This was such a cute YA book. Characters were well rounded and interesting. The story was really cute and well done.

okay first off, Axel????? they could never make me hate you!!! 🥹🥹🥹 this book truly read like i was inside a 17 year old’s mind. some things were soooo accurate o was having flashbacks to when EYE was in highschool lol. Jamie really had cards against her. she couldn’t control her parents divorce & that lead to her having to control every other aspect in her life until it came back to bite her in ass. this was some real “first love in highschool” drama and i ate up every second of it. i will admit at times i was HELLO USE YOUR BRAIN and then when i remembered the age of the characters, i was like ohhhh to be young & dumb again 😭

Thank you TBR and Beyond for the tour copy of You Started It, Jackie Khalilieh’s sophomore novel! I loved Jackie’s first book, Something More, & she swiftly became a new favorite author. Her contemporary YA romances are not only enjoyable but they feature Palestinian characters; the FMC Jamie & her family are Palestinian Canadians who have a complex relationship with their identity that gets explored. You Started It also features the heartthrob Arab MMC Axel, & I loved Jackie’s note on wanting to portray Arab boys & men in ways we don’t often see in the West.

You Started It is about Jamie who wants to win back her ex, Ben, by fake dating Axel. Jackie is a pro at taking 90’s/2000’s teen movie tropes & setting them against our time. I loved that You Started It addressed internalized misogyny when Jamie had to deal with the feelings of Ben essentially leaving her for another girl. I also loved that Jamie came to terms with the way she tried to change to adapt herself to Ben, without her going so far as to have low self-esteem or have a glow-up. In the end, Jamie embraces her chaos & befriends the other girl–she even wears combat boots with her choice of dress to the winter formal! Jamie is so powerful just being herself, but she is also vulnerable in her relationships & anxieties, & I appreciate that character complexity & representation!

The subplots of embracing one’s identity & familial love really brought a fullness to this story. There’s something about YA contemporary romances that speaks to me so much more than adult romances. I think harkening back to a time when I was a hot mess myself & discovering my identity & relationships is much more relatable to me.

Finally, the way Jackie adds music into her stories calls to the little emo girl in me! I was so excited to make this reading playlist for the tour! A few of these songs were mentioned in the book, & it was so fun to discover that Jackie & I were on the same page when I found the playlist at the end that included some of the songs I’d picked–Olivia Rodrigo was a huge influence to this book!

This book checks all the boxes!

I loved this story. I also loved that this was based in Toronto and I enjoyed reading when a landmark came in the story. I loved Axel & Jamie together more than when she was with Ben. I do feel like Ben was Jamie’s safe place but after he broke up with her I feel like he did her a favor. Jamie branched out and was finding herself. Axel was a huge part of Jamie improving herself even if she didn’t see it. I loved how outgoing Axel was and that he was a TikTok star/dancer. I did feel bad on how Jamie treated her Mother but being a teenager and your Dad left you for unknown reasons at the time. I can see the teenage rebellion against her Mom - especially when Jamie thought it was her fault that he left. Ben & Olivia - I think they belonged together - nothing like some teenage high school drama between couples. I really loved Jamie’s Amo Eli. I loved that he was an instigator, meddled and had the best interest for Axel & Jamie. I wasn’t a fan of the third act breakup but I think it was well written into the storyline. I honestly want to say thanks for the arc. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to what this author writes next.

Thank you netgalley and the publisher’s for giving me the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It was a quite fun and colourful read for an YA book but unfortunately the trope was not for me. The chemistry definitely felt one sided and I thought she deserved better but then again, I don't even like her enough to support that. But definitely a solid 3 stars although me personally it was 2.5.

3.75 stars rounded up

There were a lot of things I loved about this book! Jamie is a teenage girl and she acts like a teenage girl in this story and I thought that was really refreshing to see. Does she make the same choices I would make as an adult? No. But she does make a lot of choices that I would have made back when I was a teenage girl. It made this book feel very realistic.

The downside to the book being very realistic is that it sometimes got frustrating as the reader. So much of the conflict in this book is conflict the FMC brings upon herself. There are moments when she is telling people she is moving on while at the same time doing everything to get her ex back.

This was a very raw and real story of what it feels like to lose that first love and the process of actually moving on even if you don't want to. I would have benefited greatly from a book like this when I was a teenager.

I really enjoyed reading this book and watching these characters figure life out.

Thank you to NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy

This was actually really cute. I feel like Jamie is such a good example of a teenage girl. I kind of wanted to shake some sense into her at times but it's 100% how a teenager acts. She just wanted her boyfriend back and couldn't see any of the reasons that they shouldn't be together. Axel was right there and wanted to be everything for her. He tried his best to support all of her decisions. The way they got back together was really fun.

I received an arc through netgalley.

I wanted to love it but it had so many issues that personally made me feel like I was dragging myself to the end of reading the book. The first thing is maturity level. Yes, 17 is still young but I found myself constantly wondering if I was an anomaly when I was 17 because Jamie came across as a 14 year old. A lot of the things she did and said were really frustrating to get through.

Speaking of her behaviour, she was also so toxic! It felt hypocritical watching her dish it but not be able to take it. She was so rude to her mother too without even knowing the full story behind why things were as they were. Yes, she should’ve gotten more information, but spewing misogynist and disrespectful language at a parent like that would’ve gotten me reprimanded immediately.

I loved Axel but his character felt so surface level. There was no depth to him other than when he bared his feelings for her. He doesn’t have any problems other than his dad’s issue with his passions, and we got a brief mention about him being cheated on by an ex but no details came. Olivia was a <spoiler>homewrecker</spoiler> , Ben was a <spoiler>cheater</spoiler> and her mom was way too passive for my liking. Amo Eli was the only person I truly liked.

I must give props though and I thought certain scenes were handled very well, like Jamie’s introduction to Axel’s friends and the clarification made in that moment. Otherwise? It had potential but I wasn’t a fan of the whole story.

Here’s what I know about books, or maybe a little about writing, it’s that with each novel, the author finds a smoother story and the depth finds its place in the book.

And that’s especially true with author @jack whose sophomore novel “you started it” .

A YA romance with a little more depth than most YA reads about a Palestinian girl going into senior year with her heart broken by her long time boyfriend and floundering over their “mini plans” of the future.

The emotions of being a senior and then a senior in love with the expectation of a future is captured in a realistic way with the main character Jamie. She’s also a Type A, anxiety driven young woman who carries the weight of her parent’s separation on her shoulders. It’s no wonder that the latest heartache left her in pieces.

Cue a neighbour who is game for a little ‘fake dating’ plot to get the attention of her ex. Little does she know that the fake dating can turn into a real life love story where she finds herself on top of the meet cute.

I loved how the author’s love of giving her anxiety a spot in her books. With the way we are all dealing with it, it would be silly to not incorporate something that so many of us have. Especially this younger generation.

I think this one will resonate with a lot of YA lovers because there are mature things that resemble their lives.

Jackie Khalilieh has done it again—and honestly, I don’t know how she keeps writing characters who feel so real, relatable, and easy to love, but I’m so glad she does. I absolutely adored Something More, and You Started It just confirmed that her storytelling is something truly special.

This book was such a joy to read from beginning to end. It’s funny, heartfelt, and filled with those quiet, swoony moments that sneak up on you. But what really stood out for me was the relationship between Jamie and Axel—it felt effortless, genuine, and full of that slow-burn magic I live for. The banter, the vulnerability, the tension… I was completely invested.

There’s something so comforting about the way Jackie writes love stories. She captures the awkwardness, the longing, and the little moments that say so much more than big declarations ever could. I found myself smiling through chapters and then getting unexpectedly emotional when the characters opened up in ways I didn’t see coming. That emotional depth, especially in the way relationships are built—not just romantic, but friendships and family too—is something I’ve come to admire in all her work.

Also, I just want to say how proud I am of Jackie—not just as a reader, but as someone who knows her. Her writing continues to evolve with heart and authenticity, and it’s so clear that she pours herself into every word.

You Started It is everything I love in a contemporary YA: strong voice, unforgettable characters, a romance that makes your heart flutter, and a story that feels real in all the best ways. If you haven’t picked it up yet—trust me, you want to.

Phenomenal! I read Something More by Jackie Khalilieh late last year, so I knew I HAD to read You Started It. Thanks to Tundra Books and NetGalley I got to read it ahead of its release.

As a fairly seasoned reader of YA books, I find that messy teenage antics make me want to read the book more. Teens should never be expected to be perfect. Let them make mistakes. Let them learn and grow naturally. Let them feel all their feelings without judgment. The main character Jamie gets to make plenty of iffy decisions. Fake dating a boy she hardly knows to repay him for his broken bike and get back at her ex boyfriend are only a couple of examples. She's messy and real and exactly what teenagers need to be able to see in fiction.

Axel is such a great love interest; he's one of the few Arab mmcs in traditional YA romance. He's soft, full of emotion, and a joy to read about. I love that he loves dancing. I ADORE how much he loves Jamie. He might go about things the "wrong" way but his heart is always in the right place. Jamie and Axel explore so much of Toronto, a city I've never been to and know very little about. It's as much a love letter to Toronto as it is a love letter to falling in love. These two really are the most adorable couple I've read in a long time!

I'm already yearning for Jackie Khalilieh's next release. I can't wait to return to her writing. This has anxiety and IBS representation as well. Please take care to note the content warnings.

Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Mental illness, Gaslighting, Abandonment

Minor: Car accident

Reading Jackie Khalilieh's books heals something in me. As a type A, overachieving teenager who wasn't "fun", I never thought it would have been possible to have boys fighting over me or seen as desirable. But in Jackie's books, her characters thrive and receive attention - without sacrificing who they are. Years later, reading her books as an adult, I get to experience theses characters I relate to so much get the type of high school experience I never really saw for myself.

I loved You Started It just as much as I thought I would. I'm a sucker for a Type A/Type B or opposites attract, and it was hard not to be charmed by the relationship between Jamie and Axel. This was messy and full of drama, and I loved how so many topics were navigated.

There were some moments where I found the dialogue a little unbelievable coming from teenagers, but I think that's probably always going to expected with YA unless it's actually written by a teenager. I also felt some of the plot drag a little bit at times, but it also felt true to life.

All in all, I thought the romance was incredibly sweet and I loved these characters. I'll read whatever Jackie writes next.

The book was cute. I appreciated all of the representation and definitely found myself connecting with Jamie's nees to organize everything in her life. But this book was very contemporary YA. The characters waffled back and forth with their opinions and relationships and while that feels realistic to high schoolers, it felt a little too YA for me personally and in the end I didn't finish the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tundra Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

You Started It is pure teenage angst and drama, so very well suited for the YA genre. Jamie is a pretty complex character. She lives with her mother and Amo Eli after her parent's divorce, and not seeing him for 3 years. This creates a really complicated relationship with her mom, and there's actually a lot of growth that unfolds between them both. At first it comes off really harsh but Jackie does deliver on having things come around full circle. Jamie is also going through a breakup with Ben, who came into her life right after her dad left and now in her senior year he upends everything she relied on to get through that time in her life. Throw in a fake dating scheme with Axel, and the story comes together from there.

What this really is at its core is a teenage girl who isn't exactly coping well with her circumstances, struggles to make friends, and can come off pretty judgmental at times. She's a bit of a cynic, when in reality I think she's struggling to find herself and where her values lie. I really do hope other readers give Jamie a chance, especially an older audience who may have forgotten what they were like at 17. There is also representation with IBS, an anxiety disorder, that I appreciate. It's my first time seeing this tackled and having struggled with that starting around 17 years old too, I think Jackie hit the right marks here. Especially for being a YA romance! It's awkward but it's also just part of life that can't be controlled any more than any other illnesses/chronic conditions. She's also 5'10 and grinds her teeth (she's so me).

There's also a discussion of culture here that I appreciate. Axel is Jordanian and Lebanese while Jamie is Palestinian. Her relationship with her heritage is skewed because of her mother's trauma/issues and this dynamic is explored as well. This is something that brings Axel and Jamie together both being Arab, with him introducing her more to that part of the culture. He also validates her identity explaining that she's not half Palestinian. She's Palestinian through and through, and there are ways for her to get in touch with her culture and community outside of her mom too.

I didn't give a full five stars just because I do have to admit, I found the TikTok dancing a bit awkward to me. Maybe that's just my own issues with my walls being up and struggling with what other people think about it. I think it was a nice sentiment but it really took me out of the story just because I don't know how many teenage boys today are receptive to the idea of being a TikTok dancing influencer. It made me wonder, which again, could be my own out of touch issues.

The thing is I really enjoyed this book, so much so that I read it all at once and couldn't put it down. There is just something about a BIPOC YA romance that I enjoy as someone who typically does not read or enjoy most romance. I think there are also a lot of good narratives in the book to be explored, as far as learning to be alone with yourself and not relying on a relationship (while also not avoiding the idea of a relationship entirely), as well as complicated relationships with your parents and learning to be a little kinder to those in our lives who we care about. There's also a huge message on forgiveness through Jamie with so many people. Pretty much everyone in this book.

Overall, I did enjoy it and will be recommending!

3.75⭐️
This was such a sweet read! I was team Jamie and Axel from the moment they met. I loved how Axel really understood Jamie’s anxiety and never downplayed or questioned her symptoms.

I do think this book could’ve benefited from maybe another round of edits. Some of the dialogue between Ben and Jamie and Jamie and her mother felt very repetitive throughout the book and at a certain point I was losing interest in those relationships. I wish we had gotten to see more of Jamie and Axel together (happily) - that could just be me not loving third act breakups though.

Overall, this was a very solid YA novel with great biracial and mental health representation that I think will speak to a lot of people whether or not they fit into those demographics.

Thanks NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a digital advanced copy of this book!

A big thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for the ARC!

