Mood: Happy, happy joy joy!
This book is perfect. If tears weren’t fighting their ways out of my eyes in laughter, I was holding my breathe waiting on one of the angsty teens to be angsty teens.

I’m a decade & a half removed from my teenage years and I remember everything being so intense as a teen. Decisions about college, about boyfriends, about friends friends , about conversations with my parents … all of it felt TOO intense. Looking back on that time now I realize it wasn’t actually as intense as it felt but that didn’t stop me from feeling like everything Celine &
Bradley faced was the equivalent of moving mountains.

Talia Hibbert is an auto buy author and though this is not her a spicy adult romance, it definitely belongs a spot in your TBR!

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute - ARC Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
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QUICK LOOK: Young Adult Romance, Wit and Banter, Dual POV, OCD Rep, Parent Abandonment Rep
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WHY 5/5: This book was full of wit, banter, and a whole lot of heart. These teenagers wrestled with existential crises as well as serious and underrepresented mental health issues. Talia Hibbert is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers. Her ability to balance clever sarcasm with deep heartbreak and struggles is truly a unique gift. She wrestles with hard things really well and I cannot wait to read more from her.
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YA Note: let me say I tend to be picky about reading YA and it has everything to do with whether the characters act immaturely or not. I will absolutely read a book about a mature 14yr old. But any character, young or old, that acts in petty, immature ways turns me off of a book. These characters are teenagers, but they are also fairly self-aware and mature.
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Thank you @taliahibbert for writing this gorgeous book. Thank you @netgalley and @jorevbooks. I was given this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Where do I start? This book came to me at the perfect time, I had just finished a fantasy trilogy and could feel that I was about to be in a reading slump. Then this book made its way into my life and made sure I wouldn’t fall into a slump. I was hooked from the first chapter, who doesn’t love a friends to enemy to lovers trope? The pace of the book was perfect, I loved the dual pov in every chapter, I loved the realness of the characters as it is a YA book, and most of all it had me laughing. I highly recommend reading this book when it comes out you won’t regret it. Talia Hibbert has a new fan, and I can’t wait to read more of her books.

Well written and a great read. I loved this story and this author. I enjoyed the pace and the funny moments. I will be buying a hard copy so it can go on my shelf. Read it!!!

Adorable YA friends-enemies-lovers!

Took a little getting into since I’m double the age of the target audience but I really Loved Celine and Bradley.

Loved the diversity of characters and mental health representation!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Childrens for the ARC to review!

Talia did it again! A fun lighthearted romance that centers around two individuals from two separate worlds. A warm endearing plot line and highly enjoyable characters makes this a must read!

I was so SO excited when I discovered that Talia Hibbert was going to be putting out a YA romance with Joy Revolution! I can definitely say that this book did not disappoint!

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute was a quick and adorable read that had me smiling and laughing all the way through! From the immature banter to the corny jokes to the sickeningly sweet connection between our two leads, this story warmed my heart.

I adored both Bradley and Celine, and I loved how they progressed as individuals throughout the story, while also figuring out how to grow together. The foundation they built when they were younger leaked through in every new development of their relationship, and the progression felt so natural and authentic.

I’ve been begging for a black academic rivals to lovers romance for a while now, and it made me so happy watching these two thrive! Brad and Celine are intelligent and quick-witted, and they KNOW it. There was something so satisfying about watching them be so unapologetically confident in their knowledge while aiming for the top spot.

Also, I believe this is the first time I’ve read a book where the main character has OCD, and that representation is so so important. I feel that so few people know of OCD beyond stereotypes. I love how this book highlighted the ways Bradley took care of himself and that he has a healthy relationship with therapy, which is sometimes a stigma in the black community.

Overall, I adored this book. So many moments of laughter and “🥺” wrapped up in a story that cherishes friendship and family. I’ll absolutely be rereading next time I need a pick-me-up. I rate this 4.25 out of 5 stars! Thank you so much to Netgalley and Random House for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

I was so excited to receive this arc, and it did not disappoint! Talia Hibbert has done it again! This was such a fun read — I couldn’t put it down. Celine and Brad are such vibrant and unique characters, but they shine the brightest when they banter as rivals, friends, and lovers. It was incredible to watch them grow up and evolve through such real personal struggles. This YA read strikes the perfect balance and can connect with readers within the Young Adult age group as well as more mature readers looking for a wholesome, lighthearted love. As a law student with OCD, “Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute” made me feel so seen and it easily became one of my favorite reads this year.

