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Unnecessary Drama
From the author of the much-loved It Sounded Better In My Head comes a deliciously entertaining new rom-com, set in a run-down student share house in Melbourne.
Eighteen-year-old Brooke is the kind of friend who not only remembers everyone’s birthdays, but also organises the group present, pays for it, and politely chases others for their share. She’s the helper, the doer, the maker-of-spreadsheets. She’s the responsible one who always follows the rules—and she plans to keep it that way during her first year of university.
Her new share house only has one ‘no unnecessary drama’. Which means no fights, tension, or romance between housemates. When one of her housemates turns out to be Jesse, her high-school nemesis, Brooke is determined she can handle it. They’ll simply silently endure living together and stay out of each other’s way. But it turns out Jesse isn’t so easy to ignore…
Channelling the screwball comedy of New Girl with an enemies-to-lovers twist, Unnecessary Drama is a joyful story about leaving home, dealing with the unexpected complications of life, and somehow finding exactly what you need.
Eighteen-year-old Brooke is the kind of friend who not only remembers everyone’s birthdays, but also organises the group present, pays for it, and politely chases others for their share. She’s the helper, the doer, the maker-of-spreadsheets. She’s the responsible one who always follows the rules—and she plans to keep it that way during her first year of university.
Her new share house only has one ‘no unnecessary drama’. Which means no fights, tension, or romance between housemates. When one of her housemates turns out to be Jesse, her high-school nemesis, Brooke is determined she can handle it. They’ll simply silently endure living together and stay out of each other’s way. But it turns out Jesse isn’t so easy to ignore…
Channelling the screwball comedy of New Girl with an enemies-to-lovers twist, Unnecessary Drama is a joyful story about leaving home, dealing with the unexpected complications of life, and somehow finding exactly what you need.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 5, 2022
140 people are currently reading
11844 people want to read
About the author
Nina Kenwood
3 books467 followersNina Kenwood is the author of The Wedding Forecast, Unnecessary Drama, and It Sounded Better In My Head.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,013 reviews
September 29, 2022
3.5 rounded up. A cute, entertaining, light read. Not as impactful as It Sounded Better in my Head but it still dealt with real New Adult and YA issues and misunderstandings in a sensitive, believable way. Sometimes you can escape your past, but more often than not it catches up with you, and only by facing it head on could these characters achieve closure and grow stronger as a result. The characterisations were spot on, all acted and behaved like new adults. This author always impresses me, and I will be there to read whatever she writes next.
September 1, 2025
★★✯☆☆ · 3 stars
unnecessary drama? more like necessary comfort read 🥹
nina kenwood is officially an auto-read author and I'm not sorry about it 💅🏻
so, it turns out reading about another anxious college freshman overthinking every social interaction was exactly the validation I didn't know I needed 🫠 sometimes you just want a book that gets the whole "am I adulting wrong or is everyone else just better at pretending?" thing, and this delivered (with bonus points for making me feel less weird about my elaborate systems for some things).
── plot:
it's basically your standard ya/na framework but executed with enough self-awareness to avoid the worst clichés. like sure, it does have the typical friends-to-enemies-to-lovers trope but I can say with certainty that it's predictable in the best possible way AND not in the "ugh not this again" way!! the minor fake dating element in between serves the character development rather than existing just for drama's sake (because we love purposeful plot devices). it captures that starting-uni-first-sharehouse-awkward-new-friend-making-moving-away-from-family stage of life so beautifully. I swear somehow this author understands that sometimes the most interesting conflicts aren't external obstacles but internal ones, like Brooke's sprawling internal monologues where thoughts spiral into catastrophic scenarios and creating problems that don't actually exist feel uncomfortably authentic 🤸🏻♀️ (why must she call me out like this???) one other thing, I have found extremely likeable in her books is that all the interactions, settings and situations feel so lived-in, genuine, unique and interesting.
──characters
let me say it: everyone behaves like actual college freshmen (18/19 year-olds) instead of emotionally advanced beings who happen to be young, which is nice for once. Harper + Penny aren't the typical ya cardboard cutouts of roommates/friends, and her mom, her nanna and Lauren (her sister)—everyone was portrayed rather realistically for their ages and characters (groundbreaking, I know). the dialogues and interactions also made me giggle like an actual lunatic, so there's that.
