Catching up on some ARC reads I did this summer. Coming to you in spring of 2026!

Let’s get the biases out-of-the-way, I do watch Haley’s YouTube channel. I do enjoy her cute takes on books and think she has a really wholesome personality. Which is why when I picked up this book I was expecting very PG. And it’s exactly what was delivered. Those surprised by this, confuse me.

When I say PG, I’m not saying I wanted full on porn scenes. I love a good romance that leaves a little something to the imagination and I don’t have to uncomfortably read about it. Especially when you get to those parts in a public setting. The naivety “issue” that most readers picked up on is based on the lack of life experiences from the author herself. Even though she caps the characters at age at 22. 

Obviously, no one can actually know the author through YouTube videos, but you sense the vibe of the main character Blair is based off of Haley and her life and her thoughts. This is extra problematic because the MC comes off selfish and immature. This is why Haley having already a large public persona isn’t the best. Your mind instantly goes to … she must have been writing about herself. Instead of, I don’t know anything about this author other than her name. She wrote a really well done selfish, immature character. Note: Haley does not come off as selfish in any way through her YouTube videos. 

I really hope this is an extremely early copy of the book. And if so, they should never release it without going through it at least a couple more times. But here we are.

There are about 1000 similes too much in this book. A few of them are actually really good and cute. I highlighted a good handful. As you get in deeper, you realize how many they are. You almost stopped taking in each simile because you’re too distracted by how many there are. It becomes not only distracting but comical.

The suffocating amount of similes, then makes you think of a debut author trying to mimic their favorite authors. Debut authors, sometimes don’t have a clear voice and are heavily influenced. Knowing the type of authors that Haley reads, it does come off as a poorly done rip off of an Emily Henry/McFarlane book. Which no one can touch Henry’s long built up craft. 

I wish I could stop there, but I can’t. Then there are the high school flashbacks. Which are just so unrealistic. I know we’re trying to build up this long-term romance, but the way a high school boy talks, no matter how in depth with his feelings, don’t talk like the way Haley was portraying. It was a tad obnoxious. And all of this wrapped up the fact that I never felt the “love story”. 

There are a few “ that’s so obvious” moments that again distract from the overall story. The fact that Blair could grow up in this extremely wealthy neighborhood and think that she’s poor in anyway. The fact that Blair didn’t even think where her aunt’s property would go after she passed. Where her aunt‘s money would go. I get you don’t want a loved one to die so you can get their stuff and an inheritance, but when the will is read, it’s kind of obvious. This wouldn’t even be a big deal if Blair didn’t make it such a big deal in the book. Add on the fact she didn’t know what the house is went for in this area. Yet she thinks she’s going to make it in New York? Yet she understood how wealthy all the kids in high school were? it really tumbles into a frustrating ball of idiocracy that makes Blair’s character even more unlikable. 

And finally, the fact she was so amazed with “building” that Declan did. At one point if I read the word “building” one more time I was about to scream. The word was being used wrong, it was awkward. And maybe I come from a place where a lot of people know how to tinker or build things or have an awareness of how things are built …That it was again, so grading every time it was brought up. 

Oh no, I’m back for one more thing. Another reviewer mentioned it seemed as if she had a thesaurus sitting next to her while she was writing. I do remember doing that in high school/college when I wrote papers. I could definitely see a rookie writer doing the same.

This is a solid to 2 star book. Again, knowing as little background as I did, but more background than I would if this is just any other author. I hope she isn’t being used for her large Internet following. I hope an adult helps her with her writing. I hope an editor really helps with her structure. I hope someone takes that thesaurus away. I really hope she can be a success, because there is a little spot for her in this young adult romance world that I think she could really excel in. Finding your voice takes time. 

Stats: 320 pages – Expected publication March 3, 2026

**Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review.