Good Luck, Babe!

by Erin Baldwin

Former best friends, Yumi and Noelle, pretend to be a sapphic couple to compete for two million dollars on their favorite race-around-the-world reality TV show.
Sophie Gonzalez's Never Ever Getting Back Together meets The Amazing Race.

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Lesbian, Queer, LGBT, Contemporary, Fiction

336 pages, Paperback

Expected publication June 23, 2026

About the author

Erin Baldwin (she/her) is a Filipino-American author and free-range, ethically sourced human being on a quest to become the most interesting person on the face of the planet. In pursuit of this goal, she's travelled to 21 countries, lived in 6 states, and is attempting to learn the fiddle. It is not going well. She resides in New Jersey with her two mischievous cats, The Baby Boy and The Baby Girl.

She is represented by Lauren Spieller at Folio Literary Management.

Reviews

[Leonie · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 very solid stars)

Truth be told, the thing that actually made me wanna read this book is the title. I guess nearly everyone knows Chappell Roan’s song “Good Luck, Babe!” (It is actually one of my favorite songs of all time), so seeing a book with the title was already an instant “I need this” moment for me. Continuing, the synopsis of this as well as the reality TV show aspect just added another point as to why I was drawn to this.
Starting with the actual story now, I adored the characters, they were both adorable in their own way and even though I was kind of disappointed that their final arcs weren’t closed (due to the ending and third part feeling kinda rushed), I genuinely liked reading about Yumi and Noelle. Their relationship started off very (imagine the very in capital and bold) rocky but with time and a little bit of pretending, they actually made a really cute couple!
Besides, I adored the angst and overall ‘feels’ this story conveyed. No matter if it was the first chapter where we got to see the ‘prologue’ to the actual application to the show and the very awkward kiss. Or all the chapters the two spent taking part in the Reality show. It was absolutely amazing to read about it and picture it all in my mind. I think this nicely connects with the fact that I think the book was written very well too! As someone who really appreciates good writing and storytelling skills, Erin Baldwin (the author) definitely did this amazingly!!
As I mentioned, though, the biggest downside was the end or the few chapters of part three to be precise. The character arcs just didn’t feel completed, and I would’ve liked to see them actual returning and what it was like figuring out who the two functioned as a couple outside of the reality tv bubble.
However, it was still a solid read, and one that I would happily recommend if one is in the mood to read a lighthearted but angry YA romance.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for a honest and voluntarily given review.

[zara · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5 stars

i came for the sapphics, stayed for the sapphic angst, and somehow the adventureverse aspect was what makes this book so memorable to me. as a die-hard fan of the amazing race, this book captured that show perfectly in a way that's full of tension and shenanigans while also managing to incorporate the more personal aspects of the characters and their dynamic.

in terms of the characters, i won't go as far as saying i love noelle and yumi because while i find them adorable, one of the things this book lacks is a proper closure for the personal arcs of the story. a lot of it got brushed off at the end as a means of "character development", but instead it felt incomplete and nagged at me a little bit. i don't really like how noelle and yumi's rift started because it was a bunch of misunderstandings that's completely unnecessary and so one-sided and selfish, yet it was never addressed as such. they became a really cute couple, but the way their fight was addressed left a bad taste in my mouth, and it kinda takes this book down a notch.

i still highly recommend this book if you want an adventure-filled, fast-paced contemporary that's just non-stop fun and dramatic at times because, hey, they're in a reality show 😝

many thanks to the publisher and netgalley for a giving me an early copy

[Mariana ✨]

former bffs pretend to be a sapphic couple to compete for 2 million $ on a travelling reality TV show..... oh that sounds so chaotic. give me 10 of them!

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as a beta reader and trust meee, Erin’s sophomore novel is a 10/5 absolute perfection. I’m still thinking about it.

[♡ J U L I A ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,75⭐️
this book was fun and entertaining. i loved the whole reality tv show part especially that every single adventure takes place in a different city all over the world, where you could experience it as a reader with the contestants. don't get me wrong, i really liked yumi and noelles relationship, they are cute and i just love (ex-) best friends to lovers trope so much, but i wish we could've gotten a bit more from them outside the reality tv show. idk if this makes sense lmao. it kinda felt unfinished/rushed in a way, i personally needed more post-season yumi and noelle content filled with fully fleshed out character develoment/arc.

thank you netgalley and the author for providing the advanced readers copy!

