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Red Flags: A Novel
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Expected 5 Jan 27This delightful YA rom-com debut follows two teens who are dared by their friends to stick with the next person they date instead of bailing at the first sign of a minor red flag. Perfect for fans of Jennifer Dugan and Lynn PainterPoppy is known for her high standards. Why bother with relationships when boys don’t ever seem to live up to her expectations? One red flag and she’s out.Cam is known for quickly developing the ick. He’s never dated anyone for long—a week here, a month there, but he always gets spooked.When Poppy’s friends challenge her to give someone a chance for two whole months, Poppy decides that Cam (her mysterious bus crush) could be the best of an underwhelming bunch. But Cam’s been set his own he’s banned from ending things in his next relationship . . . and that means he’s ready to do whatever he can to put Poppy off.Neither Poppy nor Cam want it to work . . . until it does. Despite their flaws, they just might find that there’s a lot to love.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication January 5, 2027
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May 12, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
“How to lose a guy in 10 days” meets “10 things I hate about you” in the best way possible! This was such a fun read!
Poppy has a list of what her “Dream Man” must be like and she is not willing to compromise, she will wait as long as it takes to find him. Therefore, Poppy never makes it to a second date with anyone, at the first sign of a red flag, she bails. Her friend, Stephanie, challenges her to stay with the next boy she meets for 2 months, no calling things off. She needs to allow herself to really get to know someone before ending things. Reluctantly, Poppy agrees, she is convinced she will prove her friend wrong and her red flag theory will stand.
Cam is someone not capable of going too deep with anyone, and at the first sign things are getting serious, he bolts. He is challenged by his friend, Williams, to stay with the next girl he dates and let her be the one to end things, as long as that takes. When Cam gets wind of Poppy’s “Dream Man” list he knows he has it made. All he has to do is the opposite from what’s on the list and it will ensure there is no second date. Then, he can tell Williams he did not end things this time.
Of course, hilarity ensues. Cam is trying his best to have Poppy end things, while Poppy has to continue going out with him. What happens in the process is predictable, but so fun to read!
“How to lose a guy in 10 days” meets “10 things I hate about you” in the best way possible! This was such a fun read!
Poppy has a list of what her “Dream Man” must be like and she is not willing to compromise, she will wait as long as it takes to find him. Therefore, Poppy never makes it to a second date with anyone, at the first sign of a red flag, she bails. Her friend, Stephanie, challenges her to stay with the next boy she meets for 2 months, no calling things off. She needs to allow herself to really get to know someone before ending things. Reluctantly, Poppy agrees, she is convinced she will prove her friend wrong and her red flag theory will stand.
Cam is someone not capable of going too deep with anyone, and at the first sign things are getting serious, he bolts. He is challenged by his friend, Williams, to stay with the next girl he dates and let her be the one to end things, as long as that takes. When Cam gets wind of Poppy’s “Dream Man” list he knows he has it made. All he has to do is the opposite from what’s on the list and it will ensure there is no second date. Then, he can tell Williams he did not end things this time.
Of course, hilarity ensues. Cam is trying his best to have Poppy end things, while Poppy has to continue going out with him. What happens in the process is predictable, but so fun to read!
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March 28, 2026We start our story by following two teenagers who are dared by their friends to stay with the next person they date, what does this entail? Don’t break up with the person you are dating at the first sight of a tiny red flag. According to Poppy’s friends, she must hold on to the person she’s dating for at least two months. Easy right? Not really, when it comes to her love life Poppy is known for having high standards, that led her to create a list for her “dream man” since she was 11 years old, she is convinced that if she waits long enough her perfect man will come along. In comes Cam (her secret bus crush) whose friends have banned from ending things with the next person he dates until that person decides to break things off, that’s where the fun starts, that’s when he decides he needs to become Poppy’s “nightmare man”, to make sure Poppy ends things with him quickly. Neither Poppy nor Cam intend for anything to happen… until suddenly it does, lines start getting blurry and feelings start getting messy.
Let me start by saying I loved this book, I was hooked from the first page, it totally reminded me of “How to lose a guy in 10 days” and “10 things I hate about you”, which had me giggling and kicking my feet the entire time. I found the FMC Poppy to be hilarious and also strong and stubborn in her beliefs to not settle for anyone who’s not “perfect for her”, throughout the book we see a lot of character growth from both her and Cameron, as they end up realizing it was never about being perfect or liking the exact same things, but about finding someone who “deserves you”, that means someone who’s generous, supportive, likes you for you, respects you, encourages you, and is there for you. I truly loved how this book manages to clearly portray the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships, and how important it is to be able to differentiate between the two.
If you’re looking for a book that’s cute and funny but also deals with more serious topics such as being able to identify and stay in a healthy relationship, and reminding us that we’re all humans and as such we are flawed, nobody is truly “perfect” and we’re allowed to make mistakes, then this is the book for you, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t stride to do better or we should settle for something that doesn’t make us feel happy, secure or loved.
What to expect:
🚩Dual POV’S
🚩Found Family
🚩Dream man / Nightmare man list
🚩Grand gesture
🚩Character growth
Favorite Quotes:
“Maybe it’s easier to just stay single, because why open yourself up to the possibility of being hurt if you can avoid that?”
“My theory is this: everyone is scared to be alone, or left behind, so they just find someone tolerable and suck it up.”
“There is nothing better than feeling really, truly seen.”
“Someone can love you and still not know how to do what’s right for you.”
“You know your worth, and that’s admirable. So many women don’t. but relationships take work, Poppy. They’re living things, like plants; you both choose whether to water them or not.”
“Showing yourself to people is a risk. Getting close to people is a risk that’s true for everyone, everywhere. But the other option means keeping everybody at arm’s length, never really letting them in, just in case. And that sounds like a very lonely life to me, Cam.”
Thank you so much to Sophie Jo, NetGalley & ABRAMS Kids Books for the opportunity to review such an amazing, funny and heartfelt story!
Let me start by saying I loved this book, I was hooked from the first page, it totally reminded me of “How to lose a guy in 10 days” and “10 things I hate about you”, which had me giggling and kicking my feet the entire time. I found the FMC Poppy to be hilarious and also strong and stubborn in her beliefs to not settle for anyone who’s not “perfect for her”, throughout the book we see a lot of character growth from both her and Cameron, as they end up realizing it was never about being perfect or liking the exact same things, but about finding someone who “deserves you”, that means someone who’s generous, supportive, likes you for you, respects you, encourages you, and is there for you. I truly loved how this book manages to clearly portray the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships, and how important it is to be able to differentiate between the two.
If you’re looking for a book that’s cute and funny but also deals with more serious topics such as being able to identify and stay in a healthy relationship, and reminding us that we’re all humans and as such we are flawed, nobody is truly “perfect” and we’re allowed to make mistakes, then this is the book for you, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t stride to do better or we should settle for something that doesn’t make us feel happy, secure or loved.
What to expect:
🚩Dual POV’S
🚩Found Family
🚩Dream man / Nightmare man list
🚩Grand gesture
🚩Character growth
Favorite Quotes:
“Maybe it’s easier to just stay single, because why open yourself up to the possibility of being hurt if you can avoid that?”
“My theory is this: everyone is scared to be alone, or left behind, so they just find someone tolerable and suck it up.”
“There is nothing better than feeling really, truly seen.”
“Someone can love you and still not know how to do what’s right for you.”
“You know your worth, and that’s admirable. So many women don’t. but relationships take work, Poppy. They’re living things, like plants; you both choose whether to water them or not.”
“Showing yourself to people is a risk. Getting close to people is a risk that’s true for everyone, everywhere. But the other option means keeping everybody at arm’s length, never really letting them in, just in case. And that sounds like a very lonely life to me, Cam.”
Thank you so much to Sophie Jo, NetGalley & ABRAMS Kids Books for the opportunity to review such an amazing, funny and heartfelt story!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Received as an early copy from NetGalley.
3 Stars
Lynn Painter meets “How to Lose a Guy in Ten Dates” meets “She’s All That”. This YA rom-com follows Poppy, a teenage girl notorious for her high standards and in search of her Dream Man, and Cameron, a teenage boy who is quick to get the ick. After cycling through romantic interests, their friends challenge them to stay with the next person they date and while neither of them want it to work, they find that it just might.
I found this to be a cute, easy read with likable characters and plot lines that expanded beyond just romance. With that being said, I would’ve liked to see more on some of those points. For example, we learn that Cam’s mom isn’t around, resulting in a poor relationship between them. It is vaguely alluded to but not something we really get to see too much of. Obviously, it’s not a central plot point, but for something frequently mentioned I would’ve liked to have seen a little more there.
There were other parts I wanted more from as well. I think the story could’ve benefited from seeing Cameron struggle to act like the “Nightmare Man” more. If he’s really such a nice guy who likes the things she likes, I would except more internal conflict. I also wish there was more development in their relationship after he got called out by his best friend for his attempts to sabotage his relationship with Poppy. It felt like he was a jerk then all of a sudden sorry and now everything is great. Since Poppy is written as someone with such high, strict standards, you would expect her to be more hesitant to let him in. Additionally, the Dream Man list was essentially on the back burner. It was mentioned here and there and obviously the point of the story was she learns she doesn’t need someone who meets all the criteria but it seemed like it was supposed to be more important to her character than the story let on. It was upsetting to read that her first time realizing that there might be something wrong with the list was when she believed she was just like one of her friend’s toxic, abusive boyfriend. Not only were the two completely incomparable, but she also never has a moment where she realizes she is not like him.
I had some personal preference things as well that I will briefly mention: I don’t really enjoy when social media is referenced, the cat consistently being referred to as “Jessie the cat” when the reader had already gathered that Jessie was the cat was a bit annoying, and there was a bit of repetition.
On to the positives! I found this story super easy to follow and it reminded me of a lot of other stories that I really enjoy. I was a very big fan of Cameron’s grand gesture at the end, especially given the importance of it to Poppy. The problematic, unlikable character was put in his place which was another area I greatly liked. As an American reader, this story used some language I was not familiar with, however, it was written in a way that I understood it perfectly and did not feel confused or lost at all. Overall, I did enjoy this story with my primary cons being that I wanted MORE which as far as cons go, I think isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Of course there were other areas I wasn’t a super fan of but with all of this being said, I would recommend this book.
3 Stars
Lynn Painter meets “How to Lose a Guy in Ten Dates” meets “She’s All That”. This YA rom-com follows Poppy, a teenage girl notorious for her high standards and in search of her Dream Man, and Cameron, a teenage boy who is quick to get the ick. After cycling through romantic interests, their friends challenge them to stay with the next person they date and while neither of them want it to work, they find that it just might.
I found this to be a cute, easy read with likable characters and plot lines that expanded beyond just romance. With that being said, I would’ve liked to see more on some of those points. For example, we learn that Cam’s mom isn’t around, resulting in a poor relationship between them. It is vaguely alluded to but not something we really get to see too much of. Obviously, it’s not a central plot point, but for something frequently mentioned I would’ve liked to have seen a little more there.
There were other parts I wanted more from as well. I think the story could’ve benefited from seeing Cameron struggle to act like the “Nightmare Man” more. If he’s really such a nice guy who likes the things she likes, I would except more internal conflict. I also wish there was more development in their relationship after he got called out by his best friend for his attempts to sabotage his relationship with Poppy. It felt like he was a jerk then all of a sudden sorry and now everything is great. Since Poppy is written as someone with such high, strict standards, you would expect her to be more hesitant to let him in. Additionally, the Dream Man list was essentially on the back burner. It was mentioned here and there and obviously the point of the story was she learns she doesn’t need someone who meets all the criteria but it seemed like it was supposed to be more important to her character than the story let on. It was upsetting to read that her first time realizing that there might be something wrong with the list was when she believed she was just like one of her friend’s toxic, abusive boyfriend. Not only were the two completely incomparable, but she also never has a moment where she realizes she is not like him.
I had some personal preference things as well that I will briefly mention: I don’t really enjoy when social media is referenced, the cat consistently being referred to as “Jessie the cat” when the reader had already gathered that Jessie was the cat was a bit annoying, and there was a bit of repetition.
On to the positives! I found this story super easy to follow and it reminded me of a lot of other stories that I really enjoy. I was a very big fan of Cameron’s grand gesture at the end, especially given the importance of it to Poppy. The problematic, unlikable character was put in his place which was another area I greatly liked. As an American reader, this story used some language I was not familiar with, however, it was written in a way that I understood it perfectly and did not feel confused or lost at all. Overall, I did enjoy this story with my primary cons being that I wanted MORE which as far as cons go, I think isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Of course there were other areas I wasn’t a super fan of but with all of this being said, I would recommend this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was such a cute and refreshing young adult romance. It’s completely clean, no spice, and focuses more on relationship dynamics, expectations, and personal growth rather than physical romance.
The story follows Poppy, who creates a “dream man list” based on what she feels is missing in her parents’ relationship. If a guy doesn’t meet her standards, she sees it as a red flag and walks away. Cam, on the other hand, has his own habits when it comes to dating, and the two end up in a situation that challenges both of their mindsets.
I really liked the premise, it felt fun and a little different from typical YA romance setups. The dynamic between Poppy and Cam kept things interesting, especially as their perspectives started to shift over time.
What stood out most to me was the underlying message. The book explores the idea of unrealistic expectations in relationships versus genuine connection, and I appreciated how it showed growth without making things feel overly dramatic.
It also touches on some deeper themes, like how relationships around us can shape our own expectations, and what actually matters when it comes to respect and compatibility.
Overall, this was a sweet, easy read with a meaningful message. If you enjoy clean YA romances with a bit of humor and character growth, this is definitely worth picking up.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows Poppy, who creates a “dream man list” based on what she feels is missing in her parents’ relationship. If a guy doesn’t meet her standards, she sees it as a red flag and walks away. Cam, on the other hand, has his own habits when it comes to dating, and the two end up in a situation that challenges both of their mindsets.
I really liked the premise, it felt fun and a little different from typical YA romance setups. The dynamic between Poppy and Cam kept things interesting, especially as their perspectives started to shift over time.
What stood out most to me was the underlying message. The book explores the idea of unrealistic expectations in relationships versus genuine connection, and I appreciated how it showed growth without making things feel overly dramatic.
It also touches on some deeper themes, like how relationships around us can shape our own expectations, and what actually matters when it comes to respect and compatibility.
Overall, this was a sweet, easy read with a meaningful message. If you enjoy clean YA romances with a bit of humor and character growth, this is definitely worth picking up.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Poppy has her dream man in mind - no one has yet to even come close to her expectations.
Cam has commitment issues - he cannot keep a girl around longer than a few weeks.
Poppy and Cam's friends bet them they can't make a commitment - what will happen when they try to date each other?
Follow Cam and Poppy's rom-com romance as they take love advice from all the wrong places.
If you enjoy a good rom-com set in England, then this book is for you. Poppy and Cam will make you shake your head, giggle, and relate to very real issues. Cam's family life brings a lot of perspective into how family trauma can affect the way you relate to others. Poppy and Cam's friends are also in a toxic relationship which can serve as a good guide to youth of what to avoid and look for if in a possessive relationship.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and the concept that Ms. Jo was going for (she said in her bio she wants to help youth identify red flags). I did want a little more closure on Cam's family life, but in reality, experiences like his rarely have closure. The characters were fun and the right amount of quirky for me to stay invested. I will recommend this for both my school media center and my students. Be careful of possessive relationships!
CAUTION ALL: Be careful of possessive relationships!
***NetGalley ARC Review***
Cam has commitment issues - he cannot keep a girl around longer than a few weeks.
Poppy and Cam's friends bet them they can't make a commitment - what will happen when they try to date each other?
Follow Cam and Poppy's rom-com romance as they take love advice from all the wrong places.
If you enjoy a good rom-com set in England, then this book is for you. Poppy and Cam will make you shake your head, giggle, and relate to very real issues. Cam's family life brings a lot of perspective into how family trauma can affect the way you relate to others. Poppy and Cam's friends are also in a toxic relationship which can serve as a good guide to youth of what to avoid and look for if in a possessive relationship.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and the concept that Ms. Jo was going for (she said in her bio she wants to help youth identify red flags). I did want a little more closure on Cam's family life, but in reality, experiences like his rarely have closure. The characters were fun and the right amount of quirky for me to stay invested. I will recommend this for both my school media center and my students. Be careful of possessive relationships!
CAUTION ALL: Be careful of possessive relationships!
***NetGalley ARC Review***
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NETGALLEY for the ARC!!!! All opinions are my own
I want to start by talking about the end of the book and the message, and just how cute it was. I really enjoyed the dynamic between the two main characters and how their interactions were so cute and funny. It felt like even though they were adults, or younger adults, they were in the phase of just figuring their lives out, and it was adorable. I loved the back and forth between Cam and Poppy. I loved Poppy’s silliness and her ability to be who she is no matter what, I definitely admire that in any character. I loved their little dates and how they went.
However, the reason for my 3-star rating is that I wanted more, perhaps from the side plots and maybe even more from the characters themselves. I felt that we could have explored the connection between Grandad and Fiona more, and that we touched on the relationship between the three of them a bit, but there was no real arc per se. Additionally, I felt that the end of the book wrapped up quite quickly, and in a few short chapters after everything went down, the characters just got back together way too easily.
Overall, I think I might’ve appreciated this book more when I was a bit younger, in my late teens. It definitely has that YA romance feel, and felt kind of like How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days but with younger characters. I enjoyed the ending and the message the author wanted to share, but I think I’ve outgrown the phase of my life where I would be able to fully connect to these characters.
I want to start by talking about the end of the book and the message, and just how cute it was. I really enjoyed the dynamic between the two main characters and how their interactions were so cute and funny. It felt like even though they were adults, or younger adults, they were in the phase of just figuring their lives out, and it was adorable. I loved the back and forth between Cam and Poppy. I loved Poppy’s silliness and her ability to be who she is no matter what, I definitely admire that in any character. I loved their little dates and how they went.
However, the reason for my 3-star rating is that I wanted more, perhaps from the side plots and maybe even more from the characters themselves. I felt that we could have explored the connection between Grandad and Fiona more, and that we touched on the relationship between the three of them a bit, but there was no real arc per se. Additionally, I felt that the end of the book wrapped up quite quickly, and in a few short chapters after everything went down, the characters just got back together way too easily.
Overall, I think I might’ve appreciated this book more when I was a bit younger, in my late teens. It definitely has that YA romance feel, and felt kind of like How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days but with younger characters. I enjoyed the ending and the message the author wanted to share, but I think I’ve outgrown the phase of my life where I would be able to fully connect to these characters.
April 1, 2026
I had no business loving this book as much as I did. It’s a cute take on “how to lose a guy in 10 days” and I could not put it down.
We have Poppy and Cam, neither one can last more than a date or two in a relationship. Poppy has extremely high standards that she will not compromise (and that no real person can ever meet). Cam disengages before a relationship can even start.
Poppy’s friends convince her to try something new. She needs to stay in a relationship for 8 weeks. Cam’s friend tells him he’s not allowed to run from the next relationship.
Poppy is the best. And she has standards. High standards. Westley from the Princess Bride Standards.
Cam finds out what Poppy considers to be her dream man… if he can’t end the relationship, he’ll turn himself into the exact opposite of what she’s looking for. It’s the perfect plan. Except he doesn’t know that she can’t give up for 8 weeks…
Things I loved:
- Rage baiting? Try rage dating
- Miscommunication
- Great friends who push you out of your comfort zone
- The most adorable, supportive grandpa you will ever meet
This book was very sweet, if you’re looking for a feel good book, this one is for you!!
Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC!!
We have Poppy and Cam, neither one can last more than a date or two in a relationship. Poppy has extremely high standards that she will not compromise (and that no real person can ever meet). Cam disengages before a relationship can even start.
Poppy’s friends convince her to try something new. She needs to stay in a relationship for 8 weeks. Cam’s friend tells him he’s not allowed to run from the next relationship.
Poppy is the best. And she has standards. High standards. Westley from the Princess Bride Standards.
Cam finds out what Poppy considers to be her dream man… if he can’t end the relationship, he’ll turn himself into the exact opposite of what she’s looking for. It’s the perfect plan. Except he doesn’t know that she can’t give up for 8 weeks…
Things I loved:
- Rage baiting? Try rage dating
- Miscommunication
- Great friends who push you out of your comfort zone
- The most adorable, supportive grandpa you will ever meet
This book was very sweet, if you’re looking for a feel good book, this one is for you!!
Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC!!
April 11, 2026
This was an Advanced Copy from NetGalley.
“So you pick at the little stuff. You ramp up your red-flag spotting. You obsess over the things you don’t have in common, instead of the things that you do”
Red Flags by Sophie Jo first started out as a red flag character wise.
Poppy grew up watching “The Princess Bride” and sketch up a list of her “Dream Man.” She drops those who don’t check a tick off her list.
Wesley has struggled going through relationships over simple disagreements such as not believing in aliens. He is doubtful that he could have ever last through anything past a first date.
Both friend groups set up a bet, unknowing of each other.
Poppy has her side while Wesley has his.
Both clash together in what is seemingly your classic but addicting, strangers-lovers, enemies-lovers, contemporary-romance, and redemption all wrapped in a fast paced book.
You’ll breeze through this as your heart tugs through the chemistry as the first page hooks you completely.
You will not be disappointed with the newest Sophie Jo novel, it’s waiting for its a spot on your bookshelf!
Thank you to Sophie Jo, Amulet Books, and NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy.
“So you pick at the little stuff. You ramp up your red-flag spotting. You obsess over the things you don’t have in common, instead of the things that you do”
Red Flags by Sophie Jo first started out as a red flag character wise.
Poppy grew up watching “The Princess Bride” and sketch up a list of her “Dream Man.” She drops those who don’t check a tick off her list.
Wesley has struggled going through relationships over simple disagreements such as not believing in aliens. He is doubtful that he could have ever last through anything past a first date.
Both friend groups set up a bet, unknowing of each other.
Poppy has her side while Wesley has his.
Both clash together in what is seemingly your classic but addicting, strangers-lovers, enemies-lovers, contemporary-romance, and redemption all wrapped in a fast paced book.
You’ll breeze through this as your heart tugs through the chemistry as the first page hooks you completely.
You will not be disappointed with the newest Sophie Jo novel, it’s waiting for its a spot on your bookshelf!
Thank you to Sophie Jo, Amulet Books, and NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Poppy has decided the traits she’s wanted in a dream man since day one. She can never date for too long until she finds something that doesn’t meet her standards. Can is the same. He can’t date for over a month until gets the ick and has to break it off. Because of their notorious dating lives, their friends challenge them. Poppy has to date someone for two months and Cam cannot be the person to break up with his next relationship. Cam decides to the worst date possible for Poppy so she ends it but little does he know, she can’t. Poppy finds Cam insufferable but after getting to know each other’s real personalities, they eventually fall.
I thought this book was really cute. Neither of the characters were annoying and I could relate to both of them in different ways. One this I didn’t like is that it seemed that cam started liking her out of no where. In his perspective, there were basically no signs that he was actually falling for her. It was especially unexpected because it happened when Poppy was purposely being mean to him to get her revenge. The story as a whole was good though. It was cute and short. A nice filler read.
I thought this book was really cute. Neither of the characters were annoying and I could relate to both of them in different ways. One this I didn’t like is that it seemed that cam started liking her out of no where. In his perspective, there were basically no signs that he was actually falling for her. It was especially unexpected because it happened when Poppy was purposely being mean to him to get her revenge. The story as a whole was good though. It was cute and short. A nice filler read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a young adult read that leans heavily into modern dating, boundaries, and learning to trust your instincts—and I really appreciated what the author was trying to do here.
One of my favorite parts was actually the beginning, where Sophie Jo talks about promoting healthy relationships for teens. That intention comes through clearly in the story, and I think it’s something younger readers could genuinely take something from. It opens the door for conversations about what’s okay, what’s not, and how easy it is to overlook red flags when emotions get involved.
The story itself is very “this is a red flag… and here’s another one,” which makes it relatable, but at times it felt a little repetitive. I kept wanting more depth from the characters and a stronger emotional pull to really drive the message home.
Overall, it’s a solid YA read with a good purpose behind it. Not something that fully stuck with me, but I do think it could be impactful for teens navigating relationships and figuring out their own boundaries.
My take: meaningful message, especially for younger readers—just needed a little more depth to elevate it.
One of my favorite parts was actually the beginning, where Sophie Jo talks about promoting healthy relationships for teens. That intention comes through clearly in the story, and I think it’s something younger readers could genuinely take something from. It opens the door for conversations about what’s okay, what’s not, and how easy it is to overlook red flags when emotions get involved.
The story itself is very “this is a red flag… and here’s another one,” which makes it relatable, but at times it felt a little repetitive. I kept wanting more depth from the characters and a stronger emotional pull to really drive the message home.
Overall, it’s a solid YA read with a good purpose behind it. Not something that fully stuck with me, but I do think it could be impactful for teens navigating relationships and figuring out their own boundaries.
My take: meaningful message, especially for younger readers—just needed a little more depth to elevate it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book is an adorable read that is sure to hit you in the feels.
We follow our main characters, Poppy and Cam, as they traverse their own journeys with relationships. I enjoy how realistic they both are. Each of their rationales are rooted in their fundamental personalities, not some arbitrary reasoning for the sake of.
Each took their own growth journey through the story. While it felt age appropriate for teenagers, there is still plenty of depth as well. I found parts of both characters to which I could personally relate.
I found myself also enjoying the side characters as well. Each serve their purpose and help either build Poppy and Cam, or further highlight how each needs to grow.
One of the parts I love most about this book is how vulnerability is portrayed, especially with Cam. To see his emotions come out through his POV, particularly the part where he cries after Fiona’s visit, was so raw and impactful. That is the moment I felt completely connected with Cam.
I’d recommend this book for anyone interested in a rom-com vibe with a neat concept and emotional depth. A special thank you to Amulet Book and Netgalley for allowing me to read an e-ARC of this novel!
We follow our main characters, Poppy and Cam, as they traverse their own journeys with relationships. I enjoy how realistic they both are. Each of their rationales are rooted in their fundamental personalities, not some arbitrary reasoning for the sake of.
Each took their own growth journey through the story. While it felt age appropriate for teenagers, there is still plenty of depth as well. I found parts of both characters to which I could personally relate.
I found myself also enjoying the side characters as well. Each serve their purpose and help either build Poppy and Cam, or further highlight how each needs to grow.
One of the parts I love most about this book is how vulnerability is portrayed, especially with Cam. To see his emotions come out through his POV, particularly the part where he cries after Fiona’s visit, was so raw and impactful. That is the moment I felt completely connected with Cam.
I’d recommend this book for anyone interested in a rom-com vibe with a neat concept and emotional depth. A special thank you to Amulet Book and Netgalley for allowing me to read an e-ARC of this novel!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Poppy is super picky about boys and sees red flags in very innocuous places.
Cam is quick to develop "the ick" about trivial things with the girls he dates.
Enter Poppy's friend - she challenges Poppy to date the next boy for at least 2 months and give the relationship a real chance.
And Cam's friend - she challenges him to not end things in his next relationship.
This was a super cute premise, and I really enjoyed both of these teens.
Cam spent the first half of the book trying to put Poppy off, but she was required to continue seeing him.
Poppy, I loved her! She had a strong sense of who she was and didn't change just because of some boy. Poppy also did her fair share of trying to throw Cam off so he would end things. And then, they started to learn more about each other for real and things changed.
This was a very cute take on "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days"
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an early copy of this!
Cam is quick to develop "the ick" about trivial things with the girls he dates.
Enter Poppy's friend - she challenges Poppy to date the next boy for at least 2 months and give the relationship a real chance.
And Cam's friend - she challenges him to not end things in his next relationship.
This was a super cute premise, and I really enjoyed both of these teens.
Cam spent the first half of the book trying to put Poppy off, but she was required to continue seeing him.
Poppy, I loved her! She had a strong sense of who she was and didn't change just because of some boy. Poppy also did her fair share of trying to throw Cam off so he would end things. And then, they started to learn more about each other for real and things changed.
This was a very cute take on "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days"
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an early copy of this!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Red Flags is a cute story about two noncommittal teens named Poppy and Cam. They both have a habit of ending relationships at the first small sign of incompatibility and are challenged by their respective friends to continue seeing someone past the first date. I think this is a great teen-read because of the many clear examples of healthy and unhealthy relationships, both romantic and platonic. Jo does a great job at exploring the line between caring and controlling in relationships.
There was good character development and the romance was so sweet. I also loved that the plot and conflict were not dependent on the dreaded (by me) miscommunication trope! The alternating points of view were well done. The start was a bit slow for me because the characters didn’t develop much dimension until we started untangling some of their background and family dynamics around 25% onward. Overall, this was such a fun time!
There was good character development and the romance was so sweet. I also loved that the plot and conflict were not dependent on the dreaded (by me) miscommunication trope! The alternating points of view were well done. The start was a bit slow for me because the characters didn’t develop much dimension until we started untangling some of their background and family dynamics around 25% onward. Overall, this was such a fun time!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book was such a fun read. I normally, don't enjoy books with a slow start, but I'm so glad I pushed through because the ending was so funny and happy. I loved how all the characters realized that that "one" character was basically praying on their downfall and that he was truly not who they thought he was. The characters were a little extra and I didn't hate that detail, though it may be a turn off for other readers. I think it is so normalized now to frame characters as popular/athletic so this was a perfect palate cleanser in that light. I think this book at some points did go a little TOO in detail and it was just some excess information that the readers didn't need to know. All-in-all this book was a fun read and such a fun concept. It reminded me a lot of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and it didn't disappoint. Perfect for those fun-loving romcom readers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC from Net Galley -
This book was adorable and takes you right back to feeling 18 again which is exactly its intended audience. It reminded me of the movie How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, but with reversed roles and a modern twist. Sophie Jo subtly teaches readers how to navigate love and relationships in ways that I believe would feel genuinely useful for YA audiences.
The protagonists, Poppy and Cameron, have a charming dynamic going on that keeps you engaged. The book is written with each chapter alternating between their perspectives without retreading the same scenes. The author does a really great job at keeping this balanced!
The pacing occasionally did slow in places and I wished for a little bit of an alternate ending, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. Overall, it was a fun, lighthearted read!
This book was adorable and takes you right back to feeling 18 again which is exactly its intended audience. It reminded me of the movie How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, but with reversed roles and a modern twist. Sophie Jo subtly teaches readers how to navigate love and relationships in ways that I believe would feel genuinely useful for YA audiences.
The protagonists, Poppy and Cameron, have a charming dynamic going on that keeps you engaged. The book is written with each chapter alternating between their perspectives without retreading the same scenes. The author does a really great job at keeping this balanced!
The pacing occasionally did slow in places and I wished for a little bit of an alternate ending, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. Overall, it was a fun, lighthearted read!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
📚 Red Flags
🖋️ Sophie Jo
✨ Standalone
💕 This YA rom com follows Poppy and Cam, two teens dared to stay in their next relationship instead of running at the first tiny red flag. What makes this one special is how it feels fun and flirty on the surface while also exploring what healthy relationships actually look like. My favorite part was watching the whole dream man versus nightmare man setup turn into something unexpectedly sweet, messy, and full of growth.
✨ Tropes & Vibes
🚩 dual POV
🩷 bus crush
😂 rom com chaos
👯 found family
🌟 character growth
💌 grand gestures
🫶 healthy relationship themes
📖 Read this if you like...
🎬 How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days vibes
🎬 10 Things I Hate About You energy
💕 cute romance with depth
🌷 characters learning not to confuse flaws with true red flags
✨ funny but heartfelt YA
#RedFlagsBook #SophieJo #YARomCom #BookReview #NetGalley
🖋️ Sophie Jo
✨ Standalone
💕 This YA rom com follows Poppy and Cam, two teens dared to stay in their next relationship instead of running at the first tiny red flag. What makes this one special is how it feels fun and flirty on the surface while also exploring what healthy relationships actually look like. My favorite part was watching the whole dream man versus nightmare man setup turn into something unexpectedly sweet, messy, and full of growth.
✨ Tropes & Vibes
🚩 dual POV
🩷 bus crush
😂 rom com chaos
👯 found family
🌟 character growth
💌 grand gestures
🫶 healthy relationship themes
📖 Read this if you like...
🎬 How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days vibes
🎬 10 Things I Hate About You energy
💕 cute romance with depth
🌷 characters learning not to confuse flaws with true red flags
✨ funny but heartfelt YA
#RedFlagsBook #SophieJo #YARomCom #BookReview #NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Oml. This book was amazing! Hilarious and loving, the main characters were adorable. It was somehow light-hearted while still full heartedly touching on the tough subjects. Poppy the woman you are! Girl I love you. And Cam oh my goodness. The fact that he had to try so hard to not be her dream man because he was in fact her dream man! Literally the cutest book! 100 percent recommend for a quick romcom, I finished it in less than a day!
Vibes:
- Family
- Friendship
- Fun
- Comedic
- First Love
- Cute
- Swoon-worthy
It’s closed door/ya, so there wasn’t any spice, so I’d recommend it to readers 12 and up (in my opinion).
TW: Heart attack, mentions of body image and partner controling what they eat
Lastly, thank you to NetGalley, Abrams Books, and most importantly Sophie Jo for sharing this ARC with me for my candid thoughts.
Vibes:
- Family
- Friendship
- Fun
- Comedic
- First Love
- Cute
- Swoon-worthy
It’s closed door/ya, so there wasn’t any spice, so I’d recommend it to readers 12 and up (in my opinion).
TW: Heart attack, mentions of body image and partner controling what they eat
Lastly, thank you to NetGalley, Abrams Books, and most importantly Sophie Jo for sharing this ARC with me for my candid thoughts.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A very cute YA romance with a fun premise between two extremely picky friends. The story has a bit of a slow start, but it really finds its footing around the first quarter and becomes much more engaging from there.
It gives off a playful, modern spin on How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, except here both characters are entering the relationship for their own outside motivations rather than just romance alone. That setup adds an interesting layer to their dynamic and keeps things from feeling too predictable.
What stands out most is the focus on character growth and learning how to show up in healthier relationships—both romantic and personal. It’s light, fun, and easy to read, but still has enough emotional development to keep it grounded.
Overall, a sweet and satisfying YA read that rewards patience after a slower opening.
It gives off a playful, modern spin on How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, except here both characters are entering the relationship for their own outside motivations rather than just romance alone. That setup adds an interesting layer to their dynamic and keeps things from feeling too predictable.
What stands out most is the focus on character growth and learning how to show up in healthier relationships—both romantic and personal. It’s light, fun, and easy to read, but still has enough emotional development to keep it grounded.
Overall, a sweet and satisfying YA read that rewards patience after a slower opening.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Red Flags was an adorable and cute book that I personally enjoyed a lot. I read the first half up until 2 am and finished the rest the next day (I was hooked!). It had a bit of a slow start but the character dynamics and relationships were all written so well. I loved the way that the main character, Poppy, evolves and learns to accept that people have their differences and she can't force her expectations on them . I enjoyed reading about each characters relationships and how they grew as people beyond them. Overall, very fun and interesting book although the pacing and simple ending wasn't my favorite part but still an enjoyable read nonetheless!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Red Flags by Sophie Jo is the kind of book that calls you out while making you laugh about it, and honestly, I felt personally attacked in the best way.
Poppy has a dating checklist longer than a CVS receipt and the emotional tolerance of someone who will absolutely block you for using the wrong emoji. Meanwhile, Cam is basically a walking ick with commitment issues and a talent for self-sabotage. So naturally, their friends decide they should date. Because chaos.
What follows is a hilarious, messy, and painfully relatable dive into modern dating where “red flag” gets thrown around like confetti but not everything is actually toxic… sometimes it’s just human.
Poppy has a dating checklist longer than a CVS receipt and the emotional tolerance of someone who will absolutely block you for using the wrong emoji. Meanwhile, Cam is basically a walking ick with commitment issues and a talent for self-sabotage. So naturally, their friends decide they should date. Because chaos.
What follows is a hilarious, messy, and painfully relatable dive into modern dating where “red flag” gets thrown around like confetti but not everything is actually toxic… sometimes it’s just human.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of Red Flags.
I read an ARC of Red Flags by Sophie Jo and really enjoyed it overall. From the very beginning, the book delivers an important and comforting message: you don’t have to settle for toxic relationships out of fear that the right person won’t come along.
I especially liked with Poppy, her thoughts about why people stay in relationships without real love felt so raw and relatable. The story reads as a funny YA Lynn Painter style rom-com and it was great!
The ending was very cute and tied everything together perfectly. My only issue was that the pacing felt a bit off to me.
Rating: 4 ⭐
I read an ARC of Red Flags by Sophie Jo and really enjoyed it overall. From the very beginning, the book delivers an important and comforting message: you don’t have to settle for toxic relationships out of fear that the right person won’t come along.
I especially liked with Poppy, her thoughts about why people stay in relationships without real love felt so raw and relatable. The story reads as a funny YA Lynn Painter style rom-com and it was great!
The ending was very cute and tied everything together perfectly. My only issue was that the pacing felt a bit off to me.
Rating: 4 ⭐
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this.
Seriously. Thank you. It was cute and snarky. It was delivered to me at a moment in time I needed it.
So, Poppy and Cam. Both set in their ways, both set on not getting hurt. They both have unique support systems that push them for healthy relationships and effective communication. Which honestly should be essential in any kind of relationship.
I enjoyed every bit of this story from beginning to end and would happily recommend it to anyone.
Seriously. Thank you. It was cute and snarky. It was delivered to me at a moment in time I needed it.
So, Poppy and Cam. Both set in their ways, both set on not getting hurt. They both have unique support systems that push them for healthy relationships and effective communication. Which honestly should be essential in any kind of relationship.
I enjoyed every bit of this story from beginning to end and would happily recommend it to anyone.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC received from Netgalley, abrams kids publishing | amulet book & Sophie Jo
This book was such a fun, quick YA rom-com read. The whole “spotting red flags” concept felt super relatable and honestly pretty eye opening. Some moments had me laughing, while others made me pause and think about my own experiences in HS.
It’s light and easy to get through, but still manages to slip in some real truths about relationships. If you love a YA rom-com with a mix of humor and insight, this one definitely hits the mark.
I also loved the title of each chapter
This book was such a fun, quick YA rom-com read. The whole “spotting red flags” concept felt super relatable and honestly pretty eye opening. Some moments had me laughing, while others made me pause and think about my own experiences in HS.
It’s light and easy to get through, but still manages to slip in some real truths about relationships. If you love a YA rom-com with a mix of humor and insight, this one definitely hits the mark.
I also loved the title of each chapter
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I love the concept behind this. The chapter titles all being Red Flags in relationships, wonderful. But overall this fell flat for me because I just didn’t feel the chemistry between the two main characters. I wanted it to be there but it just wasn’t. I think I wanted more depth from both of the characters. Plus the supporting characters weren’t fully fleshed out either and just felt like they were there because the MCs needed friends.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.
This was an adorable YA read. It was a complex storyline that touched a lot on personal growth, how expectations can change, what different types of abuse can look like, and how our decisions effect not only ourselves, but others as well. All with no-spice.
I genuinely believe that this will be an enjoyable and eye-opening read for many young adults.
This was an adorable YA read. It was a complex storyline that touched a lot on personal growth, how expectations can change, what different types of abuse can look like, and how our decisions effect not only ourselves, but others as well. All with no-spice.
I genuinely believe that this will be an enjoyable and eye-opening read for many young adults.
April 9, 2026
3.5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review
This book was a cute YA romance. It was def giving a mix of how to lose a guy in 10 days and 10 things I hate about you. It gave the rom com feels in the right ways. It is clearly very YA though and keeps everything G rated. I thought the story was cute and was a a quick read
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review
This book was a cute YA romance. It was def giving a mix of how to lose a guy in 10 days and 10 things I hate about you. It gave the rom com feels in the right ways. It is clearly very YA though and keeps everything G rated. I thought the story was cute and was a a quick read
Want to Read
April 13, 2026❀° ┄───╮
pre-read
╰───┄ °❀
got this arc and it looks so cute!! 🤭
pre-read
╰───┄ °❀
got this arc and it looks so cute!! 🤭
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was such a cute Lynn-Painter-coded YA romance! I loved the chemistry between the characters and found myself unable to put this book down!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was ridiculously cute.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 stars to this easy to read YA romance! It was a how to Lose a Guy in 10 Days plot but still felt fresh. Perfect palate cleanser between Throne of Glass books.
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