YOU WOULDN’T DARE is a YA read that turned out to be a so so read for me. I didn’t love it, but I also didn’t hate it.

My thoughts:
-teenage love story was adorable
-friendship group of Junie, Graham, Lucy, and Milo was solid
-a bit longer than I like & quite a bit of characters
-not a fan of the drama aspect

What I did appreciate were the heavier topics discussed such as absentee parents, parental loss, step families, infidelity, and teenage drinking. The author did a great job of balancing out these tough issues with lighter moments and young teenage love.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

I really loved this one!

The perfect mix of drama and light-heartedness. I loved the fun friend group dynamic & the summer vibes! Read this when it was raining outside but it really felt like summer hahaha.

Samantha Markum's young adult novel is set in a small town in the Florida Keys, with plenty of teen angst, tests of friend loyalty, burst expectations, and realizations.

Sure, Juniper and Graham kissed. But they're still friends. Nothing could change that. Right?

Only, the lengths Junie went to to keep their summer fling a secret might turn out to be unforgivable. They might also have ruined Graham's life.

What with working at her family restaurant and managing the Graham situation, Junie already has enough to worry about. But then her mother's boyfriend and his teen daughter Tallulah move in, suddenly Junie's community theatre production is in danger of being canceled, and the frosty reception she's getting from Graham doesn't seem like it's ending anytime soon. Her father's upcoming visit is the only bright spot in the near future.

But things can always get worse.

I had a tough time pinning down the tone(s) of the book. Joking drifts into poignancy which morphs into moments of bristled, hurt feelings. Seemingly small issues dramatically affect relationships. On the page the many shifts felt jarring to me and I often found them difficult to follow.

Junie would likely be charming, and her joking dialogue and zingers might land more solidly, in person; on the page I found her sometimes grating with her incessant picking at others. I sympathized with Tallulah more than I think I was intended to.

I'm always up for some good teen angst, and Markum delivers that wonderfully. I loved the two boy-girl best-friend pairings and was intrigued by the complications of an infant sibling and newly mixed family (Graham's); a seemingly likely future stepsibling and stepparent (Junie); navigation of a new relationship (Milo); and unconditional support and rejection of others' expectations (Lucy).

I loved feeling confident that all would work out in some fashion, and ultimately the teen romance here was satisfying and so fun. The Florida Keys setting, the sense of place, and the rhythm of the small town were wonderful.

I received a prepublication version of this young adult title courtesy of NetGalley and St. Martin's Press.

Samantha Markum is also the author of This May End Badly.

I like that Juniper is goes through so many different life changes within this story. I found Juniper a little infuriating at times because she was unable to articulate her feelings but then I would remember that she is a teenager and we were all like that. I loved how Juniper stood up for herself with her dad, that part was thoroughly satisfying and I found myself saying "Yes! great job Junie!".

I was pretty disappointed by this book. I absolutely loved This May End Badly and I had high hopes for this one but most of the book fell pretty flat for me. It wasn’t until the last 80% that it finally hooked me and then I loved the ending, lol. I found Junior a bit annoying and the love interest wasn’t clear until about 70% in. That made it hard to feel invested in their budding romance. I loved the concept and felt like it could have really been great. All that to say, I loved the town and all the other characters and I liked Junior in the end but it took a good bit to get there. I know her character arch was a big part of the story but she felt really self absorbed for much of it. I also felt like the title was a bit misleading. It would have been a 2 star but the last twenty percent is bumping it up to a 3 star because boy can Samantha Markum write an ending!

YOU WOULDN’T DARE is set in Florida, on a (made up) island called White Coral Key that’s about four hours from Jacksonville. One side of the island is ocean-facing, and the other is bay-facing, so I’m guessing the island would be either somewhere just south of Tampa on the Gulf side of FL or somewhere around West Palm Beach on the Atlantic coast. Anyway. I live a pretty short drive from both of those places, so it was fun to read about a place so similar to my own hometown.

Besides the beachy summer setting, there’s so much to love about this book. There’s the fun community theater production, which Junie ropes all her friends into helping with. There’s the banter between her and her three best friends, and the simmering tension between her and Graham.

