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It's in the Contract
Callie Carter is NOT running for Homecoming Queen. She just doesn’t have it in her after her boyfriend dumped her and broke her heart. But when her lifelong nemesis, Brielle, gets Callie’s best friend disqualified from the race, Callie’s done playing nice. She’s going to win that crown and finally prove her worth—to Brielle, to her perfectionist mom, and maybe even to herself.
The problem? Brielle’s got a ruthless streak and 200k Insta followers, many of whom attend their school. Callie’s campaign is doomed… unless she can totally switch things up.
Enter Zeke Harris—gamer, loner, and YouTube famous. With a massive subscriber base, Zeke could be Callie’s secret weapon. If Callie could persuade Zeke to help her win “nerd crowd” votes, that could change everything. But Zeke doesn’t do real-life friendships—until his parents threaten to cut him off from gaming unless he proves he can be social. Callie and Zeke strike a she gets his followers, he keeps his consoles. Strictly business.
Callie never meant to fall for Zeke, but there’s something irresistible about his quirky charm and the way he sees the real her. With him, she can breathe, drop the act, be herself. It’s terrifying… and kind of magical. But Callie must keep those feelings—and their contract—hidden. Hanging out with a nerd is one thing. Dating one? Absolutely not.
The problem? Brielle’s got a ruthless streak and 200k Insta followers, many of whom attend their school. Callie’s campaign is doomed… unless she can totally switch things up.
Enter Zeke Harris—gamer, loner, and YouTube famous. With a massive subscriber base, Zeke could be Callie’s secret weapon. If Callie could persuade Zeke to help her win “nerd crowd” votes, that could change everything. But Zeke doesn’t do real-life friendships—until his parents threaten to cut him off from gaming unless he proves he can be social. Callie and Zeke strike a she gets his followers, he keeps his consoles. Strictly business.
Callie never meant to fall for Zeke, but there’s something irresistible about his quirky charm and the way he sees the real her. With him, she can breathe, drop the act, be herself. It’s terrifying… and kind of magical. But Callie must keep those feelings—and their contract—hidden. Hanging out with a nerd is one thing. Dating one? Absolutely not.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 17, 2025
7 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Flory
4 books72 followersJessica Flory is an award-winning author of YA fantasy/romance. She has a bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology from BYU, Provo, and she uses that science background to dream up cool settings and magic systems. Jessica has been a proud member of the Hot Mess Writers Critique Group since 2013.
Jessica is a mom of three crazy boys and one girl. She is a fitness instructor and an avid baker. When she’s not writing, she can be found chasing her kids, making a mess in the kitchen, or reading with her husband. Connect with her at jessicaflory.com.
Jessica is a mom of three crazy boys and one girl. She is a fitness instructor and an avid baker. When she’s not writing, she can be found chasing her kids, making a mess in the kitchen, or reading with her husband. Connect with her at jessicaflory.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
October 7, 2025
4 Stars ✨
YA Contemporary Romance
🧁Clean - No Spice
🧁Tropes and Modern voice
🧁Baking
🧁Nerdy guy / Popular Girl
🧁Fake Friendship
🧁Secret Contract
🧁Influencers
🧁Homecoming Contest
Thank you to the Author Jessica Flory for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
Callie is a high school senior, dealing with an unexpected heartbreak. As she tries to rebuild her confidence, she sets her mind and energy towards winning Homecoming Queen. The only problem is, she needs help, since her ex’s new girlfriend is doing everything to ruin her chances.
Zeke is a book loving, YouTube personality- and also, the new guy at school. His parents are threatening to cut off his gaming if he doesn’t make friends “in real life.” Callie and Zeke come up with a plan for both of them to get what they want.
It’s in the Contract was a cute and fluffy read. Sometimes you just need a book that gives off good vibes and sweetness. It was full of common tropes and all the popular lingo YA kids are saying these days, making it relevant for the target YA audience. The writing was simple and engaging and the pace was consistent, never dragging. The characters were likable and grew as they learned valuable lessons. I enjoyed the outcome and the positive messages throughout of the book . My only complaint is at times, the characters lacked emotional depth making them feel a little flat. I would have liked to have seen more depth, especially from Zeke . I still had a fun and enjoyable time reading it and would definitely recommend!
YA Contemporary Romance
🧁Clean - No Spice
🧁Tropes and Modern voice
🧁Baking
🧁Nerdy guy / Popular Girl
🧁Fake Friendship
🧁Secret Contract
🧁Influencers
🧁Homecoming Contest
Thank you to the Author Jessica Flory for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
Callie is a high school senior, dealing with an unexpected heartbreak. As she tries to rebuild her confidence, she sets her mind and energy towards winning Homecoming Queen. The only problem is, she needs help, since her ex’s new girlfriend is doing everything to ruin her chances.
Zeke is a book loving, YouTube personality- and also, the new guy at school. His parents are threatening to cut off his gaming if he doesn’t make friends “in real life.” Callie and Zeke come up with a plan for both of them to get what they want.
It’s in the Contract was a cute and fluffy read. Sometimes you just need a book that gives off good vibes and sweetness. It was full of common tropes and all the popular lingo YA kids are saying these days, making it relevant for the target YA audience. The writing was simple and engaging and the pace was consistent, never dragging. The characters were likable and grew as they learned valuable lessons. I enjoyed the outcome and the positive messages throughout of the book . My only complaint is at times, the characters lacked emotional depth making them feel a little flat. I would have liked to have seen more depth, especially from Zeke . I still had a fun and enjoyable time reading it and would definitely recommend!
October 19, 2025
I’ll confess that since romance isn’t my genre I was confused by some of the tropes (fake dating? That’s a thing?) But it’s cute and clean with fun pop culture references. If you’re looking for a sweet high school romance with likable main characters, I think you’ll enjoy this book.
October 1, 2025
4.5 Stars.
🧁The vibes:
- fake friendship
- Seatle setting
- High school
- YA romcom
- Found family
- Nerdy boy x popular girl
- Closed door
🎮 My thoughts:
It’s senior year of high school and Callie is determined to prove her worth. She’s running for Homecoming Queen and is willing to do whatever it takes to win popular vote- even befriend the nerds of the school to get their votes. Enter Zeke- a loner and gamer who loves Dungeons and Dragons. When Callie proposes a deal that Zeke can’t refuse, they’ll struggle to find where the lines blur between what’s fake and what’s real?
