I'm not a big romance reader, but the cover seemed cute so I requested this book. And I'm glad I did! This book was a nice read. The characters felt real, and the romance did as well. It was a quick read without feeling rushed/choppy/lacking. I smiled a lot while reading. I would recommend this to a friend fs!
Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for a copy of this book.

Cute and I love this vulnerability in a character! I fell in love with Cassidy redemption and restart!! Truly won me over!

I love the short romances from 831 stories, but they are so good that I just want more!!!! I could read 1000 pages of Leon and Cass… from high school to now!

Romanoff’s BIG FAN was my introduction to the 831 stories world, and I was very curious to learn more about side character Cassidy Weaver in this new offering, SQUARE WAVES.

831 Stories has a sort of formula—modern woman, unexpected partner with a flaw the protagonist needs to get past for her own growth, usually a bit of fame smattered in. SQUARE WAVES followed that pattern—which I delight in—to a T, so I’m not sure why, but it fell slightly short for me. I think part of it may have been the flaw of the potential partner, Leon—the way Cassidy made assumptions about him frustrated me, even though when I really think about it, in her shoes I would feel the same, probably. She read as somewhat judgmental, though, and I struggled to sympathize with her concerns about Leon sometimes for that reason.

Another piece of the 831 puzzle is very concise, novella-length books. This also usually works for me, but I found myself wanting more here. What does Cassidy decide to do for work? Maybe the open-endedness suggests that it matters less than she always thought it would, but I was still left with questions.

Thank you to Netgalley and 831Stories for my digital arc, these are my own opinions.

3 stars
I haven't read Big Fan, which is the first in this interconnected series, but I don't think you need to in order to enjoy this story for what it is. 831 Stories romances are very character driven and introspective which I enjoy, but this one in particular is probably my least favorite. It's not bad by any means, but I didn't particularly love this couple, and the third act breakup didn't feel justified to me. I liked Cassidy much more on her own and I felt that her story and struggles were the most compelling part of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Alexandra Romanoff, and 831 Stories for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

Every time I've read a new 831 Stories release, I always subconsciously compare it to Big Fan, their first (and BEST imo) release. And now we have a Big Fan spin-off!! I would LOVE 100000 more of these because I have determined much of my enjoyment of Big Fan comes from Romanoff's writing. She is a FANTASTIC writer who writes complex characters in such a beautiful and realistic way through lyrical prose. She is truly a profound romance writer who doesn't shy away from the sexy, steamy, complicated, emotional, raw, etc scenes and instead merges them all into a delicious bite-sized package in the novella. I do admit, I haven't read Big Fan since November, so starting this, I struggled a bit to remember who Cassidy was until it stated. I appreciated getting a novella about the "other woman" and getting to know her as an individual. I really related to a lot of Cassidy's internal anxiety and feeling a loss of direction. The friendship between her and Willa was a great example of how much hard work adult friendships take but also how special they are! Of course, the romance between her and Leon was fantastic too. I'm a huge fan of enemies-to-lovers, and I think this one felt swoony while also staying realistic. My biggest "downfall" from this read (if you can call it that) is just simply that I think this would have worked better as a full-length novel vs a novella. I think for me, I would have liked a bit more context into Cassidy both before "the event" and post- "the event"/pre-the novella. Maybe she was featured more in Big Fan than I remember, but certain things felt a bit assumed that the reader should know in regards to her character that I was feeling sort of lost towards. I would have liked time to truly dive in and see these characters fully. Overall, though, the first spin-off/sequel to any of the novellas from 831 Stories was an absolute success for me, and I truly cannot wait for everything than Alexandra Romanoff continues to write!!

Thank you to 831 Stories and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC in return for my honest feedback!

I absolutely ADORED Romanoff's first book with 831 Stories, Big Fan, so I was beyond excited to see that she had another book with them and that it was tangentially in the same world as Big Fan. I'm not going to lie Cassidy was a little hard to like at the beginning but as things moved on and she began to reflect and grow she grew on me. The messages about past trauma, how we show up for ourselves and lettings ourselves be vulnerable really resonated with me. Can't wait to see what else Romanoff writes and what else 831 Stories releases.

Not quite as good as Big Fan but I did enjoy reading about Cassidy's experience and hearing her story.

3 weeks for a burnt out, tired, uninspired, Cassidy to go home and find herself. Can she do it? Can she go back to work?

Cassidy spends 3 weeks finding herself, reuniting with a friend, meditating, working, and exploring an old rival relationship.

4 stars—I wish there was a bit more banter between Leon and Cassidy

I received this as an eARC from Net Galley

I loved BIG FAN by Alexandra Romanoff, so was excited to see she was putting out another novella with 831Stories – this time about Cassidy.

We first met Cassidy in BIG FAN but you don't necessarily need to read BIG FAN before SQUARE WAVES (but I would suggest to just because BIG FAN is so good!). (How many times can I write BIG FAN before it gets annoying?)

SQUARE WAVES follows Cassidy several years after the events in BIG FAN. She's burnt out at her public facing job and is put on leave by the organization. She heads home to the Bay area and runs into her high school rival/nemesis Leon the first night she's back. After what was supposed to be a one-night-stand, these two run into each other again when Cassidy starts helping out a mutual friend at her new ceramic and art studio and learns that Leon is working there part time too.

These two seemingly opposites soon find they have more in common than they originally thought. I loved seeing Cassidy and Leon get to know each other and learn how they've each changed – and stayed the same – since high school.

As expected, it's a quick read and it pulls you in right away.

Happy pub week to this gem! I thought this was the perfect follow up to Big Fan. Enemies to lovers with a redemption arc?! The miscommunication will make you shake your head but just know there’s a lot of good intention behind it. Who doesn’t love a redemption moment?! Thank you @831storieshq for the gifted arc!

3.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

We first met Cassidy in Big Fan when she has an affair as a young intern in DC. Years later she’s working for an anti bullying organization and is on the edge of burn out when her boss sends her home on a sabbatical. There she runs into her high school rival and we have to see if they can get over their differences.

I loved Big Fan and this book was also great! Cassidy and Leon really had crushes on each other in high school but have a lot of judgments to get over. Their connection from the get go was obvious and the relationship just felt very real.

Overall, my favorite aspect of this book was how weird your 20’s are. We are all trying to figure out where we are meant to be and what brings us joy. Cassidy and Leon both have to figure that out and are simply trying their best.

“I turn on the music and let myself feel every mile of the drive: the distance between who I have been, and who I want to try to be.”

I’m deep into my 831 Stories love affair, and Square Waves was such a fun return to the Big Fan universe! Cassidy’s back in her hometown, trying to outrun burnout from an old scandal and figure out what’s next—but what she didn’t plan on was hooking up with her high school nemesis. One night turns into a lot more when they’re forced to work side by side, and suddenly the lines between rivalry, redemption, and romance start to blur😅

Square Waves was the perfect follow-up to Big Fan. While Big Fan gave us scandal and starstruck chaos, Square Waves delivered a more grounded, emotional journey with a heroine you can’t help but root for! I loved seeing the world through Cassidy’s eye: messy, vulnerable, and trying to do better.

Cassidy and Leon’s tension was deliciously snarky, and while I wish we got a few more enemies moments, I really enjoyed watching their dynamic soften and evolve. Their story fely incredibly real; two mid twenty somethings trying to figure life out, flaws and all. Therapy sessions, awkward parents, and big feelings included.

Read if you like:
🔥 Enemies to lovers
🏡 Small town second chances
🎨 Forced proximity
🗣️ Top tier banter

It’s a short read but packed with SO much healing, humor, and heart. Big Fan fans—you don’t want to miss this one!!

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice level: 🌶️

I absolutely loved this author's last book for 831 Stories but this is my least favorite from that imprint so far. That said, it was still great and I recommend these books wholeheartedly. This one was just a bit off for me -- I don't even know if I can tell you why. The characters just didn't sync for me and the romance felt a bit force.

Square Waves comes out next week on June 24, 2025, and you can purchase HERE.

In so many ways, I know myself better now than I did then.
And one thing I'm certain of is that if I don't unpack tonight, I'll spend the next three weeks living out of a suitcase. I force myself from the edge of the bed to the closet, open its door, and groan. How is there still clothing in here? Didn't I take everything with me when I moved to DC for college?
As I scan the relics, I allow myself a moment of tenderness for this former self, and her miniskirts so mini they might as well be belts. Band tee shirts from my short-lived emo phase hang above pairs of very aspirationally high heels.
Then I shove it all to the side and start hanging my things— my current things. The Char cashmere sweater I bought with my first big paycheck, the boots I've had resoled three times, and the Issey Miyaki dress that will probably always be my best-ever thrift find. I wish I saw the contrast between these two wardrobes as reassuring: a reminder of all of the years that have passed since I lived here. How much I've survived, and even grown. But the things I've packed feel like they're from another life, too. One I'm not entirely sure I want anymore.

Every 831 Stories novella I’ve read so far has been a total delight. I saw someone describe their publications as “hip horny Hallmark” and truer words have never been spoken. Square Waves is no exception.

I adored Big Fan, so getting to hear Cassidy’s perspective in this story was satisfying. She’s smart, complicated, and trying to move past the reputation that’s haunted her for years. After returning to Berkeley, she unexpectedly reconnects with Leon, her old high school rival turned unexpected one-night stand. What starts as something casual slowly turns into something more, especially as they both help a friend open a new ceramics studio.

This had everything I’ve come to love from the series: snappy dialogue, satisfying emotional arcs, and BED CHEM.

I’ll keep reading anything 831 puts out. Thank you to 831 Stories and NetGalley for the ARC!

I really loved this novella! I didn't really have any expectations with regards to what Cassidy's story would look like, but I found her to be just as imperfect as she is lovable. Through every frustrating mistake/blunder, I always felt compassion toward her character because this is clearly someone who's struggling to find their footing and making things up as she goes along. She's very fallible, but her heart always feels like it's trying to get back to the right place.

Leon is maybe (?!?) my favorite 831 Stories male main character thus far?? I found him distractingly hot at times... because who doesn't want a truly competent man in their life. But I was also so charmed and invested in these two because of their unfailing repartee and obvious romantic tension.

Will definitely be on the lookout for whatever Alexandra Romanoff writes next. Thank you 831 Stories and Netgalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

A classic enemies to lovers, loved the tie in to Big Fan as well. Very raw and real, especially as a former high-strung, over-achieving high school girl.

A novella about a woman who returns to her hometown several years after causing a national political scandal and her interactions with her friends from high school, this premise is more believable than the first book in the Big Fan series.

Cassidy not knowing who she is in her late twenties was super relatable (too relatable?) and made me want to see who she becomes and the direction she is headed in by the end of the story.

I enjoyed this book even more than Big Fan and will continue reading this series/831 Stories books. This book served as a good reminder that you can royally mess up and the good ones will still be there.

4.5/5⭐

This book sang to my millennial heart.

I loved Cassidy's story; it was the perfect combination of being lost in your late 20s, experiencing burnout, and navigating your trauma while reconnecting with your high school crush, all wrapped up in 2000s rom-com vibes.

All of the above without excessive use of Gen Z slang, which often results in marginalizing many readers.

This was an excellent sequel to Big Fan, and I highly recommend it. I liked it even more than the previous one.

Thank you 831 Stories for the gifted ARC! I am always blown away by how much heart is packed into these tiny books!

Square Waves starts off with a hookup between two former high school rivals and it is HOT. I think Alexandra Romanoff perfectly executes the alcohol-induced impulsive decision-making process with her characters and everything that unfolds after is even more fun!

Cassidy's inner (and subsequently very public) struggle is heartbreaking but her character arc is both satisfying and empowering. How does one recover from public scandal caused by their own bad decisions? How does one heal from the trauma that comes from that? I think Cass' process was very raw and realistic and although I may not be the subject of a political extramarital affair I felt like I related to her journey very closely. There were definitely points where I wanted to shake her for choosing the easy way out but that's probably because I'd have done the same.

Cass and Leon's chemistry is out-of-this world and normally I'm not a huge fan of "childhood rivals to lovers" but they made that trope seamless and sexy. Loved seeing a glimpse at Leon's immigrant parent/family narrative as well because it informs us of his trauma.

Overall I think Square Waves is a lovely ode to coming home, the California coast, and healing through interpersonal relationships.