This book literally made me laugh out loud (twice) and cry (also twice). I loved the messages about community, found family, and the bravery it takes to have the relationships you want. I also loved Samantha Markum’s debut, THIS MAY END BADLY, but I might have actually enjoyed this one even more?

If you like friend banter, antics, and summer fun plus angsty friends-to-lovers romance, you do not want to miss this one.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own.

I don't know if this book just followed a certain young adult recipe but the story seemed very familiar to me. I feel like I've either read it before or its similar to another book I've read (which I can't place). I am hoping its just that its a pretty typical young adult book.

My biggest complaint is not the protagonist like other people have had issue with (although I can certainly understand why Juniper isn't always well loved as she can be pretty careless with peopole). There are too many freaking characters! Too many names to keep track of. And so many of them are just background people that have minimal page time. There is a lot going on at any time. Sometimes just a bit too much.

All in all its a fun book to read. Teenage shenanigans during the freedom of summer. Easy to read.


***St Martin's Press via Netgalley***

I enjoyed this YA novel that included themes such as chosen families, life changes and love (we get some kissing in this one, and salivating over arms and abs). It IS YA, so you get the main character’s “dear diary” perspective of inner monologue and angst haha. But you also get the supportive friend group (who probably could have helped her figure out some of her feelings a bit more, but once again this is YA and they are teenagers).

Overall I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to fans of YA novels. I appreciate the added LGTBQ representation in the friend group.

This was a fantastic story full of great characters who's relationship dynamics make for a wonderful story I was fully invested in the whole way through.

This is a perfect summer time read! For me it was an even better escape to a small Florida town vibe. I felt transported right along with Junie & company smack in the middle of their story.

This one was not for me, but I can see how this one could possibly be loved by teens. There were plenty of endearing moments and the side characters and small town were so much fun. Unfortunately, I didn't care for the main character and I couldn't find myself rooting for her. I also felt like this book was just a little too long.

I would possibly recommend this to teens, but it would not be a first choice of recommendations.

You Wouldn’t Dare by Samantha Markum was one of my most anticipated YA romcoms after loving the author’s debut last year. I’m so grateful to @WednesdayBooks for a copy.

Junie secretly hooked up with one of her best friends, Graham, last summer then did an unforgivable thing to keep it secret that almost tore her close-knit friend group apart. They’re finally back on track—mostly, and Junie has promised herself to stop thinking about Graham as anything but a friend. Easier said than done. Then her mother announces they’re moving in with her boyfriend and his surly daughter Tallulah, which means Junie has to move to the other side of the island—away from all her friends, and all the traditions she loves. She just wants one more summer for everything to be normal, but maybe what she really needs is a change.

This book has a lot of threads. Tons of characters, many of whom added local charm. A summer play Junie bribes her friends to help with. An absent parent storyline that’s pretty heartbreaking. Close friendships with lots of romantic tension and lots of fights. And some pretty dramatic moments along the way.

I enjoyed so much about You Wouldn’t Dare. I definitely liked Graham and his steady presence, and Milo, Junie’s best friend. Lucy, the last member of their foursome is also great, and has a lovely arc in the story. I loved the theater element and I loved the small town hijinks that were laced throughout the book. I also loved the relationship between Junie and her mother and the way Junie’s relationship with Tallulah developed.

Ultimately for me though, there was a little too much going on. I had trouble keeping track of the characters in the beginning, and even as I try to describe the book here I feel like I’m leaving out a ton. I might have wanted a little more of the primary love story.

I’m gonna go with 4 stars bc I loved the end but honestly the whole first half was boring and I had way too much going on. I think if I would have known who the love interest was going to be I would have enjoyed it more in the beginning. Loved the authors previous book so I’m glad I stuck with it because the last 30 percent was fantastic.

