Room to Breathe

by Kasie West

In this swoony young adult romance from the acclaimed author of Sunkissed, Indy and Beau’s friendship is shattered, but getting accidentally locked in a bathroom together just might be what's needed to reconnect.

When the walls close in, the truth comes out.

When Indy’s life came crashing down, she made a no one could know. To the world, she’s still the same Indy—cool, calm, unshaken. But behind the scenes? It’s chaos.

Her tight-knit crew—Beau, Caroline, and Ava—were once her everything. Now they’re strangers she can’t seem to reach—especially Beau. And the only person she talks to these days is Cody, a skater-boy she used to think was so not her type. Funny how everything changes when your world flips upside down.

And then, as if things couldn’t get weirder, Indy finds herself literally stuck in a school bathroom with Beau. After months of silence, and there’s no escape. If they want out, they’ll have to face the messy truth about what happened between them and find a way back to what they once had. Or maybe even more . . .

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary, Audiobook, Friends To Lovers, Fiction, Young Adult Romance

268 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 6, 2026

About the author

I write YA and adult romance novels. I eat chocolate cinnamon bears. Sometimes I go crazy and do both at the same time. A few of my works are: SUNKISSED, PS I LIKE YOU, MOMENT OF TRUTH, WE MET LIKE THIS, and more. My agent is the talented and funny Michelle Wolfson.

Reviews

[jenoodle✮⋆˙ · Rating 3 out of 5]

˚₊ · »-♡→ 𝑺𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒓 𝑭𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 💛‧₊˚.
⊱ 🍋۫ ⋆.°ׅ ⤷ 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸! ₊˚⊹ 💖⸝⸝ ︵‧˚₊⊹

𓂃 ࣪˖ 💐⋮ 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐓𝐨 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞 ୭ ˚🐝. ᵎᵎ
◞. ݁︵₊ 🌷⊹ . ݁˖ 𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚: 13+ (𝙠𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙘𝙪𝙙𝙙𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙨𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙪𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙤, 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙝𝙞𝙘 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙘𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙣.), 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 13+ (𝙃𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙡 𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚 𝙙*𝙢𝙣 𝙤𝙧 𝙝*𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙣𝙩), 𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚: 13+ (𝙉𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙣 𝙁𝘽𝙄 𝙨𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙣𝙨 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙖 𝙨𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡) ˖ ⊹₊˚‧︵📒. ݁𝜗𝜚. ݁₊
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𓏲 ⋆˚｡ now playing: 𝙄 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙄’𝙢 𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙮 ⋆｡🌸⋆. ݁
˖⁺｡🐥˚⋆˙ 𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙚 𝘼𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙢𝙨
꒰ 1:03 ——◦———— 2:47 ꒱
↠ⁿᵉˣᵗ ˢᵒⁿᵍ ↺ ʳᵉᵖᵉᵃᵗ ⊜ ᵖᵃᵘˢᵉ 🌙 ‧₊˚ ⋅ .ᐟ
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.

⋮ “𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙, "𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧," 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙖𝙡𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙞𝙩” .ᐟ ֹ ₊

݁ 🌟 ˚. ݁₊ When I saw that Kasie West was releasing another book I literally JUMPED for joy. All of her romcoms are literally filled with pure fluffy cotton candy and the cutest characters, AND THIS ONE WAS NOT SHORT OF THAT! From the setting to the plot to even the side characters everything was so cute and adorable and I LOVED IT. Although not everything about this book was all sunshine and rainbows 😬 SO LET US GET INTO THE REVIEW 🤭



⋮ “𝙄 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩” .ᐟ ֹ ₊

݁ 🌟 ˚. ݁₊ THE TROPE OF THIS BOOK WAS LITERALLY BEST FRIENDS TO ENEMIES TO LOVERS AND I ATE IT UP. Seeing them both get locked in the teachers bathroom SENT me and how they had to work through all their problems with eachother was the cutest thing ever!! On top of that I really loved the present and past POV aspect of the book because we got to see the timeline of how they were best friends and became enemies, to the timeline where they were now two enemies locked in a bathroom. HOWEVER, with that being said I found that the plot of the book was really basic and cliche and you could predict what happened. Was it bad though? Not at all and I actually did enjoy it.

⋮ “𝘽𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪'𝙧𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙” .ᐟ ֹ ₊

🌟 ˚. ݁₊ BUT WHILE I DID ENJOY IT, that wasn’t the only thing that bothered me. I felt like the issue thing her dad had was very iffy and had a lot of plot holes. LIKE WE DIDN’T GET THE FULL ENTIRE STORY AS TO WHAT EXACTLY WENT DOWN AND WHO DID IT!! And I felt like that since her dad getting accused of something was such a big part in the story and how it affected her life. I feel like we should have got more answers because I was super confused. And like I said before I did like the back and forth timeline BUT I WAS SO CONFUSED AT THE START OF THE BOOK TRYING TO FIGURE EVERYTHING GOING IN IN HER LIFE WITH LITTLE TO NO DETAIL 😔✋ like I’m not trying to play guess who just give me the issues with her dad sheesh 😭😭 And while we eventually did get them halfway through the story I would have loved if we got answers much earlier on.

⋮ “𝙄 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙄 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙚” .ᐟ ֹ ₊

🌟 ˚. ݁₊ Moving on to the romance aspect of this book, THAT WAS ADORABLE. I swear the slow chemistry and banter was everything 😩 The only thing I hated was the fact it unfolded in the teachers bathroom 😔 LIKE CMON NOW I DON’T WANT MY CHARACTERS CONFESSING LOVE TO THE SMELL OF PEE 🫣 But hey I guess it’s all about the aroma am I right?? And I can’t be a hater because them sharing AirPods in the bathroom was the cutest thing ever 😭😭😭 AND GUYS CAN WE TALK ABOUT HOW OUR MMC IS A READER?? LIKE HELLO TAKE MY MONEY WHATT 😩



⋮ “𝙉𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙” .ᐟ ֹ ₊

🌟 ˚. ݁₊ I do want to touch on the subject that I found it interesting how this book was EXTREMELY short yet was still able to fit so much plot into it. I MEAN IT WAS ONLY 200 PAGES CMOOOOON?! And I found that perfect for anyone who wants a short read yet still a cute in depth romance even if it is a bit cliche. BECAUSE BABE WHEN I SAY YOU COULD BINGE READ THIS IN A DAY IF YOU WANTED TOO YOU DEFINITELY COULD 👀

⋮ “𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙” .ᐟ ֹ ₊

⋆⭒˚.⋆ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 🌷⋆⭒˚.⋆

💕⋆. 𐙚 𝑰𝒏𝒅𝒚: Reading from her POV was certainly an experience. On one hand I understand her struggle with the pressure of being perfect and smart. AND ON THE OTHER HAND IM LIKE WTF??? The way she let a guy change her and affect her personality was insanity 😭 AND THE SHIT HE MADE HER DO HELLO?? I was so annoyed when she would just follow him blindly instead of taking a stand for what’s right. And her using this guy as a rebound because she lost her friends and Beau was insaaaanneeee 💀 I lowk hated her for that.

💕⋆. 𐙚 𝑩𝒆𝒂𝒖: NO BECAUSE I LOVE HIM SO MUCH 😭😭 he literally was such a golden retriever AND a black cat mix at the same time. I loved seeing how protective he was over Indy before they were even together. AND THE FACT HE REALIZED SHE WAS MESSING AROUND WITH A RED FLAG IS SUCH A PLUSSSS!! Like okay clock itttt 🤏🏻🤏🏻🤏🏻🤏🏻

💕⋆. 𐙚 𝑨𝒗𝒂: YEAH MY GIRL WAS THE NO BS TYPE. And I ate that upppp 🤭🤭 I was literally dying that she would make everyone pay for her to uber them 😭 But hey a girls gotta do what she has to do to get that cash.

💕⋆. 𐙚 𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆: She definitely was the more quieter of the bunch and she seemed really sweet too. I HONESTLY DON’T THINK WE GOT ALOT OF DIALOGUE FROM HER WHICH IS SO SAD BECAUSE SHE SEEMS SO SWEET 😭😭😭

💕⋆. 𐙚 𝑯𝒂𝒓𝒑𝒆𝒓: Okay but she literally deserved sm better 😭😭😭😭

⋮ “𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙚'𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜” .ᐟ ֹ ₊

🌟 ˚. ݁₊ 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥:
This was a really cute little read!! It isn’t a favorite for me in my opinion but it wasn’t bad at all and is perfect if you are looking for something quick!! I think it’s also good for a middle school audience because there was hardly anything explicit in it and it just seemed like the type someone that age would enjoy 🤭 If your a fan of Kasie West I definitely recommend you give this a go! Maybe bring some lemon flavored cookies too 😋😋

⋮ “𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙄'𝙢 𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙮” .ᐟ ֹ ₊

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💝💐 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝: GOT THE ARC FOR THIS BOOK BY MY QUEEN KASIE WEST 😛😛😛 ok but the cover is eatingggg let’s hope the story does too 🤞🏻🤞🏻

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Room To Breathe written by Kasie West was such a sweet young adult story. I absolutely adored this book, it was the perfect palette cleanser, it was sweet, it was funny, it was adorable, it was clean, but it was a bit too YA for me hence the four star rating, but again if you just want a palette cleanser then don't let this book slip through your fingers. There's one other thing that bothered me and that was the judging of others, some of the characters were so quick to judge each other before looking in the mirror and maybe thinking "I shouldn't judge others without knowing their story". Despite the issues I had with this book, I still think it was a sweet teenage romance love story, but a bit too young for me. I will say that I do applaud the characters for communicating and realizing they were wrong, but there was no need to be so quick on judging people for their life choices. Kasie West never fails to amaze me, she can go from writing one of the spiciest books to writing about an emotional love story that involves two teenagers who had a crush on each other, but didn't know how to voice their feelings until they were locked in a high school bathroom. The cover was so cute and sunshiney, does anyone remember doing fortune tellers when they were in middle and high school? I just remember them being so popular when I was in school. If this book meets your interests, then please do yourselves a favor and make sure you add it to your want to read list and mark your calendars for January 6th, 2026 for the publication of Room To Breathe. Please read the author's note, I think it's so important and very heart touching💗😘.

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND RANDOM HOUSE CHILDREN'S BOOKS FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!

💕😱Imagine being locked and stuck in a school bathroom with your longtime crush. I would be completely terrified💕😱.

"💔😭Breaking up required two people who thought they were in a relationship in the first place💔😭".

When Indy Blair's life came crashing down, she made a promise to herself that no one can know what she's going through. Indy is having home life issues and her love life is in shambles. To the world, she's still the same Indy- calm, cool, and unshaken, but behind the doors who life is completely chaotic. Caroline, Indy, Beau, and Ava were once a group of best friends, they were once her everything, but after Indy's home secret was revealed they are now a group of strangers that Indy can't reach because they are just giving her the cold shoulder. They would all carpool to school together, Ava and Caroline were close friends, but Beau and Indy were even closer in their friend group. They have all been friends since they were in seventh grade, they were even peas in a pod as a group Halloween costume, but Beau and his girlfriend Harper were Fred and Daphne from Scooby Doo which I think made Indy jealous because she had a crush on Beau but he was already dating someone else. After that Halloween party, Indy made a friend- Cody Pratchett, their first ever interacting Cody almost knocked Indy over on his skateboard, after that they dated briefly because Cody was Indy's escape for her everyday life and home issues. I think Indy was a sweet girl, but I do believe she should have communicated with her friends better and she could have told them what was going on at home.

One day after school, Indy got after school detention on a Friday for using her cell phone during class, well her teacher locked Indy's phone in a lock pouch, well now this teacher and the key to the lock pouch can't be found. Indy decides to take matters into her own hands and tries to find the key for the lock pouch when suddenly she gets locked in the teachers lounge bathroom with no way out because the lock in the bathroom turns out to be broken. Things just keep getting worse for Indy at this point. A few hours later, Beau comes to the rescue because he was dropping something off for this teacher, but it turns out he couldn't hear Indy's warning about the bathroom lock being broken because he had his airpods in, now they are both locked in the bathroom together. With it being a Friday afternoon and the teachers leaving, Beau and Indy fear they are locked in the teachers bathroom all weekend long with no way out, so of course they make their time useful. It felt like Beau and Indy had forgotten how to be friends but they were attempting to relearn everything about each other, they played Go Fish, they read a book, they tried taking naps on the bathroom floor (YUCK), and they even made a fortune teller which Indy calls in a cootie catcher while they spend the weekend at school which is every teenagers worse nightmare. It often felt like I wanted to reach into my kindle and knock some sense into both Indy and Beau, but by the end of the book their issues were resolved, but I just wanted them to communicate better instead of waiting until they are locked in a bathroom together. Room To Breathe was still a fun book despite the few issues I had, minus the communication which I guess every teenager struggles with.

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kasie West once again proves why she’s the reigning queen of heartfelt YA romance. Room to Breathe is a beautiful, emotionally layered, and gently cathartic story about friendship, forgiveness, and finding your way back to the people — and parts of yourself — you thought were lost.

Indy’s life has quietly fallen apart behind her picture-perfect facade. To everyone else, she’s still the composed, easygoing girl they’ve always known. But privately, she’s carrying a storm: a fractured family, a heart full of guilt, and friendships she’s too scared to fix. Her once-unbreakable bond with Beau, her best friend and maybe something more, shattered months ago — and the silence between them grew louder with every passing day.

Until fate (and a very stubborn bathroom door) traps them together.

What unfolds over those few claustrophobic, emotionally charged hours is something raw, honest, and unexpectedly healing. Between flashes of their shared past and their unspoken present, Indy and Beau finally peel back the layers of what went wrong — and what still connects them. The forced proximity works perfectly here, allowing tension, humor, and vulnerability to play off each other like a slow, emotional waltz.

Kasie West masterfully balances angst with heart. The dual timelines build tension and empathy rather than confusion, giving us both the ache of what was lost and the hope of what might still be saved. Indy’s voice feels authentically teen — impulsive, brave, flawed — and Beau’s quiet patience adds the perfect counterbalance. I also appreciated the deeper emotional threads involving family pressure and identity; they give the story a weight beyond the romance.

While some dialogue moments feel slightly idealized, the emotional truth at the core of this story shines through. It’s a quick read, but one that lingers — the kind of book that leaves you smiling softly at the last page, reminded that sometimes love, friendship, and forgiveness need a little locked-door moment to bloom again.

A solid four stars — warm, angsty, and full of heart.

A very huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books | Delacorte Romance for sharing this digital reviewer copy of this touching teen romance — written by one of my favorite authors of the genre — with me in exchange for my honest opinions.

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[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

Indy’s life falls apart at what feels like in an instant. And the worst part is, she can’t tell anyone about it. Not even her best friends, especially Beau, who knows her more than anyone else. On the outside, Indy is the same as always, but on the inside? She’s falling apart at the seams.

But her secret is creating more and more distance between her and her friends until one day, she finds herself alone, creating trouble wherever she goes to hide the pain inside. Indy is okay with running away from her problems until she’s locked in the teacher’s bathroom with Beau, who is just as mad at her as she is at him. Will anyone find them before they shred each other to pieces, or worse, before they have to be vulnerable and talk about what happened between them?

This was a cute read! I appreciated the short now-and-then chapters and the character development, mainly Indy’s. I also liked the friendship dynamic between Indy and her besties. And the romantic feelings brewing between her and Beau had me smiling. 🤭 The writing was easy to read with short and sweet sentences, and the dialogue and jokes didn’t feel too forced or stiff, which can be so frustrating and ruin the flow of any story.

But I will say, most of the people in this book drove me nuts. I feel like people were so quick to judge and abandon Indy instead of asking her what was going on. Sure, acknowledging it afterwards is great and all, but come on, people! Show her some grace, or, I don’t know, be good friends and actually get to the bottom of what’s going on? And you can’t really blame Indy for not saying anything either, because her mom was “so wise” and thought it would be a good idea to keep their problems hush-hush, leaving Indy with no other choice but to keep silent and slowly go mad about the fact that she can’t talk to her friends. Smooth moves, Mom. That was such a great and mature idea. 🙄 But I guess I can show her some grace and blame her horrible decision-making on stress and frustration. Anyway, that was so annoying, and I don’t think this story was written to make me physically feel steam come out of my ears. 😂

Another letdown was the ending. I mean, don’t get me wrong. It was cute and tied some loose ends that needed to be addressed, but um, excuse me, not all of them were tied properly. I want to know what’s going to happen to Indy’s dad, for Pete’s sake! The whole situation involving him almost wrecked Indy, and was a major plot point in the story, but all we get is, “Oh, everything will be fine because endings in romance books always work out for everyone.” Uh, no. I need to know more than that! If you’re not going to tie it all up nicely with a big, red, detailed bow, then please don’t let it be such a major issue in the main character’s life and make her the punching bag for the plot. You can’t just leave me hanging like that. 😅

Other than that, I still liked the book. Sure, it had its quirks and issues (which are definitely a me-problem), but I found it cute and an overall enjoyable read! 💛

Thank you to Random House Children’s Books | Delacorte Romance and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.

❗Content Warnings❗
Swearing: A little to none? (Good grief, I don’t remember! I need to keep notes about this kind of stuff 🤦‍♀)
Spice: No–just kissing.

[Anila · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was probably my least favorite of the author’s YA books.

The timeline switch every chapter was way too much, especially with how short the chapters already were. It made it hard for me to connect with the characters. The protagonist Indy wasn’t interesting either and I found her to be pretty one-dimensional. However, after the twist happened (trying not to spoil here), I think the author gave her a bit more depth which made her more bearable to read about. I was honestly relieved because the only personality she had up until that point was being sarcastic.

I also usually love the romances in KW’s books, but Beau was not likeable. He was so competitive with Indy when it came to their grades and I don’t like how he handled the whole thing with the test. If you tattle on your friends to the principal, you’re not a true friend. It seemed that he cared more about beating Indy’s grades than their friendship.

I really wanted to enjoy this book, but in the end, I just couldn’t.

[ari [gin’s vrsn 🩵] [semi ia]]

yayyyy i got the arc!!!

[jo ୨୧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

huge thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. all thoughts below are my own honest thoughts.

happy release day to room to breathe!!!!!

⋆.ೃ࿔🌸*:･ journal entry. dear diary, if i was to get stuck in a bathroom--please let it be with someone hot, preferably my super hot ex boyfriend. < 333 thanks.

room to breathe takes place over 24 hours and in a tiny school bathroom. so fun right? honestly this book felt like i was right there with them which like...yay for the amazing writing in that sense but also, i really dont want to be stuck in a bathroom with randos. so not yay.

the romance was so slay and slow burn in the slayest of slow burns but it was really hard to vibe with it when i just was thinking

"i wonder what the bathroom smells like?" because all i can imagine is, wait hold on. let me set the scene.

-- scene--
"i love you."
"i love you too."
*pause*
"it kind of stinks in here."

like it just really ruins the vibe, yknow??? like hello babes where is the fabuloso? where is the glorox? where are the cleaning products. i fear i could not endure a love confession or a kiss scene in a NASTY BATHROOM. i fear i'd be out

anyways. all the characters were cute though there weren't many of them but kasie always freaking delivers on plot and characters.

⋆.ೃ࿔🌸 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥: ⋆.ೃ࿔🌸

pick up this book if you want a quick read--ignore the mental overload of wondering what being stuck in a public bathroom is like--and enjoy room to breathe (boy i hope they had room to breathe). this is the perfect book for a beachside vacation or a quick airplane flight. or if ur broke like me, in ur room!

happy reading besties, i'll catch u on the next page

~

new kasie book? say no more GIMME !

[littlefox · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

A big thank you to Netgalley and Delacorte Romance for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Expected Publication Date: January 6th, 2026

Room to Breathe is a cute yet angsty romcom that focuses on the importance of support, understanding, patience, and forgiveness in every relationship; family, friendships, and romance. It’s very human, more than I was expecting when I picked up this ARC.

I enjoyed parts of it, but I honestly had a really hard time caring about the characters. I even disliked a good chunk of them. I know that their actions and reactions are meant to be realistic for teenagers and not likable but oof… I fear a lot of the drama could’ve been resolved if they’d just talked to each other or tried to understand each other’s circumstances. Again, I know it’s unrealistic for teenagers but man, it made the reading experience unpleasant. Even the love interest Beau acted like a complete moron (though he’s a better book bf after he and Indy talk it out).

I also found that the setup for the forced proximity was a little weird? It felt forced and I couldn’t shake that while reading the bathroom scenes.

[Cece&#x1f339;☃︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4★
｛spoiler free﹜

🫧♡｡ ִֶָ°🍬 ִֶָ°.♡:･

⌯⌲ Genre: YA romance
⌯⌲ POV: first person, past tense
⌯⌲ Tropes: forced proximity, best friends to enemies to lovers, love triangle

✽ ♡ ✽ What I liked ✽ ♡ ✽
⤷ the fast paced plot
⤷ the setting
⤷ how clean it was!
⤷ how the secondary plot (the drama with her dad’s work) was a little unconventional and was not something I’ve seen before!
⤷the character growth

✽ ♡ ✽ What I didn’t like ✽ ♡ ✽
⤷ the back and forth between past and present
⤷ how a couple characters were a bit one-dimensional
⤷ the drama with her parents got to the point where it felt a little too dramatic and unnecessary
⤷ it felt like there was a lot of page filler
⤷ the way that Indy ended up in the bathroom in the first place (it seemed a little unrealistic)

✽ ♡ ✽ Plot ✽ ♡ ✽
⤷ the plot was super fast-paced, I read the whole book in less than four hours! Definitely a good, quick read for binging or for getting out of a slump!

✽ ♡ ✽ Setting ✽ ♡ ✽
⤷ most of the book takes place in a school bathroom, which I thought was a really fun and unusual location.

✽ ♡ ✽ Characters ✽ ♡ ✽
⤷ Indy: her personality is a bit cliche and I didn’t relate to her that much, but overall a decent fmc
⤷ Beau: he was really cute and nice! Not book boyfriend material in my opinion and I didn’t like how he threw Indy under the bus, but a good mmc regardless!
⤷ Cody: this guy seemed pretty one-dimensional, just the classic bad boy, bad grades, skater type of kid; I feel like there’s one of these guys in every book
⤷ Caroline & Ava: they were really funny characters but kind of seemed like bad friends at times

⌯⌲ Age Rating: 13+

✽ ♡ ✽ Content breakdown ✽ ♡ ✽

➔ Violence: none

➔ Spice: none

➔ Romance: a few semi-descriptive kisses and a handful of nondescriptive kisses, dating

➔ Drinking/drugs/smoking: a mention of a couple of drunk college-aged girls, a Halloween party where there might have been a little drinking

➔ Language: 3 pissed, 4 idiot, 7 stupid, 1 crap

➔ LGBTQ+: none

➔ Religious Content: a joke made by a character that another character was “probably praying to some science god”; characters celebrate Halloween by dressing up and going to a party

➔ Magic: none

➔ Trigger Warnings: none

🫧♡｡ ִֶָ°🍬 ִֶָ°.♡:･

⌯⌲ Publish date: 6-January-2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s Books for providing an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Jaycee Ann ✞ · Rating 4 out of 5]

═══════ ∘◦ ✧ ◦∘ ═══════
This review contains a few random statistics, my personal thoughts, and a content review! ♡
═══════ ∘◦ ✧ ◦∘ ═══════
• Book- Room to Breathe
• Author- Kasie West
• Pages- Kindle, 260
• Genre(s)- YA contemporary romance
• Published- 2026
• Recommended time to read - Winter
⇢─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───⇠
→ Setting - 4/5
→ Characters- 3/5
→ Writing - 4/5
→ Cover - 4/5
→ Vibes- 3/5
→ Plot- 4/5
→ Romance/Ship - 3/5
→ Overall- ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
⇢─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───⇠
Recommended to fans of-
✔︎ Forced proximity
✔︎ Best friends to enemies to lovers
✔︎ Past and present timeline
✔︎ Clean YA romance
✔︎ Redemption arcs/good character development

♫ Now Playing - that way by Tate McRae ♫
═════════════════
╰┈➤ My thoughts (spoiler free)
♫ ”You don’t know it’s breaking my heart, said that it was just never gonna happen, then almost kissed me in the dark.” ♫

This was so cute! Kasie West never disappoints! Well, except with Better Than Revenge… I didn’t like that one 😭 BUT I did notice that in the end of this book Indy gets a job at the Purple Starfish, which I’m pretty sure was the restaurant they already went to in that book! I remember cause nothing there was actually purple.

