What do you think?
Rate this book
Something Rad
What happens when the one person you can stand the least is the key to everything you want the most?
Bay View, California - 1987
One month. I just have to make it through one month pretending to like the infuriatingly perfect-haired thorn in my side and the prodigal son of Bay View High. I was so close to my dream I could almost taste it. My senior year was supposed to be simple. I would quietly get what I have worked so hard for, then say goodbye to this small town and hello to a world of new opportunities. But it turns out this year isn't going to allow me to fade into the crowd with my head down anymore. Even though I would rather have nothing to do with him. ROBBIE SUMMERS may just be the answer to everything.
Bay View High is my castle and I've come to claim my throne for one final year. I've never given thought to the future, or the choices and responsibilities that come with it, because why would I when living in the now is so much more fun? It seems, however, that my easygoing and reckless nature might have caught up with me, and that the world I thought I had in the palm of my hand might not be entirely mine anymore. I'll do anything I can to change that. To remind every person who I am. Even if it means living my worst nightmare and fake dating SARA COOPER, the gray-eyed girl that haunts me in my sleep.
Bay View, California - 1987
One month. I just have to make it through one month pretending to like the infuriatingly perfect-haired thorn in my side and the prodigal son of Bay View High. I was so close to my dream I could almost taste it. My senior year was supposed to be simple. I would quietly get what I have worked so hard for, then say goodbye to this small town and hello to a world of new opportunities. But it turns out this year isn't going to allow me to fade into the crowd with my head down anymore. Even though I would rather have nothing to do with him. ROBBIE SUMMERS may just be the answer to everything.
Bay View High is my castle and I've come to claim my throne for one final year. I've never given thought to the future, or the choices and responsibilities that come with it, because why would I when living in the now is so much more fun? It seems, however, that my easygoing and reckless nature might have caught up with me, and that the world I thought I had in the palm of my hand might not be entirely mine anymore. I'll do anything I can to change that. To remind every person who I am. Even if it means living my worst nightmare and fake dating SARA COOPER, the gray-eyed girl that haunts me in my sleep.
668 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 30, 2023
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 521 reviews
September 10, 2026
im bumping up my anti-depressant and anti psychosis doses. i feel pain, more pain and even more pain. my eyes and lips are sore from crying. my head hurts from ripping my hair out. i am unwell. im never recovering. god tier.
June 1, 2023
I have an obsession with Steve Harrington, and that’s how I ended up here!
I initially picked this book up because the cover looked so cute (I’m a sucker for cute covers). But as I looked into the author I realized she based her MMC off of Steve Harrington from Stranger Things! I was hooked from that moment on.
•
•
Robbie has it all. He is Bay High’s golden boy. And going into Senior year, he isn’t looking ahead at anything in his life except for living in the present moment. But when his girlfriend dumps him, he realizes no one takes him seriously. He’s just who everyone goes to for a good time. But he’s not sure how to change that.
Sara is used to no one noticing her. She’s valedictorian, she takes pictures for the yearbook, she works at the movie store, and that’s it. But when the one piece she needs to complete her scholarship application for a prestigious NYU program is to win student body president, she realizes she’s going to have to do something drastic to get noticed.
She wanted to be noticed and he wants to be taken seriously. So they make a deal to fake date to help the other get what they want, but can they do it without killing each other first? Because they get along about as well as oil and water.
•
•
I don’t think I was prepared for the ANGST this book had! It had me so far in my feels. I loved the banter and tension that Robbie and Sara had. She was the only one willing to call Robbie out when he needed to be, and he was always able to pull Sara out of her shell. Robbie has my heart. Robbie was all sunshine, despite having a difficult home life.
The way Nikki took deep dives into Robbie’s home life that played such a crucial role in developing his personality was heartwrenching!
•
•
I will warn you, this is a 700 page book. It is a SLOWBURN, but I loved so many aspects of the book.
I did feel like there were parts in the book that could have been cut to make the book shorter.
I initially picked this book up because the cover looked so cute (I’m a sucker for cute covers). But as I looked into the author I realized she based her MMC off of Steve Harrington from Stranger Things! I was hooked from that moment on.
•
•
Robbie has it all. He is Bay High’s golden boy. And going into Senior year, he isn’t looking ahead at anything in his life except for living in the present moment. But when his girlfriend dumps him, he realizes no one takes him seriously. He’s just who everyone goes to for a good time. But he’s not sure how to change that.
Sara is used to no one noticing her. She’s valedictorian, she takes pictures for the yearbook, she works at the movie store, and that’s it. But when the one piece she needs to complete her scholarship application for a prestigious NYU program is to win student body president, she realizes she’s going to have to do something drastic to get noticed.
She wanted to be noticed and he wants to be taken seriously. So they make a deal to fake date to help the other get what they want, but can they do it without killing each other first? Because they get along about as well as oil and water.
