This YA novella had some good ideas, but it didn’t really come together for me. I get that novellas are short, so there’s less room to dive deep, but I wish the author had spent more time on the world-building. It could’ve made the story feel less tied to a specific time and helped it stand out as a cute, timeless YA romance.

The story hints at character growth, mostly through the main character switching love interests and helping each other grow, but the way it played out wasn’t super convincing. Some parts were just plain cringy and hard to get past.

The book’s approach to body image was also really rough. It wasn’t soft or inspiring, and honestly, it came off harsh and in-your-face. If you struggle with body image issues, I’d say that’s something to watch out for.

I didn’t vibe with Bayleigh, the main character, either. She came across as really immature and way too rebellious for my taste, which made it hard to root for her.

While there are some familiar tropes like Small Town Romance and Bad Boy vs. Nice Guy, they didn’t do enough to save the story for me. Overall, it didn’t give me the warm, fuzzy feelings I look for in a YA romance. I wouldn’t recommend it, especially if body image discussions are a sensitive topic for you.