I absolutely adore this book and don't think I'll stop talking about it ever. This is a REAL romcom, THANK YOU! I just love and relate to this book and its characters so much. It's charming and funny. It never drags, but nothing feels too rushed either. Rochelle felt so real in her struggles for perfection and achievement, and I love that Amira was a rival but only because she didn't understand her. . Rochelle and Amira initially seeing their shortcomings in themselves when looking at each other but ultimately realizing that neither of them really see those shortcomings in each other was so sweet. I cannot express how much I love this book. I will end up saying the same thing a million times, a million ways. I cannot wait to see what else comes from this author, and I cannot wait to buy a copy of this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced reading copy of this book. I enjoyed this book in a fluffy way, but had hoped for slightly more depth. I laughed with the characters at the cleverness of each other, but the text did at times feel bogged down by how many references the author included. As a professor once told me about my own writing, it sometimes felt like I was showing off how clever I was. That's how I felt about the conversations between characters in this book. While I did enjoy it for the most part, I wanted more from the mystery and the characters. Fell a little flat for me.

As a Black bisexual woman, I loved how sweet this book was! I definitely related to Rochelle and her “logical” way of thinking about relationships and their impact on her future, but also felt like I learned something about managing school and personal relationships. Amira is also very relatable, with her still feeling vulnerable when she feels like she’s supposed to have all the right answers. Don’t even get me started on all their friends! What a fun group of characters that never get left out in the moment, which is more than you can say for some other books! I will say that the rivals-to-lovers aspect of this book burns away pretty quickly and abruptly, but it’s so much fun that I could barely knock this book for it at all. Overall, this book was amazing and I’m now yearning for these two in university!

Ok ahhh the writing in this? Very perfection 😭 the pacing and the banter and the found family and the mystery solving/saving the business were all so perfect, I think I've found one of my 2025 favorite books right on day 2 😭

The romance was so wholesome, ugh ❤️❤️

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

I liked the story and the relationship but got a little bored towards the end. The main characters were great and it was awesome to see two black female leads especially in a sapphic romance. I recommend

This was a very sweet YA romance. I loved the "Save Horizon" storyline coupled with the enemies to lovers troupe. This is a very cute book highlighting both POC and LGBTQ+ communities.

Movies aren't really Rochelle's thing, but anything that will bulk up her Wharton application—such as work experience—is absolutely her thing. When a position opens up at the local Black-owned cinema, she'll take it...even if it means working with her once-upon-a-friend, now her low-key nemesis.

Overall, this feels like a really solid debut. These are by and large likeable characters, both the main cast and the secondary characters (I enjoyed the twins' roles in particular), and it's nice to see Rochelle gradually loosen her death grip on All Academics, All the Time. There's also this nice moment: "Mentally, I reprimand myself for assuming their pronouns and make the switch in my brain" (loc. 604*). It's such a small thing, but it feels wonderfully realistic; I've read way too many books where the author tries to signal inclusivity by having the main character get all pronouns correct immediately, and it's much more realistic to see someone stumble and course-correct.

There's a small mystery baked into the plot, and I would have liked to see a bit more from it. I don't want to go into too much detail in a review, but the stakes felt lower than they should have been—I think I was expecting something to happen to the memorabilia, and there was sort of a dearth of suspects, limiting any whodunnit sense. I also would have liked to see some more specifics about the movies (and history) relevant to the cinema; I'm not any kind of film buff (at the time of writing it has been—if I remember correctly—almost a year and a half since I sat through a full movie; cannot ask my partner for a more exact date or he will suggest that we watch a movie) and know very little about any realms of film, including Black cinema, so it might have been nice to learn a bit more.

But: The romance is cute, the setting is interesting, and props to parents (fictional and real) who fundamentally just want their kids to be happy. A win in my book!

*Quotes are from an ARC and may not be final.

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.

This was a sweet YA read that I finished in only a couple of days. I'd recommend it for anyone who likes a little mystery mixed in with their romance, and YA lovers who wish there was more LGBTQIA+ representation than MM/FF stories.

Although the main characters were front and center in this novel, I really appreciated the effort the author put into all the other characters in the story, and I felt like I knew this community by the end. There was a delightful amount of representation of gender and sexual identities, even the oft-neglected aroace! I also really liked the background about the theater and felt like a lot of thought was put into bringing that space alive in the text.

SPOILERS BELOW

The only thing that made this a 4-star read for me, instead of 5-star, was that it was hard to tell what was the A plot versus the B plot. I read the blurb assuming the romance aspect was going to be the major arc, but that was resolved much more quickly and smoothly than I expected (3rd act breakup notwithstanding). The mystery about the Horizon mishaps took up more space in the second half of the book, even though the culprit seemed pretty obvious. I might not have been too disappointed that the mystery outshone the love story if the mystery had been a little more mysterious.

Thanks very much to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the chance to enjoy this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I’m a little conflicted in my thoughts for this book. It had a really good premise but I felt as though it under delivered in the mystery aspect. For the romance it felt like their story wasn’t fully fleshed out and they didn’t have much chemistry so it was a bit surprising that they got together that quickly. I think this reads a little more YA than I prefer so I unfortunately don’t think it’s for me.

If We Were a Movie is the perfect read for those who love witty banter and a plethora of endearing side characters. Though it took me a bit to warm up to Rochelle, I found her quite relatable by the end. I especially loved the evolution between her and her mother, though her and Amira were a close second of course. This young adult novel is a cute and funny read, I just wish the ending was a bit more fleshed out. It felt a little rushed to me and I would have loved to have seen more, but otherwise it's a nice and quick read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

If We Were a Movie by Zakiya N. Jamal is a sweet, YA sapphic contemporary romance with a diverse, queer cast of teens working at a movie theater over the summer. This is a quick-paced, witty, and wonderful novel in the vein of Morgan Matson and Heartstopper. I rate this book a 4.25 stars and highly recommend it to all!

I adored our main character, Rochelle from the very first page. Her voice is well-developed and witty, showing us exactly who she is; a driven perfectionist who works really hard but also desperately wants to make the people she looks up to (her mother) proud. She wants to get into UPenn’s Wharton, the same college her mother went to and where her parents met. Of course, it’s tough to get in so Rochelle needs a job to diversify her resume for the admissions board. Enter Horizon Cinema, a quirky and historic movie theater.

What I loved the most about this book is Rochelle and her frenemy Amira. They used to be friends, but in ninth grade, Rochelle pushed Amira away to focus on her schoolwork. Now, they’ll be in close quarters all summer working at the cinema. Rochelle is such a believable character. She is smart, but she still makes mistakes and she often sticks her foot in her mouth. She is endearing and awkward and even though she grows during the course of the novel, she never loses that driven side of her. I think the romance between her and Amira was believable and so adorably sweet. There is a tenderness to them that is so lovely to see. And while it is tame (they are teenagers after all) there is a passion between them that I like. I understood why they liked each other and they made each other better. I am also glad that the third act “breakup” isn’t really about them but more about Rochelle and her mother.

Speaking of, I also adored her relationship with her mother. In many YA novels, the parents are often absent or pushing very hard for things the protagonist doesn’t want or the protagonist is doing things to try to please that parent and gain their love and affection. While Rochelle is very much a people-pleaser, it’s so clear that her mother loves her desperately and they have a good relationship, even if there is a bit of tension around certain things. I loved the sense of community around Rochelle and the relationships she had with her other friends, Kerry and Taylor, and eventually the other employees of Horizon Cinema.

I think my only negative of the book is the way the end is resolved with the mystery B plot. It felt a little too easy and convenient to catch the saboteur and fix the financial problems with the cinema. However, because this is quite a small part of the plot, I’m mostly letting it go. This book’s main focus is Rochelle growing as a person and becoming close with Amira. I also wish some of the other side characters were fleshed out, but on the whole, I really enjoyed this.

Not too much drama or angst, the perfect amount of swoony sweet romance, and such a great depiction of a movie job! (I used to work for a movie rental store, which is different from a movie theater job, but it is similar enough that I loved it for the nostalgia!) The perfect summer read, even for adults who don’t tend to gravitate toward YA. (Aka, me!)

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to honestly review this ARC 📚

Absolutely adorable! This was a perfect balance between a sweet sapphic YA romance and a save-the-community-theater plot. I identified so much with Rochelle as a stressed-out perfectionist teenager desperately trying to get into her dream college and make her mom proud. (I wish I could say that I also identified with the rivals-to-friends-to-lovers romance, but I've unfortunately missed out on that experience.) The characters were all entertaining and likable, even the side ones, although I do think some (like Brigit and in particular Lisa, a couple of Rochelle's fellow theater employees) could've been developed more. There was ALMOST a third act breakup, but not really, and it led to a very touching mother-daughter scene. Everything about this novel just warmed the heart. Even the resolution of the theater sabotage conflict and the Scooby Doo-ish unmasking of the villain had me giggling. I just loved this.

Given this is a young adult romance book, I usually shy away from the genre and find it boring? I inhaled this one. I love this book so so much. What a work of art.

The banter is hilarious, I was rooting for the protagonist, and the actual work environment was made both entertaining and somehow anxiety inducing and page-turning at the same time? I found myself worried with the protagonist, palms sweating, at times, and giggling with them.

Romance lovers need to read this one. It's too good. Just be prepared to cancel all your plans first.

I received a free ARC copy from Net Galley. This is my honest opinion I am leaving voluntarily. Thank you for this treat!!

If We Were a Movie is a YA sapphic romance novel that follows Rochelle, our main character, who is set on getting into her dream university, and by chance her enemy ends up being the manager at the theater she got a job at.

I really liked our main character and her love interest. I felt that their relationship was realistic for teenagers and it wasn’t cringe-worthy like how many other teens are written. Unfortunately, the side characters did not feel fleshed out beyond the cliche trope they were assigned.

This book did an amazing job at being inclusive and is a perfect read for teen readers looking for a sapphic romance!

Rochelle “the Shell” Coleman is laser focused on only three things: becoming valedictorian, getting into Wharton, and, of course, taking down her annoyingly charismatic nemesis and only academic competition, Amira Rodriguez. However, despite her stellar grades, Rochelle’s college application is missing that extra special something: a job.

When Rochelle gets an opportunity to work at Horizon Cinemas, the beloved Black-owned movie theater, she begrudgingly jumps at the chance to boost her chances at getting into her dream school. There’s only one problem: Amira works there… and is also her boss.

Rochelle feels that working with Amira is its own kind of horror movie, but as the two begin working closely together, Rochelle starts to see Amira in a new light, one that may have her beginning to actually… like her?

I loved the dynamic between Rochelle and Amira. Competition is always one of my favorite things in books, and when two people competing for the same position at the head of their class clash and there are fireworks, count me in! The characters were relatable, which is always a plus, especially for younger audiences. This was such a cute read! 4⭐

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

BRB gonna go tell the daughter of my mother’s best friend that being friends with her would not be conducive to reaching my academic goals so she interprets this as us being mortal enemies, but what it really meant was that I am so deeply infatuated with her that I can’t even think straight when she’s near let alone do school work.

This book was so adorable and sweet. We follow Rochelle who is frantically searching for a summer job that will beef up her college application. When given the opportunity to work for the beloved black-owned movie theater Horizon Cinemas, she immediately accepts. However, it’s only after arriving for training that she learns her ultimate nemesis Amira will also be working there. And to make matters worse, as assistant manager Amira will be her boss all summer. When things start going wrong at the theater, and it seems like sabotage is afoot, Amira and Rochelle decide to put aside their differences to save Horizon. But the longer they work together, the more Rochelle begins to see Amira in a different light. And long dormant feelings begin to resurface.

I loved Rochelle as a character. She’s loyal, hyper-focused, and a bit judgmental. There are many instances where she makes harsh assumptions and is immediately humbled for it. Her flaws added a pleasant well-roundness to her character that made her relatable and also allowed for development. It was nice to see how despite being satisfied in her life and friendships, she was still able to make room for new connections. It’s nice to read about a character who feels very certain in who she is and what she wants out of life.

I really liked Amira as a love interest. I thought she pushed back against Rochelle in some really positive ways. She wasn’t afraid to call her out when she got too negative. She also challenged her perspectives and offered a more casual outlook. At times it did feel like she was a little less fleshed out than Rochelle. However, I think the conversation about her past struggles in school was a nice touch that added some roundness to her. I think Amira and Rochelle make a really great pair and are completely adorable together.

I loved the entire theater crew, as well as Taylor and Kerry. There were some very entertaining conversations that took place throughout the book that left me giggling. The entire sabotage plot was a little silly since Rochelle and you as the reader figure it out pretty quickly. But it wasn’t a main focus of the story anyways so it wasn’t that big of a deal. Glory was an interesting authority/adult figure and they also allowed Rochelle to expand her worldview in more ways.

Overall a very quick and cute romance that you will absolutely devour. Thank you for the NetGalley ARC!

A predictable yet still cute freniemies story. I really liked both Rochelle and Anna's characters, as well as the other characters in this book. . I found this to be a quick read and really fun. Definitely recommend.

Thank you for sharing this sweet sapphic romance with me! I was rooting for Rochelle and Amira and love a good enemies to lovers romance.

First off, I want to thank the publisher, HarperCollins Children’s Books, and NetGalley for sending me this e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

This book was very cute! Such a great coming-of-age/teen romance. While Rochelle did make mistakes, I could understand her desire to be successful and wanting to make her mom’s sacrifices worth it. The conversation between her and her mother near the end of the book is one of my favorite scenes, and it’s one that I think will resonate with many readers, but especially those who are also figuring out life after high school.

It was also great seeing Rochelle grow while also not losing who she is. While she was opening up her circle more and getting out of her shell (pun intended) while getting along better with Amira, she’s still someone who is very driven. But she also learned to own up to her mistakes, such as admitting the real reason as to why she distanced herself from Amira, which is something she originally couldn’t admit to herself. She also changed her view on Horizon Cinemas and what it takes to work there. It’s definitely not as easy as she thought it would be.

Rochelle and Amira’s development was very sweet! The two have hurt each other but still hold love for each other. I also love that they rekindled their friendship first. They went from rivals to reluctantly civil coworkers to friends to lovers. I think this is what helped them handle an issue that happens later on in a better way than where I thought it was headed. There were a lot of cute scenes between the two and it was fairly obvious to everyone how they felt about each other!

I’m also realizing how much I love a good workplace story! I really liked how close the theater crew got with each other and how much they cared about Horizon Cinemas. The mystery about who was behind all the weird incidents eventually became pretty evident, but I didn’t mind it. Also, I really liked Rochelle’s friends and how they became a part of the theater friend group!

I could definitely see this being adapted. It’d be a very cute coming-of-age/rom-com that I think many would enjoy! And I think many would enjoy the title (I listened to the song while writing this review).

Overall, 4 stars!

This book was really cute and I had a good time reading it.

This was a really strong debut novel and I can't wait to read more books from this author. The characters were well written. This book was a little predictable, but it was still a fun story. This book brought me back to my first job when I was in high school and all of the teenage drama that happened there. This book was so nostalgic for me (Even if I have never worked at a movie theater). I loved all of the side characters and all of their different budding relationships (IMO this was so accurate for a workplace with a bunch of teenagers).

I also loved the way this relationship developed. It felt very real. I would call this a slight dislike to lovers more than an enemies because Rochelle and Amira were never really enemies. I really liked them as a couple and how their relationship progressed was so nice to watch unfold.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harperteen for providing me with the advanced review copy.