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We're a Bad Idea, Right?
This stunning first edition of We’re A Bad Idea, Right? will feature special designed edges!
The business of love gets messy when two best friends decide to fake a romantic relationship in this uproarious and swoony novel by the bestselling author of The Summer of Broken Rules.
Audrey Barbour has had enough of following the rules. Eighteen years of being the perfect daughter—exceptional grades, enviable college acceptances, tame dating history—and still, her parents don’t trust her enough to let her study her passion, glassblowing, on a prestigious fellowship.
So when her best friend Henry proposes an outrageous fake-dating scheme to win back his ex-girlfriend, it feels like the first step to shaking up her perfect life. And the second? That comes when Audrey’s parents go out of town, sparking a high-risk, high-reward solution to pay for her fellowship—renting out her family’s Connecticut mansion online. With the help of her new fake-boyfriend, it shouldn’t be hard to pull off… right?
But when her best intentions start to unravel, Audrey will have to reckon with who she is, what she wants, and what it really means to play life by her rules—all with her heart on the line.
The business of love gets messy when two best friends decide to fake a romantic relationship in this uproarious and swoony novel by the bestselling author of The Summer of Broken Rules.
Audrey Barbour has had enough of following the rules. Eighteen years of being the perfect daughter—exceptional grades, enviable college acceptances, tame dating history—and still, her parents don’t trust her enough to let her study her passion, glassblowing, on a prestigious fellowship.
So when her best friend Henry proposes an outrageous fake-dating scheme to win back his ex-girlfriend, it feels like the first step to shaking up her perfect life. And the second? That comes when Audrey’s parents go out of town, sparking a high-risk, high-reward solution to pay for her fellowship—renting out her family’s Connecticut mansion online. With the help of her new fake-boyfriend, it shouldn’t be hard to pull off… right?
But when her best intentions start to unravel, Audrey will have to reckon with who she is, what she wants, and what it really means to play life by her rules—all with her heart on the line.
374 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 31, 2026
155 people are currently reading
19373 people want to read
About the author
K.L. Walther
10 books6,198 followersK.L. Walther was born and raised in the rolling hills of Bucks County, Pennsylvania surrounded by family, dogs, and books. Her childhood was spent traveling the northeastern seaboard to play ice hockey. She attended a boarding school in New Jersey and went on to earn a B.A. in English from the University of Virginia. She is happiest on the beach with a book, cheering for the New York Rangers, or enjoying a rom-com while digging into a big bowl of popcorn and M&Ms.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 183 reviews
February 1, 2026
Listen, I think it's very funny.
Want to read
June 22, 2025I’m convinced KL Walther doesn’t sleep
April 2, 2026
જ⁀➴ 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4)
Thank you to Random House YA | Delacorte Romance, K.L. Walther, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. We're a Bad Idea, Right? is out now!
˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊
This was the most fun I've had reading a book in a LONG while. This was also my first K.L. Walther book, and I can see how so many people are fans of her writing and her stories! This is definitely the perfect summer read if you're looking for a light-hearted beach read, not to mention that the cover art is so vibrant and gorgeous. (I highly suggest going to your local bookstore to see it in person; the colors on a screen do NOT do the real cover justice.)
Audrey Barbour doesn't have dreams of going to college. No, her heart is set on glassblowing and getting a fellowship at one of the most prestigious glassblowing programs in the country. Her Etsy shop is successful, but she wants to take it to the next level. Her parents aren't too keen on the idea, but little does she know that she has already sent in the tuition deposit and needs the actual tuition sent in soon. When her parents go overseas for a few weeks, her best friend, Henry Chen, proposes a fake-dating scheme in an attempt to make his ex-girlfriend jealous, and for Audrey, it would hopefully make her crush jealous. As for the tuition, Audrey and her friends come up with the idea to put her family's mansion up on a vacation rental website. What could possibly go wrong?
(I would like to make a suggestion here: I highly recommend reading this on a New England coastal beach over the summer if you want the full, immersive experience. I specifically say New England because the story takes place in Connecticut.)
I don't know what it is, but this was SO much fun to read. I think it was just the concept of wondering if Audrey, Henry, and all of their friends could successfully pull everything off. I was just sitting there like, "Okay, they're totally getting caught," at the same time that I was also thinking these crazy kids could actually pull this off. It was the kind of light-hearted, fun palette cleanser that I feel like a lot of people will enjoy. Every time they had a crazy scheme or plot cooking in their heads, I was like, "they're either extremely stupid or they're all secretly smart teenagers." The writing has a way of pulling you into the story, and it almost felt like I was there watching Audrey and her friends try to pull this off and help Audrey get her money.
While I did have a lot of fun reading, I feel like many readers (especially an older YA audience or adults like myself reading this story, for example) are going to have to find a way to suspend their disbelief over some of the things that happen in the story to fully feel immersed in the plot and storyline. The logical side of me was SCREAMING the entire time, knowing that pulling off something like this in real life, by a bunch of 16-18-year-olds and having no one catch on, is entirely unrealistic. I had to let go of that to feel invested in the story (which, as some of you know already, is EXTREMELY hard for me to do), and once I fully let go was when the story started feeling fun for me.
A lot of plot devices were also used to make everything conveniently work out, such as Audrey's parents being obscenely rich to own a McMansion and honestly not giving a damn about what their daughter is up to, because as Audrey and her parents have said time and time again in the story, they trust her enough. The one thing I didn't understand is that if they trust her so much as an eighteen-year-old, then why did they say that her older cousin was expected to show up to watch over her? Additionally, I find it extremely hard to believe that Ellie's, Henry's ex-girlfriend and friend of Audrey's, THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD SISTER, was able to do everyone's hair for senior prom and not have it turn into a complete disaster. I understand that this is the beauty of this book being fiction—anything can happen no matter how unrealistic or realistic it is—but I feel like readers are going to have to suspend their disbelief while reading to make this more enjoyable.
Additionally, I felt like Audrey and Henry's relationship needed to develop way more. I feel like their romance was often overshadowed by everything else going on in the plot, with Audrey's vacation rental side hustle, to Audrey worrying about her tuition payment, to the sideplot with Ellie and Griff (Audrey's crush), that it felt like an afterthought at times. Sure, Henry was there for everything that Audrey was going through, and I liked that quality about him. However, I felt that their relationship escalated super quickly. Like, one day, they just agree to fake date and then seemingly out of nowhere, they're head over heels in love? It felt very 0 to 100 for me.
Another minor thing about the story: there's a LOT of Taylor Swift references in the story. As someone who isn't a fan of Taylor Swift (simply because my music taste nowhere near overlaps with hers at all, and nothing more), I feel like a lot of people who aren't fans of her for any reason may be put off by this. I know the author herself has made it very clear that she's a Taylor Swift fan, so I knew this going into the story, but there were a LOT of references that might annoy some readers. It's nothing that completely ruined my enjoyment of the story, but it was worth bringing up. (Funny because the title is from an Olivia Rodrigo song lol)
If you're looking for a palette cleanser, this is the book for you! I think this'll be one of the bigger YA reads this summer, and I had so much fun reading this. I can't wait to read K.L. Walther's other books (I have an eARC for her other book coming out in May that I'll be reading sometime this month!)
˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊
Thank you to Random House YA | Delacorte Romance, K.L. Walther, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. We're a Bad Idea, Right? is out now!
"...you are my entire heart."
˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊
This was the most fun I've had reading a book in a LONG while. This was also my first K.L. Walther book, and I can see how so many people are fans of her writing and her stories! This is definitely the perfect summer read if you're looking for a light-hearted beach read, not to mention that the cover art is so vibrant and gorgeous. (I highly suggest going to your local bookstore to see it in person; the colors on a screen do NOT do the real cover justice.)
Audrey Barbour doesn't have dreams of going to college. No, her heart is set on glassblowing and getting a fellowship at one of the most prestigious glassblowing programs in the country. Her Etsy shop is successful, but she wants to take it to the next level. Her parents aren't too keen on the idea, but little does she know that she has already sent in the tuition deposit and needs the actual tuition sent in soon. When her parents go overseas for a few weeks, her best friend, Henry Chen, proposes a fake-dating scheme in an attempt to make his ex-girlfriend jealous, and for Audrey, it would hopefully make her crush jealous. As for the tuition, Audrey and her friends come up with the idea to put her family's mansion up on a vacation rental website. What could possibly go wrong?
(I would like to make a suggestion here: I highly recommend reading this on a New England coastal beach over the summer if you want the full, immersive experience. I specifically say New England because the story takes place in Connecticut.)
I don't know what it is, but this was SO much fun to read. I think it was just the concept of wondering if Audrey, Henry, and all of their friends could successfully pull everything off. I was just sitting there like, "Okay, they're totally getting caught," at the same time that I was also thinking these crazy kids could actually pull this off. It was the kind of light-hearted, fun palette cleanser that I feel like a lot of people will enjoy. Every time they had a crazy scheme or plot cooking in their heads, I was like, "they're either extremely stupid or they're all secretly smart teenagers." The writing has a way of pulling you into the story, and it almost felt like I was there watching Audrey and her friends try to pull this off and help Audrey get her money.
While I did have a lot of fun reading, I feel like many readers (especially an older YA audience or adults like myself reading this story, for example) are going to have to find a way to suspend their disbelief over some of the things that happen in the story to fully feel immersed in the plot and storyline. The logical side of me was SCREAMING the entire time, knowing that pulling off something like this in real life, by a bunch of 16-18-year-olds and having no one catch on, is entirely unrealistic. I had to let go of that to feel invested in the story (which, as some of you know already, is EXTREMELY hard for me to do), and once I fully let go was when the story started feeling fun for me.
A lot of plot devices were also used to make everything conveniently work out, such as Audrey's parents being obscenely rich to own a McMansion and honestly not giving a damn about what their daughter is up to, because as Audrey and her parents have said time and time again in the story, they trust her enough. The one thing I didn't understand is that if they trust her so much as an eighteen-year-old, then why did they say that her older cousin was expected to show up to watch over her? Additionally, I find it extremely hard to believe that Ellie's, Henry's ex-girlfriend and friend of Audrey's, THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD SISTER, was able to do everyone's hair for senior prom and not have it turn into a complete disaster. I understand that this is the beauty of this book being fiction—anything can happen no matter how unrealistic or realistic it is—but I feel like readers are going to have to suspend their disbelief while reading to make this more enjoyable.
Additionally, I felt like Audrey and Henry's relationship needed to develop way more. I feel like their romance was often overshadowed by everything else going on in the plot, with Audrey's vacation rental side hustle, to Audrey worrying about her tuition payment, to the sideplot with Ellie and Griff (Audrey's crush), that it felt like an afterthought at times. Sure, Henry was there for everything that Audrey was going through, and I liked that quality about him. However, I felt that their relationship escalated super quickly. Like, one day, they just agree to fake date and then seemingly out of nowhere, they're head over heels in love? It felt very 0 to 100 for me.
Another minor thing about the story: there's a LOT of Taylor Swift references in the story. As someone who isn't a fan of Taylor Swift (simply because my music taste nowhere near overlaps with hers at all, and nothing more), I feel like a lot of people who aren't fans of her for any reason may be put off by this. I know the author herself has made it very clear that she's a Taylor Swift fan, so I knew this going into the story, but there were a LOT of references that might annoy some readers. It's nothing that completely ruined my enjoyment of the story, but it was worth bringing up. (Funny because the title is from an Olivia Rodrigo song lol)
If you're looking for a palette cleanser, this is the book for you! I think this'll be one of the bigger YA reads this summer, and I had so much fun reading this. I can't wait to read K.L. Walther's other books (I have an eARC for her other book coming out in May that I'll be reading sometime this month!)
˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚🫧˖°𓇼🌊
Want to read
July 10, 2025Can’t wait to read this 🧡
Thank you to netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 2, 2026
ok so... this was pretty good! not my fav klw ever, but i enjoyed the characters (especially ellie hopper!) and the plot was really well paced. also LOVED the charlie and luke cameos, i was literally giggling and screaming at seeing them married!!!!!!
i think overall i just found it a bit unrealistic (which is fine because thats what fiction is about), and i didnt love audrey or henry that much. especially henry. i found his performative vibe odd.
but this is just the first read, and im excited to reread this a bunch which will probably make me like it even more!
pre-read
its that time of year again when your local crazy klw fan (me) finds out a new book is coming out!
so what we know so far:
its grace and james' cousin !! she was mentioned in wwy, and all that was said is that she was in vienna doing the fellowship. so thats great, right? this also means that this is set
before
sorry, after while were young so we need to keep that in mind as well.
also loving the title, and the colour scheme!! its giving me life! AHHHHHHHHHHH
ANYWAYS MOTHER IS FEEDING US AND IM TOO EXCITED!!!!!!!!! also she commented on this review so YAY!!!!!
i think overall i just found it a bit unrealistic (which is fine because thats what fiction is about), and i didnt love audrey or henry that much. especially henry. i found his performative vibe odd.
but this is just the first read, and im excited to reread this a bunch which will probably make me like it even more!
pre-read
its that time of year again when your local crazy klw fan (me) finds out a new book is coming out!
so what we know so far:
its grace and james' cousin !! she was mentioned in wwy, and all that was said is that she was in vienna doing the fellowship. so thats great, right? this also means that this is set
also loving the title, and the colour scheme!! its giving me life! AHHHHHHHHHHH
ANYWAYS MOTHER IS FEEDING US AND IM TOO EXCITED!!!!!!!!! also she commented on this review so YAY!!!!!
Read
November 30, 2025pre-read
it's a bad idea, right?
seeing you tonight
fuck it, it's fine.
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
this book was a bad idea, right?
it's a bad idea, right?
seeing you tonight
fuck it, it's fine.
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
this book was a bad idea, right?
Want to read
June 11, 2025A new K.L Walther book? Fake dating? I’m not sure I can wait until March, need this in my hands right now!
October 25, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book was cute!
Characters: I loved the fact that Audrey liked glassblowing, because it was so original and definitely not something I’d read before. Other than that though, I did find her to be a bit irritating. I mean, if one of my good friends started dating my ex without even saying anything to mean then I would probably be upset.
Romance: They were cute together, but the romance felt a little underdeveloped. They were just friends, and then suddenly they’re super in love…? It just didn’t seem super realistic to me. I also didn’t like the fact that Henry was so hung up on his ex.
Plot: I thought the plot was really good! It was certainly unique, which made it more entertaining because I really felt like I was reading something new!
Overall: I would definitely recommend this book, and it was definitely pretty good!
This book was cute!
Characters: I loved the fact that Audrey liked glassblowing, because it was so original and definitely not something I’d read before. Other than that though, I did find her to be a bit irritating. I mean, if one of my good friends started dating my ex without even saying anything to mean then I would probably be upset.
Romance: They were cute together, but the romance felt a little underdeveloped. They were just friends, and then suddenly they’re super in love…? It just didn’t seem super realistic to me. I also didn’t like the fact that Henry was so hung up on his ex.
Plot: I thought the plot was really good! It was certainly unique, which made it more entertaining because I really felt like I was reading something new!
Overall: I would definitely recommend this book, and it was definitely pretty good!
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Want to read
March 29, 2026pre read:
liv ref??? i'm in 🤭🤭
liv ref??? i'm in 🤭🤭
March 31, 2026
3.75 stars
(rounded up to 4)
I love k.l. walthers romances bc they're always fun and easy to fly through! this book was good vibes the whole time and gave summer vibes in the best way. (even tho its not a summer book!). there were also a handful of scenes I loved! the James and isa cameos were also the cutest!!
my issues:
-ellie, wether or not it would be considered universally cheating she was talking to another guy while her and henry were together, her ex fyi and the fact that everyone was really chill about it annoyed me. during the whole book she wanted chase(the ex) but also hated Henry and Audrey together. and it was so shady that she tried to hide Audrey's moms things. and again, the whole thing was looked over! like arghh
-i wanted more Henry and Audrey content. the first half of the book had so much and it just started to get less as Audrey got more busy with the renting stuff and Ellie and Henry started hanging out again. (which also pmo very badly). I guess that's why I'd say the first half of this book is 5 stars, then the second have is like 3.
-it was super insta love between henry and Audrey. like audrey said I love you after less than 3 weeks( i think? and wdym Henry was super in love too after not being over his ex like a week ago. I thought it was weird too how audrey would confess and henry would be chill about it or how the acknowledgement of them fake dating disappeared so quickly. oh, and how Henry was all of a sudden hanging out with Ellie again! like run away ellie was so annoying omg!!! and they never even properly talked about it. (yes I know that was the goal to get them back together but not after its obvious you and audrey have something and what Ellie did was just wrong)
-lastly it got very chaotic sometimes and I think the plot got a little messy. an example is just Audrey crushing on griff really badly and then it just be left behind after the first 100 pages. like yes I get that she liked Henry now but she went from crushing on griff to suddenly just barely caring. and on the same note, griff was very irresponsible some times and wouldn't stop telling everyone about Audrey renting out her parents thing.
but I will say that I loved all the Henry and Audrey content we got between the two, I loved their dynamic, I just wish we got more as lovers and stuff. (or just more in general). I also liked the idea of having Audrey rent out her parents home and I thought all the things surrounding that were interesting to read about. and like I had previously mentioned, it was just a very cute book and I really liked Audrey!
(rounded up to 4)
I love k.l. walthers romances bc they're always fun and easy to fly through! this book was good vibes the whole time and gave summer vibes in the best way. (even tho its not a summer book!). there were also a handful of scenes I loved! the James and isa cameos were also the cutest!!
my issues:
-ellie, wether or not it would be considered universally cheating she was talking to another guy while her and henry were together, her ex fyi and the fact that everyone was really chill about it annoyed me. during the whole book she wanted chase(the ex) but also hated Henry and Audrey together. and it was so shady that she tried to hide Audrey's moms things. and again, the whole thing was looked over! like arghh
-i wanted more Henry and Audrey content. the first half of the book had so much and it just started to get less as Audrey got more busy with the renting stuff and Ellie and Henry started hanging out again. (which also pmo very badly). I guess that's why I'd say the first half of this book is 5 stars, then the second have is like 3.
-it was super insta love between henry and Audrey. like audrey said I love you after less than 3 weeks( i think? and wdym Henry was super in love too after not being over his ex like a week ago. I thought it was weird too how audrey would confess and henry would be chill about it or how the acknowledgement of them fake dating disappeared so quickly. oh, and how Henry was all of a sudden hanging out with Ellie again! like run away ellie was so annoying omg!!! and they never even properly talked about it. (yes I know that was the goal to get them back together but not after its obvious you and audrey have something and what Ellie did was just wrong)
-lastly it got very chaotic sometimes and I think the plot got a little messy. an example is just Audrey crushing on griff really badly and then it just be left behind after the first 100 pages. like yes I get that she liked Henry now but she went from crushing on griff to suddenly just barely caring. and on the same note, griff was very irresponsible some times and wouldn't stop telling everyone about Audrey renting out her parents thing.
but I will say that I loved all the Henry and Audrey content we got between the two, I loved their dynamic, I just wish we got more as lovers and stuff. (or just more in general). I also liked the idea of having Audrey rent out her parents home and I thought all the things surrounding that were interesting to read about. and like I had previously mentioned, it was just a very cute book and I really liked Audrey!
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I love YA romance, friends to lovers and I love Fake dating all of which this story had. While I did enjoy the story and the uniqueness of the FMC being a glass blower, I didn't enjoy what felt like love triangles between multiple characters. I was thrown off of the actual love interest and their love story by the side characters (there were many). overall storyline was good and the plot was very creative.
Currently reading
August 4, 2025i got the arc WHATTTTT?!?🤭
September 26, 2025
Thank you netgalley and Penguin Random House for letting me read this one early. This was my first K.L. Walther novel. I loved it. I loved the pop culture references in the novel. I also loved the plot with the rental property. I thought that Henry and Audrey's relationship was cute. I thought that the writing style was great for a Young Adult novel. I also thought the author was great at storytelling and keeping the plot and twists going. Overall, I would recommend this novel to anyone who loves a great romance.
July 23, 2025
4.5⭐️
I love K.L. Walther's books SO MUCH!!!! She has the most unique writing style, and I eat it up in every one of her books!
I ADORED Henry in this book! I did get angry with him a few times, but then I learned why he did and said those things...😭
I thought it was so cool that our main character was a glass blower?! That is so stinking cool! Like what?!
I really like Audrey! (our main character) Usually, with the main female character in books, I find something I dislike about them, but I didn't have any problems with Audrey!!
This was a really good book that keeps you on your toes. I was just waiting for something to go wrong because the situation these characters got themselves in....YEESH. It stressed me out, and it is 100% FICTION!!! BAHAHA.
I also loved this couple🫶
AND JAMES AND ISA FROM WHILE WERE YOUNG WERE IN THIS BOOK!!! Audrey and James are cousins!! AHH!
Thank you, NetGalley.com, for the ARC! 🥰
I love K.L. Walther's books SO MUCH!!!! She has the most unique writing style, and I eat it up in every one of her books!
I ADORED Henry in this book! I did get angry with him a few times, but then I learned why he did and said those things...😭
I thought it was so cool that our main character was a glass blower?! That is so stinking cool! Like what?!
I really like Audrey! (our main character) Usually, with the main female character in books, I find something I dislike about them, but I didn't have any problems with Audrey!!
This was a really good book that keeps you on your toes. I was just waiting for something to go wrong because the situation these characters got themselves in....YEESH. It stressed me out, and it is 100% FICTION!!! BAHAHA.
I also loved this couple🫶
AND JAMES AND ISA FROM WHILE WERE YOUNG WERE IN THIS BOOK!!! Audrey and James are cousins!! AHH!
Thank you, NetGalley.com, for the ARC! 🥰
April 1, 2026
We’re a Bad Idea Right by K. L. Walther
Release date:March 31st (out now)
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Age rating:16+
Spice:fade to black
Thank you for this arc! This was the vibes. I loved it so much, binged it in a few sittings. Audrey and Henry were so precious and I loved them so much. So slay. So whimsy. So cutie pie. I wish to be friends with Audrey. And Henry had such whimsy, I adore him. He was the whimsiest of the whimsies. I was fully invested, and the plot kept me on my toes. It felt like whimsy and orange creamsicle had a baby. The friendships were also something I enjoyed. The ending was so sweet and perfect, and I cannot wait to read whatever book K. L. Walther writes next. If you’re looking for a fun romcom definitely pick this one up!
Release date:March 31st (out now)
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Age rating:16+
Spice:fade to black
Thank you for this arc! This was the vibes. I loved it so much, binged it in a few sittings. Audrey and Henry were so precious and I loved them so much. So slay. So whimsy. So cutie pie. I wish to be friends with Audrey. And Henry had such whimsy, I adore him. He was the whimsiest of the whimsies. I was fully invested, and the plot kept me on my toes. It felt like whimsy and orange creamsicle had a baby. The friendships were also something I enjoyed. The ending was so sweet and perfect, and I cannot wait to read whatever book K. L. Walther writes next. If you’re looking for a fun romcom definitely pick this one up!
Did not finish
April 3, 2026too pop culture-y for me, sorrryyy.
anticipated-౨ৎ
March 16, 2026────── જ⁀➴
Two best friends & fake dating ?? You don’t see this everyday ! I’m super excited for this book because we genuinely need more friends to lovers ^ฅ゛
Two best friends & fake dating ?? You don’t see this everyday ! I’m super excited for this book because we genuinely need more friends to lovers ^ฅ゛
Want to read
June 21, 20256.21.25 ౨ৎ
does she not sleep at night??
does she not sleep at night??
November 17, 2025
Fans of Risky Business will love this YA romance by @klwalther9
❌
Audrey is ready to take her glass blowing Etsy shop to the next level and attend a prestigious summer program to better her craft. Unfortunately her parents don’t want to fund it, instead insisting she attend The Wharton School of Business. After her parents head to Paris for a few weeks, Audrey mistakenly signs up for her program using her emergency bank account and now needs to raise $10,000 in two weeks. Enter her best friend and business partner, Henry, who is going through a tough break up. She offers to be his fake girlfriend to help him while he helps her set up her guest house as an Airbnb. Nothing about these plans could go wrong.
💡
The title, the setting, the green flags for the MMC—it all works for this summer YA romance from one of the best in the biz. I adore Walther’s young adult books and believe this will be a great addition to a high school library Already preordered my sprayed edges copy! This novel releases March 3!
CW: parental abandonment, alcohol, drug use, toxic friendship
I loved Henry, but wasn’t the biggest fan of Audrey and her instalove.
❌
Audrey is ready to take her glass blowing Etsy shop to the next level and attend a prestigious summer program to better her craft. Unfortunately her parents don’t want to fund it, instead insisting she attend The Wharton School of Business. After her parents head to Paris for a few weeks, Audrey mistakenly signs up for her program using her emergency bank account and now needs to raise $10,000 in two weeks. Enter her best friend and business partner, Henry, who is going through a tough break up. She offers to be his fake girlfriend to help him while he helps her set up her guest house as an Airbnb. Nothing about these plans could go wrong.
💡
The title, the setting, the green flags for the MMC—it all works for this summer YA romance from one of the best in the biz. I adore Walther’s young adult books and believe this will be a great addition to a high school library Already preordered my sprayed edges copy! This novel releases March 3!
CW: parental abandonment, alcohol, drug use, toxic friendship
I loved Henry, but wasn’t the biggest fan of Audrey and her instalove.
November 26, 2025
Friend to lovers?!? And Fake Dating?! I already know this one is going to change my life!!!
July 4, 2025
too many characters and a lot going on with very little romance, but still a fun time
March 22, 2026
BLURB:
Audrey, who doesn’t want the future her parents have planned for her in college and instead wants to attend a glassblowing program. After using their money for a deposit, she’s forced to quickly make money, leading her and her friends to secretly rent out her family’s summer home while she also fake dates her best friend Henry so he can win back his ex.
REVIEW:
If you’ve enjoyed any of K.L. Walther’s books, you’re definitely going to love this one. Although it’s marketed as a YA romance and includes some great tropes—fake dating, best friends to lovers, mutual pining, and banter—that doesn’t fully capture what it is. It’s more of a coming-of-age story about pursuing your own path instead of the version everyone expects.The characters may be teenagers, but their decision-making, problem-solving, and even the way they speak to each other feel more like characters in their early twenties—so it reads more like upper YA to New Adult. There’s also an original mix of themes—choosing passion over prestige, pushing back against parental expectations, and the fear of disappointing the people you love—that really make it stand out compared to the author’s other books.
The story is told entirely from Audrey’s first-person POV, and she’s the epitome of a “good girl breaking rules” persona as you feel the weight of her worry and hesitation in every risky decision she makes. A lot of the story happens in her head—her overthinking about Henry and Griffin, her anxiety, and the way she tries to justify every decision. Her glassblowing dream is the central thread everything stems from. Her talent is undeniable, and her willingness to go behind her parents’ backs to pursue it makes her really compelling. The fake dating situation isn’t over the top like other books—it’s something they practically agree to for a short period. At the same time, the chemistry between Audrey and Henry is undeniable from the start, and their natural back-and-forth banter from already being close makes their slow-burn romance feel so organic and sweet!
Hands down the best part of the book is the whole Airbnb-style scheme at Fairwinds—it’s a constant source of chaos, with each set of guests bringing new problems, from people ignoring rules to leaving messes to cherished items going missing, adding so much drama and humor. The friend group is another standout, with group chats, meetup sessions to plan Audrey’s next steps, and constant check-ins giving major found-family vibes!
The pacing is pretty consistent with K.L. Walther’s other books—steady and with a lot of fun character interactions. That being said, there are repetitive scenes and inner dialogue from Audrey, and with almost 400 pages, the story could have been shorter and more effective. By the end, Audrey’s arc, especially her future and relationship with her parents, is fully fleshed out in a realistic way, and the romance gets a satisfying resolution that will leave readers smiling!
Fans of upper YA/new adult drama, friends-to-lovers romance, fake dating, and strong friend group dynamics will find a lot to love in this book!
Audrey, who doesn’t want the future her parents have planned for her in college and instead wants to attend a glassblowing program. After using their money for a deposit, she’s forced to quickly make money, leading her and her friends to secretly rent out her family’s summer home while she also fake dates her best friend Henry so he can win back his ex.
REVIEW:
If you’ve enjoyed any of K.L. Walther’s books, you’re definitely going to love this one. Although it’s marketed as a YA romance and includes some great tropes—fake dating, best friends to lovers, mutual pining, and banter—that doesn’t fully capture what it is. It’s more of a coming-of-age story about pursuing your own path instead of the version everyone expects.The characters may be teenagers, but their decision-making, problem-solving, and even the way they speak to each other feel more like characters in their early twenties—so it reads more like upper YA to New Adult. There’s also an original mix of themes—choosing passion over prestige, pushing back against parental expectations, and the fear of disappointing the people you love—that really make it stand out compared to the author’s other books.
The story is told entirely from Audrey’s first-person POV, and she’s the epitome of a “good girl breaking rules” persona as you feel the weight of her worry and hesitation in every risky decision she makes. A lot of the story happens in her head—her overthinking about Henry and Griffin, her anxiety, and the way she tries to justify every decision. Her glassblowing dream is the central thread everything stems from. Her talent is undeniable, and her willingness to go behind her parents’ backs to pursue it makes her really compelling. The fake dating situation isn’t over the top like other books—it’s something they practically agree to for a short period. At the same time, the chemistry between Audrey and Henry is undeniable from the start, and their natural back-and-forth banter from already being close makes their slow-burn romance feel so organic and sweet!
Hands down the best part of the book is the whole Airbnb-style scheme at Fairwinds—it’s a constant source of chaos, with each set of guests bringing new problems, from people ignoring rules to leaving messes to cherished items going missing, adding so much drama and humor. The friend group is another standout, with group chats, meetup sessions to plan Audrey’s next steps, and constant check-ins giving major found-family vibes!
The pacing is pretty consistent with K.L. Walther’s other books—steady and with a lot of fun character interactions. That being said, there are repetitive scenes and inner dialogue from Audrey, and with almost 400 pages, the story could have been shorter and more effective. By the end, Audrey’s arc, especially her future and relationship with her parents, is fully fleshed out in a realistic way, and the romance gets a satisfying resolution that will leave readers smiling!
Fans of upper YA/new adult drama, friends-to-lovers romance, fake dating, and strong friend group dynamics will find a lot to love in this book!
March 20, 2026
Lowkey what the fuck was that 🤣 I JUST put it down and I have to say the actual ending, like the last page type of deal… pissed me right tf off 🤣🤣🤣 The editing (in the ARC copy, no idea how it will be updated) really started losing it towards the last 1/4th of the book… but the ACTUAL ENDING? It was like the author forgot to write one or ran out of time before the deadline. LMAO Maybe I am being too harsh, but that was genuinely a little crazy after ALL of that. This book was almost a DNF in the beginning for me. I picked it up again and reached a comfortable pace, it was a peaceful little trot of a plot… but then I guess it became annoying again by the end. Wouldn’t recommend this for young teens as it was 24/7 bad decision making LMAO and an empty shell of a love interest, who sure … you might get LUCKY and have a genuinely beautiful male best friend who it all works out with… but also teenage boys are shiesty and young and hormonal and living for the first time, and I don’t think the lil girls need any encouraging to be HAVING SEX when things are unclear and not where you want them to be emotionally and also WHAT THE FUCK WAS THIS BOOK. LMAO. What is confusing to me is there were PORTIONS OF PLOT that made complete sense and were a fun read… but take that “relationship” out of it entirely lowkey? Why was the book titled after it 🤣 We could have used a little bit more UMPH if we want to claim it was the main focus. Hahahahha the FMC artistic endeavors and future plans and silly short term shenanigans re renting her home out to recoup $ she (DRUNKENLY) spent that she shouldn’t have, could have been a fun and satisfying little story on its own. This is a meh for me. A fine read, but all of the characters could have used a little bit more to them. Just ~forgettable~ probably. BUT this is from my old lady POV. AGAIN, I personally won’t be recommending this to my library littles… so idrk who this is for 🤣 Too baby-ish for college students, but wtf for a HS student or middle schooler. I already feel like this review is too harsh, but thems the thoughts !!!!!! I’m also not even against sex or drinking in books for teens, this was just … INFINITY ~mistakes~ and sketchy decisions for nothing. The end
August 25, 2025
Okay, so I have to start by saying that fake relationship romances are my absolute weakness. If I see that trope in a book, I am instantly sold. That was the case here, and I could not wait to dive in. It gave me all the giddy feels right from the first chapter, and I knew I was in for a good time.
Another thing that totally hooked me was the glass art part of the story. It immediately took me back to Born in Fire by Nora Roberts, which is one of my all-time favorite reads. That book made glass blowing seem so fascinating, and this one brought that same vibe. The main character here is still learning, but that actually made it feel fresh and even more interesting.
The story grabbed me right away and I kept telling myself I would stop after one more chapter, but you already know how that goes. What I really enjoyed was that the love story was not the only focus. The main conflict of the book mattered just as much, and watching the characters deal with it together made their romance feel way more real.
I also fell in love with the side characters. They were not just background filler, they had their own spark that made me want to know more about them. After a little snooping, I found out some of them show up in other books by the author. That is definitely going on my reading list.
By the end, I was honestly sad it was over. That is always the sign of a great read for me. I already know I will be picking up more of this author’s books once I knock out a few from my ever-growing TBR pile.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
Another thing that totally hooked me was the glass art part of the story. It immediately took me back to Born in Fire by Nora Roberts, which is one of my all-time favorite reads. That book made glass blowing seem so fascinating, and this one brought that same vibe. The main character here is still learning, but that actually made it feel fresh and even more interesting.
The story grabbed me right away and I kept telling myself I would stop after one more chapter, but you already know how that goes. What I really enjoyed was that the love story was not the only focus. The main conflict of the book mattered just as much, and watching the characters deal with it together made their romance feel way more real.
I also fell in love with the side characters. They were not just background filler, they had their own spark that made me want to know more about them. After a little snooping, I found out some of them show up in other books by the author. That is definitely going on my reading list.
By the end, I was honestly sad it was over. That is always the sign of a great read for me. I already know I will be picking up more of this author’s books once I knock out a few from my ever-growing TBR pile.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
November 21, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s Books for this arc!!
Rating: 3.5 ⭐️
"I love you, Audrey. So much more than I can ever express."
After reading “The Summer of Broken Rules,” I’ve been very excited to read K. L Walter’s other books! This arc of “We’re a Bad Idea, Right?” was my first other book of hers, and while I did not enjoy it as much, it was still a cute, fun and enjoyable read!
For me, it was a little bit difficult to get through the first few chapters, and there was also one or two long chapters, but other than that, the book was pretty fast-paced and easy to read.
One thing I wish was different, however, is that we had more romantic buildup between Henry and Audrey. This book features fake dating (which we love, of course 🤭) but I feel like we didn’t get too much development for when they started having actual romantic feelings outside of being platonic best friends. There also weren’t really any big plot twists or third act breaks ups (which I know a lot of people hate those in romance books, but I actually kind of enjoy them though) so if you want a light and quick read then you’d probably enjoy it!
There is also a singular scene that has suggestive content, aka spice. It’s not explicitly on the page, and it’s only for a few lines, but I do like to warn people as I know some readers prefer to read books that don’t hint at spice at all!
Overall, this book was enjoyable and I would recommend it.
"No way." He shook his head. "It wasn't a nightmare; it was definitely a dream." He tilted his head, smiled a little. "Because you were in it."
Rating: 3.5 ⭐️
"I love you, Audrey. So much more than I can ever express."
After reading “The Summer of Broken Rules,” I’ve been very excited to read K. L Walter’s other books! This arc of “We’re a Bad Idea, Right?” was my first other book of hers, and while I did not enjoy it as much, it was still a cute, fun and enjoyable read!
For me, it was a little bit difficult to get through the first few chapters, and there was also one or two long chapters, but other than that, the book was pretty fast-paced and easy to read.
One thing I wish was different, however, is that we had more romantic buildup between Henry and Audrey. This book features fake dating (which we love, of course 🤭) but I feel like we didn’t get too much development for when they started having actual romantic feelings outside of being platonic best friends. There also weren’t really any big plot twists or third act breaks ups (which I know a lot of people hate those in romance books, but I actually kind of enjoy them though) so if you want a light and quick read then you’d probably enjoy it!
There is also a singular scene that has suggestive content, aka spice. It’s not explicitly on the page, and it’s only for a few lines, but I do like to warn people as I know some readers prefer to read books that don’t hint at spice at all!
Overall, this book was enjoyable and I would recommend it.
"No way." He shook his head. "It wasn't a nightmare; it was definitely a dream." He tilted his head, smiled a little. "Because you were in it."
July 19, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children's Books for this ARC!
K.L. Walther's dreamy high school romance was PHENOMENAL. I don't think I could dislike a book this woman writes but nonetheless this was pure magic.💖 It has easily climbed the leaderboard to become my second favorite K.L. Walther book (The Summer of Broken Rules is my forever favorite book). If dreamy summer skies were a book it would be this one.
Audrey and Henry's story includes two of my all-time favorite tropes, fake dating and friends-to-lovers! Their story was so sweet and I couldn't stop reading trying to find out how they'd end up, not to mention their ADORABLEEE movie quote back-and-forth and Henry's unending nicknames for Audrey.
This concept was unlike anything else I've read and it was SO much fun. I loved reading about Audrey's glassblowing, and the vacation rental set-up led to so many adorable and hilarious scenes. K.L. Walther was spot-on when she said in her acknowledgments for this book that it is just so much fun.
This book was a treat and I highly reccomend it to any rom-com lovers, especially fans of the fake dating and friends-to-lovers tropes! I feel like I shouldn't have to say this but just in case, if you liked any of K.L. Walther's other books you will LOVEEEEEE this one!!!
🎧 - Daylight by Taylor Swift 🩷🧡
K.L. Walther's dreamy high school romance was PHENOMENAL. I don't think I could dislike a book this woman writes but nonetheless this was pure magic.💖 It has easily climbed the leaderboard to become my second favorite K.L. Walther book (The Summer of Broken Rules is my forever favorite book). If dreamy summer skies were a book it would be this one.
Audrey and Henry's story includes two of my all-time favorite tropes, fake dating and friends-to-lovers! Their story was so sweet and I couldn't stop reading trying to find out how they'd end up, not to mention their ADORABLEEE movie quote back-and-forth and Henry's unending nicknames for Audrey.
This concept was unlike anything else I've read and it was SO much fun. I loved reading about Audrey's glassblowing, and the vacation rental set-up led to so many adorable and hilarious scenes. K.L. Walther was spot-on when she said in her acknowledgments for this book that it is just so much fun.
This book was a treat and I highly reccomend it to any rom-com lovers, especially fans of the fake dating and friends-to-lovers tropes! I feel like I shouldn't have to say this but just in case, if you liked any of K.L. Walther's other books you will LOVEEEEEE this one!!!
🎧 - Daylight by Taylor Swift 🩷🧡
August 18, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
This book was technicolor. Audrey has always been the kids her parents could trust. And her best friend Henry is always her right hand man. So when Audrey’s parents leave her for two weeks and a decision about her future needed to be made, Audrey takes matters into her own hands and decides to rent out her house to pay for her glassblowing program. Not only that but Henry wants to win his ex back and Audrey wants to win over her crush. So they decide to do the only practical thing and fake date. It’s not a bad idea, right? WOW THIS BOOK WAS FUN! Henry described a dream he had as a roller coaster and honestly that’s how this book felt. I’d like to start this off by saying THANK YOU SO MUCH K.L. WALTHER FOR SENDING ME AN ARC! i promise to cherish it forever. NOW LETS GO! going into this book i was expecting a cutie little fake dating friends to lovers, AND I GOT THAT, BUT ALSO SO MUCH MORE! K.L. Walther is my queen of easter eggs and cameos and i loved seeing some familiar faces but also meeting some new ones 🥹 (in a well ordered universe it’s ellie and griff). i LOVED this friend group. i felt like i was part of their scheming and parties. i really loved audrey. and i loved her determination throughout the book. also HENRY MY ANGEL. henry and audrey are my reputation duo. i had such a fun time reading this and i was sad when it all ended because i just wanted to know what thing they were gonna plan next. all in all i really loved this book!
Song i thought of while reading:
Delicate - taylor swift
This book was technicolor. Audrey has always been the kids her parents could trust. And her best friend Henry is always her right hand man. So when Audrey’s parents leave her for two weeks and a decision about her future needed to be made, Audrey takes matters into her own hands and decides to rent out her house to pay for her glassblowing program. Not only that but Henry wants to win his ex back and Audrey wants to win over her crush. So they decide to do the only practical thing and fake date. It’s not a bad idea, right? WOW THIS BOOK WAS FUN! Henry described a dream he had as a roller coaster and honestly that’s how this book felt. I’d like to start this off by saying THANK YOU SO MUCH K.L. WALTHER FOR SENDING ME AN ARC! i promise to cherish it forever. NOW LETS GO! going into this book i was expecting a cutie little fake dating friends to lovers, AND I GOT THAT, BUT ALSO SO MUCH MORE! K.L. Walther is my queen of easter eggs and cameos and i loved seeing some familiar faces but also meeting some new ones 🥹 (in a well ordered universe it’s ellie and griff). i LOVED this friend group. i felt like i was part of their scheming and parties. i really loved audrey. and i loved her determination throughout the book. also HENRY MY ANGEL. henry and audrey are my reputation duo. i had such a fun time reading this and i was sad when it all ended because i just wanted to know what thing they were gonna plan next. all in all i really loved this book!
Song i thought of while reading:
Delicate - taylor swift
August 6, 2025
K.L. Walther did it again with a fun and easy to read romcom. I think I read this in less than 24 hours.
I love the fake dating trope and thought it was well executed in this book. It was fun that Audrey was fake dating her best friend, usually the books I read with this trope have the fake dating between people who aren’t particularly close with each other so this was a fun change (I guess this book fake dating AND friends to lovers). Together Audrey and Henry were a fun pair, I really loved their closeness and how comfortable they were with each other. They also had relatively healthy communication for a couple in a romance novel. Plus, I love when couples have nicknames like they did!
I found the plot line of Audrey renting out her house while her parents were away to be quite entertaining. It led to some fun hijinks and it was fun to see her and her friend group work together to run things and cover it up. Although it definitely had me stressing at times.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House/Delacorte Romance for the ARC
4.25/5 ⭐️
I love the fake dating trope and thought it was well executed in this book. It was fun that Audrey was fake dating her best friend, usually the books I read with this trope have the fake dating between people who aren’t particularly close with each other so this was a fun change (I guess this book fake dating AND friends to lovers). Together Audrey and Henry were a fun pair, I really loved their closeness and how comfortable they were with each other. They also had relatively healthy communication for a couple in a romance novel. Plus, I love when couples have nicknames like they did!
I found the plot line of Audrey renting out her house while her parents were away to be quite entertaining. It led to some fun hijinks and it was fun to see her and her friend group work together to run things and cover it up. Although it definitely had me stressing at times.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House/Delacorte Romance for the ARC
4.25/5 ⭐️
March 30, 2026
Eighteen-year-old Audrey Barbour dreams of studying glassblowing at a fellowship after high school, but without her parent’s support she needs to find the money to pay for it. With her parents out of town, she decides to rent out her family’s home online. Meanwhile, following a bad break-up, Audrey’s best friend Henry proposes a fake-dating plan to win back his ex.
This was such a fun YA book with an original plot and a likable cast of characters. I absolutely loved that Audrey was into glassblowing—that’s such a unique skill and I hadn’t seen it featured in a book before. The fake-dating trope was done well, and the characters were well-developed. The book also has various pop culture references, including quite a few Taylor Swift references, and as a Swiftie I loved that!
Thank you to Get Underlined/Love Underlined and Delacorte Romance for my gifted copies!
This was such a fun YA book with an original plot and a likable cast of characters. I absolutely loved that Audrey was into glassblowing—that’s such a unique skill and I hadn’t seen it featured in a book before. The fake-dating trope was done well, and the characters were well-developed. The book also has various pop culture references, including quite a few Taylor Swift references, and as a Swiftie I loved that!
Thank you to Get Underlined/Love Underlined and Delacorte Romance for my gifted copies!
July 25, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Delacorte Romance for the ARC!
4 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
We’re a Bad Idea, Right? by K.L. Walther was such a fun and heartfelt read! I loved the fake-dating twist and the slow shift from friendship to something more. Audrey’s journey to break free from expectations and follow her passion was super relatable. The pacing dragged a bit at times, but the chemistry, emotion, and character growth made it totally worth it. Sweet, chaotic, and satisfying!
4 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
We’re a Bad Idea, Right? by K.L. Walther was such a fun and heartfelt read! I loved the fake-dating twist and the slow shift from friendship to something more. Audrey’s journey to break free from expectations and follow her passion was super relatable. The pacing dragged a bit at times, but the chemistry, emotion, and character growth made it totally worth it. Sweet, chaotic, and satisfying!
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