Okay, so. Here's the thing. Fake dating is already difficult to digest for adults, but even more so for teenagers/young adults. However, this was really cute! I didn't really focus much on the fake dating because as with all fake dating, it's quite obvious how it's going to turn out.

I have never read a book with one let alone two Arab main characters. I loved that! This was so rich with culture and colors the story in such a beautiful way that makes this feel super unique and intentional. Jackie Khalilieh is a really engaging writer and while I do think Axel and Jamie could have been developed better, this might be a feeling that would have been required for an adult romance but might be completely fine for a YA romance. On the topic of the romance, I do think this felt more middle grade-coded at times, and there is some language and a LOT of making out that makes it feel more mature at times, but the ways the characters interacted felt very young. Which honestly could be a breath of fresh air for YA romance readers who get tired of kids acting very adult.

Thank you to Tundra Books for providing me with an ARC!

4 ⭐️s
🚨 Pub Date: 05/20/25

1⭐

maybe spoilers??

15+

romance: 4/10 (intense (45 minute long???) makeout sessions which SOMEHOW go no farther than kissing??? For 45 minutes??? I’m sorry 💀💀 talk of doing the ✨nasty✨ outside of marriage. Past teenage pregnancy)

cursing: 3/10 (infrequent minor/moderate curse words)

violence: 0/10 (i don’t remember anyyyy)

other: alcoholism, parent out of the home

tropes: fake dating

first person, present tense (mostly)


–OVERVIEW–

so here are all the reasons I did not like this book, at all. Not even a little bit.


-the writing-

I’ll keep this short n sweet.

I’ve read fanfiction with better writing. This was worse than the writing in Fearless (see my review…👀). I genuinely wish I had never picked up this book.

The random tense skipping and flashbacks? Shut up. Just stop it

-the romance-

Where is the banter and tension I was promised?
Why does the romance feel like a middle grade, only with way too much ✨saucy tango✨ mentioned to be acceptable for me to hand to anyone younger than 15?

Why is everyone so obsessed with Jamie? Like okay? We get it alr just shut up.

-the premise-

When I heard date bucket list and fake dating I CAME RUNNING, but the execution on this was absolutely HORRID

-the emotional rollercoaster-

Usually when people say “emotional rollercoaster” they mean it as a good thing, but this was NOT a good thing.
Every scene change was jarring and felt like being backhanded.
Every supposedly “emotional” scene felt more shallow than a snowflake when it melts.
Jamie is so bipolar she spends one page hating her mom, her dad, her uncle, Axel, Ben, Olivia, the guy who lives across the street’s goldfish who died two years ago, her entire freaking life. Then <b>the. next. page.</b> is sunshine and rainbows?
Help???

-everything-

This one's self explanatory

–PLOT–

I like him 🤭
wait…no I don't
but maybe I do…
OH HELL NAH GET YO UGLY AHH FACE AWAY FROM ME CRETIN.
Oh wait, I didn’t mean that, take me back now pweeseeeee 🥺🥺

–CHARACTERS–

Jamie
⤷ I’m sorry, I don’t f with pick me fmcs.
This girl is unbelievable. I wouldn’t have thought she could possibly be <b>this bad</b> but I ASSURE you, she is. Autumn Davis is a freaking saint in comparison with Jamie Taher-Foster.
Nothing she ever does is wrong. No! Bc how could she be wrong when it’s <b>everyone else’s fault for every minor inconvenience</b>
I liked her for approximately one page, then I saw how much of a devil this girl is. Devil isn’t even a strong enough word to describe her. This girl genuinely makes me want to commit arson bc what. do. you. mean.

Axel
⤷ dude you deserved sm better than this girl, like I would give you the moon if I could, even tho you being a TikTok dancer was the cringiest cringe I ever did cringe.

Ben
⤷ asshole

Olivia
⤷ she just exists

Amo Eli
⤷ why is he gay and Muslim? Christian? IDEK ATP bc he was saying things like “ya Allah” but then Jamie says her family is Eastern Orthodox? And he’s still gay? Like I understand the want to have representation or smth, but don’t muddle in religions that don’t support (doesn’t mean we don't love them) lgbt.
I’m so done with my faith being misrepresented in books.


–CONCLUSION–

You’re not missing a single thing, ml

Recommended: yep!
for a well-done fake dating romance, for solid representation with an Arab boy love interest and girl who has IBS, for a cast of characters who all get screen time to grow and develop, AND IT HAS A PLAYLIST OF SONGS AT THE BACK!!!

Thoughts:
Yo I was SO excited to get approved for this ARC! I'm absolutely present for almost any fake-dating trope, and this one has opposites attract too!!! And look, those are the tropey highlights, but the deeper themes were really strong in it as well and overall I'm so happy this book exists.

First up, most important with a young adult fake dating romance, is that the characters weren't idiots. xD They were a bit foolish in love and in heartbreak, but that transcends age. I got the feeling of them having all these new feelings and the excitement that sweeps them up, while they also were quite practical and considerate. There was some gray area, where no one was the outright "villain" as they each got more development and a chance to see their story.

A big part of this, at least to me (and to the author who calls it out in her notes at the end) is having a young Arab love interest. I actually don't know if I've seen that often -- probably? -- but I think it's wonderful to see the representation especially since the culture has gotten a really shitty bias for a long time (at least in USA). That racism is seen and called out in the book, but in a way that doesn't break your heart with cruelty and is more angled toward learning and dismantling racism than just seeing racist scenes to hurt you. It's also highlighting internalized racism, and even power imbalance with a younger person calling an older person out on it, and the older person ACTUALLY listening. Speaking out and standing up for what's right was on deck here, and I will ALWAYS back that.

The romance itself was SO sweet, and it's incredibly easy to root for the characters. There's a balance in the story between scenes with them together, and with family and friends as highlighted relationships. The scenes where they are together though just made me smile the whole way through, like I was getting to enjoy watching two of my good friends realize how they felt about each other and embrace it. I also appreciated that there wasn't much of that angst where they for some reason refuse to admit their true feelings and fight being together for real for no reason. The main (girl) character also has IBS, though I don't think it's ever specifically labeled, and that little touch of her anxiety over it and how he supports her in what she needs is PERFECT.

So overall this was hella cute, had solid rep, fought racism, and gave everyone a story. What's not to like?

Thanks to NetGalley for a free advanced copy. This is my honest review.

This was such a cute book! It gave off that "coming of age" feel, which I LIVE FOR! The book captures youth, first love experiences, and heartbreak so well, and it's tied up in a bow of comedic scenes and heart-pulling growth. I truly believe that Jamie will be such a relatable character to readers because she doesn't do "spontaneous". She relies heavily on plans, checklists, and knowing what her next steps are because it is what grounds her. So when people say "live a little," it's almost a concept that doesn't connect in her head. Axel, being the "carefree" spirit, was such a good mesh with Jamie and how structured she made her life. I believe Axel taught her that you can live life being careful, not cautious. He was just a bundle of carefree, confident sunshine, and that just mixed well with Jamie's structured checklist life. What I loved is that he didn't pick at her (in a negative way) he just went along with it. He helped ease her out of her shell, and I loved reading from Jamie's pov because it was amazing to see how Axel influenced her life in ways I'm sure she didn't even see coming.

This book was genuiely amazing, it covered how high school can be rough, first love is magical, heartbreak actually sucks, families are imperfectly perfect, and sometimes the best things come comepletely out of left field. Taking a chance can be worth the risk, and if I have to choose a topic that covered this entire book, it would be just that.

Thank you, Jackie Khalilieh, for writing this book, and thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read the book prior to its release!

You Started It is a fun, feel-good YA rom-com that completely took me by surprise—in the best way. It’s got all the things I love in this kind of story: fake dating, lots of humor, and characters who feel real and layered. The romance is adorable and full of banter, but I loved the way the book balances all the light, funny moments with genuine emotional depth.
The story also does a great job highlighting Palestinian identity without it ever feeling forced or like an afterthought. It’s just a natural part of who the characters are, and it adds so much heart to the story.
Thank you to Netgalley and Tundra Books for the advanced copy.

