What do you think?
Rate this book
Freddie and Stella Got Hot
Not yet published
Expected 27 Jan 26Jenny Han meets Mean Girls in Freddie and Stella Got Hot, Maggie Horne's YA rom com about getting revenge and falling in love.
By the time the Beaumont-Gardiner Award is announced, everyone's going to hate Levi Preston. And they're going to love us.
Freddie and Stella are on a take down their former best friend turned queen bee Levi Preston by depriving her of the one thing she wants more than The Beaumont-Gardiner Award. Only the coolest, smartest, and - let’s face it - hottest girls win . . . so Freddie and Stella are going to have to get a whole lot cooler, smarter, and hotter.
At first, it seems to work – Freddie and Stella slowly manage to worm their way in with the cool girls. With every shopping date, agonizing salon appointment, and hot yoga class, the girls get closer to the in-crowd and Levi fades more and more into the background. The higher they rise, though, the more uneasy Freddie starts to feel. Stella’s gone from her lovable, goofy best friend to someone she barely recognizes, using her newfound power for evil at every opportunity. Soon, Freddie realizes she’s created a monster – and she needs Levi’s help to put a stop to it.
By the time the Beaumont-Gardiner Award is announced, everyone's going to hate Levi Preston. And they're going to love us.
Freddie and Stella are on a take down their former best friend turned queen bee Levi Preston by depriving her of the one thing she wants more than The Beaumont-Gardiner Award. Only the coolest, smartest, and - let’s face it - hottest girls win . . . so Freddie and Stella are going to have to get a whole lot cooler, smarter, and hotter.
At first, it seems to work – Freddie and Stella slowly manage to worm their way in with the cool girls. With every shopping date, agonizing salon appointment, and hot yoga class, the girls get closer to the in-crowd and Levi fades more and more into the background. The higher they rise, though, the more uneasy Freddie starts to feel. Stella’s gone from her lovable, goofy best friend to someone she barely recognizes, using her newfound power for evil at every opportunity. Soon, Freddie realizes she’s created a monster – and she needs Levi’s help to put a stop to it.
314 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication January 27, 2026
5 people are currently reading
466 people want to read
About the author
Maggie Horne
4 books90 followersMaggie Horne grew up near Toronto, Canada. She now lives in the UK with her wife, where they keep a selection of dogs and children.
Maggie is the author of HAZEL HILL IS GONNA WIN THIS ONE (an Indies Introduce Summer/Fall 2022 Selection, Indie Next pick, and Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection) and NOAH FRYE GETS CRUSHED from HarperKids, as well as DON'T LET IT BREAK YOUR HEART and FREDDIE AND STELLA GOT HOT from Feiwel & Friends. She’s always trying to write the queer stories she wishes she could have read growing up.
Maggie is the author of HAZEL HILL IS GONNA WIN THIS ONE (an Indies Introduce Summer/Fall 2022 Selection, Indie Next pick, and Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection) and NOAH FRYE GETS CRUSHED from HarperKids, as well as DON'T LET IT BREAK YOUR HEART and FREDDIE AND STELLA GOT HOT from Feiwel & Friends. She’s always trying to write the queer stories she wishes she could have read growing up.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
August 17, 2025
Surely the ending did not resolve so neatly. Surely. (They are all more generous than I could ever be). The ending was a little unbelievable, but maybe I am just not seeing this as a younger teenager would.
I wish I had this book years ago! The sapphic romance and representation were done really well and I was a big fan of the main romance.
The comparison to Mean Girls feels very appropriate.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I wish I had this book years ago! The sapphic romance and representation were done really well and I was a big fan of the main romance.
The comparison to Mean Girls feels very appropriate.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 16, 2025
"if you think for one fucking second that i would have chosen to leave you behind, then you can't be that smart."
— four stars
would i recommend this book? definitely!
trigger warnings: n/a
first off, thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc! what follows will be a reflection of my honest thoughts about the book!
the thing that immediately drew me in about freddie and stella got hot was the sales pitch, which was "jenny han meets mean girls". jenny han is one of my favorite authors and mean girls is one of my favorite movies, so i already knew going into this book that i was going to enjoy it. and i did, actually!
freddie and stella got hot reads to me as a love letter to the messy teen drama movies of the early 2000s, complete with characters that are hard to love but easy to root for, schemes that seem absolutely ridiculous but somehow just... work, and cute, cheesy sapphic romance that makes you giggle and kick your feet. i think this book perfectly hits the nail on the head, and it really does make me happy that the new generation of teenagers (just hit me as i was writing that sentence that i'm turning twenty soon... woah?) have a fun, messy book to read. so many bonus points that its sapphic. i could not tell you how many times i told myself i had a little crush on regina while watching mean girls, so... book hits all the marks for that too.
as for the writing itself, i think it did what it needed to do. it was the perfect mix, in my opinion, of a teenagers messy brain while holding up enough literary merit that it didn't just sound a mess, which is also a plus. there were a few editorial errors in the latter half of the book (like in chapter 28 for example, when stella is speaking when levi isn't around, the dialogue tag says levi and it confused me so bad LOL) but nothing that impacted the story overall (this is mainly a note for my netgalley review, but i don't want to remove it here because i know i will forget to rewrite it.)
as i briefly mentioned above, the characters were not, in the slightest, lovable. they were all selfish, rich assholes, but i think that's why i actually liked them. every character having flaws, being able to turn on each other with the snap of some fingers, being messy and vulnerable... it made them more relatable. none of the girls in this book are good people, and that's what makes it a good story. i love flawed characters, and the book delivered on that end 110%. if i had to pick one thing to truly, truly praise, it would be the characters of the book. freddie, though the most sympathetic character, wasn't as innocent as she tried to be. though we rooted for her romance with levi, it was also hard to really excuse her actions because of how they impacted everyone else. stella... i did not like her, but i also came around to her by the end. so on, and so forth. they were all messy and dramatic, which was perfect for what the book was trying to do.
the only glaring "negatives" that i really have are few and far between. for instance, i think some background information at the beginning of the book might've helped with hooking me into the book. i felt, when we started off, that we were just thrown right into the scheme that takes up most of the book, and it made it hard for me to get into it at first because i didn't entirely know why we were supposed to hate levi and side with stella. however, people might disagree with me here and i can understand why: intentionally omitting the reasoning behind the plan hooks readers in (typically) and keeps them reading so they can find out. and i definitely enjoyed how everything was revealed, it was just hard for me to get immersed at first.
i also wish we could have gotten more out of the academic setting. the book takes place in an all girls school, but the academic setting is lost and we don't get more than a handful of actual interactions with teachers or adults (and the adults don't do much for most of the book anyway. you'd really think they'd have caught on sooner to everything going on. they were useless, literally.) for what it was, i enjoyed it, but i do just wish it leaned a little heavier into the academia side of the setting.
but overall, definitely a very enjoyable book that i think a lot of people could likely digest in one sitting if they wanted to. it was messy, dramatic, silly, serious, swoon-worthy at times, and everything in between, and i really did love it.
if mean girls is one of your staple movies, or you just love a messy romcom, i cannot recommend this book enough. i hope to see lots of you reading it on pub day! ♡
— four stars
would i recommend this book? definitely!
trigger warnings: n/a
first off, thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc! what follows will be a reflection of my honest thoughts about the book!
the thing that immediately drew me in about freddie and stella got hot was the sales pitch, which was "jenny han meets mean girls". jenny han is one of my favorite authors and mean girls is one of my favorite movies, so i already knew going into this book that i was going to enjoy it. and i did, actually!
freddie and stella got hot reads to me as a love letter to the messy teen drama movies of the early 2000s, complete with characters that are hard to love but easy to root for, schemes that seem absolutely ridiculous but somehow just... work, and cute, cheesy sapphic romance that makes you giggle and kick your feet. i think this book perfectly hits the nail on the head, and it really does make me happy that the new generation of teenagers (just hit me as i was writing that sentence that i'm turning twenty soon... woah?) have a fun, messy book to read. so many bonus points that its sapphic. i could not tell you how many times i told myself i had a little crush on regina while watching mean girls, so... book hits all the marks for that too.
as for the writing itself, i think it did what it needed to do. it was the perfect mix, in my opinion, of a teenagers messy brain while holding up enough literary merit that it didn't just sound a mess, which is also a plus. there were a few editorial errors in the latter half of the book (like in chapter 28 for example, when stella is speaking when levi isn't around, the dialogue tag says levi and it confused me so bad LOL) but nothing that impacted the story overall (this is mainly a note for my netgalley review, but i don't want to remove it here because i know i will forget to rewrite it.)
as i briefly mentioned above, the characters were not, in the slightest, lovable. they were all selfish, rich assholes, but i think that's why i actually liked them. every character having flaws, being able to turn on each other with the snap of some fingers, being messy and vulnerable... it made them more relatable. none of the girls in this book are good people, and that's what makes it a good story. i love flawed characters, and the book delivered on that end 110%. if i had to pick one thing to truly, truly praise, it would be the characters of the book. freddie, though the most sympathetic character, wasn't as innocent as she tried to be. though we rooted for her romance with levi, it was also hard to really excuse her actions because of how they impacted everyone else. stella... i did not like her, but i also came around to her by the end. so on, and so forth. they were all messy and dramatic, which was perfect for what the book was trying to do.
the only glaring "negatives" that i really have are few and far between. for instance, i think some background information at the beginning of the book might've helped with hooking me into the book. i felt, when we started off, that we were just thrown right into the scheme that takes up most of the book, and it made it hard for me to get into it at first because i didn't entirely know why we were supposed to hate levi and side with stella. however, people might disagree with me here and i can understand why: intentionally omitting the reasoning behind the plan hooks readers in (typically) and keeps them reading so they can find out. and i definitely enjoyed how everything was revealed, it was just hard for me to get immersed at first.
i also wish we could have gotten more out of the academic setting. the book takes place in an all girls school, but the academic setting is lost and we don't get more than a handful of actual interactions with teachers or adults (and the adults don't do much for most of the book anyway. you'd really think they'd have caught on sooner to everything going on. they were useless, literally.) for what it was, i enjoyed it, but i do just wish it leaned a little heavier into the academia side of the setting.
but overall, definitely a very enjoyable book that i think a lot of people could likely digest in one sitting if they wanted to. it was messy, dramatic, silly, serious, swoon-worthy at times, and everything in between, and i really did love it.
if mean girls is one of your staple movies, or you just love a messy romcom, i cannot recommend this book enough. i hope to see lots of you reading it on pub day! ♡
July 2, 2025
this was actually so good I'm so happy I got the arc for this!! i dont think this often but, i was left thinking I wanted more of this book! I lovee levi
November 9, 2025
Do you ever think back on some of the unhinged thoughts you had as a teenager, and take a deep breath cause you are glad you never acted on those thoughts? This book was the exact opposite of that, it's acting on all your unhinged thoughts and doing it successfully, and realizing that what is driving you is maybe some deeper emotions we should talk about it.
I enjoyed this so much! It was messy, and cringy in the best ways. We watch our characters explore friend break ups, making new friends, sabotage, and learning to grow.
Levi, Freddie, and Stella were best friends throughout middle school, but when they got to high school Levi seemed too cool for school and ditched them, leaving Stella and Freddie hurt, sad, and angry. Two years later Levi is set to win the schools biggest award and Stella and Freddie come up with a plan to prevent that.
This book captures how sometimes a mean girl is actually a sad or hurt girl with no way to really work through that (it doesn't excuse their behavior, but allows us some empathy). I would recommend if you want a messy fun read! Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this so much! It was messy, and cringy in the best ways. We watch our characters explore friend break ups, making new friends, sabotage, and learning to grow.
Levi, Freddie, and Stella were best friends throughout middle school, but when they got to high school Levi seemed too cool for school and ditched them, leaving Stella and Freddie hurt, sad, and angry. Two years later Levi is set to win the schools biggest award and Stella and Freddie come up with a plan to prevent that.
This book captures how sometimes a mean girl is actually a sad or hurt girl with no way to really work through that (it doesn't excuse their behavior, but allows us some empathy). I would recommend if you want a messy fun read! Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 25, 2025
I LOVED THIS!!! full review to come!!!
Want to read
June 11, 2024"Pitched as a sapphic Mean Girls meets She Gets the Girl"
October 10, 2025
3.5 stars
If I want to read the messiest and the most exquisitely fun queer YA books, I pick up a Maggie Horne book.
Freddie and Stella Got Hot follows Freddie, who gets hot with her best friend, Stella, to take revenge on a former best friend of theirs, Levi. In the process of taking revenge, Freddie realises some brutal things about her friendship with Stella and her feelings for Levi starts becoming more and more apparent.
Stella’s plan was quite fun to follow through and I really liked how Freddie started realising some terribly important things about her and her friendship with Stella. I thoroughly enjoyed Stella being the antagonist, what can I say I love evil girls in my books.
Freddie and Levi were the hottest and the cutest couple, trust Maggie Horne to write brilliant sapphic fluff. I loved the hug scene when they were trying to be normal about each other but were miserably failing at the particular task.
The only part I wasn’t fond of was the ending. The ending was tied together with a happy bow but I don’t get how? Stella crossed some major lines throughout the book but Freddie and Levi forgave her pretty easily which didn’t make any sense to me. Even the summer program part felt a stretch, we saw Stella going oh Freddie doesn’t want to go to London only for her to accept her admission??
If you love drama, you’ll probably like this.
If I want to read the messiest and the most exquisitely fun queer YA books, I pick up a Maggie Horne book.
Freddie and Stella Got Hot follows Freddie, who gets hot with her best friend, Stella, to take revenge on a former best friend of theirs, Levi. In the process of taking revenge, Freddie realises some brutal things about her friendship with Stella and her feelings for Levi starts becoming more and more apparent.
Stella’s plan was quite fun to follow through and I really liked how Freddie started realising some terribly important things about her and her friendship with Stella. I thoroughly enjoyed Stella being the antagonist, what can I say I love evil girls in my books.
Freddie and Levi were the hottest and the cutest couple, trust Maggie Horne to write brilliant sapphic fluff. I loved the hug scene when they were trying to be normal about each other but were miserably failing at the particular task.
The only part I wasn’t fond of was the ending. The ending was tied together with a happy bow but I don’t get how? Stella crossed some major lines throughout the book but Freddie and Levi forgave her pretty easily which didn’t make any sense to me. Even the summer program part felt a stretch, we saw Stella going oh Freddie doesn’t want to go to London only for her to accept her admission??
If you love drama, you’ll probably like this.
December 17, 2025
diabolical
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
*Possible Spoilers*
Wow, Freddie and Stella Got Hot is a wild ride. Maggie Horne has written a fun, redeemable, romcom-y, shamelessly queer book. I have a problem with publishers marketing books as Mean Girls-esque, but this one is legitimately a gay Mean Girls, except that the popular clique has likable traits. Perspective is such a funny (not ) little thing, and this novel does a good job highlighting and playing with it.
I feel so blessed that I’m not a part of Freddie, Stella, and Levi’s three way best friend/love triangle. They’re so messy; yikes. I actually found Freddie to be a fairly likeable narrator. I didn’t come out of the book knowing more about her than I did in the beginning, but I didn’t mind because the plot fascinated me. Even if she isn’t always honest, her inner monologue is straight to the point and chronicles the plot without sugar-coating it. I liked that she wasn’t enamoured by popularity, she was enamored by the two people in her life who the popularity affects most: her best friend Stella and her (former) best friend/crush Levi. Freddie was mild enough and detached enough from the school fame game that I was able to focus on the story without feeling directly poisoned by the toxicity.
Stella is a wild card. She’s mad at Levi for rejecting her, and uses Freddie’s anger at Levi for ditching them to her advantage. In her quest for emotional satisfaction, she cooks up scheme after scheme to yank Levi down from her popular-girl pedestal. For most of the book, I didn’t see any redeeming qualities in Stella’s character. Freddie always talks about how amazing of a friend she usually is. Near the end, when she realizes that maybe her need for control shouldn’t trump her emotional insecurity, is the first time I saw why her friends like her. I liked how she ends up helping Freddie achieve her goals and being a shipper of her best friends. While being hurt that Levi rejected her in the past is a pathetic reason to go all Cady Haron “fake-it-til-you-make-it,” I also could see that the unrequited crush wasn’t the actual problem. She knew that Levi liked Freddie, and was afraid that the two most important people in her life would leave her behind. It’s not excusable, but something about the love she has for her friends makes her feel a little more approachable. Obviously lying about how straight your gay friend is to your other gay friend who likes the former is a no-no, especially when neither of them are in the closet, but it sets up a cute little second chance romance between Freddie and Levi.
