Honestly, I just want to gush and rave about this book. I adore Hibbert’s adult romances and wasn’t sure how her style and work would translate to the YA sphere, but she does it seamlessly.

Bradley Graeme and Celine Bangura are childhood friends turned enemies. He is beloved by all. She is…not. He is sunshine. She is…not. He is popular. She is a conspiracy theorist with way more social media followers than friends. His family seems perfect. Hers is…not. They are rivals at school and avoid each other otherwise.

Well, they avoid each other, that is, until they are forced to work together as a team. In the wilderness. As they both pursue a prize that could change their futures.

And maybe, just maybe, that forced togetherness will bring them together again. Can they be friends again after the past hurts they inflicted upon each other? Are they maybe something more?

Hibbert manages to capture this coming-of-age story with care. We see vulnerability here, mental health rep, bisexuality rep, a reframing of the past, a shifting concept of one’s future, young love, dealing with past hurts, taking on responsibility for one’s self and one’s actions, the love and support of family and what it looks like when that is fractured, what it takes to redefine yourself on your own terms. And Hibbert’s writing style just makes you want to read more.

I highly recommend it and look forward to reading more of Hibbert’s books—both adult and (hopefully more) YA.

I received an advance copy of the book from Random House Children’s, Joy Revolution, and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.

TALiA HIBBERT??? YA????
SIGN ME UP
The brown sisters series is one of my favorite series of all time, and when I saw the opportunity to read her first YA novel?? I was so incredibly pumped.
Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute wrapped me in a warm hug, and didn’t let go until I was a puddle of happy tears,

THIS DELIVERED OKAY.

Celine: suspicious, sarcastic, sometimes emotionally avoidant, kind, and driven.
Bradley: creative, athletic, sweet, witty, and very particular.

Amazing chemistry

Best friends to rivals to lovers.

Exploring the forests of England/Scotland. If you are an outdoor girly, this book is for you ( i for one would rather glamp)

As always, the side characters DELIVERED.

TW for Mental health talk, but it is written with Talia Hibberts signature way of tackling how we talk about mental health in a calming way almost??? I dont know how to explain this but it like she made you tea and is speaking in a whisper

Rating: 4.5 stars

Rep: BLPOC, OCD

Characters

We know Talia Hibbert for her fantastic characters in Adult Romance Novels, and Highly Suspicious and Unfairly cute was no different. Celine and Brad were characters that were different from each other, and their dynamic was fun to read. Celine was a character who knew what she wanted, and she was focused on that. Contrary to Celine, Bradley was a character who wasn’t sure what he wanted at the start of the book. Over the course of the novel, Brad figured out what he wanted, also that he was going to live his life for himself and find out what makes him happy. Celine and Brad went on a journey in this book, and I loved seeing them grow over the course of the novel. The supporting cast was also fun to read about, and I enjoyed them.

Plot

I’m not a big camping person, but I loved the expedition elements. I loved seeing Celine and Brad over the course of the story because, like their character journeys, the plot also helps them on their journeys. The stories with their families were interesting as well, and I wanted to see where they were going to go as I was reading.

Writing

Talia Hibbert is an excellent writer. I love how she tells a story, and how she uses distinct tones to tell a story. Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute had some light and fun scenes where you could tell that the characters are having a great time. This novel also deals with some very real topics, such as OCD, doing what you want to do for yourself, and having your own goals. Talia Hibbert tackles these with care and heart.

Romance

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute is at its core, a romance. Celine and Bradley had an incredibly sweet romance. They were best friends, who had a falling out, and then they developed feelings for each other. What made the story even sweeter was that you saw the passion the couple had for each other.

Enjoyment/ Recommend for

I really enjoyed this! The novel was fun while still discussing some very real topics. I recommend this book to fans of YA romance. Also, folks that enjoy diverse books would enjoy it.

(3.5 stars, definitively)

Talia Hibbert's debut YA novel is, without a doubt, a success. There's witty banter, there's diverse characters, there's personal growth, mental health chats and realistic character arcs like none other! While this book reads YA, the characters feel very mature and grounded (unlike some other YA I've read before...). If you're a fan of Talia Hibbert or a YA connoisseur, make sure you add this one to your TBR pile! Also this cover is just the cutest thing in the world. 🥰

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's / Joy Revolution for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I rarely pick up YA, but I think Hibbert did a wonderful job of writing a story that will appeal to many ages. I struggled a little with the cadence of the book – some sections felt too long, others felt rushed. However, overall I really enjoyed this book. She handled some difficult topics well, and included a perfect balance with banter and light moments. Hibbert always includes great representation with her characters, and the OCD representation in this book was well done, especially from the perspective of a popular high school student. Hibbert has become an auto-buy author for me, even including YA. This book was also a reminder that I have no desire to go back to high school, but that adulthood also has a lot of the same drama and emotions.

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-arc!

This YA novel follows Celine and Brad, who were once best friends but had a falling out after a huge argument. Now, he is one of the most popular guys at their school and a star athlete and she is a conspiracy theorist content creator. The only time they speak to each other is to insult each other. But they are forced to work together when both of them sign up for a survival course in the woods for a chance to win a grand prize.

When I saw that Talia Hibbert is writing a YA novel, I was really curious about it. After reading the synopsis and from the cover, it looked like an outdoorsy book, and I was kind of hesitant to pick it up because I usually don’t go for books with that setting. However, as I was reading, there was not much of that element. I thought the majority of it would involve the competition, but it was kept on the back burner. Because of this, I felt that it did not have a plot to begin with. The saving grace was the banter. I loved Brad! He is so charming, kind and such an adorable character and it was my first time reading about a character who has OCD. I was really conflicted about Celine. I liked her, but she was a bit judge-y at times. But I understand that it stems from her dad’s abandonment. Then, there was this scene where her inner monologue was so cruel to one of her camp friends just because they were concerned about Brad’s wellbeing and were unaware of his OCD. I understand that she is protective of him, but she was too quick to come to his defence when nothing even happened. Overall, it was a cute love story, but the story could have focused more on the competition.

Listen. Is Talia one of my favorite authors? 100%. Did she absolutely crush her YA debut? Without a doubt. Thank you, Talia, for writing such a delightful story and thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

I'm so excited to have a new Talia book in my hands that I don't even know where to start or how to sum up my feels. Basically, it's freaking adorable and I love it. But I think I'll do some bullet points with my top takeaways.

-Ex-best friends to...something more? squeeeeeeee

-I love that the female MC, Celine, got to be the grumpy one with so much ambition, and Brad, the male MC, got to be the sunshine one with OCD and the most caring heart. I just want to give both of them big hugs and tell them they're awesome.

-Banter. lovely banter!

Ok, I got distracted trying to find some of my favorite parts and ended up rereading it. Please do yourself a favor and read all of Talia's books.

Well... needless to say, this was indeed, Unfairly Cute.
Of course, no one is surprised. We knew it would be. Talia Hibbert wrote a YA Romance? Say no more.
This is light, fun, banter-y. The characters were fun and loveable. The romance is adorable. It's giving "Heartstopper" vibes with its loveable cast of characters and pure sweetness. Trust me- have this one ready on your shelf for when you have one of those days and just need a book that feels like sunshine.

Thanks you to NetGalley and Random House for the advance copy for review. Opinions are my own.

I don’t read many contemporary young adult novels but when I heard Talia Hibbert was writing a new book I knew I would read it regardless. This book did not disappoint!

In Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute, Brad and Celine are finishing up their last year of High School before going to University. Throughout the story they both go experience inner struggles concerning their futures, wondering what path is really right for them. Meanwhile they become explorers in the great outdoors competing for a prize and come to realizations about themselves, their families, and what kind of lives they really want to live.