Talia Hibbert kills it every time with romance but especially grumpy x sunshine romances. Celine is the ultimate grumpy, girl boss character and Bradley is the ultimate cinnamon roll. This has fat rep in it and OCD rep.
I loved this new YA romance. I think it really highlights a career motivated girl and that there's nothing wrong with that!! Talia Hibbert could write anything and I would probably read it. Time to catch up on her backlist.

Another fun Talia Hibbert book. Really both characters were more thoughtful and introspective then I ever was as a teen. I did find Celine's conspiracy theory interest hard to like since far too many people actually believe in repilian over lord's. Conspiracy theories are a real problem in this country and I kind of doubt employers would actually find it a good thing to have a popular social media presence about them.

I was so sad when Talia Hibbert's Brown Sisters series came to an end, so was thrilled to get the chance to read her new YA novel! I was curious to see how her success in writing steamy adult romances would translate into this new release for a younger audience.

Full of her signature sense of humour and dry British wit that made the Brown books so popular and successful, we follow Celine (who reminded me of a young Chloe Brown) and Bradley's journey as academic rivals / ex-friends to lovers as they navigate their final year of school, whilst both competing in a cut-throat outdoors-based competition to win a prestigious scholarship and dealing with the unrelenting pressure to figure out their futures.

I'm a little older than the target audience for YA, but as a romance I still found it so enjoyable and engaging throughout - interactions between the diverse cast of characters are so heartwarming and funny, from cute relatable banter between friends and family, to Celine and Brad's more complex relationship arc as their feelings slowly develop for each other. Brad's personal struggles with OCD are addressed so thoughtfully - I appreciated that Hibbert normalises mental health struggles in so many of her romances and that her characters can be truly relatable for anyone facing similar issues.

I would highly recommend to all ages of readers who love a cute romcom with brilliantly memorable and unique characters - if you loved Hibbert's other books this needs to be top of your reading list ASAP once it's released in January.

THIS WAS SO CUTE I CANNOT. childhood best friends to enemies to academic rivals to secretly pining best friends to lovers?? sign. me. up. and it takes place in the scottish forests or whatever? AND has mental health representation?? yeah okay it was literally so so good!! the banter. i just. i loved both brad and celine so much and i related a lot to both of them which normally is not the case when i read romance books, so i really appreciated that. also the concept was really interesting. i would HIGHLY recommend this book. it is not one to miss.

The story hadn't even started yet and I already loved the book. That Glossary was brilliant. 😂

I had so much fun reading this! Talia Hibbert, you are a genius. There was so much wit, hilarious humor, snark and sass. Again, so much fun.

In this book we follow Celine and Brad, ex-bestfriends and current enemies, as they compete in a survival course to win a full scholarship. Being teamed up forces them to work together, not just to get through all the obstacles and challenges of the competition but through their personal ones as well.

Talia is known to write incredible characters of marginalized identities because she believes they need to have an honest and positive representation. Celine and Brad are shining examples, and I adored them both. Celine, strong, and smart, and unapologetically herself. Brad, seemingly perfect on the outside but works very hard to control is OCD and not let it run his life. His emotional intelligence is inspiring.

What a stunning YA debut! I hope you all put this on your radar if you read this genre 🙂

𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙡𝙨𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚:
✨️ Ex-bestfriends to enemies to lovers
✨️ Grumpy/sunshine
✨️ Character with OCD
✨️ Bi-sexual character
✨️ *chef's kiss* banter and sass

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute, and greatly recommended! ✨️

Love the story line in this book especially how the author is able to talk about complex topics and adds adorableness and cuteness into the book. I really enjoyed the childhood to besties to enemies to lovers trope and I loved this book more than I thought I would! This romcom is one of a kind with its cuteness

I was very lucky to receive an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Celine and Brad are ex-best friends who are both competing for a scholarship offered by Katherine Breakspear in her survival course. We watch as their relationship develops despite them doing their best to loath one another. But will they be together and what will their futures look like?