I felt like Levi was more of the plot catalyst and less an actual person. I found it refreshing how drama-free she is, but given how anti-heroic her friends are, I also found it a little boring. I don’t actually know much about her. I know that she’s gay, lowkey poor compared to her schoolmates, and wants the school scholarship that has everyone riled up. I did love her other friends Hannah, Seema, and Ramona. They were an interesting spin on the mean girl clique caricature. They’re all genuinely nice, well-meaning humans. While fear and manipulation can generate power, consideration and being aware gets you further. All three of them are still spoiled and treat their metaphorical table as exclusive. Them being so sure of themselves individually, but so insecure about other people’s opinions adds to the theme of perspective. It showed that everyone, no matter where you are in the school hierarchy, can be gullible enough to jump head first into trendy lies. I actually wanted the popular girls to avenge their fallen reputations and metaphorically slap some sense into Stella’s head.
The general plot is literally what the synopsis says it’ll be. I was never surprised when Stella one-upped her best friends and foiled their plans. Given how complicated and different the three main characters are, I’m a little confused as to why the story was only told from Freddie’s perspective. I wanted to read Stella’s inner monologue as she increasingly becomes more power hungry. I wanted to read Levi’s thoughts as she watched the betrayal and loyalties of her two friend groups flip-flop back and forth. So much happens outside of Freddie that I wanted first-person chapters from her friends. Those three are so weird, and obviously have the potential to be toxic, but I genuinely believe that they fully understand each other. Freddie and Levi are cute together; I don’t have that much to say about them. I’m not sure how long their relationship is going to last, but right now they complement each other well. If you are interested in a Mean Girls style exploration of hallway power and ignorant avoidance, with actually likable (and queer) popular girls, this one is worth checking out.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I will be posting this review in late December on Goodreads and/or Tiktok and Instagram.
Wow, Freddie and Stella Got Hot is a wild ride. Maggie Horne has written a fun, redeemable, romcom-y, shamelessly queer book. I have a problem with publishers marketing books as Mean Girls-esque, but this one is legitimately a gay Mean Girls, except that the popular clique has likable traits. Perspective is such a funny (not ) little thing, and this novel does a good job highlighting and playing with it.
I feel so blessed that I’m not a part of Freddie, Stella, and Levi’s three way best friend/love triangle. They’re so messy; yikes. I actually found Freddie to be a fairly likeable narrator. I didn’t come out of the book knowing more about her than I did in the beginning, but I didn’t mind because the plot fascinated me. Even if she isn’t always honest, her inner monologue is straight to the point and chronicles the plot without sugar-coating it. I liked that she wasn’t enamoured by popularity, she was enamored by the two people in her life who the popularity affects most: her best friend Stella and her (former) best friend/crush Levi. Freddie was mild enough and detached enough from the school fame game that I was able to focus on the story without feeling directly poisoned by the toxicity.
Stella is a wild card. She’s mad at Levi for rejecting her, and uses Freddie’s anger at Levi for ditching them to her advantage. In her quest for emotional satisfaction, she cooks up scheme after scheme to yank Levi down from her popular-girl pedestal. For most of the book, I didn’t see any redeeming qualities in Stella’s character. Freddie always talks about how amazing of a friend she usually is. Near the end, when she realizes that maybe her need for control shouldn’t trump her emotional insecurity, is the first time I saw why her friends like her. I liked how she ends up helping Freddie achieve her goals and being a shipper of her best friends. While being hurt that Levi rejected her in the past is a pathetic reason to go all Cady Haron “fake-it-til-you-make-it,” I also could see that the unrequited crush wasn’t the actual problem. She knew that Levi liked Freddie, and was afraid that the two most important people in her life would leave her behind. It’s not excusable, but something about the love she has for her friends makes her feel a little more approachable. Obviously lying about how straight your gay friend is to your other gay friend who likes the former is a no-no, especially when neither of them are in the closet, but it sets up a cute little second chance romance between Freddie and Levi.
I felt like Levi was more of the plot catalyst and less an actual person. I found it refreshing how drama-free she is, but given how anti-heroic her friends are, I also found it a little boring. I don’t actually know much about her. I know that she’s gay, lowkey poor compared to her schoolmates, and wants the school scholarship that has everyone riled up. I did love her other friends Hannah, Seema, and Ramona. They were an interesting spin on the mean girl clique caricature. They’re all genuinely nice, well-meaning humans. While fear and manipulation can generate power, consideration and being aware gets you further. All three of them are still spoiled and treat their metaphorical table as exclusive. Them being so sure of themselves individually, but so insecure about other people’s opinions adds to the theme of perspective. It showed that everyone, no matter where you are in the school hierarchy, can be gullible enough to jump head first into trendy lies. I actually wanted the popular girls to avenge their fallen reputations and metaphorically slap some sense into Stella’s head.
The general plot is literally what the synopsis says it’ll be. I was never surprised when Stella one-upped her best friends and foiled their plans. Given how complicated and different the three main characters are, I’m a little confused as to why the story was only told from Freddie’s perspective. I wanted to read Stella’s inner monologue as she increasingly becomes more power hungry. I wanted to read Levi’s thoughts as she watched the betrayal and loyalties of her two friend groups flip-flop back and forth. So much happens outside of Freddie that I wanted first-person chapters from her friends. Those three are so weird, and obviously have the potential to be toxic, but I genuinely believe that they fully understand each other. Freddie and Levi are cute together; I don’t have that much to say about them. I’m not sure how long their relationship is going to last, but right now they complement each other well. If you are interested in a Mean Girls style exploration of hallway power and ignorant avoidance, with actually likable (and queer) popular girls, this one is worth checking out.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I will be posting this review in late December on Goodreads and/or Tiktok and Instagram.
July 9, 2025
Thank you Netgalley and Feiwel & Friends for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Maggie Horne’s “Freddie and Stella Got Hot” is a sharp, funny, and emotionally charged YA story set against the cutthroat backdrop of Coral Cove Prep, where loyalty, love, and ambition collide in spectacular fashion.
Freddie and her best friend Stella start off on a mission to dethrone their former friend Levi Preston, the reigning queen bee of their elite prep school. Their plan centers on stealing Levi’s shot at the coveted Beaumont-Gardiner Award, an honor reserved for the school’s coolest, smartest, and hottest girls. At first, it seems to be working, as Freddie and Stella slip deeper into the glamorous world of shopping trips, salon sessions, and hot yoga classes.
But the more popular they become, the more Freddie sees how much Stella has changed. Once goofy and loyal, Stella morphs into someone manipulative and ruthless, determined to get her way no matter who gets hurt. As Stella’s schemes grow darker, Freddie finds herself trapped in a toxic friendship built on control, secrecy, and emotional manipulation.
Horne writes this unraveling with a blend of biting humor and genuine vulnerability. The story is both hilarious and unflinching, capturing how mean girls operate beneath their glossy exteriors. The scenes drip with tension and cattiness, yet the book also finds moments of tenderness and hope, particularly in Freddie’s journey of self-discovery.
Freddie is a fantastic protagonist, relatable in her insecurities and deeply human flaws. She begins the story completely wrapped up in Stella’s orbit, unwilling to see how damaging their friendship has become because she fears being alone. Watching her come into her own and choose healthier connections is incredibly satisfying.
At the same time, Stella is a fascinating character. Her desire for power and popularity makes her cruel, yet she also carries vulnerability and jealousy that hint at deeper struggles. I do wish she faced more consequences for her manipulations, but there’s no denying she’s a compelling and complex figure. However, I can’t get over how she just went back to how she was in the beginning without facing any real consequences as her parents could pay off any of her wrongdoings, and she is immediately forgiven for her extremely problematic behavior. More of a discussion needed to be had, maybe some time apart. If I were Freddie, I probably would never have forgiven Stella because she had been manipulating and isolating Freddie for years.
The sapphic romance between Freddie and Levi adds another engaging layer. Their chemistry crackles throughout the story, offering a sweet, sometimes messy counterpoint to the bitter schemes around them. While the romance brings plenty of swoon-worthy moments, it never overshadows the central themes of friendship, identity, and personal growth.
Horne’s writing sparkles with wit and energy. The dialogue is sharp, frequently laugh-out-loud funny, and the ensemble cast is vibrant, each side character possessing distinct quirks and voices. Even the meanest characters feel believable rather than cartoonish, revealing glimpses of humanity beneath the surface.
Overall, “Freddie and Stella Got Hot” is a wildly entertaining blend of humor, drama, and heartfelt emotion. It examines how toxic friendships can masquerade as loyalty, how power can corrupt even the closest bonds, and how discovering your self-worth can be the hottest glow-up of all. It’s a perfect pick for fans of “Mean Girls” with a sapphic twist and for anyone who loves YA stories full of sharp edges, genuine warmth, and characters you can’t stop thinking about.
Maggie Horne’s “Freddie and Stella Got Hot” is a sharp, funny, and emotionally charged YA story set against the cutthroat backdrop of Coral Cove Prep, where loyalty, love, and ambition collide in spectacular fashion.
Freddie and her best friend Stella start off on a mission to dethrone their former friend Levi Preston, the reigning queen bee of their elite prep school. Their plan centers on stealing Levi’s shot at the coveted Beaumont-Gardiner Award, an honor reserved for the school’s coolest, smartest, and hottest girls. At first, it seems to be working, as Freddie and Stella slip deeper into the glamorous world of shopping trips, salon sessions, and hot yoga classes.
But the more popular they become, the more Freddie sees how much Stella has changed. Once goofy and loyal, Stella morphs into someone manipulative and ruthless, determined to get her way no matter who gets hurt. As Stella’s schemes grow darker, Freddie finds herself trapped in a toxic friendship built on control, secrecy, and emotional manipulation.
Horne writes this unraveling with a blend of biting humor and genuine vulnerability. The story is both hilarious and unflinching, capturing how mean girls operate beneath their glossy exteriors. The scenes drip with tension and cattiness, yet the book also finds moments of tenderness and hope, particularly in Freddie’s journey of self-discovery.
Freddie is a fantastic protagonist, relatable in her insecurities and deeply human flaws. She begins the story completely wrapped up in Stella’s orbit, unwilling to see how damaging their friendship has become because she fears being alone. Watching her come into her own and choose healthier connections is incredibly satisfying.
At the same time, Stella is a fascinating character. Her desire for power and popularity makes her cruel, yet she also carries vulnerability and jealousy that hint at deeper struggles. I do wish she faced more consequences for her manipulations, but there’s no denying she’s a compelling and complex figure. However, I can’t get over how she just went back to how she was in the beginning without facing any real consequences as her parents could pay off any of her wrongdoings, and she is immediately forgiven for her extremely problematic behavior. More of a discussion needed to be had, maybe some time apart. If I were Freddie, I probably would never have forgiven Stella because she had been manipulating and isolating Freddie for years.
The sapphic romance between Freddie and Levi adds another engaging layer. Their chemistry crackles throughout the story, offering a sweet, sometimes messy counterpoint to the bitter schemes around them. While the romance brings plenty of swoon-worthy moments, it never overshadows the central themes of friendship, identity, and personal growth.
Horne’s writing sparkles with wit and energy. The dialogue is sharp, frequently laugh-out-loud funny, and the ensemble cast is vibrant, each side character possessing distinct quirks and voices. Even the meanest characters feel believable rather than cartoonish, revealing glimpses of humanity beneath the surface.
Overall, “Freddie and Stella Got Hot” is a wildly entertaining blend of humor, drama, and heartfelt emotion. It examines how toxic friendships can masquerade as loyalty, how power can corrupt even the closest bonds, and how discovering your self-worth can be the hottest glow-up of all. It’s a perfect pick for fans of “Mean Girls” with a sapphic twist and for anyone who loves YA stories full of sharp edges, genuine warmth, and characters you can’t stop thinking about.
November 18, 2025
Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for the arc!
Minor spoilers ahead.
This was a fun, fast-paced novel about girlhood, mean girls, and what we're willing to do for revenge.
16-year-old Freddie and Stella have lived in the shadow of their ex-best friend, Levi, since she ditched them at the start of high school. When nominations for their school's prestigious Beaumont-Gardiner Award roll around, Stella and Freddie hatch a plan to take down Levi once and for all, and take away her chance at the award.
Levi is popular - beloved by the school body and a shoo-in for the award. Stella and Freddie are decidely un-cool, so the plan involves reinventing themselves, getting inside Levi's friend group, and taking them down one by one until they get to the center.
Things are never that simple, though, and unresolved feelings from years prior pop up to make things even more complicated. As Freddie gets pulled in deeper and deeper by Stella, who can't seem to tell when too far is too far, she begins to question everything she's thought about Levi for years.
So, the good: The queer representation! So many openly queer female characters, who are proud of their sexuality. There's no hard coming-out storylines, or homophobia, just characters who know who they are and aren't afraid to say it. I love the on-page labeling of lesbian and bisexual, and I love that it isn't just the two main characters who are queer, but side characters as well.
Freddie, I want to give you a hug. Levi too. Maybe everyone I guess. I really connected with all the side characters too, especially Ramona and Seema, so it's always nice when they are fleshed out as well.
The romance was worth rooting for -- a nice blend of miscommunication, friends-to-enemies-to-lovers, with a dash of second-chance romance. Things started happening somewhat quickly with them at the end, but it was still enjoyable.
The plot was interesting too and it moved quickly, keeping me engaged.
What I didn't love, unfortunately, was our second titular character -- Stella.
Oh, Stella. She probably also needs a hug.
But wow. I think where a struggled was that she has really... no? redeemable characteristics? From the very beginning, even. I couldn't root for her at all, even at the start of the book when she's supposed to be more rational. I didn't understand why Freddie was friends with her at all, to be honest. I wish they showed more of what it was that kept them together, the good, because most of the time it was Freddie resenting her. Girl was straight up commiting crimes at one point. She just was not a good person! Which is the point, I understand, but if you're going to redeem her in the end, I need something-- anything-- to work with.
Speaking of her redemption. It was a little too insta-redemption-y for me. Of course she gets her big, public moment where she apologizes for everything and somehow has changed in the span of like 2 days. A litte unrealistic but I'm okay with a reconciliation ending, especially in YA, so I'll take it.
The parents were also kind of funny characters to me. They don't really exist or have any impact on the story, other than to flit by occasionally so the main characters can complain about how rich and un-caring they are. Which, again, fine! But it was very caricature of the stereotypical rich mom trope.
Other than that, though, I really did enjoy this book! I've been in a major reading slump and this is the only book I've managed to finish in months. It was fun and I could see myself re-reading!
3.5 stars
Minor spoilers ahead.
This was a fun, fast-paced novel about girlhood, mean girls, and what we're willing to do for revenge.
16-year-old Freddie and Stella have lived in the shadow of their ex-best friend, Levi, since she ditched them at the start of high school. When nominations for their school's prestigious Beaumont-Gardiner Award roll around, Stella and Freddie hatch a plan to take down Levi once and for all, and take away her chance at the award.
Levi is popular - beloved by the school body and a shoo-in for the award. Stella and Freddie are decidely un-cool, so the plan involves reinventing themselves, getting inside Levi's friend group, and taking them down one by one until they get to the center.
Things are never that simple, though, and unresolved feelings from years prior pop up to make things even more complicated. As Freddie gets pulled in deeper and deeper by Stella, who can't seem to tell when too far is too far, she begins to question everything she's thought about Levi for years.
So, the good: The queer representation! So many openly queer female characters, who are proud of their sexuality. There's no hard coming-out storylines, or homophobia, just characters who know who they are and aren't afraid to say it. I love the on-page labeling of lesbian and bisexual, and I love that it isn't just the two main characters who are queer, but side characters as well.
Freddie, I want to give you a hug. Levi too. Maybe everyone I guess. I really connected with all the side characters too, especially Ramona and Seema, so it's always nice when they are fleshed out as well.
The romance was worth rooting for -- a nice blend of miscommunication, friends-to-enemies-to-lovers, with a dash of second-chance romance. Things started happening somewhat quickly with them at the end, but it was still enjoyable.
The plot was interesting too and it moved quickly, keeping me engaged.
What I didn't love, unfortunately, was our second titular character -- Stella.
Oh, Stella. She probably also needs a hug.
But wow. I think where a struggled was that she has really... no? redeemable characteristics? From the very beginning, even. I couldn't root for her at all, even at the start of the book when she's supposed to be more rational. I didn't understand why Freddie was friends with her at all, to be honest. I wish they showed more of what it was that kept them together, the good, because most of the time it was Freddie resenting her. Girl was straight up commiting crimes at one point. She just was not a good person! Which is the point, I understand, but if you're going to redeem her in the end, I need something-- anything-- to work with.
