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I Love You S'more
A sapphic rival-to-lovers story about two counselors who find an unexpected romance during a summer they will never forget! Perfect for fans of Auriane Desombre''s beloved debut
I Think I Love You.
Ivy Raines needs camp for an escape like she did as a child. After going through a very public breakup with her first girlfriend and teen TV show mega star, she wants nothing more than a summer of sunshine, friends and s'mores as newest counselor.
But when she signs up to run the camp's musical production she soon finds herself in a rivalry she didn't see coming with the co-director, Rynn. She's bossy and thinks she knows everything because she's been most experienced counselor. Worse, it's a girl Ivy had a falling out with when she was younger. It's the last thing Ivy needs while going through a breakup but as tension between them builds, sparks begin to fly brighter than a campfire.
As the days get hotter, will Ivy discover she can still have the summer escape she needed after all...in the way her heart has always wanted?
Ivy Raines needs camp for an escape like she did as a child. After going through a very public breakup with her first girlfriend and teen TV show mega star, she wants nothing more than a summer of sunshine, friends and s'mores as newest counselor.
But when she signs up to run the camp's musical production she soon finds herself in a rivalry she didn't see coming with the co-director, Rynn. She's bossy and thinks she knows everything because she's been most experienced counselor. Worse, it's a girl Ivy had a falling out with when she was younger. It's the last thing Ivy needs while going through a breakup but as tension between them builds, sparks begin to fly brighter than a campfire.
As the days get hotter, will Ivy discover she can still have the summer escape she needed after all...in the way her heart has always wanted?
Audible Audio
First published April 8, 2025
34 people are currently reading
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About the author
Auriane Desombre
5 books201 followersAuriane Desombre is a middle school teacher and author of love stories for teens and tweens. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her wife and daughter, their badly behaved dog, and an ever-growing collection of houseplants (most of which are pretty well behaved).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
April 12, 2025
For a book that is largely marketed for its romance, the romance was surprisingly more of a background element. This is a coming of age novel through and through and I felt like it did an incredible job on that front. Despite its short length, this book fits in so many different topics. We address friendship loss, breakups, societal pressure around relationships, coming to terms with your sexuality, chasing your dreams, complex family dynamics, and feelings of abandonment. This was a fantastic depiction of the instability of being a teenager when everything in your life shifts and changes.
For the majority of the story, Ivy struggles with the fallout of her 4 year long relationship. After her girlfriend rose to tv stardom, she felt like she was relegated to the sidelines. Forced to live in her shadow and have her dreams diminished as “less than.” After being dumped, she becomes fixated on outside perceptions and stunts her own healing in the process. Paired with this turmoil, she is reunited with her ex-best friend who dropped her years ago. Having never fully gotten over such a devastating loss, she struggles to keep a friendly demeanor with Rynn. As they fall back into old memories and habits, their reconnection blooms into something more.
I feel like Ivy and Rynn’s friendship reconciliation was more heartfelt than their romantic connection. Maybe I’m just a sucker for friendship stories, but seeing them heal that old loss and reignite that familiarity with each other was really special. Even though I felt like their romance was a little abrupt and underdeveloped, where we leave them at the end of the story feels like a great setup for their love story.
The summer camp setting was perfect for this story. Ivy struggling with her duties as counselor because of a friendship fight happening amongst her campers was a great contrast to her own relationship fallouts. Her slowly growing into the role after reframing her thinking and opening herself up was the perfect indicator of her character growth.
This is a wholesome coming of age novel that features a summer of healing from past heartbreaks and reforging old connections.
For the majority of the story, Ivy struggles with the fallout of her 4 year long relationship. After her girlfriend rose to tv stardom, she felt like she was relegated to the sidelines. Forced to live in her shadow and have her dreams diminished as “less than.” After being dumped, she becomes fixated on outside perceptions and stunts her own healing in the process. Paired with this turmoil, she is reunited with her ex-best friend who dropped her years ago. Having never fully gotten over such a devastating loss, she struggles to keep a friendly demeanor with Rynn. As they fall back into old memories and habits, their reconnection blooms into something more.
I feel like Ivy and Rynn’s friendship reconciliation was more heartfelt than their romantic connection. Maybe I’m just a sucker for friendship stories, but seeing them heal that old loss and reignite that familiarity with each other was really special. Even though I felt like their romance was a little abrupt and underdeveloped, where we leave them at the end of the story feels like a great setup for their love story.
The summer camp setting was perfect for this story. Ivy struggling with her duties as counselor because of a friendship fight happening amongst her campers was a great contrast to her own relationship fallouts. Her slowly growing into the role after reframing her thinking and opening herself up was the perfect indicator of her character growth.
This is a wholesome coming of age novel that features a summer of healing from past heartbreaks and reforging old connections.
January 28, 2025
I Love You S'more by Auriane Desombre is the perfect summer read—fun, flirty, and full of heart. This sapphic rivals-to-lovers story had me hooked from the start, and the setting at summer camp made it all the more charming. Ivy Raines is a relatable character, navigating life after a very public breakup and trying to escape to camp for a fresh start. When she finds herself clashing with Rynn, the camp’s experienced and bossy co-director, the sparks fly in the best way. The author really nails the "rival" aspect of this trope with tension and banter that kept me turning pages, and I loved how the chemistry between Ivy and Rynn built slowly but surely.
One of the standout features of this book is how real the characters feel. Ivy and Rynn act their age, and their reactions to situations are exactly what you'd expect from teens navigating heartbreak, rivalry, and first love. The post-breakup angst that Ivy experiences is so well done—it’s awkward, painful, and yet somehow hopeful all at once. However, the ending left me a bit frustrated. Ivy’s quick forgiveness of her ex, Ally, felt unearned, especially considering how badly Ally had treated her. I was hoping for a little more exploration of that dynamic, but the narrative rushed through it too quickly. The big play they were working towards all summer also felt like an afterthought, which was a bummer because it could’ve added some extra emotional weight. Despite those issues, the book is still a solid 4 stars for me. It’s cute, it’s fun, and if you're in the mood for a light, swoon-worthy read, you can't go wrong with I Love You S'more.
Also, can we talk about how spot-on the camp setting was? The whole summer camp vibe, with s’mores, campfires, and late-night chats, gave me all the nostalgic feels. So if you’re looking for a heartwarming, rivals-to-lovers, sapphic romance, this one’s a perfect pick!
