I absolutely adored this book! It's funny, quirky, sweet, and has amazing representation. Marlowe has a solid couple of friends that always have her back, unlike the group she used to hang with when she was dating Josh who now ignore her existence. When Marlowe and her ex Josh are paired up for an English project, an unlikely hero in the form of Ashton Hayes steps in and offers to be her partner. Cue the cuteness and yes, some angst, and Marlow discovering what she really wants. Spoiler, it's not Josh. The sibling rivalry was dead on, Poppy and Odette were the best friends any one could hope to have. Ash was perfection, he was moody and grumpy, but had such a soft spot for Marlowe, he treated her with respect, kindness and patience, even though it was killing him watching her try to win Josh back. Highly recommend, it's low drama and will leave you with a warm fuzzy feeling.

The Calculation of Me and You is an addictive YA read that had me hooked from the first page! I devoured it in one sitting, staying up way past my bedtime. The angst-filled journey from enemies to lovers had my heart racing and rooting for the characters. A must-read for fans of YA romance!

Thanks netgalley and the publisher for this eARC

DNF @ 15%.

There’s YA that anyone can enjoy, and YA that reads very young. I’m disappointed that this was the latter. I was hoping this would give me that same feeling as “Better Than The Movies” by Lynn Painter did. Unfortunately, it felt somewhat immature.

She’s pining after her mean ex who talks down to her? In 2024. Also, it feels like the word “Momma” appears at least once a page. That’s kind of what pushed me over the DNF edge.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for my advanced digital copy!

This was a YA romance about a girl who is autistic and is dumped because she doesn't show her love. Que the sexy English partner to teacher her how to be romantic with close proximity, and all the feels. This was so perfect and reminded me of a YA version of the kiss quotient. Definitely enjoyed this and would recommend.

3.5

This took me a bit to get into, but I ended up enjoying it in the end. After Marlowe gets dumped by her boyfriend, she concocts a way to get him back by having a moody songwriter help her write romantic letters. Marlowe's problem, according to her ex, is she isn't romantic enough. Marlowe also happens to be autistic, which I think the author was using as part of the reason she wasn't romantic enough for Josh. She doesn't always pick up on social cues and is obsessed with mushrooms and math. She describes herself as the weird and unpopular girl who can't understand why she gets asked out by Josh in the first place and can't understand why he dumps her. The confusion continues when Ashton volunteers to be her partner for a class project, which is where she discovers his songwriting abilities and his romantic side.

The characters in this were all well-written, including the side characters. It showed that you can't always judge someone by the way they dress or talk, and people can surprise us in many ways. It was easy to get frustrated at times because Ashton so very obviously had a thing for Marlowe, but she was still too obsessed with trying to get back Josh to notice. Of course, I'm sure we've all been there before in our lives. I know I have. It's easy to get caught up in something you think you want, even if you know deep down it isn't good for you.

There were lots of cute moments throughout the book, and I really enjoyed the ending. Recommended for those who enjoy YA contemporary romances without a lot of spice.

Honestly, I love YA, but I couldn't love this one. It was slow, and the FMC got somewhat on my nerves.

What am amazing cute romance book about a teenager trying to figure out what it means to love someone. I loved every page of this book. The first chapter was a bit rough but it was smooth sailing from there. I want to punch Josh, and I’m falling in love with Ash myself! Lots of classics references. I loved this book!!!

I will be withholding my review due to the St. Martins press marketing boycott. Sadly, because I would love to go on and on about this book.

As you are likely aware, there is an active boycott of your publishing house due to the failure of St. Martin’s Press to ensure the safety of their Arab, Muslim, and Palestinian influencers. Over 7,500 influencers to date have signed the petition demanding that St. Martin’s Press meet the incredibly reasonable demands below.
Address and denounce the Islamophobia/racism from their employee.
Offer tangible steps for how they're going to mitigate the harm this employee caused.
Address how, moving forward, they will support and protect their Palestinian, Muslim, and Arab readers, influencers, and authors in addition to their BIPOC readers, influencers, and authors.

If and when the issues are addressed I will update my review here and on my goodreads page.

I really enjoyed this book. I read Serena Kaylor's debut novel and it was cute, but this one was even better. I loved the characters, they were very realistic and relatable for young adults, both as individuals and in their interactions with each other. I loved that Ash introduced her to a variety of romance novels and then this helped her connect with her mom as well. I also loved thinking back to my own first romance novel (Jude Deveraux The Summerhouse). Great character growth as well. Overall great YA book.

Before I get into the review, thank you to both NetGalley and the publishers over at Wednesday Books for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Calculation of You and Me follows Marlowe Meadows whose recent breakup has really gotten to her. After being told that "some people aren't built for love", she decides that the moody singer/song writer Ashton Hayes she's been paired up with for an English project would be the perfect person to teach her about the emotions she struggles to connect with and express. If Ash will agree to help her write some love notes to her ex, she'll help his band go viral. But as a semester filled with love notes, romance novels, and late nights with a boy she can't define goes on Marlowe starts to wonder if there's actually a solution for love. The Calculation of You and Me comes out on June 18th and is available for preorder now.

This was such a fun read for me. I've read from this author before and enjoyed her book then, but reading this one gave me so many fuzzy feelings that I've been longing for in a romance. There was just something about Ashton and Marlowe that made me feel so connected to them. I felt like Marlowe was relatable despite the fact that she's on the autism spectrum and I'm not. There's one particular line when she's comparing herself to her sister and it just hit me like a punch to the gut. I love Ashton because he's a realistic teenage boy, but there's also such contrasting aspects to his personality. Ash loves to read a decent amount of Romance novels, but he's also in a rock band with his rocker buddies. The aspects that make this one of the best YA Romance novels that I've read are the things that make this story so real for me: Ash messes up when trying to understand Marlowe and her autism but he's trying, Marlowe comes to her senses about her ex on her own and not because Ash is bringing him up over and over, Ash being hurt by Marlowe's choices and shutting down about it instead of creating conflict. The sweet moments hit me in the feels so hard and I was rooting for them from like page 10 (I don't even think we meet Ash by then, but you get my point). I was never not here for it.

I wish I had gotten more from certain aspects of the story. (This isn't a new thing for me, I always want more from stories I enjoy.) I would have loved to see more of the town (especially around the holiday based stuff that was happening during the story). I would have loved to gotten to know all of the band mates and best friends more. If we had all of the things I would have loved to see more of, this would easily have been a 450 page Romance novel, and who the heck would read that? Me, but besides me. I also felt like the ending came about too quickly. We were hanging on the edge of an emotional precipice and when the resolution came it wasn't there long enough to fully recover. But that could just be the whole thing where I can't get enough of good stories.

Overall, this is such a good and fun Romance novel. I love the couple, I love the way that real life hard issues are handled, and I love the humanity and reality that come through the pages.

I don't typically like high school romances but this one was just so endearing and honest, it's impossible to not fall in love with this story.

The Calculation of You and Me follows Marlowe, an autistic senior in high school. Over the summer Marlowe's All-American pretty boy boyfriend dumped her for not being romantic enough. Wanting to prove to him that she can be romantic Marlowe convinces resident goth boy and her group project partner, Ash, to give her lessons in romance. Along the way Marlowe realizes that maybe some relationships aren't worth fighting for.

I loved how authentic this story read. It really does lean into those feelings of new/young love but also those really hard feelings of first heartbreak. The whole cast of characters are so lovely with special attention on Marlowe and Ash. The slow build of their relationship was paced incredibly well.

The Calculation of You and Me is a cute YA romance with hilarious and supportive friends, Taylor Swift references, and a love interest who knows a thing or two about romance books.

When Marlowe Meadows is dumped by golden boy Josh for not being romantic enough, she refuses to sit back and do nothing. Enter Ashton Hayes, the prickly goth boy who could be the answer to Marlowe’s romance problems. In exchange for a band website and social media glow up, Marlowe proposes that Ash can teach her how to write love letters and be the romantic girlfriend Josh wants.

I can easily picture this book being the one to reach for after a first breakup or to cheer up after a bad day. I lost track of the number of times Odette made me laugh out loud! I loved the moments with her and Poppy because it reminded me so much of my own two best friends (the ones who have been by my side for the good and the bad since middle school!). But also, I think this book really looked at healing from a breakup and the difficulties of change. Looking in from the outside, it's easy to see that Marlowe deserves so much better than what she thinks is right for her. Being the one to live through the emotions and uncertainty that comes with a breakup, however, is completely different, and I think this book handles it well. I really wanted to jump into the story and give Marlowe a hug!

Note: Songs were constantly popping into my head while I was reading, so I thought I would put together a playlist! Here's the link: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4YuU8HVHLDpTfj5LN0i14N?si=874f1e4acd6148e6

I had such high hopes for this book. I liked the last book by this author so I couldn’t wait to read this one. It just didn’t hit the same as the last one. This character is stuck on an ex she has no chemistry with and decides to recruit another guy to help get him back. problem is she doesn’t have chemistry with the new guy either. I also didn’t really understand why she believed he knew anything about love. There plan was a stretch and seemed kind of immature for two high school seniors. The side characters also lacked depth except for the connection with her mom which was sweet. This story was just so so. Check it out if you really like cute, YA romances.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

This book was very cute and I enjoyed the development of the romance. The characters were dynamic, and Marlow's character development was amazing. Overall a pretty good book!

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for the eARC!

The Calculation of You and Me, by Serena Kaylor, is a fun young adult romance that's the perfect fit for a beach day. The characters in this novel will keep you smiling as you navigate through their lives. The characters are diverse, yet work well together, as it should be! I hope we see more of these guys in future novels!
Thanks, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with the ARC ebook I read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.

"The Calculation of You and Me" by Serena Taylor is a book that, while aimed at a YA audience, feels a bit more juvenile than I expected. This isn't necessarily a flaw- it reflects a difference in target audience expectations. While the book didn't resonate with me as strongly as I had hoped, I can see its appeal for early teens, making it a great addition to classroom libraries. The lack of any mature content makes it especially suitable for younger readers.

One aspect I truly appreciated was the autistic representation. Serena Taylor did an admirable job in portraying the protagonist's experiences with authenticity and sensitivity. This kind of representation is crucial, and it's refreshing to see it handled well in YA literature.

Overall, while "The Calculation of You and Me" may not have been entirely to my taste, it has its merits and would likely be a hit with a younger audience. Its themes and characters are relatable and important, making it a worthy read for early teens.

Thank you so much Serena Kaylor, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for the eARC copy of The Calculation of You and Me. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ahh! The Calculation of You and Me is so good! Seriously, how could you possibly pass on a clean YA romance with prominent themes from classics like Wuthering Heights and Cyrano de Bergerac?!?! I simply HAD to request this title and I’m so glad I did. 🥳

The Calculation of You and Me follows FMC, Marlow Meadows, as she tries to navigate a difficult break up with her longtime boyfriend, Josh. I loved reading about the emotional grown Marlow experienced as she learned more about herself and embraced her own self-worth.

I also couldn’t get enough of the representation you’ll find in this book! Neurodivergence, the ACE spectrum, gender identity, and sexual orientation are all positively woven into the plot. It was so refreshing to see groups that have historically experienced underrepresentation in YA novels front and center.

The Calculation of You and Me, at its heart, is about asking yourself what you really want instead of settling for what you know. It’s about building strong, healthy relationships with your family and friends. It’s about accepting others for who they are without judging. Honestly, I really think the world needs more books like this. 🫶

In the pages, you will find:
❤️ Clean ya romance (kissing, off page s3x references)
📚 Discussions about classic novels
🎶 Metal garage bands
📖 An adorable romance book store
🤝 Strong friendships
💌 Letters from a secret admirer
🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Healthy family relationships
🧠 Neurodivergent representation
❓Asking yourself the hard questions
👏 A great YA read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5

For 2 years Marlowe and Josh were dating. Marlowe finally felt like she was part of the "normal" crowd, then out of the blue, Josh decides they are breaking up. Once Marlowe finds out why she was dumped, she enlists the help of the mysterious Ash to make her more romantic.

The "teach me to be better at romance" trope is one of my favorites and it does not disappoint here. We have jealousy, misunderstood feelings, and practice dates to move the plot along.

Marlowe has autism. While I do have family members on the spectrum I do not know enough in-depth information to say if she was written well for someone with autism. What I could relate to was how Marlowe felt anxious in social situations and how she felt she wasn't like the "normal" students.

Overall I had a fun time reading this book. The characters were adorable and the plot was interesting. I recommend if you're looking for a cute, fun, quirky read.

The Calculation of You and Me is a wonderful YA romance between two very special people. The story is sweet but also has a depth that made me feel invested in our two main characters' lives. Marlowe is neurodivergent and the author's representation of autism was pitch-perfect. I felt that while honoring that part of Marlowe, the author made sure her personality was not solely about it. Ashton is a wonderful balance for her. He is kind and supportive. I enjoyed their interactions as well as those with the secondary characters. It made for a well-rounded story. This YA romance highlighted the importance of not just finding yourself, but also valuing yourself.

Thank you Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

I'm going to go ahead and give this book a solid 3.5

Starting off with how hard it was for me to get into this at first - I must've started this book atleast 3 times, the beginning just wasn't giving, couldn't grasp my attention literally at all.

I wish our main girl here thought more about herself and what she was feeling, not what everyone else expects of her or what they wanted from her. Taking the phrase "What does Marlowe want" to a whole different level. I feel like the whole story she was chasing the guy and what he wanted from her instead of doing things for herself.

I also wish the storyline between Marlowe and Ash was developed a bit differently, I feel like he was trying to make her see his feelings and she just brushed it off, didn't notice it etc and then when they finally got together it was like the last chapter was all we got of them and their happy ever after..

I will say - the story was an easy read, fast paced but not in a bad way. It had me hooked in a weird way where I wasn't heavily invested but I still wanted to pick up the book and find out what happens next, loved the representation and the different family dynamics.

overall - I wasn't obsessed with the book but it was a good and quick YA read, the format was super easy, I loved the short chapters but also how much we got in one chapter was great. The pacing of this book was overall really good.

Goodreads review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6300516413