What do you think?
Rate this book
Dear Unrequited Love Girl
Two girls. One celebrity crush. And a pen pal connection that just might be the real love story.
Nineteen-year-old Jay Baker is stuck. Freshly dropped out of college and floundering in her dead-end job, she’s more familiar with fictional love than the real thing—especially when it comes to her all-consuming crush on Josh Owen, the awkwardly endearing actor from the cult zombie show Undead or Alive. Nicknamed “Unrequited Love Girl” by her coworker, Jay’s convinced romance just isn’t in the cards—until she stumbles across the fanfiction account of “MrsJoshOwen.”
Enter Amber high school senior, head-over-heels Josh Owen fangirl, and the brilliant mind behind the stories that speak straight to Jay’s heart. Trapped under the weight of her family's expectations and a boyfriend who doesn’t quite understand her, Amber isn’t sure what her future holds—except that it’s probably not what everyone else is planning for her.
When Jay and Amber begin exchanging messages, their shared obsession quickly deepens into something far more real. As they open up about their fears, dreams, and everything in between, a genuine connection blossoms—one that just might turn into the kind of love they never saw coming.
At the intersection of Fangirl and She Gets the Girl, Audrey Wilson’s Dear Unrequited Love Girl is a swoony, funny, and emotionally resonant story about growing up, coming out, and discovering your person in the most unexpected way. Perfect for fans of slow-burn romance, chaotic queer crushes, and love stories written one message at a time.
Nineteen-year-old Jay Baker is stuck. Freshly dropped out of college and floundering in her dead-end job, she’s more familiar with fictional love than the real thing—especially when it comes to her all-consuming crush on Josh Owen, the awkwardly endearing actor from the cult zombie show Undead or Alive. Nicknamed “Unrequited Love Girl” by her coworker, Jay’s convinced romance just isn’t in the cards—until she stumbles across the fanfiction account of “MrsJoshOwen.”
Enter Amber high school senior, head-over-heels Josh Owen fangirl, and the brilliant mind behind the stories that speak straight to Jay’s heart. Trapped under the weight of her family's expectations and a boyfriend who doesn’t quite understand her, Amber isn’t sure what her future holds—except that it’s probably not what everyone else is planning for her.
When Jay and Amber begin exchanging messages, their shared obsession quickly deepens into something far more real. As they open up about their fears, dreams, and everything in between, a genuine connection blossoms—one that just might turn into the kind of love they never saw coming.
At the intersection of Fangirl and She Gets the Girl, Audrey Wilson’s Dear Unrequited Love Girl is a swoony, funny, and emotionally resonant story about growing up, coming out, and discovering your person in the most unexpected way. Perfect for fans of slow-burn romance, chaotic queer crushes, and love stories written one message at a time.
306 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 19, 2026
About the author
Audrey Wilson
5 books44 followersAudrey Wilson is an award-winning writer and the author of LANDING LIKE RAIN, ONLY HUMAN, and WRONG GIRL GONE. Her next book THE EVER END will be released by Bywater Books in August 2025. From screenplays and television pilots to short stories and novels, Audrey boasts an eclectic writing background. After graduating from Columbia College Chicago with a BA in Television Writing and Producing, she began her career, and has since produced nationally and internationally for PBS and National Geographic, as well as locally for WLS. In 2018, she received a regional Emmy nomination.
As much as Audrey enjoys getting behind a camera, she feels most at home when immersed in one of her fictional works. When she isn't writing, Audrey enjoys hiking, reading, and watching movies, from the earliest Charlie Chaplin picture to the latest indie film. She lives in the Chicago suburbs with her partner and their rescued cats and dog, where she continues getting swept away in her writing on a nightly basis. To learn more about Audrey, visit www.AudreyWilsonAuthor.com.
As much as Audrey enjoys getting behind a camera, she feels most at home when immersed in one of her fictional works. When she isn't writing, Audrey enjoys hiking, reading, and watching movies, from the earliest Charlie Chaplin picture to the latest indie film. She lives in the Chicago suburbs with her partner and their rescued cats and dog, where she continues getting swept away in her writing on a nightly basis. To learn more about Audrey, visit www.AudreyWilsonAuthor.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thanks to Audrey Wilson for the ARC of Dear Unrequited Love Girl, so privileged to have had the chance to read this.
