I love Talia Hibbert and was so excited to see that she had written her YA debut! Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute follows Brad and Celine as they compete for a prestigious opportunity- a full scholarship to help them pursue their dreams. Yet they have unresolved history that is bound to make itself known as they are forced to rely on each other and adventure through the great outdoors. 

I devoured this book! Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute is funny and heartfelt. Talia Hibbert can truly write it all! Of course, the romance is scaled back from her adult books, but there is just as much pining and tension. Celine and Brad are the type of characters you wish you could be friends with in real life- they’re delightfully nerdy and relatable. Having a friendship break-up is rough and I loved how they had to work together to repair that damage, before they could move onto something more. 

There is great OCD rep and LGBTQ+ rep (bi/queer) as well. Brad has many strategies that help him deal with his OCD, while showing how difficult it can be to manage. Celine is considering therapy as she works through the complex reasons behind her planned career choices. The entire book is extremely inclusive and shines a positive light on mental health and self-care. On a personal note, I was THRILLED to see a (side) character with celiac thriving and living her best life! Better than gluten-free bagels that don’t taste like cardboard. 

Read Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute for a hilarious, heartwarming romance! I can’t wait to read whatever Talia Hibbert writes next!  Thank you so much to Talia Hibbert, Joy Revolution, Random House Children’s, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.