•
•
I don’t think I was prepared for the ANGST this book had! It had me so far in my feels. I loved the banter and tension that Robbie and Sara had. She was the only one willing to call Robbie out when he needed to be, and he was always able to pull Sara out of her shell. Robbie has my heart. Robbie was all sunshine, despite having a difficult home life.
The way Nikki took deep dives into Robbie’s home life that played such a crucial role in developing his personality was heartwrenching!
•
•
I will warn you, this is a 700 page book. It is a SLOWBURN, but I loved so many aspects of the book.
I did feel like there were parts in the book that could have been cut to make the book shorter.
July 31, 2026
This book did not need to be 650 pages. It did not need to have that terrible ambiguous epilogue ending that may be worse than how stranger things ended. (Just kidding, nothing can be worse than that but still this ending was BAD) And this book did absolutely not need to have the terrible fake dating trope.
First off, let’s forget that Robbie is based on Steve for a second and examine the book without that. Think about the structure and writing. It’s just bad… there’s nothing special about it. Sara and Robbie weren’t characters I really cared about and neither of them were that deep. Not that I expected them to be but it just felt so plain. Sara, the MC felt like a carbon copy of any romance book protagonist. She was untrusting, a bookworm, and no one ever noticed her pretty little face before she started fake-dating the popular guy.
I’ve been also seeing people say that the eighties vibes for this book were special, and I’m a teenager so of course I haven’t lived through the eighties but nothing really stood out to me about it. Of course the author made use of music (I think this book has one of those playlists), which wasn’t terrible but it felt very cheesy in the scene where they were slow dancing to “everybody wants to rule the world” and I love that song, I love tears for fears in general, but it was trying really hard at times with some of the music stuff.
And oh my gosh I’m so tired of the fake dating trope. Sure they had their reasons but it’s just so overdone and predictable every time. The whole thing where they’re all like “I know it’s just pretend, but this is starting to feel real” 🥵😍
Like stfu
I would’ve preferred deeper characters, an edgier female MC, and a good friends to lovers kind of thing. But of course I didn’t write this book so I really can’t be surprised that it was the fake dating crap.
Also the pacing was so weird, and by the end of the story I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to take away from it. I’m glad Sara followed her dreams and all but Robbie getting arrested for two whole months for owning weed or whatever was such a weird plot twist. It would’ve made more sense if they had shown the reader Robbie being addicted to weed before the arrest happened.
Maybe I just need to stop reading cheesy romance novels and feeling disappointed when they do in fact turn out to be cheesy romance novels. But, I feel like I’ve read far better than this. I doubt anyone is reading this who has not read the book yet but if you are, it’s not worth it, just save yourself the time and go read stranger things fan fiction or some other romance novel.
First off, let’s forget that Robbie is based on Steve for a second and examine the book without that. Think about the structure and writing. It’s just bad… there’s nothing special about it. Sara and Robbie weren’t characters I really cared about and neither of them were that deep. Not that I expected them to be but it just felt so plain. Sara, the MC felt like a carbon copy of any romance book protagonist. She was untrusting, a bookworm, and no one ever noticed her pretty little face before she started fake-dating the popular guy.
I’ve been also seeing people say that the eighties vibes for this book were special, and I’m a teenager so of course I haven’t lived through the eighties but nothing really stood out to me about it. Of course the author made use of music (I think this book has one of those playlists), which wasn’t terrible but it felt very cheesy in the scene where they were slow dancing to “everybody wants to rule the world” and I love that song, I love tears for fears in general, but it was trying really hard at times with some of the music stuff.
And oh my gosh I’m so tired of the fake dating trope. Sure they had their reasons but it’s just so overdone and predictable every time. The whole thing where they’re all like “I know it’s just pretend, but this is starting to feel real” 🥵😍
Like stfu
I would’ve preferred deeper characters, an edgier female MC, and a good friends to lovers kind of thing. But of course I didn’t write this book so I really can’t be surprised that it was the fake dating crap.
Also the pacing was so weird, and by the end of the story I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to take away from it. I’m glad Sara followed her dreams and all but Robbie getting arrested for two whole months for owning weed or whatever was such a weird plot twist. It would’ve made more sense if they had shown the reader Robbie being addicted to weed before the arrest happened.
Maybe I just need to stop reading cheesy romance novels and feeling disappointed when they do in fact turn out to be cheesy romance novels. But, I feel like I’ve read far better than this. I doubt anyone is reading this who has not read the book yet but if you are, it’s not worth it, just save yourself the time and go read stranger things fan fiction or some other romance novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2024
"Something Rad" by Nikki Witt is a love letter to the 80s that effortlessly transports readers back in time. Witt's writing exudes John Hughes-esque romance vibes, creating a story that is as delightful as it is heartwarming.
