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Legally Yours, Violet Lopez
Not yet published
Expected 20 Oct 26A 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.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 20, 2026
About the author
Elba Luz
4 books102 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 - 16 of 16 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Actual Rating 4.25
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I am the greatest author of all time. With the sole exception of Satoru Gojo of course
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.
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!
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!
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!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was so cute! A few months ago I'd seen this cover on Simon Teen's website, and really wanted to read it. When I saw I could request it on NetGalley, I did. Needless to say, this book was amazing. It was so cute and had me blushing and giggling. I loved the mock trial involvement, and it was very interesting to me. The characters were very well written and I loved them all. Going into my list of my top favorite romance books. I recommend this to anyone in mood for a good romcom and will tell all to buy as soon as it releases
It was a clean read, limited to just kissing. 12+
Loved it so much!
It was a clean read, limited to just kissing. 12+
Loved it so much!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Violet Lopez as a character really stole my heart. I think because I saw a lot of myself in her. An overachieving student with a drive to succeed like no other. She was really hard on herself at times to a detriment but I understood where her character was coming from. Theo as a love interest at first was baffling but I felt that as the book progressed I saw more of the character's sincerity. This was a funny ride with a lot of heartfelt characters. It's what I like about a YA romance that they tend to really explore emotional depth better because they don't rely on sexuality to get the "romance" across. The legal part of the story (the court hearing) was shorter than I thought it would be but still satisfying. I think the writing was funny and easy to understand.
So I received this book for review via NetGalley and all my opinions are my own.
So I received this book for review via NetGalley and all my opinions are my own.
June 11, 2026
The vibes were just a good as the cover of this book. Violet had her life planned out, an elite private school student with a perfect record and dreams of graduating valedictorian and going to Harvard… Theo then enters the chat with a prank he swears wasn’t his doing.
(Note: I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity.)
POV: First Person
Sad Level: 💧
Would I Recommend? Yes
Favorite Character(s): Violet and Theo
Emojis Based on Vibes: 🎒⚖️📚
(Note: I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity.)
POV: First Person
Sad Level: 💧
Would I Recommend? Yes
Favorite Character(s): Violet and Theo
Emojis Based on Vibes: 🎒⚖️📚
August 22, 2026
4⭐️s. Thank you again Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing for the ARC! If anyone is like me aka sucker for a cute YA high school romance, this is for you. Also can be relatable for any overachievers out there who feel constant pressure to perform. I really liked the mock trial aspect of the book that added a unique, captivating spin to the romance. Only note was that I found the FMC’s anger toward the MMC too much or unjustified at times, but other than that, it was overall an enjoyable read.
Did Not Finish
August 7, 2026I tried reading it but the writing wasn’t for me and I couldn’t get into it.
Thanks Netgalley and the the Publisher for the arc.
Thanks Netgalley and the the Publisher for the arc.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
CUTEEE
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I had a good time reading. And it was funny, I truly enjoyed the story.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
review to come.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews