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Nav's Foolproof Guide to Falling in Love
Giving the new girl lessons in romance so she can woo your best friend couldn’t possibly go wrong…right? Perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli and Casey McQuiston, this romantic comedy from Jessica Lewis is packed with heart.
Nav knows how to flirt, but she also knows love is a messy, losing proposition. She doesn’t need her best friend, Hallie, the serial monogamist, to demonstrate it to her over and over. So when shy new girl Gia asks Nav for help getting Hallie’s attention, Nav makes sure she seems genuine—she doesn't want to add another heartbreak to Hallie's never-ending list. They strike a bargain, and Nav agrees to give Gia lessons in romance. If it works, maybe Hallie can date someone decent for a change.
Except…Gia’s not just bad at flirting, she’s terrible. She’s too anxious to even speak to Hallie, never mind date her. But somehow, every awkward joke and catastrophic practice date makes Nav like Gia a little bit more. And not in a friend way. As the three girls’ feelings get spun around, Nav will have to question if she’s as much of an expert as she thought…or if love might be worth every bit of trouble after all.
Nav knows how to flirt, but she also knows love is a messy, losing proposition. She doesn’t need her best friend, Hallie, the serial monogamist, to demonstrate it to her over and over. So when shy new girl Gia asks Nav for help getting Hallie’s attention, Nav makes sure she seems genuine—she doesn't want to add another heartbreak to Hallie's never-ending list. They strike a bargain, and Nav agrees to give Gia lessons in romance. If it works, maybe Hallie can date someone decent for a change.
Except…Gia’s not just bad at flirting, she’s terrible. She’s too anxious to even speak to Hallie, never mind date her. But somehow, every awkward joke and catastrophic practice date makes Nav like Gia a little bit more. And not in a friend way. As the three girls’ feelings get spun around, Nav will have to question if she’s as much of an expert as she thought…or if love might be worth every bit of trouble after all.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published April 29, 2025
15 people are currently reading
5287 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
April 14, 2025
I haven't been reading YA contemporary as much anymore, but it will always be special to me. Nav's Foolproof Guide is exactly what I want out of the genre: coming of age in which messiness and growth come together, with an adorable romance to top it all off. Nav struggles with change and with letting people in, and this leads to her acting in some not-always-great ways. All of it is so understandable though, and I found it to be a relatable journey. There's also, like I said, an adorable romance. It was so wonderful to see Nav and Gia spend so much time together and slowly build trust and connection. They helped each other grow, which was amazing to see. And they're just SO cute together.
August 12, 2025
DISGUSTINGLY ADORABLE omg i love this book i wish I could forget the plot so I could read it again
April 8, 2025
This book is soo stinking cute! I seriously adored Nav and Gia. They were so perfect for each other. I loved the growth Nav had, especially when it came to her relationship with her dad. Also can we talk about the cutest dog ever?
Pub Date: April 29th, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for a copy of this eARC.
Pub Date: April 29th, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for a copy of this eARC.
October 30, 2024
this book is gonna make me redownload a dating app because I feel even more (love)sick than I did watching heartstopper after finishing this book. Here’s just a few things I loved
- anxiety rep! I’m autistic but also have social anxiety and I really related to Gia.
- cute dog!!! Gia has an anxiety therapy dog <3 I will say though, kinda devastated about the cuddles plotline
- parents trying to be better! Namely Nav’s dad going to therapy after pissing me off with that grounding. Also, GET YOUR KID ANOTHER DOG SINCE YOUR ASSHOLE (ex?)WIFE DOGNAPPED CUDDLES.
There’s more but I stayed up past midnight to finish this and I’m off to bed. THIS BOOK WAS SO CUTEEEE
- anxiety rep! I’m autistic but also have social anxiety and I really related to Gia.
- cute dog!!! Gia has an anxiety therapy dog <3 I will say though, kinda devastated about the cuddles plotline
- parents trying to be better! Namely Nav’s dad going to therapy after pissing me off with that grounding. Also, GET YOUR KID ANOTHER DOG SINCE YOUR ASSHOLE (ex?)WIFE DOGNAPPED CUDDLES.
There’s more but I stayed up past midnight to finish this and I’m off to bed. THIS BOOK WAS SO CUTEEEE
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!!
I’ll be the first to say I’m a sucker for an adorable romance. I loved Monstrous from Jessica as well so this was a highly anticipated book for me.
From the beginning, I knew that Nav and Gia would make me cry. They had such good vibes together. As the story progresses, you just want them to kiss already. Gia is me if my anxiety was a little worse. Nav getting her out of her shell had my heart soaring. I also loved Jordan. What a cutie.
The side plot with Nav’s dad was so powerful because sometimes our grief just makes us the worst versions of ourselves and we hurt the ones we love. Gia also had a lot of grief with her family. I was so happy that Gia’s mom was amazing. Like she seemed so cool.
Hallie seemed to be a really great friend who also just wanted to find herself. I liked her as a character a lot. All 3 of them were just adorable and I appreciated this story so much. And it was so queer friendly. Like everyone was so cool with each other’s sexuality. There’s some great character development for literally everyone and this put such a happy smile on my face.
I’ll be the first to say I’m a sucker for an adorable romance. I loved Monstrous from Jessica as well so this was a highly anticipated book for me.
