We’re a Bad Idea, Right? is the literary equivalent of a golden summer evening—warm, charming, and a little bit chaotic in the best way. K.L. Walther once again proves she knows exactly how to write teen romance that feels both dreamy and grounded, and this time, she’s serving up the perfect blend of fake dating and friends-to-lovers tropes—with a twist of glassblowing and house rentals.

Audrey is balancing a lot: managing summer rentals in her family’s home, navigating responsibility, and dealing with the weight of her own expectations. Enter Henry—easygoing, full of nicknames, and the exact kind of sunshine that sneaks up on you. Their chemistry is undeniable, made even more delicious by their slow shift from casual friendship to something far deeper (and far messier).

Their banter—especially the movie quotes and Henry’s goofy pet names—adds so much personality to the story. It’s not just cute fluff; it’s character development wrapped in playful dialogue. The fake dating setup is familiar, but Walther gives it a refreshing spin through clever scenes (thank you, awkward vacation guests) and emotional beats that land just right.

If anything, I did wish for a bit more insight into how Audrey and Henry became close in the first place—it felt like we jumped into their story mid-summer. But their dynamic is so engaging, it’s a small quibble in an otherwise delightful romance.

For readers who like:
-YA romance
-Adorable banter
-Fake dating

Final Verdict
This book is pure serotonin for rom-com fans. With a heart full of summer charm and a couple worth rooting for from page one, We’re a Bad Idea, Right? is a perfect pick for readers looking for something fun, tender, and impossible to put down. Walther delivers a romance that sparkles—sometimes literally—and leaves you grinning like a fool.

Grateful to NetGalley, Delacorte Romance and K.L. Walther for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children's Books for this ARC!

K.L. Walther's dreamy high school romance was PHENOMENAL. I don't think I could dislike a book this woman writes but nonetheless this was pure magic.💖 It has easily climbed the leaderboard to become my second favorite K.L. Walther book (The Summer of Broken Rules is my forever favorite book). If dreamy summer skies were a book it would be this one.

Audrey and Henry's story includes two of my all-time favorite tropes, fake dating and friends-to-lovers! Their story was so sweet and I couldn't stop reading trying to find out how they'd end up, not to mention their ADORABLEEE movie quote back-and-forth and Henry's unending nicknames for Audrey.

This concept was unlike anything else I've read and it was SO much fun. I loved reading about Audrey's glassblowing, and the vacation rental set-up led to so many adorable and hilarious scenes. K.L. Walther was spot-on when she said in her acknowledgments for this book that it is just so much fun.

This book was a treat and I highly reccomend it to any rom-com lovers, especially fans of the fake dating and friends-to-lovers tropes! I feel like I shouldn't have to say this but just in case, if you liked any of K.L. Walther's other books you will LOVEEEEEE this one!!!

🎧 - Daylight by Taylor Swift 🩷🧡

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was so fun to read! As soon as I picked it up I couldn’t put it down. These characters are so relatable and the narrator did an amazing job portraying them.

First: Aubrey enters in a fate dating situation with her best friend to make his ex jealous. And to get the attention of another boy she has eyes for.

Second: she wants to follow her dreams, but her parents are not very supportive of. What the only sain thing to do? Borrow $10,000 while they’re out of town and come up with a wild scheme to earn back the money before her parents get home.

Perfect YA rom com. I can’t wait to see what else will happen with these characters!!

I absolutely adore anything that KL Walther puts forward. Another great novel that will melt anyone's icy core and bring in happy good feels.

This was a cute friends to lovers, fake dating YA romance. It was a fun read, between Audrey and Henry realizing how much they like each other, their friend group, and her renting out parts of her house (and her entire house!) to pay back her parents. I wish we saw a little more of the build up of their friendship prior (they hadn’t known each other that long). There isn’t too drama with Henry’s ex. Although this author does tend to write books with MMCs that have important friendships with their exes and it was sometimes annoying here. Otherwise, this was fun! 3.5 ⭐️

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. This is my first K.L. Walther book. Really enjoyed the book. It was fun reading this book. Have to read other books by the author.

K. L. Walther delivers another irresistible hit with We’re A Bad Idea, Right?—a laugh-out-loud, big-hearted rom-com that perfectly balances wild schemes with real emotional stakes.

Audrey Barbour is a standout lead—smart, sincere, and finally ready to push back against the life that’s been mapped out for her. Her decision to fake-date her best friend Henry in an effort to help him win back his ex (and maybe fund her own artistic dreams on the side) is the kind of brilliant disaster you can’t look away from. Add in a glassblowing passion, a mansion secretly listed online, and parents conveniently out of town, and you’ve got the perfect setup for chaos, comedy, and just enough romantic tension to keep you turning the pages.

K.L.’s writing is sharp, funny, and packed with heart. Audrey and Henry’s friendship-turned-fake-relationship-turned-something-more is sweet, swoony, and full of the kind of messy, real feelings that make you cheer them on every step of the way. Their chemistry feels effortless, and their banter brings a constant smile.

What really shines, though, is how K.L. handles Audrey’s personal growth—how she begins to define success on her own terms, fights for her creative voice, and discovers that love (in all its forms) doesn’t have to fit into someone else’s plan.

Full of charm, chaos, and genuine heart, We’re A Bad Idea, Right? is a total win for fans of best-friends-to-lovers stories, fake dating drama, and finding the courage to chase what you really want. Don't miss it!

Audrey is an 18-year-old glassblowing prodigy with a big personality—and even bigger problems.

Dilemma #1: Should she enter into a "fauxmance" with her best friend, Henry, to help him get back at his ex? Sounds like a terrible idea… until fake feelings start to feel very real.

Dilemma #2: Audrey "accidentally" dips into her parents’ bank account to pay for tuition to her dream glassblowing school. Now she’s racing to replace the money before they find out.

Cue the chaos: shenanigans, secret plans, unexpected feelings and a whole lot fun.

A fun YA rom-com packed with fake dating, friends-to-lovers tension, and a lead character who is just trying to chase her dreams.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Delacorte Romance, and K.L. Walther for the opportunity to read We're a Bad Idea, Right?