeal to older “young adults” who may be looking for NA. I think it’s enjoyable for all age groups, honestly.

If you’re looking for drama, comedy, and romance, “Never Ever Getting Back Together” needs to go on your TBR right now. It was truly just a blast to read! I know I’ll be raving about this book for ages.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for giving me this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the queer reading of the Bachelor that I always wanted! Gonzales delivers a juicy, compulsively readable story of two contestants falling for each other, and it's full of all the drama and machinations one would expect from a reality-TV-inspired novel. Such fun!