One of the things that made it a stand out for me is that It’s largely character driven, which is my favorite kind of book. The plot is still fantastic but there’s a real emphasis on characters and their growth. Hibbert’s writing makes even the more minor characters memorable to the reader.

This book is full of wit, banter, angst, heart, and true love. It’s a roller coaster of emotions in the best way possible.

Thank you so much to net galley for my arc!

This book was so cute! I loved the relationship between Celine and Bradley- from best friends, to enemies, to lovers. I really loved seeing Celine’s emotional development throughout the story as well. I think the mental health rep was also good (Brad has OCD). There was also great banter in this book! And some angst!

The title says it all. This book is absolutely unfairly cute! I have always been partial to the way Hibbert writes romance and I loved this one. For her first venture into YA romance, she never talks down to her audience. It is a fairly quick read that had me giggling and kicking my feet the whole time.

Hibbert is a very funny author. She has a knack for comedic timing that doesn't feel forced or unearned. I can say the same about the romance aspect as well. Brad and Celine make sense and I had fun seeing them grow back together despite the hurts from their past.

This book is just pure serotonin on the page! A nice shot of sugar that is easy and fun to read!

Okay, I'm already a fan of Talia's. I mean the Brown sisters trilogy...genius! So when I found out she was writing a YA novel, I knew I had to read. My expectations were so high and per usual, Talia exceeded all of them!

These two former best friends end up going after the same scholarship, that happens to involve camping. In order for them to give their best in the competition, Celine and Brad decide to put their differences aside. But if they no longer hate each other, what comes next?

Talia weaves a sweet and hilariously funny story about two ex-best friends who start to realize that their hate for each other might mean something else. Like always, Talia delivers characters you can't help but fall in love with while also cracking you up on every single page. But it's not just Celine and Brad you'll fall in love with, but all of the side characters as well. Every single character literally pops off the page with their own unique voice.

I loved the dual POV because it was great getting both Brad and Celine's perspective and now I might want this for all YA novels.

Also, as a Black woman, it was so nice to see a story about two Black teens falling in love. Talia also has fantastic mental health rep in the book and it makes me so happy that type of book exists in the world now --- it definitely didn't exist when I was a teenager.

I know we're only in January, but I'm going to say it any way. This is one of the best YA books of 2023. Your heart will hurt because you'll love it so much.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

"Highly Suspicious and Unfairy Cute" by Talia Hilbert is adorable!  This is her debut novel for teens and frankly, it's my new favorite of hers. The story is about two childhood friends who's relationship evolves while competing for a scholarship. Each of them have their own reasons and internal conflict to process and how Talia writes this is so entertaining! The characters are very well written, current without being cheesy, and very believable. My favorite character is Bradley. He is diagnoses of OCD and his emotional intelligence is so attractive! The pace of this book is perfect for a more light hearted fun read. I laughed out loud many times!

There is nothing suspicious about this, but it is unfair how unfairly freaking cute it is (yes, I do think I'm funny).

This was my first book by Talia Hobert, and I have to say I LOVED it! This was such a cute book and definitely lives up to its name.
The plot, the characters, I was just obsessed.

Celine is everything!!! I connected with her so much and felt like she held so many layers, and I understand her character exactly, which made me feel for her even more. She is strong on the outside but has that hidden side not many people see. Except for Bradley, that’s is (who I loved equally as much!)

This enemies/friends to lovers book was unfairly cute and highly recommended by me!!!

Out Jan 3rd 2023!!!

A cute contemporary story! I loved the elements of survival, and the bringing together of the main character and the love interest. Highly recommend!!

Happy publication day to Highly Suspicious and Unfairly cute by Tahlia Hibbert

Swoon. She does it again.

Once again she has nailed the tension and created characters that are hard not to love.

Tahlia had me loving this enemies to lovers trope- which says a lot because often I am too inpatient for it. The back and forth between Bradley and Celine just made me giggle so much. The clap backs were perfection. It was so well done. They were likeable even at their worst.

The depictions of OCD; as someone who lives with it, were so relatable. I’ve never before seen my self in the way OCD has been described the way I saw myself in Bradley. “The stairs are made of concrete and they’re laughably uneven. My Braine helpfully informs me that I could easily fall and crack my head open and die right now. My brain, in case I failed to mention this before. Is kind of a dick.” Thank you. Yes. Exactly this. I don’t have a lot of the classic symptoms but intrusive thoughts are a-plenty. So Bradley, dear Bradley. He found a was one close to my heart.

Also this - I’m actually going to be writing this quote in my journal to show my therapist and to remind myself :
“Accept the thought…Check for distortions…refocus”

Thank you for bringing us another beautiful story Tahlia. I’ll be recommending this one over and over, getting a copy for my shelf and I think this is the perfect book for a few people I’d like to gift it too ;)

“But when I look at him - when I compare the light in his eyes to the scattered stars in the sky and find his brighter, when I wish I could touch every inch of him the way the silver glow does - it’s not just aesthetic. At all.”

Thank you @penguinrandon/ @penguinteenca for my Arc ♥️

This book was really cute. I’m not a YA romance reader but knowing that the characters was black was enough for me. It’s refreshing to see long friendships turn enemies then back to being friends and more. You can tell they grown up a lot and know about how aware their feelings are towards one another.
I love the author’s style of writing and is a fan of her previous work. She, again, gives us a great book and I’m proud of her for this being her first YA. I highly recommend it!

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert is a laugh-out-loud enemies to lovers story that is sure to bring a smile to any reader’s face. I loved the idea of a wilderness survival course in which ex-best friends are forced to work together to succeed, and the main characters have such an enjoyable dynamic. This is the perfect read for fans of the enemies to lovers trope, and a strong YA debut from the author of The Brown Sisters trilogy.

For Celine, being the best at everything she does and working hard toward her dream of becoming a lawyer is everything. When she gets the opportunity to sign up for a prestigious survival course in the woods led by her idol, she jumps at the opportunity, but the experience quickly sours when she learns that her rival and ex-best friend has signed up as well. Forced to work together to both survive and win a scholarship to the university of their choice, Celine and Brad must confront their past and forge a new future for their relationship as they start to reconnect.

❀ INTERESTING DYNAMIC

Celine and Bradley have an interesting dynamic, and I loved reading about their interactions. Celine is passionate about conspiracy theories, running a successful TikTok account, and I admired her drive to achieve her goals. However, as the book progresses, I really felt for Celine as she questions how much of her dream is of her own will and how much is influenced by a desire to get back at her dad. Bradley used to be Celine’s best friend, but once he joined the football team, he left her behind for a new friend group. While both Brad and Celine have said hurtful things to each other in the past, it is clear that they still care for each other, and I enjoyed watching them confront their past as they get closer.

❀ WILDERNESS SURVIVAL COURSE

This book has such an interesting setting, and I loved the idea of a wilderness survival course. As the course forces its participants to work together and think creatively in order to succeed, it provides a great setup for self-discovery and forcing the main characters to reconnect. I would have liked to see even more about the course and the characters’ “survival” in the woods of England and Scotland as the summary emphasizes, but I still appreciated this unique setting.

❀ ENTERTAINING STORY

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert is an entertaining story about following your dreams and mending old relationships. I loved reading about the main characters’ rivalry, and the wilderness setting makes for some satisfying moments. This is a great read for those who enjoy books with the enemies to lovers/academic rivals trope.

This was absolutely adorable; very much a "toned-down" Talia Hibbert book in terms of themes but her character and relationship development is still incredible. I struggled a bit with the background characters as there were so many of them and they all blended together a bit, but her main characters - Brad and Celine - were developed really well. The middle did lose me a bit with the repetitious conflict, but that may be more of a me issue than a book issue due to the age demographic. Overall, this is a really cute teen romance that's good for any teen (or teen at heart).