4.5⭐️
This book was so much fun! I just love a good fake dating situation, and the characters had so much chemistry!! I also really enjoyed the writing style which made my reading experience so much fun and easy. I literally read the majority of this book in one sitting because I couldn't put it down! There were a lot of references to TikTok or other things like that which usually bother me in a book but in this one, it was made in a way were it made sense to the story and it didn't bother me at all. There were also a lot of talks about identity and family which just made me feel for the characters and their story so much! The only reason why this isn't a 5-star read for me is because I felt like the third-act break-up was too long, but everything else was just so good!! A must read!

You Started It by Jackie Khalilieh is a YA romance with the fake dating trope. First of all, I love fake dating, it’s one of my favorite tropes. But it was done really badly in this story.

The reason behind the fake dating is important in this kind of story, and here it just didn’t make sense. Jamie starts fake dating Axel the very next day after her boyfriend, Ben broke up with her. Seriously? How does that make sense? Also, it’s clear Ben cheated on her. He didn’t say it, but anyone with eyes can see it. He was nearly kissing another girl the very next day.

Even if I try to accept that part, what happens next is even more messed up. Jamie starts falling for Axel in less than a month. So she forgets her three-year relationship just like that? I couldn’t believe it. This is one of the most messed-up fake dating stories I’ve ever read.

The only character I liked was Axel. In the end, the whole trope was just too messy for me to enjoy. If I just pretend Ben (the ex) didn’t exist and Jamie and Axel fake dated for some other reason, then I would have liked it.

Fake dating is my absolute favorite trope, and Jacki Khalilieh DELIVERED!

I absolutely adored the fake dating aspect of this book from the get-go. Axel played along perfectly and is just so sweet and considerate to Jamie, even when she's being oblivious or judgmental. I love the way he challenges her and introduces her to Arab culture while still respecting that she has anxiety and IBS (and is so mature about it, given he's 16!). Jamie kind of annoyed me at times, but it was realistic portrayal of a teenage girl, especially one with anxiety and abandonment issues.

Overall, this was a great YA read and will be perfect for fans of Something More.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

Oh my goodness, what an amazing, incredible and impactful read. Firstly Jamie Foster's story was filled with so much growth that had to stem from her ex-boyfriend and the memories and trying to move on from her love, however using other experiences and people to supplement those feelings. However, also her feelings and dealing with the issues that stem from her father being absent was so emotional, and vulnerable when reading which was impactful to not only her character growth but a step towards her understanding her anxiety triggers and emotions. 🥺 When Jamie continued to understand her struggles and grapple through it made her more real and understandable! So much was there and needed to be processed and it took time for her to do that, but in short amounts and parts of time she was able to get through the emotions!

Now on the Axel! His character was funny, kind, and had a type of charisma about himself! Learning more about Axel and his background and how the deeper aspects of his storyline with not only his family but his friends as well and how that impacted how he is now and what makes how he views certain situations. I love how when reading more about Axel's character showed how he needed to be reassured and also needed to feel comforted as well in times and was able to express that even though he was confident on the inside and out.

Oh my goodness, to my fav tropes the fake-dating. Jamie and Axel's relationship was funny and also complimented each other well! 🩵 Like Jamie and her past with her ex and wanting to be with him like I understand in some sorts, but I’m happy she learned more of her worth and learned that she deserved more and better. Her and Axel relationship allowed to explore the flaws, the emotions and growth within both. Now onto the trauma that her parental issues due to her fathers absence was such a heavy impact as well by her mother as well and I'm happy we learned more and discussed and unfolded the pain and anxiety behind it, and worked to mend through it. 🗣️ Also the impactful convos on culture and how it helps, as well as plays a different important role in anyone identity was beautifully written. Learning more within yourself and learning more about you is important and this read was amazing!

➵ A true young adult contemporary novel that covered a variety of topics from biracial Arab heritage to cheating, from anxiety attacks to ibs. There’s modern slang that’s a bit cringey for this millennial reader and that made it a bit slow in the beginning but then I got used to it.

➵ The fake dating trope totally worked here. I feel like this story could be a love story to Arab boys because I feel like they are often misunderstood, especially in western societies. And Axel Dahini was a SUPERB MMC. He was my favorite character in the entire story.

➵ I did relate to Jamie’s anxiety. I was diagnosed with anxiety in 2022 when I started having attacks and it’s NOT fun.

➵ BUT that miscommunication trope, y’all. 🫣 It’s a ya novel so it’s not as heartbreaking (to me) but whew, it’s a doozy.

➵ Definitely a great book for teens or anyone looking for a quicker read that covers a lot of topics.

♡ ya contemporary
♥ fake dating
♡ Arab heritage
♥ anxiety, ibs, panic attacks
♡ 3rd act youknowwhat

{I was gifted a complimentary copy of this book. All reviews are my own.}