Such a fun enemies/frienemies to lovers novella. I will devour anything Zan/Alexandra Romanoff writes.

This novel is technically second in a series, but a strong stand alone. not having read the first novel did not feel at a disadvantage.

I enjoyed the immediate chemistry in the bar between Leon and Cassidy and enjoyed Romanoff's style of writing spicy scenes between these two.

Felt like Leon (the MMC) had great potential but lacked a bit of character depth in the writing... as the reader I liked him and felt annoyed when Cassidy (the FMC ) projected a lack of depth onto him based on his high school self and her own type A personality ... but also felt annoyed that the author didn't give us more nuance and detail of his character development. (That being said the book does take place over a short 3 week period)

For me the book started stronger than it finished. In the fashion of a "novella" it was short and felt like there could have been more character development for both of them individually - particularly in their mutual desires to feel more settled in their career and align their personal interests/skills/ experience with their professions.

I also couldn't help but feel like Willa (the mutual friend) had the potential to be the most interesting character out of the three of them. Would love to see a spinoff story about her.

I enjoyed the symbolism / cyclical storytelling of Willa calling the two of them "Square Waves" in the beginning - explaining the unique book title, and the closing scenes with them learning to surf.

Thanks 831 and NetGalley for the opportunity to both read and listen to Square Waves.
I really enjoyed the narrator for this novel, and 831 is quickly becoming a favourite publishing house.

I adore 831 so much, not only are they beautiful but such excellent palate cleansers. Not every book needs to be 600 pages long to be impactful. Alexandra writes the the perfect cocktail, likened to a spicy margarita in my opinion with a touch of agave - sweet, sensual with a slight kick!

thank you to netgalley for the e-arc. this was the perfect length for a story like this. i really enjoyed the chemistry and romantic part of cassidy and leon. i liked that the pottery studio was a backdrop to the story. overall, the women writing for 831 know how to write characters development well in a very short time.

I actually found the sexual chemistry more compelling than the romantic chemistry, which is not something you normally hear me saying 🤪 I will give Cassidy credit for at one point basically saying “I knew I was making a bad decision but I didn’t care and I made it anyways” because you know what?? we have too many dumb main characters running around, just give me more willful and stubborn ones because I respect it more. there was a sweet journey of self discovery and growth here but the pacing did feel off to me in ways that I cannot describe.

This was my favorite 831 book so far. I really enjoyed the continued universe from the first story. Cassidy and Leon were characters that really felt like real people to me. Cassidy’s struggles with wanting to stay stubborn and competitive but growing through it moved me. Their chemistry was sharp and real. This was a great fun read that was also grounded and smart all at once.

This was such a fun. I felt like I was cosmopolitan women reading a sweet and spicy paperback inbetween journal articles, theory and reports. I was introduced to the publisher through the Financial Diet Newsletter. It was fun and fast-paced but I lost steam a little bit towards the end because I couldn't sustain the reading pace with the demands of life.

831 never disappoints and always wants me leaving more. I wish we had gotten so much more time in Cassidy and Leon's worlds, but I loved all the time that I did get to spend.

Alexandra Romanoff does it again!!! Ugh, I loved Square Waves. The characters were lovely, and I enjoyed hearing Cassidy's story after Big Fan. The plot was thought-provoking and felt more realistic than the average romance.

I LOVE 831 STORIES SO MUCH!!! I will eat them up every single time. Huge thank you to 831 Stories and NetGalley for the ARC!

Loved Square Waves!!! Loved the POV experience here and how we got to be in Cassidy's POV for this one. I love how developed of a story these feel for how short they are. They really full like a fully fleshed novel in novella form. However, I do think this one could have benefitted from a full novel here. I felt like I wanted more. The romance of this one is really wonderful though. I loved it. High recommend.

"Square Waves" by Alexandra Romanoff is a compelling enemies-to-lovers novella set in Berkeley, California. It follows Cassidy, who is done living as the headline-making "other woman" after a scandal in her youth as a campaign intern. After years working on anti-bullying initiatives in Washington D.C., she returns home to recalibrate but quickly finds herself entangled again with her high school nemesis Leon, a charming slacker with whom she shares a complicated past. Their one-night stand evolves as they work together to help a mutual friend, revealing new layers and challenging their old assumptions about each other.