🎮 I liked seeing Callie grow. She had such a good heart from the start but had to find her voice. Seeing her get to know Zeke and his family was so precious. She needed those bonds, and I felt like they cultivated growth in Callie.
🎮 And Zeke- he’s such a cutie with the softest heart. I loved to see his feelings grow for Callie despite his resistance, and the small glances and touching of hands between these two had me so giddy.
🎮 This is very high school and very YA. When I read YA books, a lot of times they don’t necessarily feel YA to me, which is nice for me as a grown adult, but not nice for the fact that they’re supposed to be written for teenagers. This book feels like it was written for teenagers. It was pretty wholesome too, which I appreciate for the target age.
🎮 Callie’s mom is literally the worst, and I was throwing hands anytime she came in a scene. We did get closure here, but it felt a tad rushed. I was also a little bit confused at the homecoming result and how that came to be, but I feel ok suspending belief for some of these moments because it’s YA. I feel like YA has a lot more room for a quick wrap up that’s tied with a bow.
🎮 All in all, I think this was a fantastic romance for teenagers looking for something wholesome and adorable. This whole book felt like such a love letter to Seattle, and I think it’s the perfect romcom for teens (which the YA romance category desperately needs).
Note- closed door.
Release date: October 17, 2025.
Thank you so much to Jessica Flory for the gifted copy.
🧁The vibes:
- fake friendship
- Seatle setting
- High school
- YA romcom
- Found family
- Nerdy boy x popular girl
- Closed door
🎮 My thoughts:
It’s senior year of high school and Callie is determined to prove her worth. She’s running for Homecoming Queen and is willing to do whatever it takes to win popular vote- even befriend the nerds of the school to get their votes. Enter Zeke- a loner and gamer who loves Dungeons and Dragons. When Callie proposes a deal that Zeke can’t refuse, they’ll struggle to find where the lines blur between what’s fake and what’s real?
🎮 I liked seeing Callie grow. She had such a good heart from the start but had to find her voice. Seeing her get to know Zeke and his family was so precious. She needed those bonds, and I felt like they cultivated growth in Callie.
🎮 And Zeke- he’s such a cutie with the softest heart. I loved to see his feelings grow for Callie despite his resistance, and the small glances and touching of hands between these two had me so giddy.
🎮 This is very high school and very YA. When I read YA books, a lot of times they don’t necessarily feel YA to me, which is nice for me as a grown adult, but not nice for the fact that they’re supposed to be written for teenagers. This book feels like it was written for teenagers. It was pretty wholesome too, which I appreciate for the target age.
🎮 Callie’s mom is literally the worst, and I was throwing hands anytime she came in a scene. We did get closure here, but it felt a tad rushed. I was also a little bit confused at the homecoming result and how that came to be, but I feel ok suspending belief for some of these moments because it’s YA. I feel like YA has a lot more room for a quick wrap up that’s tied with a bow.
🎮 All in all, I think this was a fantastic romance for teenagers looking for something wholesome and adorable. This whole book felt like such a love letter to Seattle, and I think it’s the perfect romcom for teens (which the YA romance category desperately needs).
Note- closed door.
Release date: October 17, 2025.
Thank you so much to Jessica Flory for the gifted copy.
October 19, 2025
This was my first ever Beta read! I was honored Jessica asked me. And I was so excited for her to dip her toes in a different genre, and boy did she excel!!!
This story had growth. So many characters grew and learned more about themselves and I LOVED that the underlying theme is learning to be your authentic self. This YA Romcom needs to be on your radar!
Callie Carter. Always under a spotlight because of her father’s fame, just wants people to like her. But she wants to show the best version of herself, what she thinks others want to see, but will this make her happy?
Callie never set out to run for Homecoming Queen, but when her nemesis starts using underhanded tactics, Callie wants to prove others have a chance. Social Media has a part to play in who wins and who loses.
Zeke Harris. Shy, nerdy, and incredibly kind. He made my heart swell many times. Between helping Callie, taking a chance on the new school year, and his family togetherness, I couldn’t have loved him more. Selfless, good, gentlemanly, gift giver, and helping her face her fears. I’m telling you, Zeke is amazing.
Things I Loved:
📝The contract
🍪Sightseeing Seattle
📝Baking Contest
🍪Facing Fears
📝The Negative Aspect of Social Media
🍪D&D
📝Butter, her sweet pug
🍪Lasagna
📝Suzy
🍪Learning YOU are the best thing to share with others
📝Him teaching her to Play Video Games
🍪Holding her through her fear of heights
Ahh. I loved this clean YA romcom more than I can explain! The wholesome care and devotion. All the time spent together. Facing Fears and having each others back. Adored everything about this sweet story.
✨Favorite Quote: “Rule Number 6: Zeke must always have Callie’s back.”
This story had growth. So many characters grew and learned more about themselves and I LOVED that the underlying theme is learning to be your authentic self. This YA Romcom needs to be on your radar!
Callie Carter. Always under a spotlight because of her father’s fame, just wants people to like her. But she wants to show the best version of herself, what she thinks others want to see, but will this make her happy?
Callie never set out to run for Homecoming Queen, but when her nemesis starts using underhanded tactics, Callie wants to prove others have a chance. Social Media has a part to play in who wins and who loses.
Zeke Harris. Shy, nerdy, and incredibly kind. He made my heart swell many times. Between helping Callie, taking a chance on the new school year, and his family togetherness, I couldn’t have loved him more. Selfless, good, gentlemanly, gift giver, and helping her face her fears. I’m telling you, Zeke is amazing.
Things I Loved:
📝The contract
🍪Sightseeing Seattle
📝Baking Contest
🍪Facing Fears
📝The Negative Aspect of Social Media
🍪D&D
📝Butter, her sweet pug
🍪Lasagna
📝Suzy
🍪Learning YOU are the best thing to share with others
📝Him teaching her to Play Video Games
🍪Holding her through her fear of heights
Ahh. I loved this clean YA romcom more than I can explain! The wholesome care and devotion. All the time spent together. Facing Fears and having each others back. Adored everything about this sweet story.
✨Favorite Quote: “Rule Number 6: Zeke must always have Callie’s back.”
October 17, 2025
Oh this had a whirlwind of emotions and it definitely took me back to high school. I have a bone to pick with Kellie’s mom because through about 90% of the book. She is such a tool bag and her parenting style is the type of parent that I personally do not want to be. But that being said Jessica gave her a satisfactory ending. That was both believable and hopeful. I love Callie and Zeke. I love the way. They just genuinely get to know each other and Callie obviously does not watch romcoms enough because if she did, she would know that any fake type of relationship always ends in the direction you were not expecting, always. I think my absolute favorite characters are Zeke because he is just the best embodiment of the absolute coolest nerd. And then his little sister Mia is like my inner child. I absolutely love what she names her guinea pig. And Zeke’s mom Caroline is who I strive to be as a mom. This is definitely a closed door, young adult, teen or tween high school age book. There was all the drama, all the emotions, all the stupid crap that gets pulled with the different cliques that come at that age. Highly recommend. A good read with all the right emotions.
January 5, 2026
It’s In The Contract is a cutesy YA Romance featuring a popular girl and a nerd, baking, Zelda games, and the fight for the homecoming crown.
While it does its job as a cute little romance, the writing in this story felt quite stiff, especially when it came to the dialogue. The words “say, says, and said” were used one after another on one of the pages, and that’s just one of the times I noticed it. Callie, our protagonist, also starts off shallow. I know that’s on purpose, but I found myself annoyed by her continuing to play dumb so that her schoolmates would like her.
I loved Zeke. A guy who is very open about his interests and passionate about them, reads giant fantasy novels and plays unicorns with his baby sister, all while running a gaming channel and moving across the country constantly. He had such a warm heart and I loved how sweet he was, especially when defending Callie from Brielle!
However cute they were together, the stiffness of the dialogue, the nerdy references feeling like “hello fellow kids,” and the cliques and shallowness bogged this book down quite a bit. I still enjoyed it as it was an easy read, but man, those parts were tough to get through!
While it does its job as a cute little romance, the writing in this story felt quite stiff, especially when it came to the dialogue. The words “say, says, and said” were used one after another on one of the pages, and that’s just one of the times I noticed it. Callie, our protagonist, also starts off shallow. I know that’s on purpose, but I found myself annoyed by her continuing to play dumb so that her schoolmates would like her.
I loved Zeke. A guy who is very open about his interests and passionate about them, reads giant fantasy novels and plays unicorns with his baby sister, all while running a gaming channel and moving across the country constantly. He had such a warm heart and I loved how sweet he was, especially when defending Callie from Brielle!
However cute they were together, the stiffness of the dialogue, the nerdy references feeling like “hello fellow kids,” and the cliques and shallowness bogged this book down quite a bit. I still enjoyed it as it was an easy read, but man, those parts were tough to get through!
November 6, 2025
This is such a perfect young adult read! I absolutely loved this entire cast of characters and Jessica Flory’s writing in this book. It felt so true to the high school experience and something that I would have loved to read when I was living some of these things! Zeke was such a sweetheart, and I enjoyed watching Callie’s journey, realizations, and growth across the book. If you are needing something wholesome that makes you feel like you are in high school again, in the best way, this is for you!!!
This also reminded me of a Disney channel movie from when I was younger in the best kind of way, and specially reminded me a little bit of Geek Charming which is one of my favorites!
Content: no spice (kisses only), no language, body image
This also reminded me of a Disney channel movie from when I was younger in the best kind of way, and specially reminded me a little bit of Geek Charming which is one of my favorites!
Content: no spice (kisses only), no language, body image
October 5, 2025
What I loved about this book and know you will love this book too if: 1) You are a nerd and proud of it, 2) You love pugs, 3) You like baking and want to root for the cutest closet baker, 4) You want to see all sorts of relationships improve after open conversations, 5) You’ve ever wanted to explore Seattle but haven't been yet, 6) You think crazy preschoolers are funny, 7) You love spunky characters who stand up for the outcast high school kids (and have a soft spot for autistic teens who communicate through movie quotes), 8) You like to see the mean antagonist get their just desserts, 9) You’ve ever been motivated by what other people think, and 10) You’ve ever gone to high school. If you resonated with any of the above, great! Add this book to your list and read it on a perfect fall day.
This is a darling high school romance story with kisses only.
I was granted early access to the book so I could review it for future readers to know how it was liked.
This is a darling high school romance story with kisses only.
I was granted early access to the book so I could review it for future readers to know how it was liked.
October 17, 2025
Such a cute book! Zeke is an absolute doll, Callie's mom makes me want beat someone up, and I LOVED the premise. Who thinks up this kind of storyline?! Oh, that's right. Jessica Flory! She's a genius (as seen with her other books, too.)
Loved being able to be on the ARC team for this. Thanks for telling good, clean stories, Jess!!
Loved being able to be on the ARC team for this. Thanks for telling good, clean stories, Jess!!
October 28, 2025
This books feels like all that is good from a 90s/Y2K rom-com! Truly the definition of a rom-com! Zeke is the definition of the nerdy guy and Callie is in the popular crowd and running for prom queen. These two seem like such an unlikely pair but they really work! From their phobias to the “hang outs”, they learn more and more about each other and can’t help the very real friendship and very real feelings 🤭
I love Zeke’s family and how loving they are to Callie, especially his mom. She’s so kind and loving as she gets to know her and teaches Callie to be her unapologetic self. I also LOVE the sprinkle of God’s love we get in this book. Like I said a sprinkle but Zeke’s mom tells Callie “I want her to know that who she is is good enough for me, it’s good enough for God, and it should be good enough for her. The only people she needs to please are herself and God. As long as she’s happy with who she is, then I’m happy with her, too.” 🥰 That was something Callie really needed to hear and it planted a seed in her to start the change in her through out the rest of the book.
I hope you give this book a chance!
***I have received this book as an arc in exchange for an honest review***
I love Zeke’s family and how loving they are to Callie, especially his mom. She’s so kind and loving as she gets to know her and teaches Callie to be her unapologetic self. I also LOVE the sprinkle of God’s love we get in this book. Like I said a sprinkle but Zeke’s mom tells Callie “I want her to know that who she is is good enough for me, it’s good enough for God, and it should be good enough for her. The only people she needs to please are herself and God. As long as she’s happy with who she is, then I’m happy with her, too.” 🥰 That was something Callie really needed to hear and it planted a seed in her to start the change in her through out the rest of the book.
I hope you give this book a chance!
***I have received this book as an arc in exchange for an honest review***
October 17, 2025
Loved the cute romance in this book! Definitely a welcome change of pace for me. You'll find yourself loving all the characters and laughing along with them.
Definitely recommend.
Definitely recommend.
October 9, 2025
It's In the Contract is a charming contemporary YA novel! I for one found it be be quite a wonderful and interesting story. I will say as a thirty year old adult I try to avoid reading high school drama stories but this one changed my mind and I enjoyed it. One of the thibgs I enjoyed was that Callie managed to have some character development in the story.
Although like nost teenage stories it is not always picture perfect but thankfully everything ended on a good note. I will say if you are interested in stories that start as fake dating and then turning into a real relationship then this is one story you need to check out. As mentioned before I enjoyed this story very much!
Although like nost teenage stories it is not always picture perfect but thankfully everything ended on a good note. I will say if you are interested in stories that start as fake dating and then turning into a real relationship then this is one story you need to check out. As mentioned before I enjoyed this story very much!
October 17, 2025
Usually romantic comedy is not my genre, so I was going into this book not sure I would like it. But I was pleasantly surprised. It brought lots of those cute squealy romantic feelings without the cringe that so many other romantic books have. One of the characters is a nerd, which also resonated with me. It's a classic story of how opposites attract and finding oneself despite everyone else's expectations. I recommend.
October 13, 2025
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
It's in the Contract by Jessica Flory shows Callie doing a lot of personal growth and finding herself.
Will Callie and Zeke's plan get away from them?
Callie
Callie Carter seems to have it all, especially with her dad being an actor. She has the money, is popular, a cheerleader, and has an active social media life. Except is that truly best for a seventeen-year-old girl? Not really. Callie is a sweet, smart girl who has to hide it while living with her mom's insecurities, and sometimes that is tough on a teenager. I like how we genuinely see the Callie that she wants to unhide, except for a few people who truly know her, but are too scared to, since it might hurt the Carter family image if she does. Callie does a lot of good in this novel. I think I would be friends with Callie, or at least try to be.
Zeke
Okay, the book is in Callie's perspective, but Zeke deserves his own spot. Zeke Harris is the second middle child in a family that moves around a lot for his dad's job. He knows that they are just going to end up moving again, and doesn't want to make friends if they aren't going to stay in contact with him. Zeke is a complex character. However, he mostly shows off the fact that he is a nerd and sits by himself at lunch all the time. Then, when someone gets to know him, they find out how sweet he is with his family. He is smart and a pretty awesome gamer on YouTube. Zeke will also stand up for anyone who truly needs it from a bully, as he doesn't tolerate that. If I were going to school with these two, I would probably end up sitting with Zeke at lunch and make friends with him.
The Romance
Callie and Zeke's romance happens slowly, and it was hinted at throughout the friendship that they started. I truly loved watching the friendship blossom into something more and how they both dealt with their feelings, at least from what we could gather from Callie's perspective. They are a great couple.
Five Stars
My rating for It's in the Contract by Jessica Flory is five stars. I truly recommend all of Ms. Flory's currently available books. I have reviewed all of her books. Ms. Flory is genuinely one of my favorite authors, and I am happy to read any of her books whenever I spot one.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of It's in the Contract by Jessica Flory.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
It's in the Contract by Jessica Flory shows Callie doing a lot of personal growth and finding herself.
Will Callie and Zeke's plan get away from them?
Callie
Callie Carter seems to have it all, especially with her dad being an actor. She has the money, is popular, a cheerleader, and has an active social media life. Except is that truly best for a seventeen-year-old girl? Not really. Callie is a sweet, smart girl who has to hide it while living with her mom's insecurities, and sometimes that is tough on a teenager. I like how we genuinely see the Callie that she wants to unhide, except for a few people who truly know her, but are too scared to, since it might hurt the Carter family image if she does. Callie does a lot of good in this novel. I think I would be friends with Callie, or at least try to be.
Zeke
Okay, the book is in Callie's perspective, but Zeke deserves his own spot. Zeke Harris is the second middle child in a family that moves around a lot for his dad's job. He knows that they are just going to end up moving again, and doesn't want to make friends if they aren't going to stay in contact with him. Zeke is a complex character. However, he mostly shows off the fact that he is a nerd and sits by himself at lunch all the time. Then, when someone gets to know him, they find out how sweet he is with his family. He is smart and a pretty awesome gamer on YouTube. Zeke will also stand up for anyone who truly needs it from a bully, as he doesn't tolerate that. If I were going to school with these two, I would probably end up sitting with Zeke at lunch and make friends with him.
The Romance
Callie and Zeke's romance happens slowly, and it was hinted at throughout the friendship that they started. I truly loved watching the friendship blossom into something more and how they both dealt with their feelings, at least from what we could gather from Callie's perspective. They are a great couple.
Five Stars
My rating for It's in the Contract by Jessica Flory is five stars. I truly recommend all of Ms. Flory's currently available books. I have reviewed all of her books. Ms. Flory is genuinely one of my favorite authors, and I am happy to read any of her books whenever I spot one.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of It's in the Contract by Jessica Flory.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
October 26, 2025
A huge thank you to author Jessica Flory for having me as a part of her ARC team. It was my first time reading a work done by Flory and I’ll definitely be reading all her books.
It’s In The Contract is a clean/no spice YA romance and perfect for readers like me who are expanding their reading tropes. This fake-friends to lovers romance book was such a fun read. Callie and Zeke make a great pair from start to finish. I love their dynamic and how they challenge each other out of their comfort zone.
Callie struggles with the pressure of having a father who’s a famous movie star and a mother who needs to be in control of everything. On top of that she needs to: 1) downplay her love for math and baking just to fit the status quo, and 2) do everything she can to win the crown for Homecoming Queen. Wow! I had actually forgotten how complicated navigating high school is and the pressure to fit in.
Zeke is such an amazing young man who carries the weight of starting over every time his family moves (they are a military family). To protect his heart, he doesn’t allow himself the opportunity of making friends and building meaningful relationships out of fear of being forgotten after every move. That is so hard!
The way these two totally different teens find friendship, love, and a chosen family is inspiring and actually quite refreshing. I loved it. Can’t wait for you all to meet Callie, Zeke, Suzy, Mia, Caroline, Mr. Mochi, and Butter. I can also say that after reading this book I need a guinea pig and a Pug as pets.
It’s In The Contract is a clean/no spice YA romance and perfect for readers like me who are expanding their reading tropes. This fake-friends to lovers romance book was such a fun read. Callie and Zeke make a great pair from start to finish. I love their dynamic and how they challenge each other out of their comfort zone.
Callie struggles with the pressure of having a father who’s a famous movie star and a mother who needs to be in control of everything. On top of that she needs to: 1) downplay her love for math and baking just to fit the status quo, and 2) do everything she can to win the crown for Homecoming Queen. Wow! I had actually forgotten how complicated navigating high school is and the pressure to fit in.
Zeke is such an amazing young man who carries the weight of starting over every time his family moves (they are a military family). To protect his heart, he doesn’t allow himself the opportunity of making friends and building meaningful relationships out of fear of being forgotten after every move. That is so hard!
The way these two totally different teens find friendship, love, and a chosen family is inspiring and actually quite refreshing. I loved it. Can’t wait for you all to meet Callie, Zeke, Suzy, Mia, Caroline, Mr. Mochi, and Butter. I can also say that after reading this book I need a guinea pig and a Pug as pets.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 17, 2025
Wow! It’s In the Contact was SUCH a treat.
Our story follows Callie, the “popular girl in school” known for her famous movie star father, and Zeke, the handsome nerdy sweetheart. Zeke and Callie quickly strike up a deal that will solve both their issues: Callie’s efforts to win over the “nerdy” crowd and get their homecoming votes, and Zeke’s attempts to convince his parents that he’s making friends. Watching their story unravel was nothing short of wholesome and delightful.
This book was such a page-turner! I felt like a romcom was playing in my head the entire time I was reading it. If you’re in need of a fast-paced, adorable romance that feels like a warm hug, this is perfection! Not only this, but I absolutely loved the character development we see in Callie’s character by the end of the novel. I related so much to Callie in so many ways. It felt so nostalgic to read a book that takes place in high school during the football season. An absolutely amazing read for the fall season, especially in between other genres like fantasy and thrillers!
I’m so glad I FINALLY have a contemporary romance book that I feel like I can recommend to anyone, regardless of their age! Teens and even middle-schoolers will absolutely love this clean, no-spice romance novel. I recommend this to everyone!
Our story follows Callie, the “popular girl in school” known for her famous movie star father, and Zeke, the handsome nerdy sweetheart. Zeke and Callie quickly strike up a deal that will solve both their issues: Callie’s efforts to win over the “nerdy” crowd and get their homecoming votes, and Zeke’s attempts to convince his parents that he’s making friends. Watching their story unravel was nothing short of wholesome and delightful.
This book was such a page-turner! I felt like a romcom was playing in my head the entire time I was reading it. If you’re in need of a fast-paced, adorable romance that feels like a warm hug, this is perfection! Not only this, but I absolutely loved the character development we see in Callie’s character by the end of the novel. I related so much to Callie in so many ways. It felt so nostalgic to read a book that takes place in high school during the football season. An absolutely amazing read for the fall season, especially in between other genres like fantasy and thrillers!
I’m so glad I FINALLY have a contemporary romance book that I feel like I can recommend to anyone, regardless of their age! Teens and even middle-schoolers will absolutely love this clean, no-spice romance novel. I recommend this to everyone!
October 18, 2025
Incredible!
I was hesitant about picking this up at first because I normally don't like contemporary novels, but I couldn't say no to a nerdy, video game loving MMC. It was so nice to have a fresh take on a cheerleader/popular girl. Callie is a kind person, with real flaws, and so different than your average teenage popular girl.
Zeke resembles my own partner a lot so I was giggling over him all the time because I love a nerdy guy and Jessica Flory wrote him perfectly.
While I do wish that the chapters were a bit more similar in length - I found they were either super long or super short, it broke my reading - the story and the writing made up for it.
It was a very sweet story, and beautifully written. I look forward to reading more of Flory's work.
I was hesitant about picking this up at first because I normally don't like contemporary novels, but I couldn't say no to a nerdy, video game loving MMC. It was so nice to have a fresh take on a cheerleader/popular girl. Callie is a kind person, with real flaws, and so different than your average teenage popular girl.
Zeke resembles my own partner a lot so I was giggling over him all the time because I love a nerdy guy and Jessica Flory wrote him perfectly.
While I do wish that the chapters were a bit more similar in length - I found they were either super long or super short, it broke my reading - the story and the writing made up for it.
It was a very sweet story, and beautifully written. I look forward to reading more of Flory's work.
October 17, 2025
This book is not from my usual genre, so I was not sure how I would like it. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed it! It was a warm and cozy read with fall vibes. I was pulled into the story and caught myself thinking about the book often during the day when I wasn't reading. Those are all good reasons for me to rate this book well. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys contemporary romance and to any one else who wants a cozy, casual read.
November 6, 2025
Super cute. Zeke is a total sweetheart. I wanted to shake Callie at times, but she grew a lot and came to realize that being popular and playing by other people’s rules wasn’t important. I appreciate that this YA book was in fact, appropriate for young adults! …and the cover is adorable.
October 16, 2025
I got to read this as an ARC and I really enjoy Jessica Flory's writing in everything I've read by her. This was her first strictly romance book and I liked it! it felt like a 3 star for a bit at the first but by the end it bumped itself up to a 4 star! very cute high school romance!
October 13, 2025
This was such a cute and fun read! I loved the storyline and the development of the characters and relationships throughout the book. There were so many things about each character that felt so relatable, even as an adult reading YA. I would have especially loved this book as a high school student too!
Read
October 17, 2025I really enjoyed this book! It was fun and made me feel like I was back in High School again.
October 17, 2025
This book made me both miss high school and not miss high school.
Oh to be young, but also glad I'm out of that drama!
The perspective of a teen who has a famous father and the added pressure of that was a cool one to think about. I do not envy that, for sure!
I loved the little family she found and felt part of. It felt so sweet!
A fun little read to make you feel young again!
Oh to be young, but also glad I'm out of that drama!
The perspective of a teen who has a famous father and the added pressure of that was a cool one to think about. I do not envy that, for sure!
I loved the little family she found and felt part of. It felt so sweet!
A fun little read to make you feel young again!
January 3, 2026
I adore this book! So many real life things happen to the FMC and MMC. I love all the characters in the book and truly felt part of the story.
The story is told in the POV of Callie, the FMC. The author takes you on a journey with Callie and you get to see her character growth. High school is a tough time of life and she definitely has many struggles.
There are a lot of references of fun things in this book that I enjoy. I confess my nerd status and say that I love Zelda games! I still play Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. It was fun to see the characters enjoying the same things!
Do yourself a favor and read the authors note at the end! She is amazing! 🥰
The story is told in the POV of Callie, the FMC. The author takes you on a journey with Callie and you get to see her character growth. High school is a tough time of life and she definitely has many struggles.
There are a lot of references of fun things in this book that I enjoy. I confess my nerd status and say that I love Zelda games! I still play Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. It was fun to see the characters enjoying the same things!
Do yourself a favor and read the authors note at the end! She is amazing! 🥰
September 30, 2025
👸🏼🐉Book Vibes🐉👸🏼
👑Ya contemporary romance
🐉90’s & early 00’s Romcom nostalgia
👑Daughter of a famous movie star & Nerdy guy
🐉Fake friendship contract
👑Homecoming Queen competition
🐉Slow burn romance
👑He takes care of her
👸🏼🐉Favorite Quote🐉👸🏼
“You’re being quiet.” Zeke sounds breathless.
“I’m just enjoying…this.” Wow. I am such a dork. And I am so crazy for you.
Zeke’s hand squeezes mine. Our fingers fit together perfectly. “Me too.”
When the movie’s over, Zeke lets go of my hand slowly. I miss his warmth, and I want to take his hand back. I want us to be a thing. I want it so badly that I ache.
My stomach bubbles with the joy of baking, and for a while I forget about everything—the pressure to win, the need to stay on top, the humiliation that will come if I fail.
I’m just a girl in the kitchen with my best friend, baking and laughing and tossing failed bits of cookie into each other’s mouths.
“I didn’t stand a chance. I’ve fallen for you so hard, Callie.”
“What I wanted…what I needed…it was you. It was always you.”
“I’ve never felt this way about anyone, Callie. I couldn’t not go to you. I couldn’t not be with you. Even if friends was all you wanted, I wanted that, too.”
The kiss is slow and sweet and tender and…everything. It’s a protective kiss, a promising kiss, a kiss that screams, you are my only. You are my forever.
It’s the best kiss of my life.
👸🏼🐉My Thoughts🐉👸🏼
👑This book from Jessica Flory is so different from her last books she wrote, which was a ya romantasy duology. I was so excited to see how she would tackle and write a ya romcom or a contemporary romance book and she did a phenomenal job! This is so sweet and adorable but it also packs some real issues in there that had me tearing up.
🐉This brought me back to all my favorite teenage romcom movies I loved watching growing up like 10 Things I Hate About You, Clueless, and Mean Girls. The nostalgia factor was there throughout the whole book.
👑The scene where Callie, Zeke, and Suzy are watching a movie had me doing one of those girly giggles! It reminded me of when you are a teen watching a movie with a boy you start to like and your analyzing all the moves like is he sitting closer and his hand is on his leg is he trying to get close to me to hold hands. This book has me feeling and remembering all those teenage feelings I had in school like the pressure to fit it but wanting to include everyone but scared what people will think. Falling for a guy you didn’t expect because he didn’t fit into the status quo and was little bit geeky or nerdy.
🐉I absolute had the best time reading this book. It’s perfect for pre-teens and teenagers and I would highly recommend it as a clean read for teens or anyone especially if you loved those teenage romcoms growing up!!
👸🏼🐉Content🐉👸🏼
This is a clean no spice ya book. Triggers for bulling in school, a mom who dictates how much her daughter can eat and makes her exercise so she doesn’t get fat.
👑Thank you Jessica Flory for providing me an e-arc to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
👑Ya contemporary romance
🐉90’s & early 00’s Romcom nostalgia
👑Daughter of a famous movie star & Nerdy guy
🐉Fake friendship contract
👑Homecoming Queen competition
🐉Slow burn romance
👑He takes care of her
👸🏼🐉Favorite Quote🐉👸🏼
“You’re being quiet.” Zeke sounds breathless.
“I’m just enjoying…this.” Wow. I am such a dork. And I am so crazy for you.
Zeke’s hand squeezes mine. Our fingers fit together perfectly. “Me too.”
When the movie’s over, Zeke lets go of my hand slowly. I miss his warmth, and I want to take his hand back. I want us to be a thing. I want it so badly that I ache.
My stomach bubbles with the joy of baking, and for a while I forget about everything—the pressure to win, the need to stay on top, the humiliation that will come if I fail.
I’m just a girl in the kitchen with my best friend, baking and laughing and tossing failed bits of cookie into each other’s mouths.
“I didn’t stand a chance. I’ve fallen for you so hard, Callie.”
“What I wanted…what I needed…it was you. It was always you.”
“I’ve never felt this way about anyone, Callie. I couldn’t not go to you. I couldn’t not be with you. Even if friends was all you wanted, I wanted that, too.”
The kiss is slow and sweet and tender and…everything. It’s a protective kiss, a promising kiss, a kiss that screams, you are my only. You are my forever.
It’s the best kiss of my life.
👸🏼🐉My Thoughts🐉👸🏼
👑This book from Jessica Flory is so different from her last books she wrote, which was a ya romantasy duology. I was so excited to see how she would tackle and write a ya romcom or a contemporary romance book and she did a phenomenal job! This is so sweet and adorable but it also packs some real issues in there that had me tearing up.
🐉This brought me back to all my favorite teenage romcom movies I loved watching growing up like 10 Things I Hate About You, Clueless, and Mean Girls. The nostalgia factor was there throughout the whole book.
👑The scene where Callie, Zeke, and Suzy are watching a movie had me doing one of those girly giggles! It reminded me of when you are a teen watching a movie with a boy you start to like and your analyzing all the moves like is he sitting closer and his hand is on his leg is he trying to get close to me to hold hands. This book has me feeling and remembering all those teenage feelings I had in school like the pressure to fit it but wanting to include everyone but scared what people will think. Falling for a guy you didn’t expect because he didn’t fit into the status quo and was little bit geeky or nerdy.
🐉I absolute had the best time reading this book. It’s perfect for pre-teens and teenagers and I would highly recommend it as a clean read for teens or anyone especially if you loved those teenage romcoms growing up!!
👸🏼🐉Content🐉👸🏼
This is a clean no spice ya book. Triggers for bulling in school, a mom who dictates how much her daughter can eat and makes her exercise so she doesn’t get fat.
👑Thank you Jessica Flory for providing me an e-arc to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 18, 2025
IT’S IN THE CONTRACT
by: Jessica Flory
@jessicafloryauthor
••I give 5 stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~He’s all consoles and chaos.. She’s all crown and control. Together? Unexpected magic…
“There’s something about being around Zeke that makes me want to let my guard down.”
-IT’S IN THE CONTRACT, is a YA delightful clean closed-door romance. From fake friends to lovers, opposites attract, a single POC, to all the fall vibes, and depth, this delightful story is a cozy story! I thoroughly enjoyed and greatly appreciated that this is a clean, no spice story that anyone would feel comfortable reading, including my sweet daughter. I loved how this dear story beautifully emphasizes the importance of being oneself, despite pressures of others’ opinions to conform or follow someone else’s views. Standing for what’s right and being true to what you think, is what it’s all about and comes to in this adorable story. Seeing characters learn this and then help to step for those around them had my heart! Being able to accept who you are, makes all the difference and impact to oneself and to anyone around. This cute story is worth the read!🙌🏻📚☺️🩷
“Show the world who you are, not who you think they
want to see. Because the truest you is the one the world needs.”
•Content: no violence, no language, some school bullying, strained family relationship/expectations for one’s diet/exercise to not be “fat.” Clean-closed door!
“You saved me from my deepest fear today. Let me help you with yours.”
-I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
“Everyone has different things they’re afraid of.”
#itsinthecontract
“More than anything, I want to be me. The real me. The authentic me. From now on, I am going to be true to myself.”
#jessicafloryauthor
“All you have to do is be yourself.”
#yaromcom
“You have something to give the world that only you can give.”
#cleancloseddoor
“It’s okay to be myself.”
#allaboutthebestreads
by: Jessica Flory
@jessicafloryauthor
••I give 5 stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~He’s all consoles and chaos.. She’s all crown and control. Together? Unexpected magic…
“There’s something about being around Zeke that makes me want to let my guard down.”
-IT’S IN THE CONTRACT, is a YA delightful clean closed-door romance. From fake friends to lovers, opposites attract, a single POC, to all the fall vibes, and depth, this delightful story is a cozy story! I thoroughly enjoyed and greatly appreciated that this is a clean, no spice story that anyone would feel comfortable reading, including my sweet daughter. I loved how this dear story beautifully emphasizes the importance of being oneself, despite pressures of others’ opinions to conform or follow someone else’s views. Standing for what’s right and being true to what you think, is what it’s all about and comes to in this adorable story. Seeing characters learn this and then help to step for those around them had my heart! Being able to accept who you are, makes all the difference and impact to oneself and to anyone around. This cute story is worth the read!🙌🏻📚☺️🩷
“Show the world who you are, not who you think they
want to see. Because the truest you is the one the world needs.”
•Content: no violence, no language, some school bullying, strained family relationship/expectations for one’s diet/exercise to not be “fat.” Clean-closed door!
“You saved me from my deepest fear today. Let me help you with yours.”
-I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
“Everyone has different things they’re afraid of.”
#itsinthecontract
“More than anything, I want to be me. The real me. The authentic me. From now on, I am going to be true to myself.”
#jessicafloryauthor
“All you have to do is be yourself.”
#yaromcom
“You have something to give the world that only you can give.”
#cleancloseddoor
“It’s okay to be myself.”
#allaboutthebestreads
November 2, 2025
This is the first book I’ve read by Jessica Flory and I am a fan!
YA contemporary romance can be hard to do and Jessica nailed it! The characters were real and relatable. The storyline was engaging and so appropriately high school.
The growth of the characters was the best part of the story! Watching as each one took high school one day at a time. She did not shy away from the good, the bad, or the ugly. The representation of all types of people was the icing on top!
Callie is a movie star’s daughter, picture perfect social media influencer, and high school cheerleader.
Zeke is all nerd all the time and I absolutely loved him! He embraces his love of D&D, Zelda, and the gaming world.
When Zeke starts tutoring Callie and they realize they can help one another, will they be able to stop the friendship they’ve started?
Read this if you like:
🎮 High School Popularity
🎮 Painting Your Nails
🎮 Baking
🎮 Video Chats
🎮 Including Others
🎮 Social Media
🎮 Touring Seattle
🎮 Hanging Out with Younger Siblings
🎮 Going to Parties
🎮 Dungeons and Dragons
🎮 Supporting Friends
Content: tough parental expectations, bullies, forgiveness, romance- kisses only.
Thank you to Jessica Flory for the #gifted copy; all thoughts and opinions are my own.
YA contemporary romance can be hard to do and Jessica nailed it! The characters were real and relatable. The storyline was engaging and so appropriately high school.
The growth of the characters was the best part of the story! Watching as each one took high school one day at a time. She did not shy away from the good, the bad, or the ugly. The representation of all types of people was the icing on top!
Callie is a movie star’s daughter, picture perfect social media influencer, and high school cheerleader.
Zeke is all nerd all the time and I absolutely loved him! He embraces his love of D&D, Zelda, and the gaming world.
When Zeke starts tutoring Callie and they realize they can help one another, will they be able to stop the friendship they’ve started?
Read this if you like:
🎮 High School Popularity
🎮 Painting Your Nails
🎮 Baking
🎮 Video Chats
🎮 Including Others
🎮 Social Media
🎮 Touring Seattle
🎮 Hanging Out with Younger Siblings
🎮 Going to Parties
🎮 Dungeons and Dragons
🎮 Supporting Friends
Content: tough parental expectations, bullies, forgiveness, romance- kisses only.
Thank you to Jessica Flory for the #gifted copy; all thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 17, 2025
After losing her boyfriend to a plus-size beauty queen, Callie Carter goes all out in her bid to snatch the homecoming crown from her new nemesis, aided by her social media savvy best friend. The pressure’s on, not only for Callie to maintain her status with the popular crowd, but to please her fitness-frenzied mom and avoid bringing disgrace on her movie star dad.
Enter Zeke Harris, a fantasy-loving gamer with a huge YouTube following who might be able to score Callie some votes from the nerd population. The catch? It’s all in the contract drawn up between them. Among the many points agreed upon—their friendship is fake and falling for each other is not an option!
IT’S IN THE CONTRACT is a delightful YA contemporary romance—well-written with an engaging storyline that rises in ever-increasing stakes. Callie's desperation to keep her social status is relatable. And Zeke is adorably sweet, nerdy, and real.
Add some mouth-watering baking projects, a heart-stealing little sister, an authentic Seattle setting, and a romance that’s NOT in the contract, and you’ve got a recipe for love, sisterhood, and coming of age!
Enter Zeke Harris, a fantasy-loving gamer with a huge YouTube following who might be able to score Callie some votes from the nerd population. The catch? It’s all in the contract drawn up between them. Among the many points agreed upon—their friendship is fake and falling for each other is not an option!
IT’S IN THE CONTRACT is a delightful YA contemporary romance—well-written with an engaging storyline that rises in ever-increasing stakes. Callie's desperation to keep her social status is relatable. And Zeke is adorably sweet, nerdy, and real.
Add some mouth-watering baking projects, a heart-stealing little sister, an authentic Seattle setting, and a romance that’s NOT in the contract, and you’ve got a recipe for love, sisterhood, and coming of age!
September 29, 2025
I LOVED this book so much! I couldn't put it down.
-The storyline was so immersive, I had to force myself to stop reading if I wanted to get anything done. I was hooked in the first chapter.
-The characters were written so well, they felt real. I loved the main characters and hated the antagonist, in a good way. I was ready to punch her for Callie.
-I love how each character has an amazing character arc. Some of them even surprised me at the end.
-Above all else, the message this book sends is enough to read it. Be who you were made to be, not the person everyone expects you to be.
-This book made me smile, laugh, and relate to the characters on so many levels.
-If you love sweet, no-spice contemporary romances with a relatable message and characters who come to life on the page, this is the book for you.
-Do not hesitate to grab your copy.
I want to thank the author, Jessica Flory, for having me on her ARC team. I know this wasn't your usual genre, but you hit it out of the ballpark. I love, love, loved it!
-The storyline was so immersive, I had to force myself to stop reading if I wanted to get anything done. I was hooked in the first chapter.
-The characters were written so well, they felt real. I loved the main characters and hated the antagonist, in a good way. I was ready to punch her for Callie.
-I love how each character has an amazing character arc. Some of them even surprised me at the end.
-Above all else, the message this book sends is enough to read it. Be who you were made to be, not the person everyone expects you to be.
-This book made me smile, laugh, and relate to the characters on so many levels.
-If you love sweet, no-spice contemporary romances with a relatable message and characters who come to life on the page, this is the book for you.
-Do not hesitate to grab your copy.
I want to thank the author, Jessica Flory, for having me on her ARC team. I know this wasn't your usual genre, but you hit it out of the ballpark. I love, love, loved it!
Read
October 19, 2025* I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
* While this isn't the author's debut, it is her contemporary romance debut.
* First person pov
* Spice: kisses that don't get too heated
*CW: for more sensitive readers, be aware the story deals with a controlling parent and mean girls.
Nowadays, it's becoming difficult to trust that books marketed as YA will be appropriate to teenagers, due to the explicit romance scenes, crude jokes, or swearing, but this book is free of all that. Not only that, but what Callie and Zeke experience are things that teenagers and young adults will be able to relate to. I loved the message of embracing being true to yourself and treating others with kindness. It's definitely something that we need to be reminded of. As for Callie and Zeke, I loved seeing their friendship grow and how they were a positive influence in each other's lives. Overall, this was a sweet read you will feel comfortable sharing with your teenager or anyone who loves reading young adult romance.
* While this isn't the author's debut, it is her contemporary romance debut.
* First person pov
* Spice: kisses that don't get too heated
*CW: for more sensitive readers, be aware the story deals with a controlling parent and mean girls.
Nowadays, it's becoming difficult to trust that books marketed as YA will be appropriate to teenagers, due to the explicit romance scenes, crude jokes, or swearing, but this book is free of all that. Not only that, but what Callie and Zeke experience are things that teenagers and young adults will be able to relate to. I loved the message of embracing being true to yourself and treating others with kindness. It's definitely something that we need to be reminded of. As for Callie and Zeke, I loved seeing their friendship grow and how they were a positive influence in each other's lives. Overall, this was a sweet read you will feel comfortable sharing with your teenager or anyone who loves reading young adult romance.
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