── narrative + voice:
Brooke being a mess about making friends, the need-to-be-organized-and-prepared-before-uncertainty-strikes... basically, the need-to-have-control-over-stuff tendencies and having anxiety over normal human interactions is... yeah, that's fair actually (relatable queen). I found that I especially loved the first-person narration here as it captures that specific brand of new adult uncertainty where you're technically independent but emotionally still figuring out how toadult human properly. the whole anxiety thing is very messy and real in ways (the giant blocks of anxious thoughts? the jumping to worst-case scenarios?) that uncomfortably made me remember why I'm mostly trying to block out being 19 right now 🫠 (not gonna lie, the author's incredibly good at this relatability factor as evidenced by her previous book 🙂↕️🤚)
[although... this may not be everyone's cup of tea particularly 'cuz has a bit more of telling than showing❗]
── relationship-dynamics:
🔹 in defense of formulaic romance: when the formula actually works
honestly, this is where the book shines as compared it sounded better in my head because the romance—in particular—there was...shit as compared to this 🤌 it's clean, develops with appropriate pacing for characters who are still learning themselves butdoesn't ignore physical attraction completely and doesn't make it the whole personality either 😌 (talk about REFRESHING!) I mean, not gonna lie, I hated Jesse at first for making Brooke go through all of that, but slowly their hateful interactions turned funnier and funnier 🤭 and their reconciliation process feels earned rather than convenient for the plot (RARE, as this genre's often obsessed with immediate chemistry over emotional compatibility)
I loved that Jesse's fell in love first, his pathetic devotion and YEARNING (!!) feels believably teenage-boy rather than romance-hero suave (the mug painting incident remains iconic - read it if you wanna know 👀).
── thematic depth
beneath the romcom surface, there's genuine exploration of sisterhood, addiction's impact on a family, estranged parent baggage, divorce and that particular anxiety of early adulthood where every decision feels monumentally important (choosing a major? life-altering. choosing lunch? also life-altering. choosing friends? impossible ).. the author doesn't oversimplify mental health + general female health issues rep - anxiety/insecurity/trust-issues aren't cured by love but acknowledged as something Brooke navigates alongside her relationships 😌
── a few quibbles…
☞ Brooke was an economics student... and yet, all we see is her attending writing class throughout? Like sure, there were minor mentions regarding economics-related courses here and there, but barely. As a recent freshman, girl wasn't even mentioning her uni... like at all (girl, where are your academic struggles? your existential crises w.r.t your major?)
☞ I felt like this one lacked the depth and impact that It Sounded Better in My Head (her previous book) had, but of course, this might just be my opinion (but I had to put it out there becauseI have no filter I'm honest like that)
☞ I feel like some of it was incredibly cheesy and corny for me to digest at times, so there's that.
☞ It was... funny, charming and cute and had its moments, but overall, I don't think it'll stay with me. I liked it, sure, but didn't feel any burning need to yell its praises from the rooftops (I really just can't pinpoint the feeling though... it's giving "nice but forgettable" energy).
── some of my favourite parts:
📌
📌
📌
📌
✦ . ⁺ . ✦ . ⁺ . ✦
all in all, a solid 3/5—well-executed familiar territory suited for comfort reading (and we all need that sometimes)
pre-read:
sometimes I pick up one book by an author and after I just can't help but read every other book they’ve ever written😃✌🏻
if you must know:
⤷ previous book
unnecessary drama? more like necessary comfort read 🥹
nina kenwood is officially an auto-read author and I'm not sorry about it 💅🏻
so, it turns out reading about another anxious college freshman overthinking every social interaction was exactly the validation I didn't know I needed 🫠 sometimes you just want a book that gets the whole "am I adulting wrong or is everyone else just better at pretending?" thing, and this delivered (with bonus points for making me feel less weird about my elaborate systems for some things).
── plot:
it's basically your standard ya/na framework but executed with enough self-awareness to avoid the worst clichés. like sure, it does have the typical friends-to-enemies-to-lovers trope but I can say with certainty that it's predictable in the best possible way AND not in the "ugh not this again" way!! the minor fake dating element in between serves the character development rather than existing just for drama's sake (because we love purposeful plot devices). it captures that starting-uni-first-sharehouse-awkward-new-friend-making-moving-away-from-family stage of life so beautifully. I swear somehow this author understands that sometimes the most interesting conflicts aren't external obstacles but internal ones, like Brooke's sprawling internal monologues where thoughts spiral into catastrophic scenarios and creating problems that don't actually exist feel uncomfortably authentic 🤸🏻♀️ (why must she call me out like this???) one other thing, I have found extremely likeable in her books is that all the interactions, settings and situations feel so lived-in, genuine, unique and interesting.
