Thank You to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, NetGalley, and the author for allowing me to have an ARC of Love in 280 Characters or Less. I enjoyed this book so much. This book was the perfect balance of fun and serious which is really how college is for most young adults. I enjoyed the realness that I felt when reading about Syd. This to me is a coming of age story done well that is relatable to adults (especially millennials) and older teens alike.

10/10 Recommend!!!!

his was a simultaneously fun and deep coming of age read! It really captures the essence of being a young women in your first year of college with themes of friendship, love, society and activism, and finding and honing in on your passion.

The format of blog posts, texts, and tweets makes this such an enjoyable journey. I think Ravynn has a great voice in her writing and I would love to learn more about what happens next for Sydney! More books like this please!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for this ARC!

First off, thank you to the editor and Feiwel and Friends for sending me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

I love a good coming of age story, and this book did not disappoint. Syd is navigating her first year of college, and I think it’s great writing books set during this time since it’s hard to know what to expect, and readers at this age can feel very seen! I was a commuter student, so I don’t know what it’s like to dorm, but there were things that felt familiar: unsure when it comes to making friends and figuring out what you want to do. It’s a very confusing time, but it’s also a time that allows for growth and learning more about yourself. Also, Ravynn K. Stringfield shows the realities of being a Black college student and what they have to deal with from these administrations. With the events that occur also come conversations and inward reflection of what makes a person an activist, activism in social media spaces and more. This is something that everyone should read and learn more about.

I really enjoyed the multimedia format of the book! I think it would’ve been even cooler to have seen how it looked in a physical copy, but you can still enjoy it in ebook format. As someone who has spent a lot of time in online spaces, I really liked how Syd using the Internet as an outlet wasn’t something that was looked down upon. I also really enjoy Stringfield’s writing style! I loved her debut, Love Requires Chocolate, so I knew that I had to request this as soon as I saw it.

Syd’s passion for writing was inspiring, making me think about my own writing and how I want to present myself to the rest of the world through it. It’s clear that this is what she loves and what she’s meant to do. I love the conversations she had with her mentor and with her family regarding her future, and I love how we saw her explore what it is that she wanted. Many college students change their plans, whether it’s because they felt pressure from family, simply realized it wasn’t what they thought it was, and other reasons as well. It’s important for teens to know that it’s okay that they don’t have it all figured out and if they end up choosing a different path.

The love triangle that goes on also had me interested, and I think it fits very well with the coming-of-age feeling and figuring things out at that age. I think the synopsis makes the book come across like it’s going to be more romance-heavy, or maybe that was just me. But I read it more as Syd’s journey as she handles the newness of dorming college, figures out her path, makes friends and has new experiences, which also includes love, and documenting how she’s feeling. I also think this would be such a wonderful coming-of age series if it were to be adapted!

Overall, I had a great time reading this book! 4.5 rounded up to 5!

I really wanted to love this book. Really. The cover, the premise, the way that the story itself is told all really scratched an itch for me. The follow through, however, left a bit to be desired.

I'll just say it, and I'm sorry for it. I don't like Syd as the fmc in this book, and unfortunately started having these feelings about halfway through when her poor treatment of her peers turned out to be more than just happenstance, but her actual personality. As the story progresses there's a lot of back and forth and hypocritical statements made that really make the reader question the character development up until that point. (Claiming that PrinceX was a mere Twitter crush, then to turn around and say that she'd fallen in love with him, but then somehow we're heartbroken over the relationship you cheated on? Make it make sense, PLEASE.)

The attention brought to the Black experience in this fucked up country, however, was the shining point in the novel for me and its redeeming quality. I'm glad Syd was able to have that reality check that yes, everything is political. We all have a part to play in making the world a better place. I do think this plot arc could've been introduced a bit earlier into the story so there could've been more attention placed on it and her growth from it.

As for who she picks in the end...... I'm sitting here wondering why and how she is even in a situation to be picking either of them? Hello? She was emotionally involved with someone else and lied to him about it, but we're saying I love you a couple of chapters later. I wish we could have seen more of how we actually got to that point, and how that forgiveness really came to be, because c'mon.

Honestly, I feel like this book needed just a little bit more love and attention with continuity and character development and it'd be a killer coming of age story.

Thank you a million to netgalley and the publishers for a copy of this book.

Ravynn has said that this book was the book of her heart and oh how that shines through every word. If I had Love in 280 my first year of college I think I would have been a different student. Young people, especially those with marginalized identities are being told who to be and how to be at every turn during those first years out of high school and they are seldom encouraged to sit with themselves and who *they* want to be. If I had the capacity to tell 18 year old Keara: who do you *want* to be, not who do you think *they* want you to be, I probably would've made a lot more waves, found a lot more community, and probably ended up where I am, but much much sooner.

Love in 280 Characters or Less is not the typical coming-of-age love story, it's a book about how storytellers and art are necessary for movements, you cannot have one without the other. How we (society) place an inordinate amount of expectations on young people, especially young Black people to have a perfect voice or comment or opinion straight out the gate. Folks, especially young ones, need to have the space to find themselves and their voices and Love in 280 helped remind me of that.

The internet is such a special place for community building. I found my people on the internet and it's because of them that I found the courage to translate that to my offline spaces. So yeah, go read Love in 280 Characters or Less and remind yourself why you put out the art, the words, the presence that you do.

Thanks Feiwel & Friends for my e-arc!

Obviously the author is a talented writer but this was not the book for me. The format fell flat and I couldn’t connect with the MC very much. There was some thoughtful writing about her relationship with her sister, but otherwise I only rarely felt invested in the character development or plot.

I loved this book! The main character, Syd, navigates her first year of college the only way she knows how; by writing. We read the book through social media posts, emails, blog posts, and texts with her family/friends. This was such a refreshing and creative way to tell a story and reminds us that there is more than one way to be a writer.
Syd figures out how hard it is to know your place in the world, especially when everyone seems fine telling you what that is for you. She uses her writing to soul search and explore what writing means to her and how she from use that to create a life she loves.
This book comes off as a refreshing and fun read, but it also sneaky hits really important issues like politics in writing, the role of online media, mental health, police brutality, and coming-of-age in the digital world.

This book was AMAZING. I felt for the main character especially as someone who recently graduated college. It’s such a unique concept for a book and it was beautifully written.

This is an easy 4/5 stars. Was it the best book I've ever read? No. The relationships moved too quickly and I didn't feel really connected to any of the characters. It just wasn't amazing. Nothing about it stood out. However. This book was still a good, quick, easy read that really shows what it is like to be a young adult navigating college, young relationships, the internet, and just life in this world and because of that, it made it a good read. A good palate cleanser. It was easy to be able to connect to the book and feel like I was in some place of both reality and book world. The best of both parts. Definitely geared way more to YA though. I would absolutely recommend to YA readers!

Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc!
This book was mainly told through blog posts, texts, emails and tweets and it was so fun to read that style! This story follows a young black girl named Sydney and her navigation through life and her freshman year of college. While this is a romance it touched on much deeper topics it still felt very on brand to how a young college student would feel and all of the ups and downs that they can experience in today's world. This book navigates friendships, family and relationships and digital media in such a realistic way that was refreshing to read. Syd seemed a little immature to me in the way she handled her conflicts with her friends, and there was a lot of talk of fashion writing but then it just kind of went away. Overall, I enjoyed this book.

This book isn't bad at all I think it's just not for me. I thought I would be okay with the formatting but it made it feel disconjointed. I think I got to know Syd but not really any of the other characters. Also the I love you at the end made no sense and came out of no where. I did really like the activist part of it though and how it showed Syd that she really could write and have it mean something.

I received an arc through netgalley.