I did like the romance in this! And the past and present timeline was fun, giving a bit of change of scenery rather than just the bathroom lol 😂 Beau isn’t my favorite Kasie West mmc, but he was good!

I’d also like to note that I thought it was really sweet that Kasie, in her acknowledgments, touched on the fact that doubting your parents and friend group breakups (the themes she covered in the book) are really hard and she’s sorry if anyone ever went through that. I just thought it was nice.
═════════════════
╰┈➤ Characters
♫ ”We say we’re friends, but I’m catching you across the room, it makes no sense cause we’re fighting over what we do.” ♫

Indy - I actually really liked her! I related to her a lot, and her character development was good. She went through something really hard, and came out stronger!

Beau - Like I said, not my favorite Kasie West mmc but I did like him. He was sweet, even though he acted rashly a couple times. And he’s also a fantasy book nerd 🤭

Ava and Caroline - They were nice! Their trio peas in a pod costume with Indy was really funny lol!

Harper - She deserved so much better! I mean I don’t think she was right for Beau, but she didn’t deserve anything that happened to her. And now she’s like, not a part of the friend group anymore :(

Cody - ….😃🔫
═════════════════
╰┈➤ Spoilers below!
♫ ”Can’t even tell if I love or hate you more, you’ve got me addicted and I can’t tell who’s keeping score.” ♫

Gosh the fact they were stuck in that bathroom THE WHOLE NIGHT? That sucked so bad bro I would literally be panicking the entire time! Knowing my luck this is probably something that would happen to me too 😒

I’ll repeat that Harper deserved so much better! Like Beau didn’t technically cheat, but he should’ve told her what happened! And it is totally valid to be suspicious that your boyfriend has THREE girl best friends. Like normally I think it’s fine for a guy to have a girlfriend and still be friends with other girls, but Beau didn’t have any guy friends it seemed. That’s genuinely a red flag. Everything that happened is giving Traitor by Olivia Rodrigo 😭 Like I feel so bad that she was dating Beau while he actually loved Indy, even if he didn’t know it. Everything she did was valid, and I’d actually love a book about her!

Cody sucked. He was so annoying.
═════════════════
╰┈➤ Content review

➸ Age Rating - 13+

➸ Language - Three uses of pissed.

➸ Romance/Sexual - Kissing and a bit of making out, sleeping together in a non sexual way, I don’t even think there were any dirty jokes or anything like that!

➸ Violence - None.

➸ Religious/Spiritual - None.

➸ Magic - None.

➸ LGBTQ - None.

➸ Alcohol/Drugs - A couple college students at a birthday party drink beer and get drunk.

➸ Other Notes - Indy dates a guy that is clearly a bad influence on her, making her sneak into the school after hours with him, and other things in Indy’s life lead her to make a couple other bad decisions.

[Anisa Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute friends to lovers YA romance that touches on topics of family drama, rebellion and loss of friendships. The story goes back and forth between past and present timelines. The reader is able to see where things went wrong and how they became right. Being stuck in the bathroom for hours with your ex best friend can dig up old wounds and also unlock hidden feelings. I loved how there was no third act break up and the communication between all the characters was very mature and not cringe. Overall I enjoyed the writing style the plot and the characters.

[ੈ✩‧₊˚ faithreads *ೃ༄ (inactive) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was super cute but also kind of annoying lol! I liked the vibe of the book, but it was kind of just pointless?? Like the friends to lovers feel wasn’t even that good because I thought it was about her and Cody th whole time! Overall, I’d say it was a cute but average rom com!!

[Lilian♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD!! 4.5⭐️

2 ex best friends, Indy and Beau, are trapped in a school bathroom together. The tension and frustration high.

Then chapters from the past where you're trying to figure out why they hate each other!!

Lots of family drama, too!

Thank you, NetGalley.com, for the ARC, in exchange for an honest review! 💞

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who doesn't love a good, sweet romance that is relatable? With characters that feel real and situations you can completely imagine happening?
Kasie West has always been a favorite of mine and her latest release, Room To Breathe shows why. Her writing truly is so wonderful. She manages to make her characters likable, even when, with all rights, they shouldn't be. You can't help but feel for them, fall in love with them, and want to know them.

Absolutely adored this! I couldn't get enough and devoured it. Now, I'm just sad it's over and am even more excited for whatever West creates next!


*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up

Kasie West is my favorite YA contemporary author. I’ve read all of her books, loved most of them, and eagerly await her new releases. (Thank you to Delacorte Romance and NetGalley for the e-ARC!)

Normally known for her lighthearted and breezy contemporaries, Room to Breathe has a much more somber tone overall. The main character Indy has gone through a LOT and while the book didn’t get too heavy and sad, it was still very different tonally.

I liked the way the book was told in “Then” and “Now” segments. It was interesting to put the pieces together to see what happened and why. Indy and Beau had a great friendship in the past and it was quite a contrast with the awkwardness between them in the present.

I enjoyed the “locked in” setting of By Your Side (locked in a library) a little better than this book (locked in a bathroom), but Kasie West really does the locked in trope quite well. I was a little grossed out by them lying on the bathroom floor though (it’s a faculty restroom at their school but still…it was kind of gross).

I didn’t love Indy’s acting out (though I could certainly see why she would feel the need to escape her life or whatever due to everything she was going through) but she’s still my least favorite of this author’s main characters.

Overall a cute and enjoyable read, but not my favorite by this author (I’ll still read whatever she writes though!).

[Ragan · Rating 2 out of 5]

potentially fucking up your best friend’s future because she cheated off your math test is insane

[ᴄᴀᴛ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5☆ | This is the first book I've read by Kasie West, which I've been wanting to read her books for a long time, just haven't gotten around to it. But this was really cute (cuter than any book that's literally set in a 𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮 should be, at least). And after this, I'll definitely want to read her books more than I already do, as this was a really nice, fluffy, ya romance.

✧˖° 📝📎⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚

☀️ : 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔
▸ As I said, really cute, though I don't think I'd be able to stay in a bathroom overnight, 𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 without a phone and with basically nothing to do. I haven't seen (or read) a book where the main characters are stuck in a bathroom together before so this was a nice change, it was unique to me.

▸ A thing I can't picture being romantic though is confessing & kissing on an icky public bathroom floor. Also, like, Indy had her foot 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘵 at one point. Which like, no, he wasn't kissing her feet or anything (thank God), and she did clean it but still, it's the thought of that😭. Like...no thanks.
𝘉𝘶𝘵 them sharing the airpods and listening to music together was adorable!

▸ Indy's friends also made me a bit mad at some points. Like I get that she wasn't telling them stuff, was avoiding stuff, etc.. Then there was everything that went on with Beau and it seems they just chose his side without checking anything. And 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 everything with Indy's father comes out, and they don't check on her 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭. I don't know, I just feel like they could've pieced it together that that's why she was acting that way.

▸ I also wish that we would've gotten more info on everything that happened with Indy's dad, and who was the one who had done it in the end.

▸ At points I feel like some parts of the book were a bit dramatic and unrealistic but I loved the fast pacing and dual timelines.


🌸 : 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔

𝙄𝙣𝙙𝙮- I didn't exactly love some of what she did in this book, though no character can be perfect, and I can understand 𝘸𝘩𝘺 she did what she's done. Such a well written fmc.

𝘽𝙚𝙖𝙪- I seriously love him so much. He's truly so sweet. And he's a reader⁉️😻

𝘾𝙤𝙙𝙮- I liked him at first (and kind of, 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧, wanted Indy to end up w/ him) 💔 but even though I don't love him now, we're just gna forget about that part..


────୨ৎ────
"But I 𝘢𝘮 in love with you," I said.
I couldn't read his expression─disbelief, excitement, awe? "You are?" he asked.
"Very much."
He launched himself forward and wrapped his arms around me.
────୨ৎ────

🐝 : 𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍
I did like how short it was, I finished it in 3 days (half of it in one day too) but I feel that I could've finished it in a day if I tried. But despite it being as short as it is, it's not too short to feel like you got no info at all.
Definitely a nice, quick, cute read.

Thank you to Netgalley & the publishers for allowing me to have an e-arc of this book!

[Miri James Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,25🌟
Otro libro más de Kasie West con el que me he sentido muy identificada con la protagonista. 🫶 La autora toca dos temas que me tocan muy de cerca y eso ha hecho que conecte fácilmente con la historia y con lo que siente Indy.
En cuanto a la relación entre Beau e Indy me ha gustado 💕 pero siento que se podría haber explotado más, tanto en los momentos del pasado como en los del presente. Sus escenas juntos me han sabido un poco light.😬
También me habría encantado que la autora incluyera algún capítulo narrado por Beau, para poder conocerlo mejor y entender aún más sus sentimientos y decisiones en escenas clave.
No es mi libro favorito de la autora, pero una vez más Kasie West consigue que me sienta muy conectada con la protagonista y con sus emociones. 🥹🫂

[Trigger Warning Database]

Trigger & Content Warnings :

Sexual assault mentioned (unwanted kiss, secondary character)
Alcohol consumption & smoking mentioned (secondary characters)
Bullying mentioned (secondary character)

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

ARC REVIEW

Tropes:
•Second chance
•friends/enemies to lovers
•Ya romance/ no spice

Kasie West has become one of my favorite authors she always writes the cutest fast paced reads with enough depth & banter that keeps you on your toes.

I trully appreciated the dual timelines then & now, it gave us a insight of the growth of our 2 main characters & how it all changed for the better. I liked are 2 main characters but I do want to admit Im not a fan of the miscommunication trope, but the banter made up for it.

Overall it was such a cute read that gives you all the teenage drame & feels. I would definitely recommend this book!!

[Braelee Holman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Super duper cute, I really loved the trip from enemies to lovers-and childhood friends to lovers. Really cute fluff romance, I recommend🫶🏽🫶🏽 even though I keep taking my rating lower and lower :(

[Carol Oliveira · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like everyone in this story was terrible. Terrible friends. Terrible to each other. I get that we're talking about high school kids here, but turning your best friend in because she copied your test, just because you felt better that made her rank higher than you? Are you kidding me? And then Eva and Caroline stopped talking to Indy altogether for that and the Harper thing?
What Indy did wasn't right, but they just turned their backs to her when she needed them the most and somehow she was the one saying sorry. Just no. Not cool. Also, IRL I would never recommend a girl forgive a boy/man that turned against her so quickly. Feels dangerous to me.