[maya · Rating 4 out of 5]

i haven’t truly enjoyed a romance novel in what feels like forever, but this reminded me that i really do love the genre when it’s done well. it was such a breath of fresh air.

funny, likeable characters with great chemistry and realistic reactions to the situations they were put in. that’s really all i can ask for. i think if i was 17 i would’ve made this novel my entire personality for a few weeks at least.

(thank you for the arc provided via netgalley)

[Taylin · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was SO. FUCKING. CUTE. everything I want from a ya romance honestly noelle and yumi were everything and the angst was deliciously devastating and the fluff was SO HEARTWARMING. ugh highkey need a sequel of them on another season

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy

[Liralen]

4 stars; review to come June 2026

[cate]

this comes out on my birthday!!! HYPED

[aila ✧.*]

oh so my new favourite book?

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the exact first moment I laid eyes on this book I could feel it pulling me in. As a major Chappell Roan fan, a big reality TV watcher, and as a gay woman, I immediately fell in love with it. The more I read about it the bigger the pull and the more boxes it checked and I positively adore it when my gut instinct is correct.

I immediately felt at home with our leads Noelle and Yumi in a way that I wasn't sure I was ready for or expected if I am honest. As being someone who lost their Dad to liver failure and also being someone who watched countless hours of Survivor and Amazing Race growing up with him it was incredibly easy to understand Noelle's motivations and worries.

I for one would EASILY have done the same for my dad.

Erin pulls you in steadily with her story about two high school girls, Noelle and Yumi, in which after having a falling out after a kiss causing them to go no contact for a year before a last minute email to take part in their favorite reality show thrusts them back together again as Noelle wants the money to help her dad but the only caveat is that the producers believe them to be a couple from their audition.

Noelle and Yumi's progression as a pair felt natural as the challenges of the show progressed and everything fell into place at the right times, you could feel the ways the show tested their limits but also in the ways it brought them together at the beat moments.

Their position as the superfans of the show felt like it really grounded them to it all as they went, despite them being the younger contestants and also working to fall into a rhythm with the fake relationship they were trying to sell.

The fact that they were able to boil down the other couples to their own trope it felt exactly like how I personally watch reality TV. You can't possibly remember every one at the start and you boil them down to memorable traits or tropes and as you sit with them longer and longer and watch their trials you learn more about them and who they are and where they fit. Which is what it feels like we do with not only Noelle and Yumi but also some of the other contestants to an extent.

I believe that all helped the pacing of the book which was quick and yet still comfortable. It felt like we held every scene the exact right amount of time. I didn't have a dull moment reading, pages kept turning one right after another and chapters kept flowing easily untill I was unfortunately at the end.

I also say with 100% certainty that I would have totally watched this season if it was real so I could root for them all over again.

All in all its a great easy read that I was happily addicted to for the stint I had it for. I throughly enjoyed each of the characters and it felt like it really captured the feeling is when you are on a reality show.

Thank you to Erin for writing a great story and thank you and Netgalley for the ARC.

[Bree · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for providing me with an ARC.

Good Luck, Babe! is a LGBT+ YA novel about Yumi and Noelle, two former best friends, who fell out a year ago after an awkward kiss, and haven’t spoken since. Before their falling out, they applied to go on The Adventureverse together, a TV show much like The Amazing Race, where teams race across the world and tackle challenges. The thing is, this is a couple’s season, and to be in for a chance to win the two-million-dollar prize, Yumi and Noelle have to pretend to be dating.

Friends to enemies to lovers, fake dating, forced proximity – this book has all the classic tropes, and that keeps it engaging and fun throughout. I also really did like the characters, Noelle especially felt like a very fleshed-out, real character, who’s motivations were clear. I really felt for her throughout.

The writing was also lovely, and had some really nice prose, which I don’t usually see in the YA genre, as well as humour, which helped balance some of the tension between our characters.

However, for me personally, I felt like Yumi and Noelle’s relationship at the end happened too fast. I wish the ending would have explored that a little bit more. I feel like they had to talk about their big falling out and misunderstanding that led to a year of no contact, but they never did. It felt like none of that was unpacked and was brushed over too soon.

Overall, a very fun and easy sapphic read, with great representation and a host of diverse characters, a fun and quick-moving plot, and a cute romance.

[blue · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC provided by netgalley!

That was so fucking good. Noelle is so likeable and relatable and her voice is so fun. Like the prose constantly had me going ooooo or laughing. The plot is also so SO fun. I haven't watched the amazing race in years but i used to watch it with my family and this book really brought me back, it felt so nostalgic and real. I had such a good time. It took me less than a day to read through this, I just couldn't put it down!

[Sammi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I acquired an e-arc from NetGalley to review it. Thanks NetGalley and the publisher!

I have been in a reading slump for a while. I've finished one book so far this year. I read this book in one day. I could not put it down. Erin Baldwin does a great job describing the incredible places her characters visit. Her writing is so clever, and fun, and has such heart to it. I look forward to Erin's next book!

[Brooke! · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is PHENOMENAL!!!! i love yumi and noelle SO much and the writing is INCREDIBLE. i’ve been SO SAT for this book since it was annocued and boy did it exceed my expectations!!! the way this book ended was full circle and i am going to think about it FOREVER!!!! top book of 2026 so far for SURE!!! everyone read this when it comes out this june!!!!

[Solar Simone]

I'm so excited for this book! It's definitely on my most anticipated books of 2026. The premise sounds so fascinating and I think it'll be great comp for my book as well. June cannot come fast enough

[ella · Rating 4 out of 5]

thanks to netgalley for the arc! I read this in one day with a cold, which is kind of optimal conditions because it feels like a comforting bowl of soup of a book.

this was really sweet! I love race across the world-style reality tv shows, it was fun to think about the behind the scenes, and this fake dating trope worked for me. a fun time! noelle and yumi felt like real people i’d be friends with and the cast of characters were very entertaining.

[jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sapphic YA romance named after one of my favorite Chappell Roan songs? Sign me up! 💅🏻

If you love “The Amazing Race”, this is the book for you. Noelle and Yumi find themselves catapulted from being ex-best friends to pretending to be girlfriends so that they can compete in their favorite show “The Adventureverse”—and hopefully collect the prize money that accompanies a win.

This is a very sweet enemies-to-lovers romance, and the story itself goes pretty quickly. This was a 4 star read for me because I found myself more invested in the reality TV dynamics than I was in the characters’s relationship, which isn’t the best sign for a book focused on that. Overall though, a quick and enjoyable read!

Thanks to the publishers for providing an ARC in exchange for this honest review! “Good Luck, Babe!” releases on June 23 💕

[PeePeePooPoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I’ve read fully (other than graphic novels) for over a year. I’m a simple woman and Chappell Roan fan, so when I saw a tweet about this book and the summary I was really intrigued.

I’ve never watched The Amazing Race (which I assume this is based heavily on) but I love Rupaul’s Drag Race and have read through Reddit and Twitter after episodes and seasons to learn more about why things played out the way they did. This book was really interesting in that way and really felt like the most behind the scenes look at reality TV possible.

The characters were interesting and the challenges as well as trying to predict the future ones like a real “superfan” was very engaging!

Overall I liked the story and rooted for the protagonists, for a non-thriller I was surprised at how gripped I was.

Spoilers below!

I really thought that the loved one at the plaza for Noelle was going to be someone other than her dad because he’s too sick to travel. I thought that was gonna be why Yumi didn’t pick him out right, because it’s someone Noelle isn’t as close to. It still worked as a sad moment, especially with how sure Noelle was that it was him, but it would have been interesting if she was wrong. I’m mainly sharing in case anyone else had the same theory!

I of course was hoping the girls would win and was gutted they didn’t, but it would have felt too obvious if they just won! I was really expecting that even though they were the last to arrive, that another team would have dropped out or something!

It was so charming at the end to hear about the memes that came of the show, as well as the perspectives of other characters thought the story!

TL;DR:
You will like this if you know more about reality TV than most or have ever thought about the more behind the scenes and production side of things, and especially if you like a sapphic will they won’t they dynamic.

As I’m reading this before publication I want to give some feedback on some elements that may just be me, but may be things that bug others too:
- When the group meet with Aliona after the night in the dark tunnels, it wasn’t clear to me what was or was not being filmed, like when Clyde and Cora emerge late. It’s stated that the cameras were on and mics hooked up but Aliona was actively talking to the group so I didn’t think it was filmed until Noelle and Yumi were asked about the late arrival in confessionals.
- The Via Ferrata challenge was confusing for me to understand until a ways into it. I was unsure if it was going to be climbing, abseiling, going across a narrow rickety bridge etc; even after googling the real life location. My current understanding is that there was a rope along the cliff wall to hold onto and small rods jutting out of the wall to step on, then the contestants shimmy sideways along the wall. I don’t know if I got it right though!
- The Singapore Swing challenge confused me too in the same way, I had to re read a lot of it and google the activity to fully get it. This one might have just been me though.
- Post-show/in the reunion, I was really hoping to see mention of the part when Noelle was raging after the Piazza. Given all the insight about fan perspectives on events and how it was mentioned in the hotel that the cameras were on them, I was hoping to learn what the fans thought of it and how much was in the edit.
- I want to know how dad got his transplant! If they got money from the fame of the show I’d love to know even a sentence about it, if he got to the top of the donor list completely unrelated to the show that would be interesting too.

