Thank you so much to Blair Hanson and Page Street Publishing for the ARC of America's Not-So-Sweetheart!

This is a standout YA debut. Alec, a former reality show contestant still dealing with a villain edit and social media backlash, embarks on a road trip with his ex-showmance Joaquín... a relationship that quickly reveals itself to be more toxic than tender.

I was deeply moved by how genuine and emotionally complex this story is. Alec’s anxiety and identity struggles are raw and relatable, and Joaquín’s manipulative behavior is explored with nuance. The writing feels organic and immersive, pulling you deep into Alec’s head as he navigates fame, self-worth, and impossible expectations.

Some of the pacing was a bit uneven, and the characters occasionally felt older than their ages, but overall this book was gripping and thought-provoking. I loved how it blurred moral lines and didn’t shy away from emotional messiness. A must-read for fans of introspective, character-driven YA.

I think this book just wasn't for me. It was very messy and dramatic. I can imagine the appeal, but I'm not the intended audience.

America’s Not So Sweetheart focuses on Alec Braud who is recovering from the aftermath of appearing and winning a reality TV show that is Survivor for teens. He won, but there was a cost and that was him being hated by thousands of viewers for being evil or one of the villains. Anyone who has watched the plethora of that kind of show knows that there’s always a villain or two and some handle it and some don’t. Alec had good intentions though, and wanted the money to help his parents with their non-profit animal shelter so we all know he has some redeeming factors even if the masses in the book don’t or don’t care. Because, Alec hurt the good guy and now he’s on a redemption arc to restore his good name and perhaps something more along the way, like getting back the boy he double-crossed in ‘Camp Wars’.

I would have liked to see glimpses of why he became the villain and some flashbacks perhaps to give us more of an insight as to how he took the path he did. Because quite frankly, I can understand and sympathise with a teenager who wants to help his parents out of debt and the animals he cares about; especially if it's like any of the shows that air where you know some of it is scripted and twisted for views. I liked how the author wrote the teenage characters, not just Alec but Joaquín who’s his ex and other teens who have been on various seasons of the show, they all feel very real and they all voice issues about the sudden fame they’ve received etc but also their day to day issues may resonate with readers.

What does stand out about America’s Not So Sweetheart isn’t even the story that focuses on Alex but how the author shines a light on reality TV and how many failings there are with representation, support for cast both during and after the season airs. As one character points out, they bring in nobodies who have no concept of public relations etc, and then cast them aside when their job is done. Everything is about the numbers, the views and the money the companies can get and people are fodder to them. It’s carried on throughout the book in such a fluid manner, from conversations between the teens over how they were treated, to having to say things in a stereotypical manner for their race or sexual identity, as well as Alec’s internal monologue of his own experience or to what he saw. It also demonstrated why I would become frustrated as to why Alec was portrayed as the villain, it’s primarily down to those who make these kinds of shows and not in this case, a teenager.

I will be honest and say this wasn’t a favourite of my recent reads, I was often frustrated by things, and not just as I’ve said repeatedly Alec’s forced persona but also I found myself hating Joaquín and his hot and cold treatment of Alec which often felt like a punishment for what has happened on air. He’d promise something only to snatch it away just as quickly.. The reader will no doubt see the red flags between the two boys and I dearly wish they would both realise what they’re doing to one another; there’s a vast difference between a messy relationship and what we see with these two teens. This is not a romance novel though, and I guarantee they wouldn't have even kissed if they hadn’t been brought together in the show where they’re isolated from the world.

All in all, I was invested in the story but there is so much that is missing from the events of the book that has me left wondering just how bad Alec was that he became so vilified that he needs a redemption arc to begin with. Because lying to a showmance partner as Alec calls his relationship with Joaquín which leads to him being the winner is mean yes, but also the point of these shows is last person standing - you sometimes hurt people you don’t want to get to the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Page Street Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

One aspect I really appreciated about this book was Alec’s inner voice and the thoughtful dialogue between characters. These elements added real depth and sparked important conversations around media accountability and the often harmful treatment of reality dating show contestants. It even made me reflect on how I’ve personally responded to cast members based on what’s been edited and shown on screen.

I was initially invested in both main characters—they were complex and flawed in compelling ways—but their relationship quickly became frustrating. Miscommunication, distrust, and constant emotional push-and-pull made it difficult to root for their romance. More than once, I wanted to shake both Alec and Joaquín and ask how neither of them was seeing the glaring red flags!

That said, their dynamic did reflect the messiness of real-world relationships—especially those forged (and frayed) under the intense scrutiny of reality TV. In a way, that made it even more frustrating, because I couldn’t jump in as their friend and knock some sense into them 😭😂.

I came in expecting a lighter, more traditional romance, but what I got was something much more emotionally intense and, at times, chaotic. Readers who enjoy character-driven stories full of tension, moral complexity, and emotional messiness may find a lot to love here.

I do wish the book had gone deeper into Alec’s time on the show. His “villain” role was intriguing but felt underexplored. Some additional detail or flashbacks could’ve made his arc feel more complete. As for the ending—I personally wasn’t mad at it, but did we really need everything that happened before it to happen? I’m not so sure.

Overall, while certain elements didn’t quite land for me, the story’s unique premise and sharp social commentary make it a standout for fans of raw, drama-filled romance..

Overall rating 3.5 stars

So this was definitely not for me.
I couldn't connect with the characters, I didn't care about a single one of them. As you can imagine that impacted my reading experience, when something impactful happened I just didn't care at all.
The idea of the book is good, but the execution isn't. We are constantly talking about the competition and the way the main character behaved so terribly, but as we don't actually see it happening I didn't feel it. This is my main problem, there's a lot of telling and not enough showing.
I could tell what the author was trying to do, there is a character arc but again it didn't hit as it should.
Maybe since I'm coming from a great book this one just couldn't compare.
I'd say give it a try if it sounds interesting to you, it's really quick and easy to read.

Thank you Netgalley and Page Street YA for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Page Street Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Past contestant on hit survivor show 'Campfire Wars', Alec is accustomed to being treated as an outcast. After betraying his showmance, Jaoquin, and voting him out to secure his win and earn money for his families struggling animal non-profit, the world was not on Alec's side. Planning to change this, however, is Jaoquin, Alecs boyfriend for many months after the show ended- though now ex- who proposes the idea to go on a road trip together taking photos to improve Alec' image. On their trip, their relationship suffers many ups and downs, and as two teens suddenly thrust into the spotlight, they need to decide together if their past in the show can be overcome for good.

Despite my low-ish rating of this book, there were many things I enjoyed about it's reading experience. The concept of the camp/tv show itself was very appealing- though I wish their was maybe a prologue or something that took place in the show itself, just to really demonstrate Alec's apparent 'villainous' character- and the premise of the book kept me coming back even when i was pulling my hair out in frustration. Alec was a dimensional character going through struggles that others could absolutely relate to, so he was easy to connect to and sympathize with. Possibly my favorite aspect of this book, however, was its blatant criticism of similar reality shows, and their failure to protect their cast, portray them accurately and also fairly represent marginalized groups in the game. This critique was prevalent throughout the book, and the conversations several of the characters had on this topic, as well as Alec's inner monologue about it, was very refreshing, and could very well serve as a 'starting point' for considering consequences of poor representation.

To be candid, however, I spent the majority of this book (from 20-95% read) fearing it was a 1.5 star read, only for it to double at the end. I started off very strongly enjoying both Alec and Joaquin's characters and their relationship, though it quickly took a turn and suddenly i couldn't understand them at all. They're messy, hypocritical, they lack fundamental trust, they fail each other when they need it most and lead each other on in a hopeless loop that has your heart churning. There came a point when I started highlighting the red flags, and I felt like they were never-ending All of this isn't an issue, however, if you look away from this as a traditional romance. Marketing it as such I feel is an injustice for this book, as well as both Alec and Joaquin, but it did lead to me feeling truly overjoyed at the ending, as I didn't anticipate this kind of ending at the start.

