This was a fun YA! It's been a while since I read a YA romance and I'm so glad it was this one!

Things I liked:
-gossip girl vibes but much less toxic
-a boy who plays hockey AND bakes!
-a FMC who embraces her nerdiness
-really appreciated how quickly the initial "lie" was cleared up
-the friend group and the ways they communicated with each other
-every character at the shelter

Things I didn't love:
-not much honestly..wanted more time with them as a couple at the end
-in the audiobook the narrator read "IRL" as all the letters and every time it (at least 4x) it took me out of the story because I don't think people actually say that, they type it

Overall, would recommend this if you're looking for a pretty cute fake dating YA romance!

I love this book. It's packed full of all the things. It was a quick and easy read and I really enjoyed it. Definitely reading more of Heron in the future.

Packed to the brim with high school drama, gaming culture, a boy who bakes, and a little play on the secret identity trope, this YA fake dating romance was a real delicacy!

This was a quick read and every bit wild and dramatic as I expected it to be, and it was a hoot lol! Each ingredient that Heron poured into this story complimented the other nicely. The themes of cyber-bullying, homelessness, elitism, and cat-fishing were addressed well for their target audience, and I enjoyed the diversity, the elements of fake dating, Samaya’s growth (and relatability as a teen girl who I’m sure hits close to home for a lot of us in some way or another) and Daniel who was just as sweet as sugar! These opposites attracted well and there’s really nothing quite as tasty as revenge served in the palm of the hot hockey boys hand.

Presented as a YA romcom rendition of Bridgerton, there was no shortage of drama or tensions, while cooking up a combination of humour and heart. Celebrating the messiness of life and love, HTWAB will be a tasty treat among teen readers and adults alike.

I received a copy thanks to Netgalley and Skyscape, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review. 3.5⭐️

it's hard to say if there's anything memorable about this book, but it's simple and easy to read. i thoroughly enjoyed it even though it's fairly predictable.

Thank you Skyscape and NetGalley for the eARC of How to Win a Breakup! All opinions in this review are my own.

How to Win a Breakup is easily my favorite Farah Heron book I've read so far! With a mix of Gossip Girl and the movie Can't Buy Me Love, Heron creates a situation that is both funny and heartwarming. Samaya learns a lot about herself over the course of the book and I like how much she is able to recognize her own expectations by the end. I hope Heron writes more YA novels because this one was an excellent start!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book, as this book has already been published, I will not share my review on Netgalley at this time.

I just adore books by Farah Heron, and her approach to YA was delightful. How to Win a Breakup offers a fresh take on the fake dating trope and adds in girls in STEM. What's not to love?

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

A quick read that drew me in from the very beginning. There were a couple slower parts but it was definitely worth it to keep reading. I think this book will do well with teens.

Thank you for the chance to read and review but after further consideration, I don’t think that this is the right book for me so I will not be completing it. At least, not at this time.

This was a cute ya romance full of drama, antics and gaming. set in Toronto, a young teen girl gets dumped by her boyfriend at the end of the school year, (and the reason behind it will have you looking at the adults in the situation sideways). So she pretends she has a new boyfriend, and when she needs volunteer hours and volunteers at a soup kitchen, there he is. She eventually tells him the situation, and and he agrees to be her boyfriend, and what happens will have you howling and cheering.

I'm not a gamer, but this gamer rep was so cute and adorable. I enjoyed reading this story, and especially her friends who are the kind of friends ladies of any age needs. such a cute, adorable and enjoyable read

I received a copy of the book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review of my own thoughts and opinions

Samaya is a handful. Lol! Seriously, she has a lot of drama attracted to her but then again, she causes a lot of it. I feel it had a little more drama than the average but not so much to turn you off. I liked some of the fake dating trope. I don't know if I would reread or not. I do think I would read something else that this author creates though.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley, publishers, and Farah Heron for gifting me a copy of How to Win a Breakup in return for my honest opinion.

4/5 stars

An “it” couple’s breakup becomes a sporting event in a deliciously charming novel about the games people play in the name of love. First, math genius and gamer-nerd Samaya gets dumped by her boyfriend. Then he sabotages her job and hooks up with her frenemy. What could be worse? Clearly, her golden boy ex is winning the breakup. The only way Samaya can get some rebound cred is to find someone new. Even if she has to fake it. At a volunteer bake sale, Samaya meets a sweet opportunity. Daniel is a handsome hockey jock and a whiz when it comes to lemon squares and brownies. And he agrees to play along. Quid pro quo. He’ll pretend to be the boyfriend of her dreams if Samaya helps him pass calculus. This may well be the recipe for the best revenge, but Samaya has no idea how complicated it will get. As they whip up an imitation romance, and a bumbleberry pie, resisting each other’s very real charms proves impossible. Samaya finds herself on an unexpected journey of secrets, self-discovery, and the true meaning of moving on.

This was such a cute YA novel. But I will say there are a lot of tough topics brought up in this book. From abusive step-fathers to racial slurs there are some tough moments so be prepared. As someone who has been out of high for over 10 years, this is how I remember it. From the cattyness to the rumors it definitely rings true from what I remember.

I always love books that dive into different cultures and this one was definitely a winner. The diversity in the characters was refreshing and loved all of the different representations. Everything in this book was handled wonderfully, from the shelter and its residence to pronouns. Everything was written in a way to highlights but not draw the reader's attention away from our MC and the plotline.

Now on to the characters, Devin is a jerk and Farag Heron did a great job writing him to come off that way through the pages. I loved learning about Samaya. At the beginning of the book, she is not very likable because of her wanting to win the "game" she had come up against her ex. She is very demanding towards Daniel and her friends, making her an unlikable character. But I loved her growth and acceptance throughout the book. I loved Daniel, he was an all-around decent character who helped Samaya grow and become a better version of herself.

I would definitely recommend this to YA lovers!

Farah Heron can be hit or miss for me, but I loved this one. The setting, the characters, everything about this title delighted me.

HOW TO WIN A BREAKUP was an enjoyable read full of teen drama, complicated friendships, and a sweet (!!) romance. It did have a bit of a shaky start but got much better in the latter half. I appreciated Samaya's commitment to growing and changing for the better and her loved ones for calling her out on her behavior throughout the book. She goes THROUGH IT but never loses her determination to be who she wants to be (misguided or not). I also liked the way Farah touched on important topics beyond just what teens were gossiping about at school. This included: homelessness, elitism, being non-binary, racism, misogyny, etc. It's not a heavy book but there was clearly a lot of care put into ensuring that the topics were depicted in a respectful way. Speaking as someone who doesn't have nearly the same experiences [so can't comment too much on the representation]. It's nice that the supporting characters were also given their moments and stories outside of the MC (despite how "Me, Me, Me" she was in the beginning). I will definitely pick up another book by Farah and look forward to going back and reading Tahira and Ronan's story!

Special thanks to Netgalley and Skyscape for the advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"How to Win a Breakup" by Farah Heron is a triumphant romantic comedy that left me thoroughly entertained and utterly charmed. This novel is a delightful exploration of love, self-discovery, and the unexpected twists that life throws our way.

Heron's writing style is vibrant and engaging, infusing the story with humor and heart. The characters are wonderfully relatable, each with their own quirks and endearing qualities that make them feel like old friends.

At the core of the narrative is a heartwarming romance that unfolds with genuine emotion and irresistible chemistry. The dynamics between the characters are both amusing and touching, creating a narrative that is equal parts laughter and heartache.

"How to Win a Breakup" seamlessly blends humor with moments of vulnerability, resulting in a balanced and authentic portrayal of relationships and personal growth. The author's exploration of cultural identity and familial expectations adds depth to the story.

In conclusion, "How to Win a Breakup" is a feel-good triumph that celebrates the messiness of love and life. If you're in the mood for a romantic comedy that's both heartwarming and hilarious, this book is an absolute must-read. Farah Heron's storytelling is a delight, and this novel is a true gem that will leave you with a smile on your face.

This was a fun read! It was super easy and quick, and I liked the touches of the mysteries throughout teh romance. I think my high schoolers will enjoy this one!

I received a free copy of How to Win a Breakup from Netgalley and Skyscape in exchange for an honest review.

The consequences of dating in the age of social media are massive. The consequences of breaking up when you’re the “it” couple of the school are damning. Samaya’s ex-boyfriend breaks up with her, sabotages her job, and starts dating a girl that Samaya hates. So, obviously he’s winning the breakup.