I had the best time reading this book. There were so many moments that left me giggling and laughing out loud.

I love both Celine and Brad. I love how Celine is who she is without being the ‘not like other girls’ type. I loved how kind Brad was and didn’t come off as the typical football player type.

Talia Hibbert has an amazing way of setting a scene through her character’s perspective that make reading this story so much fun. You truly get see how Celine and Brad both view their world.

The banter and interactions between Celine and Brad are works of art. I know that might sound over the top, but trust me. I have read other books were the main characters connection and interaction is not as well done as it is here. It feels so natural and fun between these two, that you get so attached to them together.

I really loved seeing these two interact and befriend the other BEP students. As well as their overall journey with trying to figure out life at their age. So many things to have just right yet still so many unknowns to come.

The emotional journey of Celine and Brad was beautiful. How they both had to ask themselves what they wanted for their futures not just careers but in their relationship together.

I also would like to say thank you to Talia Hibbert for her representation of OCD in this book. It was comforting to read and relate to Brad’s experience with OCD.

Would recommend this book to anyone who wants a fun YA rom-com and just wants to read something warm and happy with realistic characters.

CW: ocd, parental abandonment

I've been on a YA enemies to lovers kick and I am not even sorry about it. This book was just what I was looking for. Friends to Enemies to Lovers done right. Celine and Bradley were friends, but then he got popular and left her in the dust. She's not still mad, much. Bradley was dropped by Celine when he dared to have other friends than just her. They both have reasons to be mad at the other, but maybe, just maybe they can put their differences aside to come out winners.
Both of them have signed up for a scholarship expedition and they both want it for very different reasons. The fact remains, Bradley and Celine just need to get along to make it through this, maybe even be friends and then they can get on with their lives. As fate keeps pushing them closer and closer, do they give into the feelings they know they hide deep down or do they save themselves the embarassment because it would never last anyways.
I loved how both of them took chances, learned what they really wanted and did things for themselves and not what everyone else wanted for them. Bradley was just the sweetest though, I wanted to hug him!
Thank you to Talia Hibbert, Netgalley and Random House, Joy Revolution for an early copy.

This was my first read by this author and I can say that this was a good read. The cover was by far my favorite thing and the book itself was funny, snarky and cute. Honestly the banter was the best thing in the book the romantic tension was built but it played out in the end.

This made for the perfect easy-to-read book to help me try to shrug off the reading slump I've been in the past few months. This was full of the delightful humor and fun I'm familiar with from the previous Hibbert book I've read. I was able to breeze through this fairly easily during a slow work day despite my brain's recent aversion to reading anything for more than a few chapters. Even if you're not usually a YA reader, I would definitely recommend this one if you're a fan of Hibbert's previous works.

This was such a cute book! Brad and Celine were friends but now they are most defiantly enemies, each with their own demons to carry that may or may not be keeping them from realizing that they most defiantly do not actually hate each other😍. Brad’s OCD sometimes causes him to think of EVERY worst case scenario unbidden but I loved how his character showed the mental process of working through this (thanks to years of therapy) and made him even more relatable. Celine is trying to deal with her dad’s abandonment but she may have to admit that she is making plans for all the wrong reasons, like showing him what he has lost! As these two hurtle towards love they grow together and as individuals in the most lovely way!

Two childhood best friends-turned-enemies end up in a prestigious wilderness program together during their last year of high school. When they’re forced to work together to try to win one of the grand prize scholarships, Celine and Bradley can’t help but dig up the past and confront their true feelings for each other.

I loved Talia Hibbert’s The Brown Sisters trilogy, so of course I couldn’t wait to read her debut YA romcom. This book was adorable and literally had me laughing out loud. If you’re looking for a feel good book that also has some depth, look no further. On a side note, I also appreciated the glossary of British terms for the American reader that was included at the beginning.

Thanks to NetGalley, Random House Children’s Books, and Joy Revolution for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.