"Maybe there's beauty in the process, in the mess."

This was so stinking cute!! A perfect yet messy af coming-of-age story that gave me the same feelings as reading Better Than The Movies but with diverse characters and mental health rep. The author did an incredible job writing a story that encampsulated teenage first loves (and mishaps), complicated family dynamics, embracing cultural roots, and navigating mental health.

I'm obsessed with Jamie and Axel - there were times I wanted to shake the both of them, but I knew they were just acting their age and at the end, their character arcs left me immensely satisfied. It was really heartwarming to see Axel help Jamie embrace her Arab identity, as well acknowledge the needs that accompanied her anxiety.

I also really appreciated seeing the different relationships Jamie had and/or developed throughout the story, including with her parents, her uncle, her ex, and even the unexpected friendship that blossomed toward the end of the book. Although the conversations with her mom and Ben were so frustrating, I loved getting those hilarious and light-hearted convos with her Amo Eli.

Jamie was such a fascinating, yet flawed, female main character. She had her moments and I adored her to bits, anyways. And Axel? He was so incredibly charming and funny and easy to root for. I loved reading about these characters.

You Started It was one of my highly anticipated reads of 2025. It's a YA fake dating romance set in Toronto, between a Palestinian girl and a Lebanese boy. Arab characters are so underrepresented in the romance genre, especially Arab heroes, so I was extremely excited to read this book. Seventeen-year-old Jamie has everything planned, but what she did not see coming was her boyfriend Ben dumping her for the popular girl in school. Jamie is determined to win Ben back, even if it means fake dating Axel, the new boy in school. So what if Axel is a year younger than her? So what if Axel is a dancer? Their fake dating scheme is mutually beneficial.

Jamie and Axel may share an Arab heritage, but they couldn't be more different. Jamie's entire life is centered on making plans and achieving goals. Axel, on the other hand, is more spontaneous and carefree. But these two work unexpectedly well together. When she's with Axel, Jamie gets to experience new things and she learns to step outside of her comfort zone and grows a lot in the process. Jamie and Axel are so stinking cute together. Expect some truly juicy teenage drama with a healthy dose of longing, chemistry, and flirty banter. I can't believe I'm even saying this, as a full-blown adult, but man, I was actually so invested in the teenage drama LOL mostly because I was 100% rooting for Jamie.

There's more to this book than romance. Jamie has a very complicated relationship with her mother, something that the author takes a lot of care exploring. Jamie also has anxiety disorder, which became worse when her dad left 3 years ago. Essentially, Jamie is carrying a lot of baggage for her tender age. Overall, I really like how the author tackled this incredibly complicated family dynamic with a lot of care.

I listened to the audiobook narration of You Started It and it was superbly narrated by Laila Kharouba. I think this is her first time narrating an audiobook? Either way, she did a great job bringing this story and its characters to life. I had so much fun listening to this book, and I hope to read more from Jackie Khalilieh. We need more Palestinian and Arab voices in publishing. Oh, and more Arab heroes and heroines, please and thanks!

This book was super cute! I always love a good fake dating trope and I feel like this book did a really good job with it. I also like Jamie and Axel together!

Perfect for fans of fake dating, he fell first, and sweet romance stories. The banter is cute and swoony. The ending is so cinematic! I wish someone would make this into a series. Highly recommend.

Another hit from Jackie Khalilieh! She just writes such relatable FMC's. Jackie writes the YA books I needed to see myself back in the day. She writes such messy, and authentic multi-dimensional leads.

The premise of this had me invested and captivated all at once. From chapter 1 I was cheering for our girl and needed to see her succeed. I laughed so much at the interactions with characters, the banter was so fresh and lively.

This touched on so many things like familial wounds and self discovery and so much more. All addressed with care, vulnerability, honesty, it was truly a beautiful book.

First and foremost, thank you to the publisher and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I loved this story and it was definitely worth the read!

3 stars!!

