Review: “Ten Trends to Seduce Your Bestfriend” is as addictive as the social media platforms that bring the two main characters together. 

 

Penny Reid’s standalone romcom alternates between the viewpoints of Winnifred (Winnie) Gobaldi, a public school science teacher, and Byron Visser, a best-selling author. Despite having known each other for years, the two have nothing in common and are NOT best friends. Yet, they decide to fake a romantic relationship online for Winnie’s followers to further both of their careers. What’s the harm if no real feelings are involved, right? But as the lines between what is pretend and what is real begin to blur, the two discover that nothing is ever really that simple. 

 

I thoroughly enjoyed watching Byron and Winnie’s grumpy and sunshine personalities clash as they slowly fell for each other. 

 

I found myself especially relating to Winnie’s character. As a fellow educator, it was heartwarming seeing her so dedicated to her job. Several times throughout the novel she receives criticism for her occupation, but she was always ready to defend her choices no matter what. 

 

Additionally, I appreciated how Winnie uses her social media to empower younger children who want to pursue careers in STEM. Her commitment to delivering worthwhile content is what ultimately lights the spark in her relationship with Byron. 

 

Because social media is a huge aspect of the book, the reader is exposed to fun formatting like Byron and Winnie’s text exchanges. Their instant messages in combination with their other interactions contribute to the realistic quality of their romance.