Put How to Win a Breakup on the top of your list to read!

Math nerd Samaya Janmohammad just wants to get over being dumped by her boyfriend and friend Devin Kapadia by playing video games and losing her position as a volunteer counselor at a math camp. Now Samaya is behind on her community service hours but she can volunteer with baking at a family shelter. But now Devin wants to be friends again and Samaya needs to salvage her final year of school by beating Devin at his own game. Maybe she could ask hockey player Daniel Ramos who is also volunteering at the shelter to pretend to be the guy that she is playing with on Dragon Arena.

I loved How to Win a Breakup because you want Samaya to help Daniel learn his calculus and be the person that she was always meant to be. How to Win a Breakup will be in my list of top ten books for the year.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Included as a top pick in bimonthly March New Releases post, which highlights and promotes upcoming releases of the month (link attached)

This was a really cute book even with all the predictable twists and turns. I thought Samaya and Daniel were really cute together and I loved the setting and how the author incorporated a shelter into the story. I'm a sucker for any novel where we have baking or cooking anything. There is one scene in here where Samaya starts waxing poetic about a crush and how they will be together forever and ever and how much she loves him and I had to laugh because teenage me did that all the time. Definitely enjoyed this one a lot.

Recommended: sure
For a sweet story with some actual mystery to it, for a fun integration of nerdy gamer things that you'll be in on the joke for if you're a gamer, for characters who support being their true authentic selves

Thoughts:
This starts off with a premise that could easily fall to the lazy, boring trope where the conflict is driven by people simply not talking to each other. Happily, that lazy boring trope is not where this book draws from. Instead, there's a well-developed sense of identity and authenticity, as well as mutual support. Considering this is a fake-dating trope, it's really impressive that it still felt very genuine for the characters!

I loved that they were pretty honest with each other from the start. Even though there's the one obvious lie of pretending this guy is an excellent gamer, they both focus on staying true to themselves and encouraging each other to do the same. Daniel's interactions with Samaya's friends was focused a lot on who he genuinely is, rather than solely on his assumed persona. They even call that out to each other after, which was a heartwarming moment of clarity. This is a critical basis of any relationship, so I was quickly invested in them, regardless of if romance came or it stayed as a strong friendship.

As a sense of identity is a core of this story for both main characters, there's also a side dish of racial commentary. Devin's parents look down on Samaya's family for not being Indian-Indian; Daniel gets all kinds of micro-aggressions about being a great player for a Filipino -- and even that feels like an improvement over the outright racism and violence he'd dealt with previously. It's not the full core of the story, but they each find ways to deal with it and commiserate together to find community and support.

One little aspect of this that niggled at me as a gamer was how some of the gaming things just seemed incorrect. Now, note: this only annoyed me because I have done these things and could see the logic holes, but realistically, they didn't affect the story of the novel (and were usually being used to propel it, in fact). One weird idiosyncrasy was that Discord, an online platform for voice chatting, was acknowledged to exist. Yet somehow their gaming guild was only able to play and talk by being in a room together, instead of using Discord to connect like just about every other gaming guild around???

But to be fair LAN parties can be hella fun so no shade at the end result, the excuse for it just didn't make sense. xD

Anyway, I definitely enjoyed this one and was pleasantly surprised at the depth brought to what's usually a bit of a fluffy trope for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Skyscape for a free advanced copy. This is my honest review.

I am on a bit of a YA kick, and when the books are this good I do not hate it! I am a big Farah
Heron fan, so I knew this one was going to be a delight. Big thanks to #netgalley and Skyscape for the ARC to read and review.

Samaya is a very smart, self-proclaimed nerd girl who is going through it as she enters her final year of high school. Her boyfriend broke up with her over the summer. Her parents and school counselors are on her to strengthen her resume for college applications. And the rumor mill is working overtime with the help of an anonymous Instagram account. Her exboyfriend has already started dating someone new. The only brightspot for Samaya outside of good friends Aimee and Cass is LostNight - someone who she games with but hasn't met IRL.

Samaya ends up volunteering at a local shelter, and it changes everything, especially meeting Daniel, her very cute co-volunteer.

I love a coming-of-age story that feels authentic - because teenage girls are messy, and often selfish. and Heron does such a great job in crafting her characters with this level of nuance. Were there times I was frustrated with Samaya? Sure, but it felt so real. Lord knows how frustrating I was as a teen! But this also delves deep into tough issues - socioeconomic status and classism, racism and homophobia.

I tore through this one, and when I finished had a big ol smile on my face. What a delight!

I will post this review on my bookstagram, @scottonreads, goodreads and retail sites.

In this novel, we meet Samaya just as she heads into her senior year of high school. After being unceremoniously dumped without warning, her ex sabotages her summer job so badly she quits and spends the summer wallowing in self pity and playing online games with a mystery guy. Now she needs to get in her community service hours before graduation and the only option is a family shelter where she must learn to bake. While working there she meets Daniel--except she's seen him before. Her online mystery man sent her Daniel's picture. Except hockey-playing, baker extraordinaire Daniel is definitely not her mysterious online gamer. Desperate to get the school off her back and ensure her ex knows she's moved on, Samaya proposes she and Daniel fake-date in exchange for her helping him pass calculus. What could go wrong? Or rather, what could go right...

