I wish I liked this book more but i just couldn't connect to the characters. I nearly dnfed it .
Thank you so much to HarperCollins Children's Books for the eARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

This was a fun read but I felt slightly underwhelmed by it.
The characters and romance didn’t feel very fleshed out, and the entire plot was based on a few weeks one summer.
Having said that, it was light and funny. I thought the plus-sized rep was good (minimal fat-shaming!).

This was so cute! I loved Mack and Jordan and they were so adorable! If you’re looking for a sweet story with lots of queer rep this is it. :)

This was really fun. Jenna Miller is really great at writing friendships and I loved the queer, plus size rep. However, the romance did fall a little flat. The love interest felt slightly one dimensional. I never fully saw why these two connected romantically, but I liked them both. Also, I there is a transgression towards the end I this that the MC’s best friend is partially responsible for and she never takes accountability for being vindictive and mean, and potentially ruining a relationship and future.

Still, there’s coming out story in this that’s handled well. I liked a lot of the side characters and the MC’s bond with her brother. There’s a lot to like here, and I think teens would enjoy the positive coming out storyline and the message about following your passion. This wasn’t fully for me, but I still recommend it.

It's so cute, so good, so joyful, so real! I loved this story with my whole heart. I loved the characters and their chemistry, the plot and the vibes. All immaculate.

"We Got the Beat" by Jenna Miller is a vibrant and heartwarming contemporary YA novel that hits all the right notes. Set against the backdrop of a small town's battle of the bands competition, this book captures the essence of friendship, self-discovery, and the power of music.

The story follows the journey of protagonist Lily, a shy and reserved teenager who finds solace in her drumming. When her best friend, Harper, convinces her to form a band and enter the local battle of the bands competition, Lily is hesitant but ultimately decides to take the leap. Joined by a diverse cast of characters, including the charming guitarist Jake and the quirky bassist Ava, Lily embarks on a musical adventure that will change her life forever.

One of the standout aspects of "We Got the Beat" is its authentic portrayal of teenage friendships and the challenges of adolescence. Miller skillfully navigates themes of identity, self-expression, and the pressure to conform, making the characters relatable and endearing. Lily's journey of self-discovery is particularly well-developed, as she learns to embrace her passion for music and find her own voice amidst the chaos of high school.

The dynamic between the band members is also a highlight of the novel, with each character bringing their own strengths and vulnerabilities to the table. The chemistry between Lily and Jake is palpable, adding an extra layer of tension and excitement to the story. Additionally, Miller's vivid descriptions of the band's performances and the exhilarating atmosphere of the competition are sure to resonate with music lovers of all ages.

While "We Got the Beat" may follow some familiar tropes of the YA genre, including the classic battle of the bands storyline, Miller injects enough originality and heart into the narrative to keep readers hooked from start to finish. The pacing is brisk, the dialogue is sharp, and the emotional payoff is immensely satisfying.

Overall, "We Got the Beat" is a charming and uplifting read that celebrates the transformative power of friendship and the joy of pursuing one's passions. With its lovable characters, infectious energy, and toe-tapping soundtrack, this book is sure to strike a chord with readers of all backgrounds. Jenna Miller has crafted a delightful coming-of-age story that will leave readers smiling long after they've turned the final page.

The story of We Got The Beat follows Jordon, a high school student with dreams of becoming a journalist. After failing to receive the editor position for her high school paper, Jordon is landed with being made to cover the volleyball team, the very team where her ex-best friend turned enemy is the new captain, Mackenzie.

I didn’t love this book as much as I hoped. There were good parts of it and parts which I didn’t enjoy.
I didn’t like Jordon. Maybe it was the first-person point of view where being inside her head made me dislike her, or maybe it’s just a taste type of thing. The character did some petty, stupid things but this is not why I dislike her; because those just made her a teenager, something I do commend this book for doing. She just felt too full of herself.

I did however really enjoy her and Mackenzie’s friendship to relationship. Jordon was very understanding of Mac’s situation but also didn’t want to stay hidden forever, which was understandable. The whole ‘enemies’ thing was a bit far-fetched come on, this is high school, but I suppose in a school setting the girl who backstabbed you may be your enemy. Jordon wasn’t the greatest friend to her two best friends, who made the sweetest trio, and I did love that they had a boy in their group who wasn’t either interested in them or gay. Jordon did, however, realise that she hadn’t been the greatest friend and tried to fix it, which I liked.

I think the greatest thing that irked me was the references. It felt like this book was trying very hard to be relatable. I get it, trying to get teens to read books is hard, but throwing out references every two minutes isn’t going to help. It made it feel cringe and a reference in a book times it. A lot of the language too, the constant use of ‘bestie’, will make the book feel slightly awkward in a couple of years.

Overall, the book wasn’t perfect. It felt stereotypical, pretty cringe and with a main character I didn’t gel with. It felt like it should have been published in 2013. I guess though, the whole point of it is that sapphics in 2013 didn’t get their cringe over dramatized high school romance books. If that’s the case, I commend it. Though it wasn’t my perfect cup of tea, I’m sure people will be wrapped up in the slight second-chance romance that is We Got The Beat.

This book was okay - there were parts of it that I enjoyed but there were also quite a few things that I didn't like about it. It follows Jordan, who has been assigned the volleyball beat for the school paper. Not only is this not the editor position she was hoping for, but it means she'll have to work with Mack, her former friend who ghosted her once school started.

I liked seeing Jordan and Mack reconnecting as friends and discussing where things had gone wrong for them in the past - it was good to see them acknowledging they'd made mistakes. I didn't, however, feel any chemistry between them so I wasn't really rooting for them romantically.

In terms of other characters, I really liked Isaac and Olivia and thought their romance was really cute! Audrey, on the other hand, just seemed awful and I pretty much didn't enjoy anything that she contributed to the story.

There's a lot of great representation in this book which is a big positive going for it! It's also a quick and easy read and it's good to see a sapphic relationship in a YA novel.

I loved this book! I found it easy to read and follow. Also found some scenes it was funny. It also helped with a reading slump. However it was a little predictable

Jordan Elliott is excited for her junior year and, most of all, the possibility of becoming her school paper's editor-in-chief. She cannot believe when she is instead assigned to cover volleyball for the semester, not least of all because the captain of the team is her friend-turned-nemesis Mackenzie West. As Jordan and Mackenzie are forced to spend time together, though, the two seem to be reestablishing a friendship and perhaps more. But Jordan can't help but wonder if she can really trust Mackenzie or if the past will repeat itself.

This is a charming and insightful story about friendship, following your dreams, and the dangers of making assumptions.

Highly recommended!

I struggled with this one, because the writing felt very much like an adult writing what they think a teen would say or do versus what an actual teen would say or do.

This is a really cute and sweet YA sapphic romance book. It took me back to high school when you have so much to worry about and stress about. I'm so glad that I'm not in high school anymore. I was a Journalism major in college, and I loved the parts of the story about the newspaper club. It made me feel like I was back at my school's paper. I was frustrated by some of the characters, but overall, it was a fun story.

3.75 rounded up to 4 ⭐️.

This was such an adorable read and wonderfully written. I like the authors style so will definitely check out more from her.

I adore the main character, her best friends and their relationship. They have a great bond, so supportive and very funny. I was smiling and laughing a lot!

The enemies to lovers vibe was so sweet. With amazing representation and an honest portrayal of how hard it is being a teen:

*Fitting in, (especially in a new area),
*The pressures from family, school and yourself.
*And figuring out your sexuality!

It’s tough and so, of course, mistakes will be made. And both girls make silly, understandable mistakes. We all do.

Why 3.75?

*The pop culture references, (mainly Dash & Lily). I don’t usually like lots in books.
*There was an aspect of the storyline that seemed close to a film’s that’s referenced.
And finally, it’s was very predictable.

But I did enjoy it and highly recommend especially for those times when you want a sweet story about friendship, love and finding yourself.

Thank you so much, Harper360YA & NetGalley, for this adorable arc.

I wish I had liked this book more than I did. I was invested in the main character, Jordan, but that was about it. The ups and downs with the love interest, set in a Mean Girls-esque universe that centered around volleyball, just didn’t seem all that compelling, and many of the side-characters were flat. I had a hard time trusting Mackenzie, even though we are supposed to by the end. Overall the storyline dragged and I didn’t really feel anything.

Thank you to HCC and Netgallery for a free copy for review. All opinions are my own.

Jenna Miller is a brilliant author. I loved her debut, and I love We Got the Beat. WGTB is such a great book which such well-rounded fleshed out characters, and by the end if you don't have tears in your eyes, well that's a problem because the wholesome ending of this book is brilliant.

I don't read a lot of YA anymore, especially YA romance or contemporary, I am at the ripe age of almost 30 and can't relate to these kids anymore, but Jenna does such a wonderful job and I feel fully immersed in this story and rooting for these characters.

I read this book in two formats, ebook and audiobook, and I will say both are wonderful and great choices. Give this book a shot. Buy or borrow a copy from the library. Also go read her debut. Both are fucking fantastic.

A sapphic romance with a plus sized MC should have been something I adored but I found it one I wanted to dnf.

I love Jenna’s writing style and still found Jenna’s style great with this book.

I read a lot of YA romance/ lit fic, and did enjoy Jenna’s other book a lot. However for me I really did not like the mc in this.

I found she made some really hurtful choices and comments, and just wasn’t a person I wanted to root for. That and there was also the ‘you’re more than sport’ commentary frequently that just had me feeling the ick.

In found myself hoping they don’t end up together because the romantic interest was treated so poorly by her and her friends.

I did like how coming out was handled in this however.

A super queer book you need to add to your TBR if you like YA contemporary!

I went in with zero expectations, but I ended up loving the book, considering YA contemporary romance is not my go-to genre. It had a fantastic group of characters, I loved everyone, they all felt real. Jordan’s passion for journaling was inspiring. I loved how she decided to go all out for volleyball, even though she’s not interested in sports. Her nerdy side was just a bonus addition! (But 10 is the best Doctor, and I’m willing to die on this hill!) She had really supporting friends and family and I think this was one of my favorite things in the whole book. Knowing people are behind you, that they love you unconditionally are the most important things in our lives.

I wanted to like this book so badly and am left in a little heart-broken puddle - and for that I'm rounding down from 3.5 stars to 3.

Before I get into it, I want to start with the positive. It was such a fun idea! High-achieving journalism student, chomping at the bit for an editor's position as a junior is let down not only by not getting the position, but she's also put on the girl's volleyball beat. A beat which entails she spends loads of time with her supposed arch-nemesis (and crush *cough cough*). What's not to love about that?

I do want to give kudos to the author; the book was very inclusive in a way that didn't feel too forced - we've all read those YA books that absolutely tokenize marginalized identities in such a way it starts to feel offensive. Plus, for the most part, the adults in the book had actual personalities and motivations and faults, which is always a treat. Overall, I also really liked the way the author wrote the friendship between Jordan and her friends - it felt real and you could tell the three had history, and that's hard to do.

And then there is what really brought me down with this book, and I know I'm not the first reviewer to mention this, but it seems like the author didn't let the book get messy. I love a good messy book, but every time there was a time where there was conflict or miscommunication or any other messiness that's core to YA books, and quite frankly, the entire teenage experience, everyone (Jordan especially) seemed to suddenly act like they had 10 years of therapy and multiple effective communication seminars under their belt.

Conflicts that were either sudden or brewing for most of the book were suddenly wrapped up in a page or two and then we seemed to move on. The book was lacking that catharsis that comes with letting the messiness fester and evolve; the characters weren't given that time to grow and that just feels unrealistic - especially for teenagers. I cannot emphasize that enough - some of these problems were nonsense I had to deal with as a teen and I know I'm apparently an "adult" now but there's no way the teens of today would handle problems so neatly.

Overall, it was a good book and I'm happy I read it, but I am just a bit disappointed in the execution.

Thank you so much to HarperCollins Children's Books for the eARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

I was so happy when I managed to get a hold of this book! I actually had a copy of Miller's debut book 'Out of Character' too and 'We Got the Beat' gives the same real-life experiences that her debut does! I love the way Miller writes her characters, they never fail to be so human and fully fleshed. For me, this was a nice easy read that gave a brilliant outlook on internalised doubt and insecurity that teenagers face. I would totally recommend this book to many of my friends and can't wait to see more from Miller!

This was such a fun read! I appreciated representation of plus-size characters, queer-positive narrative, the nerdy interactions...all of it! It played out very cinematically in my head while I was reading, and sometimes it was so high school that I cringed or got secondhand embarrassment while reading (which is great, immersive worldbuilding). I really loved Jordan's connection to the school paper and journalism and related to it as a former journo who wrote for several school papers growing up. It was a great mesh of the messy and sometimes chaotic feeling of being a teenager coupled with feel-good vibes.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review.