Rochelle is desperate to get a job for the summer so that her application to college will look good. She is offered a job at a movie theater. When she gets there, she realizes her nemesis works there. Amira and Rochelle’s moms are best friends. The two girls played together when they were younger but grew apart after Amira’s family moved and they went to different schools. When they were back together in high school, Rochelle pushed Amira away and the animosity between them grew.

At her mother’s insistence, Rochelle tries to clear the air and make nice with Amira. Their friendship slowly recovers. But then, with the help of her two best friends, Rochelle realizes that she has a crush on Amira.

While all this is going on, the theater they work at is struggling. Also, there is someone trying to sabotage them. Now Amira and Rochelle, along with their coworkers, have to figure out how to save the theater and find out who is causing things to go haywire.

This was a cute YA sapphic romance. It made my heart warm reading it. There was a non-binary character and an aro/ace character.

I enjoyed this book a lot. Really glad I read it.

The "enemies to lovers" trope is at full force in IF WE WERE A MOVIE by Zakiya N. Jamal. The author does not try to be coy with it and the sparks between Rochelle and Amira ignite in their very first scene together. What makes this novel unique and more complex is its setting at Horizon Cinemas, "the beloved Black-owned movie theater." The history of this theater, the Broadway background of its new owners, and the dedicated staff trying to save the movie theater make this a compelling read beyond the romance.

This book was EVERYTHING!!! Truly this was the cutest book I have read all year. I am not typically a YA romance gal, but this sapphic, academic rivals to lovers story made my heart so happy!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

This book was SOOO cute! I love a little sapphic romance, and a Black one?? Right up my alley. I think YA romance readers will love this one, especially if you enjoy rivals to lovers and a bit of a slow burn.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was sweet, funny, and highly entertaining. I was not bored once while reading. The pace was quick and kept me interested, and the drama was just perfect. Having been a teenage girl at one point, I found this very realistic and I think the author captured the voice and inner dialogue of a teenage girl VERY well. I found Rochelle an engaging character, and I loved her different relationships with each of the other characters.

I really don’t have any critiques of this book, except maybe that there were a lot of characters to keep track of. But to me, that’s a minor thing. It’s definitely one of they favorite YA romances I’ve read, and I highly recommend if you are looking for a cute, fun summer romance! AMAZING debut from Zakiya N Jamal!

This book gave me pretty much exactly what I hoped it would. The characters absolutely made this book for me. I found Rochelle particularly relatable, in that way I often do with YA protagonists who take things So Seriously, and I once again wish I had this book when I was in high school. Her dynamic with Amira was lovely as well. While I expected a long dislike-to-dating arc (not my favorite, honestly), I was very pleasantly surprised by the way they were able to work together and let a friendship form, or rather re-form.

I also had a lot of fun with the writing style. I know a lot of people dislike too many references/memes in books, but I don't mind it, and I didn't find it distracting here.

If I had one criticism, I did feel like the resolution came on a little fast/easy in a way that probably would have been better suited to a movie. Another twenty pages would not have hurt, but again, I didn't mind it terribly because I had been having so much fun with everything else.

Overall, I thought this was a really fun debut, and I look forward to more from Zakiya N. Jamal.

Thanks to HarperCollins Children’s Books for sending me an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review! Happy publication week to this hilariously sweet ya sapphic romcom 🩷

3.75 ⭐️

🎞️ black sapphics
🩷childhood academic rivals to lovers
🎞️ wholesome queer representation
🩷found family, comedic banter
🎞️ diverse cast of characters

I buddy read this review copy with sea !ೃ ✿𓈒 📖

If We Were A Movie was so wholesome from start to finish. But I do have some valid criticisms, which I will start with. The author’s extreme attention to detail kind of ticked me off at some parts of the book (especially while describing literal clothing). I also kind of didn’t like the pop culture references (free me from Tiktok I beg), and Rochelle kind of irritated me at times especially with how much of a pessimist she is. Moreover, Amira didn’t feel like a fully-fleshed out character, considering she was the female love interest for Rochelle. I honestly felt that they weren’t given enough development individually and together. Some of the dialogue also felt extremely cringe but what are romcoms if not slightly criinge? (doesn’t always mean bad yall I promise)

Nevertheless, IWWAM is just one of those books that make you uncontrollably giggle because of the characters’ chemistry, as well as the comedic timing of the found family trope. The author also never lacked in the diversity department, especially in terms of having queer characters. As someone who identifies as aroace, it makes me happy to see myself represented in a romcom.

What made this book more important is how it highlights Black history and their contribution to theater. The whole concept of The Horizon and it’s founding was very enlightening to me. It was such a creative and radical way for the Black community to set themselves apart from white culture and of expressing resistance against segregation and racism in the US.

Overall, IWWAM is not only a book that features the pride of Black theater, but it also tells a story of queer identity and a splash of teenage drama.

rochelle is desperate for a summer job, sure it’s the only way to make her wharton application good enough to be accepted. when she receives an offer for a place she didn’t even apply, black-owned movie theater horizon cinemas, she decides to take the job. little does she know, her once friend, now nemesis, amira, works there…as assistant manager. the more she works with amira, though, the more she starts to realize that maybe she isn’t so bad, after all. working at horizon is more chaotic than rochelle anticipated, though, what with the constant mishaps and the slew of angry customers those bring.

as someone who was obsessed with hannah montana as a child, i was immediately drawn to this book thanks to its title! i was also drawn in by the promise of a sapphic rivals to coworkers to lovers story. i can gladly say i was not let down! this book was so fun from start to finish, though it had its heavier moments, such as the themes of grief and having high expectations for yourself. still, i thought this was a mostly lighthearted read that would be perfect for summertime. i loved how rochelle became such good friends with her coworkers while still keeping her two best friends in the loop. strong friendships in romance are so important to me! i also loved the romance between rochelle and amira. they used to be friends when they were really young, but amira changed schools and when she came back, rochelle had decided that they were rivals and couldn’t be friends again. i liked seeing how their relationship progressed as they worked together (not quite together since amira was technically her boss…). overall, this was a sweet YA rom-com. i can’t wait for whatever’s next from zakiya n. jamal!

This book was so good !!! It needs to be made into a movie. That's how it played out in my head as I read it. Like I was watching a teen movie on Netflix.
I smiled, I laughed, I was giddy with anticipation of what was coming next. This is such a cute sapphic romance. A MUST read if you love Ya

I'm a product of my generation and love it when a small business of quirky characters band together to save themselves. I also felt so nostalgic reading this because we also have a very old local theater that is basically run by one family and while they aren't quite as big and innovative as the theater in this story, it helped me picture the location and characters better.
Pros: Engaging characters, easy to follow storyline, cute friends-enemies-lovers romance with an absolutely clueless lead, well-developed background characters
Cons: Easily wrapped up plot and mystery but this is barely a con and, for a debut, I'm sure will be something that gets better with time. The meat is there and I look forward to Zakiya N. Jamal's future writing.

“That makes me laugh too, and then we’re both laughing—it’s stupid, because nothing about this is funny. Except maybe the fact that it took us so long to get here. Or that I ever thought being around Amira would push me off course. Being with her feels like I’ve landed exactly where I’m supposed to be.”

Rochelle has spent nearly all of her life with a one-track mind, dead set on graduating at the top of her class and attending the elite college Wharton. When her junior-year summer begins, Rochelle has done nearly everything to make herself a perfect candidate for the prestigious school, but is missing one key bit of experience: holding a job. So, when a position at the local black-owned theater, Horizon Cinemas, seemingly falls into her lap, she can’t pass up the opportunity. However, what seems like a sweet twist of fate soon sours when Rochelle learns on her first day that Amira, her childhood friend-turned-arch-nemesis, will be her manager for the summer. The two butt heads instantly, but as they spend more time together, Rochelle begins to seriously re-evaluate her perceptions of Amira. As their relationship develops, strange things keep happening at Horizon: a series of pranks that add extra costs to the theater, which is already struggling financially. Rochelle and her newfound friends and coworkers must unite to catch the mastermind behind the mysterious things affecting Horizon and save the theater.