One of the things that impressed me the most about this book was its ability to capture the nostalgia of the era. As I read, I found myself jamming out to the same songs that the characters were listening to, or getting lost in the neon lights and synthesizer beats that permeated the book's setting. Witt's attention to detail in recreating the 80s was truly impressive, making the book feel like a time capsule that had been buried for years and only recently uncovered.
But more than that, "Something Rad" is a story about love and following your dreams. The characters are so well-crafted that I found myself invested in their journey from the very first page. Their playful banter and stubbornness, while occasionally frustrating (in a good way), only made me love them more. I was completely enthralled with the world Witt had created, feeling all the emotions alongside the characters as they navigated the ups and downs of their relationships.
"Something Rad" is a book that any lover of the 80s should have on their shelf. Witt's heart, soul, and love for the era are palpable on every page, creating a story that is both nostalgic and timeless. The book effortlessly infuses all the emotions one might expect from a romantic rollercoaster ride.
Nikki you made me laugh, cry, and feel all the emotions in between - THANK YOU! ❤️🔥
One of the things that impressed me the most about this book was its ability to capture the nostalgia of the era. As I read, I found myself jamming out to the same songs that the characters were listening to, or getting lost in the neon lights and synthesizer beats that permeated the book's setting. Witt's attention to detail in recreating the 80s was truly impressive, making the book feel like a time capsule that had been buried for years and only recently uncovered.
But more than that, "Something Rad" is a story about love and following your dreams. The characters are so well-crafted that I found myself invested in their journey from the very first page. Their playful banter and stubbornness, while occasionally frustrating (in a good way), only made me love them more. I was completely enthralled with the world Witt had created, feeling all the emotions alongside the characters as they navigated the ups and downs of their relationships.
"Something Rad" is a book that any lover of the 80s should have on their shelf. Witt's heart, soul, and love for the era are palpable on every page, creating a story that is both nostalgic and timeless. The book effortlessly infuses all the emotions one might expect from a romantic rollercoaster ride.
Nikki you made me laugh, cry, and feel all the emotions in between - THANK YOU! ❤️🔥
September 2, 2026
Fun, easy read, but never in my life have a seen an author use “my spine steels” so many goddamn frickin’ times.
Read
September 14, 2026soft DNF – will return to it at some point
April 20, 2026
An easy read with 80s vibes. This felt very light and breezy to me despite the drama within it, and I liked the slow burn tension of enemies to lovers.
But oh boy. There was no way this needed to be over 600 pages. It could've been edited down massively. The characterisations took 180s, the pacing was all over the place and the ending demoted this from 2.75 to 2.5 stars.
I didn't get the redemption arc of Robbie's character, and Sara's character annoyed me the further on it got.
All in all, loved the 80s school backdrop but it could have been executed better.
But oh boy. There was no way this needed to be over 600 pages. It could've been edited down massively. The characterisations took 180s, the pacing was all over the place and the ending demoted this from 2.75 to 2.5 stars.
I didn't get the redemption arc of Robbie's character, and Sara's character annoyed me the further on it got.
All in all, loved the 80s school backdrop but it could have been executed better.
September 7, 2026
I WAS ONCE AGAIN AN UNFORTUNATE VICTIM OF BOOKTOK!!!
2/5 stars (i am being VERY generous here) which sucks bc i expected this to be a 5 star read 😞 i’m extremely conflicted with this book. it was SOOOOO consuming for about 10% of the book but fell short for me honestly everywhere else.
for it being almost 700 pages (insane and unnecessary), i found it to be TOO repetitive in addition to genuinely none of the characters being tolerable.
the same things kept happening over and over (miscommunication, argument, miscommunication, make up, miscommunication, argument) and at the same time, i feel like absolutely NOTHING happened in this fucking book. then the ending??? awful idk. there’s soooo much build up and then everything suddenly ends… we’re back in the story 8 years later and everything magically falls back into place??? there’s so many plot holes and unfinished business for the characters.
this would’ve been a good book for me if it was my first time reading anything ever in my life and i had nothing else to compare it to.
2/5 stars (i am being VERY generous here) which sucks bc i expected this to be a 5 star read 😞 i’m extremely conflicted with this book. it was SOOOOO consuming for about 10% of the book but fell short for me honestly everywhere else.
for it being almost 700 pages (insane and unnecessary), i found it to be TOO repetitive in addition to genuinely none of the characters being tolerable.
the same things kept happening over and over (miscommunication, argument, miscommunication, make up, miscommunication, argument) and at the same time, i feel like absolutely NOTHING happened in this fucking book. then the ending??? awful idk. there’s soooo much build up and then everything suddenly ends… we’re back in the story 8 years later and everything magically falls back into place??? there’s so many plot holes and unfinished business for the characters.
this would’ve been a good book for me if it was my first time reading anything ever in my life and i had nothing else to compare it to.
