I liked the idea of someone going back for their high school reunion and having a list of things to do. Ellie was very relatable and I enjoyed that she chased her dream and still aspires for more. To help her get her dream promotion, her boss sends her to her high school reunion so she can learn to interact with people better. Her friends on the TV show she works on give her a list of 10 things to do while there. They build it based off the people that got superlatives in the year book, The list for the most part is very fun and definitely puts Ellie out of her comfort zone. Some challenges are a bit much, especially with people you haven't seen in 10 years.

Number ten on the list involves her high school crush, Mark. Mark helps her with some of the tasks, which helps them get to know each other again. I enjoyed their interactions, though I wish more time was given for them to build their chemistry. While they both admit some things, I think the time line of Mark's life, included with this budding romance with Ellie can be a bit messy.

Another item on the list involved her former best friend Roxy. Roxy has a bunch of personal issues going on, but I didn't love how she treated Ellie at times. I also don't love how she treated herself, but I think at the end she had more respect for herself even though she had to learn the hard way.

Well this book had amazing timing, coming into my life the same year I’m supposed to have my 10 year high school reunion. (Not that I’m planning on going. I can’t think of a single person from high school I actually want to see.)

The characters were so messy! From Ellie and Mark getting together a week after his engagement ended to Roxy relapsing on her sobriety, the only non messy characters were the ones we didn’t really see that much of. The mess was fun though. You knew these characters were making questionable decisions but had to keep reading to see how it turned out. The list was a cool way to get Ellie to interact with the people she graduated with. Finally completing the list at the end even though those people didn’t show up to the reunion was satisfying. The ending, with Mark showing up in LA, is hopeful and an excellent way to finish.

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 out of 5 stars

High school was an okay time for me so I felt every bit of Ellie's pain with going home for her high school reunion. I identified with a lot of Ellie's experiences and thoughts, but I felt her character was a bit immature. I hated how her boss hinged her future on attending the reunion. I got the whole change of perspective part, but the rest just screamed blackmail. If not for her trusted friends and their outlandish list of things Ellie had to do, I may have given up on this story. The list made things interesting. I also saw a different perspective to Ellie's character. High school Ellie wasn't one of the cool, popular kids. She was awkward and not yet grown into her own being. I didn't like how her current job on a hit TV series made her more interesting to her former classmates. I had at the back of my head that it wasn't worth establishing those connections with people who didn't like her for who she was back then and only deigned to know her now because of what she symbolizes. That just may be the jaded me coming through. I did like how Ellie reconnected with her old friends and established a relationship with Mark.

I received an advance copy of this book at my request and voluntarily left this review.

Ellie is cool now is an interesting one! It was definitely entertaining and funny but there was an underlying layer that really made me stop and think. Honestly, this book took me longer to read not because I was sitting around struggling to get through it but because it kept making me stop and think about everything - especially how I look back on high school as well. I loved Ellie and her growth and development as we follow her story and the little bit of romance added to the mix was great!

I would have really enjoyed reading this on Wattpad in high school, but unfortunately, I did not love this book. I think the plot and characters could have used more fine-tuning. There were some parts that made me laugh and some characters I enjoyed, but I did not like the main character. She is a “feminist” but looked down on women who chose different lifestyles than she did. There were some plot holes and just too much going on in the story. I can see how this thrived on Wattpad; it would have kept me coming back for more in that format. I’m sure there are people out there who will enjoy this, but it wasn’t for me.

Ellie is now a producer on a popular TV show set in high school but she has a jaded view of her high school experience. With an executive producer job being dangled before her, she is tasked to head back to her high school reunion with a list of tasks to complete to help her change her perspective.

I was drawn into the premise of this book thinking it would be a fun rom-com but I was really let down by the execution. I really struggled with the writing of this story. Most of the characters are not really well developed and most of the people were referred to as their high school superlatives which made it hard for me to keep track of who was who. Many of the characters, especially the main character Ellie, felt really immature even thought they were supposed to be 28. For most of the story, I felt like things were just happening to happen. Many of the book's biggest conflicts wrapped up quickly or just felt unresolved. Overall, I just don't think that this is the book for me.

Thank you to Forever and Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

DNF 20%
I like the idea of this book but found the execution to be severely lacking. I hated Ellie from almost page one and could only put up with her immaturity and whining for 20% before having to stop. She is awful and not a character who garnered any sympathy. I didn't find the story compelling and almost everyone else was awful. I did continue to skim through the rest of the book, but it didn't improve. The only good character was Liz. I'm done trying with this book and not coming back.

Ellie is Cool Now by Victoria Fulton and Faith McClaren
Rating: 4 stars
Steam: 1 chili
Pub Date: 3/21

Ellie is living her dream in L.A. as one of the writers for a hit TV drama about high school kids. Ironically, Ellie hated high school, and it’s starting to show in her writing. Her boss tells her that in order to gain some perspective for the show, she should go to her 10-year high school reunion. He promises her there’s a big promotion in her future if all goes well, so she feels like she has to go, even though she’d rather do anything else.

Her two bffs, Vic and Tina, create an ‘Ellie is Cool Now’ list to help her get through the experience. Items like Grab a Beer with Best All-Around and Hook up with the prom king, are at the top. The one that worries her the most is getting back in touch with her high school crush, Mark Wright.

This book gave me Never Been Kissed vibes, and I loved it! I wasn’t sure about this one initially because Ellie seemed extremely cynical and over the top about her hatred for high school. But it only took a few chapters for me to warm up to her, and once I did, I found this book funny and endearing.

I think many people will relate to the feelings of awkwardness and of not fitting in. As we all know, there’s life after high school, and I loved how this book made that statement loud and clear.

I liked Mark as an MC, and I could really feel the chemistry between him and Ellie. Their relationship was rocky at first, but I enjoyed watching them get to know each other all over again. There’s a strong “it’s always been you” vibe which is my favorite! I also really enjoyed Roxy’s character, but I wish we had gone deeper into her friendship with Ellie and gotten to know her better.

Overall, I enjoyed this small-town, second-chance romance and can’t wait to read more from this duo! Thank you so much to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for the gifted earc! Ellie is Cool Now hits shelves on 3/21.

Based on the premise to advance on her job, Ellie must face her past and attend her 10 year high school reunion, something she is dreading.
What I liked: I identified with hating high school and being part of the mediocre crowd. I also liked the LA support Ellie received, they were funny. I also thought the dialogue was funny and cheeky.
What I didn’t like: I disliked how Ellie treated Mark so shabbily. I didn’t care for Roxie, I thought she was obnoxious.
Reunions are nothing to dread, I’ve been to a few of mine, but probably won’t attend another.
Ellie wins after she realizes she makes the rules for her life.

I read this book in the span of a day, so I do have to give it that this book captivated me. I liked how easy it was to read and obviously, all the references to Grease. I think where I felt a little weird (I don't like to say cringey) was that it really did feel like all the shenanigans of high school, but adultified. The drama, the issues, it at points became a lot and I kind of felt over it. Still, the story was interesting and was an easy read and kind of reignited a high school story that I'd read.

Read if you like: Lists, reunions, second chances

This book was tough for me. Ellie and basically all of the other characters are unlikable. I found myself bored and not caring what happened by the end. Ellie's reasoning for everything was frustrating. I liked the concept of going to your reunion with a bucket type list. I just needed more. This isn't for me but you may love it.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Forever for the gifted e-book ❤️

This was such a nice read.
I like the idea of the girl who got away goes back to her younger self and finally dates the crush she had then. But she did more than one mistake at times. You would think she has grown up a bit more in those ten years apart and living in LA with a total different lifestyle.
Overall the story was a nostalgic one with characters that aren't necessary likable but ones that are reliable and still shy in a way.

Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy/Read Now title

Ellie is a writer for a teen television show. She left her hometown of Stonybrook, Ohio to follow her dream of working and writing in LA.

Ellie gets an invitation to her 10-year high school reunion. Ellie hated everything about high school. Her boss tells her she must complete a list of tasks with an example of something like “kissing the prom king” to get promoted.

When Ellie heads back home, it seems like not much has changed with her hometown and her classmates. She immediately runs into her high school crush Mark, which brings back all her feelings for him. I hoped to see more growth from the characters, but it seemed like she went back home right where she left off.

I like that Ellie took some more chances, however, it just seemed at times that she would rather live in her fantasy world instead of the reality of her life. For example, when dating her crush Mark, she decided to run away again without expressing how she feels.

The plot of the book was really good. It was extremely relatable and will bring you back to your own high school days.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Pub for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: chronically ill parent (side character), toxic relationship with a parent (side character), violence, slut-shaming (challenged), alcoholism (side character), cheating (side character), alcohol poisoning (side character)

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)
-high school reunion
-childhood crush/second chance ish
-coming home
-second chance friendship

This book was messy and funny in the best way. Written for anyone who did not enjoy high school (like me), I loved this one. Ellie is challenged by her boss to complete a list and return home for her high school reunion. In her professional life she's excelled, but her personal/love life has struggled. Ellie was snarky, driven, and scared shitless to let love in and I just found her really relatable.