This book was pure joy to read. The characters were great and so well developed and true to life. So real were their thoughts, emotions and events. We've all struggled with some or all of what the two main characters Jay and Amber have gone through.
This book address so many issues that we as girls face in our late teens (or anytime in life really) regarding friendship, family, confidence and sexuality, the future, to name a few.
I love how the author put this story on paper and how well it reads. The story really flows.
This is one of those books you just want to binge in one sitting.
The one saying that really stays with me is
"It's ok to be whatever you are today...."
I loved the ending!
This book was pure joy to read. The characters were great and so well developed and true to life. So real were their thoughts, emotions and events. We've all struggled with some or all of what the two main characters Jay and Amber have gone through.
This book address so many issues that we as girls face in our late teens (or anytime in life really) regarding friendship, family, confidence and sexuality, the future, to name a few.
I love how the author put this story on paper and how well it reads. The story really flows.
This is one of those books you just want to binge in one sitting.
The one saying that really stays with me is
"It's ok to be whatever you are today...."
I loved the ending!
Review of advance copy received from Author
The was a fantastic read.
This book was set in the life of Amber and Jaye.
Amber is in her final year of high school has a boyfriend Trent who seems so in love with her. But deep down Amber has the feeling something just doesn't jel.Amber loves writing and stuff she has a blog where she writes stories about her favorite movie series. In this story like normal high school there are the mean girls club who Try to make Amber year a nightmare. Then she meets Jaye on, the writing foreroom. Amber a straight girl starts to have feelings for Jaye that she can't explain to herself. Until at school a group of writing friends give her advice. I can't tell you anymore I don't want to ruin this well written novel. It's about time you picked up your own copy grab your popcorn and soda and curl up in your comfy chair and binge.. Can't wait to see what Audrey Wilson has in store for us in the future.
This book was set in the life of Amber and Jaye.
Amber is in her final year of high school has a boyfriend Trent who seems so in love with her. But deep down Amber has the feeling something just doesn't jel.Amber loves writing and stuff she has a blog where she writes stories about her favorite movie series. In this story like normal high school there are the mean girls club who Try to make Amber year a nightmare. Then she meets Jaye on, the writing foreroom. Amber a straight girl starts to have feelings for Jaye that she can't explain to herself. Until at school a group of writing friends give her advice. I can't tell you anymore I don't want to ruin this well written novel. It's about time you picked up your own copy grab your popcorn and soda and curl up in your comfy chair and binge.. Can't wait to see what Audrey Wilson has in store for us in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to Audrey Wilson for this gifted book.
📝 **Short Summary**
Dear Unrequited Love Girl follows Jay and Amber, two girls brought together through fandom, fanfiction, messages, and one very intense celebrity crush. What starts as a shared obsession slowly turns into something much deeper as both girls begin figuring out who they are, what they want, and what love can look like when it finally feels real.
Review
I absolutely loved this book. After reading Ever End, I already knew I wanted to read more from Audrey Wilson, so I was really excited for Dear Unrequited Love Girl, and honestly, this one completely delivered. It was sweet, funny, emotional, awkward in the best way, and just such a great YA story.
One of the things I love most about Audrey Wilson’s writing is how easily she pulls you into whatever world she is creating. It does not matter if she is writing something darker, more emotional, or something full of fandom chaos and young love. She has this way of making the characters feel real, like you are right there with them watching everything unfold. This book had that feeling from the beginning.
Jay and Amber were so easy to root for. I loved how their connection started through fandom and fanfiction because it felt so honest to the way people can bond over the things they love. There is something so fun and tender about watching two people connect through shared obsession, inside jokes, vulnerability, and messages that slowly become more important than either of them expected.
This book also captured that messy stage of growing up so well. That feeling of not totally knowing who you are yet, not being sure what your future is supposed to look like, and trying to understand the difference between what people expect from you and what you actually want for yourself. It had humor and sweetness, but it also had emotional depth underneath it.
I also really loved how queer joy and self discovery were handled here. It felt soft, relatable, and heartfelt without losing the fun energy of the story. The slow build between Jay and Amber was adorable, and I loved that their relationship grew through emotional honesty instead of instant perfection.
This is such a charming YA read, and it reminded me why I need more people to check out Audrey Wilson’s books. She can write across different genres and still make the heart of the story feel so personal and alive.
✅ **Would I Recommend It?**
Yes, absolutely. If you love YA romance, fandom stories, queer coming of age books, slow burn connection, and characters who feel messy and real in the best way, this is one to check out.
Thank you to Audrey Wilson for this gifted book.
📝 **Short Summary**
Dear Unrequited Love Girl follows Jay and Amber, two girls brought together through fandom, fanfiction, messages, and one very intense celebrity crush. What starts as a shared obsession slowly turns into something much deeper as both girls begin figuring out who they are, what they want, and what love can look like when it finally feels real.
Review
I absolutely loved this book. After reading Ever End, I already knew I wanted to read more from Audrey Wilson, so I was really excited for Dear Unrequited Love Girl, and honestly, this one completely delivered. It was sweet, funny, emotional, awkward in the best way, and just such a great YA story.
One of the things I love most about Audrey Wilson’s writing is how easily she pulls you into whatever world she is creating. It does not matter if she is writing something darker, more emotional, or something full of fandom chaos and young love. She has this way of making the characters feel real, like you are right there with them watching everything unfold. This book had that feeling from the beginning.
Jay and Amber were so easy to root for. I loved how their connection started through fandom and fanfiction because it felt so honest to the way people can bond over the things they love. There is something so fun and tender about watching two people connect through shared obsession, inside jokes, vulnerability, and messages that slowly become more important than either of them expected.
This book also captured that messy stage of growing up so well. That feeling of not totally knowing who you are yet, not being sure what your future is supposed to look like, and trying to understand the difference between what people expect from you and what you actually want for yourself. It had humor and sweetness, but it also had emotional depth underneath it.
I also really loved how queer joy and self discovery were handled here. It felt soft, relatable, and heartfelt without losing the fun energy of the story. The slow build between Jay and Amber was adorable, and I loved that their relationship grew through emotional honesty instead of instant perfection.
This is such a charming YA read, and it reminded me why I need more people to check out Audrey Wilson’s books. She can write across different genres and still make the heart of the story feel so personal and alive.
✅ **Would I Recommend It?**
Yes, absolutely. If you love YA romance, fandom stories, queer coming of age books, slow burn connection, and characters who feel messy and real in the best way, this is one to check out.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Woah... I cannot explain just how much I love this book. Wilson has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Her capacity of writing different genres has me dying for whatever is coming next and next and next and next.
This is my third book by Audrey. WRONG GIRL GONE is a thriller and was my first. THE EVER END is a horror novel and my second. DEAR UNREQUITED LOVE GIRL is a young adult romance and the latest. All have been five full stars! I would recommend all of these to anyone. And I freakin' LOVE an author that can write in multiple genres.
This read follows Jay and Amber, both of whom are obsessed with the show Undead or Alive and in particular, actor Josh Owen. They meet on a fandom site where Amber writes fanfiction and Jay is immediately consumed. They begin writing back and forth and their obsession moves from Josh to each other. What happens next is their trajectory in finding out where the future could take them, individually or with each other.
What I absolutely fell in love with is how I could relate to them both. Jay, who deals with anxiety and depression and how the burdens and joys of love and relationship affect her drastically. Amber is dealing with the pressure of broken friendships, a first love and her parents expectations. Young love is always an emotional roller coaster and usually hits the hardest as the experience isn't there yet and the highs and lows feel like a roller coaster that's about to jump off the rails.
Wilson does an AMAZING job of bringing the story to life. There's humor, joy, heart break, fandom and the ups and downs of coming of age. My heart soars. Everything is SO relatable and you are absolutely rooting for these two.. in every way. It's a perfect example of how people can meet in the most unusual of ways and how growing up can come with some very hard decisions.