April 13, 2026
"it's an incredible thing, to feel. but it's a purely magical thing to make others feel."
did i read this because i was in a slump and the main male character is based on steve harrington? ...yes, i am a joe keery girl until i die. was the book a fun time, but too long and repetitive with some formatting errors? also yes. did i finish it in a timely manner and still enjoy it? yes! many things can be true at once.
it might as well have been fanfiction, (which is not a jab, its a compliment to the easy nature of reading this story and fun plot,) but i'm not mad i dedicated time to it. i needed something cheesy!
February 21, 2024
Super good! I’m not gonna lie I almost DNF’ed this book. I took a reading break and almost didn’t finish it. I decided to keep going, and it was definitely rewarding. It really captures the 80’s. If you love Steve Harrington from Stranger Things, you will love this book. He inspired one of the main characters in this book, Robbie Summers
This is also the first book I read by one of mg favorite book tubers, Nikki Witt! Phenomenal job 😊
This is also the first book I read by one of mg favorite book tubers, Nikki Witt! Phenomenal job 😊
August 17, 2026
3,5☆
So…the first half of this book was AMAZING, genuinely one of the best written slow-burn stories I’ve read in a looong time. While I was reading, it truly felt like I was watching an 80’s movie in my mind. Then the second half came along… I didn’t know I could change my opinion about a book so quickly. Once they “got together” and had their big misunderstanding at school, it truly felt like I was reading about two completely different characters from the ones that I had been reading up until that point. By the end, I was so done with them that I couldn’t even take the book seriously. And what was that argument with Alice all about???? It made no sense!!!
I’m just very sad and mad because I thought this was gonna be my new favourite romance novel, but I ended up so disappointed.
So…the first half of this book was AMAZING, genuinely one of the best written slow-burn stories I’ve read in a looong time. While I was reading, it truly felt like I was watching an 80’s movie in my mind. Then the second half came along… I didn’t know I could change my opinion about a book so quickly. Once they “got together” and had their big misunderstanding at school, it truly felt like I was reading about two completely different characters from the ones that I had been reading up until that point. By the end, I was so done with them that I couldn’t even take the book seriously. And what was that argument with Alice all about???? It made no sense!!!
I’m just very sad and mad because I thought this was gonna be my new favourite romance novel, but I ended up so disappointed.
August 21, 2026
this had no business being over 600 pages... the first half was so good and the banter was really fun, but the second half got lost. i felt like they turned into different characters and i kinda hated them both at the end whoops. the ending felt rushed and incomplete (crazy for a 650 page book)
September 5, 2026
Ummmmm….. i could’ve lived without it
Not terrible though
Not terrible though
April 30, 2023
Something Rad by @nikkis.book.nook
HAPPY RELEASE DAY! ❤️
I had the pleasure of reading this book early, and I seriously loved it so much. Robbie and Sara had my heart from the very beginning. Sara Cooper is always in the shadows, quiet and focused on her future. Robbie Summers is the easygoing, popular guy at school who seems to always get what he wants. Even though Sara can’t stand Robbie, he gives her an opportunity she can’t pass up. He wants to make another girl jealous, and she needs to win student body president. When fake dating enters the picture, undeniable feelings start to stir. ❤️🔥
You guys! Read this book. Not only is the plot amazing, but the spice had me on the edge of my seat. Also, the 80s vibes were IMMACULATE! 👌🏼 It has all the tropes: fake dating, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, tension, angst… just so good.
Nikki, I am SO proud of you!! I’m so happy your baby is finally out in the world!
HAPPY RELEASE DAY! ❤️
I had the pleasure of reading this book early, and I seriously loved it so much. Robbie and Sara had my heart from the very beginning. Sara Cooper is always in the shadows, quiet and focused on her future. Robbie Summers is the easygoing, popular guy at school who seems to always get what he wants. Even though Sara can’t stand Robbie, he gives her an opportunity she can’t pass up. He wants to make another girl jealous, and she needs to win student body president. When fake dating enters the picture, undeniable feelings start to stir. ❤️🔥
You guys! Read this book. Not only is the plot amazing, but the spice had me on the edge of my seat. Also, the 80s vibes were IMMACULATE! 👌🏼 It has all the tropes: fake dating, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, tension, angst… just so good.
Nikki, I am SO proud of you!! I’m so happy your baby is finally out in the world!
May 12, 2026
The beginning was very hard for me to get into, and I can say it was actually boring at first. In the middle, it becomes a really easy read, and I was so caught up in everything that was going on with Sara and Robbie. But after that, I did not like how the characters were not true to themselves. Robbie’s growth went downhill, just like Sara’s personality. The ending was so short. In one chapter there is a huge nonsense problem just for the plot, and then they “fix” it in the next one. I mean, if the book is 600 pages, maybe 50 more pages to avoid rushing the ending and their personalities would have made it better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2024
there are good books, even great books, and then there are books that will stick with you forever. this is one of those. this love story is something rad, indeed. ;)
February 13, 2024
This book was awesome, and I loved it! It’s a high school romance set in the ‘80s with enemies-to-lovers and fake dating tropes. I loved the references to the ‘80s from the movies to the songs to the fashion. This book has a lot of fluff, but there’s also some heavy angst and other serious stuff. Also, I just wanna say that the playlist was great, and I’m so happy to see that a lot of the songs from the ‘80s that I like were included. Also, just a heads up: Even though this is a high school romance story, I wouldn’t categorize it as YA as it contains some open-door spicy content.