Thank you Netgalley and Random House Children's | Delacorte Romance for the ARC! <3
One of the standout features of this book is how real the characters feel. Ivy and Rynn act their age, and their reactions to situations are exactly what you'd expect from teens navigating heartbreak, rivalry, and first love. The post-breakup angst that Ivy experiences is so well done—it’s awkward, painful, and yet somehow hopeful all at once. However, the ending left me a bit frustrated. Ivy’s quick forgiveness of her ex, Ally, felt unearned, especially considering how badly Ally had treated her. I was hoping for a little more exploration of that dynamic, but the narrative rushed through it too quickly. The big play they were working towards all summer also felt like an afterthought, which was a bummer because it could’ve added some extra emotional weight. Despite those issues, the book is still a solid 4 stars for me. It’s cute, it’s fun, and if you're in the mood for a light, swoon-worthy read, you can't go wrong with I Love You S'more.
Also, can we talk about how spot-on the camp setting was? The whole summer camp vibe, with s’mores, campfires, and late-night chats, gave me all the nostalgic feels. So if you’re looking for a heartwarming, rivals-to-lovers, sapphic romance, this one’s a perfect pick!
Thank you Netgalley and Random House Children's | Delacorte Romance for the ARC! <3
March 13, 2025
This camp based YA sapphic rival-to-lovers story involves two former friends who find themselves working as camp counselors at the same summer camp. Her parents divorce, a new baby in the picture, and her first love Allison breaking up with her after 4 years together to probably pursue a relationship with her hot co-star, Ivy Raines can't wait to escape to the camp she grew up going to as a kid. Excited for a summer filled with camp activities like making s’mores by the campfire and helping with the camp musical production, the last thing Ivy expects is to come face to face with her ex best friend, Rynn.
Rynn, with the pretty eyes, cool hair, same glasses, and bossy attitude, has Ivy questioning her decision to come back to camp after all these years. Especially when s he finds out that Rynn also wants to be the director of the camp musical. Wanting to be a teacher one day, Ivy thinks directing the musical and commanding a group of teenagers will prove that she has what it takes to pursue her dream. Even though she remembers how much Rynn loved musicals growing up and has been working as a counselor at camp for more years than Ivy, Ivy isn't ready to back down from getting what she wants. But as tension builds to an all time high and Ivy finds herself having to rehash out the drama with her mega tv star ex girlfriend, she begins to realize that the person she craves most, is the one who first stole her heart and she walked away from.
Ivy was a pretty relatable character, I have to keep in mind that she is a teenager and even though I found her a little immature, I know that is how most teenagers are. They dont always make the right decisions, they are prone to being overdramatic, and tend to be impulsive, which pretty much sums up Ivy. I think her family was a big part of her insecurities, yet we hardly know anything about them which was frustrating. Also given all her thoughts regarding Ally, we didn’t even get a whole lot of detail there either, especially about how it all started and the early years before Ally got famous. She hardly seemed to focus on her actual campers, you know the job she is actually getting paid for, and instead was always buried in her phone or obsessing over Ally or Rynn. I found myself only really liking her when she was with Rynn because she was actually happy and living in the moment, rather than consumed by the past. I did appreciate the advice she gave to Fitz about owning your feelings and accepting your queerness. Their talks by the fire were sweet, especially how he always seemed to know how to comfort her. I know it must have been hard for Ivy to go through her first breakup so publicly, and learn how to navigate a life without that person in it, but I also felt like too much time and drama was given to that part of the storyline. Instead I would have rather enjoyed more time with Ivy and Rynn while they figured out their feelings for each other and what would come after.
Rynn was a hard one to get behind in the beginning, given her aggressiveness and attitude towards Ivy. Though it's still very unclear why Ivy and Rynn stopped being friends in their childhood, I dont get why they had such strong hate in the beginning. Communication skills are definitely at the top of the list of what Rynn needs to work on, but I get it makes sense with her feelings of being lonely at school and losing her best friend. As the story went on, my heart definitely went out to her and how badly Ivy was treating her. Her feelings were super valid, even though they were acted out a bit rashly, but again, that is also something teenagers do. It was still hard though to get completely invested in Rynn because she is constantly in the background of Ivy’s struggling feelings with getting over Ally, which left not a lot of character development, and a rushed romance. The story therefore would have benefited from being 2 chapters longer with an added epilogue in order to give Rynn and Ivy the time they deserved.
So unfortunately the story as a whole just didn't work for me for several reasons. We are not given all the information that we need in order to care and root for these characters. The idea of Ivy’s getting broken up with a famous celebrity ex sounds like a great storyline, but to my disappointment, it was not executed whatsoever due to how much time is spent over Ivy getting over her ex, and then she is just easily forgiven in the end. On that same note the information we actually would have wanted such as how her and Ally got together, a glimpse into their early years, and why exactly Ally chose to suddenly cut Ivy loose, was not given. Therefore, not only was Ivy and Rynn’s relationship cut short and rushed, but so was the whole play they spent half the book working on. I also think this story would have worked better if the characters were older, like 17 or 18. The drama with Twyla and Nessa got to be too much and annoying after a while, and it seemed like that was only written in as a plot device to show how Ivy “changed” or slightly developed over the summer. Finally, I think given Ivy’s complicated relationship with her parents and her feelings of being overshadowed or not fitting into her family, that there should have been way more background given on her family and context as to why she feels this way.
Ultimately, even though I deeply enjoyed the side characters and the promising premise of the story, I think the execution of it all fell short.
Thank you NetGally for the early digital copy for review!
Rynn, with the pretty eyes, cool hair, same glasses, and bossy attitude, has Ivy questioning her decision to come back to camp after all these years. Especially when s he finds out that Rynn also wants to be the director of the camp musical. Wanting to be a teacher one day, Ivy thinks directing the musical and commanding a group of teenagers will prove that she has what it takes to pursue her dream. Even though she remembers how much Rynn loved musicals growing up and has been working as a counselor at camp for more years than Ivy, Ivy isn't ready to back down from getting what she wants. But as tension builds to an all time high and Ivy finds herself having to rehash out the drama with her mega tv star ex girlfriend, she begins to realize that the person she craves most, is the one who first stole her heart and she walked away from.
