I really like Kasie West and was excited to read this book. It was a cute YA novel! It’s got fake dating, revenge plots, and some sizzling kisses. The main characters show growth and definitely give you someone to root for!

I was super blessed to receive an arc of this book!


It was a super cute romance and I enjoyed it! 🫶

The synopsis seemed fun and adorable, but this was just okay. Right off the bat, I didn’t like the boyfriend, Jensen. He was absolute trash. While I like Finley and Theo together, they weren’t great characters themselves. However, it’s important to remember that this is a YA novel, but sometimes it felt a little younger. Some of Finley’s decisions are a little childish, but given what Jensen did, I’m okay with it. I loved the portions where we get to know Finley’s grandmother. She seems so awesome. A downside, however, is you don’t learn why Jensen decided to steal Finley’s dream and idea. It’s is okay. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it either. I haven’t read anything from West, but this was a nice introduction.

I thought this was fun and cute with a dusting of angst. The relationship between our fmc and her Grandma was beautiful. I felt the growth of character was a win.

This book was so, so cute with a great message and extremely relatable characters. Finley and Theo are so fun together and the flirty banter between them is a delight. I flew through it in 2 days! Kasie West is so good at sweet YA romcoms that tug at your heart.

Thank you to Netgalley and Delacorte Romance for my complimentary e-arc. All opinions here are my own.

This book was so cute!!! As soon as I saw the email about a Kasie West book tour I knew I had to sign up. I love all of her books, they’re the cutest ever and they never disappoint. And this one was no different. I found myself rooting for Finley (and Finley and Theo) throughout the book and there were so many moments that made me laugh. This was a perfect ya rom-com and so easy to get through. It’s the perfect read for a slump!

I finished this book early in the month on the 4th but I didn't get a chance to do the review bc well life....
So here it is:
5 stars I really enjoyed this book.
It was a fun book to read. So I know that this book is a YA book, but in my opinion, adults can definitely read this book and enjoy it as well. This is the 1st book that I have read from this author and after reading and enjoying this book, I am def gonna be looking out to read more books by Kasie West!
I loved the characters a lot. The story (and backstory) was great and definitely keeps your attention.

Finely has one major goal that she is working towards while in high school and it all gets messed up and by one else but her boyfriend. What a jerk!!!! She has realized that she has put up with so much from him and she is now single and out for revenge.
There is a plan being created by and her friends to get revenge on her ex-boyfriend but another person wants in on it. Do they let him in, can they trust him, what to do with all these feelings???
There is so much happening and its so much fun to watch. This also makes it super hard to put the book down, you just want to keep reading and reading to see what happens next.
Does Finely get revenge? Will she find love after this last boyfriend and the way he treated her?
Guess what you gotta go read the book to find out, And it is def worth the read :)

I received an ARC copy from NetGalley and am leaving my review voluntarily. Thank you Kasie West and NetGalley!

To start, I thought the relationship between Finley and Theo was absolutely adorable. You could tell that he was falling for her as she kept her attention on getting revenge. I think I might have seen red when Jensen tried out for the podcast club and then everything that happened after that. Kasie West wrote Jensen so perfectly that everything he did just made you hate him even more.

I think this would be a great book for 13-15 year olds. As someone who reads adult books that are a little more complex, Better Than Revenge kind of fell short for me. It was a light read that didn’t have much depth to it.

Overall, I don’t think it was a bad book, but definitely made for a younger crowd.

Better Than Revenge is an absolute page-turner! As a big fan of Kasie West, I was thrilled to dive into this story, and it did not disappoint.
Although I don’t read much YA these days, every now and then, I love escaping into a cute and fun story—and this one delivered perfectly. The plot follows Finley, whose, now, ex-boyfriend Jensen steals the podcast team spot she’s been dreaming of. Fueled by a desire for revenge, Finley teams up with Theo Torres—a cocky but undeniably charming ally—to give Jensen what he deserves.
The story had me hooked from the start. Finley is a relatable and likable protagonist, and her interactions with Theo were brimming with chemistry and humor. I also loved the dynamics between Finley and her friends, and her grandmother’s story added a heartwarming and captivating layer to the book.
What truly stood out was how vividly this story played out in my mind—I couldn’t help but imagine it as a movie (seriously, it would be so good on screen!). It’s the perfect YA read: engaging, entertaining, and brimming with charm. I devoured it in no time and genuinely couldn’t put it down.
Kasie West has done it again, and I cannot wait to read more of her work! If you’re looking for a fun, fast-paced, and heartfelt story, this one is a must-read.

Super cute book! I absolutely loved Theo and Finley, their relationship, and their story. Definitely adding this one to our romance section at the library.

This was a perfect YA romance and one I will recommend for our school. Appropriate for both middle and high schools. I really enjoyed how both characters had obstacles for their dreams and worked together to find new paths. The romance was very classic and cute and had the Kasie West banter that I remember from her first few books. I can’t wait to recommend this to some students.

Oh. My. Gosh! This was the most swoon worthy YA book I've ever read. I was kicking and giggling and so invested. I didn't wanna put the book down! Theo and Finley had the best tension and chemistry. There was just so much in this book! Infinity stars!

Fans of Kasie West will not be disappointed. Who doesn't love a plan for revenge, some romance, and a grandma all in one book?

Cute story, per usual. Finley and Theo's revenge plan works a little too well, but the sweet grandma.surfboard subplot more than makes up for it.

This was a cute young adult novel I liked the plot and character dynamic really well I just didn’t feel the chemistry but it was still super cute!

This is hands down my new favorite Kasie West book, and that's saying something since I've read just about all of them.

I was a bit skeptical towards the two main characters at first. When Finley was slighted by her then-boyfriend on more than one occasion, she doesn't stand up for herself enough, leading me to believe she was a bit of a pushover. Additionally, Theo first comes off as uncaring and aloof. These characteristics rubbed me the wrong way and I wasn't sure if I was going to like the story because of them.

However, these flaws are what make this story stand out to me. As the plot develops, Finley and Theo challenge these flaws and work to overcome them in order to grow into stronger people, which is where I think the story shines.

Don't get me wrong, the sugary sweet romance that blooms between Finley and Theo is adorable on its own. They compliment each other well and push each other to see past their initial views. If you want a fluffy young adult contemporary romance that will give you exactly what you were hoping for, this book is definitely it. It's plotted like a typical romcom movie, especially the lifeguard post scene after the third act conflict. That being said, some parts feel very convenient and a bit too simple because of this.

Looking past the fluffiness, I feel like there is a lot you can take away from the story's morals, especially in how Finley handles the football tryout results at the end of the novel. After reflecting on how Finley and Theo acted at the beginning of the novel, I'm delighted by how much they grew over the course of the novel. By the last page, I could clearly see all of the building blocks West had laid out coming together and I was completely satisfied with how everything wrapped up.

If you are looking for a quick, swoonworthy read with some hidden depth this upcoming spring/summer, definitely consider giving this book a try!

A revenge story gone wrong.

I loved the two characters together. They were so cute, and they complemented each other so well.
I am a Kasie West fan for life. Her books are fun, and fast paced, I can't put them down.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for this book to read and review.

Did I pick up ‘Better Than Revenge’ by Kasie West because it was an obvious Taylor Swift reference? Of course I did. But while I came for the TS references, I stayed for the utterly charming young adult romance of it all!

The plot of this book is one I can easily picture as a YA series or movie: girl is betrayed by boyfriend, girl decides to partner with the now ex-boyfriend’s “enemy” to get revenge, & hijinks & flirting follow. Finely is a high school junior who has worked toward one goal for her entire high school career, but this is taken away by her boyfriend who decides to try out for the position she hoped for on a whim. Theo is a high school senior (I think?) who is the star of the football team & the person her (now) ex hates the most. As a way to try & get back at this ex, & to possibly give him a taste of his own medicine, Finley asks Theo to coach her to be a kicker so good that she can take the football team spot away from her ex. Honestly, I’m into it. I love a revenge plot that isn’t “mean” or cruel, but truly just…helps karma along. She can’t help it if she’s just better at kicking, right?

This was such a quick & fun read, I couldn’t put it down & ended up binging it in one sitting. But this was so much more than just a revenge plot…obviously. We watch these two navigate so much: self-identity, relationships with family & friends, & grief of various kinds. Sure, there’s a lot packed into this book, but it doesn’t feel cluttered or like it’s “too much.” What it does is give layers to what might have been a more one-dimensional story if this had been published in the 90s or 00s. Instead of characters with only one thing to define their personality, like the classic nerd/jock story, Finley & Theo are so much more than just what they do or what they want to do. And we get to watch them help each other with these struggles & support each other through these waves of life. It can seem pretty simple on the surface, but delivers a strong punch to the reader. It’s exactly the kind of YA that I wished existed when I was in high school, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it as a not-so-young adult ha.

Thank you to Delacorte Romance & NetGalley for providing a digital advanced copy for review. All thoughts & opinions expressed are my own.

I really enjoyed this Kasie West (I like all of her books, really). The revenge plot here revolves around Finlay getting back at her ex Jensen, who stole her podcast slot right from under her nose. To help her, Finlay enlists Jensen's nemesis Theo, who she had always thought was too self-obsessed. As Theo teaches Finlay how to become a kicker for the school football team (and thereby replacing Jensen on the team), she realizes that a lot of things she thought were wrong. Theo is a great teacher, and becomes her good friend. Jensen was weak and self-serving. Finlay needs to learn to believe in herself more. This book also has a great supporting cast in Finlay's best friend Deja, and her two other friends. And there's an additional emotional storyline about Finlay's grandmother who has Alzheimer's. There's so much to love about this book.

Okay imagine you’re a teenager in high school, are passionate about podcasts and have this awesome idea to get on the team. Your boyfriend, who does nothing with podcasts, also decides to audition and uses YOUR idea.. AND and and… gets the position 👿

Heck yeah we’d want revenge. And we’re gonna get him where it hurts. And also maybe link up with his hot arch nemesis while we’re at it I mean why not 🤷‍♀️

I really enjoyed that her grandma’s story was almost foreshadowing and paralleled her own life and romance with Theo. The life lessons were right in front of her, she just had to put it together. Theo was the sweetest and confident. He helped Finley come into her own. Sometimes karma is better than revenge.

That’s the tone of this book and I was here for it!! Thank you @tbrbeyondtours for having me on the tour!