3.5/5 (rounded up)

I enjoyed it! It's a fun read. The author writes believable characters, and it's a great choice if you want a lighthearted fluffy romance. Outside of that, I don't have much to say. It didn't push the bounds or blow my mind, which is why it gets a 3.5.

I liked this one. It was a pretty predictable plot. But still a cute read. If you are looking for a cute light romance book I would suggest this one.

Reviewed for NetGalley:

University student, Brooke anxiously moves into a house with roommates under the rules and guidelines pointedly with no "unnecessary drama," tension, romance, or fighting with her new roommates. The only issue is one of her roommates is her high school nemesis, Jesse.

A sweet, light hearted read. Overall enjoyable read.

I read this in one setting. While it took awhile to get into Brooke's headspace can take a little time and patience - she is a lot - it is such an honest portrayal of a child who grows up with an alcoholic parent. Children can often to grow up to consider alcohol of no consequence, and have their own problems with it. They can go the opposite route and avoid it all together. The lack of ability to trust someone as fundamental as a parent can lead to trust issues, and a need to control your environment as much as possible.

Brooke has lists upon lists. Life is more about knowing how to react best in a situation and according to plan than it is really living. She's excited to get into college and begin a new chapter of her life, but with a new group of people to get to know, she's uncertain of how she'll fit in. Especially when the last person she wants to see from her past shows up. Jesse - one of her first really good friends, and the boy who betrayed her. The one she was never able to forgive. The one rule of the house was no unnecessary drama, so clearly the best way to handle the situation is to avoid him at all costs, and pretend to be friends when forced together.

Once you can get over Brooke's controlling, anxiety-ridden, type A personality she's someone I can relate to. It's easier to give her a chance and want to root for her. Plus Jesse is such a good guy to root for - he's not without flaws, but he's very clearly crushing on Brooke. And has been for a long time. He's in her corner, and patient with her. Waiting for her to allow him to apologize for what happened in the past, and really explain why it happened. To get to know each other again now.

I enjoyed this so much more than I thought I would. Cute, relatable, a read-in-one-sitting type of a book. I'm so glad I found this one, and hope I can pass it along!

Thank you to the publishers through NetGalley for the ARC!

I received an e-copy of this book from NetGalley. I think young adults will resonate with Brooke as she navigates her first year at university. Enemies to lovers fans will enjoy the plot and slow burn. A quick and fun read!

I received an e-copy of this book from NetGalley. I think young adults will resonate with Brooke as she navigates her first year at university. Enemies to lovers fans will enjoy the plot and slow burn. A quick and fun read!

I received an e-copy of this book from NetGalley. I think young adults will resonate with Brooke as she navigates her first year at university. Enemies to lovers fans will enjoy the plot and slow burn. A quick and fun read!

When your best friend and the first boy who ever kisses you publicly humiliates and hurts you, that tends to stick with you for a long time... so now years later when you finally find a place to stay and one of your college roommates is said boy... things are about to get tricky. Brooke is a “always help” kind of girl, she’s the responsible friend, and when she discovers that the boy who broke her heart and destroyed her trust is now her college roommate she wants nothing more than to just avoid him as much as possible and endure it until school is over... except he is adamant about trying to explain why he did what he did and about trying to be friends with her. When an ex meets her again she pretends that they’re dating and what starts as one kiss soon spirals. But can Brooke trust Jesse again with her heart after what he did last time? Or would it be a mistake? Their student has one rule “ no unnecessary drama” but there’s going to be tons of drama wherever Jesse and Brooke are concerned. This was a friends to enemies to lovers story but honestly I just got so bored with Jesse and Brooke and wasn’t exactly that invested in them becoming a couple. I definitely think its a “me not you” kind of read where i just didn’t really like the main characters or the couple all that much and found their relationship to be boring. I think if you enjoy second chance romances then this would work for you and that you’ll have a better time with it than I did!

*Thanks Netgalley and Flatiron Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

3.5 stars!
This book was so silly and fun–the perfect novel to fall into to giggle and also maybe to feel some deep second-hand embarrassment. Brooke was such a relatable character and I think her anxiety was portrayed in a really truthful way. She knew when she was being too much, but she couldn’t always control it. It was nice to see her friends rally together with her anyway! The romance was rushed, maybe because we don’t really get to hear what Jesse is thinking, but sweet.

I think the tropes were cliche but fun so if you like (sort of) childhood friends to lovers/rivals to lovers, and young adults navigating life on their own, then pick this one up!

Unnecessary Drama is an adorable second chance romance that I loved from the start. One of my favorite books is It Sounded Better In My Head by Nina and this story was just as good. The characters in Nina’s book at heart warming and relatable and you can’t help fall in love and root for their happy ending. I can’t see what she writes next I’m sure it’s going to be amazing.