ARC Review: You Started It by Jackie Khalilieh

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐💫 (3.75/5)

Huge thanks to Tundra Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

This book was such a fun, chaotic YA rom-com with a lot of heart. For fans of “Never Have I Ever”, “XO, Kitty”, and all the messy, all-consuming emotions that come with first love. I loved the representation and how it explored identity and self-acceptance alongside the romance. Perfect for opening up conversations and I’d recommend and of my young readers to give this book a go! The texting format and banter made it a breeze to get through, and the teen drama? Exactly what I’d expect—frustrating and a little over the top. Super engaging especially as I made my way through the book!

That said, the miscommunication trope was working overtime. I just wanted to sit everyone down and force a Red Table Talk intervention 😂 But once I reminded myself of the age range (and added in everything Jamie was dealing with), it all checked out. Still, super entertaining, and if you love YA romance packed with drama, this one’s for you!

i love you jackie khalilieh so much! the romance was so cute and I also loved the personal growth that our main characters went through. it was at times frustrating but that is how it is when you read about teenagers making dumb teenager decisions. this book make Khalilieh an auto-read author for me!!

This book was very cute and fun, and felt realistic to the high school experience!

You Started It follows Jamie, who, on the eve of her senior year, is left alone when her longtime boyfriend Ben breaks up with her. Following the breakup and seeing Ben with fellow senior Olivia, Jamie recruits Axel, junior year tiktok star, for her fake dating scheme to get back at Ben.

I absolutely adored Axel - I was routing for him the whole time and really enjoyed his character. I thought Jamie was a very realistic character, and while her indecisiveness was annoying at times, I think it totally makes sense for the season of life she was in. I really enjoyed her character growth and watching her overcome all the experiences life threw at her, and I think the anxiety representation was extremely well done.

As I said before, Jamie's indecisiveness was quite annoying at times, and I didn't love the way she handled herself at some moments throughout the book. I am also not a huge fan of love triangles in general, but I did love Axel throughout the book.

If you're looking for a cute senior YA romance about finding yourself and reconnecting with your family and your routes, this is a great book for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random house Canada for the arc copy.

This was a sweet, clean, young adult romance that follows high school kids as they navigate the challenges of life, family, growing up, and finding love. There were parts that were super cute, but there were definitely others that were a little cheesy/cringy. Overall it was an enjoyable read. Thank you to Jackie Khalilieh, Tundra Book Group, and NetGalley for the ARC in return for my honest review.

Ughhhh another one I thought I’d love and didn’t. The FMC is a bit stupid. How are you gonna move to a new city and make NO new friends outside of your brand new boyfriend? Like not even ‘school friends?’ As the book goes on she doesn’t mature at all. I was realllllly frustrated by her thinking and actions. Ben is really immature and annoying the entire book. Like he has zero redeeming qualities. Axel is super charming and sweet, i really liked him. Do I think he screwed up a little bit? Yes. But I still liked him

Review shared on Goodreads.

This was a very cute, messy high school romance! I'm personally not a fan of the fake dating trope but other than that I quite enjoyed this. It's a very sweet story, not just about falling in love, but also about finding yourself and navigating complicated family relationships.

Axel and Jamie are adorable together and I loved the inclusion of Arabic culture and Khalilieh’s Palestinian-Canadian experience through Jamie's high school lens.

This was such a short, sweet, and charming story. I throughly enjoyed the characters and learning about all of their lives. Axel was such a light and honestly reading his dialogue and whenever he was on the page brought me so much joy.

This is a YA book and all of the drama and conflict was very appropriate for the age group. Loved the character development and growth. And I LOVED Jamie’s uncle. I also enjoyed where the author ended with the Olivia storyline, that was unexpected for a high school drama, but a lovely way to end it.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. This was very fun to read 💞

This is one of my favourite books of this year.
fake dating ✅
YA contemporary ✅
a main character growing into her self confidence and finding herself ✅

I really enjoyed reading this book and reading Jamie’s perspectives on her senior year. She has messy moments with lashing out at the people who care about her but she also has meaningful conversations with her mom and uncle about identity. Jamie throughout the book has a rollercoaster of emotions towards her ex, Axel and her mom. She starts to realize and learn how to gain confidence in herself and to stop trying to be “perfect” to fit in throughout the story.

Axel and Jamie have so many sweet moments. I especially love the moment where Axel shows Jamie the nearest washroom as he knows she deals with what I like to call anxiety poops. Jackie writes about Jamie's anxiety well and I also have the feeling of anxiety and cramping pains so I always need to know where the closest washrooms are which made this interesting to read about. It also melted my heart that Axel noticed and right away told her of the washrooms when she was in a new place.

Axel and Jamie help each other find their footing with relationships, self confidence and school. The way they slowly fall for each other was so fun to read. I say slowly because Jamie truly thinks getting back with her ex is the best way to fix her problems and doesn't realize that Axel is right there and definitely treats her better but I still enjoyed the journey of watching her realize that she likes Axel.

I enjoyed the family relationships and the conversations that Jamie has with her mom and her uncle throughout the story as well.

I enjoyed this a lot and cannot wait to read whatever Jackie writes next! Thank you PenguinTeenCanada and NetGalley for this e-ARC.

3.75/5 ⭐️

This sweet, clean romance features high school kids navigating life, growing up, and finding love. I really enjoyed getting to see different representation through the Arabic characters. There was strong character growth towards the end. While this was an enjoyable read, it seemed like a lot of the drama that occurred was really immature for the age group. Overall, this was a sweet romance book.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are that of my own

thanks to NetGalley for the eARC

⭐️=2 | 😘=2.5 | 🤬=3 | 14/15+

summary: fake dating so she can make her ex jealous and get back with him that’s it that’s the plot

thoughts: I like what’s happening here thematically, especially looking at the MC’s relationship with her parents and her feeling of connection (or lack thereof) to Arab culture, but the drama of the romance was, like, a lot. the characters are teenagers but less in a fun way and more in a “I’m going to rip my hair out these are terrible decisions omg” way. they’re pretty maddening, and I definitely wasn’t convinced that they were, like, in love by the end? and there was of course the unfortunate incorporation of dated Gen Z slang and an overabundance of TikTok; there’s a point where the FMC is trying to recover from a panic attack and the love interest is like “do you want to watch some TikToks to help you calm down” and it’s like ?? how would that be soothing?? why would you suggest this?? I am once again begging YA authors to have sensitivity readers of their own target audience to point out when contemporary slang is cringe. like please pay some fifteen year-old girl to do this I promise she’d be worth it!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Jackie Khalilieh for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

(3.5)

"You Started It" is a YA romance that follows Jamie, unexpectedly single after her boyfriend of 3 years breaks off their relationship after a summer away at camp and a new girlfriend. While in despair, she meets Axel, who immediately jumps into fake dating Jamie in attempt to win Ben back. Between an unsigned contract, checking off a bucket list, and lots of high school relationship drama, Jamie and Axel start to develop some REAL big feelings during their fake relationship.

I really really enjoyed this! Jamie and Axel were super fun to read about and I loved the way they connected. Jamie sometimes felt really relatable so we love thatttt. I loved reading a romance with Palestinian and Arab representation and appreciated the story having storylines about family, friendships, and mental health in addition to the romance. Reading Gen Z slang in a book still throws me off a lot, but this was cute and fun! Definitely recommend for those who love a fake dating romance!

I had never read a book by this author or had heard of her until this book, and let me just say she did not disappoint! This was such a cute, fluffy read and very much reminded me of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. Jamie and Axel’s fake dating relationship was kind of like Lara Jean and Peter’s relationship in that book. One thing I liked the most about Axel is that he brought out the real Jamie and made her forget about her past relationship with her ex-boyfriend, Ben. When she was with Ben she felt like she needed to change herself, but when she was with Axel, she wasn’t afraid to be who she was. Axel made her happy and unafraid which made him happy as well. I liked that they were able to bond over their shared culture of Arab and that Axel was able to teach her about that culture when she had grown up on lies on what it meant to be Arab. Though I myself do not know much about the culture or take part in it, I thought it was nice that the author included it for others to enjoy that are involved with it. Overall I thought this was a cute read and would recommend it to anyone who wants a sweet, YA book!

Overall Rating: 4⭐️
Spice Raing: Just kisses
Language Rating: None
Genre: YA Romance
Reader Age: 16+
Content Considerations: Divorce, anxiety, claustrophobia, addiction

This is definitely one of the best YA romance books I’ve had the pleasure of reading.

Seventeen year-old Jamie has big plans for senior year, including a whole list of places she’d like to go with Ben, her boyfriend of three years. But Ben arrived home after a summer away at camp with an unexpected announcement: he wants to break up. And when Jamie discovers Ben with Olivia Chen the next day, she can’t even drive straight, running over Axel Dahini’s bike.

This book was just so sweet and reading the authors note at the end just makes it so much better. I loved how full these characters feel. Their flaws are so evident which is something I find YA novels sometimes lack. Was this book cheesy? Yes but in the best way possible. I am such a sucker for a happy ending and loved how Jackie Khalilieh made this one unfold.

If you love Jenny Han and Lynn Painter, this book is right up your alley.

First, I’d like to thank Tundra Books/PRH Canada for this YA ARC. Releases May 20, 2025

I read the synopsis and was instantly hooked so I just had this feeling I was going to love this book - and I was right! As I was reading through, I was definitely getting vibes of the Netflix show, "Never Have I Ever" with a quirky, chatty high school FMC that is a little boy crazed/obsessed. I loved how Jackie Khalilieh wove in heavy topics and put an emphasis on owning your culture as you grapple with your identity. It was heartwarming, funny, charming, and made me giggle quite a few times. I would absolutely recommend to any YA readers or adults who read YA to add this to your list!