How to Win a Breakup is all you could ever want in a YA romcom: fake dating, secret identities, revenge (or at least pettiness) and more. Daniel and Samaya make such a fun pair, and Daniel has one of the more interesting backstories I've seen for a character in a while. I also love how this book kind of both leans into and out of stereotypes, with the nerds at Samaya's school being the popular kids, and Daniel, the jock, worried about fitting in. It's an interesting twist that was fun to read.

Thanks to the publisher for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 8/10

How to Win a Breakup is the excellent story of Samaya- a talented gamer who just got dumped by her boyfriend, the school’s golden boy. Suddenly, the school is questioning Samaya’s math skills and ability to game. It’s unbearable- so Samaya leaks a picture of her with her online friend. It should be harmless- until she meets them in real life while getting her community service hours. However, some of what her online friend has said doesn’t match with Daniel in real life. Samaya must uncover who she was cat-fished by and why. Luckily, Daniel agrees to be her fake boyfriend to help with the cruel gossip. Samaya is horrified when she starts to develop feelings for the funny and sweet Daniel, which is strictly against their fake-dating rules. Samaya must choose if she will go against the parameters Daniel set for them and decide how much she cares about what her friends think…

Farah Heron is becoming one of my auto-buy authors!! I love how immersive and warm her writing is. Samaya and Daniel both feel so realistic and the type of people you’d want to be friends with. Heron’s writing is witty, while not shying away from important real-world issues such as discrimination, homelessness, and mental health. I loved how the fictional game felt so real! I became so invested in Samaya finding her way and deciding what/who was truly important to her. Samaya’s best friend Cass is another one of my favorite characters! I really enjoyed how they were so supportive of Samaya and also knew when to give her tough love.

How to Win a Breakup has fake dating, gender role reversals, and excellent representation. This book would be perfect for fans of Emma Lord, Talia Hibbert, and Tashie Bhuiyan. I would highly recommend it to anyone and I can’t wait to read what Farah Heron writes next!!

How to Win A Breakup is available March 21, 2023. Thank you to Farah Heron, Skyscape, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc

Samaya is recovering from the very public breakup with her boyfriend and her best friend. Her summer was blown up by the one person she thought she could trust. Now she has found someone online to who she can relate. she has the new year to deal with and her boyfriend is now dating her friend. she can't be seen as the one losing although she is for sure over the ex.

She happens to run into the boy whose photo was sent to her by her mysterious online friend and this person is for sure not him. so they develop a fake dating plan in exchange for her to help him with his math

Daniel and Samaya become fast friends and genuine feelings start developing.

This was such a nice story, I loved Samaya and Daniel and the mystery they had to figure out with the person who catfished her this summer.

I truly enjoyed learning more about Samaya and Daniel - they were good at communicating with each other.

Some chapters in the middle could have been taken out to make it a touch shorter but all in all, this is a great read

Very cute premise. A lot happens in the very beginning and it’s chaotic much like a teenagers thoughts during a wildly public break up, so keep that in mind. If you don’t enjoy hijinks and fake dating this may not be for you.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity. All thoughts are my own

I found this book to be a delightful read that brought back memories of my youth and the naivete that is so common during high school years. I particularly enjoyed the gaming aspect of the story, as it introduced me to a new world of possibilities that I had not considered before. The main character, Samaya, was well-developed, and it was satisfying to see her personal growth throughout the book. Her transformation was significant, and it was inspiring to witness her journey. Daniel, a thoughtful character, had an optimistic outlook on life that I found refreshing. He provided a counterbalance to the main character's struggles, and his presence added depth to the story. Overall, this book was an enjoyable and thought-provoking read that I would highly recommend to others.

WOW!!! WHAT A DELICIOUS BOOK!!! I found him very unpretentious and I was totally invested in the story. I couldn't find out before who were the people behind the accounts so it was very good to be surprised, I was obsessed with him and I couldn't let go until I finished reading (which happened quickly because the writing is super fluid!). The characters were excellent too! Daniel is definitely one of my favorite characters now, my only problem with the book was a passage where the characters talked about Hiroshima and I didn't really like the "joke" tone at the time, it was kind...bad. Other than that, it was a young adult book that delivered exactly what it promised and I came away very satisfied from reading it. Thanks to NetGalley and the author for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review!

A cute read about a high schooler who exacts revenge on her ex by out exist him.
Wisdoms comes with age, most of the time, and I was glad the main character stopped obsessing about her ex and moved on, giving Daniel a chance.
The ending is good, but most people never come to resolutions with their exes.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC. I have read one of the author's adult romance novels before, and I was looking forward to reading this YA romance. I didn't realize that it was part of a series, but you don't have to read the previous book in order to follow this one.
I didn't always agree with the main character or her choices but it's. YA so of course teens will make dumb decisions, but I loved MC in this as well. Great for anyone who loves the fake dating trope.

I really enjoyed this and how much representation was in it. It was a super quick read for me and I had so much fun!! I absolutely loved Daniel!!!

I've read and enjoyed other books by Farah Heron, so I was excited to read this one as well and it didn't disappoint. It was a cute YA that I read on my kindle - thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy!

I enjoyed the characters and their journeys of self discovery. While the story was mildly predictable, the romance was cute and I liked the book a lot. I read this one really quickly, so if you like YA and enjoy this author, go ahead and add this one to your shelf!

How to Win a Breakup by Farah Heron is a delightful book to read and is now my favourite Farah Heron book. Lots of heartbreak and drama in this novel ,but that is what makes this book an interesting read. There is gaming , baking and a lot of volunteering by a group of great high schoolers whose friendship are tested and constantly challenged. Some friendships end and some grow into love. I also love the lemon 🍋 square recipe and can’t wait to make them . Bravo Farah and looking forward to your next book.🙋‍♀️🇨🇦❤️📚🍋🍋

When her school’s notorious anonymous gossip Insta starts comparing her and her ex, Samaya has had enough. Clearly, he is “winning” this breakup, but not for long if Samaya has anything to do with it. With the help of the gorgeous boy she’s getting volunteer hours with(he’ll be her fake boyfriend in exchange for help with calculus) she might have a shot at taking the victory.

I LOVE A FAKE DATING STORY. Not only are Samaya and Daniel adorable together, but the setting where they get to know each other, the shelter they volunteer at, was such a meaningful and safe place. Some of my fave moments there were with Yasmin, a sweet young girl who loves fairies - she helped to create genuine connection to the shelter and the people who rely on it.

Daniel, baking extraordinaire and hockey enthusiast, was such a kind and open person with a smile for everyone. As Samaya stresses about the school gossip, he is able to balance out that energy and allow her focus to shift, if only slightly at first. He is earnest and generous, and lends a different perspective. I adored him.

Samaya also gets a great arc of self discovery, and I binged most of this book past my bedtime to finish it. I would LOVE a Cass book, because they rule. Also selfishly because I want a future Daniel cameo. And Owen.

Definitely recommend!

Cute baking and video game YA contemporary? It's like Emm bait. But it truly was adorable and SUCH. a quick read. (Literally the palate cleanser I needed so I could actually fall asleep after the horror book I finished previously)

Farah Heron knows how to write fake dating and slow burn romances, it's an art. I loved the various plot arcs, from the Lady Whistledown style gossip instagram to the game development club. It was busy, but so is high school. Samaya comes into her own in this book as she discovers that life DOES exist outside of videogames and high school clout. Daniel is, of course, the sweetest bumbleberry pie hockey himbo and a fabulous foil to Sam. It was also such fun seeing Tahira being a doting older sister and chasing her fashion dreams. Overall just a precious book for when you need something HAPPY to read.

*Thank you to Skyscape and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This is a young adult book perfect for gaming lovers. The book follow a math genius who gets dumped by her boyfriend . If that is not enough he hooks up with someone that she cannot stand. But the best revenge is dating someone new. While volunteering she meets Daniel and they pretend to date and she helps him with calculus.. Absolutely a delightful read about fake-dating, first love, heartbreak and self-discovery.

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

I love the diverse characters with different cultures and life experiences. I love all the baked goods like I was craving lemon squares (and i’ve never had a lemon square). I love the premise of the book with a math-genius gamer girl teaming up with a sunshine, hockey player who loves to bake, to form a fake relationship. However, I personally felt like the execution wasn’t the best.

The book starts off with so much information being told to the reader all at once. I’m sure the information was important towards the main character’s thought progress and story but it just felt like too much background! Like I didn’t need to know that the main character went to math class and took an exam. It felt like I experienced a whole school day with her in the first few chapters (how exhausting)

I understand building a foundation for the plot but it felt so chaotic with so much going on for the main character! I lowkey had headaches trying to keep up! like there's an anonymous gossip account that for some reason is obsessed with the main character's love life. there’s a mystery surrounding the identity of her gaming partner. the question of who took the picture of Daniel at the shelter. With all this happening, there's also the main(?) plot of Samaya fake dating to convince everyone she's over her ex while trying to build a gaming app!!

The book had an overwhelming beginning along with a tedious pacing. So, once the real plot actually began (20% in), I was already getting bored!

Throughout the book, Samaya is too focused trying to navigate through all these problems, that the book ended up being about said problems! I couldn’t really connect with Samaya because of this and that there wasn’t much depth to her character. I love Daniel’s character tho! He felt like a nice reprieve from everything! Honestly I wish we got more of him or his pov! Sam and Daniel were cute too! I would’ve liked to see more of their romance/relationship!

I feel like some of the dialogue between some characters felt inserted instead of genuine conversation. Like the author wrote in dialogue for the purpose to create a “connection” between characters and move the story along. I feel like the author should build more on the relationships between the characters instead all the different conflicts going on.

Also, at times, it felt like the transition to one scene to the next felt abrupt! For example, there would be dialogue still being spoken and then it would skip to a different scene.

Honestly I was expecting a cute romance but this book just gave me stress from mentally trying to keep with all the things