Sara Cooper is about to start her senior year in high school. She is an overachiever, very focused on her studies, works hard, is independent, and has an ambition in life. She wants to make her and her fellow seniors’ last year in high school memorable and to do that, she wants to become the yearbook editor for their school yearbook. Unfortunately, to become the yearbook editor, she also needs to become the student body president, but the thing is, Sara’s chances of being elected are very low. She’s not a popular student. She’s mostly the one on the sidelines during school events documenting each moment as the photographer. So how can she get herself elected when she’s often invisible to her fellow schoolmates? There’s also the fact that becoming student body president could help boost the chances of her scholarship application for the screenwriting program at NYU being accepted.
Robbie Summers is Bay View High School’s golden boy. He’s the most popular guy in school, and he has almost everyone in the school wrapped around his finger. He’s a real charmer with a bright and outgoing personality, and he oozes with confidence. He is also someone who enjoys living in the now and doesn’t have plans or worry about the future. Sadly, his star treatment at school contrasts with his life at home. His family, most especially his father, does not take him seriously and only expects the worst from him. His ex-girlfriend thinks he’s not serious enough in life, and hence, dumped him because of this. For his final year in high school, Robbie wants to be taken seriously by everyone, and he also plans to woo his ex-girlfriend back to him.
Sara and Robbie’s worlds collide during a not-so-meet-cute moment and one-month detention to the library for Robbie, where Sara volunteers after school. Together, they hatch a plan to fake date each other so that Sara can gain the popularity that she needs to be elected as the student body president, while Robbie aims to make his ex-girlfriend jealous and also change how people view him by dating a serious, and well-accomplished student like Sara.
The fake dating trope was executed so well, and I enjoyed every moment of it. I loved that Sara and Robbie took the time to get to know each other first, and I also loved how their relationship gradually grew from not-so-friendly acquaintances to friends to lovers. They learned a lot from each other and pushed each other to be better. They were both funny and a lot of their banters made me laugh. Drama also happened, which led to some heavy angst, which was deliciously heart-wrenching. They had me swooning when love finally blossomed between them. Sara and Robbie’s love for each other is all-consuming, and they’re both willing to give up something important in their lives just to help the other. They glowed as they fell in love with each other, and they also had the kind of love that made them feel like nothing else mattered as long as they were both happy. However, it’s not always rainbows and butterflies in a romantic relationship, and I think this was excellently shown through the conflicts and issues that Sara and Robbie had together.
Overall, this was a great book, and I enjoyed reading it. The writing was very good, and I think the author captured the vibes of a high school romance set in the ‘80s very well. Aside from the romance, the story was also about friendship, working hard to achieve one’s dreams, making special memories, and the different dynamics of a family. I think my only issue was that there were some typos and grammar errors here and there. However, I don’t think these take away from how good the story is.
For me, the author succeeded in her goal of making me feel something with this book. I think she did a great job in being able to evoke just the right emotions from every funny, romantic, emotional, or sad scene in the book. This book made me laugh, made me fall in love with these characters, and made my heart ache. This book is 732 pages long on Kindle, and honestly, I did find the page count to be intimidating at first, but in the end, even after I finished reading the epilogue, I actually found myself wanting more. I think the length of the story was just right for fleshing out the characters and for the development of Sara and Robbie’s relationship.
.
This book gave me a book hangover, so I don’t think I’ll be reading something new anytime soon as I’m still living in this one. I am also looking forward to reading more books from Nikki Witt in the future as Something Rad clearly made a mark on me. I would definitely put this book as one of my best reads for this year so far. With that said, I highly recommend reading this book. If you’re looking for a slow-burn romance set in the ‘80s, please give this a go.
Sara Cooper is about to start her senior year in high school. She is an overachiever, very focused on her studies, works hard, is independent, and has an ambition in life. She wants to make her and her fellow seniors’ last year in high school memorable and to do that, she wants to become the yearbook editor for their school yearbook. Unfortunately, to become the yearbook editor, she also needs to become the student body president, but the thing is, Sara’s chances of being elected are very low. She’s not a popular student. She’s mostly the one on the sidelines during school events documenting each moment as the photographer. So how can she get herself elected when she’s often invisible to her fellow schoolmates? There’s also the fact that becoming student body president could help boost the chances of her scholarship application for the screenwriting program at NYU being accepted.
