Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute was an adorable book that I couldn’t put down. The main characters were entertaining, their situations interesting and their story lines deep and real.

We meet Celine who hate’s Brad who happened to be her ex best friend. I swear high school changes everything for everyone. Regardless they are quite competitive with one another but when something falls on their laps for a scholarship, they are all over it. The wonderful story of finding that friendship once again and maybe a little more was simply perfect. (Not really but in my mind, it was).

There are some serious issues discussed throughout the book such as Brad’s OCD and how he sees/reacts to different situations. It’s interesting to see, I feel like his case is a bit stronger than most OCD people I know. So it was a pleasure to read and see things through someone else’s eyes. I also really loved the story line Celine was going through with the abandoned father. A lot of people don’t realize just how triggering things like this can be for some. It’s hard and if not dealt with correctly it will haunt you always.

This was a quick and great read. I would recommend to anyone and everyone who just loves a delightful story.

This was such a cute book! Definately loved Talia’s writing style with this one. All of her books are PHENOMENAL!

5 STARS!

This academic rivals/former best friend YA romance is so good for those who are still within the YA age range! I love Talia Hibbert so much and I'm so excited her representation is expanding into the YA genre/age range. As an adult, I didn't feel called to pick it up but that is so okay! As a teacher, I know this book will serve so many of my students and I look forward to sharing it with them.

Genre: YA Romance

Format: Physical

4.5 stars - I really liked it!

YA enemies to lovers with diverse representation, say less! I really enjoyed The Brown Sister’s trilogy, so I was so excited to read her YA debut!

This book is so British!! I ate it up. I found myself laughing and getting swept away in Celine and Bradley’s world. I loved the banter, campy moments, academic rivalries arc, and how swoony and wholesome of a romance it was!!

Would recommend for any YA romance fan who loves a sweet romance that handles heavier themes with care!

Okay, pause for a second. This book was amazingly cute, the character growth was fantastic, the friendship/relationship building was top notch, and the banter had me laughing out loud. AND YET. I never wanted to pick up this book. I'd love it while reading it, but when I wasn't my brain would be like, "Should we DNF it?" There was something about it that didn't engage me despite all the elements I enjoyed and I just can't put my finger on it.

That being said, I'm going to dive into all the amazing things about it since I literally don't know what I'd criticize about it other than my vibe.

The character building was top notch. The way you start to see the cracks and then watch as the building comes tumbling down was how the characters developed. They got a total refresh as they ventured through the book and grew through their experiences, their relationships, and the major truths they were missing as they chased their dreams. I loved how realistically they grew around and with each other, all of them, not even just the MCs.

Also, the secondary characters are top notch. Like if Talia Hibbert decides to make this into a companion series, I'd read the heck out of Aurora's love story. The Breakspeare crew was so much fun and I adored getting to know them.

I appreciated the family units as well, and how they impacted and reflected the way the characters interacted with the world. They felt real and good and loving, and ugh, I loved them too.

As a whole, I really loved this book - the characters, the world building, the growth. It all hit the right notes. But, there was something that was missing for me that is stopping me from rating this at the 5 stars I want to give it.

TW: bullying, injury detail, mentions parental divorce

Rep: MMC is Black, bi, and has OCD; FMC is black and has asthma; secondary character has celiac; dyslexic tertiary character; Black and OCD own voices

Plot: 4/5
Characters: 5/5
World Building: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Pacing: 4/5
Overall: 4/5

eARC gifted via NetGalley by Joy Revolution via Random House Children's in exchange for an honest review.

This book was ADORABLE! I was a bit nervous to read a YA romance because it’s been a few years since I fit into the YA demographic, but I trusted Talia Hibbert and wasn’t disappointed. Now I just wish I could be half as cool, smart, and emotionally-aware as these teens were!

This was the perfect sweet, quick read for anyone, but especially the high-achievers who sometimes need a reminder they don’t have to be everything for everyone.

Thank you to NetGalley and Joy Revolution for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

An ARC from netgalley for honest review.

This was, quite frankly, so fuckin’ precious and lovely. It had me cheesin’ so hard! Laughing out loud and deeply in my feelings. So the gist of it all is after falling out ages ago, the only thing these ex-best friends Bradley and Celine have for each other is petty insults and academic rivalry… That is until they find themselves competing for a scholarship in the middle of the woods, where they are forced to work as a team for a grand prize. As they work closer and closer, their past comes sneaking back along with some teensy, tiny (and repressed) feelings that were (un)successfully shut down. So good!!! Talia Hibbert just be giving life to these books.

Hope you enjoy it, too!
And as always Happy Reading!

I don't usually enjoy YA, but Talia Hibbert is apparently the exception to every rule because this book was absolute perfection.

Thank you to NetGalley, Joy Revolution and Talia Hibbert for an E-ARC of this glorious novel!

Once childhood best friends, now enemies, Celine and Brad are thrust together in competition for a prestigious scholarship via camping and riddles. Along the way though, their enemies status is shaken, now they're friend? Or something more? How will they survive camping, sixth form, and shiny new love?

There are days I think I am done with YA then this book comes along and drags me back! Talia Hibbert is the queen of banter of the build. Even in a YA book, where the spice doesn't get too spicy, there is such genuine heat and warmth and adoration. I loved Brad and Celine's relationship from enemies to friends to maybe to partners. I adored every interaction they had, it all built beautifully.

As always, Talia Hibbert handles emotions, mental health, and body positivity to a T. This woman can do no wrong in my eyes. A glorious read from start to finish.

TW for OCD, emotional avoidance, parental abandonment.

3.5 stars rounded up

I am a big fan of Talia Hibbert's adult romances and was excited to try her first YA novel, even though YA romances tend to be very hit and miss for me. So keep that in mind. This is a very cute childhood BFFs to enemies to friends to lovers story with characters who are not great at outdoor survival. Overall I enjoyed the character's journey and banter, though it did drag for me at times. I also think I'm just less invested because they are still in high school. But this is really written for teens, and I could see it hitting much better for that audience. And there is certainly a lot to like.

Bradley is cool at school, but also really sweet. He is planning to study law at university, but is it really what HE wants or what his dad wants? He also has OCD which is handled really gently. And he is head over heels for Celine, which is pretty cute when we get his internal monologue.

Celine is a quirky, curvy TikToker who makes videos about conspiracy theories. And she hates Bradley for abandoning their friendship for his cool soccer friends. HATES. Clearly....
She also has some unresolved feelings about her father who abandoned their family. Possibly related? Hmm..

They end up reconnecting while navigating the wilderness as part of a scholarship competition and something new is kindled.

Like I said, I didn't love this as much as I did her adult work, and it took me a lot longer to get through than it should have. It was the kind of thing where I liked it while reading, but if I put it down there was no urgency to pick it back up again. That said, there are a lot of positives here and it's certainly worth a look. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Given the steam level of the Brown Sisters series by Talia Hibbert, I was interested to see how she would make the transition to YA and she nailed it! With no-spice but a bit of rom-com tension this novel follow ex-bestfriends as they work to both survive the great outdoors in pursuit of a life changing opporunity while uncousniously begining to repair their relationship. As they begin to work together they not only work to repair but remember both the good times and the bad times.

I'm excited for young adults to have age appropriate Talia Hibbert! I think this will be very well received among that group.

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute follows a story of Celine and Bradley who were a friends once but now became enemies. This book was so cute and fun!

I love that the character development, the family dynamic, the supporting characters who were also fun. I love the plot pace and how their relationship was so real and deep.

Overall, this book was so good and I’m recommending it to those who love friends to enemies to lovers✨

Thanks to @tbrbeyondtours & @taliahibbert for the earc copy!

I went into this book hesitant for a couple of reasons:
1. I've been suffering from a bit of contemporary YA fatigue, and
2. As a huge fan of Talia Hibbert's Adult Romances, I wasn't sure how well her style would translate into YA - I wasn't sure she could bring *it* without the heat, so to speak.

I have never been so happy to be proven so, so wrong. This book was exactly what I needed exactly when I needed it: an injection of pure joy and overwhelming cuteness directly into my veins. Her heroine is no less complex for being younger than her usual, and the romance is no less swoon-worthy for a lack of spice. My contemporary YA fatigue didn't stand a chance. Talia, I will never doubt you again.

Thank you to NetGalley and Joy Revolution for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh Celine and Bradly, the way they warmed my heart. I loved their story and their undeniable love for each other. The complexity of their life long friendship turned romance kept me going. This was a sweet ya-romance set in their last year of high school. Celine and Bradley were childhood best friends turned enemies when Bradley started hanging out with the cool kids. They go on a journey to finding their way back to each other. I enjoyed the fact that there was more going on then just their relationship. Celine dealing with her father leaving her at a young age and it shaping her life goal. Bradley dealing with OCD and warring with following in his fathers footsteps by studying law when all he wants to do is write. Both of them competing for a full ride scholarship.

These days I typically try to avoid stories that take place in high school, but I have an appreciation for this story and it helped that for the majority of the book was not set at the school. I think this is a cute lighthearted romance. Now on to the Brown Sisters.

Unfairly Cute is right! This book is adorable. 

I procrastinated this book, even after receiving the ARC, because I was nervous. I trust Talia and love her writing. I have OCD. I won't lie, I was nervous about how she would handle an OCD character. OCD is tricky, and I've only read one other book that I thought handled an OCD character well. (Shout out to Penny Reid!) I *knew* Talia would do a great job, but the idea of starting this book still gave me a little anxiety. After the year from hell, I just couldn't force myself through the anxiety until after the stress from the holidays was behind me. Once that was done, I hit the book and I am so glad I did! 

The characters are awesome. Usually in YA romances one of the characters is pretty flat, but that is not the case here. This is perfect. Celine and Bradley are both well rounded with interests and personalities. I felt that the banter and dialog in the story was better because of the dual perspectives and the personalities of each character. It is so nice when you have two good characters to cheer on rather than just one. 

The story is hecka cute. The plot is enjoyable and kept me intrigued. I cheered for Celine and Bradley in their quest. 

Overall, I very much enjoyed this book. I am shelving it to remember when my 9 year olds get into the YAs. Highly recommend if YA is your jam.

THIS BOOK! I knew I would love it, because I would love reading Talia Hibbert’s grocery list if I’m being quit honest. But truly, it still somehow exceeded my expectations. Talia just has this way of writing characters that I can’t help but both fall in love with and connect on to on an almost terrifying level.

Starting with Celine, I couldn’t help but love her from her first eye roll right at the beginning. Her personality is the one I would be totally drawn to in an irl friend and I was rooting for her from the very start.

And Bradley. Golden boy, I just want to hug him and be his best friend but I’m also definitely in love with him Bradley. His bisexuality was so wonderfully represented, and his depiction of OCD hit almost too close to home (as in had me questioning if I needed to look up some online test 😅) but truly just made me love him all the more.

Their relationship had me on the edge of my seat, just waiting for them to just finally stop denying themselves what they truly wanted and get on with it. The banter had me cackling throughout, and their tender moments brought me to tears more than once. I can officially say this made my top ten reads if 2022 without an ounce of hesitation.

I've been a fan of Talia Hibbert for awhile so I was really excited when I heard she was writing a YA novel. Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute is a very cute and fun YA romance for anyone for who loves the romance genre especially fans of Talia Hibbert's other works.

I'm sure it's corny of me to start off by saying this book was unfairly cute, but too bad because it was. Talia Hibbert officially does YA romance just as well as she does adult romance--fans of the Brown sisters will find this to be (appropriately) less steamy but every bit as full of romance, heart, humor, and wit.

This story was so sweet and hard fought. Both mains had their own struggles and with each other. But I loved the humor and care taken. Hibbert is a master at writing funny, witty, but flawed characters that I would love to know IRL. I haven't been 17 in....a while, so I don't relate too much with this YA. But that didn't stop me from enjoying my time with Celine and Bradley.