Ivy was a pretty relatable character, I have to keep in mind that she is a teenager and even though I found her a little immature, I know that is how most teenagers are. They dont always make the right decisions, they are prone to being overdramatic, and tend to be impulsive, which pretty much sums up Ivy. I think her family was a big part of her insecurities, yet we hardly know anything about them which was frustrating. Also given all her thoughts regarding Ally, we didn’t even get a whole lot of detail there either, especially about how it all started and the early years before Ally got famous. She hardly seemed to focus on her actual campers, you know the job she is actually getting paid for, and instead was always buried in her phone or obsessing over Ally or Rynn. I found myself only really liking her when she was with Rynn because she was actually happy and living in the moment, rather than consumed by the past. I did appreciate the advice she gave to Fitz about owning your feelings and accepting your queerness. Their talks by the fire were sweet, especially how he always seemed to know how to comfort her. I know it must have been hard for Ivy to go through her first breakup so publicly, and learn how to navigate a life without that person in it, but I also felt like too much time and drama was given to that part of the storyline. Instead I would have rather enjoyed more time with Ivy and Rynn while they figured out their feelings for each other and what would come after.
Rynn was a hard one to get behind in the beginning, given her aggressiveness and attitude towards Ivy. Though it's still very unclear why Ivy and Rynn stopped being friends in their childhood, I dont get why they had such strong hate in the beginning. Communication skills are definitely at the top of the list of what Rynn needs to work on, but I get it makes sense with her feelings of being lonely at school and losing her best friend. As the story went on, my heart definitely went out to her and how badly Ivy was treating her. Her feelings were super valid, even though they were acted out a bit rashly, but again, that is also something teenagers do. It was still hard though to get completely invested in Rynn because she is constantly in the background of Ivy’s struggling feelings with getting over Ally, which left not a lot of character development, and a rushed romance. The story therefore would have benefited from being 2 chapters longer with an added epilogue in order to give Rynn and Ivy the time they deserved.
So unfortunately the story as a whole just didn't work for me for several reasons. We are not given all the information that we need in order to care and root for these characters. The idea of Ivy’s getting broken up with a famous celebrity ex sounds like a great storyline, but to my disappointment, it was not executed whatsoever due to how much time is spent over Ivy getting over her ex, and then she is just easily forgiven in the end. On that same note the information we actually would have wanted such as how her and Ally got together, a glimpse into their early years, and why exactly Ally chose to suddenly cut Ivy loose, was not given. Therefore, not only was Ivy and Rynn’s relationship cut short and rushed, but so was the whole play they spent half the book working on. I also think this story would have worked better if the characters were older, like 17 or 18. The drama with Twyla and Nessa got to be too much and annoying after a while, and it seemed like that was only written in as a plot device to show how Ivy “changed” or slightly developed over the summer. Finally, I think given Ivy’s complicated relationship with her parents and her feelings of being overshadowed or not fitting into her family, that there should have been way more background given on her family and context as to why she feels this way.
Ultimately, even though I deeply enjoyed the side characters and the promising premise of the story, I think the execution of it all fell short.
Thank you NetGally for the early digital copy for review!
February 28, 2025
3.5 Stars
It was cute. It was fun. It was everything it promised to be. I could have done without the middle school drama that was happening in the background here, but that might just be a mismatch in audience. I did find that particularly annoying, though. And the miscommunication between the love interests: not my cup of tea. But overall, this book is a fun, short read.
There's more to say here. There's always more. So my full review will be available at Gateway Reviews on April 11, 2025. Stop by if you get the chance!
Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
It was cute. It was fun. It was everything it promised to be. I could have done without the middle school drama that was happening in the background here, but that might just be a mismatch in audience. I did find that particularly annoying, though. And the miscommunication between the love interests: not my cup of tea. But overall, this book is a fun, short read.
There's more to say here. There's always more. So my full review will be available at Gateway Reviews on April 11, 2025. Stop by if you get the chance!
Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
July 2, 2025
The cover is 100% the very best part of this book. Love the idea of a YA sapphic summer camp second chance romance, but the story itself was very much ... not that.
Source: Sora ebook via WSDLC
Source: Sora ebook via WSDLC
September 18, 2025
I Love You S'More is a cute YA Queer Enemies to Lovers romance set at a performing arts summer camp. Our main character Ivy is reeling from a very public breakup with the super popular teen star of a hit Sci Fi show, and all she wants to do is spend the summer laying low as a counselor at her happy place, the camp she attended every summer as a child.
Ivy is less than thrilled when she comes face to face with her former childhood bestie turned enemy, Rynn, at a campfire the first night at camp. Even worse, Rynn makes being a summer counselor look easy while Ivy struggles to control her charges. Things come to a head when Ivy and Rynn are chosen to codirect the camp musical just as tween camper drama heats up.
Will Ivy and Rynn be able to cooperate long enough to pull off a successful musical and set an example for the campers to get along with each other? Will they continue to fued in front of the kids? Or will unexpected feelings spark a flame hotter than a marshmallow over a campfire and force Ivy and Rynn's hearts to melt like chocolate in the middle of a s'more as they realize they are actually attracted to each other?
Grab your bug spray and sunscreen and head to summer camp if you want to find out!
Ivy is less than thrilled when she comes face to face with her former childhood bestie turned enemy, Rynn, at a campfire the first night at camp. Even worse, Rynn makes being a summer counselor look easy while Ivy struggles to control her charges. Things come to a head when Ivy and Rynn are chosen to codirect the camp musical just as tween camper drama heats up.
Will Ivy and Rynn be able to cooperate long enough to pull off a successful musical and set an example for the campers to get along with each other? Will they continue to fued in front of the kids? Or will unexpected feelings spark a flame hotter than a marshmallow over a campfire and force Ivy and Rynn's hearts to melt like chocolate in the middle of a s'more as they realize they are actually attracted to each other?
Grab your bug spray and sunscreen and head to summer camp if you want to find out!
June 25, 2025
I Love You S'more by Auriane Desombre is a coming-of-age tale set at a summer theater camp. The author explores a range of complex issues, including post-divorce family dynamics, new friendships, romantic breakups, friendship breakups, new romantic potential, personal responsibilities, sibling relationships, self-discovery, future planning, and learning to communicate effectively.
This book is marketed as YA, but it should be noted that the main characters are in their mid-teens, and the content is also suitable for middle and high school readers. I was initially surprised to discover that the characters were around fifteen years old; for some reason, I had expected them to be older.
The romantic aspect is minimal but meaningful, as the main love interests are childhood friends who reunite after five years. They are able to reconnect and grow from their past experiences.
Ivy and Rynn are in charge of middle school campers, aged approximately eleven, who bring their own drama—an effective narrative device for self-reflection.
Ivy and Rynn, ex-best friends, are rivals for the role of camp play director and are forced to work together. Additionally, Ivy is coping with a breakup from her celebrity girlfriend, navigating her role at camp, seeking the respect of her campers, and trying to find a way forward under the scrutiny of the public eye, all while feeling like an outsider within her family.
The interaction between Ivy and her sister is a brief but significant moment in her personal growth.
Rynn faces her own challenges with her family, her unresolved feelings for Ivy, and her future plans in theater. The summer camp setting provides both girls an opportunity to work through these personal struggles.
The narrative offers several important lessons, and I found the story both engaging and accessible. It was a quick, well-written, and easy-to-follow read. I am interested in exploring more works by this author.
#YA #summercamp #celebrity #secondchance #rivals #exbestfriends #campcounselor #theater #teacher #middleschoolcampers #highschool #nospice #HEA #California #comingofage
I received a free ARC from NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.
This book is marketed as YA, but it should be noted that the main characters are in their mid-teens, and the content is also suitable for middle and high school readers. I was initially surprised to discover that the characters were around fifteen years old; for some reason, I had expected them to be older.
The romantic aspect is minimal but meaningful, as the main love interests are childhood friends who reunite after five years. They are able to reconnect and grow from their past experiences.
Ivy and Rynn are in charge of middle school campers, aged approximately eleven, who bring their own drama—an effective narrative device for self-reflection.
Ivy and Rynn, ex-best friends, are rivals for the role of camp play director and are forced to work together. Additionally, Ivy is coping with a breakup from her celebrity girlfriend, navigating her role at camp, seeking the respect of her campers, and trying to find a way forward under the scrutiny of the public eye, all while feeling like an outsider within her family.
The interaction between Ivy and her sister is a brief but significant moment in her personal growth.
Rynn faces her own challenges with her family, her unresolved feelings for Ivy, and her future plans in theater. The summer camp setting provides both girls an opportunity to work through these personal struggles.
The narrative offers several important lessons, and I found the story both engaging and accessible. It was a quick, well-written, and easy-to-follow read. I am interested in exploring more works by this author.
#YA #summercamp #celebrity #secondchance #rivals #exbestfriends #campcounselor #theater #teacher #middleschoolcampers #highschool #nospice #HEA #California #comingofage
I received a free ARC from NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.
March 27, 2025
Thank you to PRHAudio for my gifted audiobook.
This was exactly what I thought it would be going in: a cute YA sapphic rivals to lovers romcom about two girl’s at a summer camp. Think Bug Juice, but make it all about theater, because the two MC’s are vying for the director position for Peter Pan. What makes the dynamic much more interesting is that Ivy and Rynn used to be best friends, but had a falling out 4 years before. So instead of a book with two girls getting to know each other, they have baggage… and we feel it.
This was a very low stakes book where the characters really feel their age. They aren’t even out of school yet, so it’s not like they’re sneaking into clubs and having Vegas trips. These girls are dealing with their real world problems and a bunch of nosy middle schooler’s problems. So it felt much more realistic in that sense.
We also got some fictional backstory/ex-girlfriend drama for Ivy. With her being recently broken up with, the pain is still really fresh. What’s worse is that her ex is an actor, so she has to read/see all about her constantly. That really takes a toll on her throughout the book, especially with the fact that the kids are invested. They want the tea!!!!
I had one singular complaint and it didn’t even have to do with the actual book. This is my first audiobook listen in the PRH app and where I normally listen to my books at 2.75-3x speed, it only goes to 2x. So it felt slow at times for me. That could have been a mental stimuli situation, but it did affect my feelings a bit.
This was exactly what I thought it would be going in: a cute YA sapphic rivals to lovers romcom about two girl’s at a summer camp. Think Bug Juice, but make it all about theater, because the two MC’s are vying for the director position for Peter Pan. What makes the dynamic much more interesting is that Ivy and Rynn used to be best friends, but had a falling out 4 years before. So instead of a book with two girls getting to know each other, they have baggage… and we feel it.
This was a very low stakes book where the characters really feel their age. They aren’t even out of school yet, so it’s not like they’re sneaking into clubs and having Vegas trips. These girls are dealing with their real world problems and a bunch of nosy middle schooler’s problems. So it felt much more realistic in that sense.
We also got some fictional backstory/ex-girlfriend drama for Ivy. With her being recently broken up with, the pain is still really fresh. What’s worse is that her ex is an actor, so she has to read/see all about her constantly. That really takes a toll on her throughout the book, especially with the fact that the kids are invested. They want the tea!!!!
I had one singular complaint and it didn’t even have to do with the actual book. This is my first audiobook listen in the PRH app and where I normally listen to my books at 2.75-3x speed, it only goes to 2x. So it felt slow at times for me. That could have been a mental stimuli situation, but it did affect my feelings a bit.
November 7, 2025
Cozy vibes for Summer into fall
November 25, 2024
After being in a reading slump this cute, queer, YA summer read was the perfect book to take me right out of it.
Ivy Raines needs the comfort of Acorn Hills this year. Still reeling from her public breakup with famous actress and now ex girlfriend, Ally, Ivy is hoping becoming a summer camp counselor and director of the camp's end of the year theater production will prove enough distraction from the outside world. What Ivy doesn’t expect is Rynn, her ex best friend and competition for the director's spot. Navigating early teen hood, middle schoolers and her complicated feelings for Rynn, Ivy is in for a summer of self discovery, friendship and maybe even love.
This was so adorable. First as a girl who always wanted to be a summer camp counselor, I loved the setting. I thought it was an excellent backdrop to the tumultuous feelings our main character Ivy experiences. Second, Ivy frustrated me so much and I loved it. Being a fifteen year old girl isn’t easy and Ivy definitely showed us that. I wanted to shake her and tell her “You’ve got so much life left! One breakup isn’t the end of everything!” But really, if I had my first big heartbreak at Ivy’s age I too would have made a passive aggressive social media post and instantly regretted it. I really appreciate how fleshed out of a character she was. She felt real and relatable.
The side characters really stole the show for me. I need a spin-off book of Ben & Fitz! They were so cute. I need them to get together! The drama between campers Twyla and Vanessa was such a nice addition to the story. I thought it made Ivy more likable and gave her a nice character arc in the end. Also who doesn’t love a bit of drama? Especially middle school drama? I loved to see it. I think my favorite character was definitely Broccoli the dog though. He was such a good boy!
Overall, this was such a cute and quick read. I enjoyed the characters and setting. I enjoyed how it brought me back to my middle school days. I would recommend to anyone who always wanted to be a summer camp counselor, theater nerds, and those who need to get out of a reading slump!
Thank you to Random House Children’s and NetGalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Ivy Raines needs the comfort of Acorn Hills this year. Still reeling from her public breakup with famous actress and now ex girlfriend, Ally, Ivy is hoping becoming a summer camp counselor and director of the camp's end of the year theater production will prove enough distraction from the outside world. What Ivy doesn’t expect is Rynn, her ex best friend and competition for the director's spot. Navigating early teen hood, middle schoolers and her complicated feelings for Rynn, Ivy is in for a summer of self discovery, friendship and maybe even love.
This was so adorable. First as a girl who always wanted to be a summer camp counselor, I loved the setting. I thought it was an excellent backdrop to the tumultuous feelings our main character Ivy experiences. Second, Ivy frustrated me so much and I loved it. Being a fifteen year old girl isn’t easy and Ivy definitely showed us that. I wanted to shake her and tell her “You’ve got so much life left! One breakup isn’t the end of everything!” But really, if I had my first big heartbreak at Ivy’s age I too would have made a passive aggressive social media post and instantly regretted it. I really appreciate how fleshed out of a character she was. She felt real and relatable.
The side characters really stole the show for me. I need a spin-off book of Ben & Fitz! They were so cute. I need them to get together! The drama between campers Twyla and Vanessa was such a nice addition to the story. I thought it made Ivy more likable and gave her a nice character arc in the end. Also who doesn’t love a bit of drama? Especially middle school drama? I loved to see it. I think my favorite character was definitely Broccoli the dog though. He was such a good boy!
Overall, this was such a cute and quick read. I enjoyed the characters and setting. I enjoyed how it brought me back to my middle school days. I would recommend to anyone who always wanted to be a summer camp counselor, theater nerds, and those who need to get out of a reading slump!
Thank you to Random House Children’s and NetGalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
May 24, 2025
2.5 stars
I loved the sweet moments that the mcs had together, but the middle school theater drama (its a theater camp) was grating on me. As well as Ivy's ex coming back and Ivy obsessing over her.
I loved the sweet moments that the mcs had together, but the middle school theater drama (its a theater camp) was grating on me. As well as Ivy's ex coming back and Ivy obsessing over her.
June 26, 2025
I was so confuse about their age through out all the book. They said they stopped being friends in sixth grade. I just didn't know how old they where cause I'm not from the US. But then they tell us that Ivy has been with Ally for 4 years. Which means she would have been 11-12 which is when they stopped being friends. So I guess once she moved away she inmediatly started dating Ally? Cause she said it was her sixteenth birthday soon.
Also, how can a fifteen year old be a camp counselor?? And not only a fifteen year old but a thirteen year old?? Cause Rinn said she started when she was thirteen. Either I read it all wrong or I'm just really confused as to how this can happen.
I wish in the end they gave us a sign that Ben and Fizt end up together. Cause they tell us they might have feelings for each other. But there is not confirmation. I think it would be great to have another chapter. Just one more narrating the last day on camp right after the campers left. Just the counselors again with the last s'more night all together showing us both couples happy and all of them having fun together one last time before parting ways.
Also, how can a fifteen year old be a camp counselor?? And not only a fifteen year old but a thirteen year old?? Cause Rinn said she started when she was thirteen. Either I read it all wrong or I'm just really confused as to how this can happen.
I wish in the end they gave us a sign that Ben and Fizt end up together. Cause they tell us they might have feelings for each other. But there is not confirmation. I think it would be great to have another chapter. Just one more narrating the last day on camp right after the campers left. Just the counselors again with the last s'more night all together showing us both couples happy and all of them having fun together one last time before parting ways.
May 12, 2025
Thanks so much to Delacorte Romance and Netgalley for providing me with this copy for review! I really enjoyed I Love You S'more. It contains some of my favorite tropes--second chance romance, summer camp, and theatre--so I was already sure I would have a good time. I thought the romance between Rynn and Ivy was very realistically done and I loved the descriptions of the camp (and the s'mores). It was also great watching Ivy step out from behind the shadow of her famous ex and reclaim agency over herself and her story, while gaining more confidence as a teacher and a mentor. I definitely enjoyed this book!
August 3, 2025
3.5⭐️. i genuinely have no idea how old these characters are😭 was it ever said and i missed it? possibly. but at some points i was like oh 18, others was 15, then 16 so i really have no clue BUT ANYWAYZ. rynn was kinda an ass at the beginning, and ivy was kinda woe is me😂 i would’ve liked to see more happy moments bc it felt like most of the book was drama and fighting, and the happiness was fleeting. overall, it was a cute short summer read that i would recommend, but some aspects just fell a little flat for me. also side note i loved fitz.
ALSO, anyone else think what ms p said about her name being good for “publicity” was kinda shitty? and then she just never apologized for it like what??😭
ALSO, anyone else think what ms p said about her name being good for “publicity” was kinda shitty? and then she just never apologized for it like what??😭
January 21, 2025
thanks to NetGalley for the eARC
⭐️=3.5 | 😘=2 | 🤬=3 | 13/14+
summary: girl recently dumped by her famous actress ex-girlfriend is a camp counselor and sees a girl she used to be friends with who’s also a counselor and they like fall in love but also it’s mostly about the MC’s growth and recovery from the breakup more than their relationship
thoughts: this is okay? I’d call it more YA Contemporary with a romance subplot than straight up romance, so it wasn’t quite what I expected. the main character got a bit annoying towards the middleish, but overall this is fine? it’s emotional and a little cheesy but overall, like, okay.
⭐️=3.5 | 😘=2 | 🤬=3 | 13/14+
summary: girl recently dumped by her famous actress ex-girlfriend is a camp counselor and sees a girl she used to be friends with who’s also a counselor and they like fall in love but also it’s mostly about the MC’s growth and recovery from the breakup more than their relationship
thoughts: this is okay? I’d call it more YA Contemporary with a romance subplot than straight up romance, so it wasn’t quite what I expected. the main character got a bit annoying towards the middleish, but overall this is fine? it’s emotional and a little cheesy but overall, like, okay.
April 23, 2025
she was cute but silly name and also aren't they 15 ??? why were they at a nightclub ??? also don't quite understand why they stopped being friends? coz both their parents divorced? idk
April 9, 2025
First of all, I love the sapphic rivals to lovers trope and I love a summer camp setting and so I was very excited to read I Love You S’more which combines the two perfectly. This book is filled with drama and teen angst and tension as Ivy navigates her new single life at her childhood camp after her famous high school sweetheart dumps her. Here, she has to work with Rynn, the girl who friend-dumped her 5 years ago who she hasn’t seen since and so cue plenty of drama as Ivy attempts to deal with everything (badly).
I thought this book dealt with the grief and sadness of being dumped by someone you loved really well and I could definitely relate to Ivy’s feelings as she tries to get over Allyson. This is made a lot harder due to the constant reminder of her every single moment she is around the kid campers who are huge fans of her show and continuously ask her questions about her. Dating a child star was also difficult as their relationship was very much in the spotlight and she also has to deal with thousands of fans speculating on the rumours of Allyson and her co-star.
At the beginning of each chapter there is a unique format used to present snippets of information such as texts, news articles, social media posts and comments from fans. This added a fresh design to the story gives the reader an insight into how the fans reacted to news and showed what Ivy always has to deal with online. Throughout the story, Ivy is obviously trying to get over Ally and the more I learn about her the more I dislike her, especially the way she treated Ivy in the last few months.
I loved the camp setting and the other camp staff really added to the story. Her friendship with the others, especially Fitz was so cute and she definitely needed some friends during what she was going through even though she never really opened up to any of them about how she was feeling. I loved the rivalry and tension between Ivy and Rynn as they are forced to work together on the musical production and there is plenty of angst before they start to like each other again which was very fun to read. The only think that could have made it better was if there were some chapters from Rynn’s POV so the reader could see how she felt about Ivy.
I also love that Rynn continuously calls Ivy by her last name which is a classic romance trope to me and it really adds to their dynamic as they slowly grow closer. I did think that Ivy’s drama over Ally was quite repetitive after a while and it felt like she was very self absorbed, only thinking about herself and not even really helping the kids but she does eventually realise the error of her ways and makes up for her mistakes. Ivy is also only 15 apparently but it read like she should be at least 17 with everything that she was going through.
Overall, this is a fun and angsty sapphic romance that I raced through in only 2 sittings. It is a fast paced, easy read and I loved all the characters and I was very invested in the plot. This is a cute rivals to lovers sapphic romance with lots of drama and angst to ensure there is never a dull moment!
* Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc. I leave this review voluntarily *
I thought this book dealt with the grief and sadness of being dumped by someone you loved really well and I could definitely relate to Ivy’s feelings as she tries to get over Allyson. This is made a lot harder due to the constant reminder of her every single moment she is around the kid campers who are huge fans of her show and continuously ask her questions about her. Dating a child star was also difficult as their relationship was very much in the spotlight and she also has to deal with thousands of fans speculating on the rumours of Allyson and her co-star.
At the beginning of each chapter there is a unique format used to present snippets of information such as texts, news articles, social media posts and comments from fans. This added a fresh design to the story gives the reader an insight into how the fans reacted to news and showed what Ivy always has to deal with online. Throughout the story, Ivy is obviously trying to get over Ally and the more I learn about her the more I dislike her, especially the way she treated Ivy in the last few months.
I loved the camp setting and the other camp staff really added to the story. Her friendship with the others, especially Fitz was so cute and she definitely needed some friends during what she was going through even though she never really opened up to any of them about how she was feeling. I loved the rivalry and tension between Ivy and Rynn as they are forced to work together on the musical production and there is plenty of angst before they start to like each other again which was very fun to read. The only think that could have made it better was if there were some chapters from Rynn’s POV so the reader could see how she felt about Ivy.
I also love that Rynn continuously calls Ivy by her last name which is a classic romance trope to me and it really adds to their dynamic as they slowly grow closer. I did think that Ivy’s drama over Ally was quite repetitive after a while and it felt like she was very self absorbed, only thinking about herself and not even really helping the kids but she does eventually realise the error of her ways and makes up for her mistakes. Ivy is also only 15 apparently but it read like she should be at least 17 with everything that she was going through.
Overall, this is a fun and angsty sapphic romance that I raced through in only 2 sittings. It is a fast paced, easy read and I loved all the characters and I was very invested in the plot. This is a cute rivals to lovers sapphic romance with lots of drama and angst to ensure there is never a dull moment!
* Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc. I leave this review voluntarily *
April 7, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's/Delacorte Romance for an Advanced Reader Copy - pub date 4/8/2025. Very much a YA sweet sort of sapphic summer romance read (say THAT five times fast!), I Love You S'More manages to spend just as much valuable time on the importance of friendships and the importance of self-realization as it does on Finding Romantic Love and that is something that I can really get behind. It's hard enough knowing who you are when you have a few decades under your belt; it is so much harder when you are a roiling pile of hormones and peer pressure and self doubt. Ivy Raines has the extra misery of a very public break-up with her TV star girlfriend, the girl she thought she would be with forever. Not something I would wish on any poor young adult.
Desombre really dives into the inner life of Ivy throughout the book, working through the conflicting thoughts and emotions, watching helplessly as Ivy self-sabotages or just generally acts like the young teenager she is. Ivy feels real and bruised and everything is exactly as out of proportion as it feels when you are young and in love and suffering your first heartbreak... And then Ivy also has lingering issues with abandonment from her family history and her old friendship with Rynn. Yes, it is enemies to lovers but it's cute and low stakes that feel high stakes because you are so far into Ivy's head. It feels rather like you are watching your younger self and you just want to shake sense into Ivy. But then you remember it is all about growing. Through her relationships at the camp, quiet moments with herself, and finally talking to people who just want to help - Ivy gets there and we get to come along with her and, even better, we get to watch her help a pair of her campers learn something that she herself fouled up. Redemption is always super satisfying!
While this was definitely a YA read, it was the age of the characters ironically that kept putting me off and proved to be the main issue for me. For one thing, it is hard to believe that Ivy is only 15. Yes, I know big feelings have no ages and first loves are intense, no matter the age. But some of the relationship steps she had already gone through seemed... rather more like something an 18 year old would do than a 13-15 year old. References to her driving down to visit Ally? Going about at all hours with no check-ins? Hitting clubs? I'm sorry but maybe Ally's parents don't care but why wouldn't Ivy's be concerned at their early teen acting like a full on 21 year old with her girlfriend? Also I spent a summer as a camp director for ages 6 to 12 and, legally, we could not leave any counselor under the age of 18 alone with the campers. Is CA different on that score? So this remote camp has exactly TWO people over the age of 21? Is that what I'm reading? So, aside from Ivy as reading like an older teen in many ways, the safety and legality of her and her co-workers being 15/16 clearly was something that put me right off. Am I too much a Mom now? Oh, dear.
Desombre really dives into the inner life of Ivy throughout the book, working through the conflicting thoughts and emotions, watching helplessly as Ivy self-sabotages or just generally acts like the young teenager she is. Ivy feels real and bruised and everything is exactly as out of proportion as it feels when you are young and in love and suffering your first heartbreak... And then Ivy also has lingering issues with abandonment from her family history and her old friendship with Rynn. Yes, it is enemies to lovers but it's cute and low stakes that feel high stakes because you are so far into Ivy's head. It feels rather like you are watching your younger self and you just want to shake sense into Ivy. But then you remember it is all about growing. Through her relationships at the camp, quiet moments with herself, and finally talking to people who just want to help - Ivy gets there and we get to come along with her and, even better, we get to watch her help a pair of her campers learn something that she herself fouled up. Redemption is always super satisfying!
While this was definitely a YA read, it was the age of the characters ironically that kept putting me off and proved to be the main issue for me. For one thing, it is hard to believe that Ivy is only 15. Yes, I know big feelings have no ages and first loves are intense, no matter the age. But some of the relationship steps she had already gone through seemed... rather more like something an 18 year old would do than a 13-15 year old. References to her driving down to visit Ally? Going about at all hours with no check-ins? Hitting clubs? I'm sorry but maybe Ally's parents don't care but why wouldn't Ivy's be concerned at their early teen acting like a full on 21 year old with her girlfriend? Also I spent a summer as a camp director for ages 6 to 12 and, legally, we could not leave any counselor under the age of 18 alone with the campers. Is CA different on that score? So this remote camp has exactly TWO people over the age of 21? Is that what I'm reading? So, aside from Ivy as reading like an older teen in many ways, the safety and legality of her and her co-workers being 15/16 clearly was something that put me right off. Am I too much a Mom now? Oh, dear.
May 23, 2025
What can I say but I am sucker for angsty teen love stories and love stories that take place at summer camp. Maybe it was all the Nick shows I watched Salut your shorts, Hey Dude when I was a kid, but I love the backdrop of summer camps for books. I really didn't know what the book was about when I grabbed it but I loved the name, and I am so glad I did. This was one of those teen novels just makes you glad you aren't a teen anymore. Everything in live seems so life or death at that age and the author portrayed those feeling so perfectly.
I think being a teen is scary enough, but this character actual was having her life splashed out in tabloids and then critiqued by twelve-year-olds, which just makes ever event hyped to the 9th degree.
I love the story line of getting over your first love, re-finding yourself and making sure you know what you want. Reconnecting with those that you thought you had lost, finding out that just because you're older doesn't mean you don't' need to ask for help. I loved the story line of not only Iby and Rynn I loved the little campers' stories too. It is so hard to be those ages.
I loved the campfire scenes where all the counselors are getting to know each other, and spending time together. I love that Rynn and Ivy could work through their past and move forward together.
From a diversity perspective this is a sapphic love story but it isn't the coming out story which I really liked. Both girls were secure in their decisions to like other girls and that just wasn't the focus of the story. ( so many teen novels include the entire plot line of coming out or dealing with coming out and this book had some many other storylines that wasn't really a thing which I liked. l) . We were dealing with family drama, friend drama, tween drama, Hollywood drama and life drama all with the backdrop of pine woods, camp fire smoke and roasted marshmallows.
I recommend this book to those that love teen drama romances, and this would be a perfect read by a campfire.
I think being a teen is scary enough, but this character actual was having her life splashed out in tabloids and then critiqued by twelve-year-olds, which just makes ever event hyped to the 9th degree.
I love the story line of getting over your first love, re-finding yourself and making sure you know what you want. Reconnecting with those that you thought you had lost, finding out that just because you're older doesn't mean you don't' need to ask for help. I loved the story line of not only Iby and Rynn I loved the little campers' stories too. It is so hard to be those ages.
I loved the campfire scenes where all the counselors are getting to know each other, and spending time together. I love that Rynn and Ivy could work through their past and move forward together.
From a diversity perspective this is a sapphic love story but it isn't the coming out story which I really liked. Both girls were secure in their decisions to like other girls and that just wasn't the focus of the story. ( so many teen novels include the entire plot line of coming out or dealing with coming out and this book had some many other storylines that wasn't really a thing which I liked. l) . We were dealing with family drama, friend drama, tween drama, Hollywood drama and life drama all with the backdrop of pine woods, camp fire smoke and roasted marshmallows.
I recommend this book to those that love teen drama romances, and this would be a perfect read by a campfire.
May 6, 2025
I fear my feelings for this one are the same as I had for this author's other book, I think I love you, and that's ambivalence.
What I thought was going to be a cute summer camp romance was more of a camp counselor dealing with a friendship breakup turned romance and middle school drama, which is fine I guess but none of it was interesting.
The biggest drawback for me with this one is believability and the age group. This would've been immensely more success as a new adult book. Our MC is going through a breakup from her relationship of 4 years and when she gets to her job as a camp counselor, she runs into her ex best friend from middle school who she had a falling out with. Age these characters up 4 years and I could get there.
I mean our MC is 16 so she was in a relationship since she was 12 with a famous actress and I just don't buy it. I want to but I don't.
I also think this would've been better as a friendship story, especially for this age range. Give me these two figuring out their friendship and finding ways to stay friends instead of throwing a romance in that just didn't connect and felt rushed.
Overall, this is fine but not memorable.
lesbian MC with Celiac disease
What I thought was going to be a cute summer camp romance was more of a camp counselor dealing with a friendship breakup turned romance and middle school drama, which is fine I guess but none of it was interesting.
The biggest drawback for me with this one is believability and the age group. This would've been immensely more success as a new adult book. Our MC is going through a breakup from her relationship of 4 years and when she gets to her job as a camp counselor, she runs into her ex best friend from middle school who she had a falling out with. Age these characters up 4 years and I could get there.
I mean our MC is 16 so she was in a relationship since she was 12 with a famous actress and I just don't buy it. I want to but I don't.
I also think this would've been better as a friendship story, especially for this age range. Give me these two figuring out their friendship and finding ways to stay friends instead of throwing a romance in that just didn't connect and felt rushed.
Overall, this is fine but not memorable.
lesbian MC with Celiac disease
November 10, 2025
She's not been back to this camp since she was in 6th grade and had a friend breakup (though both had recently come out to each other and very clearly had baby crushes on each other back then) with the girl who started going in 7th grade and had been a counselor for years at this point. And has the nerve to say "This is my camp! I deserve special treatment!" basically. Lol.
Also, has a famous actress ex that is a huge storyline for only being on screen for like a chapter. Bit whiney, though, clearly a fresh wound. She just stands in her own way for love with the former friend from camp in such an awkward way that the other girl shouldn't have forgiven her.
Read by Kristen DiMercurio. #booksin25
Also, has a famous actress ex that is a huge storyline for only being on screen for like a chapter. Bit whiney, though, clearly a fresh wound. She just stands in her own way for love with the former friend from camp in such an awkward way that the other girl shouldn't have forgiven her.
Read by Kristen DiMercurio. #booksin25
April 6, 2025
this was such a sweet fun read. it had a fun setting (i am a sucker for summer camp stories) and a rivals to lovers storyline.
i enjoyed the tension we saw with Ivy & Rynn’s background and the competition between them. i wish we had seen more moments of the transition from rivals to lovers.
i appreciated that this novel addressed the grief that comes from long term relationships ending, no matter what age that happens.
overall this novel is short and sweet and delivers what it promises. i would have loved more build up to the main characters getting together, as well as more of the side characters (I would love to see more Ben & Fitz’s summer story), but it is a cute fun read that captures teenager level drama and emotions.
**Thank you to Auriane Desombre, Random House Children’s, Delacorte Romance, and NetGalley for the ARC**
i enjoyed the tension we saw with Ivy & Rynn’s background and the competition between them. i wish we had seen more moments of the transition from rivals to lovers.
i appreciated that this novel addressed the grief that comes from long term relationships ending, no matter what age that happens.
overall this novel is short and sweet and delivers what it promises. i would have loved more build up to the main characters getting together, as well as more of the side characters (I would love to see more Ben & Fitz’s summer story), but it is a cute fun read that captures teenager level drama and emotions.
**Thank you to Auriane Desombre, Random House Children’s, Delacorte Romance, and NetGalley for the ARC**
July 8, 2025
Based on the summary, I thought this would be a cute camp summer romance.
Instead, it was filled with drama just went on and on.
It didn't really focus on the romance between Ivy and Rynn but rather on Ivy's anxiety and wallowing about her previous romance with a TV star.
Speaking of Ivy, I did not like her as a main protagonist because of her constant focus on her dramas and her incompetence in every other field that mattered because of said drama.
Instead, it was filled with drama just went on and on.
It didn't really focus on the romance between Ivy and Rynn but rather on Ivy's anxiety and wallowing about her previous romance with a TV star.
Speaking of Ivy, I did not like her as a main protagonist because of her constant focus on her dramas and her incompetence in every other field that mattered because of said drama.
April 11, 2025
so cute always have a soft spot for ya romance 🫶🏼
it reminded me so much of being a camp counselor for middle school kids. gotta love it 😭
the audio was great and i flew through it. a solid ya romance read!
it reminded me so much of being a camp counselor for middle school kids. gotta love it 😭
the audio was great and i flew through it. a solid ya romance read!
April 12, 2025
Super freaking cute
November 17, 2025
very cute and wholesome. would’ve loved to read it in my teenage years.
May 3, 2025
Cute but kinda boring. The ally storyline took up to any pages.
December 16, 2024
3.5⭐️ A fun and unique spin on a rivals to lovers romance. I found it a little difficult to get into initially and at times felt it was a little cheesy/predictable. Overall however it was a quick read (once I got into the story) if youre looking for a fun lighthearted and kinda cheesy YA book to chill out and enjoy I definitely recommend checking it out!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!
March 24, 2025
the ending made me up my rating a bit because it’s clear there was an attempt here. the problem was the amount of ridiculousness that shrouded the good intentions of a plot. first off, i just took major issue that they were 15. and maybe i wouldn’t if it was that alone, but they were fifteen and “friend broke up” when they were like 11 i think? they said five years so maybe im a little off on the numbers but the moral of the story is GET OVER IT - i literally remember nothing important about 11, it’s simply not that deep. i support true love (kinda), but true love found at 12 just does not have my enthusiastic backing whether it be with Ally or Rynn here.
other minor gnats that flitted around this book and made me want to slap my brain until i forgot it existed
1) the sentences often didn’t make sense. they probably would have verbally but they were very disjointed and hard to read
2) the author forgot details multiple times. ivy would be in one hairstyle and then two pages later in the same scene have a completely different one with no described action of changing it.
3) the only thing this book convinced me of is that social media is ruining children. for the love of god, GET OFF YOUR PHONE. the boundaries were non-existent and it made the plot repetitive and exhausting. like genuinely it felt like a government ad to ban TikTok. i also wrote that sometimes it felt like a scholarship essay, in that it was trying to hard to be cohesive and just wasn’t, but that’s unrelated here.
4) sometimes i just wanted them to stfu. that’s it. just let me have a break for a bit.
5) fitz my love. even though we were rudely deprived of a finale to your plot, thank you for always bringing the snacks and stomping on the crunchy leaves. you made 179 pages bearable.
3 stars because there were clearly wholesome good intentions here. maybe i’m too old to be the target audience but if this is meant to be a middle-grade queer novel in a genre where there are close to none, that saddens me. protesting for better quality in our attempts to make representation available to sixth-graders.
other minor gnats that flitted around this book and made me want to slap my brain until i forgot it existed
1) the sentences often didn’t make sense. they probably would have verbally but they were very disjointed and hard to read
2) the author forgot details multiple times. ivy would be in one hairstyle and then two pages later in the same scene have a completely different one with no described action of changing it.
3) the only thing this book convinced me of is that social media is ruining children. for the love of god, GET OFF YOUR PHONE. the boundaries were non-existent and it made the plot repetitive and exhausting. like genuinely it felt like a government ad to ban TikTok. i also wrote that sometimes it felt like a scholarship essay, in that it was trying to hard to be cohesive and just wasn’t, but that’s unrelated here.
4) sometimes i just wanted them to stfu. that’s it. just let me have a break for a bit.
5) fitz my love. even though we were rudely deprived of a finale to your plot, thank you for always bringing the snacks and stomping on the crunchy leaves. you made 179 pages bearable.
3 stars because there were clearly wholesome good intentions here. maybe i’m too old to be the target audience but if this is meant to be a middle-grade queer novel in a genre where there are close to none, that saddens me. protesting for better quality in our attempts to make representation available to sixth-graders.
June 6, 2025
I just don’t think that I was the right audience for this book. I feel like high school me would have ate it up though!!!
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