The story is centered on Jamie, who has been with her high-school boyfriend Ben for 3 years, but young love doesn't last forever. They break up, and she devises a plan to win him back. She drives over to his house only to find him with another girl, and as she drives away, she meets the new neighbor Axel by running over his bike. They form a plan to pretend to be in a relationship so she can find a way to win Ben back.

The more time Jamie spends with Axel, the more she starts to learn about herself and her Arab culture. She starts to realize she is living in this bubble and not really experiencing life. Axel is Arab and demonstrates time and time again that Arab people are not exactly what her mother had made it seem. Jamie and Axel's love story of how they started may have been unique, but sometimes you find things in the unexpected.

This YA romantic story brought me right back to high school. Those awkward moments falling in love and having a difficult time sharing those feelings with one another. The frustrating times with family when you don't see eye to eye on things and when just can't seem to leave you alone.

Thank you to NetGalley for the Arc. I liked this book but it definitely wasn’t a favorite of mine. I liked that the main character had realistic home struggles and the author did a good job making the settings fun and enjoyable. I’d love to go eat at their restaurant! I am rating a little lower because the characters lacked depth. Another issue I had is a lot of the dialogue gave me the ick. I understand it was YA but things that were said or the male mc being a TikTok dancer is just cringy. The main female character is also just unlikable and she frustrated me. I think this book has a great concept but it just fell flat for me.

Okey this one give to me summer vibes!! It was really fun romantic comedy, but has some things that are not It has representation anxiety, alcoholism, panic attacks, cheating. In general it was a really cute book but for me the treed act conflict but me down. I like a lot the way. The anxiety and the panic attacks are represented and the romance its cute. I like the evolution of the characters and the summer vibes, I will recommend this book to my teenagers. For me its a 3.5 stars

3.8 ☆ ⊹₊ ⋆
first arc!! this was a cute book (the cover is so adorable) and i loved how their friendship and relationship progressed throughout the book

*:･ﾟ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪✧ °❀ ₊‧₊˚⋅
╰┈➤ .✩ 𝓅𝓁𝑜𝓉 ✩.
so, the fake dating trope strikes again. i love this trope when it's done well, and this was done somewhere close to the mark! [minor spoiler?] there was a third act breakup which i really did not enjoy, because i feel like we didn't get enough of axel and jamie as a couple. i loved the arab representation, and the author's review was everything!

*:･ﾟ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪✧ °❀ ₊‧₊˚⋅
╰┈➤ .✩ 𝒸𝒽𝒶𝓇𝒶𝒸𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓈 ✩.

˚｡⋆˚ jamie ˚⋆ ｡˚⋆
jamie was a character! she def had such likeable qualities, and she also had a few unlikeable ones unfortunately. for one, she was always quick to get angry at her mother, and i felt so so bad for the mom throughout the series bc of how jamie always put the blame on her mom -- specially when she found out about her dad.

⋆ ˚｡⋆˚ axel ˚⋆ ｡˚⋆
aww, this guy was the greenest green flag ever!! he was so freaking sweet, and so freaking nice, and he did everything right for jamie. i loved how he walked her thru her fears and understood them and didn't try to berate her at all.

*:･ﾟ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪✧ °❀ ₊‧₊˚⋅
╰┈➤ .✩ 𝒻𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉𝓈 ✩.
overall, a cute book! at times, the writing was cringe, i'll admit (ie. delulu) buut it was sweet and fun nevertheless!

thank you to netgalley and jackie khalilieh for this arc in exchange for an honest opinion! <3

Okay the first like 50-60 pages were perfect. like best way i could see someone set up a book, and the last 40 pages had me hooked, but other than a few cute scenes in the middle i was just upset with the main character. i was expecting the fake dating to be a common drive for the plot, but that was basically stopped after a few chapters and the rest of everything just became miscommunication. It was as if the main character was just trying to stir up drama.
To be completely honest, i can’t decide what my thoughts are on this book because i want to love it. it has super cute, adorable scenes between a lot of people and i totally understand the main characters drive at the beginning of the book, but as the book went on, her problems just spiraled because she refused to communicate well. i really do like the love interest, axel, and the main character’s uncle but i feel like everyone else just got on my nerves at some point in the book.
Lowkey though, that might just be a sign of good writing because i wasn’t 100% invested and needed to see how everything worked out in the end… i wasn’t just annoyed in getting there because now that ive finished it im in love with all the characters again haha.
It was organized well and had some good plot developments, bringing in common struggles with a level of uptalk while trying to capture a high school relationship.
It’s like i love the story and the vibes it gives off and most of the characters, but how it played out just could have been handled in a better way.

As someone who graduated high school just last year, this book completely missed the mark for me. Maybe it's the fact that I'm 1-2 years older than the main characters but I felt their actions deep in my soul. I felt so much secondhand embarrassment especially during the dancing scenes. Axel's dancing is described as hypnotic but I can't get over the "hip gyrating" and the use of the word "pound" when he's dancing. I did really enjoy the messiness of the characters in the book! It was the type of messiness and drama that only comes from being a teenager in high school.