I'm in love with Jay and Amber and could read about them forever. A sequel perhaps, Audrey? ;)
This is my third book by Audrey. WRONG GIRL GONE is a thriller and was my first. THE EVER END is a horror novel and my second. DEAR UNREQUITED LOVE GIRL is a young adult romance and the latest. All have been five full stars! I would recommend all of these to anyone. And I freakin' LOVE an author that can write in multiple genres.
This read follows Jay and Amber, both of whom are obsessed with the show Undead or Alive and in particular, actor Josh Owen. They meet on a fandom site where Amber writes fanfiction and Jay is immediately consumed. They begin writing back and forth and their obsession moves from Josh to each other. What happens next is their trajectory in finding out where the future could take them, individually or with each other.
What I absolutely fell in love with is how I could relate to them both. Jay, who deals with anxiety and depression and how the burdens and joys of love and relationship affect her drastically. Amber is dealing with the pressure of broken friendships, a first love and her parents expectations. Young love is always an emotional roller coaster and usually hits the hardest as the experience isn't there yet and the highs and lows feel like a roller coaster that's about to jump off the rails.
Wilson does an AMAZING job of bringing the story to life. There's humor, joy, heart break, fandom and the ups and downs of coming of age. My heart soars. Everything is SO relatable and you are absolutely rooting for these two.. in every way. It's a perfect example of how people can meet in the most unusual of ways and how growing up can come with some very hard decisions.
I'm in love with Jay and Amber and could read about them forever. A sequel perhaps, Audrey? ;)
Review of advance copy received from Author
So so cute!
A celebrity crush on Josh Owen leads to Jay and Amber meeting online and striking up a connection neither of them expected. Amber is in high school and dealing with the pressures of making decisions about colleges and her future, when the chance to meet Josh at a comic con, and it also presents an opportunity for her to meet Jay. But Jay has dropped out of college and she’s struggling with where life is going to take her, so meeting Amber has been something she didn’t know she needed.
I loved every second of this. Both Amber and Jay are younger women, figuring out what comes next in life as they truly enter into adulthood. I loved the spirit of them sharing an interest in the same show and crush on Josh. It made me nostalgic for days like that when everything was excited and the wider world outside of your own bubble isn’t affecting you yet. It was magical and transported me back through Jay and Amber. Late night conversations and over-excitement at the same small but massively significant things. It was the best!
However Audrey has cleverly balanced this with the serious things going on for both Jay and Amber. The stress of deciding or not knowing your future, and the erratic actions it can make you take and ways you react when you are young. All of that emotion was poured out through the words, exchanges, and actions of them both as they lead up to this big moment of meeting Josh. I was so excited for them but also nervous, and empathised with both of them musing about when they finally met in person if they would like each other and whether it would be the same as it was with all the distance between them. When that moment came, I was not disappointed. It was the most amazing and lovely moment, and just what I had hoped for them.
I adored this and really found myself lost and consumed by how wonderful the story was! Highly recommended and cannot wait to read it again.
A celebrity crush on Josh Owen leads to Jay and Amber meeting online and striking up a connection neither of them expected. Amber is in high school and dealing with the pressures of making decisions about colleges and her future, when the chance to meet Josh at a comic con, and it also presents an opportunity for her to meet Jay. But Jay has dropped out of college and she’s struggling with where life is going to take her, so meeting Amber has been something she didn’t know she needed.
I loved every second of this. Both Amber and Jay are younger women, figuring out what comes next in life as they truly enter into adulthood. I loved the spirit of them sharing an interest in the same show and crush on Josh. It made me nostalgic for days like that when everything was excited and the wider world outside of your own bubble isn’t affecting you yet. It was magical and transported me back through Jay and Amber. Late night conversations and over-excitement at the same small but massively significant things. It was the best!
However Audrey has cleverly balanced this with the serious things going on for both Jay and Amber. The stress of deciding or not knowing your future, and the erratic actions it can make you take and ways you react when you are young. All of that emotion was poured out through the words, exchanges, and actions of them both as they lead up to this big moment of meeting Josh. I was so excited for them but also nervous, and empathised with both of them musing about when they finally met in person if they would like each other and whether it would be the same as it was with all the distance between them. When that moment came, I was not disappointed. It was the most amazing and lovely moment, and just what I had hoped for them.
I adored this and really found myself lost and consumed by how wonderful the story was! Highly recommended and cannot wait to read it again.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Feel good romance, loving nod to fans and fandoms
Mains Amber and Jay are both superfans of a character on a favorite TV show. Readers who are/have been part of online fandom for a show or movie, attended a convention, read and/or written fanfiction will resonate with the passion of these main characters while others may find their parasocial relationship with the show character unusual. Some secondary characters in the book fall into the latter category as well. Overall the book is a loving nod to fandom and the people who populate it while also dipping into high school and other YA related shenanigans. Heads up for some characters mistreating others in various ways. There were plot twists I didn't anticipate (a couple that I did, well ahead of time) and unintentional grand gestures (better than the planned ones in my opinion) that kept me entertained; it's easy to get thru this book in a day or weekend. There's humor to offset the drama and romance and some characters who outshine others in their goodness and loving actions. The book is geared towards a YA audience but NA and older adults will also enjoy the story even if some pop references don't resonate with them. My only gripe is that some minor plot threads fell by the wayside before I was ready for that to happen leaving me with some questions at the end, and a wish there had more time spent on the page with one or more of the secondary characters. I thought this was my first Audrey Wilson book but realized when reading her bio after finishing Dear Unrequited Love Girl that I've read one other (The Ever End). They're very different (I recommend them both) and as a result I want to read more of her work in the future to see what other stories she has to tell.
Mains Amber and Jay are both superfans of a character on a favorite TV show. Readers who are/have been part of online fandom for a show or movie, attended a convention, read and/or written fanfiction will resonate with the passion of these main characters while others may find their parasocial relationship with the show character unusual. Some secondary characters in the book fall into the latter category as well. Overall the book is a loving nod to fandom and the people who populate it while also dipping into high school and other YA related shenanigans. Heads up for some characters mistreating others in various ways. There were plot twists I didn't anticipate (a couple that I did, well ahead of time) and unintentional grand gestures (better than the planned ones in my opinion) that kept me entertained; it's easy to get thru this book in a day or weekend. There's humor to offset the drama and romance and some characters who outshine others in their goodness and loving actions. The book is geared towards a YA audience but NA and older adults will also enjoy the story even if some pop references don't resonate with them. My only gripe is that some minor plot threads fell by the wayside before I was ready for that to happen leaving me with some questions at the end, and a wish there had more time spent on the page with one or more of the secondary characters. I thought this was my first Audrey Wilson book but realized when reading her bio after finishing Dear Unrequited Love Girl that I've read one other (The Ever End). They're very different (I recommend them both) and as a result I want to read more of her work in the future to see what other stories she has to tell.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I may be a few generations older than the characters in this YA book, but I fell in love with the story and both of the main characters. I am just so impressed with Audrey Wilson, the author. Simply saying, she is an amazing writer. This book is very different from The Ever End, but it is equally as wonderful.
This story revolves around a post-apocalyptic horror television show, Undead or Alive. The followers call themselves Undead Heads! Josh Owen is the star of the show and the object of the characters’ obsession.
The young ladies live on opposite sides of the country. Amber is in Portland, finishing up high school, dealing with the usual high school drama, choosing a college other than what (she thinks) her parents want and pressure from a boyfriend she doesn’t really love. All she really wanted was to meet Josh, the actor of the show, the one she bores all her of friends with her obsession. She loves the show so much that she writes fanfiction of the show.
Jay is in Chicago, a college dropout working in a comic book store. She’s had an on and off, grief-filled, painful relationship with a fickle girlfriend. She was signing up on a fandom website for Undead or Alive when her desired username, “MrsJoshOwen” was already taken. Instead, she chose “UnrequitedLoveGirl.”
Through the fanfiction site she learned that Amber was the person with her chosen username. They ended up in an online relationship that was delightful to witness. There were so many moments where their youth and inexperience magnified normal life issues into monumental stresses and unnecessary worries.
I don’t need to, but I will repeat, I loved this book. Ten stars, if I could. My thanks to Bywater Books for the arc and the opportunity to read and review this book.
This story revolves around a post-apocalyptic horror television show, Undead or Alive. The followers call themselves Undead Heads! Josh Owen is the star of the show and the object of the characters’ obsession.
The young ladies live on opposite sides of the country. Amber is in Portland, finishing up high school, dealing with the usual high school drama, choosing a college other than what (she thinks) her parents want and pressure from a boyfriend she doesn’t really love. All she really wanted was to meet Josh, the actor of the show, the one she bores all her of friends with her obsession. She loves the show so much that she writes fanfiction of the show.
Jay is in Chicago, a college dropout working in a comic book store. She’s had an on and off, grief-filled, painful relationship with a fickle girlfriend. She was signing up on a fandom website for Undead or Alive when her desired username, “MrsJoshOwen” was already taken. Instead, she chose “UnrequitedLoveGirl.”
Through the fanfiction site she learned that Amber was the person with her chosen username. They ended up in an online relationship that was delightful to witness. There were so many moments where their youth and inexperience magnified normal life issues into monumental stresses and unnecessary worries.
I don’t need to, but I will repeat, I loved this book. Ten stars, if I could. My thanks to Bywater Books for the arc and the opportunity to read and review this book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Dear Unrequited Love Girl by Audrey Wilson is a young adult coming-of-age romance. It is not especially profound, but it is highly relatable and offers moments of insight as Jay and Amber face personal struggles and discover their long-distance friendship evolving into something more.
They bond over a celebrity obsession and begin to share their lives and challenges. Jay is a college dropout dealing with depression, and Amber is a high school senior following the college path laid out for her by her parents.
I enjoyed the witty banter and relationship dynamics. They are likable characters, and their journeys of self-discovery are believable.
Dear Unrequited Love Girl is sweet, relatively low angst, spice-free, and entertaining. I appreciate the mental health rep with therapy-positive coping strategies.
The novel has a HEA with a nice epilogue. I am giving it 3.5 stars, rounded up. I recommend it for a quick, feel-good YA read.
#conventions #Chicago #Illinois #Portland #Oregon #LosAngeles #California #bodypositivity #Mexican #WOC #childofimmigrants #Highschool #artist #writer #fanfiction #college #comicbookstore #depression #mentalhealthrep #highschooldrama #collegedropout #transrep #birep #celebrityobsessed #longdistance #thirdactbreakup #3rdactbreakup #comingout #wittybanter #teens #youngadult #selfdiscovery #toasteroven #supportiveparents #toxicparent #toxicex #meangirl #foundfamily #therapypositive #nospice #HEA #epilogue
I received a review copy from the author. This is my honest opinion.
They bond over a celebrity obsession and begin to share their lives and challenges. Jay is a college dropout dealing with depression, and Amber is a high school senior following the college path laid out for her by her parents.
I enjoyed the witty banter and relationship dynamics. They are likable characters, and their journeys of self-discovery are believable.
Dear Unrequited Love Girl is sweet, relatively low angst, spice-free, and entertaining. I appreciate the mental health rep with therapy-positive coping strategies.
The novel has a HEA with a nice epilogue. I am giving it 3.5 stars, rounded up. I recommend it for a quick, feel-good YA read.
#conventions #Chicago #Illinois #Portland #Oregon #LosAngeles #California #bodypositivity #Mexican #WOC #childofimmigrants #Highschool #artist #writer #fanfiction #college #comicbookstore #depression #mentalhealthrep #highschooldrama #collegedropout #transrep #birep #celebrityobsessed #longdistance #thirdactbreakup #3rdactbreakup #comingout #wittybanter #teens #youngadult #selfdiscovery #toasteroven #supportiveparents #toxicparent #toxicex #meangirl #foundfamily #therapypositive #nospice #HEA #epilogue
I received a review copy from the author. This is my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
YA/NA is a genre I normally don’t choose to read a lot of books in and when it is about bonding over a fandom (that I don’t get at all) I was a bit concerned. I am so happy that I have this book a chance since it was an amazing story, so much teen issues but then personal growth, and what a fantastic online friendship turning into something more. I really recommend this book to everyone since so many big feelings and that I at least love to read about.
Jay is struggling in the beginning of the book, college dropout and dumped by her girlfriend that she still is in love with. She is helped a lot by her love for Josh Owen that is a lead in her favourite TV show Undead or Alive. She finds a Fandom and a person there that is as obsessed as she is with Josh and even writes fanfic about his role. This person is Amber, a struggling high school student that tries to do everything right but only dreams about writing.
Their online getting to know each other via texts, later also calls is wonderful to follow even if I personally am all for falling for a person you meet in person. Jay and Amber fall more and more for each other, support each other through so many hardships and of course quite a bit of jealousy when you are so far apart. I rooted so hard for them to somehow make this work despite living so far away from each other.
I received a free ARC from Bywater Books, and I leave an honest review voluntarily.
Jay is struggling in the beginning of the book, college dropout and dumped by her girlfriend that she still is in love with. She is helped a lot by her love for Josh Owen that is a lead in her favourite TV show Undead or Alive. She finds a Fandom and a person there that is as obsessed as she is with Josh and even writes fanfic about his role. This person is Amber, a struggling high school student that tries to do everything right but only dreams about writing.
Their online getting to know each other via texts, later also calls is wonderful to follow even if I personally am all for falling for a person you meet in person. Jay and Amber fall more and more for each other, support each other through so many hardships and of course quite a bit of jealousy when you are so far apart. I rooted so hard for them to somehow make this work despite living so far away from each other.
I received a free ARC from Bywater Books, and I leave an honest review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
Audrey Wilson has written a book that is funny, sad, and accurately depicts emotions that high school & first year college students go through.
You have a mixture of characters in this book and each of them play an important role in enhancing this story. The MCs are primarily Jay and Amber as most of the book focuses on them, their interactions and the outcome of both of their lives.
Jay has no confidence in herself and Amber cruises through her senior year of high school not knowing what she really wants to do or where she belongs. She struggles with disappointing her mother and on top of that, her close friend once upon a time turns on her. Then you have Cassie who I would love to slap upside her head and tell her to grow up!
The plot of the story is very well developed and I’m reluctant to say too much for fear of giving away spoilers. I will say young love is always hard and the author did a great job of depicting of the angst, and the emotions they go through, finding themselves and even finding love in the most unusual way and place!
You will experience many emotions as you read this book and maybe even some you can relate to. This is a must-read book!
I received an ARC from the author.
You have a mixture of characters in this book and each of them play an important role in enhancing this story. The MCs are primarily Jay and Amber as most of the book focuses on them, their interactions and the outcome of both of their lives.
Jay has no confidence in herself and Amber cruises through her senior year of high school not knowing what she really wants to do or where she belongs. She struggles with disappointing her mother and on top of that, her close friend once upon a time turns on her. Then you have Cassie who I would love to slap upside her head and tell her to grow up!
The plot of the story is very well developed and I’m reluctant to say too much for fear of giving away spoilers. I will say young love is always hard and the author did a great job of depicting of the angst, and the emotions they go through, finding themselves and even finding love in the most unusual way and place!
You will experience many emotions as you read this book and maybe even some you can relate to. This is a must-read book!
I received an ARC from the author.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Due to be released 19/05/2026
Jay and Amber are both struggling with the direction their lives are going in. It's like they lack control and are going with the flow despite it causing unrest and unhappiness.
Jay doesn't have the best relationships around here and watching Undead or Alive keeps her going. Amber appears to have a better circle of people around her with a bit of high school drama thrown in. Her parents want the best for her and her boyfriend seems supportive. She's not happy and fanfiction is her outlet.
Jay and Amber come together through a shared love for a series and this story is split between viewpoints from Jay and Amber. It's interesting to see the differences between the young women but how quickly they support each other. They're both finding their feet in the world. They're both creative but in different ways and I could imagine they'd compliment each other well should they decide to collaborate. They seem a better pairing that their other relationships.
Jay and Amber are both struggling with the direction their lives are going in. It's like they lack control and are going with the flow despite it causing unrest and unhappiness.
Jay doesn't have the best relationships around here and watching Undead or Alive keeps her going. Amber appears to have a better circle of people around her with a bit of high school drama thrown in. Her parents want the best for her and her boyfriend seems supportive. She's not happy and fanfiction is her outlet.
Jay and Amber come together through a shared love for a series and this story is split between viewpoints from Jay and Amber. It's interesting to see the differences between the young women but how quickly they support each other. They're both finding their feet in the world. They're both creative but in different ways and I could imagine they'd compliment each other well should they decide to collaborate. They seem a better pairing that their other relationships.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I enjoyed the start but found the alternate point of view chapters distracting as there weren't clear enough differentials at the start of each chapter so that I would remember which back story went with the pov. Now the issue could be memory.... mine as the back stories were quite different..... one had parents and a boyfriend. The other had an ex and a colleague but each chapter start, apart from the name above the chapter number just wasn't clear enough to me. I'm 40% in and this is still an issue.
60% in and the mains talk and message a lot but have never met. They are in a relationship with each other…… long distance. I think I might be too long a distance from this age to really gel with this book.
However at about 80%, the novel comes in to its own. I really thought it was going to be a love story rather than a romance but all good in the end.
60% in and the mains talk and message a lot but have never met. They are in a relationship with each other…… long distance. I think I might be too long a distance from this age to really gel with this book.
However at about 80%, the novel comes in to its own. I really thought it was going to be a love story rather than a romance but all good in the end.
May 19, 2026
This is a young adult romance book which I was not sure whether I would really enjoy as I am so not a young adult anymore.
I was however very surprised at how it captivated me and really had me invested in wanting to find out the characters back stories and ultimately where their online connection would take them.The author is very insightful of how teenagers can feel with the perceived weight of the world on their shoulders and has you really understanding things from their perspective. This is so different from the first book I read from this author, The Ever End, which was a horror novel but both books have completely embraced the genre they are depicting. It is such a talent for an author to write across different genres but Audrey Wilson has not just achieved it she has smashed it.
I was however very surprised at how it captivated me and really had me invested in wanting to find out the characters back stories and ultimately where their online connection would take them.The author is very insightful of how teenagers can feel with the perceived weight of the world on their shoulders and has you really understanding things from their perspective. This is so different from the first book I read from this author, The Ever End, which was a horror novel but both books have completely embraced the genre they are depicting. It is such a talent for an author to write across different genres but Audrey Wilson has not just achieved it she has smashed it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Audrey Wilson's Dear Unrequited Love Girl is YA at its finest. It's the exact kind of story I wish existed when I was a teenager, and it totally stole my heart with its blend of humor, heart, and nerdy references that took me straight back to my own high school days of staying up way too late writing fanfiction. It also features a swoon-worthy queer love story that will have you sighing, kicking your feet, and applauding both heroines for their bravery in fighting not just for each other but for themselves. I loved every minute of it, and I can't wait to see what's next from Audrey!
May 19, 2026
This story has me in total adoration, rage mode, and bawling my eyes out. I couldn't put it down! Finished the whole thing in about 3 hours, I don't even think I blinked for the last half of it.
Audrey Wilson has burned her place in my memory. There's not a book of hers that I will turn down, from poetry to psychological horror, to romance, hands down I'll take it all. What a range!
Definitely recommend this nail biter, be prepared to cry and throw things and cry while throwing things probably. For love.
Also, definitely has Supernatural fandom vibes which I loved as well.
Audrey Wilson has burned her place in my memory. There's not a book of hers that I will turn down, from poetry to psychological horror, to romance, hands down I'll take it all. What a range!
Definitely recommend this nail biter, be prepared to cry and throw things and cry while throwing things probably. For love.
Also, definitely has Supernatural fandom vibes which I loved as well.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This review is an ARC read review - Thank you Audrey Wilson for letting us girls from BTPO read this book! In a short summary this was a refreshing book of two girls finding themselves in unexpected ways. The story is sweet and a quick read too.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review to come!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews