Disclaimer: I received this book at no cost from the publisher/author. I am leaving a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.

Kasie West has written some of my all-time favorite young adult romance books so I was so thrilled when I saw this book announced. Throw in that it revolves around football and also has a breathtaking cover? I was floored.

Kasie West has a writing style that is easy to connect with. Her stories flow smoothly and the pacing is just right. I fell right into this story from the very start. The plot of this book was very compelling. I was all-in with this revenge plot and was so compelled to know how it would turn out. I also loved the secondary story surrounding Finley's grandmother. It was adorable and so enchanting.

I loved the diverse cast of characters with unique personalities. Finley's character drove me up the wall at times with her decisions and behavior but I never disliked her character. She was still relatable. I enjoyed Theo's character but would have loved a deeper dive into his background and thought process. All of the secondary characters were delightful. I loved Finley's friend group and how supportive they were. There was so much character growth in this story and it was so glorious to see. Both main characters go through a transformation.

This romance was just so darn cute. It was so obvious that Theo had a thing for Finley from the start. They had the best banter and their chemistry was palpable. I loved how their romance was so organic and natural. Theo's grovel at the end of the book was pretty epic and it melted my heart a bit.

Overall, this is an adorable story full of betrayal, revenge, and personal growth. The main character goes on quite a personal journey in her quest for revenge and finds closure and love along the way. The secondary characters were a delight and the plot had me completely hooked. Pick this one up if you enjoy sweet young adult sports romance with compelling characters and a riveting premise.

Absolutely adorable high school romance! My daughter always raves about Kasie West books, so I decided to give one a try. I can definitely see why she enjoys them so much. The characters were lovable. The banter was great. The real-life high school problems were relatable for many students. I loved it.

Better than Revenge was a really cute YA romance novel with a unique and original idea. FMC Finley has always wanted to be a podcaster, but when she finds out her boyfriend tried out for the coveted spot on their school's podcast team on a whim and beat her to it using her own stolen idea, she immediately dumps him and starts training with football kicker Theo to take her ex's desired position on the football team.

For me, the best part of this book was the B-plot of Finley's grandma's stories. I loved how Finley's investment went beyond just practicing interviewing, how she was so genuinely interested in learning about her grandma's life and patient with her condition. It added such a fun layer to the story and makes everything so much more meaningful.

Of course, not to say that the main couple wasn't adorable. Theo and Finley have that classic Kasie West chemistry that has me hooked on anything she writes, and their dynamic was so much fun to read. The only thing that put me off a bit was the way their relationship developed so fast and kind of out of nowhere – In the first chapter before Finley's ex auditions for the podcast, she's still very much invested in him, and while I get that what he did was an absolute jerk move, it seems like it should have taken a little more time before someone like Finley would jump right into another relationship. It threw me off a bit, but I still think they're very cute together.

Finally, an honorable mention needs to go to Finley's personal character development. Her journey from her rage-fueled scheming at the start to gradually ending up in a place of realizing the importance of forgiving and doing things for the right reasons highlights her growth in a remarkable way, and made this story leave a good taste in my mouth at the end. I'm so proud of her.

I’m a sucker for Kasie West’s YA romance. They always give me all the warm and fuzzies and I love how her characters always have so much growth by the end of the story. Better Than Revenge did not disappoint.

Finley has broken up with Jensen (who’s a total gaslighting douche). Not only that, but he’s also taken her podcaster dream job. So of course Finley plans to get revenge by taking his spot on the football team. So she picks the perfect person to train her, Jensen’s nemesis, Theo.

Finley and Theo were adorable. Their banter was great. I loved how their friendship blossomed. I also really enjoyed the side story about the grandma and how Finley used her stories for a podcast. It was so cute following both love stories.

If you love sweet and fun YA romcoms definitely pick this one up.