The novella excels at portraying realistic adult relationships and the process of self-discovery. Cassidy’s character is fleshed out with nuance, showing how trauma, public scrutiny, and personal growth intertwine even years after a scandal. The Bay Area setting adds depth, almost becoming an additional character that grounds the story in authenticity. Readers appreciate how Alexandra Romanoff skillfully balances tension, nostalgia, and emotional complexity in a short format, avoiding the rushed feel common to novellas.

Overall, Square Waves is a satisfying follow-up to Romanoff’s earlier Big Fan and is praised for its honest depiction of flawed characters trying to find their way back to each other. It captures the messy realities of adulthood and romance with warmth and wit, making it a recommended read for fans of modern romantic fiction that combines pleasure with thoughtful character work

Thanks to Netgalley and 831 Stories Romance for the ARC

If you’re looking to add another book to your year-end goal, this is a good contender. Like some other reviews mentioned, while it’s understandable for character development to not be fully accomplished in a novella, it missed the mark for me. I also didn’t like the main characters and didn’t find myself invested in the story for the same reason. I can see why other people would enjoy this but it unfortunately wasn’t for me.

Thank you to 831 Stories and NetGalley for the ARC!

I was a huge fan of Big Fan and Square Waves did not disappoint. I loved the premise of this story and that we were able to get Cassidy's POV. I just thought it was so interesting and kind of unexpectedly thought-provoking. Loved both Cassidy and Leon as characters, but some of the dialogue took me out of the story a little bit in a do-people-actually-talk-like-this way. That being said, I still highly recommend this one and can't wait to get into the bonus content, especially the prologue!

2.5 stars

my brain is too fried from exam prep to form a fully coherent opinion on this thinly disguised monica lewinsky fanfiction beyond 'it passed the time.' i understand that character development may be a bit trickier to accomplish in novellas but there was just an overwhelming lack of depth across the board

#netgalley #arc

This was a cute book but I felt like the the FMC’s main force keeping her and MMC from being together is her hating procrastination. It just felt juvenile and ridiculous. It just felt uninteresting. And there could have been way more development on her scandal. It seemed like a cloud that lingered over but never actually produce any sort of storm.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. Thanks!

I’m a sucker for an 831 story and read Romanoff’s previous story, so I was excited to dig into this one. It follows Cassidy Weaver, the Gen Z version of Monica Lewinsky as she takes a hiatus from DC in her hometown and reunites with her high school rival.

I enjoyed the story between these two and also Cassidy’s journey of healing, but I didn’t feel like the novella format lent itself to the subject matter. The author could have done a lot to dig deeper into both character’s and their hang ups, but didn’t have the space to do that. I did enjoy the characters and their chemistry, but this left me wanting a little more. 3.5.

Like all books from this publisher, I totally ate this up. Hello romantic tension!! Hello relatable lost-gal-in-her-20s!! Adored as always!!

Thank you Netgalley and 831 stories for a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
2🌟
I really wanted to like this book since i really did enjoy the preview’s book by the author (big fan) but sadly I just didn’t connect with it.
For the one part I felt like we didn’t really get to know the character beyond her struggle, the relationship between Cassidy and Leon felt superficial and I honestly didn’t see the connection. And finally, I found the book just a bit boring tbh :(
While I can’t say I recommend it entirely, I could see why others have like it better than me, but I do recommend Big fan, the first book in this interconnected series, way more.

I so so enjoyed going on this journey with Cassidy, a highly relatable character who makes the reader think about their own path goals and path through her own introspection. Career burnout, a sabbatical in her hometown and reconnecting with old friends (one of which become the hottest enemies to lovers storyline) - there are so many portions of this short story for the reader to connect with too!

831 Stories has become an auto-buy publisher for me, all of the stories I’ve read have been short and sweet and just what I want to read in this season!

Thank you 831 Stories and Net Galley for the ARC!

Another great read from 831 Stories! Cassidy is a character from Big Fan and this is her story. She’s back at home for a few weeks while trying to figure things out—she’s dealing with a past high-profile scandal and burnout at her nonprofit job. She finds herself spending time with her high school best friend and her high school nemesis, Leon, which forces her to come to terms with the choices from her past that haunt her. Her presence forces Leon to do the same. I loved how Leon and Cassidy are able to lean on each other as they navigate their growth—lots of relatable moments about what and who define us. All in all, a very satisfying and fun romance—real relatable problems with likable characters that you root for along the way. Thanks to 831 Stories for providing me this advanced copy. Can’t wait to read Grape Juice!