Overall this was a very well rounded read! I love the era of entering school and not knowing where your actual major will lie. I loved this FMC and how she felt connected. I also loved the usage of blogging, twitter, having a support system, and the important topics that were discussed at hand. The arrest of the individual at a university was a jarring point but one that was entirely necessary for the narrative. The twist of who "X" actually was also drew me in, though a little predictable once a clue dropped several times.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for honest feedback.

This was an interesting and unique read—told entirely through blog posts, tweets, emails, and texts. That structure made for a fast-paced experience, but it also took a minute to find its rhythm. Early on, there’s a confusing moment where we’re jumping back and forth in time on the same day with no clear reason, but once that settles, the timeline stays pretty linear.

I’ll start by saying this book made me nostalgic for my own college days. While I can’t speak to the Black experience the way Sydney does, I did relate to the process of coming into your own identity during that time. But enough about me.

Sydney is starting her freshman year of college, feeling a little untethered. Her best friend, Malcom, is off at a different school, and though Sydney loves writing and fashion, she’s not naturally drawn to the college party scene. Still, she’s determined to try new things. She makes new friends, connects with a great mentor (who’s also her TA), and starts a new relationship with a fellow student named Xavier—all while chronicling her experiences on her blog. Then, one day, a mysterious (but refreshingly non-creepy) Twitter handle slides into her DMs, and she’s left wondering… could it be Xavier?

This book touches on everything you’d expect from a freshman-year story—friendships, first loves, figuring out who you are—but it also dives deeper. Sydney ends up unintentionally at the center of a larger campus conversation around race and activism after she writes a blog post about an incident involving Malcom’s roommate. She never meant to be political; she was just speaking her mind. But when the post goes viral, she finds herself asking: Does being a Black writer with an audience mean she has to be an activist, too?

I really appreciated the way the book explored that tension. Again, I can’t speak to the experience firsthand, but the questions Sydney raises—about identity, responsibility, and choice—felt thoughtful and timely.

That said, there were a few moments that left me puzzled. Maybe it’s the nature of the storytelling format, but sometimes it felt like we’d skipped a beat. For instance, Sydney asks the mysterious Twitter user to show her his artwork—but we haven’t seen any indication up to that point that he’s an artist. She also calls Xavier a genius well before we’ve seen any real evidence to support that. It’s only later we learn he’s on a scholarship, which helps, but I would’ve liked a little more development leading up to those moments. Still, I pretty much fell for Xavier the minute he bought Sydney comic books. Same, girl. I was also a latecomer to the comic world, but a proud nerd now.

One small moment that made me pause was when Sydney refers to herself as queer in a blog post. I actually had to reread it to figure out if she was quoting someone else or speaking about herself—it was that unclear. If it was a reference to her own identity, it’s mentioned and then forgotten in the same breath. It didn’t necessarily need to become a major plot point, but I would’ve appreciated a bit more reflection or clarity.

And finally, the ending - or near ending. I’m torn. I won’t spoil anything, but I was a little surprised by who Sydney ended up with. That said, while I probably would’ve been happy either way, I do think she made the right choice. As for the mysterious Twitter handle? Let’s just say… I saw that reveal coming.

Overall, Love in 280 Characters or Less was a fresh, thoughtful read. The format might not be for everyone, but it worked for me, and Sydney’s voice kept me engaged the whole way through.

This was a quick story about a girl's first semester away at college as she navigates everything that comes with it. Sydney has a passion for writing and that comes through in that this book is told through her blog posts and tweets. We really get a sense of her voice that way, along with her tweets and text messages. She struggles with the usual first year of college things: choosing her own path and not her parents', falling in love, making new friends and keeping old ones, and even a viral moment online that makes her the voice of a movement. I flew through this book and would recommend it for those in this stage of life:)

Stringfield does it again! Firstly, Thank you so much to NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and Feiwel & Friends for this early advance reader copy!! I literally inhaled this book in 48 hours. Love in 280 Characters are Less is a beautiful ode to the chronically online girlies and Black girls trying to find their footing as a freshman in college! As someone who struggled like a baby giraffe trying to walk for the first time as a freshmen in college, I definitely understand Syd's struggles. I feel like this really was more of a coming of age story, with a sprinkle of love and romance. So many coming of age stories focus on romantic partnerships, however, Love in 280 had love in all of its beautiful forms: platonic, familial, political, and online.

One sentence summary: Sydney Ciara embarks on her first year of college and she attempts to figure out exactly who she is, survive parental pressures, fall in love both IRL and on the internet, and decide on the path she wants to walk for her life.

This story is told entirely in online/text formats - which is absolutely executed beautifully! It reminds me of a book I read as a middle schooler that was entirely AIM Texts. Between Syd's tweets, blog posts, emails, text messages, and more, we really get a glimpse into a young Black woman's experience and we get to watch her crash out & grow. I feel like I am still mad at all the main characters, but that's just because that prefrontal cortex was not online at all! Malcolm, Xavier, and Syd all that to develop immediately! But that's what college is all about right? Finding yourself - flaws and all. My only critique is that I wish we could continue to follow Syd for her entire college experience! She's so adorable to watch figure out her life! 5 stars - I cannot wait to see what Dr. Stringfield writes next!

When I'm reading a college-based story, I always love when the details feel like actual, real life college. And this went above and beyond in that regard. I loved the way the story was told through Sydney Ciara's various social media/communication channels. I particularly loved the private and public blog entries, so you really got to see both sides of her and learn her feelings, as well as the image she was sharing with others. I also loved the detail with which Sydney Ciara's looks were explained - It was like Claudia Kishi of the Babysitters Club, and I loved those vivid descriptions. This was a fun college read that also had some real feels. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the look at this April 2025 release.

In this book, we follow Sydney, an 18 year old girl who is starting her first year in college. This book is read through her tweets, blogs, and text messages. We follow Sydney along her journey of college jitters, self-discovery, friendship, love, and even political activism.

Going into this book, I was expecting a cute YA romcom but this book was so much more. This book dealt with some pretty relatable topics, including racism and what it means to be black in America. I liked how we got to see Sydney’s growth throughout the book and I felt like most of what she would write about or experience was extremely relatable. I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend.

4.7 ⭐️

I really enjoyed the writing and format of this book.
Sydney is such a relatable character. She’s just starting college and has to navigate making friends and new classes without her best friend, Malcolm.
Speaking of Malcolm, I loved her friendship with him. There’s an incident in the book with him and I’m so glad their friendship survived it.
I also loved the relationships Sydney had with her family, especially her sister.
I loved Sydney’s journey and seeing her growth at the end of the book. The published posts and her private posts were my fav parts. I thought the way the writer formatted this book was so clever.
The little romance in this was cute and I’m glad she ended up with who I wanted !

Overall this was such a good read and I think every young person should read this!

This was an interesting book. Sydney is trying to figure out where she fits in a new world with the people around her. From going to having a super close friend to trying to navigate the entirely new world of college Sydney turns to her writing and friends to help her figure out what she is doing. College can be difficult in the best of times. Luckily for Sydney she connects with a young man through social media, but when her real life and the relationships she is creating online merge will she be able to navigate another change. I think this book is extremely realistic on the many issues young people face when going off to college and will resonate with a lot of readers.
Thank you to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

Wow, just wow. What I assumed would be a typical New Adult book with some college antics turned out to be so much more. Not only did Ms. Stringfield deliver a book with that, but with heart, and deep emotions. When finishing this book I wanted to be a better writer, and someone who made a difference in what she cared about. This book is also a testament of how black Americans are treated by the color of their skin and not by their traits as a human being. This book was exceptionally written, with an ending I didn’t call, though I did call one aspect of it. (You’ll have to read to see if you see what I saw!)