“Do you know how long I’ve wanted to kiss you?” he asked before his mouth covered mine. “Three weeks?” I guessed, against his lips, referencing the day in the bathroom. The day I’d realized how hot he was. “Longer than that,” he said, his hands sliding around my waist. “And it was worth the wait.”

A huge thanks to Random House Children’s and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC for review. All thoughts are my own.

While not my favorite by Kasie West, this was still a great read with an even better lesson. It was really hard for me to understand how Finley spent an entire year with a boy, completely in love, and he did such a 180. It was so extremely unbelievable. And the ending was ridiculous. But it’s a cute love story about finding yourself when things don’t go your way.

I wanted to enjoy this book because Kaise West’s books are very popular at my library, but it was only okay for me. I never warmed up to Finely or Theo, which made it hard to care about the book. Also, the football plot felt underdeveloped. The most interesting part of the book was Finely's podcast about her grandmother, and it wasn't as prominent as I would have liked. The book is good for younger teens looking for a romance, but it won't be my first recommendation.

This book was so cute! A high school romance has not recently been what I have been gravitating towards, but these characters were very mature through out the book. The more serious material in this book was great to see in the point of view of younger people. The representation of younger people having to grieve before living in the real world is unfortunately the reality for many people. The author really captured authentic ways that students may cope with the cards they’re dealt.

I love Kasie West, I love a Taylor Swift lyric, and I love schemes. What I'm saying is this book was basically meant for me!

This book was fun. A little bit too much high school drama for me at times but I can see how others would love it.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun book. I really enjoyed it!

This story offers a fun, lighthearted take on revenge and romance. Finley tries to steal her ex-boyfriend's spot on the high school football team after he stole her stop on the school's podcast. In the meantime, there's unexpected chemistry with Theo who is helping Finley achieve her revenge goal. Theo adds charm and is a nice balance for Finley's character. Overall, the tension and conflict was pretty surface level.

Sincere thanks to NetGalley, Random House Children's, & Delacorte Romance for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

🎙️ Revenge, romance, and some serious podcast drama? YES, please! @kasiewest Better Than Revenge is a touchdown for all my fellow rom-com lovers! Let’s spill the tea (and the Gatorade):

Plot? Juicy AF.
Finley’s on her way to podcast fame until her ugh-worthy ex, Jensen, steals her idea and her spotlight. Enter Theo—a cocky, grinning, football-playing heartthrob who just so happens to hate Jensen as much as she does.

The plan? Team up for the ultimate revenge. The catch? Sparks start flying faster than Theo runs plays on the field. 🏈🔥

The characters? ICONIC.
✨ Finley: Sass queen with a podcast dream and a heart of gold.
✨ Theo: Certified swoon machine. He’s charming, protective, and his dimples deserve their own fan club.
✨ Jensen: Walking red flag 🚩, but don’t worry—he gets what’s coming.
✨ The Squad: Deja, Maxwell, and Lee = friends who make everything 10x funnier.

🎙️Favorite moments? Hold my mic!
From Finley and Theo’s first hilariously awkward run-in (men’s bathroom chaos, anyone? 🚻🤣) to late-night podcast brainstorms and Theo’s jaw-dropping grand gesture, I was hooked. And let’s not forget the epic football banter and Finley’s savage comebacks. 🙌

Vibes? Immaculate.
This book is like a cozy Friday night: full of laughter, feels, and a sprinkle of drama. Kasie West delivers witty banter, slow-burn chemistry, and that just-right dose of character growth.

If you’re craving a rom-com with ✨ALL✨ the swoons, grab Better Than Revenge! Don’t walk—RUN—to grab this one! 🏈✨

This was peak Kasie West-- cute, sweet, and a little predictable. I enjoyed the banter between the two main characters, and how natural their chemistry felt.

If you're looking for a good time without wanting to think about it too much, then thi is the book for you. If you're looking for a new exboyfriend to hate, this is also your book.

In Better Than Revenge, Kasie West delivers a fun and spirited tale about ambition, betrayal, and unexpected love. Seventeen-year-old Finley has always dreamed of becoming a famous podcaster, and she's been working hard to craft the perfect pitch to secure a spot on her school's podcast team. However, her plans are thrown into disarray when her football-playing boyfriend, Jensen, decides to compete for the same position and steals her idea, leaving her feeling confused and betrayed.

Determined to get back at Jensen, Finley and her friends concoct a revenge scheme, but soon realize that outsmarting Jensen is no easy feat. In a surprising twist, Finley discovers her talent for kicking and decides to take Jensen's spot on the football team, setting the stage for an exhilarating new chapter in her life. To aid her training, she enlists the help of Theo, Jensen’s charming yet arrogant rival, which only complicates matters further.
As Finley immerses herself in the world of football, she and Theo begin to uncover a deeper connection that goes beyond the sport. However, Finley is hesitant to let herself be distracted, especially with the lingering desire for revenge still in her heart. With West’s hallmark mix of humor and romance, Better Than Revenge explores themes of self-discovery, ambition, and the notion that true love may ultimately be more satisfying than any act of retaliation. This engaging read is sure to resonate with fans of contemporary young adult fiction and sports romance

✔️ Enemies to Lovers
✔️ He Fell First
✔️ Opposites Attract

Finley loves podcasting and wanted to be chosen as co-host of her school's podcast team. Unfortunately her boyfriend (now ex) took the spot she wanted. She wants revenge and after a few petty pranks, decides to work with his football rival, Theo, to plan the ultimate revenge - taking his football dream away. But feelings start to develop between her and Theo muahahha

My jaw dropped reading the plot - I hated her ex immediately so was on board for Team Finlay throughout the book. I enjoyed the banter with her and her friends and her and Theo. I loved the B storyline with her personal podcast too.

I was really won over by the small moments here - the faux interviews Finlay does at sporadic moments with friends and family; the silly scene with family members supporting her training; all the moments with her kooky friend group. I thought it was all charming and sucked me into the story.

Finley's (now ex) boyfriend, Jensen, tried out and stole her dream on their school podcast and Finley decides she needs some revenge. Who better to help her than Jensen’s rival, Theo.

Emotions and dramatics are so much drama in high school, so although I loved the characters from the start, I was sold on Better Than Revenge until Finley's revenge plan took form and I. WAS. HERE. FOR. IT. Theo and Finley were amazing, and I loved them together and they made me smile throughout and I truly enjoyed reading it. I also really loved the side story with her grandma and learning her story through Finley’s personal podcast and how special those memories of first can stay.

If you're looking for a sweet, YA read with some even sweeter revenge, I definitely recommend this one.

Cute, cute, cute, cute, cute!

I love a good "what, like it's hard?" Elle Woods moment for girls in books. And I love that Theo was down to help with little to no convincing. Their friendship felt so natural and I loved getting lost in this.

Thank you to Net Gallley for the advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for reading and reviewing.

I honestly loved this. I always enjoy Kasie West's characters, and this world that she created is such a relatable world with real-life problems. I love the grandmother, who shows her struggles with alzheimer's disease in a very real way. I love that the main character has to navigate her feelings and struggles with her grandmother's disease while also navigating a social life at school. We meet the "bad guy" immediately, and it's such a relatable feeling of frustration and a need for revenge that the entire book kept me wanting more. I read this in about 48 hours and it was worth every minute!

*I want to start by thanking the author and publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced release copy of this book. This book was not my favorite read of the year.

This book was so incredibly fun and adorable. I felt like Finley’s anger and rage were portrayed perfectly. She’s a junior in high school who felt like everything she had been working towards was being ripped away from her, and dealing with a particularly public break up. I laughed so hard watching Theo be incredibly obvious in his flirting, but her constantly going “he doesn’t mean that…” I especially loved her podcast and her grandmothers story that is woven throughout the book. I almost wish I could read that story now as well.

This had all the best giddy moments