Beside their actual relationship (which again, isn't REALLY a flaw if you are aware that this isn't REALLY a romance), the largest issue I had was believing or understanding Alec's character at times. Although he was painted as the villain in his season, and kept calling himself 'evil', and reveling in being so by the end, I just couldn't really understand how he was apparently so. Other than the aforementioned betrayal of Joaquin in the game, his alleged unsavory actions in the show are never really specified so in the end it's a bit like... so what? He won the game that he fought to win like everyone else and got to help his family's business? Yeah, he's terrible (NOT). His actions got so bad that his PARENTS stopped publicly supporting him, yet I just can't imagine what kind of thing he was doing to get that kind of reception. Still, he was interesting otherwise, and I'm sure others could overlook this aspect of his character and enjoy the experience a lot more for it!

Overall it was an easy read, and it did have me invested (though it was because I spent a large part of the book shouting in frustration). It's ability to highlight injustices on reality TV especially, as well as introduce side characters that also struggled because of their misrepresentation, was invaluable and really had you rooting for them all, even if at times what you were rooting for wasn't quite clear.

There was a lot of stuff happening from page one of the book and it was quite tough to get into it. This book has messy relationship but it was also real.

“Joaquín’s told me he doesn’t want to be my boyfriend anymore, but it’s kind of hard to tell based on the way he’s kissing me.”
If this fantastically twisty, messy first line appeals to you, the rest of the book will not disappoint (Blair, plz—spare some talent for the rest of us!).

I have never read anything quite like this. Our main character, Alec, loses his sense of self to a cruel media portrayal and goes on a journey of unravelling what the truth of him is, and what’s public perception. What are we supposed to do when representation goes awry? And is it so bad to be a villain after all, if we’re villainous for the right cause?

ANSS pays homage to the queer-coded villains I clung to in my teen years, at the same time providing a takedown of the social norms that have historically limited queer representation to villains. This book is a Black Mirror-esque examination of the ways in which 'inclusive' media continues to fail marginalised groups, packaged for a young adult audience.

An absolute inferno of a debut, so relevant to anyone who’s ever felt anxiety over how they’re perceived, on social media or otherwise.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Page Street for the early copy of this book!

This was a really great story that hits the spot after reading a lot of romance stories. Alec desperately feels the need to separate himself from who he was on Campfire Wars, a teenage reality tv. He also really wants to get back together with one of his former costars, Joaquín. What starts out as an end of summer road trip for the two boys quickly morphs into a story of self realization and acceptance.

This is a beautifully written novel, with twists and turns you might not expect to be coming. Alec is so desperate to redeem himself and help out the animal rescue his parents run. All the while, Joaquín has an agenda of his own to fulfill. While the ending of the story isn’t what I was expecting when I started the journey of reading this book, it was exactly the right ending for the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher/author for this copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Okay, this story feels like a real romcom, but if you’re expecting a swoony romance, I’m going to disappoint you: it isn’t. A.M. Woody, who blurbed this book, calls their own stories romtraums, and maybe America’s Not-So Sweetheart isn’t a romcom, isn’t a romtraum, but a traumcom. Traum because Alec was painted as the villain on that reality show, and now everyone hates him. Everyone except Joaquín, his ex, the guy he’s still madly in love with.

Messy, witty, and at times chest-tightening, those are the words that come to mind when I think about this book.

The banter is just chef’s kiss. Not just between Alec and Joaquín or the other characters, but also in Alec’s own head. It’s actually a fantastic place to be—Alec, who wants to do good but is also a total disaster of a person, disheveled and morally gray in all the best ways, driven by a constant need for approval, and endlessly overlooking the red flags around him.

I fell hard for Alec’s longing and yearning in the first part of the story. From page one, I wanted him and Joaquín back together so badly. And yet, a little voice in the back of my head kept whispering warnings. I shoved them into a box and locked the lid tight. Just like Alec did.

The second half of the book gave me even more to think about. Again, just like Alec.

At its core, this story is about embracing who you are with all your flaws and building healthy relationships. And even though it’s not really a romcom, we need more books like these because this is what teens’ lives actually look like. Complicated. Messy. Full of love and fun, but also full of shi*tty things because sometimes, things just are tough.

I love queer books so much. I can never get enough of these books and will constantly come back for more.