<i>you started it</i> is a YA romance that follows jamie taher-foster as her life gets turned upside down after her seemingly perfect boyfriend breaks up with her out of nowhere. typically, i find most YA rom-coms to be very predictable with the only real difference being the character's names. and while that can be comforting and fun to read, it gets on my nerves every so often. you started it is by no means life-changing, but it does have a more variety than most current romances do. jackie did a lovely job of not only making a romance worthy of giggling and feet kicking, but also giving personality and relatability to the characters.

jamie was such an amazing anxiety rep. i think sometimes authors tend to dramatize (or worse, romanticize) panic attacks and anxiety disorders in a way that's completely unrealistic, but the descriptions in this book were depicted in a natural way that felt accurate to me personally. jamie wasn't perfect. she made many mistakes just like everyone else, which is something i love seeing in rom-coms. but her character didn't feel quirky or 'different' because of those mistakes, she felt real. and that's something i rarely in YA. probably one of the only things that really bothered me was her correcting others about english. it felt WAYYY too forced and was also really annoying to have to read "actually, it's-" or "did you know that word also means this? fun fact haha" OVER AND OVER. sorry but who made you grammar police 😭 am i being a tad dramatic? possibly, however it just wasn't my thing.

axel dahini was so adorable. i was a little skeptical about him literally being a tiktok dancer, but it was not nearly as cringey as i imagined. at moments, it took me out of the book a little, but i was expecting way worse. while we did get a little information about his relationship with his dad, i was hoping for more. his backstory fell a little flat for me but i digress because he was still entertaining, gorgeous, and a feminist so i love <33

my favorite thing about the whole book was how realistic and perfect the aftermath of jamie and ben's breakup was written. i've yet to read a YA book where the main character has to figure life out after the person they fully attached themselves to just randomly leaves. the struggle for closure and yearning for what you feel is yourself back was done so well. it's a strange and alienating feeling that i think should be written about more in young adult, romantically and platonically. i imagine many teenagers will feel seen and understood while reading this, at least, i know i did.

a part from the cringey moments and parts that were clearly written from an adult attempting to work in gen z humor and dialogue, you started it is a heartfelt and endearing story about focusing on yourself and growing as a person before a couple. it illustrates how meaningful relationships with others can be but still shows how much people need to figure out themselves and be alone first. so many books have this narrative of needing this perfect best friend character or romantic partner and while that can be fulfilling, it is ultimately yourself who you are obligated to spend all your life with. you started it isn't about finding yourself, it's about finding yourself when you lose someone who was apart of your soul and all you can feel is an ache to know where it went wrong. so even if some jamie got on my nerves sometimes, this was so fun to read. and considering this is only jackie's second published book, i am definitely looking forward to what she puts out next.

huge thank you to netgalley for sending me this arc!!

You Started It by Jackie Khalilieh starts off with the FMC Jamie getting dumped by her long time boyfriend right before senior year starts. Jamie tries to win back her boyfriend Ben by fake dating Axel, and as you would imagine things get messy! While she and Axel bond over their shared Arab heritage, they couldn't be more opposite personality wise. She's Type A and struggles with anxiety that prompts her to try and control everything; He's type B, creative, and enjoys going with the flow and having fun. For readers who enjoy high school romance and the drama that comes with it, this will be a hit!

Thank you to Jackie Khalilieh, Tundra Books, and NetGalley for the ARC which I received in exchange for my honest review (:

This is a wonderful book for anyone wanting to step back into high school and experience the trials of first loves and heartbreak. 'You Started It' is a great coming of age story that touches on mental struggles and family.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes YA books with fun storytelling.

Such a cute cheesy romance...right up my alley. I loved how complex her characters were. They had real emotions, real struggles, and made mistakes. It made it more relatable and made me fall in love with her characters even more. Will definitely be checking out her other books. A fun, clean romance book that I will definitely be reading again.

I love romance books with messy premises. Jamie was unceremoniously dumped by her boyfriend of 3 years, Ben, after he was away for months as a summer camp counselor. To add insult to injury, she spotted him kissing his fellow camp counselor THE NEXT DAY! So ensues an insane fake-dating scheme with Axel, the laidback boy she runs into amidst her discovery. Can she convince Ben that he has made a mistake?