This was the first book I have ever read by Samantha Markum and I really enjoyed it! I loved the fact that the book was set in Florida, which reminds me of home. This is a story of family, first love, best friends, let-downs, and fun. Junie and Graham are working their way back to friendship from a kiss that changed the way they act toward each other. Mom's boyfriend has a teenage daughter and the summer bombshell was dropped. Junie and her Mom would be moving in with the boyfriend. That means, along with everything else, Junie will be moving from her friends. At first, Junie seems to be a self-centered girl, but events that happen begin to change her and she realizes that her and Graham's is still rocky, but will she be willing to take the chance on her friends and love? Thank you to Ms. Markum, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Unfortunately I was disappointed in this one. It had all the ingredients for a great ya summer novel but was missing something, that spark to make it great. It was fine, and I would still recommend it to someone looking for an easy ya read. But I had trouble connecting with any of the characters. I found the grown ups unrealistic and the teens a tad annoying.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving this ARC, and this doesn’t influence my review. At first I was like: a new book by the author of This May End Badly??? YESSIR. But that book was a classic gold, I don’t like this book. This was a NA book, the FMC was immature, and the chemistry between them was a bit weird

I loved this book so much. Juniper Nash, Graham, Milo, Lucy, and Tallulah are all such wonderful and different characters. Juniper is full of theatrics, but loves her friends and the relationships she has with them fiercely. Graham would do anything for his friend group, but especially Juniper. Milo is Juniper's best friend and neighbor, who sometimes puts her over others. Lucy is bright and bubbly and Graham's best friend. Tallulah is the newest member of the group and only because Juniper's mom and her dad are dating. Each character plays their role brilliantly in this book of summer. There are highs and lows, funny moments and sad, but each part is necessary to get to the end.

📚 Book Review 📚

#youwouldntdare
#samanthamarkum
#ya
#NetGalley published 3/28/23
#stmartinspress
#wednesdaybooks

⭐⭐⭐💫/5 (rounding up for ratings)

The other day my husband and adult kid, 23, asked me about the book I was reading. I told them it was a YA. But I honestly couldn't sum it up in a sentence. Or subgenre. That bothered me. I guess that's why I found it meh. It was OK-enough. The more I thought on it, it was all about different types of relationships. I think it was too scattered of a topic. Best friends, single mom/kid, new step sibling, found families and bf/gf.

The book was basically about Junie Nash (JN) a theatre kid, a junior in high school, who talked her friends and their friends into coming to work on the summer show. And the progression of the the show and her relationship with one of her best friend's awkward relationship with Graham.

I liked her first YA novel This May End Badly much better than this one. I might give her one more try.

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I thought this was a cute book, but I am starting to realize YA books aren’t for me anymore. I felt like this book was way too much on the younger side for me. The main character Juniper bothered me right from the start. I felt like she was so immature and such a bully. The book starts out kind of slow, but picks up as it goes on. I do think it would be a good summer read, if you’re a fan of YA books. I know others loved it, I do recommend checking it out! I just don’t think it was for me.

Thank you Wednesday Books for the finished copy in exchange for an honest review.

Juniper Nash only wanted to keep her summer fling with her good friend, Graham a secret, but unfortunately, her actions contributed to the break up of Graham's family. Now, she is just trying to get her friendship with him back on track and keep her stronger feelings for him suppressed. At the same time, she is dealing with an impending move into the home of her mother's boyfriend and his unfriendly daughter. As if all that weren't enough, there is the summer musical to worry about, her father once again promising to visit, and more.

This is such a fun story. It is full of extremely likable characters. Juniper Nash is far from perfect, but she has a good heart and you can't help rooting for her. There are so many good people in this story, people who really care about each other. There are such great relationships too not just the adorable one between Juniper Nash and Graham and not just romantic ones. They include the relationship between Juniper Nash and her mother, those between Juniper Nash and her two other best friends, and more. You will definitely want to get a taste of summer with this bright and sunny book.

Mini synopsis: Juniper Nash kissed Graham & that’s when everything changed. Now, their friendship is weird, Junie’s moving away from her childhood home, the community theatre production needs more cast members, and Tallulah, her moms bf’s daughter, hates her! The summer just got a lot more complicated!

I LOVED this! Some of my favorite tropes happened throughout this book & I wasn’t expecting it! we have friends to lovers, a tight friendship group, messy relationships, theater productions, summer vibes, strong family vibes, just everything I love!🥰🥰 I finished this over a week ago & im still smiling at the cuteness.

My favorite parts are when the main characters all come together, whether that be to save the play or to ban together to make sure everyone makes it home safe from a party. I felted all the wholesome vibes of a last summer together! I loved how Junie & Tallulah’s friendship grew, that slow pace friendship but know it’s gonna last. The last scene with Graham & his mom & the house my heart 🥹🥹🥹