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.

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.