If We Were a Movie is a refreshing and heartwarming YA book that combines elements of romance and mystery to create an engaging narrative that offers a powerful testament to the importance of community. While Rochelle was a compelling protagonist, what really drew me into the book was the diverse cast of characters found in her coworkers at Horizon. Something that Jamal did beautifully at the beginning of the novel was vividly capture the anxiety of a teenager about to face a monumental shift in their life (like going to college). Rochelle’s voice and fears felt very genuine and authentic, and it was both refreshing and validating to see these universal anxieties represented in Rochelle’s story. While I appreciated (and was pleasantly surprised by) the mystery element of If We Were a Movie, I felt as if the last 10% of the novel was incredibly action-packed in terms of both the romance and mystery storylines. This rapid pacing in the final pages of the book differed drastically from the medium pacing that defined the rest of the narrative, and I wished the major plot points were more evenly distributed. Despite this inconsistency in pacing, If We Were a Movie contains fun twists, exciting turns, and many touching moments.

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sadly I had to DNF this one at 16%.

The prose was just not working for me, so I could not get into the story.

If the premise sounds like something you might enjoy though, you should check it out.

Reading If We Were a Movie felt like cozying up with a favorite film—one of those feel-good indie romances with just enough emotional weight to make you pause and think, but also plenty of charm to leave you smiling. At the heart of the story is Rochelle Coleman, a perfectionist high school senior laser-focused on her Ivy League dreams. She’s the kind of character who feels instantly familiar: driven, thoughtful, maybe a little too hard on herself. When she takes a summer job at Horizon Cinema—a charming, historic Black-owned theater—she’s expecting popcorn and paychecks, not a reunion with her ex-friend Amira, who’s now her boss. Their dynamic is electric in that classic enemies-to-something-more way, but what really made it stand out to me was how tender and real their connection felt. Rochelle and Amira’s relationship is layered with the kind of history that makes every glance and awkward moment matter. Watching them navigate past misunderstandings, buried feelings, and new sparks was genuinely heartwarming. What I loved most, though, was how Jamal layered this love story with so much more—an exploration of queer identity, a deep love for Black culture, and a subtle but sweet coming-of-age journey. And the setting? Horizon Cinema felt like a character of its own. There’s something so magical about stories set in spaces filled with community and memory, and this theater had all of that in spades. The mystery subplot—some light prankster chaos threatening the theater—wasn’t the most compelling part of the book, but it served its purpose in keeping things moving. The real heart of the story is in the characters and their growth, both individually and together.

If you’re looking for a sweet, sapphic romance that celebrates friendship, self-discovery, and the kind of love that slowly sneaks up on you, If We Were a Movie is a solid pick. It’s soft, it’s joyful, and it doesn’t shy away from the complexities of identity, especially for young Black queer girls just trying to find their way.

What to Expect:
- enemies to loverds
- queer ya romance
- black romance
- black cat x golden retriever

It was the title and book cover that drew me in, but the story was good, as well! It felt nostalgic thinking about those summer days when school let out. Days were spent were twiddling around trying to figure out how the next school year will turn, worrying about college and making sure your application stands out - it was all the feels. Rochelle had a few goals that she was trying to reach, including finding a summer job and after countless rejections, an opportunity at the local movie theater, Horizon Cinemas, literally lands in front of her. However, accepting the role, meant Rochelle would have to work in close proximity to her enemy, Amira. The two had history - they were in constant battle with each other, as well. But frankly it seemed their issues stemmed from a longstanding crush and denial about feelings for each other. It was funny because everyone at the cinema could see the tension and admiration Rochelle and Amira had for each other- but them. The story was easy to read, not too heavy, and had its moments of humor. Together they worked to shine the spotlight on the history of Horizons Theater and reach a HEA. Great debut from this author.

First let’s just let me say that the black owned movie theater in the neighborhood was everything. Then to have all the legends on the wall in the theater I loved that so much. I kind of seen that ending coming with Rochelle and Amira, only bc their falling out was so random and weird. Over all this was a cute nice little read.

This was a great black upper YA Sapphic romance. Nice unique voice that made me laugh and swoon in equal measure. This is gor those girls who really don't know what they are doing with their lives. I related really hard to these girls in that way, especially when I was that age. Great representation and really enjoyed reading this one. Thanks Netgalley for an early arc.

This was so frickin’ adorable! It was such an amazingly written Young Adult Romance! It gave me just the right amount of blushes, heart-swoons and butterflies. I genuinely enjoyed reading about all the characters and “watching” the two main characters grow into love with each other. I LOVED reading this one; it was such a beautiful sapphic adventure. All the diverse representations showcased throughout the book also made my experience much more relatable, well. If you enjoy Friends to Enemies to Lovers/Childhood Rivals to Lovers and Found Family tropes, summertime romance, movie theaters, and LGBTQIA+ love this one is for you! It is out today; go grab this book!!

this! book! was! so! sweet! i mean cmon, a neighborhood movie theatre as the summer job setting? HOW FUN. what a perfect backdrop for all the chaotic teen moments and sweet first love energy. i needed movie snacks ASAP (buttered popcorn and a heath bar for me, please!).

i absolutely adored rochelle. she's the kind of character i felt instantly connected to. academic perfectionist? check. homebody? check. ride-or-die inner circle instead of a huge friend group? CHECK. i just loved her quiet strength and the way she just wanted to do things right, even when that made things complicated. the motivation behind her actions made complete sense, and i loved the discussion around it.

rochelle, amira, and the rest of the movie crew had such a fun dynamic. their friendship felt like instant found family, with all the banter and affection that comes with it. it’s rare for a cast to click so quickly and still feel genuine, but they totally pulled it off. i would LOVE some more stories with this friend group (zakiya, can we get a horizon cinemas #2, pleaaasseeeee)

as for rochelle and amira: adorable. this isn't the kind of romance that tries to be super emotionally intense or angsty, and honestly, i kind of loved that? it was sweet and awkward and so easy to root for. that said, i never fully got the original tension between them (but that's teenage emotions for you), but i’m very glad their conflict didn’t spiral into some overblown third act drama. nothing irks me more than an overdramatic third act conflict.

also, that scene between rochelle and her mom, if you've read this you know the one. yeah. i teared up, not gonna lie. their relationship added such a heartfelt layer to the story, and i appreciated how much care was put into showing their bond.

overall, this was a quick, fun, heartwarming read that i’d absolutely recommend to anyone who loves YA, summer stories, or just wants to spend a few hours smiling at ink on pages.

4.25!

This was a cute enemies to lovers forced proximity summer romance between two queer Black teens who try to save the local Black-owned movie theatre where they work. I liked this, it was entertaining, had fantastic diverse queer characters and was good on audio. Recommended for fans of authors like Jasmine Guillory, Leah Johnson or Elise Bryant. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

I absolutely loved reading this sapphic novel, it had so man cute elements mixed with mystery and fun.

A truly wonderful sapphic YA romcom that has easily become one of my favorite novels EVER!!!

The characters are so fleshed out and I love that we got so many of them. I think it fit the story really well, especially since they were in high school and it was summer/a summer job.

The little mystery aspect of it was fun, very low stakes while also being important. It was predictable but also not predictable because it was too predictable if that makes sense? I don’t know but I did enjoy that aspect.

The friendships in this were hilarious. I liked that we got Rochelle, Kerry and Taylor as like the main trio but as the story went on, there were more duos and such that developed and just the huge group all being friends was nice.

The romance between Rochelle and Amira was so cute. For a large part of this novel, Rochelle is sort of hating Amira, but it’s funny because she’s also thinking about her so much and absolutely hates that fact. When they finally get together, it’s just so wholesome.

I really enjoyed seeing all the representation in this, to a Black FMC, to a nonbinary boss, to Korean twins. We need more of that in traditional publishing and in the book world in general so I will always shout about that and say that I really loved that so we can get more books that represent us!!!!

I have a special place in my heart for debuts, and this one was no different. There was truly no part of this that I didn’t love.

It was hilarious while also being emotional and having complicated family dynamics/feelings. I also loved that everyone was trying to come together to save Horizon and everything it stood for. This just makes me want to work at a movie theater so bad!!!!

Thank you to the publishers for allowing me to read this early!