ARC REVIEW : Publication DATE: MAY 20 2025

You Stated It by Jackie Khalilieh is a young adult romance revolving around a fake dating scenario between 17-year-olds Jamie and Axel. Jamie is hoping to rekindle a romance with her ex, while Axel is using the opportunity to meet new people. What starts as a simple arrangement quickly turns into a web of emotions and confusion. While the book has its moments, overall, I found it to be a bit too immature for my taste. The premise of You Stated It is solid—fake dating is always an interesting trope in young adult romance novels. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t live up to the promise. The storyline felt overly dramatic and shallow, with much of the tension and conflict unfolding too quickly and in a way that didn’t seem realistic. Jamie’s emotional back-and-forth between her ex, Ben, and Axel felt repetitive and childish, which made it difficult to fully engage with the plot. While the drama might appeal to younger readers, it didn’t work for me. The writing itself was decent—not too long, not too short, with a pacing that kept things moving. I appreciated that the book was told from Jamie’s perspective, which provided a sense of intimacy with her character. However, this choice also limited the overall experience. While I understand the focus on Jamie’s emotions, the narrow perspective felt a bit limiting, especially when I would have liked to see more from Axel’s side of things. This is where the book really lost me. Jamie, the protagonist, struck me as overly immature and self-centered. Her constant indecision and lack of self-respect made it hard for me to sympathize with her, let alone root for her to get her happily-ever-after. The back-and-forth between her and Axel, and her obsessive focus on getting back with her ex, felt frustrating and childish. I was hoping for a more mature and self-aware character, but Jamie never seemed to learn from her mistakes. Axel, while nice enough, didn’t feel fully fleshed out, and seemed more like a plot device to create drama than a fully realized character. All of the drama felt crammed into a very short time frame, making everything seem rushed and over-the-top. The excessive drama overshadowed any meaningful character development or growth, leaving me with a sense that the book was more about creating conflict than exploring relationships in a thoughtful way. Unfortunately, You Stated It wasn’t the book for me. While the fake dating trope might appeal to fans of young adult romance, the immaturity of the characters and the lack of emotional depth were a big turn-off. I’d recommend this book to readers who enjoy lighthearted, drama-filled YA romances, but I’d caution anyone looking for a more mature, nuanced take on teenage relationships. It’s a quick read, but for those seeking more substance, it may feel too juvenile.