A really sweet YA romance that kept me interested the whole time. I liked the mcs, and I liked their relationships with their friends and each other.

3.5 stars rounded up. This was a mostly sweet YA rom-com with endearing characters and a decent amount of queer diversity.

I liked all the characters in this one, even if I found their actions questionable (at best) at times. I feel like this story might actually work better as a movie, assuming the leads were especially charismatic.

The ending to this one made me smile, which is really all I need from a book like this.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

First off, I want to thank Viking Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for sending me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

There were some things I really liked about this book, but it did take me a while to get invested. It felt like they both became interested in Juliet fairly quickly. I’m just not typically a fan of insta-love and had been expecting a bit more build-up since they liked her so much that they neither wanted to give up their chance of being with her. I also wasn’t the biggest fan of the dialogue at times.

Now for what I did like: how it all ended. I love how the author tied up the romance and the family aspects of the book. I love the little found family they created and how they showed the difference between healthy and unhealthy friendships. While I wasn’t sure how to feel about Juliet at first, I ended up really liking her as a character once we got to know more about her! I was also rooting for Caleb and Emma! This book ended up being heavier than I thought it’’d be, but I really did like reading about how their familial relationships developed and believe that these plotlines could be really helpful for younger readers who are going through similar situations. I also liked the flashback chapters! I think they provided great context for the kind of bond that Caleb and Emma had before their friendship had ended. Also, I loved all the rep and the conversations they had around sexuality and identity! One particular conversation stood out to me that I think will mean a lot to many readers.

I do have to admit that I was in a bit of a reading slump, which could be why I was not super invested at the start of reading it. Overall, I did still like it and could definitely see other readers loving it.

Overall, 3.75 stars rounded up to 4!

cw: emotional parental abuse, queerphobia, physical violence, bullying, toxic friendships (off-page), abandonment, mental illness

This was super cute and fun, but also covered some pretty heavy topics. I liked that the ending was happy, but not fully "everything wrapped in a bow", and it had some great POVs and representation in it.

Emma and Caleb have always been each other frenemies since middle school. Emma is always stealing Caleb’s crushes and dare I say “cock blocking.” But he puts a stop to that when the new girl Juliet comes into their world. He won’t let Emma win. But plans go a rye when they realize they have feeling for each other. Past feelings that are like ripping a bandaid off an old wound.

This book touches on a lot. It has humor, banter and of course that warm fuzzy feeling that starts in the toes. That inner voice of “is this the right choice. I don’t want to eff it up.” It’s a self discovery in ways. Friends fighting over the same girl to realize their own feelings deep down towards each other.

I lived the characters and that it wasn’t overly dramatic or not positive in its outcome. Some books can come off childish, but this one almost had a mature way of exploring and discovering and that made it more enjoyable.

Overall, I was happy with this book and how it ended up for them.

*Thank you so much to NetGalley, Viking Publishing, and Amanda Woody for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review!!*
Okay, I loved this book!! It was so fun, and a great summer read. It really took me back to when I was growing up, forming my first friendships, and really just navigating life. I think the author does an excellent job at showcasing complex relationships, both with one’s self and with others (family and friends specifically). This book has the perfect balance of humor, heartfelt moments, and just plain fun. I always love YA stories for the nostalgia, especially in high school. That is such a raw, vulnerable time, but it is also so necessary. And I think the author portrayed it beautifully. I enjoyed reading about all of these characters and getting to know them and their stories.
I loved Caleb and Emma!! They were so sweet. I absolutely live for their dynamic and (I will probably never ever say this again) the love triangle aspect of this was so cute. They’re such well-rounded characters and I was rooting for them and their friends so hard.
I appreciated the delve into complex familial dynamics and queer stories in particular, and the friendships that were explored were so meaningful.
Overall, this was a great book!! 🫶🏻

This was a very cute story with super strong chemistry between characters! By no means is this a story that will shock you with plot twists, but I don't think it's meant to be. This rivals to lovers story is filled with laugh out loud moments, characters who feel like you've known them forever, and great queer representation!

This was fun charming story about two ex best friends that suddenly seemed to be interested about the same girl. But what happens when past history don’t stay in the past?

While the story was a bit predictable I really enjoyed it, it was fun, charming and the characters were likeable and was very happy who I was rooting for end up together only complained is that it was a bit slow at first but after that it picked up and really like it . It definitely is a nice relaxing read.

A cute-turned-emotional story that has lulls and predictability in the story telling, but overall was an enjoyable read. The author did a great job in establishing the characters and the dynamics between them. As an older adult, I found some of the dialogue to be corny, cringey, and over the top, so it might not be the book for you. BUT I believe it would be great for the intended YA audience. Please be aware of the trigger warnings: bullying, emotional abuse, and homophobia.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I wish I loved this more than I did, but I had a hard time getting into it. I was excited to start because of the premise, however, I couldn’t find myself wanting to get back in it every time I put the book down. I think it’s just because I’m in a slump and YA isn’t really doing for me just now, which is u fortunate.

All this being said, I did find the story easy to get into. The author does a really good job in setting up the characters and their dynamics. I was invested in the romance, but my the that portion of the book, I sort of lost steam.

3.5 stars

content warnings: emotional abuse, bullying, homophobia

emma and caleb, once best friends, are now as close as strangers. emma has been getting in the way of every romantic prospect of caleb’s, but when caleb becomes interested in the new girl at school, juliet, he’s desperate to get to know her before emma asks her out. so, they have a little challenge: emma and caleb will get to know juliet, and whoever juliet kisses first gets to go out with her. as they make plans with juliet, though, she seems to be interested in hanging out with both of them at the same time, leading caleb and emma to wonder whether winning juliet’s heart is worth opening old wounds.

this might be a bit of an implied spoiler? but with a description like that, it was easy to see this story going one of two ways, either of which i would’ve been happy with. luckily, it did go one of my two predicted ways!

i loved all these characters so much. even though juliet doesn’t have a pov of her own, i enjoyed getting to know her<3 and caleb and emma had so much history that i loved learning about.

the writing was a bit silly at times, but honestly i think it added to the vibes of the book, so i didn’t mind that too much. i can’t wait to read more of amanda woody’s books!

Thank you go Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC copy.

When I heard that this had bi and demi representation, I had to read it immediately and I LOVED IT. There were a lot of laugh aloud moments and the chemistry between the two MCs is off-the-charts. Gotta love a good competition queer rom com. It has some darker topics, so be sure to check out the trigger warnings before reading. This is the first book I've read of this author; I can't wait to read Amanda Woody's first book now.

Exes and Foes by Amanda Woody is a charming contemporary romance that explores themes of love, forgiveness, and personal growth. The story centers around two protagonists who are exes thrown together by unforeseen circumstances, forcing them to confront their past and navigate their present feelings.

The novel has its strengths, particularly in its character development. Woody does a commendable job of giving depth to her characters, making them relatable and their struggles engaging. The dialogue is witty and often humorous, adding a lighthearted touch to the narrative. The chemistry between the leads is palpable, and their journey toward reconciliation is both sweet and satisfying.

However, the book does have its shortcomings. At times, the plot can feel predictable, with some twists and turns that may not come as a surprise to seasoned romance readers. The pacing occasionally slows down, and certain subplots could have been explored in greater detail to add more depth to the overall story. Additionally, while the romance is central to the narrative, the secondary characters could have been better developed to add more layers to the story.

Overall, Exes and Foes is an enjoyable read for fans of contemporary romance who appreciate a light, feel-good story with a satisfying conclusion. While it may not break new ground in the genre, it delivers a sweet escape and a reminder that love and understanding can overcome even the most challenging of circumstances.

A different kind of romance when these two young people are competing for the attention of the "new" girl, only to fall for each other. Yes, it sounds "cute", but it's actually a very entertaining story when the characters are this well developed.

This was a slow start for me, and I nearly DNF'd it because of it, but I'm SO glad I pushed through. This book was so emotional by the end that I was in tears.

I thought it was going to be a cute little book, however the further I read, I was able to see how deeply familial relationships were impacting these teenagers and their everyday lives. At first, I thought that it would be a simple issue happening throughout the book - the bet that the two MC's agreed upon regarding the new girl - but the more I read, I became even more invested in finding out why the these two because 'exes and foes.
Since they were high schoolers, I assumed it was going to be such a silly little reason, or even simpler, a miscommunication. But the further I read, I was heartbroken for both of the MC's.

It still was such a cute read! Aside from the emotional turmoil I felt of course, the book had its fair share of laughs and giggles from beginning to end. I loved the characters individually and as they grew together. It definitely has its glance into discovering one's sexuality as well throughout the book, so if that's not something you are comfortable with, I wouldn't check the book out. Definitely read any trigger warnings before starting the book, since I do see how some people wouldn't vibe with the book for that alone.

The beginning of the book got me hooked. Caleb’s pov was funny and entertaining. He is such an awkward kid and i love that about him. I loved that this book also got really deep with Emma’s and Caleb’s family situation and about bullying. I will see this book is probably not for everyone. The characters are corny, awkward and at times “cringe”. I enjoyed that but at time it was a bit much for me personally. Overal I enjoyed the book and would recommend to young adults.

I loved Caleb and Emma with all my heart!!!! Amanda did an amazing job with navigating through the heavier themes throughout the book while also having the characters move forward. Juliet was a loveable character, but their personality was happy go lucky and clumsy so there wasn't anything much to do with them. I loved Alice and Jas being supportive to their respective best friends, but also willing to tell them what they needed to hear. A lovely heartfelt book that had me smiling and laughing.

Fun read!

Much more mature than I thought it would be, delving into subjects that I wasn't expecting from a book that seemed to be on the surface, a light read. I enjoyed the dynamic of the friend group.

This book was so much better than I thought it would be. It was cute and funny. The book kept my attention from beginning to end and I finished it in less than 4 days.

This book was a fun twist on your typical love triangle I really enjoyed the dynamic between all the characters and LOVED all the queer. However, as much as I liked this book, it didn't pull me in quite as much as the They Hate Each Other. Part of the reason was simply because enemies to lovers is more my jam than friends to lovers, but this story also started a bit slower. It was pretty obvious from the get-go that Emma and Caleb were the endgame couple, so it was hard to be invested in their competition to win over Juliet. Once they started to admit that their feelings for each other, I enjoyed the story a bit more.

Overall this was a great read and I look forward to anything else Amanda Woody is willing to write!