Kasie West delivers another charming and swoon-worthy read with Better Than Revenge. With its blend of humor, heart, and just enough drama, this novel is a delightful reminder of why West remains a go-to author for feel-good YA romance.

The story revolves around Finley, a determined and relatable protagonist whose dream of joining her school’s podcast team is dashed when her football-player boyfriend, Jensen, not only betrays her but also steals her idea. Fueled by hurt and frustration, Finley’s quest for revenge leads her to an unexpected discovery: a hidden talent for kicking. And when she enlists Theo, Jensen’s confident yet enigmatic rival, to help her join the football team, sparks—and complications—fly.

The dynamic between Finley and Theo is undeniably engaging. Their banter is sharp, their chemistry electric, and their growing bond feels natural and well-paced. Theo’s layers add depth to the story, as his cocky exterior masks vulnerabilities that make him all the more endearing. Watching Finley navigate her feelings for him while trying to prove herself on the field and in life is both entertaining and heartfelt.

While the romance shines, the novel also explores themes of self-discovery, resilience, and the importance of pursuing your passions. Finley’s journey from revenge-driven to self-empowered is inspiring, and her friendships add warmth and levity to the story.

However, the pacing occasionally falters, especially in the middle where the revenge plot feels repetitive. Additionally, Jensen’s character could have used more nuance to make his actions—and Finley’s initial feelings for him—more believable.

Overall, Better Than Revenge is a charming, empowering read with a satisfying balance of romance and personal growth. Fans of Kasie West and YA rom-coms will love this fun, football-filled tale of ambition, redemption, and finding love in the most unexpected places. Perfect for readers seeking a lighthearted escape with plenty of heart!

I received this book as an ARC through Netgalley.

Just a short review, but I really wanted to like this book. I understand that high school "problems" can be exaggerated and blown out of proportion, but I feel like Finley is just too over the top and dramatic. Despite that, the story was easy to read and entertaining from start to finish. I loved her grandma's story. I could read a whole book based on her grandma!

I absolutely loved this book. A sweet, and honestly, predictable romance. It was all the right things and I enjoyed every second spent with Finley and Theo.

Finley misses out of her chance at hosting the school podcast, due to her boyfriend, Jensen, trying out last minute. Then, she comes up with a plan for revenge.

I really enjoyed the story and loved watching Finley and Theo grow closer together. There were times I definitely forgot it was a plan for revenge and was so supportive of Finley's journey. At the end, she goes through a huge growth and moment of reflection, which I felt changed the trajectory of the story right at the end and there wasn't enough time to resolve it.

However, I thoroughly loved this book and finished it in one day. The family dynamics with Grandma, balancing a new relationship and old friendships, and growing up were really well done.

Another sweet, light-hearted and heart-warming YA romance to recommend!
There are lots of important messages throughout the story, and I adore the characters. They’re not perfect, which makes them more relatable.

In this story, we follow Finley, who makes a plan to get revenge on her ex-boyfriend after he betrays and humiliates her.
I really enjoyed seeing Finley’s journey; how her character grows throughout the story, as well as her relationship with her family and friends.

As for the romance, I wasn’t sure about Finley and Theo chemistry at first.
But I was rooting for them soon enough after they start to open up about each other while Theo was helping Finley with her revenge plans.

Aside from the sweet romance and revenge storyline, I also enjoyed the sub-plot of Finley’s grandma love life back when she was young.
I loved that Finley’s bond with her grandma wasn’t affected by her grandma’s Alzheimer’s. She choose to spends time with her reminiscing together about her grandma’s history and lets her grandma set the pace.

Better than Revenge comes with a satisfying ending and brought up important themes such as forgiveness, moving on, empowerment through self-improvement and that revenge is not the answer.
This wasn’t my first book by this author, and it definitely won’t be the last. I’m looking forward to read more books by this author in the future!

such a cute and fun read!! not my favorite by Kasie West, but I still enjoyed it for the most part!!

Finley dreams of joining her school’s podcast team, but her plan is derailed when her boyfriend, Jensen, steals her pitch and secures the spot she wanted. Feeling betrayed, Finley hatches a revenge plot: taking his place on the football team. To achieve this, she recruits Theo, Jensen's charming and slightly arrogant rival, as her coach. As Finley trains for football and spends more time with Theo, their connection grows, but complications arise as secrets surface. Will Finley’s pursuit of revenge cost her a shot at love?

Tropes:
-Enemies-to-lovers
-Revenge turned romance
-Sports training and team dynamics
-Found family through friends and teammates
-Secrets and misunderstandings

It is a story that is equal parts funny, sweet, and empowering. Finley is an instantly likeable protagonist—her frustration over Jensen’s betrayal is relatable, and her determination to stand up for herself is inspiring and entertaining. West skillfully balances the lighthearted revenge antics with deeper moments of personal growth, making Finley’s journey one of self-discovery as much as it is about romance.

The chemistry between Finley and Theo is electric. Their banter is witty and sharp, yet their moments of vulnerability add depth to their relationship. As Jensen’s rival, Theo is more than just a typical love interest—he’s layered, with secrets of his own that intrigue readers. The development of their romance feels natural and organic, building slowly as they navigate their shared goals and emotional baggage.

The football subplot is another highlight, showcasing Finley’s grit and willingness to step outside her comfort zone. The team dynamics and training sequences bring humour and camaraderie, adding warmth to the story. West also touches on themes of ambition, betrayal, and forgiveness, making the narrative relatable to readers navigating similar challenges.

While the revenge plot may be the hook, the story’s heart lies in its exploration of personal growth and unexpected connections. Fans of Kasie West will adore this charming addition to her collection, and newcomers will find it a perfect introduction to her style.

I didn't enjoy this at all unfortunately, there was way too much focus and page-time for the betraying ex

Relatable, believable, and sympathetic characters were the draw for this romance.

Highlights were the way the author wove together humor with realistic situations and issues, using the love story of Finley's grandmother to bring it all together.

The romance develops at a believable pace, nicely balanced with the podcasts about the love story. Altogether a lovely read.

This book was so adorable and definitely all about enemies to lovers! Loved how it kept me guessing! The big scene at the beginning had me audibly gasping, and I couldn’t put the book down from there. Cute hallmark romance.

Absolutely loooooved this one. Did it have bouts of immaturity? Sure, they were in high school. Did it have petty drama? Absolutely. Again, they were in high school. But did it have friends? And family? And sticking true to yourself and not changing for anyone despite setbacks? Also yes! Did it have a real first true love with o e who loved the other despite all the negative? Yes!! Absolutely loved the plot development and the relationship between Finley and Theo. Sometimes once we get to know someone, our opinions change - proves listening to others isn’t always the best path. Following your heart is, though! Also loved quirky grandma. Such a great storyline!

When Finley's boyfriend (now ex) tries out for and takes her spot on the school's podcast, Finley and her friends plot revenge. Finley has decided to try out for and take her ex's kicker position on the football team. She enlists the help of the school's former star kicker and her ex's arch nemesis. This plot for revenge is juicy, but it looks like Finley may be catching too many feelings.

I had so much fun with this book. I loved the story within a story, when Finley's grandma was telling her about her first love. I liked the two main characters and their banter. I have no idea if the football stuff was correct, but the book worked for me.

9.33/10

What Worked for Me

Characters-9.5

The characters in this were great. Finley was a great character, and I enjoyed her journey throughout this story. In the end, Jensen had a redeemable arc because he did apologize, but I still felt like he shouldn’t have tried out for the podcast knowing that Finley also wanted that job. Theo was so sweet, and yes, he made a mistake, but he apologized, and was a better boyfriend for Finley. The supporting cast of Finley’s friends and her family were great additions to the

Writing- 9.5

This was my second book from Kasie West, and I will read more of her in the future. Better Than Revenge was straightforward to read, and very easy to get into. I loved the lighter moments in this story, where the characters were hanging out at the diner, or school because you got to know the dynamics of the characters. I loved the scenes with Theo and Finley training because you could see Finley getting better as time progressed. I loved the heavier moments in this with Finley’s grandmother as well.

Plot-9

Better than Revenge had a main plot, and a few sub-plots to follow along the way. I enjoyed the main revenge/redemption arc of this. The mystery with the podcast element was fun, and I loved Finley’s grandmother remembering things from when she was younger. Following the clues along with the characters was a fun element to this book. The romance in this was a slow burn, but I loved it in the end.