Robbie Summers is Bay View High School’s golden boy. He’s the most popular guy in school, and he has almost everyone in the school wrapped around his finger. He’s a real charmer with a bright and outgoing personality, and he oozes with confidence. He is also someone who enjoys living in the now and doesn’t have plans or worry about the future. Sadly, his star treatment at school contrasts with his life at home. His family, most especially his father, does not take him seriously and only expects the worst from him. His ex-girlfriend thinks he’s not serious enough in life, and hence, dumped him because of this. For his final year in high school, Robbie wants to be taken seriously by everyone, and he also plans to woo his ex-girlfriend back to him.
Sara and Robbie’s worlds collide during a not-so-meet-cute moment and one-month detention to the library for Robbie, where Sara volunteers after school. Together, they hatch a plan to fake date each other so that Sara can gain the popularity that she needs to be elected as the student body president, while Robbie aims to make his ex-girlfriend jealous and also change how people view him by dating a serious, and well-accomplished student like Sara.
The fake dating trope was executed so well, and I enjoyed every moment of it. I loved that Sara and Robbie took the time to get to know each other first, and I also loved how their relationship gradually grew from not-so-friendly acquaintances to friends to lovers. They learned a lot from each other and pushed each other to be better. They were both funny and a lot of their banters made me laugh. Drama also happened, which led to some heavy angst, which was deliciously heart-wrenching. They had me swooning when love finally blossomed between them. Sara and Robbie’s love for each other is all-consuming, and they’re both willing to give up something important in their lives just to help the other. They glowed as they fell in love with each other, and they also had the kind of love that made them feel like nothing else mattered as long as they were both happy. However, it’s not always rainbows and butterflies in a romantic relationship, and I think this was excellently shown through the conflicts and issues that Sara and Robbie had together.
Overall, this was a great book, and I enjoyed reading it. The writing was very good, and I think the author captured the vibes of a high school romance set in the ‘80s very well. Aside from the romance, the story was also about friendship, working hard to achieve one’s dreams, making special memories, and the different dynamics of a family. I think my only issue was that there were some typos and grammar errors here and there. However, I don’t think these take away from how good the story is.
For me, the author succeeded in her goal of making me feel something with this book. I think she did a great job in being able to evoke just the right emotions from every funny, romantic, emotional, or sad scene in the book. This book made me laugh, made me fall in love with these characters, and made my heart ache. This book is 732 pages long on Kindle, and honestly, I did find the page count to be intimidating at first, but in the end, even after I finished reading the epilogue, I actually found myself wanting more. I think the length of the story was just right for fleshing out the characters and for the development of Sara and Robbie’s relationship.
.
This book gave me a book hangover, so I don’t think I’ll be reading something new anytime soon as I’m still living in this one. I am also looking forward to reading more books from Nikki Witt in the future as Something Rad clearly made a mark on me. I would definitely put this book as one of my best reads for this year so far. With that said, I highly recommend reading this book. If you’re looking for a slow-burn romance set in the ‘80s, please give this a go.
August 28, 2026
I LOVED this until 60%. The slow burn, the fake dating, the BANTERRRR. Then was wanting to DNF the entire rest of the book. I didn’t care for their arguments and thought if they loved each other that much then their problems wouldn’t have been important at all. Also Robbie is defo autistic. LOVED Cooper tho she really stood for herself.
September 3, 2026
BEST BOOK OF 2026!
September 14, 2026
I’m oscillating between “this was good, I’m just too old for YA” and “YA is no excuse for this behavior”
March 12, 2026
4.75/5
I loved this book! It felt like a classic 80s high school John Hughes movie and it was so much fun. Sara and Robbie were great main characters and I flew through this book. Being a huge Steve Harrington fan I happened across the author's TikTok stating that Robbie was inspired heavily by Steve and while that is true, Robbie became his own character by the end of the book. But, I'm so happy the inspiration lead me to reading this book.
I loved this book! It felt like a classic 80s high school John Hughes movie and it was so much fun. Sara and Robbie were great main characters and I flew through this book. Being a huge Steve Harrington fan I happened across the author's TikTok stating that Robbie was inspired heavily by Steve and while that is true, Robbie became his own character by the end of the book. But, I'm so happy the inspiration lead me to reading this book.
September 6, 2026
For a 649 page romance that was a fun time
August 25, 2026
tiktok sold me a dream!!! “6 star book” r u kidding me???
This was cute! takes a while to kick in but once it does it’s really juicy and fun. has all the romance tropes i love. really appreciated the characterisation and the different chapters being written from different perspectives. i could’ve shed a little tear reading the last chapter 🥹
HOWEVER the writing is sooooo repetitive and the dialogue is soooo cheesy! this is the first book i’ve ever read on kindle and i was actually shocked by the amount of spelling mistakes/ grammatical errors/ mistypes. the whole thing is like 200 pages longer than necessary
i do completely appreciate that it’s an independently published book and Nikki Witt seems genuinely lovely. clearly a passion project and the love and attention to detail for the time period is amazing. overall a very cute nostalgic romance but not quite as life changing as the booktok girlies were hyping it up to be!!
This was cute! takes a while to kick in but once it does it’s really juicy and fun. has all the romance tropes i love. really appreciated the characterisation and the different chapters being written from different perspectives. i could’ve shed a little tear reading the last chapter 🥹
HOWEVER the writing is sooooo repetitive and the dialogue is soooo cheesy! this is the first book i’ve ever read on kindle and i was actually shocked by the amount of spelling mistakes/ grammatical errors/ mistypes. the whole thing is like 200 pages longer than necessary
i do completely appreciate that it’s an independently published book and Nikki Witt seems genuinely lovely. clearly a passion project and the love and attention to detail for the time period is amazing. overall a very cute nostalgic romance but not quite as life changing as the booktok girlies were hyping it up to be!!
August 3, 2026
IT IS 12:18 IN THE MORNING AND THATS HOW IT ENDS?!
The ✨banter✨ in this was so freaking good, I loved the 80s backdrop, and who gave Robbie Summers the right to be doing all he did?!? Yes it was high school and that did make some of the scenes uncomfy but just skip through those if need be.
I just can’t believe all that buildup and that slow burn to end it like that I am so angry.
The ✨banter✨ in this was so freaking good, I loved the 80s backdrop, and who gave Robbie Summers the right to be doing all he did?!? Yes it was high school and that did make some of the scenes uncomfy but just skip through those if need be.
I just can’t believe all that buildup and that slow burn to end it like that I am so angry.
Currently Reading
September 14, 2026not starting this RIGHT NOW because I have to grade exams (I hate being a teacher btw)
but I'm reeeeeeally excited for this one!!!!
but I'm reeeeeeally excited for this one!!!!
August 8, 2026
3.75 stars. If you like John Hugh’s movies and the 80’s in general you will love this book! Easy read, Wasn’t a huge fan of how the story played out in the end. I felt like Robbie’s character never really changed or got better until the epilogue. And he kinda brought Sara down and she was just okay with it. There wasn’t really a resolution with Alice and Sara either. And Denise just kinda dropped off into nowhere.
May 11, 2026
Do I love the character Steve Harrington? Yes. Do I wish my high school experience mirrored a John Hughes movie? Again, yes. Are those reasons why I read this book? You betcha! For those reasons, I enjoyed this book. It was a fun, easy read. I liked the quick banter between Cooper and Robbie. I also enjoyed the character arcs of both. However, it ended abruptly and ineffectually.
***Spoilers below***
Robbie drinking at prom came out of nowhere-sure, he was stressed about the future, but he and Cooper always talked through their shit. The drinking was just a plot device to get him in trouble and to drive a wedge between the two of them. He's in jail; his parents won't bail him out, so they break up. I think a normal breakup would have been more impactful and moving. Robbie soberly telling Cooper she needs to follow her dreams on, say, the hood of his Camaro after the prom, would have dealt a devastating and real blow. I found myself rolling my eyes during their jail convo.
Jumping 8 years into the future also didn't really have the desired impact. Could it happen? Sure. It just felt hollow.
***Spoilers below***
Robbie drinking at prom came out of nowhere-sure, he was stressed about the future, but he and Cooper always talked through their shit. The drinking was just a plot device to get him in trouble and to drive a wedge between the two of them. He's in jail; his parents won't bail him out, so they break up. I think a normal breakup would have been more impactful and moving. Robbie soberly telling Cooper she needs to follow her dreams on, say, the hood of his Camaro after the prom, would have dealt a devastating and real blow. I found myself rolling my eyes during their jail convo.
Jumping 8 years into the future also didn't really have the desired impact. Could it happen? Sure. It just felt hollow.
June 12, 2026
Was on track to be a five star read until the 2nd half of the book disappointed me
August 9, 2026
*4,25⭐️
This was such a cliche American Highschool love story, set in the 80‘s BUT DAMN I ATE THIS STORY UP. Literally one of the best slow burn stories I’ve read. This book had such a tight grip on me it was insane.
I dont tend to pick books up anymore that take place at highschools but I saw a booktoker recommending this book wholeheartedly so I just had to get it and I didn’t get disappointed at all. Regardless I noticed some flaws that this book had but I’ll come back later to them.
The plot itself was nonexistent for a 640 page book but wow it kept me hooked regardless!! AT ALL TIMES!!
I LOVED how slow paced this romance story was & the dual POVS of Sara and Robbie and these factors made the book even better for me. The way they started out as nothing to each other to become EVERYTHING TO EACH OTHER ( if you know you know ) UGH! My heart!
I’ll probably never forget their first kissing scene because that changed my brain chemistry the way it was written. I don’t wanna say it here because I want to keep this review spoiler free but if you want to pick this book up you’re in for the ride of your life. THE CHEMISTRY WAS INSANE and l want to completely learn every single word of that chapter and integrate it into my BRAIN so desperately and quote it for-and backwards.
This book is also definitely focused on its main characters and I feel like everyone else ( aka the friends, teachers, family…) play not really important roles, which is kinda concerning since both of them are teenagers but Robbie’s family was awful anyway so they can go to hell but I’d love to see Sara more focused on her best friend and mom. I feel like they’re were mostly just existing next to her which was such a shame. Don’t get me wrong I do love books that focus on its main characters but a book doesn’t really work without taking care of side characters as well.
I also wouldve loved to see more of Robbie’s dreams and wishes. We didn’t really get to see those since he didn’t get any character development and he himself said at the end that he still didn’t have any idea what to do with his life, which is such a shame because if you write a 640 pages book I feel like there needs to be done with the character but in this case the character development was 100% focused on Sara.
But overall I really really loved the book. Mainly for its romance since it’s so INCREDIBLY WELL WRITTEN. Need to read more from the author.
This was such a cliche American Highschool love story, set in the 80‘s BUT DAMN I ATE THIS STORY UP. Literally one of the best slow burn stories I’ve read. This book had such a tight grip on me it was insane.
I dont tend to pick books up anymore that take place at highschools but I saw a booktoker recommending this book wholeheartedly so I just had to get it and I didn’t get disappointed at all. Regardless I noticed some flaws that this book had but I’ll come back later to them.
The plot itself was nonexistent for a 640 page book but wow it kept me hooked regardless!! AT ALL TIMES!!
I LOVED how slow paced this romance story was & the dual POVS of Sara and Robbie and these factors made the book even better for me. The way they started out as nothing to each other to become EVERYTHING TO EACH OTHER ( if you know you know ) UGH! My heart!
I’ll probably never forget their first kissing scene because that changed my brain chemistry the way it was written. I don’t wanna say it here because I want to keep this review spoiler free but if you want to pick this book up you’re in for the ride of your life. THE CHEMISTRY WAS INSANE and l want to completely learn every single word of that chapter and integrate it into my BRAIN so desperately and quote it for-and backwards.
This book is also definitely focused on its main characters and I feel like everyone else ( aka the friends, teachers, family…) play not really important roles, which is kinda concerning since both of them are teenagers but Robbie’s family was awful anyway so they can go to hell but I’d love to see Sara more focused on her best friend and mom. I feel like they’re were mostly just existing next to her which was such a shame. Don’t get me wrong I do love books that focus on its main characters but a book doesn’t really work without taking care of side characters as well.
I also wouldve loved to see more of Robbie’s dreams and wishes. We didn’t really get to see those since he didn’t get any character development and he himself said at the end that he still didn’t have any idea what to do with his life, which is such a shame because if you write a 640 pages book I feel like there needs to be done with the character but in this case the character development was 100% focused on Sara.
But overall I really really loved the book. Mainly for its romance since it’s so INCREDIBLY WELL WRITTEN. Need to read more from the author.
August 14, 2026
I have very conflicting feelings about this book. The first 1/4 of the book is cute and easily draws you in to the world that Witt created, but the last 3/4 just feel like a bunch of messy ideas piled onto each other.
I enjoyed the inclusions of music and 80s culture and felt like Witt did a great job of really building the world outside of the protagonist. But, I felt like she was aiming for something bigger that “Something Rad” was not capable of as a contemporary romance. In the end, the stakes raise tremendously and then it worked best when we were dealing with a low stakes, fake dating high school romance, but as soon as we went out of that realm, was when everything fell apart.
The first half or 1/4 of the book was around a 3.5, but it was like a landslide going downhill. Denise (Nancy Wheeler) (jealous ex archetype) initially breaks up with Robbie because he’s not “serious” enough and doesn’t have a proper plan for after high school, then spends the rest of the book being petty and catty to Sara. Like Denise, maybe YOU should work on being more serious?
The characters in the book that acted as antagonists (ex Robbie’s family, Denise, Paul) to Sara and Robbie just felt cartoonishly evil. There was no subtlety to their insults or actions, so it ended up feeling over dramatic and unrealistic. Every character constantly “rolls their lips into their mouth”. I have literally never read that before but I’ve read it enough for my whole life. Holyyy
I liked Witt’s inclusions of verbal consent between Robbie and Sara and how she highlighted the importance of it in intimate situations. Relatively light and cheesy in the beginning in a sweet way, but relies way too heavily on Steve Harrington’s hype to stand alone as a strong novel without Stranger Things doing all the heavy lifting.
Robbie & Sara are also in high school so the sex scenes, being so graphic in themselves, left a bad taste in my mouth as well.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 521 reviews