From the beginning, I knew that Nav and Gia would make me cry. They had such good vibes together. As the story progresses, you just want them to kiss already. Gia is me if my anxiety was a little worse. Nav getting her out of her shell had my heart soaring. I also loved Jordan. What a cutie.
The side plot with Nav’s dad was so powerful because sometimes our grief just makes us the worst versions of ourselves and we hurt the ones we love. Gia also had a lot of grief with her family. I was so happy that Gia’s mom was amazing. Like she seemed so cool.
Hallie seemed to be a really great friend who also just wanted to find herself. I liked her as a character a lot. All 3 of them were just adorable and I appreciated this story so much. And it was so queer friendly. Like everyone was so cool with each other’s sexuality. There’s some great character development for literally everyone and this put such a happy smile on my face.
June 7, 2025
This was a cute YA Sapphic romance that has Nav helping the new girl, Gia woo her best friend Haille. Nothing could go wrong in that scenario right?? lol. Cue Nav unexpectedly falling for Gia, who has anxiety, panic attacks and a cute therapy dog. I loved the mental health rep in this book and thought the characters were well-written and relatable. Good on audio too and perfect for fans of authors like Becky Albertalli or Leah Johnson. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital an audio copy in exchange for my honest review.
December 11, 2025
Ohhh my heart needed this.
i related so much with Nav and her difficulties.
Communication ist Key and that is the Most Problem with human Interactions. sadly.
but wonderfully Made I giggled and enjoyed this very much
i related so much with Nav and her difficulties.
Communication ist Key and that is the Most Problem with human Interactions. sadly.
but wonderfully Made I giggled and enjoyed this very much
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2023
I had the pleasure of reading an early version of this book and it is exceptional. The characters are so endearing and hilarious, and the romance a treat. I love an awkward LI so much and this book delivers in Gia.
A terrific read.
A terrific read.
Want to read
August 31, 2024"Giving the new girl lessons in romance so she can woo your best friend couldn’t possibly go wrong…right?"
love it
love it
November 10, 2024
Such a cute self-inflicted forbidden romance!
February 6, 2025
I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes; this in no way influences my review.
I’ve been following Jessica Lewis’ books since her debut, and I was so excited to see what she’d do with a romance. Suffice to say I was not disappointed! Nav’s Foolproof Guide to Falling in Love feels like a warm squishy hug and builds the tension between Nav and Gia so wonderfully.
Nav doesn’t believe in love, especially not anything lasting after her mom left “for space” three years earlier, but her best friend Hallie loves to fall in love and be in relationships. When her latest breakup leaves Hallie devastated in a bigger way than before, Nav isn’t quite sure how to make her feel better, especially when she never liked Peter for her anyway. Enter Gia, a recent transfer who thinks Hallie is her dream girl but has such bad anxiety that she can’t get a single word out around her. Nav got denied a spot for a summer camp that Hallie is going to, so she makes a deal with Gia that she’ll help her have a successful date with Hallie if she gives up her spot at the summer camp for Nav so she can be there to protect Hallie. What follows is a great story of friendship and falling in love and finding your own inner strength.
I loved so much about this book and the tension between Nav and Gia as the story progressed had me wanting to squish them together while screaming “KISS!” I really liked how Gia’s anxiety was presented (oof, relatable) and the way it was never about fixing her, but finding adaptations and ways to make the idea of spending time with Hallie more comfortable and familiar. Nav was really good about pushing Hallie out of her comfort zone in gentle ways, but also listening when something absolutely couldn’t be or needed to be adapted.
Another thing I really liked was Nav’s dynamic with her dad. When her mom left them, her dad shut down and wasn’t there for her at all. It got to the point that Nav believed he didn’t actually care about her and so long as she stayed out of his way, everything was copacetic. Except suddenly he’s trying to parent her after three years, and this creates a lot of conflict because why does he suddenly care now? The two of them learning to talk to each other again and Nav recognizing that her dad always cared and loved but was dealing with his own grief was a really emotional subplot that I really appreciated.
All around Nav’s Foolproof Guide is a great exploration of growing up and changing, and growing a support network of more than one person. I also loved that in the end everyone has therapy, and this was another way Nav and Gia support one another. This truly is so full of sweet moments of support and love in all its forms, and I had such a great time with this book. Jessica Lewis continues to prove herself an auto-read for me and I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next!
I’ve been following Jessica Lewis’ books since her debut, and I was so excited to see what she’d do with a romance. Suffice to say I was not disappointed! Nav’s Foolproof Guide to Falling in Love feels like a warm squishy hug and builds the tension between Nav and Gia so wonderfully.
Nav doesn’t believe in love, especially not anything lasting after her mom left “for space” three years earlier, but her best friend Hallie loves to fall in love and be in relationships. When her latest breakup leaves Hallie devastated in a bigger way than before, Nav isn’t quite sure how to make her feel better, especially when she never liked Peter for her anyway. Enter Gia, a recent transfer who thinks Hallie is her dream girl but has such bad anxiety that she can’t get a single word out around her. Nav got denied a spot for a summer camp that Hallie is going to, so she makes a deal with Gia that she’ll help her have a successful date with Hallie if she gives up her spot at the summer camp for Nav so she can be there to protect Hallie. What follows is a great story of friendship and falling in love and finding your own inner strength.
