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The First Kiss Hypothesis #3
Stuck with You
When Caleb Gray heads to the Texas coast to mentally prepare for a future he isn’t sure he wants, the last person he expects to see is Catie Dixon. Yeah, their mothers have been planning their wedding since they were born, but he and Catie are most definitely not friends. He can’t see her as anything but the annoying kid who followed him everywhere. Except, it’s really bothering him that everyone is staring at her in that bikini…
Catie got over her crush on Caleb ages ago. So why can’t she see past his ripped body or how unsettled he seems? She’s got her own problems, though. Her future has been set for years and now she’s dreaming of pulling the plug. A week at their families’ beach house is just what she needs to pull herself together, and she has no intention of letting Caleb back into her heart...which would be a whole lot easier if he’d put on a shirt.
But a forced week of togetherness full of beach parties,
waterslide mishaps, bonfires, and roller coasters sparks more than an understanding. What do you do when the person standing in the way of your future is the one person you grew up hating...but now don’t?
This Entangled Teen Crush book contains summer thunderstorms on the beach, an, er...awkward waterslide incident, and an infuriatingly hot boy who you'll no longer be able to ignore.
Each book in the First Kiss Hypothesis series is
* The First Kiss Hypothesis
* Love and Other Secrets
* Stuck With You
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 2, 2019
33 people are currently reading
361 people want to read
About the author
Christina Mandelski
8 books115 followersWhen I was a kid, I loved to read and write, and I loved going to the library. It was in the children's departments of the libraries I frequented that my dream of becoming a writer took hold. I'd find the place on the shelf where my name would fall, put my finger in that spot and say "that's where it'll go."
After quite a few detours, my dream of having a book on that library shelf is finally coming true this May. My first young adult novel, The Sweetest Thing, published by Egmont USA will be released.
It's a story that's dear to me, about a girl who is passionate about creating art. Here's a little synopsis:
Sheridan is happy making phenomenal cakes in her safe little world. All she needs is for her mother to come home and everything will be perfect. But when her super chef father gets his own reality TV show in New York City, Sheridan comes up with a desperate plan to find her mom and convince her dad to stay put.
After quite a few detours, my dream of having a book on that library shelf is finally coming true this May. My first young adult novel, The Sweetest Thing, published by Egmont USA will be released.
It's a story that's dear to me, about a girl who is passionate about creating art. Here's a little synopsis:
Sheridan is happy making phenomenal cakes in her safe little world. All she needs is for her mother to come home and everything will be perfect. But when her super chef father gets his own reality TV show in New York City, Sheridan comes up with a desperate plan to find her mom and convince her dad to stay put.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
September 3, 2019
Caleb and Catie’s families own a business together however their branches are in different areas. One summer Caleb is hoping to spend some quality time at the beach but finds Catie and her friends have decidedly planned their own vacation.
Caleb feels protective of Catie. Not just because she’s a family friend. What starts as a trip to get away from everyone turns into a trip of self-discovery and finding the person who was already right in front of him.
This is about the summer before you have to grow up.
I enjoyed this read, but at times it was a little slow. The dialect was good and the ending made the story. This series takes an outside the box approach on stories that have done before making them unique. It’s something a little different. This series is worth looking at if you want a slightly different spin on romance. 3.5 stars out of 5.
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Caleb feels protective of Catie. Not just because she’s a family friend. What starts as a trip to get away from everyone turns into a trip of self-discovery and finding the person who was already right in front of him.
This is about the summer before you have to grow up.
I enjoyed this read, but at times it was a little slow. The dialect was good and the ending made the story. This series takes an outside the box approach on stories that have done before making them unique. It’s something a little different. This series is worth looking at if you want a slightly different spin on romance. 3.5 stars out of 5.
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 7, 2019
My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This young adult novel is told mostly from Caleb's point of view. His family has relocated from Texas to Florida for business reasons, and he dutifully follows them. Caleb is conflicted: does he want to return to Texas and attend the University of Texas, or should he put Texas and his true aspirations behind him and continue in the role of dutiful son? Then along comes Catie, the daughter of his parents' partners. Their parents have been trying to match them up as a couple for their entire life, but Catie and Caleb just seem to rub each other the wrong way - until they don't. The writing is good, but the characters did not seem real to me. Perhaps there was too much narration and not enough storytelling and dialogue? Still, a good read. I give this a 3.6 out of 5.
This young adult novel is told mostly from Caleb's point of view. His family has relocated from Texas to Florida for business reasons, and he dutifully follows them. Caleb is conflicted: does he want to return to Texas and attend the University of Texas, or should he put Texas and his true aspirations behind him and continue in the role of dutiful son? Then along comes Catie, the daughter of his parents' partners. Their parents have been trying to match them up as a couple for their entire life, but Catie and Caleb just seem to rub each other the wrong way - until they don't. The writing is good, but the characters did not seem real to me. Perhaps there was too much narration and not enough storytelling and dialogue? Still, a good read. I give this a 3.6 out of 5.
August 30, 2019
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.
This book was such a quick read, and I found myself unable to put it down - it was good I didn't really have anything planned for the day, otherwise I don't know what I would've done. In Stuck With You, Caleb has took himself off to the family beach house, hoping to spend a few days with just his thoughts and his dog, and get to grips with what is happening in his life. His whole life has been planned out by his parents - he's going to go to college on a sports scholarship, studying business, and then one day take over the stores his family own with long time friends, the Dixons. However, he arrives at the beach house and Catie Dixon, his old best friend since they were in nappies, and someone who gets on his nerves, has interrupted his fun, and is adamant she's not leaving until she's had a break too. While they're stuck together, they slowly start to realise that their friendship wasn't worth losing all those years ago, when Caleb moved to Florida, and that they are actually better off as more than friends. They also learn what they want in the future, and work with each other in order to plan just how to tell their parents they don't want to join the family business.
Both of the main characters were fantastic. I felt more of a connection to Caleb, which isn't what I normally find. Caleb's whole life seems to have been planned out, but while in Texas, he gets talking to a local professor, and realises that business is not in the books for him, and faces a proper struggle on whether to go with his gut or with his family wishes. The same actually goes for Catie, whose parents also plan on her going to university - a year later - to study business, but that's not for her either. Both of the characters, even though they 'hated' each other at first, care enough about the other to not jeopardise their freedom by being selfish and doing what they wanted - one of them will study business, and both want it to be them, and not the other.
The romance was actually on the back burner, I felt, in this book, with the rediscovery of friendship and look towards the future playing a bigger role. However, it was such a cute friends-to-lovers relationship, and even though their mothers had neigh on planned their wedding as babies, they still know that there will be a bit of a fall out when the revelation is revealed.
After reading this book, I realised I have a copy of book 1 to review too, and think I'll be getting to that asap, and try to get a copy of book 2, too. Definitely a contemporary author I enjoyed.
This book was such a quick read, and I found myself unable to put it down - it was good I didn't really have anything planned for the day, otherwise I don't know what I would've done. In Stuck With You, Caleb has took himself off to the family beach house, hoping to spend a few days with just his thoughts and his dog, and get to grips with what is happening in his life. His whole life has been planned out by his parents - he's going to go to college on a sports scholarship, studying business, and then one day take over the stores his family own with long time friends, the Dixons. However, he arrives at the beach house and Catie Dixon, his old best friend since they were in nappies, and someone who gets on his nerves, has interrupted his fun, and is adamant she's not leaving until she's had a break too. While they're stuck together, they slowly start to realise that their friendship wasn't worth losing all those years ago, when Caleb moved to Florida, and that they are actually better off as more than friends. They also learn what they want in the future, and work with each other in order to plan just how to tell their parents they don't want to join the family business.
Both of the main characters were fantastic. I felt more of a connection to Caleb, which isn't what I normally find. Caleb's whole life seems to have been planned out, but while in Texas, he gets talking to a local professor, and realises that business is not in the books for him, and faces a proper struggle on whether to go with his gut or with his family wishes. The same actually goes for Catie, whose parents also plan on her going to university - a year later - to study business, but that's not for her either. Both of the characters, even though they 'hated' each other at first, care enough about the other to not jeopardise their freedom by being selfish and doing what they wanted - one of them will study business, and both want it to be them, and not the other.
The romance was actually on the back burner, I felt, in this book, with the rediscovery of friendship and look towards the future playing a bigger role. However, it was such a cute friends-to-lovers relationship, and even though their mothers had neigh on planned their wedding as babies, they still know that there will be a bit of a fall out when the revelation is revealed.
After reading this book, I realised I have a copy of book 1 to review too, and think I'll be getting to that asap, and try to get a copy of book 2, too. Definitely a contemporary author I enjoyed.
September 10, 2019
This was a cute story. I do enjoy a nice contemporary romance and Caleb and Catie were fun characters. I liked their back and forth, the way they both had crushes on each other but didn't want to say anything because they've known each other forever. They also both want different futures than the ones their parents have planned out for them and coming together at the beach house to figure things out is just what they needed.
The pacing was pretty well done and it was a short read. It had it's cute moments and some drama and I had fun reading it. I'll definitely have to check out the first two now!
The pacing was pretty well done and it was a short read. It had it's cute moments and some drama and I had fun reading it. I'll definitely have to check out the first two now!
August 29, 2019
This review was originally posted on my review blog Deanna Reads Books
Stuck With You is actually a third book in Christina Mandelski's First Kiss series. I haven't read the other ones, but I didn't find that I needed to. I felt like this one was a complete story and was easy to follow. The story is about Catie and Caleb, two teens whose lives are entwined because their parents own a flooring company together and both are expected to take over the company someday. The problem is that Catie used to have a massive crush on Caleb, and neither of them actually wants to take over the company.
I really liked the stuff with self-discovery with both Catie and Caleb coming to terms with them really not wanting to do "the plan." They both struggle with it because they want to meet their parents expectations, but it's killing them. I found this so relatable, and I'm sure other teens getting ready to figure out college or their next career path could relate to this too.
I wasn't completely sold on the romance. I definitely bought it because we get the background that Catie always had a thing for Caleb, but I didn't completely buy it from Caleb. He was SO mean to her in the past, but now all of a sudden he is "seeing her for the first time." Eh...I wasn't really buying it that much.
The book is a little short, but it's easy to get through and it's a fun YA contemporary. HEA too!
Stuck With You is actually a third book in Christina Mandelski's First Kiss series. I haven't read the other ones, but I didn't find that I needed to. I felt like this one was a complete story and was easy to follow. The story is about Catie and Caleb, two teens whose lives are entwined because their parents own a flooring company together and both are expected to take over the company someday. The problem is that Catie used to have a massive crush on Caleb, and neither of them actually wants to take over the company.
I really liked the stuff with self-discovery with both Catie and Caleb coming to terms with them really not wanting to do "the plan." They both struggle with it because they want to meet their parents expectations, but it's killing them. I found this so relatable, and I'm sure other teens getting ready to figure out college or their next career path could relate to this too.
I wasn't completely sold on the romance. I definitely bought it because we get the background that Catie always had a thing for Caleb, but I didn't completely buy it from Caleb. He was SO mean to her in the past, but now all of a sudden he is "seeing her for the first time." Eh...I wasn't really buying it that much.
The book is a little short, but it's easy to get through and it's a fun YA contemporary. HEA too!
September 2, 2019
Stuck With You by Christina Mandelski was provided to me by @entangled_publishing so thank you Entangled for allowing me to read this. All thoughts are my own.
Happy Release day!
𝕊𝕪𝕟𝕠𝕡𝕤𝕚𝕤
This book follows Catie and Caleb, two childhood friends who have grown up being told they will end up together. Despite being close friends as children, these two arew apart, leading to their ultimate loss of friendship entirely. But both of them end up at their families’ summer home at the same time and feelings start to arise that they didn’t expect.
𝕄𝕪 𝕋𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I don’t really have any faults for it, but there also wasn’t really anything I loved. YA romance isn’t always something I connect with, but I feel like if you enjoy YA romance, you will enjoy this. Make sure to give it a shot. These characters were lovable and relatable. It explores more than just the romance between these two characters. It also looks into following your heart rather than sticking to the status quo. But as others have said, this romance didn't really click very well for me.
ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Happy Release day!
𝕊𝕪𝕟𝕠𝕡𝕤𝕚𝕤
This book follows Catie and Caleb, two childhood friends who have grown up being told they will end up together. Despite being close friends as children, these two arew apart, leading to their ultimate loss of friendship entirely. But both of them end up at their families’ summer home at the same time and feelings start to arise that they didn’t expect.
𝕄𝕪 𝕋𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I don’t really have any faults for it, but there also wasn’t really anything I loved. YA romance isn’t always something I connect with, but I feel like if you enjoy YA romance, you will enjoy this. Make sure to give it a shot. These characters were lovable and relatable. It explores more than just the romance between these two characters. It also looks into following your heart rather than sticking to the status quo. But as others have said, this romance didn't really click very well for me.
ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘
⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 15, 2019
My Thoughts:
Stuck with you is the first book that I've read by Christina Mandelski, but it certainly won't be my last. This story was so sweet, romantic, and heartfelt. It had all of the elements that I look for in a young adult contemporary romance!
I didn't realize that it was a part of The First Kiss Hypothesis Series, and now I can't wait to go back and read the two previous books, because I know that I'll be in for a treat! Nevertheless, this book can be read as a standalone. I was not lost in the least, and what I gathered from this story was that the two previous books were about the male lead's best friends.
Katie Dixon and Caleb Gray were inseparable as kids. Their parents were best friends, owned a flooring and tile business together, and vacationed together in the beach house that they co-owned. Then, they grew apart in middle school. Katie followed Caleb around and had the hugest crush on him, but to all appearances she annoyed him, and they ended up distancing themselves from each other.
Caleb resided in Florida with his parents for the last six months of his senior year in high school, while they opened up a new location for the business. Catie and her parents stayed in central Texas. Caleb ends up deciding to stay at the beach house for two weeks before he begins his freshman year in college, because he is unhappy with his decisions regarding college, and needs some quiet time to think and reflect. Katie goes to the beach house with her two best friends to have a good time. Neither Caleb nor Catie are aware that the other person will be there....
I enjoyed learning about Caleb and Catie's feelings and history regarding one another. It was fun watching Catie and her friends interact and have a good time, and made me reflect on how fun and carefree it was to be a teenager. The romance between Caleb and Katie was extremely slow burn, authentic, and I adored every minute of it. I loved watching Caleb struggle with his feelings for Catie, and enjoyed his self reflection regarding how his feelings for her went from loving his best friend, to thinking Catie was annoying and bossy, to realizing that he had been in love with her all along.
Katie and Caleb were opposites as far as first appearances went, but once they both dug a little deeper, we got to see that they had some of the same struggles concerning their futures, and weighing what they wanted to do with their lives and were passionate about, versus the weight of family expectations, obligations, and responsibilities. Katie was a bit more chill than Caleb realized, and he was more serious and intense than the image he had always projected.
Something that warmed my heart was the relationship that Catie shared with her grandfather, who suffered from M.S. Even though it didn't get a ton of page time, everytime these two interacted it brought tears to my eyes. Catie's friends Sunny and Ainsely were fun and provided me with a few laughs throughout the story. Caleb's dogmas a fun part of the relationship as well, and was very attached to Catie.
Stuck with You was a story that I was totally engrossed in. It made me reminisce, brought out laughter, ands smiles, as well as the sense log happiness that a reader gets from reading a feel-good story. It had depth, but was still a light, and charming story full of warmth and the good type of "feels!"
Stuck with you is the first book that I've read by Christina Mandelski, but it certainly won't be my last. This story was so sweet, romantic, and heartfelt. It had all of the elements that I look for in a young adult contemporary romance!
I didn't realize that it was a part of The First Kiss Hypothesis Series, and now I can't wait to go back and read the two previous books, because I know that I'll be in for a treat! Nevertheless, this book can be read as a standalone. I was not lost in the least, and what I gathered from this story was that the two previous books were about the male lead's best friends.
Katie Dixon and Caleb Gray were inseparable as kids. Their parents were best friends, owned a flooring and tile business together, and vacationed together in the beach house that they co-owned. Then, they grew apart in middle school. Katie followed Caleb around and had the hugest crush on him, but to all appearances she annoyed him, and they ended up distancing themselves from each other.
Caleb resided in Florida with his parents for the last six months of his senior year in high school, while they opened up a new location for the business. Catie and her parents stayed in central Texas. Caleb ends up deciding to stay at the beach house for two weeks before he begins his freshman year in college, because he is unhappy with his decisions regarding college, and needs some quiet time to think and reflect. Katie goes to the beach house with her two best friends to have a good time. Neither Caleb nor Catie are aware that the other person will be there....
I enjoyed learning about Caleb and Catie's feelings and history regarding one another. It was fun watching Catie and her friends interact and have a good time, and made me reflect on how fun and carefree it was to be a teenager. The romance between Caleb and Katie was extremely slow burn, authentic, and I adored every minute of it. I loved watching Caleb struggle with his feelings for Catie, and enjoyed his self reflection regarding how his feelings for her went from loving his best friend, to thinking Catie was annoying and bossy, to realizing that he had been in love with her all along.
Katie and Caleb were opposites as far as first appearances went, but once they both dug a little deeper, we got to see that they had some of the same struggles concerning their futures, and weighing what they wanted to do with their lives and were passionate about, versus the weight of family expectations, obligations, and responsibilities. Katie was a bit more chill than Caleb realized, and he was more serious and intense than the image he had always projected.
Something that warmed my heart was the relationship that Catie shared with her grandfather, who suffered from M.S. Even though it didn't get a ton of page time, everytime these two interacted it brought tears to my eyes. Catie's friends Sunny and Ainsely were fun and provided me with a few laughs throughout the story. Caleb's dogmas a fun part of the relationship as well, and was very attached to Catie.
Stuck with You was a story that I was totally engrossed in. It made me reminisce, brought out laughter, ands smiles, as well as the sense log happiness that a reader gets from reading a feel-good story. It had depth, but was still a light, and charming story full of warmth and the good type of "feels!"
September 24, 2020
I would like to thank Entangled Crush and the Netgalley website for allowing me to read this book which is the third in the series: "The first kiss hypothesis".
Unfortunately I didn't know it was the third book in the series.
It's about Caleb heading to Texas for a future he probably doesn't want. He didn't expect to run into Catie Dixon. Their mothers have seen them married since they were young children and they are just friends. Catie has gotten over her love for him, but she sees that something has changed about him. They're going to have to live together for a week and is she not going to hate him anymore?
A book read in one go, so much so that I hooked into the story, so addictive, captivating, full of suspense and twists and turns with endearing characters. It makes me want to read the series from the beginning.
Unfortunately I didn't know it was the third book in the series.
It's about Caleb heading to Texas for a future he probably doesn't want. He didn't expect to run into Catie Dixon. Their mothers have seen them married since they were young children and they are just friends. Catie has gotten over her love for him, but she sees that something has changed about him. They're going to have to live together for a week and is she not going to hate him anymore?
A book read in one go, so much so that I hooked into the story, so addictive, captivating, full of suspense and twists and turns with endearing characters. It makes me want to read the series from the beginning.
March 29, 2020
This was cute and you could tell the couple had a connection. But I kinda expected it to be a bit more fun and with more parent drama by the end. As always I want to see more of the couple together, in a real setting to see how they work in their lives.
Oh and I enjoyed all the college talk. Is Catie a virgo? I felt her drama lol
Oh and I enjoyed all the college talk. Is Catie a virgo? I felt her drama lol
October 19, 2019
Rating: 3.5 Stars
I wasn't sure about Caleb and Catie, but I was really happy with the way things turned out for them.
Caleb and Catie had been in each other's orbits for as long as they could remember. They were childhood friends, who became frenemies in their teens, but it seemed as though both may have been harboring romantic feelings for each other.
I am always on board for a friends-to-more romance, and this one had all the things I love in spades. These two had so much history, and many of my favorite moments were when they shared those memories from the past with us. I also adored the way they knew each other so well. They grew up together, and their families were super close, therefore, it was impossible for them to not have a deep connection with each other, and it really added something special to their story.
I also really that both Catie and Caleb were at a crossroads in their lives. They were struggling with their pre-destined futures (as determined by their parents), and it was together, that they were able to work through their inner turmoil and build up the courage to take those next steps.
A quick list of other things I liked:
• Awesome beach setting
• Fun antics with the girls
• Catie's grandfather and Mo ❤️
• Engineering and protecting the beach from hurricanes
• A fantastic epilogue
I really enjoyed this friends-to-frenemies-to-more story, and was so pleased with the choices the characters made for themselves and for each other. It had teen antics, some great family moments, and a really sweet romance. The ending was also so, so good, and left me with all the warm and fuzzy feels.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
I wasn't sure about Caleb and Catie, but I was really happy with the way things turned out for them.
Caleb and Catie had been in each other's orbits for as long as they could remember. They were childhood friends, who became frenemies in their teens, but it seemed as though both may have been harboring romantic feelings for each other.
I am always on board for a friends-to-more romance, and this one had all the things I love in spades. These two had so much history, and many of my favorite moments were when they shared those memories from the past with us. I also adored the way they knew each other so well. They grew up together, and their families were super close, therefore, it was impossible for them to not have a deep connection with each other, and it really added something special to their story.
I also really that both Catie and Caleb were at a crossroads in their lives. They were struggling with their pre-destined futures (as determined by their parents), and it was together, that they were able to work through their inner turmoil and build up the courage to take those next steps.
A quick list of other things I liked:
• Awesome beach setting
• Fun antics with the girls
• Catie's grandfather and Mo ❤️
• Engineering and protecting the beach from hurricanes
• A fantastic epilogue
I really enjoyed this friends-to-frenemies-to-more story, and was so pleased with the choices the characters made for themselves and for each other. It had teen antics, some great family moments, and a really sweet romance. The ending was also so, so good, and left me with all the warm and fuzzy feels.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
August 24, 2019
When Caleb Gray heads to the Texas coast to mentally prepare for a future he isn’t sure he wants, the last person he expects to see is Catie Dixon. Yeah, their mothers have been planning their wedding since they were born, but he and Catie are most definitely not friends. He can’t see her as anything but the annoying kid who followed him everywhere. Except, it’s really bothering him that everyone is staring at her in that bikini…
Catie got over her crush on Caleb ages ago. So why can’t she see past his ripped body or how unsettled he seems? She’s got her own problems, though. Her future has been set for years and now she’s dreaming of pulling the plug. A week at their families’ beach house is just what she needs to pull herself together, and she has no intention of letting Caleb back into her heart...which would be a whole lot easier if he’d put on a shirt.
But a forced week of togetherness full of beach parties, waterslide mishaps, bonfires, and roller coasters sparks more than an understanding. What do you do when the person standing in the way of your future is the one person you grew up hating...but now don’t?
I am always a big fan of teens who are being forced to in one educational/job direction to "suddenly" realize that isn't what they want to be doing and stand up to their parents. There is something so honest about it. The feeling of I should do what my parents think I should Vs. I should do what I want to do, is something I feel we can all relate to in one way or another.
However, I didn't ship the main couple and that really made it hard to get through the book. While I supported them separately, but mostly Caleb because Catie lied to her parents, I wasn't a fan of them together. It went very quickly from old friends who hate each other to jealously to lovers. I'm almost never a fan of hate to lovers though so that is probably why. It took me days to come up with what to say about this book.
Catie got over her crush on Caleb ages ago. So why can’t she see past his ripped body or how unsettled he seems? She’s got her own problems, though. Her future has been set for years and now she’s dreaming of pulling the plug. A week at their families’ beach house is just what she needs to pull herself together, and she has no intention of letting Caleb back into her heart...which would be a whole lot easier if he’d put on a shirt.
But a forced week of togetherness full of beach parties, waterslide mishaps, bonfires, and roller coasters sparks more than an understanding. What do you do when the person standing in the way of your future is the one person you grew up hating...but now don’t?
I am always a big fan of teens who are being forced to in one educational/job direction to "suddenly" realize that isn't what they want to be doing and stand up to their parents. There is something so honest about it. The feeling of I should do what my parents think I should Vs. I should do what I want to do, is something I feel we can all relate to in one way or another.
However, I didn't ship the main couple and that really made it hard to get through the book. While I supported them separately, but mostly Caleb because Catie lied to her parents, I wasn't a fan of them together. It went very quickly from old friends who hate each other to jealously to lovers. I'm almost never a fan of hate to lovers though so that is probably why. It took me days to come up with what to say about this book.
September 1, 2019
This was a really light and cute book! I couldn't put it down, even though I wish the actual romance had played a bigger part in the story. In my opinion, the plot really focuses on the way their feelings change from innocent/familiar to passionate/unfamiliar.
Stuck with You tells the story of Caleb and Catie, two young adults who are going through an existential crisis. They were childhood best-friends and their parents run a business company together that is soon going to become their responsibility. The problem is that neither of them wants to study business or disappoint their parents by choosing another life path. As you can imagine, Caleb and Catie are terribly confused; I was so sorry for them, because they feel guilty just for wanting something different to what their parents have planned for them!
Now that they are older, however, these two don't get along so well. Maybe it's because Catie had (has?) a huge crush on this boy for years. Maybe it's because Caleb cannot understand why his feelings for her are so contradictory. And yet they end up spending a whole weekend together at the beach house their families share. This wasn't intentional, but now that they have reunited after some time they'll have to face reality. Catie has changed. She's beautiful, sexy and sassier than ever. How long will Caleb be able to ignore the chemistry between them?
If you're a fan of sweet friends-to-lovers romance books with a couple of spicy scenes, then give Stuck with You a try. You'll keep reading until you get to the last page and then you'll wish you had a Caleb in your life!
Stuck with You tells the story of Caleb and Catie, two young adults who are going through an existential crisis. They were childhood best-friends and their parents run a business company together that is soon going to become their responsibility. The problem is that neither of them wants to study business or disappoint their parents by choosing another life path. As you can imagine, Caleb and Catie are terribly confused; I was so sorry for them, because they feel guilty just for wanting something different to what their parents have planned for them!
Now that they are older, however, these two don't get along so well. Maybe it's because Catie had (has?) a huge crush on this boy for years. Maybe it's because Caleb cannot understand why his feelings for her are so contradictory. And yet they end up spending a whole weekend together at the beach house their families share. This wasn't intentional, but now that they have reunited after some time they'll have to face reality. Catie has changed. She's beautiful, sexy and sassier than ever. How long will Caleb be able to ignore the chemistry between them?
If you're a fan of sweet friends-to-lovers romance books with a couple of spicy scenes, then give Stuck with You a try. You'll keep reading until you get to the last page and then you'll wish you had a Caleb in your life!
January 5, 2020
Stuck with You is the third book in The First Kiss Hypothesis series. It’s still a standalone. I haven’t read all the books in the series and I wasn’t lost at all. Caleb has had a tough 6 months and needs a break from his life before college, so he heads to his family’s beach house in Texas for the week. He’s upset when he realizes Catie, his old childhood friend, is staying at the house the same week too. Caleb and Catie’s families have quite a history. They own a business and this beach house together, and their parents have been planning their wedding since birth. Unfortunately for them, Caleb and Catie do not get along and a week of forced togetherness is last on both their lists.
This was a cute young adult romance book. I liked Caleb’s character. However, Catie makes it pretty difficult to like her at all. She’s kind of your stereotypical teenage girl with a lot of attitude and her friends were not awesome either. I liked Caleb and Catie’s past growing up together, but wished there was a little more about their present. The epilogue was pretty good.
* ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This was a cute young adult romance book. I liked Caleb’s character. However, Catie makes it pretty difficult to like her at all. She’s kind of your stereotypical teenage girl with a lot of attitude and her friends were not awesome either. I liked Caleb and Catie’s past growing up together, but wished there was a little more about their present. The epilogue was pretty good.
* ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
September 5, 2019
Stuck with You by Christina Mandelski is the 3rd book in the First Kiss Hypothesis series, and a great young adult love story. Catie and Caleb grew up together, Catie always had a crush on Caleb, but he just thought of her as a pest. There parents were best friends, they ran a business together and shared a vacation house. Caleb goes to the vacation to relax and be alone, but Catie and her girlfriends are already there. Caleb and Catie have planned their lives so they will take over running the family business, but neither of them really want to. I loved this book and the characters, it is fun to watch the individuals mature. I strongly recommended this book for all who enjoy a light young adult read.
I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and the Entangled Publishing, LLC. Thank you.
I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and the Entangled Publishing, LLC. Thank you.
August 19, 2019
After loving the first two books in the series (1st was a 4 star and 2nd a 5 star) I was excited to get my hands on this one. Unfortunately, it did not live up to the swooniness of the first two. I wasn't a fan of the two of them in a beach house alone (due to age of Catie). I also didn't connect to either Caleb or Catie at all. So much was brought up of their growing up together which seemed more interesting than the present to me. Overall the two characters just didn't invest me like before. If you can overlook the lack of present relationship development it is a quick read. I think my favorite part was the dinner at the professor's.
August 10, 2019
I thought this book’s summary showed promise, but ultimately, I found it to be a little less substantial than what I was looking for. Due to my busy schedule, I have to be very exacting about what I choose to read; this is one book I’m not sure about, so I’m not finishing, even though it has potential. I couldn’t get into it.
January 25, 2020
DNF
Unfortunately, I didn't like the third book either but I had to at least try to read some of it since I already had it on my kindle. I got through maybe 20% of it before I gave up and haven't even tried to continue reading it. No interest at all in the story, the characters or the writing style.
Unfortunately, I didn't like the third book either but I had to at least try to read some of it since I already had it on my kindle. I got through maybe 20% of it before I gave up and haven't even tried to continue reading it. No interest at all in the story, the characters or the writing style.
December 17, 2019
It was ok. I didn't really love it or really hate it. I did put it down and not pick it back up for awhile.
September 6, 2019
3.5 STARS
Clean Contemporary Romance; Young Adult
First Person; dual-POV
Book #3 of The First Kiss Hypothesis series; can be read as a standalone (I haven't read the first two books and had the full experience with this one)
We were born to be together, Catie Dixon, right?
She laughs into my chest. "Yes.We were."
by Caleb
Addictiveness: 3.5/5 It was easy, sweet read, with a few cute moments. As addictive as coffee brewing!!!
Character: hero 4/5, heroine 4/5, secondary characters 4/5, growth 5/5, real 4/5 Sweet characters with complex personalities and depth. They were kind, mature teenagers, with good head on their shoulders.
Caleb was a good, kind, sweet, respectful boy that was feeling the pressure of what he wanted to become and what his family had planned for him. It was refreshing to read a hero that wasn't a bit of a jerk and a womanizer. Yes, it was mentioned several times that he had been a jerk in the past, but all we saw was him maturing into a nice, young boy. I liked how he respected his and Catie's family and how he respected girls in general.
Catie was a sweet young woman that was starting her last year of high school filled with doubts of the future. Just a normal teen with the same pressure and unsure feelings that I've seen two of my three teenagers going through. It felt very real their struggles, it really resonated with me. She has had a crush on Caleb for a while, but he has been sort of a jerk. Now, she is afraid of trusting him and their relationship.
I've liked Catie's best friends, her grandfather and her family in general.
All characters were easy to love, connect and understand!
Cover: art 5/5, title 5/5, color-font 5/5, buy 5/5 I’m obsessed with book covers. I love to find snippets of the stories within the art. This is amazing art work. It feels handmade for this story. It gives the reader the setting, the beach; it gives the light offers the sweet vibe; their hands gives the romantic atmosphere and their clothes tell me teenager. I love the title, perfect for the story. The colors and font very sweet and fitting. I would definitely buy this book by its cover, without reading the blurb.
Freshness: 4/5 I've been reading a lot of YA lately, I guess because I have three teenagers at home. This one was refreshing. It felt a little bit different than most out there. This wasn't about bullying, or social status or sex, this story was about self discoveries and teenagers angst that most teens go through at the passage from high school to college. As fresh as mint tea!
Plot: believable 4/5, conflict 5/5, dialogue 4/5, ending 5/5, enjoyment 4/5, opening 3.5/5, pace 3.5/5, setting 4/5, subplots 4/5, twists 3/5 Ok opening and great ending. Believable plot with dialogues well written. It wasn't a fast-paced story, but it felt ok. I didn't get a twist here, we sort of expected where this story was going, but I have to say the ending it was a good surprise! I've loved the conflict. It doesn't feel that big or special, but it is very real for teenagers. Great level of satisfaction!
Romance: believable 3.5/5, chemistry 3/5, description 4/5, development 4/5, steam 3/5 This is a love story as much as this is a story of coming of age. They were discovering themselves, by doing that, they have discovered each other. But it felt like the forever kind of love. They built a good foundation for that. As hot as jalapeño pepper (medium heat)!!!
Writing Style: 4/5 I’ve enjoyed the author’s writing style. I liked how she veered away from the "it topic"of right now. I also truly appreciated how it all felt believable. I look forward to read more from her.
Plot: I really enjoyed this book, but it never gave me chills. I needed a bigger climax, a moment of angst. From the moment the started I knew how it was going to end, I had no doubts at any moment. It didn't keep me at the edge of my seat. It was good, but not wonderful!!!
This maybe book #3 of a series, but it is a standalone novel. I haven't read the other two and never felt lost within the story.
I really felt close to this book. I have three kids (not kids, I guess so would say), they are 20, 18 and 15. If felt a lot like what my son is going through right now. Not our plans for him, but the doubts and uncertainties he is feeling about what comes next in his life.
27.5/35 STARS – 3.5 STARS (between 24.5 stars and 27.5 stars)
Addictiveness: 3.5 Character: 4 Cover: 5 Freshness: 4 Plot: 3.5 Romance: 3.5 Writing Style: 4
Action 0/5
Angst 1/5
Darkness 0/5
Humor 3/5
Romance 5/5
Suspense/Mystery 0/5
Would I recommend? Sure, for everyone that enjoys a coming of age romance.
Would I re-read this book/series? I don’t know if I would re-read the book, only time will tell. But I want to read the series.
Would I read more from the author? Yes!
You MAY read this because you have been following the series; you SHOULD read this because you like sweet romance; you MUST read this for a very believable teenage romance!!!
April 13, 2020
This book was a mix of romance and comedy. I was smiling the entire time. It shows what can happen when opposites attract. * Small Spoilers ahead* Don't read if you don't want to learn too much about the book:
I loved how secretly they both liked each other in the begging but still hid the fact that they liked each other by arguing all the time and making each other crazy. I also liked how their relationship developed over the book. It became more romantic and sweet as the book continued. The ending was the best part in my book. I loved their date to the amusement park. They are the cutest couple. How they shared their secrets with each other was so adorable. The next day when the parents came to the house cracked me up so much. It was funny to see how the parents reacted to the kids decisions' about college and how they started dating. That was one the best endings I could imagine.
I loved how secretly they both liked each other in the begging but still hid the fact that they liked each other by arguing all the time and making each other crazy. I also liked how their relationship developed over the book. It became more romantic and sweet as the book continued. The ending was the best part in my book. I loved their date to the amusement park. They are the cutest couple. How they shared their secrets with each other was so adorable. The next day when the parents came to the house cracked me up so much. It was funny to see how the parents reacted to the kids decisions' about college and how they started dating. That was one the best endings I could imagine.
April 6, 2020
I received this free eARC novel from NetGalley. This is my honest review.
This was such a good novel! I'm so glad I got the chance to read this and discover this author.
Catie and Caleb are so adorable. If I were their parents, I would have been planning their wedding when they were kids too! Seeing them interact and fighting their attraction for one another was great and makes the reader anticipates when they cave in.
I also appreciated how realistic the author made their struggles about their future. This is a very real thing that happens for high schoolers and college students. Then to add the pressure of their parents peer pressure (because let's face it, that's what they were doing) it would be a very tough decision to make.
I'm so glad I got a chance to read this book and I may have to look into more books by this author! :)
This was such a good novel! I'm so glad I got the chance to read this and discover this author.
Catie and Caleb are so adorable. If I were their parents, I would have been planning their wedding when they were kids too! Seeing them interact and fighting their attraction for one another was great and makes the reader anticipates when they cave in.
I also appreciated how realistic the author made their struggles about their future. This is a very real thing that happens for high schoolers and college students. Then to add the pressure of their parents peer pressure (because let's face it, that's what they were doing) it would be a very tough decision to make.
I'm so glad I got a chance to read this book and I may have to look into more books by this author! :)
March 30, 2021
I wasn't sure what to expect going into the book but I truly loved it.
Caleb and Catie's parents have been friends forever and they used to be close as kids but eventually they just weren't anymore. Then Catie, along with her friends, comes to the vacation house that their parents share with Caleb's. Luck has it that Caleb came there around the same time and so the story begins.
I loved the setting and the romance was relatively short and sweet. As its probably obvious, they had feelings for each other but neither was willing to really admit it or they just didn't know. Caleb was such a gentleman and sweet and just perfect and I loved Catie's quirky personality and attitude.
If you like sweet YA romances, you'll love this!
Caleb and Catie's parents have been friends forever and they used to be close as kids but eventually they just weren't anymore. Then Catie, along with her friends, comes to the vacation house that their parents share with Caleb's. Luck has it that Caleb came there around the same time and so the story begins.
I loved the setting and the romance was relatively short and sweet. As its probably obvious, they had feelings for each other but neither was willing to really admit it or they just didn't know. Caleb was such a gentleman and sweet and just perfect and I loved Catie's quirky personality and attitude.
If you like sweet YA romances, you'll love this!
October 6, 2023
Characters were well written and I liked the charm of best-friends to enemies to lovers. And could definitely relate to the family friend/extended family relationship dynamic. And it was fun to read about some southern TX romance - not a state I often see as the setting to these types of books.
There was language
And lots that was more than just a little suggestive - outright explicit.
Due to content I lowered what would have been a 3 star read plot/character wise down to 2.
Overall I enjoyed this tho. Was a cute rom-com that I giggled my way through in delirious enthusiasm
There was language
And lots that was more than just a little suggestive - outright explicit.
Due to content I lowered what would have been a 3 star read plot/character wise down to 2.
Overall I enjoyed this tho. Was a cute rom-com that I giggled my way through in delirious enthusiasm
August 25, 2020
This was a quick, cute story. Overall, I can't really find fault in it, but there wasn’t really anything I loved either. The characters were nice and I didn't dislike them, but I found that although I enjoyed the story, if someone had taken the book away from me part way through, I don't think I would have worried about how it ended at all.
August 5, 2020
*4.5
Such a super cute read! I love the romance and the characters. Some things were cheesy and a bit of a cliché but I didn't mind it.
This is definitely a great book to read during the summer. It's quick, fun, and enjoyable!
Such a super cute read! I love the romance and the characters. Some things were cheesy and a bit of a cliché but I didn't mind it.
This is definitely a great book to read during the summer. It's quick, fun, and enjoyable!
April 18, 2020
3.5 stars
March 12, 2021
Good Book!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️
March 25, 2021
This book didn't have much swearing like the other two books in this series. I really enjoyed " Stuck With You".
March 16, 2023
That was a really bad storyline
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