I enjoyed reading Better Than Revenge by Kasie West. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

This book is hilarious and so sweet. I found myself laughing out loud several times. It starts with heartbreak and the author slowly mends your heart and by the end you just feel so warm and fuzzy. THOROUGHLY enjoyed!

This wasn’t my favorite Kasie West book, but I did enjoy it. Finley has been preparing for years to audition for the school’s podcast, which only seniors can do. Her audition goes well, but to her surprise, her boyfriend says, I think I’ll just try out too. He steals her spot, then adds insult to injury by insulting her on air.

Finley decides that he needs to lose what is most important to him too. The kicker position he’s wanted on the high school football team. Luckily, she has some soccer skills already, and the current kicker offers to train her.

I understood Finley’s disappointment and anger, but I was glad that the message of the book did not turn out to be “revenge is the answer.” I liked seeing Finley’s growth, and especially her relationship with her grandmother.

One of the things I like best about Kasie’s books are that they are appropriate for younger teens and adults. This book pushed that line a bit more than her previous books. This book had more making out, instead of just kissing. Two of her best friends were homosexual (it was covered lightly). The book still had her trademark humor, and real issues with family, friendships, and dating.

I was looking forward to this book being a fan of the author, and the premise of the story seemed adorable as well. But this book really had some flaws for me, the writing was choppy, the story did not flow well, and the characters were just ok. Usually any book by this author just sweeps me up and the characters are all charming and the story just flows but this book was not the case. The story was fine enough, but the characters were not great, and it really was a rough read for me. The premise was fine, the young adult genre was good, but the flow of the book and the story really was just ok. The characters and their interactions just felt forced. There were moments few and far between that were sweet and fun, otherwise the story was difficult to get through. Not a favorite book, and not one I would recommend. Will read this author in the future, but this was not for me,

Thanks to NetGallet for the ARC!

First I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House Children’s for the ARC of this novel.

I really enjoy Kasie West books and this one was no exception. It was a quick, sweet YA romance read.

I enjoyed Finley and found her very likeable. She felt a little young but because it was a YA novel it worked for me.

I also enjoyed the podcast element of the book. I find they seem to be everywhere in books lately but they was the first time I read it in a YA novel so it felt a little different.

I think this book will work well for a pre-teen or teenage audience.

4/5 stars

Better Than Revenge by Kasie West
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@netgalley graciously sent me this ARC to read, and I finished it with perfect timing on publication day.

This was a cute young adult novel about a high school student named Finley who is betrayed by her boyfriend and decides to get revenge by taking away something that he loves- his starting position as kicker on the football team.

What starts as revenge ends up bringing Finley closer to realizing what's really important to her and fighting for it. This was a cute story and a super quick read. No spice (always a bummer) but that means my 12 year old can also read it and she REALLY needs a new book after cruising through all the books she got for Christmas- that apple really didn't fall far from this tree.

Cute and breezy! A super quick read.

Theo was easy to love. Deja, Lee, and Maxwell were the perfect group of supportive friends. Jensen is scum of the earth.

I really liked Finley and I found her easy to connect with. (She’s very much an immature high schooler, but this is a YA book, so it worked haha.) Give her some time and she’ll grow into a wonderful, thoughtful young adult.

I liked how football and podcasting were explained but not mansplained. I appreciated understanding more about what was going on without feeling inundated with useless information.

Overall, my favorite Kasie West book! Sweet, easy, artsy, beachy, and swoony. Everything I want in a YA romance!

I love Kasie West novels both for myself and for my 8th grade classroom! Better Than Revenge is cute and clean - and probably could happen if it hasn't already. There's a strong protagonist and a supportive band of besties, plus a couple of bad boys set in a California high school. The podcasting element is very current, and I especially loved the connection between Finley and her grandmother. Thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to preview #BetterThanRevenge by Kasie West. I'm already looking forward to her next release!

What a charming read this was! It had the perfect balance of humor, heart, and lightness, all while featuring a cast of characters who felt both real and refreshingly complex. Each one brought something special to the story, making it impossible not to connect with them.

For readers who crave a lighthearted and hopeful romance with a strong coming-of-age theme, this is a delightful fit, offering a swoony and humorous tale of self-discovery, friendship, and the power of love to overcome even the most hurtful of betrayals.

I received an advanced Copy from netgalley and Random house in exchange for an honest review.

First, with all YA books, I want to remind you that adult reviews are often skewed because we've lived these experiences and already learned from them. Something that might feel obvious to a 30 year old woman might be less obvious to a younger person and a book can really help them see a new perspective.

This book is about a 17 year old girl, Finley, who wants to be a podcaster for her school program. She spends all of high school preparing, only to have her football boyfriend of a year swoop in and grab it for fun. Then she begins plotting her revenge.

I think this book was fantastic. It really highlights the frustrating realities of women in male dominated spaces, and kind of gives readers a delightful revenge story. I've seen a few people say this story is lighter and more fun, less deep, than her previous books, but I kind of disagree. Finley is starting to see some really attention seeking and manipulative behaviors from Jensen and she begins questioning her relationships. I think it's a fantastic way to highlight some early toxic behaviors of narcissism, and a lot of young people can benefit from learning how to question these behaviors. Of course there's also a romantic story and a friendship learning moment. Overall very fun, sweet, and worth a read.

“When are you going to realize that I just want to be near you, Finley? All the time.”

Thank you to Delacorte Press, Random House Children's and NetGalley for the free advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

I had so much fun reading this adorable YA!! Kasie West writes the sweetest stories! If you are a fan of rom-coms then this is one that should definitely be on your list!

Finley has been dreaming of becoming a podcaster for as long as she can remember but when her football playing boyfriend decides to try out for their school’s podcast team and steals her spot, she immediately sees red. She decides that her only course of action is to enlist her ex’s nemesis to help her exact revenge. As a former soccer player Finley knows she can kick a ball but can she get good enough to try out as the kicker for the football team and steal her ex’s spotlight?

Better than Revenge is full of such fun characters and captivating banter. The writing is so well done and I was hooked from start to finish! Theo (the nemesis) turns out to be the cutest book boyfriend but Finley’s grandmother was my favorite character of all. I love mixing YAs into my reading plans because they always leave me feeling warm and fuzzy. If you are in the mood for a feel-good rom-com with a hint of high school angst then this is one you can’t pass up!

Better Than Revenge is available today!

Read if you like
YA
High school setting
Friends to lovers
Single pov
Sports romance
Sweet family dynamics
Adorable banter

When her boyfriend thoughtlessly destroys her dreams and publicly humiliates her, Finley is out for sweet revenge. He auditioned for the spot on the school podcast team and took the position that she had trained for using her idea. since he stole her position, she decides to attempt to steal his dream and tryout for the kicker position on next year's football team. When his nemesis helps her train, the sparks fly. This cute romance has a secondary storyline. Finley's grandmother has Alzheimer's and Finley uses a personal podcast to walk down memory lane recording her grandmother's story. West handles this story with care and tenderness. I loved this sweet romance and devoured it in one afternoon.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

I have my ups and downs with Kasie West ranging from adoring to luke warm feelings...this one was a total hit! The friendships, family relationships, romance was all well done. Our couple, Finley and Theo were ultra cute and I loved the progression of their relationship. And the podcast with the grandma and her story added a special layer to the whole book.

I especially enjoyed the fact that there was an "aha moment" of the whole revenge thing. The ending was totally satisfying and left me smiling...

4 stars

Even if you are way past high school, this book is worth reading.

At the beginning of this story, Finley is dating Jensen who has to be among the top 20 worst book boyfriends ever. After he betrays her extremely publicly by trying out for and getting a hosting spot on the school's podcast, she vows revenge and is determined to try out for the football team and take his position as kicker. In comes Theo, the outgoing kicker with his own reasons for disliking Jensen, who advises Finley he will coach her, but there are signals from the beginning that Theo probably would have helped her even if he didn't dislike Jensen.

The story is a sweet high school romance, but beyond that it is a story about granddaughter and grandmother, dealing with dementia and coming to terms with the person you want to be. There are so many things I want to say about this book, but they would ruin the story for other readers, so I am not going to do that. What I am going to say it that this book is definitely enjoyable and that there are larger issues addressed by the book beyond that of a high school romance. I really enjoyed the interactions between Finley and Theo and watching their relationship blossom, and I really enjoyed experiencing Finley's relationship with her grandmother. The author has a quote in her acknowledgements which I highlighted and would love to include here (and which immediately made me think of Taylor Swift), but again it would ruin experiencing the book for others. If pressed for contructive criticism, I would say that the relationship Finley has with her best friend Deja and the larger issues there could have been explored more thoroughly, but the fact that they weren't doesn't detract from the story.

This was the first Kasie West book I have read and now I am looking forward to reading others. This one is definitely worth reading.

Unfortunately, it was a cute premise, but it wasn't for me. I ended up DNFing it at about 20%. I couldn't connect to the writing style or the FMC as much as I had hoped.

I was super excited for this book when I got the approval for it and I’m so so so glad it didn’t disappoint! I will say I’m always scared to read a YA romance book because sometimes I feel like I’ve outgrown them lol but this one was super fun and I really enjoyed it! I liked the different storylines that were explored throughout the book, I felt like it kept me entertained and engaged and there was never really a filler chapter which I appreciated. I really liked the FMC and her growth throughout the book. I definitely would’ve liked to see Theo grovel a bit more but of course they’re in high school, they can only do so much lol. Overall I really liked this one! Thank you for the opportunity!!

loved this romance about a girl who loves podcasting and the football player that helps her find some things of her grandmother. loved that they found a common connection.

This was a charming and engaging YA romance with a touch of humor. Finley is relatable and determined, and Theo is a charming and complex character. Their banter is witty and entertaining, and their unexpected connection adds depth to the story. It’s fun seeing their relationship blossoming naturally from enemies to lovers amidst their competitiveness. There was also a side story about Finely’s grandmother that made my heart melt. Overall it was a fun and sweet YA read!

In the past I've read a few books by Kasie West and really enjoyed them. Better Than Revenge caught my eye because of this adorable cover and the fact that our main character wants to become a famous podcaster. I don't listen to them myself, but for some reason I love that element in the books I read. When I picked up this book, I couldn't put it down and read it all in one sitting.

My heart broke for Finley. Working towards a spot on her school's podcast for her senior year has taken up a lot of her time. So when her boyfriend decides to audition without showing any sign of wanting it at all really hurts Finley. Even more so when Jensen gets the position she was hoping for and doesn't seem to understand why she's mad. Her emotions lead her to wanting revenge against Jensen and this turns her life upside down in many ways.

What I really appreciated about Better Than Revenge is that this wasn't just a romance or revenge plot. This book was filled with friendship, family, working on your dreams, and even believing in yourself. Theo and Finley's grandmother really stole the show for me, and if I'm being honest I teared up a few times while reading this book. Finley's personal podcast and the grand gesture at the end of this book was everything I wanted and more.

Better Than Revenge is a book I'd highly recommend and I'd have to say it's become my favorite Kasie West book. I didn't want to go in to too many details because I enjoyed going into this book knowing near to nothing. It was an emotional roller coaster, and it ended up being very heartwarming and left a smile on my face.