Jamie really went through it in this book. I saw myself reflected in her issues with her parent’s divorce and not seeing eye-to-eye with any of the adults in her life. Her anxiety was also relatable with the desire to plan out everything so that there would be no surprises to fear. I loved that Axel was able to understand her while also gently prodding her to try new things. The romance was so sweet between the two of them.

This book was very young adult in the way that I felt it was one of the first times I felt like they were truly teenagers in their logic and reasoning. I wanted to yell through the pages for Jamie to just talk to her mom, but I also remember being 17. Adults can’t possibly understand anything. I only felt a little old with that Justin Bieber comment.

I love that this book was inspired by Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour album. It fits so well! I recommend this book to young adult fans who like a messy romance story.

Thank you to the author and publisher for a physical and eARC of the book to read and review.

Themes/Tropes: Fake Dating, Second Chance (Kind of), Family Dynamics, Older FMC, Type A x Free Spirit, Witty/Funny Banter

CW: Alcoholism, Divorced Parents, Anxiety and stomach (IBS) issues tied to Anxiety, Claustrophobia (Listed in the front of the book)

This book made me feel all of the feelings, multiple times. Jamie, the FMC, is about to start her senior year, and she has made so many plans with Ben, her current BF. Sadly, when he returns from being a camp counselor, he dumps her and already has a new beau???

When Jamie is trying to be secretive about checking out Ben's new girl, she accidentally runs over the new boys bike. In comes Axel, our adorable chaotic dancer, who just happens to make the perfect fake BF so Jamie "win back Ben".

I truly loved Jamie's uncle, and the growth of her mom's character arc. It is the growth that I wish I saw in my own parents. Also Jamie's arc is so well done. As someone who has anxiety and making plans so I can stay in control of a situation, her character learning to release control- was beautiful.

I was so excited to finish this book because I wanted to read what happened, and how the author would end it. The banter is amazing, the character dynamics are so well done, and it had me feeling every possible emotion throughout the story. Pick this one up if you have the chance!

This was such a cute and fun YA romance. I adored Jamie and while I’ve never been diagnosed with anxiety, I very much related to her need to make lists and plans and map things out. Axel is a charmer. Ben is a classic high school dude. And while their characters are very different, I appreciated that Khalilieh used their personalities to show a range of what guys that exist in the world and how different people can connect with someone in unexpected ways. I also really appreciated that none of the main characters were problematic. They have their flaws, sure, but it’s the kind of flaws you’d expect in high school seniors who are still maturing and figuring out what they want and who best fits in their lives and how, or even if, they fit. You Started It is a beautiful YA romance story with just the right amount of coming of age, shenanigans, and squeal worthy moments that I think a lot of people of all ages will enjoy.

4/5 stars
0/5 spice (kissing only)

Tropes:
Fake dating
High school setting
Opposites attract
He falls first
Anxiety rep
Trauma/healing
Single POV

This is a very YA book. Not that it's a bad thing. I would've raved about this book in my teens, so I think this is exactly the right kind of book for a YA audience.

I love a good fake dating trope, especially when the MMC falls first. Jamie had a lot of healing to do before she could embrace the good thing she had with Axel. There were moments that were frustrating because of teenage hormones and emotional immaturity but it made sense for the characters' ages. I did like how the author created character growth for both MCs and even the side characters.

Overall, this is a cute romance for teens with some good lessons to learn. I would recommend this to readers 14+ since there is only kissing involved with one or two moments alluding to more.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tundra Book Club for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered voluntarily.

When your boyfriend dumps you right before the Winter Formal whats a girl to do but try and win him back....even if it means fake dating the younger TikTok dancer whose bicycle you've accidentally run over. High school drama, relationship troubles, and falling in love all over again. This was definitely geared towards younger YA readers. I wish I could like it but it just wasn't for me, i found the characters annoying and I just didn't care for the storyline. I normally adore YA books but this one just missed the mark for me. I would say this is definitely for younger YA readers of Gen Z age but I feel like I aged out of this particular book. I honestly didn't really care for any of the characters or the romance in here. While this one wasn't for me I do think that other readers of the younfer YA/Gen Z age might have fun with this!

Release Date: May 20, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Tundra Book Group | Tundra Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*