Book Smart Kate

Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Spice: 🚪

By Krysti Meyer

Many thanks to Krysti Meyer for the opportunity to read an ARC of this charming young adult romance novel. This debut novel is a sweet enemies-to-lovers fake-dating story if you enjoy young adult fiction.

Ada’s first day at her internship as a paparazzi is a big one – she captures exclusive pictures of actor Liam Anders and his girlfriend, gets in an altercation with them, and inadvertently becomes the center of a tabloid scandal. Quickly, Liam and Ada realize that faking a relationship could help both of their careers. Still, as they fake a relationship, they learn more about what drives the other and begin to develop genuine feelings.

Meyer does a lovely job of creating tension with Liam and Ada’s careers more than with their relationship. When she draws on the miscommunication and third-act breakup tropes, they are realistic and not drawn out. In my opinion, the true strength of a great YA novel isn’t the romance but the way relationships are portrayed overall. Ada and Liam’s friend groups are well-written and supportive, and when conflicts arise, they are well-handled. Additionally, we get two very different parent-child relationships. I did feel like the characters’ lifestyles read older than their ages in the book, but overall, I recommend this to YA readers.