I loved so much about this book and the tension between Nav and Gia as the story progressed had me wanting to squish them together while screaming “KISS!” I really liked how Gia’s anxiety was presented (oof, relatable) and the way it was never about fixing her, but finding adaptations and ways to make the idea of spending time with Hallie more comfortable and familiar. Nav was really good about pushing Hallie out of her comfort zone in gentle ways, but also listening when something absolutely couldn’t be or needed to be adapted.
Another thing I really liked was Nav’s dynamic with her dad. When her mom left them, her dad shut down and wasn’t there for her at all. It got to the point that Nav believed he didn’t actually care about her and so long as she stayed out of his way, everything was copacetic. Except suddenly he’s trying to parent her after three years, and this creates a lot of conflict because why does he suddenly care now? The two of them learning to talk to each other again and Nav recognizing that her dad always cared and loved but was dealing with his own grief was a really emotional subplot that I really appreciated.
All around Nav’s Foolproof Guide is a great exploration of growing up and changing, and growing a support network of more than one person. I also loved that in the end everyone has therapy, and this was another way Nav and Gia support one another. This truly is so full of sweet moments of support and love in all its forms, and I had such a great time with this book. Jessica Lewis continues to prove herself an auto-read for me and I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next!
July 22, 2025
This book is everything a YA romcom should be: gloriously heartfelt, honestly quirky, and shockingly emotional. Trust the title, because you will 100% fall in love with this book.
I don’t think I’ve read a book in a while that made me this happy, where I’m grinning at the end of every chapter from how CUTE these characters are, flaws and all. Nav is delightful while having a relatable chip on her shoulder, and her complex relationship with her father brought me to tears. A lot of authors describe family dynamics similar to Nav’s, but the honesty in Lewis’s writing made it hit home for me in a way that left my chest aching.
And GIA ❤️❤️❤️. Most books show characters in a constant state of denying their problems until the very end, but Gia recognizes her severe anxiety and actively works to improve her own life and relationships. It is such a refreshing take on mental health, and I think teens are going to take something truly valuable from her story.
Also, honorable mention to Jordan the corgi. She was equally memorable and I wanted to squish her whenever she waddled onto the page.
Lewis has crafted a necessary book full of flawed characters, imperfect relationships, and true, messy friendships, while never losing the ideas of hope and love. I will read this over and over, and I know so many teens will find themselves in the pages of this book and walk away with a sense of hope and belonging.
I don’t think I’ve read a book in a while that made me this happy, where I’m grinning at the end of every chapter from how CUTE these characters are, flaws and all. Nav is delightful while having a relatable chip on her shoulder, and her complex relationship with her father brought me to tears. A lot of authors describe family dynamics similar to Nav’s, but the honesty in Lewis’s writing made it hit home for me in a way that left my chest aching.
And GIA ❤️❤️❤️. Most books show characters in a constant state of denying their problems until the very end, but Gia recognizes her severe anxiety and actively works to improve her own life and relationships. It is such a refreshing take on mental health, and I think teens are going to take something truly valuable from her story.
Also, honorable mention to Jordan the corgi. She was equally memorable and I wanted to squish her whenever she waddled onto the page.
Lewis has crafted a necessary book full of flawed characters, imperfect relationships, and true, messy friendships, while never losing the ideas of hope and love. I will read this over and over, and I know so many teens will find themselves in the pages of this book and walk away with a sense of hope and belonging.
May 25, 2025
DNF @ 71%
I’m not sure what it was that made me reluctant to keep picking this book up. I got through a decent amount of it, but I never felt like I enjoyed being in Nav’s head had any significant connection to the characters. I just…didn’t care. As most of the depth of the story is pretty easy to follow, the writing and plot fairly simple overall, I think I got through a lot more of the book than I would have otherwise. Some of my dislike, I think, may have been related to my distaste for the regular whining of Nav, despite knowing that everything behind this personality of hers had a completely reasonable origin.
Part of me wonders if I would have enjoyed the story more had we been in Gia’s head, but I suppose I’ll never know. I can definitely say that, overall, I just couldn’t connect. And this is weird for me given that a lot of the themes were ones that I’ve enjoyed in the past or feel a lot of relatability to—my goodness, when the dad apologized? What I wouldn’t give…
Anyway, I made the eventual decision to set this one aside for a book that I’d have more fun reading. There’s a very minute chance I might come back to this and try to finish it later on, but I wouldn’t bet on it. The book is fine, if a little boring, but largely just not for me.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I’m not sure what it was that made me reluctant to keep picking this book up. I got through a decent amount of it, but I never felt like I enjoyed being in Nav’s head had any significant connection to the characters. I just…didn’t care. As most of the depth of the story is pretty easy to follow, the writing and plot fairly simple overall, I think I got through a lot more of the book than I would have otherwise. Some of my dislike, I think, may have been related to my distaste for the regular whining of Nav, despite knowing that everything behind this personality of hers had a completely reasonable origin.
Part of me wonders if I would have enjoyed the story more had we been in Gia’s head, but I suppose I’ll never know. I can definitely say that, overall, I just couldn’t connect. And this is weird for me given that a lot of the themes were ones that I’ve enjoyed in the past or feel a lot of relatability to—my goodness, when the dad apologized? What I wouldn’t give…
Anyway, I made the eventual decision to set this one aside for a book that I’d have more fun reading. There’s a very minute chance I might come back to this and try to finish it later on, but I wouldn’t bet on it. The book is fine, if a little boring, but largely just not for me.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 21, 2025
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was one of the cutest YA rom-coms I've read in a long time. It's got funny characters, adorable banter, relatable drama, and lots of heart.