Daniel is a cute hockey jock and baker that fits perfectly into her plan. Soon, they’re faking a relationship, Samaya is volunteering to bake with him, and Daniel is getting the help he needs to pass calculus. But how long until feelings join the fake dating party?

How to Win a Breakup is a romance for the newest generation, one that will relate heavily to the consequences of being on social media as teens. I enjoyed reading about Samaya’s journey towards finding herself apart from the audience, the ex, and the rest of her life. I recommend picking this novel up if you’re looking for a modern teen romance with the most adorable, destiny-driven couple.

4 stars!

I don't know why but I did not realize this was a young adult book and I think the main thing I didn't enjoy was how at times the characters read so young. I know that silly drama happens in a high school but there was SO MUCH petty drama. All of the main characters friends sucked and I think her ex-boyfriend was especially one of the worst. The romance between the characters was pretty decent, and the hockey and baking elements were super fun!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

fake dating
hockey player
sunshine x grumpy
baking
check, check, and check
.
This book was too freaking cute. Samaya was the perfect main character, she was driven, and hard-working. The romance in this one was just perfect I absolutely loved Daniel and Samaya's relationship, their chemistry was amazing even from early on.
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Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Special thanks to the publisher for providing a digital copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 3.5 stars rounded up!

TL;DR: How to Win a Breakup is a fun and fairly angsty YA contemporary romance featuring the fake-dating trope, exes out to best each other, plenty of gaming geeks and an athlete himbo who loves to bake and has a heart of gold. Samaya had a lot of learning and growing to do and although it took a while for her to get there, she does make strides in the end. I loved the friendship she forms with Daniel, who is without a doubt my favourite character in this story! There were some parts that could've been stronger and less scattered but overall, this was enjoyable and a perfect summer beach read.

Farah Heron is an author that has been on my radar for a while now because her books always have such eye-catching covers and intriguing synopses. I'm glad I've finally picked up one of her books because I enjoyed her writing a lot! It's fun and easy to read and sucked me in pretty quickly even with all the teenage angst and drama that I usually really don't enjoy. That's not to say that it wasn't a struggle at times to get through because of the teenage angst and all the characters were really deep in their teen phase and not always very likeable. I do feel like this is one of those YA contemporaries that make me feel like maybe I've outgrown the genre but I still found a lot to enjoy while reading it. In terms of the writing and plot, I think my biggest qualm would be that there were times the story was a little too all over the place and tried too hard to fit in too much. This didn't leave much time to really dive into certain aspects that deserved it and ultimately, made the resolution of these parts of the story feel underwhelming or even confusing.

As a POC, I will never stop loving the fact that we get to see so much diverse representation in books these days and the younger me squeals with joy each time I see a story centred on POC, especially in YA and contemporary romance in particular. This was also set in Canada, which I was not expecting and so that was cool although without it being explicitly stated in the story, I wouldn't have noticed that much of a difference (only minor things). There's a considerable cast of characters that we meet but most only served to drive Samaya's story forward and didn't get much development.

As the main character and POV, I have to admit I wasn't always the biggest fan of Samaya, especially at the start. She's quite self-centred and has a sarky, pessimistic, attitude that combined with her fixation on how others see her, felt a bit tiring at times. But I empathised with her situation because her ex is pretty douchey and doesn't seem to know what he wants throughout the story. Despite her flaws, her POV was still engaging and she does eventually experience growth towards the end and learns to not only be a better friend but to also remove herself from being an active participant in the toxic gossip cycle that only serves to hurt herself and others.

What I think would've made this better is getting Daniel's POV because I ADORED him! He's a hockey player and a bit of a himbo, as well as an absolute sweetheart who spends a great chunk of his free time helping out and baking sweet treats at the homeless shelter. His big heart, optimism and sunshine personality were a great contrast to Samaya's moodiness and their fake-dating romance was fun to watch unfold! They had awesome chemistry and I enjoyed their sweet friendship and how much Daniel grounded Samaya and helped her see things in a different light. I loved learning about his backstory too and it really tugged on my heartstrings and made it that much easier to root for him. 💜

Overall, this wasn't entirely what I expected when I decided to read it and although there was a little too much teenage drama and angst for my liking and I wished certain parts had been resolved better, I still found it an enjoyable enough read!