Enjoyment-9.5

This was a mixture of romance, redemption arc, and mystery and I enjoyed all three elements. I loved the characters, writing, and plot of Better Than Revenge. I had fun with this which was what I was looking for when I started this book.

This was everything expected from a YA romance. It was a very cute reading. The author knows what she's doing and masters the genre brilliantly.

I was raised on YA romance books, and I love them. The giddy feeling, the first kiss, the teen angst, and this one was no different. Finley is the perfect heroine protagonist, down to pulling her Elle Woods and knowing when to apologize. Her friends are great, Theo is cute, and her grandma’s the best. Would definitely recommend.

This was a cute young adult novel about Finley Lucas and her high school experience. Finley loves podcasts, she loves listening and creating podcasts. When her football-playing boyfriend tries out for her spot on the podcast team at school and makes it over her, she decides she wants revenge on him. One of his teammates is enlisted to help her to take his spot on the football team as a kicker.

Finley and Theo develop a friendship throughout the book. Meanwhile, Finley is also recording a personal podcast with her grandmother who has dementia telling her story. At some point, Theo and Finley become more than friends until she finds out that he made comments about her before they started talking.

Before I give anymore away, I'm going to stop. You need to just go get this. I loved it. It was cute, a little angsty (which comes with YA stuff, but I don't mind), and fun. It took me no time to read it and its out already since it was released on New Year's Eve! Five stars from me!

#BetterThanRevenge #NetGalley

Thank you, Delacorte Romance, for an advanced digital copy of this book!

Better Than Revenge by Kasie West is a delightful YA romance that combines high school drama, unexpected romance, and heartfelt moments into an engaging narrative. The story centers on Finley, a seventeen-year-old aspiring podcast creator whose dreams are crushed when her boyfriend, Jensen, steals her idea and lands a coveted spot on their school's podcast team. Devastated, Finley teams up with Theo, Jensen's rival and a charming football player, to take back what she believes is rightfully hers and get a little revenge.

As a longtime fan of Kasie West, I was instantly drawn in by the relatable characters, engaging plot, and how West blends real-world issues with lighthearted humor. The tension between Finley and Jensen is electric, and I particularly loved the subplot involving Finley's grandmother's love story. Her tales, shared through Finley's podcast, added a lovely layer of depth to the story. Theo's relationship with Finley grows naturally, bringing a sweet, believable romance that warmed my heart. The supporting characters, while memorable, could have been more distinct, but they still added charm to the narrative.

Although this isn't my favorite West romance, Better Than Revenge is a quick, enjoyable read that delivers a valuable message about growth, revenge, and moving on.

I got this book as an ARC from Net Galley and I loved it. I haven't read a YA in a while as it's not my current preferred genre but this one was really great. It was a super fast read and it's amazing to start the year off with a book that you can't put down.

This one has a few elements that made it really special. First, you really feel for Finley, the protagonist, as she loses a spot she worked really hard for and is publicly humiliated by someone she trusted. It makes her revenge seem really justified, especially as you start to see all the times she was gaslighted in the relationship.

The side story of her using her personal podcast to learn about her grandmother's history before it's lost to Alzheimers was also really lovely. It's easy to see why so many people begin tuning in to follow along with the story.

I only had a couple of issues with it. First - does Finley actually ever tell her parents what happened? They seem like they want to be supportive but the fact she keeps blowing them off was disappointing. Although, I think they were wrong on the day Jensen showed up at the house.
Second, I wanted a little more at the end. It would have been great to see how the sideline podcasting worked out and if Finley's work on that and her own podcast was enough to secure her the internship that she definitely deserved.

This is a cute YA romcom. The banter between Finley and Theo was very cute and sweet. Finley’s grandma and her own little romance story was a great addition to the story too! This is YA with teens so keep that in mind.
This would be a cute read for a teen girl. It is a nice story that starts as revenge but ends with peace and happiness. Simple but sweet!

I love books by Kasie West and this one is. No exception. A fun and cute book, I really enjoyed it!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this review copy