Nav is such a loveable main character. She's not always perfect, but she tries hard to make the right choices when she messes up. I love how oblivious she is to the whole situation with Gia, and seeing her work on her relationship with her dad is very sweet.
The romance in this book particularly shines, I think this was one of the most wholesome cute romances I've read in a long time. It's exactly the kind of fun YA read you would expect based on the summary.
Overall, definitely reccomend as a quick lighthearted read for fans of a HEA. 5/5 stars.
This was one of the cutest YA rom-coms I've read in a long time. It's got funny characters, adorable banter, relatable drama, and lots of heart.
Nav is such a loveable main character. She's not always perfect, but she tries hard to make the right choices when she messes up. I love how oblivious she is to the whole situation with Gia, and seeing her work on her relationship with her dad is very sweet.
The romance in this book particularly shines, I think this was one of the most wholesome cute romances I've read in a long time. It's exactly the kind of fun YA read you would expect based on the summary.
Overall, definitely reccomend as a quick lighthearted read for fans of a HEA. 5/5 stars.
August 26, 2025
Round up to 4.5 stars.
April 17, 2025
Caution: contains some spoilers
This adorable YA sapphic romance stars Nav, a girl who is out and proud, a little rough and messy around the edges, and a major flirt. Nav doesn;t do relationships, but she does give really good advice, especially for her bi best friend Hallie. Hallie is known to pursue the bad boys and complicated girls, so when Nav is approached by the shy and adorably awkward Gia, who is interested in dating Hallie, Nav agrees to give her lessons in romance so that Halllie can finally date one of the good ones.
But what Nav comes to find out is that Gia is not just painfully awkward, but she is so anxious that she can’t even talk to most people. Even though Gia can’t order for herself, can’t begin to even talk about her crush on Hallie, and basically feels anxious everywhere she goes, she somehow starts to feel comfortable around Nav. Nav listens and respects her boundaries, pushes her out of her comfort zone, challenges her fears, lays in her lap while she plays video games, and even goes over to her house and takes care of her when she is sick. And not to mention her therapy dog absolutely loves her and nobody has ever gotten that close to Gia especially after knowing about her anxiety. The more time Nav spends with Gia, the more she starts to realize that maybe she doesn’t know as much about love as she thought and maybe she is worthy of more than just a one night stand.
I absolutely loved following Nav on her journey of love and how amazingly patient and understanding she was with Gia. Nav’s arc from typical confident flirt to unselfishly putting Gia’s feelings above her own was so well developed and heartfelt. Nav’s reasons for wanting to attend camp with Hallie aligned well with her struggle not to feel left behind or abandoned by someone who meant alot to her. I definitely admired that at such a young age Nav was able to adapt to Gia’s anxiety so well and not try and fix her but rather work on ways for Gia to improve her life even with her anxiety. Nav’s up and down relationship with her dad felt extremely real and progressed beautifully, especially the fact that they were both going to therapy and working on becoming better for each other despite their past trauma. I think Gia and Nav were so good together because they both in a way were able to see the best in each other and help one another get through their own kind of grief and hurt.
Gia was just so cute and adorable, just like her therapy corgi Jordan. As someone who also struggles with anxiety I really appreciated how well her anxiety journey was handled. It was made all the sweeter that Nav seemed to immediately know what she needed and what her triggers were, especially when she was getting overwhelmed or uncomfortable. Nav didn't push or force her to do anything but rather guided her and encouraged her to see things from a different perspective and trust herself. Seeing her slowly break out of her shell and begin to let Nav in was truly remarkable and so heartwarming. It completely broke my heart hearing how her family had treated her and her anxiety and how it forced her and her mom to move away. I really loved Gia’s mom though even though I think she shouldn’t have left Gia alone so much, she was so sweet and you could tell how grateful and appreciative she was of Nav being able to be such a great person for Gia. As a couple, Nav and Gia were just so darn cute together you couldn’t help but root for them. Even though of course I wish they had kissed and realized their feelings a lot sooner, it fit the storyline well, especially with not rushing Gia into an unrealistic situation.
In terms of side characters, I think they were all well written and given the right amount of depth and backstory needed to feel connected to them. Hallie’s character was especially interesting, given her disaster relationship history, and the closeness of her and Nav. The only thing I would have liked to know more about was how Hallie’s mom was apparently best friends with Nav’s mom but it didn't seem like she did much to try and talk Nav’s mom out of leaving them. You could definitely relate to Hallie and Nav’s friendship and how even though you can fight with the ones you love, you can still overcome it and be there for one another. I also appreciated how they were both queer and how well their families accepted them. Again, the side plot with Nav and her father navigating their grief together and learning how to love and respect each other again was extremely special and added a lot of emotional depth to the story.
Overall, for a YA, this story shocked me with its amazing mental health and anxiety representation, tremendous amount of character development, and of course, the inspiring romance between a girl struggling to live the life she desperately seeks, and one who declared herself a romance expert and yet, never realized how someone could fall in love with her.
Thank you NetGalley for the early digital copy for review.
This adorable YA sapphic romance stars Nav, a girl who is out and proud, a little rough and messy around the edges, and a major flirt. Nav doesn;t do relationships, but she does give really good advice, especially for her bi best friend Hallie. Hallie is known to pursue the bad boys and complicated girls, so when Nav is approached by the shy and adorably awkward Gia, who is interested in dating Hallie, Nav agrees to give her lessons in romance so that Halllie can finally date one of the good ones.