Coming home gives her an opportunity with Mark her childhood crush that almost was. These two had such great chemistry and Mark was messy too but I love how he saw Ellie coming home as an opportunity as he looked at his life and what he wanted out of it. These two were award, and bumbling and just sweet and tender. I loved their romance against the backdrop of coming home after a long time away. Seeing how all of the people you thought were going to excel in high school are doing now and just accepting yourself. Most of all accepting love even when it does scare you.

Steam: 3

Nope. This didn’t work for me. The premise sounds fun. Ellie Jenkins is writer for a popular tv show about high school kids. But Ellie didn’t like high school. With her 10 year reunion coming up the producer suggests she attend, dangling a co-executive producer promotion as the incentive. He is even more thrilled when she and two friends come up with a ten item list of things to show Ellie is Cool Now. Things like kiss her high school crush, prank the class clown etc.

Ellie returns to Ohio and the first person she runs into is her crush Mark. They never were together so this isn’t a second chance romance. He is working at a local bakery not living out his dreams of being a film maker. Next time she sees him it is at the reunion where he has Liz his ex-fiancée on his arm. They have been broken up for a week but are still living together. That situation isn’t salvageable. It isn’t funny when Liz catches the two making out on the couch in her home the next day. I’m team Liz, and Mark is a hard no-go as the the romantic lead.

I have a hard time being sympathetic to Ellie as a character. She was like most high schoolers not peaking in HS. She got good grades and went on to college and her dream career. The fact that she missed out on teen sex and drinking parties that are part of her tv show isn’t a big motivating thing for me to like her. She wasn’t popular but no one was intentionally mean to her and she has no need to show anyone up at her reunion. She knows she is the rebound and that Liz is not over Mark and yet she gets involved. The most interesting character was her supposedly best friend Roxy. Ellie hasn’t spoken to her since Roxy kissed Mark at a HS party. That storyline at least has an interesting arc.

Sadly I’ve found no reason to root for, be sympathetic towards or even like the main characters. I found them shallow and immature. And the story didn’t manage to work in how doing the things on the list helps her in writing or on her tv show which is supposedly the purpose. My reason for reading the book isn’t to have her meet up with a crush in a half step from cheating scenario.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC in exchange for a voluntary review. (2.5 Stars)

Really enjoyed reading this book. If you're looking for something quick to read, I would definitely recommend reading it. And the characters had such a chemistry!!!

I binged it in one night/morning. It was THAT GOOD.

Oh my goodness! These authors bring on hilarity, pain, second hand embarrassment, romance all the feelings you feel while having to relive (or live down) high school.

Ellie is challenged to go to her high school reunion. Problem? Ellie was ignored basically and does not want to see her former BFF and high school crush.

Unrequited love! Is there anything worse? In my experience, no! And man do they exactly describe how it feels.

Ellie does change in this story. She realizes where she made some mistakes. And I loved that. I want the characters to grow from where we meet them.

I had to pause reading to yell out plenty of times. Go and read this fun book.

Such a fun take on what it means to grow up! I loved that the author played on the high school stereotypes, but leaned into it enough that it was fun and endearing without just coming off cheesy! This was definitely a fun, quick read!

📖 ARC REVIEW 📖

Thank you @readforeverpub for an early copy of Ellie is Cool Now by Victoria Fulton and Faith McClaren. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. 🤍

Ellie is Cool Now is a romance novel about Ellie, who’s put her high school years behind her, and Mark, her ultimate crush back in high school. Ellie is a TV writer to a teen show, and she’s just received an invitation to her high school reunion, which her boss sees as an opportunity for her to have a fresh perspective. He offers her a promotion should she attend the reunion and complete a list of to-do’s/a bucket list of to-do’s with the notorious people from her batch in school. She reluctantly agrees as she cannot pass up the opportunity for promotion. Bach home, she reunites with her ex-best friend and her not-so secret crush Mark.

This novel was initially quite interesting. I enjoyed the premise, but the entirety of the story was just okay for me, not many takeaways nor favorite characters. It was quite refreshing to read about high school stereotypes, and how these characters in the story grew up with not so much change, but I did like Ellie’s ex-best friend Roxy’s character development. The authors explored the topic of addiction and how Roxy has been dealing with her life through it. Reconnecting with Ellie helped her re-think her life choices and sought help (again; since she relapsed).

The romance was quite ick for me. I couldn’t appreciate Mark as a main character as he has easily replaced his ex-fiancé with Ellie, after breaking it off with the later for just a week. Regardless if he has been feeling that his and Liz’ relationship has been off for quite some time already, I felt like he wasn’t able to process his feelings as an individual properly before jumping into a relationship with Ellie.

Rating Ellie is Cool Now ⭐⭐⭐/5. Releases March 21st, 2023!

A fun read. Ellie was not cool.in school, despite writing for a show about high school. Her boss convinces her to go to bed high school reunion - can she prove she is cool now?