I usually really enjoy Kasie West's books, but this one was a NO for me.

[Mai | mai.readingnook · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading YA books because I feel like they help me be a better mom. The good ones help broaden your perspective, make you more empathetic, and are great reminders that once upon a time, some problems and issues really did seem like “the world”, you know what I mean?

This story follows Indy, who is currently estranged from her best friends. The story is told with a dual timeline, so we gradually learn how they all got to where the book starts.

I’ve been reading Kasie West’s books for years now, and I think it’s because she really captures Teenager really well. I enjoyed this read. Thank you so much for the ARC!

[Michelle (MichelleBookAddict)]

9/26 I’m pinching myself. Did I just get an arc from Netgalley for this?

[Kamis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t love this, or even really enjoy it, and I’m not sure exactly why, especially because I generally really like Kasie West’s books. Maybe it was because I didn’t connect with any of the characters? Maybe I didn’t enjoy the ‘then’ and ‘now’ writing structure? Or maybe it’s because in the book Indy talks about how her parents were supposed to go to San Diego for her mom’s 40th birthday, which is exactly where I’m going in two months for my 40th birthday.

The book focuses on Indy and Beau, two best friends who quit talking to each other for an unknown reason. The ‘then’ parts of the book help establish their friendship with each other and their other two best friends, Ava and Caroline, while the ‘now’ chapters focus on Indy and Beau being trapped together and being absolutely miserable over it. The ‘then’ chapters slowly work through the mystery of why they quit talking, and the ‘now’ chapters slowly work through them talking again. Dual timelines can work really well, and I’ve enjoyed books that feature them before, but sometimes they just don’t do it for me, and this was one of those times. I found myself getting rather frustrated and just wanting to skip ahead to find out what happened.

I did understand the feeling of not talking to a best friend for months over something that ended up not being a big deal. And while Indy and Beau hash it all out, there isn’t quite the same resolution with Ava and Caroline. I also couldn’t really figure out why Ava and Caroline so easily joined Beau’s side. Like, it was mainly an argument between Beau and Indy, and when Ava and Caroline found out they immediately sided with him and didn’t give Indy a chance to explain anything or bother to ask her what was really going on. I get that part of that was Indy’s fault for being secretive, but she was also trying to keep a promise she made to her parents. And when things start coming to light, they still didn’t bother to talk to Indy about it. It was all kinda weird, and the ending just didn’t sit right with me.

Even though I didn’t love this, Kasie West still has a good track record and I’ll continue to read her work. She’s one of the few YA authors I’ll always go back to, even as I am involved less and less with the genre.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Chrys · Rating 4 out of 5]

Katie West delivers another sweet YA romance in Room to Breathe, and I loved the heart-fluttering moments between the characters. The chemistry felt genuine, and the romance gave me exactly the swoony, youthful vibe I look for in YA.

That said, the miscommunication trope was a major drawback for me. It dragged out conflicts that could have been resolved with a single honest conversation, and at times it overshadowed the emotional payoff of the romance.

What kept me invested, though, was the way West wove in the broader storyline. The book doesn’t just focus on romance it shows how family expectations, shifting friendships, and the pressures of school all ripple through the characters’ lives. Watching those dynamics collide and evolve made the story feel richer and more relatable.

Overall, Room to Breathe is a charming YA read with heartfelt romance and thoughtful exploration of how relationships family, friends, and romantic shape us. Even with the frustrating miscommunication trope, it’s an engaging look at the messy, interconnected world of teen life.

[casey ⋆˚౨ৎ ⋆.˚ · Rating 3 out of 5]

the characters being forced to work out their issues from being in a forced proximity had me drawn in 🙂‍↕️ but i’ll be honest, i didn’t love it, nor did i hate it. i think i would have enjoyed this one more back when i was in high school to be able to connect to the story and characters better. alsooo the fortune teller game, so nostalgic 🥹

indy’s life comes crashing down, her once close friends, beau (especially him!!), caroline, and ava are now strangers. then all of a sudden she finds herself stuck in a school bathroom with beau forced to resolve what happened between them. told in then/now timeline.

tropes: forced proximity, friends to lovers, low spice, high school setting, then/now timeline, young adult

💛🛹📚✏️📓

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comforting, reflective YA about grief, growth, and finding your way back to yourself. Picking up a Kasie West book again felt so nostalgic after loving her stories back in high school, and Room to Breathe really delivered that familiar comfort with a little extra emotional depth.

[Katie Eldredge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. The back and forth timeline of them and now was interesting, I wondered how they got from best friends to enemies. Very clean,

[Ilinca Blue · Rating 5 out of 5]

such a heartwarming and cute and awesome book and full of plot twists 💞🥰🥰