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I just want to hug this book tightđ€
It really makes me want to compete with someone and fall in love eventually. đ„ș
What’s not to love is an enemies-to-lovers romance between two high school rivals, Alison Sanger and Ethan Molloy competing on everything from AP classes, school paper & projects to becoming Valedictorian, and even joining Harvard. Despite their rivalry, they unfortunately share all of their classes and when their Principal selects both of them for organizing a previous class’s ten year reunion, they have to spend extra time in each other’s company. And with all of the more time spent together their rivalry begins to feel closer to friendship.
âI think in high school and college, weâre told what to want and aspire to. With grades and degrees, I had these obvious signs of success. It became easy to mistake them for what I really wanted and easier to let those markers guide my decisions. When I was in the real world, I had to choose for myself what success should mean.â
I have such a soft corner for this book for so many reasons. When I started this one, I didn’t expect to like it as much as I do now.
Reading this will make you reminisce about your high school days and teen years. Especially, if you’re someone who would always study in your free time, score highest in your classes, take part in assignments and projects a lot. If you were someone who had everything planned out, this book touches so many valid points and scenarios related to that. I thought it would have the same YA drama (it did have) because of the first few chapters, but it turned out to be such a meaningful story.
Usually, I would have gotten bored reading the day to day activities of a high school kid in a book with so much elaboration. But I didn’t find this in a least bit boring, in fact I could relate to her and wanted to know more about her studies and projects. I think the credit goes to the writing. As along with her family relationships, her friendships, her heated rivalry with Ethan was also covered perfectly. It was fun to read.
The second half was much better. The plot was all high school activities and some family interactions but I found myself enjoying that. I found Alison’s thought process about her family and friends a bit irritating in the first few chapters, but then she grows throughout the story and changes her perspective regarding her family and everybody in general. It feels good to see/read about that. I like the way it was written, and the points that were made.
âNo one knows everything about themselves,â Dad says. âSometimes the unexpected stuff is the best,â
Mom continues, “No, weâre not. Weâre just saying you shouldnât shut the door on new experiences or shaking up your own self image. You might surprise yourself.â
It brought back all the high school memories and tumultuous emotions for me.
This book is all about telling us to try something out of our comfort zones, something new and different. No one knows what they want all the time. No matter how much you pre plan and organize your life, there will come a point where you’ll feel uncertain. And it’s ok, if you feel that way. Uncertainty is the path toward growing and moving forward. You’ll never know how good or bad you’re at something, until you try it. So, let go of the inhibitions holding you down. Try something new and then see for yourself. It can be a good or bad experience. The best thing is you can learn from that. (This is turning to a TED talk lol)
I liked the character development of Alison. The character development was the major plus point for me. The way such stubborn and haughty main characters realized so much about themselves and changed their personas is amazing to me.
When I started this book, I thought I would not like it as our main character, Alison was too judgmental and Ethan and her were constantly fighting. I thought why is she being that way?
She was judging her sister instead of being her support system at such a crucial time in her sister’s life. I mean I understand, she’s a teen and it’s possible she has no actual idea how’s Jamie feeling. But still I didn’t like listening to her inner thoughts about Jamie. She had a lot of misconceptions about adults and their jobs.
But then you realize she’s just the super organized, anxious and nerdy teenager. That’s her way of seeing the world. And that perception was going to change later on in the book. As these were the moments, that give way to the second half of the book, where Alison realizes her mistakes and starts questioning her way of thinking. That was the whole point of the book, and I loved seeing her change and mature.â€ïž
With every win, Iâm showing myself, and everyone around me, that Iâm capable of anything I set my mind to. (go girl!)
Only better than everyone else thinks I can be. Thereâs a difference, one I wish the world would recognize.
Iâm grateful for the chance to prove my worth. To prove not that I am the best, but that I can be the best.
I tried to think like her, why is she so organized, wanting to win every competition. And I could relate to her on some levels. It reminded me a bit of my high school self, I wasn’t as enthusiastic in studies & projects as her, but I was definitely organized and missed out on a lot of fun school activities. But I have got no regrets, just like Alison feels, because what I did was my definition of fun and I enjoyed my school life that way.
There is a dialogue where both of them are discussing will they regret not enjoying their high school life as others did and why people think like that and Ethan says, (one of the only civil conversations they had before they became friends lol)
“I think itâs probably because high school is where you start to figure out who you really are,â (that’s kind of true)
âI donât know. I do know I havenât been pining for you this whole time. Iâm not the kind of guy whoâs awful to a girl because his feelings are unrequited. And I donât think youâre the kind of girl whoâd fall for a guy who treats her poorly.â (oh thank god!! I was so sure it was like this and that’s going be the big reveal. But good to know the rivalry was real and he wasn’t just pissing her off because his love was unrequited. It’s a pretty common trope and not my favorite)
Omg did I talk about that kiss! omg the kiss, the angst, damn…. The authors managed to create such sizzling chemistry and animosity between the two characters, it was amazing. You know in other stories, how you can guess oh he did that now they are going to fight or they came to this place then maybe they’re going to make out. But with this book you never know, one time they’re fighting consistently and the next they kiss. It’s so fun. They are actually growing and maturing while maintaining their enthusiasm for this rivalry throughout the book.
I swear this was literally an enemies to rivals with benefits (lol spoiler) to lovers romance. You could feel their animosity and competitiveness. It was so fun to read.
There were a lot clichĂ©s but what can I say I love me some clichĂ©s *done right*đ..
In short, this book is a winner for me. You know, I thought it was an office romance because of the cover (idk why maybe I didn’t see it properly), when it clearly looks like a high school set up in it lol. So I was surprised in the beginning to find that it’s going to be a high school romance. I am glad I continued reading, as I absolutely adore this book now!