But what Nav comes to find out is that Gia is not just painfully awkward, but she is so anxious that she can’t even talk to most people. Even though Gia can’t order for herself, can’t begin to even talk about her crush on Hallie, and basically feels anxious everywhere she goes, she somehow starts to feel comfortable around Nav. Nav listens and respects her boundaries, pushes her out of her comfort zone, challenges her fears, lays in her lap while she plays video games, and even goes over to her house and takes care of her when she is sick. And not to mention her therapy dog absolutely loves her and nobody has ever gotten that close to Gia especially after knowing about her anxiety. The more time Nav spends with Gia, the more she starts to realize that maybe she doesn’t know as much about love as she thought and maybe she is worthy of more than just a one night stand.
I absolutely loved following Nav on her journey of love and how amazingly patient and understanding she was with Gia. Nav’s arc from typical confident flirt to unselfishly putting Gia’s feelings above her own was so well developed and heartfelt. Nav’s reasons for wanting to attend camp with Hallie aligned well with her struggle not to feel left behind or abandoned by someone who meant alot to her. I definitely admired that at such a young age Nav was able to adapt to Gia’s anxiety so well and not try and fix her but rather work on ways for Gia to improve her life even with her anxiety. Nav’s up and down relationship with her dad felt extremely real and progressed beautifully, especially the fact that they were both going to therapy and working on becoming better for each other despite their past trauma. I think Gia and Nav were so good together because they both in a way were able to see the best in each other and help one another get through their own kind of grief and hurt.
Gia was just so cute and adorable, just like her therapy corgi Jordan. As someone who also struggles with anxiety I really appreciated how well her anxiety journey was handled. It was made all the sweeter that Nav seemed to immediately know what she needed and what her triggers were, especially when she was getting overwhelmed or uncomfortable. Nav didn't push or force her to do anything but rather guided her and encouraged her to see things from a different perspective and trust herself. Seeing her slowly break out of her shell and begin to let Nav in was truly remarkable and so heartwarming. It completely broke my heart hearing how her family had treated her and her anxiety and how it forced her and her mom to move away. I really loved Gia’s mom though even though I think she shouldn’t have left Gia alone so much, she was so sweet and you could tell how grateful and appreciative she was of Nav being able to be such a great person for Gia. As a couple, Nav and Gia were just so darn cute together you couldn’t help but root for them. Even though of course I wish they had kissed and realized their feelings a lot sooner, it fit the storyline well, especially with not rushing Gia into an unrealistic situation.
In terms of side characters, I think they were all well written and given the right amount of depth and backstory needed to feel connected to them. Hallie’s character was especially interesting, given her disaster relationship history, and the closeness of her and Nav. The only thing I would have liked to know more about was how Hallie’s mom was apparently best friends with Nav’s mom but it didn't seem like she did much to try and talk Nav’s mom out of leaving them. You could definitely relate to Hallie and Nav’s friendship and how even though you can fight with the ones you love, you can still overcome it and be there for one another. I also appreciated how they were both queer and how well their families accepted them. Again, the side plot with Nav and her father navigating their grief together and learning how to love and respect each other again was extremely special and added a lot of emotional depth to the story.
Overall, for a YA, this story shocked me with its amazing mental health and anxiety representation, tremendous amount of character development, and of course, the inspiring romance between a girl struggling to live the life she desperately seeks, and one who declared herself a romance expert and yet, never realized how someone could fall in love with her.
Thank you NetGalley for the early digital copy for review.
February 23, 2025
I got this ARC from NetGalley
I loved Nav’s Foolproof Guide to Falling in Love. I wasn’t a bug fan of Nav to begin with but she ended up having a wonderful arc that made me like her in the end. Jessica’s writing is wonderful, clear and I can picture everything that is going on. I would highly recommend this book to everyone.
I loved Nav’s Foolproof Guide to Falling in Love. I wasn’t a bug fan of Nav to begin with but she ended up having a wonderful arc that made me like her in the end. Jessica’s writing is wonderful, clear and I can picture everything that is going on. I would highly recommend this book to everyone.
June 29, 2023
I CANNOT WAIT FOR YOU ALL TO READ THIS BOOK. I was lucky enough to read an early version, and the pure sweetness still sticks with me. For real, Nav and Gia will make you melt.
June 29, 2025
Jessica Lewis’s Nav’s Foolproof Guide to Falling in Love isn’t just another YA rom-com—it’s a smart, deeply empathetic story wrapped in sharp wit, queer joy, and emotional honesty. It’s the kind of book that wears its heart on its sleeve, then gently hands you yours back a little fuller than before.
The setup is classic romantic comedy with a twist: Nav, a self-proclaimed flirt and romance cynic, coaches anxious new girl Gia on how to woo Nav’s best friend, Hallie. But as Gia fumbles through every painfully awkward “lesson,” it’s Nav—not Hallie—who starts falling for her. The triangle is never treated as betrayal or melodrama—it’s more about emotional discovery and learning to listen to your heart, even when it’s saying something you didn’t expect.
The charm here is in the characters. Nav is funny, flawed, and fiercely loyal—never reduced to a trope, even when she thinks she’s in control of the script. Gia is anxious, soft-spoken, and devastatingly relatable, especially for anyone who’s ever frozen in a social setting. And Hallie, refreshingly, is more than the object of affection; she’s layered and grounded, with her own growth arc.
Lewis also gives the emotional subplots real weight. Nav’s rocky relationship with her dad, fractured by grief and abandonment, adds genuine stakes. Therapy isn’t treated as a throwaway reference—it’s a real tool for healing that’s threaded meaningfully through the story. Same goes for the depiction of anxiety: Gia isn’t there to be “fixed,” and Lewis makes that clear in both the writing and the romance. Nav doesn’t save her; she sees her. And Gia, in return, shows Nav what it means to be vulnerable.
Oh—and yes, there’s a therapy dog. Jordan the corgi deserves his own Goodreads page.
There’s no sugarcoating the queerness or diversity in this book—it’s loud and proud, and that’s what makes it so refreshing. Every character’s queerness is normalized, not dramatized. It’s a slice of life where queer kids get to be messy, funny, and romantic, not just brave or tragic.
Final Verdict:
Nav’s Foolproof Guide to Falling in Love is a standout in the YA romance space—funny, heart-melting, and full of real emotional payoff. If you’re into slow burns, awkward flirtations, found family, and characters who actually grow, this one’s a must-read.
The setup is classic romantic comedy with a twist: Nav, a self-proclaimed flirt and romance cynic, coaches anxious new girl Gia on how to woo Nav’s best friend, Hallie. But as Gia fumbles through every painfully awkward “lesson,” it’s Nav—not Hallie—who starts falling for her. The triangle is never treated as betrayal or melodrama—it’s more about emotional discovery and learning to listen to your heart, even when it’s saying something you didn’t expect.
The charm here is in the characters. Nav is funny, flawed, and fiercely loyal—never reduced to a trope, even when she thinks she’s in control of the script. Gia is anxious, soft-spoken, and devastatingly relatable, especially for anyone who’s ever frozen in a social setting. And Hallie, refreshingly, is more than the object of affection; she’s layered and grounded, with her own growth arc.
Lewis also gives the emotional subplots real weight. Nav’s rocky relationship with her dad, fractured by grief and abandonment, adds genuine stakes. Therapy isn’t treated as a throwaway reference—it’s a real tool for healing that’s threaded meaningfully through the story. Same goes for the depiction of anxiety: Gia isn’t there to be “fixed,” and Lewis makes that clear in both the writing and the romance. Nav doesn’t save her; she sees her. And Gia, in return, shows Nav what it means to be vulnerable.
Oh—and yes, there’s a therapy dog. Jordan the corgi deserves his own Goodreads page.
There’s no sugarcoating the queerness or diversity in this book—it’s loud and proud, and that’s what makes it so refreshing. Every character’s queerness is normalized, not dramatized. It’s a slice of life where queer kids get to be messy, funny, and romantic, not just brave or tragic.
Final Verdict:
Nav’s Foolproof Guide to Falling in Love is a standout in the YA romance space—funny, heart-melting, and full of real emotional payoff. If you’re into slow burns, awkward flirtations, found family, and characters who actually grow, this one’s a must-read.
July 9, 2025
This book!!!! Wow, I truly loved it!
I read Jessica Lewis’s book Monstrous and it convinced me to read any other books she writes, but this book has stolen my heart! I read it in a handful of days and never wanted to put it down. This sapphic love story is sweet, clever, so funny, and emotionally deep in a way I didn’t expect to hit me so hard. First, for someone who has an anxiety disorder and works as a prelicensed mental health therapist, I adored the mental health representation in this book. Jessica Lewis writes it SO well. She really conveys how debilitating anxiety can be but also shows how her characters cope and grow with it. As a therapist, I really appreciate when books show that characters can improve and learn to manage their anxiety. Now mental health rep is so personal to everyone, but I personally connected with Gia and her experience even though my own mental health challenges present differently. Lewis just writes with so much care and includes so many layers to her characters and their mental health that even if it’s different than your experience you’ll probably still find something you relate to.
Nav is such a layered, funny, and heartbreakingly real character. Her romance lessons with Gia were so adorable and I was rooting for them from the start. I adored the way they both coaxed each other out of their shells and became better people together. This book made me laugh, smile, and tear up so many times. Honestly, THIS is why I will always love the YA genre. It makes me feel everything. One of my most favorite parts was watching Nav explore the dynamic with her dad. It made me tear up so many times seeing them both trying and making mistakes but ultimately finding a common ground. These characters feel so real, flawed, and engaging. By the end, Gia had almost convinced me to become a gamer even though I’m more like Nav in that respect.
I loved every second of this book and read it in a handful of days. The ending was so perfect, and I am not ready to let these characters go. When I read the ending, I was instantly ready to dive into another book with these characters. I cannot recommend it enough!
I read Jessica Lewis’s book Monstrous and it convinced me to read any other books she writes, but this book has stolen my heart! I read it in a handful of days and never wanted to put it down. This sapphic love story is sweet, clever, so funny, and emotionally deep in a way I didn’t expect to hit me so hard. First, for someone who has an anxiety disorder and works as a prelicensed mental health therapist, I adored the mental health representation in this book. Jessica Lewis writes it SO well. She really conveys how debilitating anxiety can be but also shows how her characters cope and grow with it. As a therapist, I really appreciate when books show that characters can improve and learn to manage their anxiety. Now mental health rep is so personal to everyone, but I personally connected with Gia and her experience even though my own mental health challenges present differently. Lewis just writes with so much care and includes so many layers to her characters and their mental health that even if it’s different than your experience you’ll probably still find something you relate to.
Nav is such a layered, funny, and heartbreakingly real character. Her romance lessons with Gia were so adorable and I was rooting for them from the start. I adored the way they both coaxed each other out of their shells and became better people together. This book made me laugh, smile, and tear up so many times. Honestly, THIS is why I will always love the YA genre. It makes me feel everything. One of my most favorite parts was watching Nav explore the dynamic with her dad. It made me tear up so many times seeing them both trying and making mistakes but ultimately finding a common ground. These characters feel so real, flawed, and engaging. By the end, Gia had almost convinced me to become a gamer even though I’m more like Nav in that respect.
I loved every second of this book and read it in a handful of days. The ending was so perfect, and I am not ready to let these characters go. When I read the ending, I was instantly ready to dive into another book with these characters. I cannot recommend it enough!
June 3, 2025
4.5!!!
i was absolutely obsessed with the writing in this book. like, fully couldn’t put it down. everything flowed so naturally and it had so much personality. there wasn’t a single moment that felt clunky or dull.
the romance was perfect. nav and gia’s connection unfolded so organically that i felt like i was falling right along with them. the little “slip ups” where nav would think something sweet or loving about gia without even meaning to felt so natural. nothing about their relationship ever felt forced. it just made sense. two people seeing each other for who they really are and being so soft with one another. my heart was screaming.
these two were so thoughtful toward each other. the amount of cute moments had me grinning like a fool. they made each other feel safe and seen in ways that felt really authentic.
but what really sold me was the character development. not just for nav and gia (who both grew so much in such believable, satisfying ways), but even the side characters like nav’s dad and hallie. everyone was on their own journey and it actually felt meaningful. gia coming out of her shell was so sweet to watch, and nav learning how to let people in?? i love growth!!! i love therapy!!!!
if i had one tiny complaint, it’s this: i kept forgetting these characters were sixteen. like... maybe i was just a painfully boring teenager, but the amount of parties, drinking, smoking, and hooking up (not explicit, don’t worry. it’s still firmly YA) felt a bit much for their age. i totally get that everyone has different lived experiences, but it occasionally pulled me out of the story a bit (probably why i felt more like a gia than a nav lol).
that didn’t stop me from loving this book, and i definitely recommend. i WILL be reading more from jessica lewis.
i was absolutely obsessed with the writing in this book. like, fully couldn’t put it down. everything flowed so naturally and it had so much personality. there wasn’t a single moment that felt clunky or dull.
the romance was perfect. nav and gia’s connection unfolded so organically that i felt like i was falling right along with them. the little “slip ups” where nav would think something sweet or loving about gia without even meaning to felt so natural. nothing about their relationship ever felt forced. it just made sense. two people seeing each other for who they really are and being so soft with one another. my heart was screaming.
these two were so thoughtful toward each other. the amount of cute moments had me grinning like a fool. they made each other feel safe and seen in ways that felt really authentic.
but what really sold me was the character development. not just for nav and gia (who both grew so much in such believable, satisfying ways), but even the side characters like nav’s dad and hallie. everyone was on their own journey and it actually felt meaningful. gia coming out of her shell was so sweet to watch, and nav learning how to let people in?? i love growth!!! i love therapy!!!!
if i had one tiny complaint, it’s this: i kept forgetting these characters were sixteen. like... maybe i was just a painfully boring teenager, but the amount of parties, drinking, smoking, and hooking up (not explicit, don’t worry. it’s still firmly YA) felt a bit much for their age. i totally get that everyone has different lived experiences, but it occasionally pulled me out of the story a bit (probably why i felt more like a gia than a nav lol).
that didn’t stop me from loving this book, and i definitely recommend. i WILL be reading more from jessica lewis.
July 3, 2025
It's weird that I read this before Jessica Lewis's horror offerings, but good grief is it cute. Nav and Gia are absolutely precious and it was a joy to watch their relationship unfold, and you know by now that I'm always here for complicated, slightly codependent female friendships, so Nav and Hallie were also hitting for me. And Nav's relationship with her father was so messy and stressful, but understandable given the circumstances, and poor Gia's relationship with her mom and the heartbreaking experiences she had with her extended family. And the dog! I'm not even a dog person, but Gia's therapy dog is a whole character in her own right.
I wanted good things for everyone in this book. It's great and I will be making it a priority to read at least Monstrous now, because I'm worried that Bad Witch Burning might be a little too much for me.
Bonus points also for anxiety rep that portrays anxiety as something genuinely debilitating and awful, rather than a quirky trait for the love interest to overcome.
I wanted good things for everyone in this book. It's great and I will be making it a priority to read at least Monstrous now, because I'm worried that Bad Witch Burning might be a little too much for me.
Bonus points also for anxiety rep that portrays anxiety as something genuinely debilitating and awful, rather than a quirky trait for the love interest to overcome.
March 23, 2025
Absolute perfection of a YA Sapphic romance.
Everything about this book ticked every single one of my boxes about things I live for in queer YA romance books. Amazing character growth, depth of emotions on multiple levels, great mental health rep, and THE BEST FREAKING DOG EVER!
I love the way Nav and Gia's friendship progressed and the way Nav and Hallie worked on their respective friendship too. Jordan is just the cutest freaking fluffbutt of a therapy dog in corgi form. I loved the way Nav adapted to Gia's anxiety and remembered little things about their conversations. The journey between Nav and her dad and her issues with her mom had me in my feels.
I know it's only March, but I'm pretty sure this will be my favorite romance read of the year.
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review this incredible book!
Everything about this book ticked every single one of my boxes about things I live for in queer YA romance books. Amazing character growth, depth of emotions on multiple levels, great mental health rep, and THE BEST FREAKING DOG EVER!
I love the way Nav and Gia's friendship progressed and the way Nav and Hallie worked on their respective friendship too. Jordan is just the cutest freaking fluffbutt of a therapy dog in corgi form. I loved the way Nav adapted to Gia's anxiety and remembered little things about their conversations. The journey between Nav and her dad and her issues with her mom had me in my feels.
I know it's only March, but I'm pretty sure this will be my favorite romance read of the year.
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review this incredible book!
July 4, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this arc.
GUYSSSSS Jessica ate this book BADLYYYY
Yeah I need to read her other books. This book follows Nav as she coaches a girl named Gia to go on her first date with her best friend, Hallie. Nav ends up falling for Gia as they continue to spend time together. I love Nav's development throughout the book. As she knew, she genuinely liked Gia and truly wanted what was best for her. This book explores the theme of change and how certain people adapt to change. I love Gia as she continues to grow out of her shell. I just need more people to read this book. I do not want to spoil the book, but I even enjoyed the third act. I normally dread it. This book is worth buying multiple copies.
GUYSSSSS Jessica ate this book BADLYYYY
Yeah I need to read her other books. This book follows Nav as she coaches a girl named Gia to go on her first date with her best friend, Hallie. Nav ends up falling for Gia as they continue to spend time together. I love Nav's development throughout the book. As she knew, she genuinely liked Gia and truly wanted what was best for her. This book explores the theme of change and how certain people adapt to change. I love Gia as she continues to grow out of her shell. I just need more people to read this book. I do not want to spoil the book, but I even enjoyed the third act. I normally dread it. This book is worth buying multiple copies.
May 21, 2025
Nav's Foolproof Guide to Falling in Love is a story about Nav, a lesbian, who offers to help a bi-sexual girl, Gia, gain enough confidence to ask out her bi-sexual best friend, Hallie. However, during the course of Nav's "romance lessons" she ends up catching feelings for Gia, which complicates everything.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found the characters to be extremely likable. I loved the story between Nav and Gia, but found Nav's attitude towards Hallie and her father to be a bit frustrating. However, it didn't keep me from giving the book 4 stars. The story was still extremely compelling.
All in all I definitely recommend Nav's Foolproof Guide to Falling in Love and look forward to reading more from Jessica
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found the characters to be extremely likable. I loved the story between Nav and Gia, but found Nav's attitude towards Hallie and her father to be a bit frustrating. However, it didn't keep me from giving the book 4 stars. The story was still extremely compelling.
All in all I definitely recommend Nav's Foolproof Guide to Falling in Love and look forward to reading more from Jessica
November 1, 2025
Nav's Foolproof Guide to Falling in Love was a delight to read, and I’ve read it in one go. I found Gia —and her anxiety— very relatable and I loved to see her opening, then asserting herself. But Nav has even more nuances. Under her “cool kid shell” we discover her wounds one by one, and, finally, her vulnerability.
These opposite characters (except regarding their interest for Hallie) work truly well together and their story leaves the reader with a huge smile on their face, as Nav’s is first and foremost a true hopeful, touching, sweet and feel good story, and it was just what I needed when I read it.
4.5/5
These opposite characters (except regarding their interest for Hallie) work truly well together and their story leaves the reader with a huge smile on their face, as Nav’s is first and foremost a true hopeful, touching, sweet and feel good story, and it was just what I needed when I read it.
4.5/5
April 25, 2025
A sweet slow burn with a fresh and funny take on love triangles. I loved how perfect paired Nav and Gia were, how they were so patient and accepting while still challenging and bringing out the best in each other. Gia was very relatable, and it was refreshing to see such realistic anxiety representation. I also adored her therapy corgi, Jordan, and got a kick out of Nav’s many ridiculously cute nicknames for her.
I received an advanced copy from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving this review.
I received an advanced copy from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving this review.
October 2, 2024
I absolutely loved this sweet, funny, and touching story. I was hooked from the very first page and things just got better from there.
Some of my favorite things:
✅ POC main characters
✅ Queer representation
✅ Anxiety representation
✅ True supportive friendships
I already want to read this book again 🥰
#NavsFoolproofGuidetoFallinginLove #NetGalley
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Some of my favorite things:
✅ POC main characters
✅ Queer representation
✅ Anxiety representation
✅ True supportive friendships
I already want to read this book again 🥰
#NavsFoolproofGuidetoFallinginLove #NetGalley
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 9, 2024
I was very lucky to get an arc for this book and I enjoyed every second of it I'm a sucker for like teenage romance kind of book and giving the shy girl a lesson on romance just amazing!
I really liked how Gia's anxiety was written also how gentle and caring Nav was not only with her anxiety but with her friendships it was just super wholesome
Super exciting too because it had POC representation and Queer representation!!!!!!
I really liked how Gia's anxiety was written also how gentle and caring Nav was not only with her anxiety but with her friendships it was just super wholesome
Super exciting too because it had POC representation and Queer representation!!!!!!
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