Speaking of her redemption. It was a little too insta-redemption-y for me. Of course she gets her big, public moment where she apologizes for everything and somehow has changed in the span of like 2 days. A litte unrealistic but I'm okay with a reconciliation ending, especially in YA, so I'll take it.
The parents were also kind of funny characters to me. They don't really exist or have any impact on the story, other than to flit by occasionally so the main characters can complain about how rich and un-caring they are. Which, again, fine! But it was very caricature of the stereotypical rich mom trope.
Other than that, though, I really did enjoy this book! I've been in a major reading slump and this is the only book I've managed to finish in months. It was fun and I could see myself re-reading!
3.5 stars
July 20, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC copy!
This is exactly the kind of YA novel I love, with teenage characters who feel oh so real and messy, and all the chaos and earnest moments that go with it. You get to see the full closeness, toxicity, dependence, conflict and beauty of teenage girl friendship on display here, and I very much appreciated that friendship and romance are all deemed of equal weighty importance here.
So let's get into the main characters: Freddie, Stella, and Levi. Freddie is our viewpoint character, and while she agrees at first to join in on her best friend Stella's revenge scheme against Levi who apparently abandoned them for popular-girldom in high school, she quickly realizes that Stella is willing to go to some pretty awful lengths to obtain said revenge and that there's a lot about Levi and Stella that she doesn't know either. I really enjoyed Freddie as a main character; she does start as extremely passive, very much the side-kick to Stella's schemes, but it's lovely to see her grow and push back against that role, and it makes it all the more meaningful when she finally grows past it. Even when Stella is awful, the banter between her and Freddie is absolutely top-notch and made me laugh (I knew at the start of the book when I read Freddie asking Stella, "Wait, sorry. You're upset because you weren't made fun of for bleeding like a Civil War amputee in the middle of homecoming?" that I was in for an excellent time.), and Stella is awfully brilliant in her own right, running a scheme to rise to the top of Coral Cove, the all-girl's elite high school they go to.
Which at last brings us to Levi Preston, the seemingly perfect girl who abandoned Stella and Freddie. At first she just seems a caricature of the perfect prep school girl who is of course the front runner for the BG Awards and automatic acceptance into the Ivy Leagues, but as Freddie unravels the mystery of why Levi left them, she comes into focus as a much more normal girl. It's a beautiful sometimes bitter push-and-pull between Levi and Freddie, with Levi saying lines like "I know you--I know you don't think I do anymore, but I never unlearned you," while Freddie's POV is "You don't fucking know me, Levi. You remember me. That's what happens to people you leave behind. You remember them." No spoilers, but their relationship is the highlight of the book for me, and I appreciate the complicated dynamics of a bestie group of three, especially when everyone is kind of in love with everyone.
Speaking of bestie groups, Levi's current hot popular girl squad are also stellar side-characters. They seem to just initially slot into their assigned roles: Seema the sunny, cheerful one, Ramona the sporty one, and Hannah, the maybe girlfriend, but as Freddie gets sucked into Stella's schemes and trying to ingratiate herself in the group, she gets to know them better as well, and they all are their own full characters. I liked Seema especially with how complicated she is underneath all that sunny charm.
If you want to read a book with scheming sapphic high school girls, you HAVE to read this. Even if you don't like YA, I would say you should definitely give this one a try just for it's witty banter, fast paced story, fully developed complicated characters, and great story.
This is exactly the kind of YA novel I love, with teenage characters who feel oh so real and messy, and all the chaos and earnest moments that go with it. You get to see the full closeness, toxicity, dependence, conflict and beauty of teenage girl friendship on display here, and I very much appreciated that friendship and romance are all deemed of equal weighty importance here.
So let's get into the main characters: Freddie, Stella, and Levi. Freddie is our viewpoint character, and while she agrees at first to join in on her best friend Stella's revenge scheme against Levi who apparently abandoned them for popular-girldom in high school, she quickly realizes that Stella is willing to go to some pretty awful lengths to obtain said revenge and that there's a lot about Levi and Stella that she doesn't know either. I really enjoyed Freddie as a main character; she does start as extremely passive, very much the side-kick to Stella's schemes, but it's lovely to see her grow and push back against that role, and it makes it all the more meaningful when she finally grows past it. Even when Stella is awful, the banter between her and Freddie is absolutely top-notch and made me laugh (I knew at the start of the book when I read Freddie asking Stella, "Wait, sorry. You're upset because you weren't made fun of for bleeding like a Civil War amputee in the middle of homecoming?" that I was in for an excellent time.), and Stella is awfully brilliant in her own right, running a scheme to rise to the top of Coral Cove, the all-girl's elite high school they go to.
Which at last brings us to Levi Preston, the seemingly perfect girl who abandoned Stella and Freddie. At first she just seems a caricature of the perfect prep school girl who is of course the front runner for the BG Awards and automatic acceptance into the Ivy Leagues, but as Freddie unravels the mystery of why Levi left them, she comes into focus as a much more normal girl. It's a beautiful sometimes bitter push-and-pull between Levi and Freddie, with Levi saying lines like "I know you--I know you don't think I do anymore, but I never unlearned you," while Freddie's POV is "You don't fucking know me, Levi. You remember me. That's what happens to people you leave behind. You remember them." No spoilers, but their relationship is the highlight of the book for me, and I appreciate the complicated dynamics of a bestie group of three, especially when everyone is kind of in love with everyone.
Speaking of bestie groups, Levi's current hot popular girl squad are also stellar side-characters. They seem to just initially slot into their assigned roles: Seema the sunny, cheerful one, Ramona the sporty one, and Hannah, the maybe girlfriend, but as Freddie gets sucked into Stella's schemes and trying to ingratiate herself in the group, she gets to know them better as well, and they all are their own full characters. I liked Seema especially with how complicated she is underneath all that sunny charm.
If you want to read a book with scheming sapphic high school girls, you HAVE to read this. Even if you don't like YA, I would say you should definitely give this one a try just for it's witty banter, fast paced story, fully developed complicated characters, and great story.
August 30, 2025
Freddie is used to being invisible at school. It doesn't really bother her, and she has no plans on changing that anytime soon. However, her best friend Stella is sick of no one noticing her, and she's sick of everyone being obsessed with their ex-best friend Levi Preston who abandoned them two years ago when they started high school. So, when Stella decides that they should spend the year becoming hot, popular girls in an attempt to takedown Levi and steal the coveted Beaumont-Gardiner Award away from her, Freddie decides to go along for the ride. She doesn't think Stella's plans will ever work, but when her sabotage starts to escalate, Freddie has to decide if she's okay with all of this or if she'll grow a backbone and do something about it. Not to mention the fact that she's been given the opportunity of a lifetime at what could be her dream college, and she needs to decide whether or not she wants to take it when she knows leaving could break her best friend's heart.
This book reads like a 2000s teen comedy, and I mean that as a huge compliment. This is for the people that watched Mean Girls and thought it would be even better if everyone fell under the LGBTQ+ umbrella. And, with the cover art and the private school aesthetic, I found myself picturing their all girls school looking exactly like the private school from Do Revenge - another teen comedy that feels like a companion to this novel. It's a highly entertaining read and laugh out loud funny at times. I couldn't put it down because I was so invested in finding out just how far Stella was willing to take her plans and unraveling the truth behind why Levi really abandoned her and Freddie.
If I have one real criticism, it's that it felt like the story wrapped itself up too neatly. Everyone was way more forgiving in the end than I would have been after everything that happened. But it ends the way you would expect a teen comedy with this plot to end, so it's not a detriment to the story by any means. It gives you exactly what you want to get out of this story.
I highly recommend reading this if 2000s teen comedies, revenge plots, and sad girls being the new mean girls are your thing.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
This book reads like a 2000s teen comedy, and I mean that as a huge compliment. This is for the people that watched Mean Girls and thought it would be even better if everyone fell under the LGBTQ+ umbrella. And, with the cover art and the private school aesthetic, I found myself picturing their all girls school looking exactly like the private school from Do Revenge - another teen comedy that feels like a companion to this novel. It's a highly entertaining read and laugh out loud funny at times. I couldn't put it down because I was so invested in finding out just how far Stella was willing to take her plans and unraveling the truth behind why Levi really abandoned her and Freddie.
If I have one real criticism, it's that it felt like the story wrapped itself up too neatly. Everyone was way more forgiving in the end than I would have been after everything that happened. But it ends the way you would expect a teen comedy with this plot to end, so it's not a detriment to the story by any means. It gives you exactly what you want to get out of this story.
I highly recommend reading this if 2000s teen comedies, revenge plots, and sad girls being the new mean girls are your thing.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
July 30, 2025
This book satisfied by nostalgic need to relive the early 2000s high school dramas that I grew up on. Like Mean Girls, but make it queer... In other words, it was perfection.
While the three main characters are simmering in rivalry, revenge, and other kinds of tension, the hyperbole of teenage emotions are displayed in a very realistic way that makes me cringe (in a good way) remembering how equally insufferable I was at that age.
Freddie and Stella were once inseparable. Now they’re staging a glittery, yoga-fueled comeback to take down their shared ex-best-friend, Levi. But beneath the power plays and glossy plotting, Maggie Horne gives us something deeper: a story about the ache of being left behind, the pressure to become someone you’re not, and the slow, shaky path toward figuring out who you want to be.
Freddie is a fantastic narrator—funny, awkward, quietly brilliant, and painfully relatable as she tries to keep up with Stella’s wild schemes while grappling with her own loneliness. Stella, on the other hand, is a walking firecracker of ambition and chaos, and watching her unravel is both delicious and a little heartbreaking. And Levi? Levi is the surprise emotional anchor of the book, with a character arc that left me rooting for her way more than I expected.
The writing is fresh, fast-paced, and packed with razor-sharp dialogue. I especially loved how Horne brings the school’s social hierarchy to life—it’s exaggerated just enough to be fun, but still grounded in recognizable teen experiences. The queer representation is fantastic, especially the slow-burn sapphic tension between Freddie and Levi, which builds in such an honest, sweet, and satisfying way.
While some of the character dynamics lean into the dramatic (these girls can be mean), it always feels purposeful. And Horne does a great job showing that forgiveness and growth don’t happen in a neat montage—they’re messy, vulnerable, and sometimes a little bit magical.
I flew through this in one weekend, and I already can’t wait to recommend it to my friends. Equal parts hilarious, cutting, and heartfelt—Freddie and Stella Got Hot is a total win.
While the three main characters are simmering in rivalry, revenge, and other kinds of tension, the hyperbole of teenage emotions are displayed in a very realistic way that makes me cringe (in a good way) remembering how equally insufferable I was at that age.
Freddie and Stella were once inseparable. Now they’re staging a glittery, yoga-fueled comeback to take down their shared ex-best-friend, Levi. But beneath the power plays and glossy plotting, Maggie Horne gives us something deeper: a story about the ache of being left behind, the pressure to become someone you’re not, and the slow, shaky path toward figuring out who you want to be.
Freddie is a fantastic narrator—funny, awkward, quietly brilliant, and painfully relatable as she tries to keep up with Stella’s wild schemes while grappling with her own loneliness. Stella, on the other hand, is a walking firecracker of ambition and chaos, and watching her unravel is both delicious and a little heartbreaking. And Levi? Levi is the surprise emotional anchor of the book, with a character arc that left me rooting for her way more than I expected.
The writing is fresh, fast-paced, and packed with razor-sharp dialogue. I especially loved how Horne brings the school’s social hierarchy to life—it’s exaggerated just enough to be fun, but still grounded in recognizable teen experiences. The queer representation is fantastic, especially the slow-burn sapphic tension between Freddie and Levi, which builds in such an honest, sweet, and satisfying way.
While some of the character dynamics lean into the dramatic (these girls can be mean), it always feels purposeful. And Horne does a great job showing that forgiveness and growth don’t happen in a neat montage—they’re messy, vulnerable, and sometimes a little bit magical.
I flew through this in one weekend, and I already can’t wait to recommend it to my friends. Equal parts hilarious, cutting, and heartfelt—Freddie and Stella Got Hot is a total win.
November 30, 2025
Thank you to Feiwel & Friends for the e-ARC of this book!
Freddie and Stella Got Hot hooked me from the very first page and held my attention all the way through. Freddie is a character who takes time to fully understand, she lacks the ability to stick up for herself, and doesn't quite know who she is. But once the layers start to peel back, it becomes impossible not to root for her. Instead of choosing sides in the “Mean Girls”–style feud surrounding her, I found myself captivated by how she navigated the fallout, the rumors, and her own insecurities. This book has a deliciously gossipy, slightly chaotic energy that makes it feel addictive in the best way,, it is equal parts juicy teen drama and heartfelt coming-of-age. Maggie Horne balances those tones surprisingly well, allowing the story to be both sharp and emotionally honest.
The romance is where the book absolutely shines. The relationship has the perfect slow-burn emotional ache that even many adult romances struggle to capture. The chemistry between Freddie and Levi practically radiates off the page; every small moment between them feels charged and meaningful. It’s an incredibly sweet love story without losing the tension that makes it exciting.
Are all the plot points believable? Absolutely not, but that’s part of the charm. The heightened drama fits the tone, and honestly, I would absolutely binge-watch this if it were ever adapted into a TV show. It has that perfect blend of drama, humor, messiness, and heart that translates beautifully to screen.
Overall, this was a fast, fun, emotionally rich read that delivers both the swoons and the drama. I cannot wait to see what Maggie Horne writes next.
Edit Review
Freddie and Stella Got Hot hooked me from the very first page and held my attention all the way through. Freddie is a character who takes time to fully understand, she lacks the ability to stick up for herself, and doesn't quite know who she is. But once the layers start to peel back, it becomes impossible not to root for her. Instead of choosing sides in the “Mean Girls”–style feud surrounding her, I found myself captivated by how she navigated the fallout, the rumors, and her own insecurities. This book has a deliciously gossipy, slightly chaotic energy that makes it feel addictive in the best way,, it is equal parts juicy teen drama and heartfelt coming-of-age. Maggie Horne balances those tones surprisingly well, allowing the story to be both sharp and emotionally honest.
The romance is where the book absolutely shines. The relationship has the perfect slow-burn emotional ache that even many adult romances struggle to capture. The chemistry between Freddie and Levi practically radiates off the page; every small moment between them feels charged and meaningful. It’s an incredibly sweet love story without losing the tension that makes it exciting.
Are all the plot points believable? Absolutely not, but that’s part of the charm. The heightened drama fits the tone, and honestly, I would absolutely binge-watch this if it were ever adapted into a TV show. It has that perfect blend of drama, humor, messiness, and heart that translates beautifully to screen.
Overall, this was a fast, fun, emotionally rich read that delivers both the swoons and the drama. I cannot wait to see what Maggie Horne writes next.
Edit Review
July 13, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Feiwel & Friends for providing this book, with my honest review below.
Freddie and Stella Got Hot is a book I feel like many younger adults need to pick up. This has the appeal of Mean Girls, a bit of a universal experience, with the same brand of humor and ‘I didn’t see that coming’ turns of plot. While Freddie and Stella may be in the book’s title, the plot really starts with Levi who is the unicorn popular queen bee who is different from the MC in so many teen movies because she truly is nice, though Freddie and Stella don’t think so given she abandoned their friend group a few years ago. When remaining BFFs Stella and Freddie decide to ‘get hot’ and infiltrate Levi’s friend group with the aim of winning a prestigious prize over here (and for Freddie, revenge for the abandonment), Stella turns into the real villain and Freddie soon realizes Stella is the one who actually needs to be brought back down to earth - something she can’t do without Levi’s help. This is where the plot warms up (though it doesn’t depart from teen romances, subbing in two girls vs. the traditional boy/girl romance), and the plot gets some genuine heart.
I loved the story, the romance, and the ending. Unlike movie teen romances these characters stay wholly themselves, just made better (so really, very much like Mean Girls). The lessons taught and experiences in this book will surely resonate with teens, but with the flawless writing will also translate nicely to all readers.
Freddie and Stella Got Hot is a book I feel like many younger adults need to pick up. This has the appeal of Mean Girls, a bit of a universal experience, with the same brand of humor and ‘I didn’t see that coming’ turns of plot. While Freddie and Stella may be in the book’s title, the plot really starts with Levi who is the unicorn popular queen bee who is different from the MC in so many teen movies because she truly is nice, though Freddie and Stella don’t think so given she abandoned their friend group a few years ago. When remaining BFFs Stella and Freddie decide to ‘get hot’ and infiltrate Levi’s friend group with the aim of winning a prestigious prize over here (and for Freddie, revenge for the abandonment), Stella turns into the real villain and Freddie soon realizes Stella is the one who actually needs to be brought back down to earth - something she can’t do without Levi’s help. This is where the plot warms up (though it doesn’t depart from teen romances, subbing in two girls vs. the traditional boy/girl romance), and the plot gets some genuine heart.
I loved the story, the romance, and the ending. Unlike movie teen romances these characters stay wholly themselves, just made better (so really, very much like Mean Girls). The lessons taught and experiences in this book will surely resonate with teens, but with the flawless writing will also translate nicely to all readers.
December 11, 2025
My rating is 4.5 stars!
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
I admit the Cover was what got me interested in the beginning since the art style is right up my alley and it gave off "mean girls" vibe which is one of my absolute fav movie as well as the title. so i was really happy to find out that "Freddie and Stella Got Hot" was exactly the kind of messy cute story I love devouring in one sitting. It’s sharp, awkward in the most relatable ways and packed with that “oh no, my feelings are definitely getting involved” energy that makes friends to lovers stories so addictive.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
Freddie and Stella are chaotic, stubborn, and completely endearing together. Their banter is hilarious, their chemistry is "loud" and the emotional moments hit harder than I expected. Beneath all the humor and heat there’s a really genuine exploration of growing up, figuring yourself out and learning to stop running from your own heart.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
It’s sweet, spicy and full of character moments that made me grin wince and scream “JUST KISS ALREADY!!!”
A perfect pick if you love queer romance with humor, heart and just a little bit of beautiful mess<3
Can't wait to get a hardcopy once it comes out!
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
Thankful for receiving an ARC from NetGalley!
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
I admit the Cover was what got me interested in the beginning since the art style is right up my alley and it gave off "mean girls" vibe which is one of my absolute fav movie as well as the title. so i was really happy to find out that "Freddie and Stella Got Hot" was exactly the kind of messy cute story I love devouring in one sitting. It’s sharp, awkward in the most relatable ways and packed with that “oh no, my feelings are definitely getting involved” energy that makes friends to lovers stories so addictive.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
Freddie and Stella are chaotic, stubborn, and completely endearing together. Their banter is hilarious, their chemistry is "loud" and the emotional moments hit harder than I expected. Beneath all the humor and heat there’s a really genuine exploration of growing up, figuring yourself out and learning to stop running from your own heart.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
It’s sweet, spicy and full of character moments that made me grin wince and scream “JUST KISS ALREADY!!!”
A perfect pick if you love queer romance with humor, heart and just a little bit of beautiful mess<3
Can't wait to get a hardcopy once it comes out!
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
Thankful for receiving an ARC from NetGalley!
December 9, 2025
5⭐️ Dramatic, messy & super gay. To be honest, I looked at this book and debated whether or not it interested me enough to read. I passed up on the offer the first time around until the publisher reached out asking me to read and review it. I’m so glad they did. I won’t say this book has the best most fleshed out plot or the deepest and most meaningful themes and messages known to man, but I WILL say that this book was just what I wanted. It was funny and witty at times but also truthful, real and serious at others. The characters and their dynamics kept me incited and I did appreciate the character growth from start to finish. Though Stella did piss me off a little bit at time, I thought that the romance part of the story was cute and relatable. The plot, although likely not for everyone has it bases on unnecessary drama, rude things that could have been avoided and yes.. a bit of miscommunication (oh no), I actually did enjoy. The book kept me engaged and left me reading it all in one sitting. Overall it was surely an enjoyable YA sapphic book to tack onto your list if you’re feeling like digging into your mean girl spirit for a bit. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher (especially for reaching out) for letting me have access to the ARC!
July 8, 2025
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really loved this one, it was so much fun! Everyone in this book is either hot, rich, mean, or some combination of the three. The way everyone treats each other at points throughout the book is so awful that you can't look away. But at the same time, there's so much going on behind the scenes with real deep emotional ties for many of the characters. I loved that everyone was flawed but also had periods of honesty and reflection where they saw themselves and the situation more clearly.
As well, the book is so funny, some of the dialogue had me genuinely laughing out loud. The romance, too, was spot on. I loved that it was so obvious and plainly out there and that Freddie was just so oblivious. It was incredibly sweet. There were several points that gave me "giggling and kicking my feet" vibes. Also, the ending was one of those incredibly satisfying ones where you get pretty much everything you are hoping for, and I loved every second.
Overall, this book is such a wonderfully funny, catty, and sweet story, I think it's perfect for YA readers and adults alike. 5/5 stars!
I really loved this one, it was so much fun! Everyone in this book is either hot, rich, mean, or some combination of the three. The way everyone treats each other at points throughout the book is so awful that you can't look away. But at the same time, there's so much going on behind the scenes with real deep emotional ties for many of the characters. I loved that everyone was flawed but also had periods of honesty and reflection where they saw themselves and the situation more clearly.
As well, the book is so funny, some of the dialogue had me genuinely laughing out loud. The romance, too, was spot on. I loved that it was so obvious and plainly out there and that Freddie was just so oblivious. It was incredibly sweet. There were several points that gave me "giggling and kicking my feet" vibes. Also, the ending was one of those incredibly satisfying ones where you get pretty much everything you are hoping for, and I loved every second.
Overall, this book is such a wonderfully funny, catty, and sweet story, I think it's perfect for YA readers and adults alike. 5/5 stars!
December 4, 2025
4.5/5
Thank you to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for an arc. All opinions are my own.
This book is full of cringy, sad, mean, gay teenager drama. Every page is a car crash that I truly could not look away from.
I really liked Freddie as a protagonist. However, and I say this with love, she definitely reads as someone who had unrestricted access to twitter during her formative years. There are exactly 0 timelines where Freddie is not VERY active on Tumblr. So, if you are someone who is bothered by that specific genre of chronically online lesbian teenager then you will probably find her infuriating. I found her delightful.
This book is definitely for the fans of Mean Girls. I mean, the plot kind of feels like "what if Mean Girls was gayer, and had a nicer message?" But I think it really works. I wish we got more Seema cause I really loved her, but that's my only real criticism.
Overall: This book is exactly what it says on the tin. If you see the cover, and read the blurb and think you'll like it, then you almost definitely will. If your first though was that it looks really cringey, then you're also entirely correct!
Thank you to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for an arc. All opinions are my own.
This book is full of cringy, sad, mean, gay teenager drama. Every page is a car crash that I truly could not look away from.
I really liked Freddie as a protagonist. However, and I say this with love, she definitely reads as someone who had unrestricted access to twitter during her formative years. There are exactly 0 timelines where Freddie is not VERY active on Tumblr. So, if you are someone who is bothered by that specific genre of chronically online lesbian teenager then you will probably find her infuriating. I found her delightful.
This book is definitely for the fans of Mean Girls. I mean, the plot kind of feels like "what if Mean Girls was gayer, and had a nicer message?" But I think it really works. I wish we got more Seema cause I really loved her, but that's my only real criticism.
Overall: This book is exactly what it says on the tin. If you see the cover, and read the blurb and think you'll like it, then you almost definitely will. If your first though was that it looks really cringey, then you're also entirely correct!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley, author Maggie Horne, and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group: Feiwel & Friends for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!
Not for me! Sad because I really enjoyed one of Horne's previous MG releases. This was too melodramatic in a sense that parts were funny and silly "mean girl" antics, but then Stella just kept taking it too far to where it wasn't enjoyable to read about. This book felt extremely cyclical and repetitive, and I found myself getting annoyed with the girls frequently throughout. They didn't feel super dimensional to me, and the book felt too honed in on the "revenge" aspects versus getting to know the girls. I also feel like Horne tried to be too current with social references or self-aware "teen" things. I do appreciate the sapphic representation throughout, as it felt realistic and was the best part. I think I might have enjoyed this more if I read it when I was a teen vs now.
Not for me! Sad because I really enjoyed one of Horne's previous MG releases. This was too melodramatic in a sense that parts were funny and silly "mean girl" antics, but then Stella just kept taking it too far to where it wasn't enjoyable to read about. This book felt extremely cyclical and repetitive, and I found myself getting annoyed with the girls frequently throughout. They didn't feel super dimensional to me, and the book felt too honed in on the "revenge" aspects versus getting to know the girls. I also feel like Horne tried to be too current with social references or self-aware "teen" things. I do appreciate the sapphic representation throughout, as it felt realistic and was the best part. I think I might have enjoyed this more if I read it when I was a teen vs now.
July 9, 2025
This was a lot of fun. What happens when you add a third to an already existing duo? And what happens when dynamics shift because everyone is gay and emotionally stunted. Queer tensions are high at Coral Cove prep where Stella (and Freddie, but really mostly Stella) has decided she will exact revenge on Levi Preston, ultimate Coral Cove it girl.
Overall, this book is a delightfully entertaining read—funny, sharp-tongued, and surprisingly heartwarming. It strikes a perfect balance between biting wit and genuine sweetness, delivering a story that’s both laugh-out-loud hilarious and emotionally satisfying. The characters are vibrant, the dialogue crackles with sass and charm, and underneath all the cattiness is a sincere warmth that gives the story real depth even if it was unhinged at times.
Overall, this book is a delightfully entertaining read—funny, sharp-tongued, and surprisingly heartwarming. It strikes a perfect balance between biting wit and genuine sweetness, delivering a story that’s both laugh-out-loud hilarious and emotionally satisfying. The characters are vibrant, the dialogue crackles with sass and charm, and underneath all the cattiness is a sincere warmth that gives the story real depth even if it was unhinged at times.
September 3, 2025
After lesbian homecoming queen Levi Preston abruptly leaves their BFF trio to become their school's hottest popular girl, jilted Stella and Freddie conspire to sabotage her chances at winning a prestigious scholarship. Which is 100% fine with Freddie, who is absolutely positively not (still) secretly in love with Levi...right?
I unexpectedly LOVED this because it was just so fantastically snarky. Superb voice. Private school drama has been done (and done again) (and maybe overdone) in YA, but the sapphic love triangle and flippant voice give the genre a fresh twist. You don’t expect to actually like the mean girls in a Mean Girl story, but somehow that’s what happens here: you end up liking and rooting for ALL of these Mean Girls, because Freddie’s blessedly crass insights reveal relatable layers under their meanness.
I unexpectedly LOVED this because it was just so fantastically snarky. Superb voice. Private school drama has been done (and done again) (and maybe overdone) in YA, but the sapphic love triangle and flippant voice give the genre a fresh twist. You don’t expect to actually like the mean girls in a Mean Girl story, but somehow that’s what happens here: you end up liking and rooting for ALL of these Mean Girls, because Freddie’s blessedly crass insights reveal relatable layers under their meanness.
December 29, 2025
the one in which two best friends decide to turn into mean girls to ruin their ex best friends life (just a little).
Before I started this ARC I was unsure whether I’d be able to vibe with it because while I do read a good chunk of YA, I’m not always in the mood to read about high school drama. But this? Yeah, I’ll read this any day, thank you very much.
First and foremost, I loved the humour in this book. It’s the first book in the whole that had me laughing out loud and going back to certain conversations just to giggle a little more. Freddie is an amazing main character and I’m so happy I got to spend some time in her brain.
I mostly enjoyed the plot as well, there was a point about two thirds in where things were dragging just a little but not enough to actually bore me.
Overall, it’s a great book and not just because there’s barely any boys/men around!
Before I started this ARC I was unsure whether I’d be able to vibe with it because while I do read a good chunk of YA, I’m not always in the mood to read about high school drama. But this? Yeah, I’ll read this any day, thank you very much.
First and foremost, I loved the humour in this book. It’s the first book in the whole that had me laughing out loud and going back to certain conversations just to giggle a little more. Freddie is an amazing main character and I’m so happy I got to spend some time in her brain.
I mostly enjoyed the plot as well, there was a point about two thirds in where things were dragging just a little but not enough to actually bore me.
Overall, it’s a great book and not just because there’s barely any boys/men around!
July 3, 2025
Thank you @netgalley for allowing me to get an ARC of Maggie Horne’s Freddie and Stella Got Hot! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. It reminded me a lot of the cult classic Mean Girls! Levi Preston is Cove Coral’s IT girl. She is beautiful, influential AND kind which is why everyone in the all girl academy loves her. She’s a shoo-in for the BG Award.
That is until Stella decides to become HOT and creates a plan to destroy Levi and all her closest friends reputations in order to prove she is more beloved. I was on the edge of my seat and stayed up so late to see how it unfolded. The character development was incredible and I really was rooting for them all to tattle on the person who was doing a lot of unthinkable things just to win!
That is until Stella decides to become HOT and creates a plan to destroy Levi and all her closest friends reputations in order to prove she is more beloved. I was on the edge of my seat and stayed up so late to see how it unfolded. The character development was incredible and I really was rooting for them all to tattle on the person who was doing a lot of unthinkable things just to win!
July 27, 2025
This was great! It’s a mean girl book with heart, charming, sweet even with all the bad behavior, with a slightly OTT plot that feels like it would make a great movie. Freddie’s voice is EXCELLENT. It’s queer as fuck, it’s fun, it’s surprisingly propulsive for something you basically know the broad shape of from go, and it’s got lots of friendship and romance. Just a win all around.
I will note that the CA setting doesn’t feel real at all, this definitely felt like it was set in some other English speaking country (Australia, Canada, someplace not here). But the school, in all its single-sex, insular, moneyed, tradition-steeped privilege — that felt real, even if I didn’t believe where it was located.
Shame about that cover though.
I will note that the CA setting doesn’t feel real at all, this definitely felt like it was set in some other English speaking country (Australia, Canada, someplace not here). But the school, in all its single-sex, insular, moneyed, tradition-steeped privilege — that felt real, even if I didn’t believe where it was located.
Shame about that cover though.
September 1, 2025
I absolutely loved this. The voice? Fantastic. The premise? So much fun. And the chemistry between Freddie and Levi? Electric. This is perfect for anyone who loved Heathers and Mean Girls, but wished the gayness went beyond subtext.
I predicted the real reason Levi bailed on Freddie and Stella early on, but that didn’t make the reveal any less satisfying. A couple of the other twists did take me by surprise though.
My only criticism is that I think Stella got off waaaaaay too easily for the psychotic crap she pulled.
This was the second Maggie Horne book I’ve read, and it certainly won’t be my last.
Four and a half stars rounded up to five.
I received an advanced copy from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving this review.
I predicted the real reason Levi bailed on Freddie and Stella early on, but that didn’t make the reveal any less satisfying. A couple of the other twists did take me by surprise though.
My only criticism is that I think Stella got off waaaaaay too easily for the psychotic crap she pulled.
This was the second Maggie Horne book I’ve read, and it certainly won’t be my last.
Four and a half stars rounded up to five.
I received an advanced copy from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving this review.
November 30, 2025
Thank you NetGallery for the eARC!!
4.5 ⭐️
I really really enjoyed this read. A very messy story Stella and Freddie create, but it feels very real about trying to fit in. In getting swept up in revenge, Stella and Freddie create and destroy themselves throughout this book. The struggle of wanting attention and to be loved (especially when not loved at home) is something so many teenagers go through. The chaos of friendship heartbreaks and finding queer love is written together through Freddie, Stella, and Levi.
I soooo recommend this read, especially to those who were finding their queer identity in high school while trying to balance the struggle of school and home life as well.
4.5 ⭐️
I really really enjoyed this read. A very messy story Stella and Freddie create, but it feels very real about trying to fit in. In getting swept up in revenge, Stella and Freddie create and destroy themselves throughout this book. The struggle of wanting attention and to be loved (especially when not loved at home) is something so many teenagers go through. The chaos of friendship heartbreaks and finding queer love is written together through Freddie, Stella, and Levi.
I soooo recommend this read, especially to those who were finding their queer identity in high school while trying to balance the struggle of school and home life as well.
November 26, 2025
4.5 🌟!! holy shit I’m sorry but this was absolutely THRILLING in the most fun way. felt like sneaking a massive handful of off-limits candy in the middle of the night and getting away with it. yes, I had to suspend some disbelief and yes, the ending came together a bit too easily, but ultimately this is one of those brilliant YA novels that actually makes me feel like a teenager again when I read it. like seriously, heart-racing-pulse-jumping-gasping-aloud type stuff. and that's worth everything!!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The two words that best describe this book are "delightfully chaotic." This is a really fun yet emotional YA sapphic romance that answers the question of what would happen if the high school mean girls just...went for it. No holds barred, just trying to tear the Queen Bee down. It was hilarious, and while the ending was definitely a little unrealistic, it was still a great read and fitting for the YA genre. I would definitely recommend to my friends, and have done so to a few already!
Many thanks to the publisher for sending me an advance copy!
Many thanks to the publisher for sending me an advance copy!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews