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Legally Yours, Violet Lopez
A serious and studious teen reluctantly agrees to defend her elite private school’s lazy golden boy in this young adult rom-com with courtroom intrigue, an opposites attract romance, and witty banter.
Violet Lopez has planned exactly how her life will She’ll graduate valedictorian, attend Harvard, and become a big shot lawyer, all so that her injury-prone single dad can finally take a break.
As a member of her elite private school’s law society, Violet is proud to hold a near-perfect record of defending students against the disciplinary board. But when the popular and infuriatingly charming Theo Hudson is accused of a prank he swears he didn’t commit, Violet recuses herself from his case on the grounds of despising the school’s privileged golden boy, and not even a couple classmates’ offer of a four-figure payout to purposely tank his trial can change her mind.
Then Theo uncovers a secret Violet wants to keep under wraps and blackmails her into representing him. Sick of being pushed around by rich kids, Violet decides she can get sweet revenge on the arrogant jock and some much-needed cash at the same time. She’ll twist his alibi, lose key evidence, mislead witnesses—all while playing the perfect lawyer on the surface. Theo goes down, and Violet gets paid.
But the closer Violet gets to Theo, the more she sees beneath his devil-may-care attitude to someone caring and surprisingly sensitive…who she’s been planning to sabotage. Is it too late to change her mind? And even if she does, would Theo ever forgive her?
Violet can object to falling in love all she wants, but her heart overrules every time.
Violet Lopez has planned exactly how her life will She’ll graduate valedictorian, attend Harvard, and become a big shot lawyer, all so that her injury-prone single dad can finally take a break.
As a member of her elite private school’s law society, Violet is proud to hold a near-perfect record of defending students against the disciplinary board. But when the popular and infuriatingly charming Theo Hudson is accused of a prank he swears he didn’t commit, Violet recuses herself from his case on the grounds of despising the school’s privileged golden boy, and not even a couple classmates’ offer of a four-figure payout to purposely tank his trial can change her mind.
Then Theo uncovers a secret Violet wants to keep under wraps and blackmails her into representing him. Sick of being pushed around by rich kids, Violet decides she can get sweet revenge on the arrogant jock and some much-needed cash at the same time. She’ll twist his alibi, lose key evidence, mislead witnesses—all while playing the perfect lawyer on the surface. Theo goes down, and Violet gets paid.
But the closer Violet gets to Theo, the more she sees beneath his devil-may-care attitude to someone caring and surprisingly sensitive…who she’s been planning to sabotage. Is it too late to change her mind? And even if she does, would Theo ever forgive her?
Violet can object to falling in love all she wants, but her heart overrules every time.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 20, 2026
About the author
Elba Luz
5 books110 followers Elba Luz is a lover of stories, whether in the form of anime, manga, video games, or, of course, books. A failed astrophysicist turned publishing professional in New York City, she can be found annoying people with facts about space or lounging about with her adorable pit bull Stormy. She writes romance for adults and teens.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this ARC.
My favorite part was definitely the ending with the courtroom drama. I loved how Violet pulled basically an Elle Woods ending and I was very satisfied with her strategy. I also love Theo. I clocked him right away that he has been pinning for Violet and I just love how Violet was oblivious to it. I really liked that even though this book was a romance ut had a fun high school courtroom storyline. It gave each character another dynamic and gave Violet more character but being obsessed with law, school, and her personal life. Overall, this was a very sweet romance novel.
My favorite part was definitely the ending with the courtroom drama. I loved how Violet pulled basically an Elle Woods ending and I was very satisfied with her strategy. I also love Theo. I clocked him right away that he has been pinning for Violet and I just love how Violet was oblivious to it. I really liked that even though this book was a romance ut had a fun high school courtroom storyline. It gave each character another dynamic and gave Violet more character but being obsessed with law, school, and her personal life. Overall, this was a very sweet romance novel.
November 2, 2026
Theo Hudson drops to his knees in a crowded corridor, grabs both of Violet's hands and begs her to defend him, loudly enough that half the junior class starts filming and somebody calls her Mrs. Hudson. She yanks free, calls him a moron and reaches her classroom to find a rival has stolen her favourite front-row seat. That opening sets the terms of Legally Yours, Violet Lopez by Elba Luz: a boy who treats life as a performance, a girl who treats it as an exam, and a book that wants to know what each of them is hiding.
Violet is a junior at Bell-Haven, a Connecticut prep school she attends on its single scholarship, and the unbeaten star of the Law Society, a student court where top-ranked pupils defend classmates facing discipline. Theo, the basketball captain, is accused of defacing the founder's statue. Two girls with a grudge pay Violet to take his case and lose it. Then Theo discovers she has been running a dating profile for her widowed father, which matched with his mother, and he uses it to blackmail her into representing him. So she says yes to everyone and plans to sink him.
The Girl Who Times Her Own Panic
The strongest thread in Legally Yours, Violet Lopez by Elba Luz is Violet's anxiety, and Luz writes it from the inside without turning it into a lesson. Violet sets a cheap watch to buzz every ten minutes during tests so she never overspends time on one question. She eats spoonfuls of instant coffee powder in study hall and chews raw jalapeños to stay awake. Her father hurt his back at the warehouse, the bills keep coming, and her scholarship requires her to stay in the top five. One wrong answer feels like the end of her future, and the novel makes that logic feel airtight from where she stands.
It helps that her body keeps score. She shakes after the fitness test, the numbers swim on the page, and maths, the one subject she cannot brute-force, becomes the place where the strain shows first. Readers who know test anxiety will recognise the breathing counts and the nausea. Luz lets the mood darken across the middle of the book, and the payoff in the last chapter, a quiet scene about her class ranking, is the most honest ending Legally Yours, Violet Lopez by Elba Luz could have chosen.
The class anxiety is just as specific: off-brand shoes, a thrift-store cardigan, a best friend who once siphoned her own father's money into Violet's savings until her parents noticed. Violet knows she is the poorest person in most rooms, and her contempt for rich classmates is half armour and half envy, which she eventually admits.
Legally Yours, Violet Lopez and the Client Who Will Not Leave
Against all that runs the romance, and Theo is better written than the corridor scene suggests. He reads as the careless golden boy, ranked seventh despite his absences and dress-code violations, but he keeps doing small, practical things: bringing water, wrapping his jacket round her shoulders, refusing to let her skip lunch. When he offers to tutor her in maths in exchange for a day of fun, the trade is pure rom-com, and it works because his help is real.
The best scene in Legally Yours, Violet Lopez by Elba Luz comes high on a festival ride, when Theo tells her about a conversation they had in ninth grade, the year her mother died, which grief had wiped from her memory. It reframes him without excusing the blackmail, and it gives their bickering a floor of tenderness. The banter itself is quick and often funny, especially with Lexie, Violet's lock-picking best friend, chipping in from the sidelines.
The slow middle chapters, where they simply spend time together and stop scoring points, are the novel at its most relaxed. The double cross hangs over every kind word, which is exactly where a rivals-to-lovers story wants it.
Where Legally Yours, Violet Lopez Gives Ground
Threads that drop away. A surprise witness is set up as a real threat and then barely matters, and a relative of Theo's who is built up as a key witness is quietly benched.
A hurried last act. After a patient build, the case, a painful falling-out and the reconciliation all resolve in a few chapters, and one character forgives very quickly.
The same physical shorthand, again and again. Butterflies, heat climbing the neck and burning ears recur so often that the big feelings start to blur.
Unpolished copy. Counsel is spelled as council throughout, along with several other slips a careful edit should have caught.
The endgame of Legally Yours, Violet Lopez by Elba Luz also asks readers to cheer tactics that Violet would object to if the other side used them, and the book never quite notices.
The Verdict
Violet spends the book arguing that she cannot afford a single mistake, and Luz spends it gently proving her wrong. The structure creaks in the last stretch, a couple of characters vanish when they become inconvenient, and the prose leans on the same few sensations. But Legally Yours, Violet Lopez by Elba Luz has a heroine worth rooting for, a love interest who earns his second chance, and a father you will want to adopt.
Case dismissed on the technicalities. The heart of it stands.
Violet is a junior at Bell-Haven, a Connecticut prep school she attends on its single scholarship, and the unbeaten star of the Law Society, a student court where top-ranked pupils defend classmates facing discipline. Theo, the basketball captain, is accused of defacing the founder's statue. Two girls with a grudge pay Violet to take his case and lose it. Then Theo discovers she has been running a dating profile for her widowed father, which matched with his mother, and he uses it to blackmail her into representing him. So she says yes to everyone and plans to sink him.
The Girl Who Times Her Own Panic
The strongest thread in Legally Yours, Violet Lopez by Elba Luz is Violet's anxiety, and Luz writes it from the inside without turning it into a lesson. Violet sets a cheap watch to buzz every ten minutes during tests so she never overspends time on one question. She eats spoonfuls of instant coffee powder in study hall and chews raw jalapeños to stay awake. Her father hurt his back at the warehouse, the bills keep coming, and her scholarship requires her to stay in the top five. One wrong answer feels like the end of her future, and the novel makes that logic feel airtight from where she stands.
It helps that her body keeps score. She shakes after the fitness test, the numbers swim on the page, and maths, the one subject she cannot brute-force, becomes the place where the strain shows first. Readers who know test anxiety will recognise the breathing counts and the nausea. Luz lets the mood darken across the middle of the book, and the payoff in the last chapter, a quiet scene about her class ranking, is the most honest ending Legally Yours, Violet Lopez by Elba Luz could have chosen.
The class anxiety is just as specific: off-brand shoes, a thrift-store cardigan, a best friend who once siphoned her own father's money into Violet's savings until her parents noticed. Violet knows she is the poorest person in most rooms, and her contempt for rich classmates is half armour and half envy, which she eventually admits.
Legally Yours, Violet Lopez and the Client Who Will Not Leave
Against all that runs the romance, and Theo is better written than the corridor scene suggests. He reads as the careless golden boy, ranked seventh despite his absences and dress-code violations, but he keeps doing small, practical things: bringing water, wrapping his jacket round her shoulders, refusing to let her skip lunch. When he offers to tutor her in maths in exchange for a day of fun, the trade is pure rom-com, and it works because his help is real.
The best scene in Legally Yours, Violet Lopez by Elba Luz comes high on a festival ride, when Theo tells her about a conversation they had in ninth grade, the year her mother died, which grief had wiped from her memory. It reframes him without excusing the blackmail, and it gives their bickering a floor of tenderness. The banter itself is quick and often funny, especially with Lexie, Violet's lock-picking best friend, chipping in from the sidelines.
The slow middle chapters, where they simply spend time together and stop scoring points, are the novel at its most relaxed. The double cross hangs over every kind word, which is exactly where a rivals-to-lovers story wants it.
Where Legally Yours, Violet Lopez Gives Ground
Threads that drop away. A surprise witness is set up as a real threat and then barely matters, and a relative of Theo's who is built up as a key witness is quietly benched.
A hurried last act. After a patient build, the case, a painful falling-out and the reconciliation all resolve in a few chapters, and one character forgives very quickly.
The same physical shorthand, again and again. Butterflies, heat climbing the neck and burning ears recur so often that the big feelings start to blur.
Unpolished copy. Counsel is spelled as council throughout, along with several other slips a careful edit should have caught.
The endgame of Legally Yours, Violet Lopez by Elba Luz also asks readers to cheer tactics that Violet would object to if the other side used them, and the book never quite notices.
The Verdict
Violet spends the book arguing that she cannot afford a single mistake, and Luz spends it gently proving her wrong. The structure creaks in the last stretch, a couple of characters vanish when they become inconvenient, and the prose leans on the same few sensations. But Legally Yours, Violet Lopez by Elba Luz has a heroine worth rooting for, a love interest who earns his second chance, and a father you will want to adopt.
Case dismissed on the technicalities. The heart of it stands.
October 1, 2026
4.5 stars! i love YA and i love romance and i love YA romance! this was so fun and i loveeed the trial so much.
October 30, 2026
huge thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy. all thoughts and opinions below are my own.
as someone who loves the name theodore/theo, you already knew that this book was going to eat down. i mean can you really go wrong with the name theo? you can't, i didn't think so. plus violet was such a relatable character, not in the way that my mom died or i have a really hot guy who likes me but i really cant stand him, but her personality was a little bit too "oh! well! that's...great". once i looked past the romance moving a little bit too fast for me (and remembered that its not rivals or enemies, it's opposites), i realized that yeah this freaking ate down. and hey i love a wannabe lawyer girly fmc!
there were so many moments i was giggling or having a blast with this book and for that, def rec if you want a fun little ya romance that will make you feel single ig.
as someone who loves the name theodore/theo, you already knew that this book was going to eat down. i mean can you really go wrong with the name theo? you can't, i didn't think so. plus violet was such a relatable character, not in the way that my mom died or i have a really hot guy who likes me but i really cant stand him, but her personality was a little bit too "oh! well! that's...great". once i looked past the romance moving a little bit too fast for me (and remembered that its not rivals or enemies, it's opposites), i realized that yeah this freaking ate down. and hey i love a wannabe lawyer girly fmc!
there were so many moments i was giggling or having a blast with this book and for that, def rec if you want a fun little ya romance that will make you feel single ig.
October 30, 2026
what is it with miss elba's writing?? maam do u add in serotonin into your printing press? your writing is phenomenal!!! im in love with everything you write and do, I need u to give me everything you've ever written stat!! like give it to me NOW idc if u think its trash I need it 🤗✨️ full rtc
October 25, 2026
⟡ Thank you for the free book, Simon Teen.
This charming YA romance featured a spirited heroine who was impossible not to root for. Between Violet and Theo's witty banter, budding romance, and a little courtroom drama, there was plenty to enjoy. This is a fun pick for readers who love Legally Blonde.
This charming YA romance featured a spirited heroine who was impossible not to root for. Between Violet and Theo's witty banter, budding romance, and a little courtroom drama, there was plenty to enjoy. This is a fun pick for readers who love Legally Blonde.
October 7, 2026
this was soooo fun!!! elba has done it again! the trial was especially so fun, i felt like i was reading YA version of legally blonde 2 (the perm court scene)
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thanks to Simon Teen and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for this copy.
A YA rom-com involving a law society, courtroom drama, and a girl who dreams of becoming a lawyer? It sounded different and interesting, so I was immediately intrigued.
Violet Lopez was easily my favorite part of this book. As someone who is also a huge overachiever and has spent way too much time thinking about school, careers, and what comes next (still doing that), I really connected with her determination and her fears. She is hardworking, competitive, anxious, and sometimes way too hard on herself, but underneath it all is a girl who wants a better life for herself and her dad. She wants to achieve everything she can so that the struggles and sacrifices of her immigrant parents feel like they were worth it. I also really appreciated that Violet isn't portrayed as extraordinarily smart or effortlessly brilliant. She works hard and tries to make up for what she might lack naturally. Her character could have been easily annoying or unlikeable if it wasn't written well.
Theo is just genuinely kind and caring, with no major red flags or toxic traits, and he is actually willing to listen and change when someone points out his annoying habits. Which is surprisingly rare to find in a male love interest, let alone in YA. Violet mentions at one point that because he received so much love growing up, he naturally learned to give it away, and I thought that perfectly summarized his entire character. Their relationship develops naturally and organically, going from friendship to something more, and their chemistry felt so effortless. Definitely one of the highlights of the book for me. The whole concept of students defending their classmates was such a fun addition to the story.
The courtroom storyline was fun and executed really well. Who doesn't love a court drama with teenage lawyers having some secrets up their sleeves? I also really appreciated that the book wasn't just romance. The characters had their own goals, and struggles, and everyone wasn't constantly clinging to each other. Violet's focus on school and her studies didn't magically disappear after she became friends with Theo, and I loved that. The author did a really good job of balancing the romance with academics, family, friendships, and the mystery surrounding the case.
That said, it did have some shortcomings. Theo's lack of personal boundaries and his tendency to constantly touch people irked me at times. Everyone around him seemed perfectly fine with it, though, so this might just be a personal preference. I would have liked more dedicated time to court drama.
Overall, this was such an adorable and surprisingly heartfelt YA rom-com.
A YA rom-com involving a law society, courtroom drama, and a girl who dreams of becoming a lawyer? It sounded different and interesting, so I was immediately intrigued.
Violet Lopez was easily my favorite part of this book. As someone who is also a huge overachiever and has spent way too much time thinking about school, careers, and what comes next (still doing that), I really connected with her determination and her fears. She is hardworking, competitive, anxious, and sometimes way too hard on herself, but underneath it all is a girl who wants a better life for herself and her dad. She wants to achieve everything she can so that the struggles and sacrifices of her immigrant parents feel like they were worth it. I also really appreciated that Violet isn't portrayed as extraordinarily smart or effortlessly brilliant. She works hard and tries to make up for what she might lack naturally. Her character could have been easily annoying or unlikeable if it wasn't written well.
Theo is just genuinely kind and caring, with no major red flags or toxic traits, and he is actually willing to listen and change when someone points out his annoying habits. Which is surprisingly rare to find in a male love interest, let alone in YA. Violet mentions at one point that because he received so much love growing up, he naturally learned to give it away, and I thought that perfectly summarized his entire character. Their relationship develops naturally and organically, going from friendship to something more, and their chemistry felt so effortless. Definitely one of the highlights of the book for me. The whole concept of students defending their classmates was such a fun addition to the story.
The courtroom storyline was fun and executed really well. Who doesn't love a court drama with teenage lawyers having some secrets up their sleeves? I also really appreciated that the book wasn't just romance. The characters had their own goals, and struggles, and everyone wasn't constantly clinging to each other. Violet's focus on school and her studies didn't magically disappear after she became friends with Theo, and I loved that. The author did a really good job of balancing the romance with academics, family, friendships, and the mystery surrounding the case.
That said, it did have some shortcomings. Theo's lack of personal boundaries and his tendency to constantly touch people irked me at times. Everyone around him seemed perfectly fine with it, though, so this might just be a personal preference. I would have liked more dedicated time to court drama.
Overall, this was such an adorable and surprisingly heartfelt YA rom-com.
October 9, 2026
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the eArc!
This reminded me so much of contemporary YA from 2015-2020. Where a book would take a theme or a hobby and run with it. That meant something to me.
It was shorter than I expected though and I think that definitely affected my connection to the story a little bit. Things would happen then get resolved almost too quickly. And in very convenient ways too. Violet blushing and inwardly reacting to every single thing Theo would do or say got old pretty fast. Especially because there was no gradual shift with that it was just happening from day one. some parts got a snort out of me though I'll give it that, and it was overall fun and enjoyable so I breezed through it. Also, that cover is so cute.
This reminded me so much of contemporary YA from 2015-2020. Where a book would take a theme or a hobby and run with it. That meant something to me.
It was shorter than I expected though and I think that definitely affected my connection to the story a little bit. Things would happen then get resolved almost too quickly. And in very convenient ways too. Violet blushing and inwardly reacting to every single thing Theo would do or say got old pretty fast. Especially because there was no gradual shift with that it was just happening from day one. some parts got a snort out of me though I'll give it that, and it was overall fun and enjoyable so I breezed through it. Also, that cover is so cute.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I am the greatest author of all time. With the sole exception of Satoru Gojo of course
November 5, 2026
A cute fast-paced rom-com that was fun to read!
I really enjoyed this one! It was such a cute entertaining read that warmed the heart and made me smile. Theo was an absolute sweetheart I loved him!!l Violet was a grumpy stricter no nonsense character that pair perfectly with Theo’s more laidback fun attitude. The relationship between them was a great opposites attract with banter and fun unexpected twists.
If you enjoy young adult rom-coms with opposites attract, grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, blackmail, banter, school setting, tension, slow burn, sweet romance, entertaining, and more then check this one out!
“Grief is grief no matter who is wearing it and who you’re wearing it for.” Chapter 11
“I can’t help how I feel, I just feel things, you know?”
A huge thank you to the author and Simon and Schuster for a gifted copy!
I really enjoyed this one! It was such a cute entertaining read that warmed the heart and made me smile. Theo was an absolute sweetheart I loved him!!l Violet was a grumpy stricter no nonsense character that pair perfectly with Theo’s more laidback fun attitude. The relationship between them was a great opposites attract with banter and fun unexpected twists.
If you enjoy young adult rom-coms with opposites attract, grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, blackmail, banter, school setting, tension, slow burn, sweet romance, entertaining, and more then check this one out!
“Grief is grief no matter who is wearing it and who you’re wearing it for.” Chapter 11
“I can’t help how I feel, I just feel things, you know?”
A huge thank you to the author and Simon and Schuster for a gifted copy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
very fun! and i love a messy girl :) thank you s&s children’s and netgalley for the earc!
October 21, 2026
elba luz you icon, you are modern day shakespeare
September 22, 2026
Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy
Legally Blonde meets The Kissing Booth!
This was an enjoyable cliche story. I didn’t feel connected with any of the characters or really care about the crime at hand .The side plot of the parents dating felt unnecessary and i’d much rather investigation scenes .
I felt like the whole “i have a point” and “make it then” scene was ripped from legally blonde as well as the little confession moment . It was by far the most entertaining scene though.
Legally Blonde meets The Kissing Booth!
This was an enjoyable cliche story. I didn’t feel connected with any of the characters or really care about the crime at hand .The side plot of the parents dating felt unnecessary and i’d much rather investigation scenes .
I felt like the whole “i have a point” and “make it then” scene was ripped from legally blonde as well as the little confession moment . It was by far the most entertaining scene though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
~~Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC!~~
Violet's a better person than me, because I would've been a lot meaner about setting boundaries with the dude blackmailing me.
With that said, this was cute! Not a masterpiece of its genre or anything, but it did what it set out to do and I liked it well enough.
So, if you're looking for this to be more about Violet prepping the case and being the high school lawyer, it's not really that. There's some small scenes dedicated to her building Theo's case and the big courtroom showdown in the last few chapters, but the majority of this book is Violet bonding with Theo and learning not to overexert herself thinly. Not that those things were bad, particularly on the latter, but the courtroom scene was the best part of the book, and I wish there was more buildup shown in the pages to that.
I liked Violet as a main character. Her struggles between inadequate finances compared to her classmates, maintaining her grades to keep her scholarship, and the constant stress she puts on herself to be perfect to live up to her mom's legacy and care for her ailing father were grounded and relatable. I don't exactly know how it is with kids in standard education nowadays, but when I was in high school, the pressure to go beyond succeeding classes was very high. I myself have crashed and burned after getting terrible grades. Reliving that experience through Violet brought me back to that time, and watching her learn (By force via Theo, but the girl kinda needed it, tbh. No one else could've talked her down from her self-destructive lifestyle) to properly take care of herself and let go of perfection felt very wholesome. Plus, she gave very Elle vibes in the courtroom scene (I know I keep bringing it up, but it really is the best part of the whole book).
Theo was a character that slowly grew on me. I think that was the intention, but, as I stated in the beginning, I do not have the patience or willingness to deal with a boy as insistingly obnoxious as he was to Violet for about half the book. He reminded me too much of boys I had to deal with growing up (This book just really brought me back somehow. Haven't had that happen to me in a long while), but, eventually, e did redeem himself, even if he growth progression was a tad too fast in progression than what felt natural. The story really could've benefited if it was at least 300 pages.
The only other significant characters were, like, stereotypically-named best friend Lexie and Violet's dad. Lexie was pretty much a carbon copied Trish from Disney's Austin & Ally with all the hobbies she's seen doing over the course of the novel. Until she sticks with writing, of course. Otherwise, not much of a stand out. Violet's dad was apart of the reasons why Violet did what she did, but we don't really see the man himself a lot. The complex dynamic between Violet and him could've been dug in a lot deeper, especially because Violet is the hyper independent only daughter who expected to take care of her sick dad when when she wasn't around.
Overall, I liked this well enough, but it wasn't a standout by any means.
Violet's a better person than me, because I would've been a lot meaner about setting boundaries with the dude blackmailing me.
With that said, this was cute! Not a masterpiece of its genre or anything, but it did what it set out to do and I liked it well enough.
So, if you're looking for this to be more about Violet prepping the case and being the high school lawyer, it's not really that. There's some small scenes dedicated to her building Theo's case and the big courtroom showdown in the last few chapters, but the majority of this book is Violet bonding with Theo and learning not to overexert herself thinly. Not that those things were bad, particularly on the latter, but the courtroom scene was the best part of the book, and I wish there was more buildup shown in the pages to that.
I liked Violet as a main character. Her struggles between inadequate finances compared to her classmates, maintaining her grades to keep her scholarship, and the constant stress she puts on herself to be perfect to live up to her mom's legacy and care for her ailing father were grounded and relatable. I don't exactly know how it is with kids in standard education nowadays, but when I was in high school, the pressure to go beyond succeeding classes was very high. I myself have crashed and burned after getting terrible grades. Reliving that experience through Violet brought me back to that time, and watching her learn (By force via Theo, but the girl kinda needed it, tbh. No one else could've talked her down from her self-destructive lifestyle) to properly take care of herself and let go of perfection felt very wholesome. Plus, she gave very Elle vibes in the courtroom scene (I know I keep bringing it up, but it really is the best part of the whole book).
Theo was a character that slowly grew on me. I think that was the intention, but, as I stated in the beginning, I do not have the patience or willingness to deal with a boy as insistingly obnoxious as he was to Violet for about half the book. He reminded me too much of boys I had to deal with growing up (This book just really brought me back somehow. Haven't had that happen to me in a long while), but, eventually, e did redeem himself, even if he growth progression was a tad too fast in progression than what felt natural. The story really could've benefited if it was at least 300 pages.
The only other significant characters were, like, stereotypically-named best friend Lexie and Violet's dad. Lexie was pretty much a carbon copied Trish from Disney's Austin & Ally with all the hobbies she's seen doing over the course of the novel. Until she sticks with writing, of course. Otherwise, not much of a stand out. Violet's dad was apart of the reasons why Violet did what she did, but we don't really see the man himself a lot. The complex dynamic between Violet and him could've been dug in a lot deeper, especially because Violet is the hyper independent only daughter who expected to take care of her sick dad when when she wasn't around.
Overall, I liked this well enough, but it wasn't a standout by any means.
October 17, 2026
I’ve read another book by this author and really enjoyed it, so when the publisher reached out and asked if I’d like to read an early copy I said yes. I’m really glad I did because I enjoyed this one a lot!
We’ve got a kind of standard story about your scholarship girl trying to do the best she can at the private school so she can get into the college she wants to. Then you have your popular, rich boy, who needs her help with something.
Violet has all the issues/quirks you’d expect of this type of character, only her really bad habits are leading to her health not being great. She barely eats, drinks a ton of caffeine, even biting into hot peppers during tests or studying to keep herself awake. She’s fighting to get by after losing her mother and wanting nothing more than to be a lawyer like her. Her dad recently had some health issues that meant she had to miss a few days of school to help take care of him until he was back on his feet. But then she felt even more behind. She does good in all her classes, but really struggles with math.
Theo seems like the normal popular guy to Violet as far as she knows, because she tends to stay in her own little world, with only her one best friend. But when Violet is trying to set her dad up on a dating app without her dad being in on it, it turns out the first woman she goes to meet with for this is Theo’s mom. Now Theo has something to hold over Violet in order to get her to take on his vandalism case at school. For the most part Theo is the kind of guy who expects people to do what he wants, not in a rude or mean way, he is just used to that. And Violet notices how he often doesn’t listen to others when it isn’t want he wants to hear or do. Again though, Theo is a pretty nice guy other than that. In fact as the story goes along, we realize, along with Theo when Violet points it out to him, that he doesn’t necessarily realize he is doing that, or how it could be hurtful to others.
But Violet has tried to take some money in order to sabotage his case, because she needs the money and at first she felt blackmailed into taking a case she didn’t feel she had the time for with all her other classes and studying.
The romance is sweet, a bit of enemies to lovers, with some fun banter, and I love how Theo takes care of her because he notices her and how she struggles. He wants what is best for her. And we find out there is a reason from their past that he is so intent on getting her to spend time with him.
While normally I’d be irritated that she waits so long to tell him about what she’d said she would do to sabotage his case, I do really like the way it comes out and how she tries to fix it. And the way he deals with it when his case is going on, even knowing/thinking she is still going to sabotage him, he is really almost the perfect guy.
Another great story from this author, and one I will definitely recommend the high school librarians get for their students!
We’ve got a kind of standard story about your scholarship girl trying to do the best she can at the private school so she can get into the college she wants to. Then you have your popular, rich boy, who needs her help with something.
Violet has all the issues/quirks you’d expect of this type of character, only her really bad habits are leading to her health not being great. She barely eats, drinks a ton of caffeine, even biting into hot peppers during tests or studying to keep herself awake. She’s fighting to get by after losing her mother and wanting nothing more than to be a lawyer like her. Her dad recently had some health issues that meant she had to miss a few days of school to help take care of him until he was back on his feet. But then she felt even more behind. She does good in all her classes, but really struggles with math.
Theo seems like the normal popular guy to Violet as far as she knows, because she tends to stay in her own little world, with only her one best friend. But when Violet is trying to set her dad up on a dating app without her dad being in on it, it turns out the first woman she goes to meet with for this is Theo’s mom. Now Theo has something to hold over Violet in order to get her to take on his vandalism case at school. For the most part Theo is the kind of guy who expects people to do what he wants, not in a rude or mean way, he is just used to that. And Violet notices how he often doesn’t listen to others when it isn’t want he wants to hear or do. Again though, Theo is a pretty nice guy other than that. In fact as the story goes along, we realize, along with Theo when Violet points it out to him, that he doesn’t necessarily realize he is doing that, or how it could be hurtful to others.
But Violet has tried to take some money in order to sabotage his case, because she needs the money and at first she felt blackmailed into taking a case she didn’t feel she had the time for with all her other classes and studying.
The romance is sweet, a bit of enemies to lovers, with some fun banter, and I love how Theo takes care of her because he notices her and how she struggles. He wants what is best for her. And we find out there is a reason from their past that he is so intent on getting her to spend time with him.
While normally I’d be irritated that she waits so long to tell him about what she’d said she would do to sabotage his case, I do really like the way it comes out and how she tries to fix it. And the way he deals with it when his case is going on, even knowing/thinking she is still going to sabotage him, he is really almost the perfect guy.
Another great story from this author, and one I will definitely recommend the high school librarians get for their students!
Review of advance copy
**Rating: 3.7 out of 5 stars**
LEGALLY YOURS, VIOLET LOPEZ by Elba Luz is a YA Contemporary novel that follows Violet, a straight-A high schooler who is on a scholarship at an elite private school. Unlike her privileged classmates, Violet must be perfect to keep her class ranking, so she can maintain her financial assistance, get into Harvard Law, and become an attorney, just like her deceased mother. As such, Violet’s already overworked when a new school trial lands in her lap, but when someone offers her money to influence the outcome, it’s too tempting to say no.
What I love about this book is how many people will relate to Violet’s struggle to be perfect and maintain control. The harder she works, the safer she feels, which is ironic, because she makes herself sick and miserable in the process. While her motivation is totally understandable, as readers, we get to see how detrimental the constant striving is to her, and it allows us to reflect on how we may be behaving similarly in our own lives. Cue Theo: the unexpected antidote to Violet’s type-a personality. Theo sees through what Violet is doing and is the first person to get her to slow down. His presence, both sweet and thoughtful, throws Violet, because he’s the opposite of the stereotype she’s built in her head: a spoiled rich kid who gets whatever he wants.
While I appreciate Violet’s situation, I did get frustrated with her on occasion, and found myself wishing she would have called off the deal sooner. Instead, she was willing to sacrifice a person who deeply cared for her, almost until the end, which made it hard to continue rooting for her at times. Not only that, but Theo also allowed her to treat him poorly, which I didn’t always understand, either. If the last third of the book shifted just a bit so that we saw Violet reckon with her choices earlier and then try to find a way out of them, the ending would have landed even more.
That said, I still think fans of Legally Blonde, who enjoy romance, supportive friendships, and father-daughter bonds, will enjoy this read!
Review originally published on YA Books Central: https://yabookscentral.com/legally-yo...
LEGALLY YOURS, VIOLET LOPEZ by Elba Luz is a YA Contemporary novel that follows Violet, a straight-A high schooler who is on a scholarship at an elite private school. Unlike her privileged classmates, Violet must be perfect to keep her class ranking, so she can maintain her financial assistance, get into Harvard Law, and become an attorney, just like her deceased mother. As such, Violet’s already overworked when a new school trial lands in her lap, but when someone offers her money to influence the outcome, it’s too tempting to say no.
What I love about this book is how many people will relate to Violet’s struggle to be perfect and maintain control. The harder she works, the safer she feels, which is ironic, because she makes herself sick and miserable in the process. While her motivation is totally understandable, as readers, we get to see how detrimental the constant striving is to her, and it allows us to reflect on how we may be behaving similarly in our own lives. Cue Theo: the unexpected antidote to Violet’s type-a personality. Theo sees through what Violet is doing and is the first person to get her to slow down. His presence, both sweet and thoughtful, throws Violet, because he’s the opposite of the stereotype she’s built in her head: a spoiled rich kid who gets whatever he wants.
While I appreciate Violet’s situation, I did get frustrated with her on occasion, and found myself wishing she would have called off the deal sooner. Instead, she was willing to sacrifice a person who deeply cared for her, almost until the end, which made it hard to continue rooting for her at times. Not only that, but Theo also allowed her to treat him poorly, which I didn’t always understand, either. If the last third of the book shifted just a bit so that we saw Violet reckon with her choices earlier and then try to find a way out of them, the ending would have landed even more.
That said, I still think fans of Legally Blonde, who enjoy romance, supportive friendships, and father-daughter bonds, will enjoy this read!
Review originally published on YA Books Central: https://yabookscentral.com/legally-yo...
October 23, 2026
Legally Yours, Violet Lopez is a cute YA romance. Violet is an intense, hard-working student who is determined to stay at the top of her class. She participates in mock trials for the school, and is appointed to defend Theo, one of the popular kids in her grade, when he is accused of vandalism. Theo swears that he is innocent, and he tries to be kind to and befriend Violet.
I struggled with this book because it is heavily focused on Violet’s pursuit of academic perfection, often at a compulsive level. She feels compelled to study and do schoolwork all of the time, and rarely sleeps because she needs to feel that she has mastered everything. Violet relies on chewing raw jalapeno peppers and lots of coffee in order to get her through life. Regardless of the class or her grade in that class, Violet has an obsessive need for perfection that no one can district her from.
The friendship between Theo and Violet grows slowly, and I appreciated that he took the time to get to know her and attempt to be supportive of her. The instalove between them didn’t really work for me. Violet proves to be an excellent attorney, confronting a witness with damning evidence that is very helpful for Theo.
Violet seemed like a really lonely character, and I wished that there was more development of the relationship between her and her dad. They obviously cared deeply for each other but were not very involved in each other’s lives. I enjoyed her friendship with Lexie, but wanted more friends for Violet.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing and NetGalley for an advance reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I struggled with this book because it is heavily focused on Violet’s pursuit of academic perfection, often at a compulsive level. She feels compelled to study and do schoolwork all of the time, and rarely sleeps because she needs to feel that she has mastered everything. Violet relies on chewing raw jalapeno peppers and lots of coffee in order to get her through life. Regardless of the class or her grade in that class, Violet has an obsessive need for perfection that no one can district her from.
The friendship between Theo and Violet grows slowly, and I appreciated that he took the time to get to know her and attempt to be supportive of her. The instalove between them didn’t really work for me. Violet proves to be an excellent attorney, confronting a witness with damning evidence that is very helpful for Theo.
Violet seemed like a really lonely character, and I wished that there was more development of the relationship between her and her dad. They obviously cared deeply for each other but were not very involved in each other’s lives. I enjoyed her friendship with Lexie, but wanted more friends for Violet.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing and NetGalley for an advance reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
October 20, 2026
⭐⭐⭐💫
LEGALLY YOURS, VIOLET LOPEZ (October 20, 2026)
Thank you Netgalley and Simon Teen for the eArc
Violet Lopez is a member of her school's law society (the defend students against the disciplinary board). When Theo is accused of a crime he says he didn't commit, Violet doesn't want the case. But then he figures out a secret of hers and uses it to blackmail her. She decides to accept a previous offer to ruin the case (for money), but the closer she gets to Theo, the harder it is to sabotage him.
LEGALLY YOURS, VIOLET LOPEZ is a YA romcom. The premise of this once is very unique: defending a classmate in a mock trial and sabotage. This was a cute read. I liked Violet and Theo as characters and thought that their dynamic didn't seem forced even with the blackmail. Sometimes it can feel like characters move fast in romcoms, but it didn't in this book (I think that's because Violet and Theo were classmates for years; there were things mentioned that I can't say without spoiling that really brought them and their relationship together).
One thing about LEGALLY YOURS, VIOLET LOPEZ is that it's short. At times it felt less like the "trial" that seemed to be the base of the book's description. When it finally popped up, I almost forgot that that's what this book was about (some chapters started with facts/witnesses/etc about the case, but everything that happened within the chapter overshadowed that). Nonetheless, for a romcom it's good, for the courtroom vibes not so much.
LEGALLY YOURS, VIOLET LOPEZ (October 20, 2026)
Thank you Netgalley and Simon Teen for the eArc
Violet Lopez is a member of her school's law society (the defend students against the disciplinary board). When Theo is accused of a crime he says he didn't commit, Violet doesn't want the case. But then he figures out a secret of hers and uses it to blackmail her. She decides to accept a previous offer to ruin the case (for money), but the closer she gets to Theo, the harder it is to sabotage him.
LEGALLY YOURS, VIOLET LOPEZ is a YA romcom. The premise of this once is very unique: defending a classmate in a mock trial and sabotage. This was a cute read. I liked Violet and Theo as characters and thought that their dynamic didn't seem forced even with the blackmail. Sometimes it can feel like characters move fast in romcoms, but it didn't in this book (I think that's because Violet and Theo were classmates for years; there were things mentioned that I can't say without spoiling that really brought them and their relationship together).
One thing about LEGALLY YOURS, VIOLET LOPEZ is that it's short. At times it felt less like the "trial" that seemed to be the base of the book's description. When it finally popped up, I almost forgot that that's what this book was about (some chapters started with facts/witnesses/etc about the case, but everything that happened within the chapter overshadowed that). Nonetheless, for a romcom it's good, for the courtroom vibes not so much.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy.
If you were a teenager who did mock trial in highschool or even college, this book is for you!
Readers will relate to Violet because she is of a single mind, becoming a successful lawyer to care for the people she loves, even at her own expense. Her arc centers around learning to take a deep breath and get her nose out of a book to look around and see that there is more to life than studying so hard you pass out.
Her best friend and the guy she is defending against school vandalism charges are great characters that bring a lot of humor to Violet's somewhat intimidating manner. However, it is Violet's dad who tugs at the heartstrings the most, as he is a single dad who just wants the best for his daughter.
The story is a little slow for me as it takes a while to get to the meat of it, aka, the trial, which was the plot point that interested me most, so I did want that to take more of a front seat in the story, which wasn't the case for a good portion of the story.
Overall, this was a very cute YA rom-com with a lot of heart and humor. I think if you have a future lawyer and want to be a lawyer in the future yourself, this is a cute novel to check out!
If you were a teenager who did mock trial in highschool or even college, this book is for you!
Readers will relate to Violet because she is of a single mind, becoming a successful lawyer to care for the people she loves, even at her own expense. Her arc centers around learning to take a deep breath and get her nose out of a book to look around and see that there is more to life than studying so hard you pass out.
Her best friend and the guy she is defending against school vandalism charges are great characters that bring a lot of humor to Violet's somewhat intimidating manner. However, it is Violet's dad who tugs at the heartstrings the most, as he is a single dad who just wants the best for his daughter.
The story is a little slow for me as it takes a while to get to the meat of it, aka, the trial, which was the plot point that interested me most, so I did want that to take more of a front seat in the story, which wasn't the case for a good portion of the story.
Overall, this was a very cute YA rom-com with a lot of heart and humor. I think if you have a future lawyer and want to be a lawyer in the future yourself, this is a cute novel to check out!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you netgalley for the arc of this book 💗
»»——— ᢉ𐭩 ———««
Spoilers ahead!!
As someone who found out about this book from Pinterest I was immediately interested because I was in my last semester of law school and I just wanted to find out how this book will be and when I found out it was to request on netgalley I just had to manifest into my life.
Now moving onto the actual review!!
This book was everything one can ask for a competent, fiery and lovely protagonist violet (we even have the same name) she is so hardworking but ofc a talented teenager going through hardship of losing a mother and studying at a elite school rn, but oh my the rep of law, the law society and her dream of becomin a lawyer just inspired me so much when I am just post grad looking for internships rn, I know violet can do it and go to law school, ofc theo and violet are so cute togather, the way their bond progressed and my most fav part about the book, the trial at the end it was ao well written for a ya book and how well she connected the dots and ended up making Rachel confess I absolutely loved that, all in love this was absolutely adorable and fun read 🩷✨️.
»»——— ᢉ𐭩 ———««
Spoilers ahead!!
As someone who found out about this book from Pinterest I was immediately interested because I was in my last semester of law school and I just wanted to find out how this book will be and when I found out it was to request on netgalley I just had to manifest into my life.
Now moving onto the actual review!!
This book was everything one can ask for a competent, fiery and lovely protagonist violet (we even have the same name) she is so hardworking but ofc a talented teenager going through hardship of losing a mother and studying at a elite school rn, but oh my the rep of law, the law society and her dream of becomin a lawyer just inspired me so much when I am just post grad looking for internships rn, I know violet can do it and go to law school, ofc theo and violet are so cute togather, the way their bond progressed and my most fav part about the book, the trial at the end it was ao well written for a ya book and how well she connected the dots and ended up making Rachel confess I absolutely loved that, all in love this was absolutely adorable and fun read 🩷✨️.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
there are some ya romance books that genuinely give you butterflies because the emotion and chemistry is so real that it becomes so much more than what is on the page. this was one of those for me. immediately joining a short list of my favorite ya romcoms, this book beautifully balanced the real, complex messiness of the characters and the sweet journey of being known by someone.
Violet Lopez is a dedicated, anxious student who puts her studies above everything else in her life (except maybe her relationship with her dad). with big dreams to follow in her late mother’s footsteps and become a lawyer, Violet knows she has to work hard to get to Harvard Law. part of this journey is defending students in her school’s mock trial. when the school’s golden boy (who also happens to best her grades without even trying) forces her into representing him, things only get more complicated.
charming and complicated, with a culminating courtroom scene and a grand gesture, this book is a must read and one of my favorites of the year.
Violet Lopez is a dedicated, anxious student who puts her studies above everything else in her life (except maybe her relationship with her dad). with big dreams to follow in her late mother’s footsteps and become a lawyer, Violet knows she has to work hard to get to Harvard Law. part of this journey is defending students in her school’s mock trial. when the school’s golden boy (who also happens to best her grades without even trying) forces her into representing him, things only get more complicated.
charming and complicated, with a culminating courtroom scene and a grand gesture, this book is a must read and one of my favorites of the year.
November 7, 2026
Going into Legally Yours, I didn’t anticipate loving it. It ended up being a richer experience than I originally expected. Violet Lopez is an incredibly realistic teenager, both personable and unlikable. She’s smart and prickly, but the book shows how her ambition takes its toll on her in a way most YA books don’t.
A YA romance between a stubborn FMC and sunny MMC, this is also a book about finding balance in your life. You can’t be so focused on your future that you forget to live in the present. Or so bogged down by the past, that you don’t move on. I also liked Violet’s relationship with her best friend and her father.
The only thing that prevented this from getting a higher rating was the climactic mock trial. Anyone who’s been in debate or done a mock trial (or even watched a courtroom drama) knows that there’s a structure to how they run. This was just chaos. It may seem like a nitpick, but it bothered me.
Overall, this was a good but not perfect YA story.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book.
A YA romance between a stubborn FMC and sunny MMC, this is also a book about finding balance in your life. You can’t be so focused on your future that you forget to live in the present. Or so bogged down by the past, that you don’t move on. I also liked Violet’s relationship with her best friend and her father.
The only thing that prevented this from getting a higher rating was the climactic mock trial. Anyone who’s been in debate or done a mock trial (or even watched a courtroom drama) knows that there’s a structure to how they run. This was just chaos. It may seem like a nitpick, but it bothered me.
Overall, this was a good but not perfect YA story.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This YA romance stole the show! Some YA reads feel young and immature, but not this one; it was filled with chemistry, emotional depth and characters that will written so well you feel like you know them wholly. These characters were real, perfectly imperfect and the chaos of like was included making every reader finding a piece of themselves weaved within. We see our MC Violet putting everything she has into fulfilling her dreams, spending her energy to make it happen and not willing for anyone to get in her way. Until the golden boy starts to infiltrate her life, forcing her to confront the pieces of life she’s been putting aside. I loved seeing this story develop, the messiness of teenage years, the way someone sometimes just sneaks up on you and the charm that comes from letting people in!
Thank you to Netgalley & Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for an early copy in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you to Netgalley & Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for an early copy in exchange for an honest review!
October 29, 2026
Thank you Elba Luz and Netgalley for a copy of this ARC.
COME TO THE FRONT ELBA LUZ AND GET YOUR CROWN SISTER!!! I am shocked at how much I loved this.
I'm a 30 year old attorney and would love to see more books from my perspective like this. I was on an honor council board from college through law school and loved mock court. I also was low income and needed to focus on grades for scholarship. I do not believe that she would jeopardize her education like that. I think that didn't really fall in line with her perfectionist behavior.
I loved and i mean ADORED the story line and the history with her father. Some difficulty with the editing here. If someone is opposing counsel it's counsel not council. Chapter 6 "you already so much" -error. SEVERAL times I saw commas where there should be periods. I think proofreading will help keep the reader in the story.
I will be recommending! So fun. #LegallyYoursVioletLopez #NetGalley
COME TO THE FRONT ELBA LUZ AND GET YOUR CROWN SISTER!!! I am shocked at how much I loved this.
I'm a 30 year old attorney and would love to see more books from my perspective like this. I was on an honor council board from college through law school and loved mock court. I also was low income and needed to focus on grades for scholarship. I do not believe that she would jeopardize her education like that. I think that didn't really fall in line with her perfectionist behavior.
I loved and i mean ADORED the story line and the history with her father. Some difficulty with the editing here. If someone is opposing counsel it's counsel not council. Chapter 6 "you already so much" -error. SEVERAL times I saw commas where there should be periods. I think proofreading will help keep the reader in the story.
I will be recommending! So fun. #LegallyYoursVioletLopez #NetGalley
October 30, 2026
Rating - 4.5/5
Legally Yours, Violet Lopez is a must-read!! Firstly, how is this book written under 272 pages ?? Like hello? IT IS SO GOOD !! I loved reading each and every chapter from start to finish - I was so into it. I laughed and teared up a bit at 78%, but importantly loved reading it in one go. This book felt like a hug to my younger self who made a lot of mistakes (but didn't have anyone in her corner when she actually needed ). This book is packed with - best friend who is always there for you (sisterhood ), learning from mistakes, enjoying the present, setting up your dad without him knowing moments, sweet tender love, first crush and lots of banter.
What I loved -
1) The trial setup
2) The female friendship (Lexieeeeeeee is my fav character in the entire story 🤭 )
3) Violet's character arc
4) Flirty Theo (to die for )
5) Ferris wheel moment 🙂↕️
Also highly, highly recommend reading this book while eating some cookies everyone 🤭 .
Legally Yours, Violet Lopez is a must-read!! Firstly, how is this book written under 272 pages ?? Like hello? IT IS SO GOOD !! I loved reading each and every chapter from start to finish - I was so into it. I laughed and teared up a bit at 78%, but importantly loved reading it in one go. This book felt like a hug to my younger self who made a lot of mistakes (but didn't have anyone in her corner when she actually needed ). This book is packed with - best friend who is always there for you (sisterhood ), learning from mistakes, enjoying the present, setting up your dad without him knowing moments, sweet tender love, first crush and lots of banter.
What I loved -
1) The trial setup
2) The female friendship (Lexieeeeeeee is my fav character in the entire story 🤭 )
3) Violet's character arc
4) Flirty Theo (to die for )
5) Ferris wheel moment 🙂↕️
Also highly, highly recommend reading this book while eating some cookies everyone 🤭 .
September 12, 2026
This was such a cute read! It was relatively short so the pacing was quick. I loved Theo so much and his conversation with Violet about when he first truly noticed her stood out to me and really made me fall for him as a character. I also loved the entire scene of them two at the festival and just enjoying each other's company without thinking about the stressfulness of their situations. Violet reminded me a lot of myself (and not just because I am a lawyer 😂). She's determined and is competitive. I also really enjoyed the plot of the story and how unique having the members of the law society handle real trials involving their classmates. Overall, I definitely recommend this one to anyone who wants a sweet YA rom-com!
Thank you so much to Simon Teen and Netgalley for the advanced copy! Legally Yours Violet Lopez releases on October 20, so be sure to check it out!
Thank you so much to Simon Teen and Netgalley for the advanced copy! Legally Yours Violet Lopez releases on October 20, so be sure to check it out!
October 22, 2026
ARC REVIEW
I would like to thank Elba Luz & Netgalley for the honor of reading this early! Now on to the review!!
This book was so heart swooning! I love Violet and Lexie friendship they are just there for each other no matter what and have such a close bond! Also Theo & Violet have lots of chemistry. It’s so cute!! I love how Theo calls Violet by her last name Lopez it’s so cute! Can I say that Vivi is such a vibe + such a loving dog!!! Violet’s dad being a baker is making me hungry I want a Nutella cookie too!!! I love the little jokes he’d write for her!! They made me chuckle I have to say this book is gonna be a new favorite it was a short but super fun read!!
Spice level: 0/5 (there is some swearing)
I would like to thank Elba Luz & Netgalley for the honor of reading this early! Now on to the review!!
This book was so heart swooning! I love Violet and Lexie friendship they are just there for each other no matter what and have such a close bond! Also Theo & Violet have lots of chemistry. It’s so cute!! I love how Theo calls Violet by her last name Lopez it’s so cute! Can I say that Vivi is such a vibe + such a loving dog!!! Violet’s dad being a baker is making me hungry I want a Nutella cookie too!!! I love the little jokes he’d write for her!! They made me chuckle I have to say this book is gonna be a new favorite it was a short but super fun read!!
Spice level: 0/5 (there is some swearing)
September 19, 2026
There is just something about a boarding school romance book that does it for me. I loved to concept of this book; the Law Society where students are already practicing court cases. I want to go to this school, wow! Violet and Theo, oh my heart. Neither do them states the same from the beginning to the end. Violet’s stubbornness definitely did not go away, but she grew in how she takes care of herself. And Theo, the little hint of “it’s always been you”… perfection. His care and attention to Violet was a beautiful thing to read. I adored this book and cannot wait for others to read it! Thank you so much, NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for approving me to read this book!
July 29, 2026
3.5 stars!
I’m honored to be one of the first reviews on Goodreads!
The contents of this book were just as cute as the cover! It’s a bit short maybe leaning toward a little too short imo
This is definitely YA so keep that in mind but it gave everything I thought it would!
The trail scene was my favorite part as a legally blonde lover. Watching Violet & Theo hang out came as a close second!
If you’re looking for a short & sweet, fast paced, YA read then you found the one!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc for my honest review!
I’m honored to be one of the first reviews on Goodreads!
The contents of this book were just as cute as the cover! It’s a bit short maybe leaning toward a little too short imo
This is definitely YA so keep that in mind but it gave everything I thought it would!
The trail scene was my favorite part as a legally blonde lover. Watching Violet & Theo hang out came as a close second!
If you’re looking for a short & sweet, fast paced, YA read then you found the one!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc for my honest review!
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