[james · Rating 5 out of 5]

[e-arc acquired from netgalley for honest review. thank you!]

Oh my god, how am I going to recover from this perfect novel?
I am so deeply in love with it, I think it's my new favourite sapphic romance.

Noelle and Yumi are fans of the show The Adventureverse and ex best friends who team up to join a new all-couples season of the beloved reality show.

Firstly, Noelle and Yumi have incredible chemistry! You can feel the comfort they have with each other. The intimacy of them knowing their partner inside out-when they're feeling poorly and what the perfect response is-is palpable. I was so excited watching their relationship evolve throughout the novel. Both girls are also such vivid and complex characters; they felt like real people.

I loved that Noelle and Yumi were close with eachother's families, and even after the dissolution of their friendship, they deeply cared about their families (and of course each other)

I was so amazed how deftly topics of mental health, ADHD, chronic illness, disability, and grief were handled as well.

Queerness and mental health are intrinsically linked to their story and how their relationship develops. Noelle deals with thought loops which were so vividly described. I loved how Baldwin connected the internal feelings with physical symptoms, and in general Noelle's thought processes were shown extremely well.

The feelings of having a sick parent explored in this novel were also so real and cathartic to read about.

I've had periods of obsession with The Amazing Race, which the reality show in the novel seems to be based off of based on it's blurb. I have to say that I think the novel perfectly captured the appeal of shows like that, including the talking head interviews, challenges, and archetypes the competing teams are pushed into. There was a successful effort to give depth to other teams beyond their archetypes.

As mentioned, I loved the challenges, and loved how the characters struggled with certain realistic aspects of them.

The humour in this novel was also great, not butting in to often as to allow serious topics time to be explored, but to keep the light and refreshing vibe of the novel.

I actually cried at a couple scenes in Good Luck, Babe!, which to me, shows how incredibly it was written.

GLB is an amazing novel that I won't be able to stop thinking about for a long while.

[María · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 out of 5 ☆

I want to preface this by saying I’m not the target audience. I’m sure somebody younger that enjoys reality TV would enjoy and understand this book much more than I did.

With that out of the way, I’ll say the good things first!

· The book is an extremely light and quick read. The pages just flew by and before I’d realized I was at the acknowledgements. The descriptions are done well enough but without letting them get in the way of the fast pace of the book, which moves from one place to another in a matter of chapters.
· It deals with heavy topics without letting them take over the tone of a book that is supposed to be about teen love and reality shows, which I found very well done.
· Both main characters felt likeable to me and the Adventures within the show felt fun and engaging. I read in the acknowledgements that the author contemplated having some chapters narrated by Yumi, but I think it was the right call to leave them out of the final version as Noelle’s perspective was enough to feel the development in their relationship.
· It’s always nice to see queer representation in teen media!

However, there were several things that weren’t done as well:

· I feel the book would have worked better if both girls were 20 years old or older. A lot of the reality shows they mention and reference are populated by people way older than they are and it felt a bit unbelievable that they would have chosen them as a last-minute pick over what one assumes to be a large pool of candidates just based on their chemistry when they weren’t even sure they are not underage.
· A lot of major plot points they put a lot of emphasis on at the beginning of the book just vanish, even when they are major driving forces that push the narrative forward. What was the point of bringing it up so many times then? What was the purpose of introducing it in the narrative if the tension builds but it doesn’t go anywhere?
· The title doesn’t really feel like it matches the book much, but rather that it’s trying to attract people who enjoy sapphic stories through using a popular song title.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

[Mandee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just from the title alone, I had a feeling I’d really like Good Luck, Babe! A sapphic rom-com with a Chappell Roan reference for a title? I know I’m not the only one that’ll be drawn in on that alone. Luckily, the plot drew me right in too—estranged best friends who fell out after they kissed, only back in touch because they have to fake being a couple in order to compete on their favorite reality show? Of course I was all in on that!

From the start, Noelle and Yumi are well-drawn characters, complicated in the way that only teenage girls can be. They’re prickly and awkward, in a stand-off at the start as Noelle attempts to build a bridge back to their former friendship and Yumi refuses to allow it to happen. The shift that happens as Yumi warms up more is really lovely to watch, and the pacing of it felt right for the story. Sometimes fake dating tropes feel a little too easy, like the fake part is rushed, but this one worked well for me.

The reality show element was so fun, especially if you’ve ever binged Amazing Race or Survivor and dug a little too deep into the meta of the game. Noelle and Yumi are superfans, and their obsession feels absolutely authentic. As someone who is cursed with deep knowledge of a fair few niche fandoms, the way they talked about and analyzed The Adventureverse felt extremely familiar.

The other contestants are great too—all familiar archetypes, all distinctive and fun to follow as they stumble through all the challenges laid out ahead of them. Even with limited time given to each other pair, we got a chance to get to know them and even root for them a little. I would’ve loved to spend even more time with the others, but that definitely would’ve gotten in the way of the pacing, which was moving at a pretty fast clip.

Overall, I really enjoyed this! YA romance is hit or miss for me in general, but this is definitely a hit. If you’ve ever lost a day to a reality tv binge, or you’re just looking for a sweet, easy sapphic rom com, this is an excellent pick for you.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!

[Marcus Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun and quick read. I was a bit surprised by the relatively high stakes involved, but it definitely helped suck me into the competition itself and Noelle and Yumi's adventure across mostly Europe, I mean the world. While I think the book falters a bit in regards to plotting, it brings the heat when it comes to getting in Noelle's headspace as she battles against her ADHD, parentification, and gay panic. Writing wise, the descriptions can get a little "wait, what is happening?" at times but Baldwin ultimately does a really good job putting you right there with Team Blue as they travel to some pretty unique locations that. It's so very obvious Baldwin did her homework and the result is fantastic.

This book is also probably the most realistic representation of reality TV I've seen, with nuanced and honest discussion about the inner workings of the industry I didn't expect from a YA book. It's mostly what bumps this up from a 3 to a 4 for me. Okay, that and "Rob and Ambuh" getting a shout out. But seriously, from the The Biggest Loser being called out as insidious af to the way the interviews are conducted, it's all very well handled and I'm glad to see it. Aliona and her production team are presented as not quite villainous or on our protag's sides, truly representing just how much of a monolithic and unfeeling machine it all is. There's hardly maliciousness involved, it's all just in service to content and money.

My problem with the high stakes and heavy emotions in the book is that it REALLY puts an emphasis on Noelle and Yumi winning this competition, which is good and all, but as a result it puts their romance on the backburner a bit. The main tension isn't so much about them faking their way through it so much as it is about them winning. Their eventual coming together doesn't feel as cathartic as it should and their quality as teammates doesn't really change much either. This honestly may be a case of misdirected marketing than the book itself, but I wanted more from the romance aspects of this book. Their chemistry was just a little underdeveloped.

VERY cute epilogue though, loved that.

[mani · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was really really cute!

noelle and yumi are childhood best friends who have always loved the reality tv show the adventureverse, but when their dreams of actually being on the show finally come true it's at the most inopportune time - one year after their big falling out, and it's an all-couples season. but noelle desperately needs the money for her father's medical costs, and so they decide to fake it till they make it.

the progression of their relationship was sweet and well-paced, particularly when it was in its more turbulent stage. you could really feel the specific grief noelle has that comes with falling out with someone you knew so well, and the strange loss of not knowing who they became and how they've changed in the time you've missed them. i also really appreciated the thoughtful inclusion of things like yumi's filipino culture, dissociation, ADHD, and physical disabilities, and the unexpectedly detailed discussion (for a ya novel) on the nature of reality tv and its dubious methods.

the one place the book fell a little flat for me was the ending - in the beginning and throughout the story a lot of focus is given to the relationship between noelle and her dad and how she felt responsible for his wellbeing to an unhealthy amount, and although it was briefly addressed in the epilogue, it was done so in a way that almost felt unearned in its ease. it's almost representative of the ending as a whole - a bit too fast, and it's especially noticeable because of how poignantly noelle's struggles and loneliness in relation to his illness were conveyed earlier in the novel. an additional segment before their reunion special which firmly resolved this aspect of noelle's story and addressed her relationship with yumi as a whole may have helped soften the abrupt time jump and somewhat hastily resolved arcs.

i also wish that there was a little more insight into why exactly noelle freaked out that night and ran. there's a lot of focus on the blur of the moment and the panic she felt but her exact thought processes are never fully explored.

overall it's a very charming ya novel!! would recommend it to anyone <3

[Jasmine Madela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first time getting an advanced reader copy and I’m so happy to read this before it’s publication. I heard about Good Luck, Babe by Erin Baldwin on twitter, read its premise and immediately fell in love with the idea both as a fan of The Amazing Race and the fake dating trope.

The tension between Noelle and Yumi in the beginning is immediately captivating as the two of them are now thrusted into a high stakes reality competition show pretending to be a couple while trying to navigate their feelings for each other. I love how there wasn’t really a struggle of whether or not Yumi was ever interested in girls, immediately eliminating a common conflict within young queer stories. It’s refreshing to see what keeps them from fully indulging in this relationship is the uncertainty of what happens if they do split up after being a part of each other’s lives for so long. It’s easy to root for these two both as a couple and as competitors due to their chemistry with eavh other.

And speaking of competing, I thoroughly enjoy the Adventureverse aspect of the book more than I thought I would. It’s amusing to see the behind the scenes of a show like this without making it too gimmicky. I love that we got to know some of the other teams as the competition goes on, with Mogran and Matt being my personal favorites, by leaning into the reality tv show archetypes. It makes it easy to understand these characters without having to take too much time away from Noelle amd Yumi.

I was surprised with how much this book touched on the subject of taking care of a sick family member and the toll it takes on caretakers. Seeing Noelle deal with her emotions towards her father’s health amd being really tugged a heartstring or two for me personally. it’s what makes the scene where it’s revealed that Yumi wasn’t able to spot him so much more heartbreaking knowing how much it would have meant for Noelle.

Overall, I think this ws just a fun read as well as a heartwarming story. I’ll definitely be tuning into Baldwin’s future works as there’s something special within her writing.

[The Nightwatch Desk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Noelle Breland and Yumi Panganiban are childhood best friends who have always supported each other. Until an awkward almost-kiss broke them apart, driving a wedge for a full school year.

It seems like their friendship is over for good until they hear back from The Adventureverse—a reality tv show that they signed up for together. To compete, they need to convince the showrunners and the audience that they’re a couple.

Under the spotlight, they're forced to fix their friendship while coming to terms with their desire for more.

🩷Young Adult Fiction
🩵Sapphic Romance
🩷Ex-friends to Lovers
🩵Reality TV Competition
🩷Fake Dating

'Good Luck, Babe!' is a fast paced and engaging contemporary romance. It features two high school graduates, lots of adventurous challenges, and reality TV drama.

Noelle is a high energy and enthusiastic person despite all the struggles she’s faced. Her mother passed away, she was diagnosed with ADHD, and her father is extremely ill. She’s chaotic and charming in a way that I loved.

Yumi still cares about Noelle but hides it behind a stone mask. I struggled with her because she seemed to be punishing her long-time best friend for saying 'no.' It makes Yumi a questionable character, and it's only Noelle's high opinion of her that saves things.

The competition makes it feel like you’re watching ‘The Amazing Race’, including all the suspense. I enjoyed the moments where Noelle and Yumi bonded with their fellow competitors. But the challenges mean that this story jumps around quite a bit (sometimes to the point of being choppy). It also includes several emotionally heavy scenes that don't serve a purpose.

Overall, this book is the perfect mixture of lighthearted and heartfelt, especially for young adult audiences.

Thank you to Netgalley, Penguin Young Readers Group, and Viking Books for this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

[star · Rating 4 out of 5]

i went into this book knowing nothing more than that it's sapphic and this was so much fun!! essentially this book is about two best friends, yumi and noelle who are obsessed with a reality tv show called the adventureverse. they apply for the next season, only there's one caveat; it's a couples-only season and yumi and noelle aren't only not dating, they aren't on good terms at the moment. desperate for the two million prize money they make the only logical decision, they decide to fake their relationship and win that prize!

i don't watch reality tv at all but this book was so entertaining nonetheless and there were quite some angsty moments which made for an amazing balance between more fun and faster paced scenes and angsty scenes with conflict and drama. i could see myself quite strongly in noelle, we share multiple personality traits and life circumstances so i'd say that immediately made me feel connected to her and enjoy reading from her pov. we don't get to read from yumi's pov but we do get to see how in love noelle is with her which was really sweet.

i personally really enjoyed the writing style, it's gen-z, humourous with lots of sarcasm but it didn't read like younger YA, quirky FMCs often do. the side characters such as the other competitors in the reality show, the hosts and parents of the MC were whatever, they weren't really remarkable to me but also not overtly annoying or anything, the focus really lies on noelle and her relationship with yumi as well as questions surrounding having a chronically ill family member and having to deal with that (mostly) on your own. the ending was probably the weakest of the book overall, it read as en epilogue and was open enough for me to assume there could potentially a second part, though it could be seen as just the ending, since there's no cliff-hangers or anything.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone in the LGBTQ+ community, I am constantly looking for new titles to recommend. Even now, with so many LGBTQ+ books available, it can be difficult to find ones that aren't overly cliché and/or offensive. Thankfully, I did not have either problem with Good Luck, Babe!.

The book follows two eighteen-year-old girls, Noelle and Yumi, who have been best friends since childhood. After a kiss between them goes wrong, they haven't spoken to each other for over a year. When they are suddenly invited to participate in their favorite reality show as a couple, they are forced to fake a relationship. The prize money, which is two million dollars, would be life-altering for Noelle's sick dad.

While the novel is cheesy at times, even those moments had me smiling. Noelle and Yumi are both easy to like, and it's easy to see each of their POVs in their fight. I found myself rooting for them very early on! As they went through their adventure, I felt like I was right alongside them. It usually takes me a couple of weeks to get through a book, but this only took me a few days! It was difficult to put down.

The book tackles a few difficult topics, including grief, chronic illnesses, disabilities, and mental health concerns. I felt like they were all expressed gracefully and sensibly. Nothing felt out of place, and it did not overshadow the plot.

The only thing I wish was different was Yumi. I wanted to know more about her! The author noted that they originally wrote chapters in Yumi's POV, and I am kind of sad I did not get to see those.

Overall, a great read that I would happily recommend to library patrons!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy!

[Tegan G · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is phenomenal. Or should I say…femininomenonal? I crack myself up.

No, but really, this was great. Noelle and Yumi are two besties who get cast on an “Amazing Race” style show even though their friendship has been more than rocky over the past year. See, this isn’t just friends to lovers, this is friends to enemies to fake dating because the show thinks that they are a couple and they get cast for an all-couples season. Good Luck, Babe is everything you want a YA romance to be. While there are sad moments, it’s also very funny and perfectly wholesome—just like the reality shows its modeled off.

My absolute favorite aspect of this book is how incredibly obvious it is that Erin Baldwin herself is a superfan of shows like The Amazing Race and Survivor. There is a clarity of concept in the references and materials relating to competition reality shows. It feels like this book was cooked up specifically for me, a fellow superfan. You certainly don’t need to be a fan of these shows to enjoy this book, but you will undoubtedly enjoy it more if you are.

Friends to lovers is not one of my top tropes in romance, and I have read other reality TV show centric books before but they have all been dating reality show dupes. Good Luck, Babe offers a fresh take on both of these elements, making for an absolutely un-put-down-able read that I can’t recommend enough!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for this e-arc!

[Calling All Book Lovers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished this book, and honestly, this is how a YA book should be written. It was one of those books that I flew through in a couple of days (& I'm a slow reader! 😂). The pacing is genuinely so good; nothing felt dragged out, and there wasn't any filler. Every scene felt like it mattered.

One of the things I appreciated most was the disability representation. It felt honest without being overly heavy-handed. The struggles Noelle faces are handled with care, and I loved that it wasn't romanticised or glossed over. At the same time, it never became overwhelming. The story strikes this really solid balance between emotional depth and lighter, fun moments. Just when things start to feel intense, there's a bit of humour that follows, which gives you room to breathe. It never felt sidetracked or like it was trying too hard.

I also really loved the small cultural elements woven into Yumi's story. They weren't thrown in for decoration; they actually helped me understand her background and shaped how I saw her as a main character. I always appreciate when an author takes the time to do that instead of keeping a character's identity surface-level.

Overall, this was such a satisfying read. It's fast-paced, emotionally thoughtful, and still full of warmth. If you're looking for a YA sapphic romance where the setting is based on a reality TV show, this is definitely the book for you!