Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I love a book written in multiple formats!! This book had that — tweets, emails, texts, blogs. It was so fun! But it also felt a little confusing at times to follow because of its formatting. At times I couldn’t completely follow along and had to determine if it was a private blog post, public, etc etc. I felt like it improved a bit in the end and I’m hopeful this won’t be the same when it’s printed!

The first 60% of this book felt a bit slow and underdeveloped. The story really picked up in the second half, however, that point I did feel a bit disengaged.. there is a lot of good stuff in the second half but since the first half dragged on so much, I felt like I just wanted the book to end.

I really liked the way the story was told through blog posts! It added an extra layer of fun that would have been different if it was told in a different way. I also liked how it followed Syd's first year of college, as I am currently a college student going through these same things. Something I didn't like was who Syd ended up with, just because I was biased towards one of the guys. Other than that, it was a really good book!

I loved everything about this story! The representation, the coming of age feel to the story, the uniqueness behind the blog entries that Sydney creates. I appreciated the thoughtfulness about what it is like to be a black girl in her season of self discovery for the first true time when she is out on her own. Thank you to the publishers and the authors for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My initial end of book thoughts is that I am thoroughly impressed. I loved the format selection of having us (the reader) follow the FMC's digital presents while following her story as a new college student. The plot was intriguing and I actually managed to be caught off guard when I thought things were painfully obvious. I will read more from this author.

- LOVE IN 280 CHARACTERS OR LESS is a lovely coming of age in the digital age novel. I loved Syd and identified deeply with how she was torn between following her dreams and doing what was expected of her.
- Without spoiling anything, I did find the love triangle piece of the story a little silly, as it was pretty easy to see what was going on. There are are a few things that felt like disconnects for me: Syd complains repeatedly of not being able to make friends while multiple people are actively making her their friend. Something happens to Malcolm’s roommate Jay, who Syd has met, and she barely acknowledges that it happened to Jay and instead fixates on how it could have happened to Malcolm.
- Regardless, I still enjoyed this book and hope to read more by Stringfield in the future.

Thank you, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley, for this E-ARC!

Things this book made me feel against my will: nostalgia, sadness, motivation, like I need to get off my ass and get back to writing those books. It wasn’t even a direct hit; simply experiencing Syd navigating her new space and life at college took me back to those days and sparked that fire in my chest. A lot of what she felt was how I did at the time, and some of those feelings are still the same. Being in Syd’s head was fun; she’s funny, headstrong, a little awkward, and has so much care for her people. I love how relationships were portrayed, and I think a lot of readers will find pieces of themselves reflected in these characters. This book was a mirror of life and everyday activity, from the mundane to sudden swerves that’ll force readers to the edge of their seats.

I’m not sure if this was the arc, but the formatting took me out of the story. As much as I loved following Syd on this journey, I wasn’t fully immersed in the story because it was told through journal entries, social media posts, comments, messages, etc. There was a thick glass wall between me and this story that I didn’t like at all. As someone who has a vivid imagination, instead of being a bystander, I mostly saw Syd sitting at her computer writing all of these events. I hope that makes sense. There weren’t any in-person scenes where I saw her interacting with other people and the world; she told me about everything. And I don’t like the internet enough to enjoy this form of storytelling. I would’ve loved to see her at Thanksgiving with her family, on that first date, her interactions with her sister and best friend, etc. Like I said, it might’ve been the arc format and not the whole story, but I had a hard time connecting fully because of that separation, and it felt like I was missing chunks of a full picture.

Overall, this was great and something I’d read again if the published version is full and more dynamic. I think this is a great story for anyone (bonus for writers), but mostly college students or people who’re going to college for the first time.

The plot lines and characters felt underdeveloped and I found myself struggling to connect with the fmc.

The only reason I didn’t DNF this book is because it was so short. However, I would have much preferred a longer book that took more time developing the plot line and creating a relationship between the reader and the characters.

Of relationships mean so much to you (allegedly), why are you so quick to burn bridges. It feels like rather than working through any of her issues, Syd Ciara just packs her emotional bags and runs away. I would her like if at least once she reflected on how her own actions had consequences and stopped blaming everybody else.

Further to that point, there are several scenes within this book that should have felt more emotional. For example, when the fmc finds herself losing friendships left and right, she mentions being heartbroken but the reader never gets to feel that heartbreak. Perhaps this could have been achieved with deeper character development, but it feels like all of the pivotal plot points were brushed off and left feeling unremarkable. On the flip side, the writing for the happy moments are done beautifully and I even found myself smiling along at some scenes.

I also adored the storytelling style of this book. The entire story being told in the form of texts, tweets, blog posts, and emails was unlike anything I have read thus far. I think this style also fits in perfectly with who Syd Ciara is, a chronically online romantic.

This book was beautifully chaotic in the best way. The love, the banter—absolutely swoon-worthy and so much fun. I really enjoyed watching Syd navigate everything happening around her. I found myself relating to her at so many points—especially as a chronically online girl myself. Honestly, I might just start a little blog now because it sounds so peaceful and reflective!

I loved seeing how she processed it all and figured out how to move forward on her own terms. It was a quick read that kept me intrigued from start to finish, and I can definitely see myself rereading it. I’m even getting a copy for my baby who’s heading to college next year—this is that kind of book.

Big thanks to TBR & Beyond and Ravynn K. Stringfield for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

From the very first page, this book draws you into its world with engaging prose, well-developed characters, and a compelling narrative. The author's storytelling is confident and immersive, weaving together themes that resonate long after the final chapter.

I really enjoyed this journey the author took us on watching young adult Sydney trying to find herself and her place in life. The characters are very relatable and realistic. Brought me back to my college day's of trying to figure how to handle college life, classes, social groups and being in charge of your own life without any supervision. A true culture shock. The author's portrayal of Sydney's up's and down's was written so well and even gave guidance that students can use in real life. Like meditation, speaking to peers and utilizing mentorships. This story talked about love, relationships, activism and fashion that kept me glued to each page. Please grab yourself a copy Tuhday!!!!

Thank you @tbrandbeyondtours.com, @ravynnkamia & @Netgalley for my eArc in exchange for my honest review and opinion.

I ended up dnfing this book. I am a sucker for stories told in text or email format, there is so much about this book that makes me think I’m not the target audience. It’s hard for me to relate to the obsession with fashion, black culture references, and first year of college experiences.
The half that I did get through was fun, but it just didn’t hold my interest!

I really enjoyed Love in 280 Characters or Less. If I were in college, I'd definitely befriend Syd. This was a quick read because it kept me entertained. Witnessing her journey to college and throughout campus through tweets and texts was very relatable and refreshing.

It took me back to my college days even though we did not have twitter and Facebook was very new to the point it was only for college students then. I reflected on how it was to make friends in this massive little city within an even larger city. Syd navigated through finding herself, developing friendships, and societal pressures like I would expect any college freshman to do.

This was a great coming of age story and I would highly recommend this book for young adults and even us millennials. 😉

Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends, and NetGalley for a copy of this eArc in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! It’s a coming-of-age story about finding yourself in a new space while navigating the rest of your life.

As someone who recently felt like Sydney, it was nice to see my emotions for college within a character. The usage of social media was interesting and well-used, and it’s not something I typically enjoy. It was woven into the story really nicely and was timed perfectly. I think this is a good book to read whenever you’re struggling with finding yourself in a new space, like college. I’ve felt a lot of emotions that Sydney has when finding my place within college, and the book does really well with talking about that, especially when major events and unexpected things happen.

Thank you so much to Netgalley for the ARC!

Finding love via Twitter? Absolutely. This was such a cute and fun read! The way this story unfolded through tweets, DMs, and all the digital-age chaos made it feel so real and current. Syd the Kid stole my heart. No seriously, I think coming-of-age tropes might be my new jam because watching her grow and figure it out was everything. Every time I read a YA book, I can’t help but picture a young Morgs and just want to give her a big ol’ hug to calm all her anxiety about the unknown. Ugh! All the feels.

This was a cutesy read for me. Zi loved the interactions and the formatting of the book. Kinda like an in-verse read affect. th ending surprised me as that is not what I was expecting her to end up with. i recommend this one for the younger readers as it is a fun and fast paced and they will relate to the format.

Sydney is a black teen that’s a freshman that is figuring herself out her first semester in college. A coming of age story where she is trying to embrace her confidence although she feels unsure in her life making new friends, love & what she’s going to major in. Syd loves writing and fashion but her mother wants her to get a degree in law & Syd wrestles if that’s what she really wants to do or find out what she’s really passionate about. She balances her creative side more with how she dresses & using twitter as her diary for those that may enjoy her work. Her best friend Malcolm is at another school but they still try to remain close but things take a turn that may shake their entire foundation. I really enjoyed this book & found it refreshing to read & see all that Syd went through as a young woman finding her own path. Definitely cannot wait to explore more in this authors future work. Thankfully for the complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.

𝑩𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒃𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔, 𝒇𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒉𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒓.”

First thing first, I’m definitely snagging a physical copy of this book to add to my personal library. I am literally obsessed with the format of this book and the way the author shared this story in a series of text messages, tweets, and blog posts. As someone who grew up with a computer room, used blogger, scribbled everything down in notebooks, and has been chronically online since AOL days, this one was special. I loved everything about this story!

This story follows Sydney Ciara Warren as she navigates her first year of college which came with a nice dose of problems and experiences. I found Sydney’s character refreshing and I enjoyed watching her figure this thing called life out while remembering she was the one in control of her decisions, big or small. It definitely made me miss when things were as simple as deciding what classes to take. I thought this story touched on a range of topics that realistically depicted the ebb and flow of life as a new adult that many will find relatable. All in all, this was a great coming of age story that will transport readers back to this time in their lives (or give younger readers an idea of what they can look forward to if they haven’t reached young adulthood just yet).

P.S. I knew from the moment I read the dedication, I was going to love this one 💜

This book made my 90s baby heart so happy!
I loved that the book was written through blog and social media posts. Definitely took me back to the dear diary days!
I can’t talk too much about this book without giving anything away but just know it’s a must read! You won’t be disappointed!

Absolutely no surprise here, but I loved this book.

I adore Ravynn Stringfield’s debut, LRC, and while this is technically YA, this was so different and yet just as powerful. And maybe it was fate that I loved it so much—because the FMC’s middle name is my name, and we share the same first and last initials! 😭✨

The heart of this story is Syd’s college journey, and Ravynn goes beyond just the romantic love we expect in a romance book. She beautifully explores the scariness of growing up and being "alone" for the first time, navigating who you are vs who you (or your parents) thought you were supposed to be, building community, and redefining what love looks like in all its forms—platonic, familial, and self-love too.

Told through tweets, texts, emails, and blog posts, the format gave me early 2000s internet vibes in the best way. Back when Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter were our diaries and strangers online became our closest confidantes and biggest cheerleaders.

This book made me I laugh out loud (there's the line about being from D.C. that people from—or people who have lived in—the DMV will appreciate and laugh as soon as they hear it!) and sob like a baby...without giving too much away, the friendship blog post at the end hit me HARD. That reflection was relevant and timely for me now as a 30+ year old, and I deeply appreciated being able to empathize with what Syd was feeling.

I could yap on and on about all the things I loved about the book (DM me to discuss once you've finished the book), but I’ll wrap it up with this: Love in 280 Characters or Less is a quiet powerhouse of a story—authentic, funny, moving, and affirming.

It comes out TOMORROW 4/15 -- so PREORDER RIGHT NOW!

Thank you Netgalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and Libro.fm for the e-ARC & ALC!

ALSO: #TeamMalcolm, IYKYK 💛

Through a lens of digital privacy vs. public platform, Stringfield probes the murky line between online honesty and activism. Although Syd remains confident of her writing's value and meaning, she must learn to communicate that value to the important people in her life, all while navigating the mundane yet thrilling experiences of her first year of college independence. The engaging story of one young writer's journey to find her voice will connect with college students and high schoolers alike.