──characters
let me say it: everyone behaves like actual college freshmen (18/19 year-olds) instead of emotionally advanced beings who happen to be young, which is nice for once. Harper + Penny aren't the typical ya cardboard cutouts of roommates/friends, and her mom, her nanna and Lauren (her sister)—everyone was portrayed rather realistically for their ages and characters (groundbreaking, I know). the dialogues and interactions also made me giggle like an actual lunatic, so there's that.
── narrative + voice:
Brooke being a mess about making friends, the need-to-be-organized-and-prepared-before-uncertainty-strikes... basically, the need-to-have-control-over-stuff tendencies and having anxiety over normal human interactions is... yeah, that's fair actually (relatable queen). I found that I especially loved the first-person narration here as it captures that specific brand of new adult uncertainty where you're technically independent but emotionally still figuring out how to
[although... this may not be everyone's cup of tea particularly 'cuz has a bit more of telling than showing❗]
“...I need to feel in control. Being in control of myself is the most important factor to me feeling okay. If I don’t feel like me, true me, real me, then I feel out of sync with the world in a way that makes me feel like I might fall off the planet or stop breathing. I need to be grounded in my me-ness to exist, to keep going, to not get sucked into an am-I-good-enough-have-I-done-enough-will-I-ever-be-enough anxiety tornado. Being drunk would be messy, dangerous, out of control. My worst self might come out.”
── relationship-dynamics:
🔹 in defense of formulaic romance: when the formula actually works
honestly, this is where the book shines as compared it sounded better in my head because the romance—in particular—there was...shit as compared to this 🤌 it's clean, develops with appropriate pacing for characters who are still learning themselves but
I loved that Jesse's fell in love first, his pathetic devotion and YEARNING (!!) feels believably teenage-boy rather than romance-hero suave (the mug painting incident remains iconic - read it if you wanna know 👀).
── thematic depth
beneath the romcom surface, there's genuine exploration of sisterhood, addiction's impact on a family, estranged parent baggage, divorce and that particular anxiety of early adulthood where every decision feels monumentally important (choosing a major? life-altering. choosing lunch? also life-altering. choosing friends? impossible ).. the author doesn't oversimplify mental health + general female health issues rep - anxiety/insecurity/trust-issues aren't cured by love but acknowledged as something Brooke navigates alongside her relationships 😌
── a few quibbles…
☞ Brooke was an economics student... and yet, all we see is her attending writing class throughout? Like sure, there were minor mentions regarding economics-related courses here and there, but barely. As a recent freshman, girl wasn't even mentioning her uni... like at all (girl, where are your academic struggles? your existential crises w.r.t your major?)
☞ I felt like this one lacked the depth and impact that It Sounded Better in My Head (her previous book) had, but of course, this might just be my opinion (but I had to put it out there because
☞ I feel like some of it was incredibly cheesy and corny for me to digest at times, so there's that.
☞ It was... funny, charming and cute and had its moments, but overall, I don't think it'll stay with me. I liked it, sure, but didn't feel any burning need to yell its praises from the rooftops (I really just can't pinpoint the feeling though... it's giving "nice but forgettable" energy).
── some of my favourite parts:
📌
“And when you’re holding a party, and you need to invite people to said party and be sure they actually show up in person, it’s like a friendship exam.”
📌
‘Sorry, how many episodes are there?’
‘Twenty-two a season, give or take.’
‘And how many seasons are there?’
‘Eight.’
‘You rewatch all that every year?’
‘Well, no, I don’t rewatch every episode.’
‘Which ones do you watch?’
I look at him, in his glasses, looking eager to hear all about it, not realising this is my private ritual, one of my most soothing escapes, and the only person I’ve ever shared it with is Lauren.
‘Okay, so I have a system.’
‘Of course you do.’
‘I watch all of season one, and all of season two, which is the best season, then all of season three except for one particular episode that I hate, then the first part of season four and the final three episodes, then three episodes from season five, and then most of season six, and then two episodes each from seasons seven and eight.’
📌
"I think that’s the first nice thing you’ve said to me. A compliment from Brooke.’ He sighs, put his hand on his heart. ‘Wow, wow, wow.’
‘It was hardly a compliment.’ Now I am flustered. I don’t like being accused of giving compliments. He knows about my favourite comfort show and my exploding cyst and I’ve now said something too nice, and the whole night is practically ruined because I am being exposed and he is not.
‘What was it then?’
‘I was just stating a fact.’
‘It’s a fact that I look good in glasses?’ His eyes are wide with delight.
‘I didn’t say that. But yes. Most guys do. And girls.’ He is not special. I like glasses. The right pair of glasses can elevate everyone.
‘I think that’s definitely a compliment.’
‘Well you are free to take it that way.’
‘I am going to.’
‘But just so you know, I don’t consider it to be. And as the compliment giver, I really should be the one to know.’
‘Noted. But it’s still going in my compliments journal.’
‘Go for it.’
‘It’s a journal I keep under my bed, and every day at the end of the day, I write down all the compliments I get. Then first thing in the morning, I wake up and read it.’
‘The sad thing is it could be true. You would do something like that. Because of the aforementioned big ego.’
‘Ah but you also admit that you think I’m charming and handsome enough to get the level of compliments required to keep a compliments journal.’
‘I admit nothing.’
‘Okay.’
📌
"'Good,' he says. 'Because I am so in love with you.'"
"'I tell you I love you, and you let yourself be loved, and nothing bad happens.' His voice is soft but his eyes are burning and serious."
✦ . ⁺ . ✦ . ⁺ . ✦
all in all, a solid 3/5—well-executed familiar territory suited for comfort reading (and we all need that sometimes)
pre-read:
sometimes I pick up one book by an author and after I just can't help but read every other book they’ve ever written😃✌🏻
if you must know:
⤷ previous book
October 7, 2022
Unnecessary Drama is the second novel by Australian author, Nina Kenwood. Eighteen-year-old Brooke Williams has left her hometown to attend university in Melbourne. She’s a little anxious about the housemates she’ll be sharing with, but she’s super-organised and is confident they can establish a set of rules to ensure a harmonious existence (she can print and laminate them, have them spiral bound).
The house turns out to be a bit dilapidated, but she can cope with that, and she’s sure she and Harper will soon be firm friends, but their other housemate is a shock: unknown Jeremy turns out to be Jesse, her close friend at high school until an unforgivably humiliating incident in Year Eight that broke their bond. But she refuses to be driven out by his presence: they’ll just have to agree to quietly ignore one another.
That sort of works for a while, but it’s not easy to be barely civil to someone after they drive you to A&E and wait with you for hours: it seems Jesse has actually turned into quite a nice guy. And then there’s the situation in a pub with the last ex-boyfriend that requires a fake boyfriend to save face: Jesse volunteers, and maybe they’re not quite acting?
Kenwood’s protagonist is instantly loveable for her earnest good intentions and her guilelessness. The gradual revelation of her back story explains why she sees herself as the boring, responsible protector to her older sister, the wild reckless fun one, and why she doesn’t drink: “Being drunk would be messy, dangerous, out of control. My worst self might come out.”
She recognises that “I’m uptight, I’m controlling, I’m anxious, I worry about things too much, I’m not “fun”, although she’s probably way too hard on herself, but “being in control of myself is the most important factor to me feeling okay.” Brooke’s perspective is sometimes uniquely insightful: “And when you’re holding a party, and you need to invite people to said party and be sure they actually show up in person, it’s like a friendship exam.”
Brooke’s inner monologue and behaviour will resonate with any reader who admits to a tendency towards OCD even as it offers plenty of laugh-out-loud moments: the blind-date scene is absolutely hilarious. Reading this novel in the quiet carriage on public transport should probably be avoided; ditto eating or drinking whilst reading.
Readers in the mood for a funny feel-good Aussie romance that might also require the tissues, but promises a happy ending, will find that Kenwood’s second novel ticks all the boxes. Very entertaining!
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Text Publishing.
The house turns out to be a bit dilapidated, but she can cope with that, and she’s sure she and Harper will soon be firm friends, but their other housemate is a shock: unknown Jeremy turns out to be Jesse, her close friend at high school until an unforgivably humiliating incident in Year Eight that broke their bond. But she refuses to be driven out by his presence: they’ll just have to agree to quietly ignore one another.
That sort of works for a while, but it’s not easy to be barely civil to someone after they drive you to A&E and wait with you for hours: it seems Jesse has actually turned into quite a nice guy. And then there’s the situation in a pub with the last ex-boyfriend that requires a fake boyfriend to save face: Jesse volunteers, and maybe they’re not quite acting?
Kenwood’s protagonist is instantly loveable for her earnest good intentions and her guilelessness. The gradual revelation of her back story explains why she sees herself as the boring, responsible protector to her older sister, the wild reckless fun one, and why she doesn’t drink: “Being drunk would be messy, dangerous, out of control. My worst self might come out.”
She recognises that “I’m uptight, I’m controlling, I’m anxious, I worry about things too much, I’m not “fun”, although she’s probably way too hard on herself, but “being in control of myself is the most important factor to me feeling okay.” Brooke’s perspective is sometimes uniquely insightful: “And when you’re holding a party, and you need to invite people to said party and be sure they actually show up in person, it’s like a friendship exam.”
Brooke’s inner monologue and behaviour will resonate with any reader who admits to a tendency towards OCD even as it offers plenty of laugh-out-loud moments: the blind-date scene is absolutely hilarious. Reading this novel in the quiet carriage on public transport should probably be avoided; ditto eating or drinking whilst reading.
Readers in the mood for a funny feel-good Aussie romance that might also require the tissues, but promises a happy ending, will find that Kenwood’s second novel ticks all the boxes. Very entertaining!
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Text Publishing.
June 26, 2022
This is the MOST ADORABLE BOOK I HAVE EVER READ. I cannot believe it doesn’t come out until October. Pre-order it right now – it’s the best present you will ever give yourself. We don’t get many new adult books any more (Summer Skin forever) and this one is perfection. It captures that starting uni, first sharehouse, awkward new friend making, moving away from family stage of life so beautifully. I completely imagined this book to be set in my first sharehouse (Bridge Street represent) and it made me nostalgic and warm and fuzzy for that period of my life. Kenwood is such a talented writer that she had big feelings bursting out of me. I also laughed loudly and with vigour SO MANY TIMES. This book is a gift. I immediately want to read it again. And again. And probably again.
September 28, 2022
If I was the same anxious, lost-over-my-future, wreck I was at 16, I would have ate this up.
Unfortunately, I am now a disenfranchised, anxious 24 year old who just wanted to yell at the protagonist ‘JUST TELL HIM HOW YOU FEEL AND GET OVER YOURSELF, LITERALLY NO ONE CARES AND IT ALL WORKS OUT’
cute read tho
Unfortunately, I am now a disenfranchised, anxious 24 year old who just wanted to yell at the protagonist ‘JUST TELL HIM HOW YOU FEEL AND GET OVER YOURSELF, LITERALLY NO ONE CARES AND IT ALL WORKS OUT’
cute read tho
March 8, 2025
•🪻Thoughts are not facts.🪻•
título: Dramas innecesarios
autor: Nina Kenwood
género: romance juvenil
año: 2022
puntuación: 3’5/5⭐️
•Narración y Protagonista. Al contar con una narración en primera persona es mucho más sencillo conectar emocionalmente con Brooke, cuya voz demuestra ser transparente, insegura y sobre todo muy autoexigente. Lo más cautivador de la narrativa es su realismo, no necesariamente por tener descripciones detalladas o palabras grandilocuentes, sino porque hay un reflejo perfecto del costumbrismo detrás de la recién conseguida independencia en la adultez joven. Cada uno de los personajes se sintió autentico, con ambiciones, un desarrollo decente y consecuencia en sus actos.
•Temas. Aunque parezca ser un cliché más en cuanto a la trama, es destacable los temas que son tocados a lo largo del libro y lo bien manejados que están, como el alcoholismo, el acoso escolar, las inseguridades, la ansiedad, los trastornos obsesivos compulsivos, el trauma familiar y generacional, entre muchos otros, que fueron tocados y profundizados con consciencia, cuidado y realismo. Disfruté de leer conflictos comunes en la adolescencia.
•Final. Si pudiera describirlo con una palabra esa sería precioso y predecible. A veces necesito una dosis reconfortante en la literatura y obtuve una muy alta tras terminar este libro. Fue adorable, eso es lo único que necesitan saber.
🪻 c o n c l u s i ó n 🪻
No suelo leer este tipo de novelas y sin embargo me la pasé tan bien leyendo “Dramas innecesarios”. Se leyó prácticamente solo, las páginas volaban entre mis manos, no lo pude soltar en ningún momento y una vez lo acabé en cuestión de un par de días me sentí abrazada por la lectura otra vez. Sé que lo leí en el momento perfecto y me alegro que así haya sido. Altamente recomendado a mis chicas que adoran los romances adorables con desarrollos progresivos, lentos y repleto de momentos cardiacos, disfrutarán esta lectura con locura.
~Alaska🍃
título: Dramas innecesarios
autor: Nina Kenwood
género: romance juvenil
año: 2022
puntuación: 3’5/5⭐️
•Narración y Protagonista. Al contar con una narración en primera persona es mucho más sencillo conectar emocionalmente con Brooke, cuya voz demuestra ser transparente, insegura y sobre todo muy autoexigente. Lo más cautivador de la narrativa es su realismo, no necesariamente por tener descripciones detalladas o palabras grandilocuentes, sino porque hay un reflejo perfecto del costumbrismo detrás de la recién conseguida independencia en la adultez joven. Cada uno de los personajes se sintió autentico, con ambiciones, un desarrollo decente y consecuencia en sus actos.
•Temas. Aunque parezca ser un cliché más en cuanto a la trama, es destacable los temas que son tocados a lo largo del libro y lo bien manejados que están, como el alcoholismo, el acoso escolar, las inseguridades, la ansiedad, los trastornos obsesivos compulsivos, el trauma familiar y generacional, entre muchos otros, que fueron tocados y profundizados con consciencia, cuidado y realismo. Disfruté de leer conflictos comunes en la adolescencia.
•Final. Si pudiera describirlo con una palabra esa sería precioso y predecible. A veces necesito una dosis reconfortante en la literatura y obtuve una muy alta tras terminar este libro. Fue adorable, eso es lo único que necesitan saber.
🪻 c o n c l u s i ó n 🪻
No suelo leer este tipo de novelas y sin embargo me la pasé tan bien leyendo “Dramas innecesarios”. Se leyó prácticamente solo, las páginas volaban entre mis manos, no lo pude soltar en ningún momento y una vez lo acabé en cuestión de un par de días me sentí abrazada por la lectura otra vez. Sé que lo leí en el momento perfecto y me alegro que así haya sido. Altamente recomendado a mis chicas que adoran los romances adorables con desarrollos progresivos, lentos y repleto de momentos cardiacos, disfrutarán esta lectura con locura.
~Alaska🍃
July 21, 2023
Thank you to Macmillan for the audio ARC! This was such an easy listen and I had a blast.
I’m not usually a romance person but I devoured this.
It was so cute and happy. Brooke was a (mostly) likeable main character and her planning, caretaking, and anxiety were so relatable for me. Her little anxiety spirals were so realistic!
The relationships were nice - I love seeing good friendships and good sibling relationships! The side characters felt developed and it was easy to keep track of them and their separate personalities. The main relationship was cute and I liked their dynamic. I think the ending was solid!
Some parts of this gave me the WORST secondhand embarrassment omfg. And some parts were a little too cheesy or over the top for me - but I had a really good time with this book! A solid 4.25.
I’m not usually a romance person but I devoured this.
It was so cute and happy. Brooke was a (mostly) likeable main character and her planning, caretaking, and anxiety were so relatable for me. Her little anxiety spirals were so realistic!
The relationships were nice - I love seeing good friendships and good sibling relationships! The side characters felt developed and it was easy to keep track of them and their separate personalities. The main relationship was cute and I liked their dynamic. I think the ending was solid!
Some parts of this gave me the WORST secondhand embarrassment omfg. And some parts were a little too cheesy or over the top for me - but I had a really good time with this book! A solid 4.25.
April 15, 2024
3.25 stars.
An enjoyable and very quick read!
I read this author’s debut novel the year it came out and remember enjoying it. I’m looking forward to this one!
An enjoyable and very quick read!
I read this author’s debut novel the year it came out and remember enjoying it. I’m looking forward to this one!
October 8, 2022
i wanted to savor this book so badly but i couldn't stop reading and now it's 2:30 in the morning and i'm so GIDDY THIS WAS SO CUTE I LOVED
BROOKE IS SO ME-CODED IT ACTUALLY HURTS WHAT THE HELL
also thank you nina kenwood for making us adult children of alcoholics feel seen!!! like for real that was so nice to read :')
so so good!!!! will def reread while i wait for another!!!! nina kenwood has proven herself to be an auto-buy author FOR SURE!!!!
BROOKE IS SO ME-CODED IT ACTUALLY HURTS WHAT THE HELL
also thank you nina kenwood for making us adult children of alcoholics feel seen!!! like for real that was so nice to read :')
so so good!!!! will def reread while i wait for another!!!! nina kenwood has proven herself to be an auto-buy author FOR SURE!!!!
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November 17, 2022
I was reading this book on the Tube one morning, and as I got off another woman got off with me and said, "I was reading over your shoulder - that looked like a good book, what's it called?"
I have to say, it's one of the nicest interactions I've ever had with a stranger, considering Londoners are not exactly known for outspoken friendliness. Anyway, that woman was broadly correct: it is a pretty good book, and a decent romcom, though there are definite rough edges.
18-year-old Brooke is the quintessential mum friend: she's always looking out for everyone else, keeps things tidy, and worries about making friends. Slouchy Jesse, on the other hand - her ex-best friend and now furious enemy - is a laid-back socialiser. Then they end up sharing a house for their first year of uni...
I'm a big fan of Australian authors, especially Australian YA authors, and Nina Kenwood is no exception to the fact that they're generally very good at crafting prose. The book flows nicely and is eminently readable. Brooke's character is one I suspect a lot of people will be able to relate to; her desperation to be liked and constant fears of rejection are very familiar to readers with social anxiety. Jesse is a little more bland, but he's miles better than the hero in Kenwood's debut novel, who lied to the heroine about how many girls he'd slept with and abandoned her at a party she didn't even want to attend.
The plot is kind of standard YA/NA stuff, straddling the lines between the genres. There's your tortured family history (Brooke's dad is an alcoholic); OW drama (Jesse hooks up with a girl before he and Brooke re-establish their friendship); self-discovery (Brooke learns how to make friends and what sort of creating writing she's good at); plus of course the enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Brooke and Jesse themselves. I won't spoil what made them stop being friends, but I do understand why Brooke held a grudge for years, while at the same time believing that Jesse is genuinely remorseful and successfully makes it up to her.
While this book doesn't reinvent the wheel when it comes to YA/NA romcoms, it's solidified Kenwood's place on my authors-to-read list.
I have to say, it's one of the nicest interactions I've ever had with a stranger, considering Londoners are not exactly known for outspoken friendliness. Anyway, that woman was broadly correct: it is a pretty good book, and a decent romcom, though there are definite rough edges.
18-year-old Brooke is the quintessential mum friend: she's always looking out for everyone else, keeps things tidy, and worries about making friends. Slouchy Jesse, on the other hand - her ex-best friend and now furious enemy - is a laid-back socialiser. Then they end up sharing a house for their first year of uni...
I'm a big fan of Australian authors, especially Australian YA authors, and Nina Kenwood is no exception to the fact that they're generally very good at crafting prose. The book flows nicely and is eminently readable. Brooke's character is one I suspect a lot of people will be able to relate to; her desperation to be liked and constant fears of rejection are very familiar to readers with social anxiety. Jesse is a little more bland, but he's miles better than the hero in Kenwood's debut novel, who lied to the heroine about how many girls he'd slept with and abandoned her at a party she didn't even want to attend.
The plot is kind of standard YA/NA stuff, straddling the lines between the genres. There's your tortured family history (Brooke's dad is an alcoholic); OW drama (Jesse hooks up with a girl before he and Brooke re-establish their friendship); self-discovery (Brooke learns how to make friends and what sort of creating writing she's good at); plus of course the enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Brooke and Jesse themselves. I won't spoil what made them stop being friends, but I do understand why Brooke held a grudge for years, while at the same time believing that Jesse is genuinely remorseful and successfully makes it up to her.
While this book doesn't reinvent the wheel when it comes to YA/NA romcoms, it's solidified Kenwood's place on my authors-to-read list.
December 16, 2022
Content warnings: anxiety and panic attacks, alcohol consumption, alcoholic parent, borderline-alcoholic sister, Brooke had an ovarian cyst burst (non graphic of that part, thankfully), emotional abuse, blood.
Rep: Brooke (main character) has pretty bad anxiety, and is white. Harper (side character) is sapphic, as is her girlfriend. Everyone else is white and hetero.
I went into this book not knowing much other than it was very hetero (I was not wrong) and that it was about a girl living with a boy housemate (also not wrong).
I figured they'd get together (also not wrong there lol).
A note - Brooke and her housemates are all 18, so this is upper young adult.
I wasn't expecting to laugh as much. There were so many moments of second hand embarrassment I felt for Brooke, and there were times I genuinely laughed at the funny stuff going on.
The anxiety spirals that Brooke went through regularly was absolutely relatable. I wanted to hug her a lot. She needs a good hug, that kid.
This was enjoyable, funny, and really easy to read. The audio is fantastic - thank you to my library for having this one!
3.5 stars
I talk about books at these places: Instagram / Twitter / TikTok / Blog
Rep: Brooke (main character) has pretty bad anxiety, and is white. Harper (side character) is sapphic, as is her girlfriend. Everyone else is white and hetero.
I went into this book not knowing much other than it was very hetero (I was not wrong) and that it was about a girl living with a boy housemate (also not wrong).
I figured they'd get together (also not wrong there lol).
A note - Brooke and her housemates are all 18, so this is upper young adult.
I wasn't expecting to laugh as much. There were so many moments of second hand embarrassment I felt for Brooke, and there were times I genuinely laughed at the funny stuff going on.
The anxiety spirals that Brooke went through regularly was absolutely relatable. I wanted to hug her a lot. She needs a good hug, that kid.
This was enjoyable, funny, and really easy to read. The audio is fantastic - thank you to my library for having this one!
3.5 stars
I talk about books at these places: Instagram / Twitter / TikTok / Blog
August 22, 2023
4/5 stars, very cute and I felt accurate anxiety portrayal
Thank you to Flatiron Books for the physical arc in exchange for an honest review!
Going into this book I really didn't know a lot, besides that, it was supposed to be a cute enemies-to-lovers romance about two former childhood best friends. This past year I've realized that I really enjoy the childhood best friends-to-lovers trope in romance books, so this AND enemies-to-lovers really delivered happiness to my heart. Beyond that, there is also a bit of fake dating though it is later in the book, so this really did include all my favorite tropes and I loved it.
Something else that I didn't know was going to happen as I went into the book was that this was going to be a pretty tame/clean romance novel. I personally do enjoy spice and don't mind all types, but it was also sweet to read a book where the romance didn't feel hyper-fixated on the sexual aspects of the characters. This allowed the romance to feel more realistic in some ways, especially because the main characters were two college freshmen still trying to figure their life out. I think this worked out really well for the book because it doesn't ignore that they may think about each other in that way, but it also acknowledges romance books don't just have to be about that.
The part of the book that I related to most (besides the characters being newly minted adults - even though I just turned 19) was the anxiety of the main character. While I have never been clinically diagnosed with anxiety, and am not being treated for it, I recognize how I have anxiety symptoms. While this made it hard to read the book at times, as the main character having anxiety spirals was a little too relatable at times, I did think it was a great representation of exactly how it feels to have anxiety. There were giant blocks of text that were just the main character going through her thoughts, spiraling, and being unable to focus on one thing or worry at a time. There were also lots of moments where she jumped to the worst outcome, and fixated on how it might happen, which is also something I do so it was nice to see that represented in a book.
I'm a sucker for enemies-to-lovers, fake dating, and friends-to-lovers so having all of those little tropes in this book was like a little gift all wrapped up. Each of those tropes came up in realistic ways I felt, and the enemies-to-lovers wasn't unrealistic like in some romance books. The two main characters had a falling out and considering the main character has anxiety, it really did make sense why it happened. All of this combined made for a really cute romance between Jesse and Brooke finally seeing one another again and starting to hang out.
Overall, this is a very cute and fun romance read, with almost no spice and some main characters who are very relatable. It was a very quick read and something perfect to just sit down with and absorb, or even recognize mental health with. I think this is a great read and should definitely go onto your to-be-read list!
[TW: drinking, estranged parent, divorce mentioned, depiction of anxiety, health crisis and emergency room visit, depiction of panic attacks]
Thank you to Flatiron Books for the physical arc in exchange for an honest review!
Going into this book I really didn't know a lot, besides that, it was supposed to be a cute enemies-to-lovers romance about two former childhood best friends. This past year I've realized that I really enjoy the childhood best friends-to-lovers trope in romance books, so this AND enemies-to-lovers really delivered happiness to my heart. Beyond that, there is also a bit of fake dating though it is later in the book, so this really did include all my favorite tropes and I loved it.
Something else that I didn't know was going to happen as I went into the book was that this was going to be a pretty tame/clean romance novel. I personally do enjoy spice and don't mind all types, but it was also sweet to read a book where the romance didn't feel hyper-fixated on the sexual aspects of the characters. This allowed the romance to feel more realistic in some ways, especially because the main characters were two college freshmen still trying to figure their life out. I think this worked out really well for the book because it doesn't ignore that they may think about each other in that way, but it also acknowledges romance books don't just have to be about that.
The part of the book that I related to most (besides the characters being newly minted adults - even though I just turned 19) was the anxiety of the main character. While I have never been clinically diagnosed with anxiety, and am not being treated for it, I recognize how I have anxiety symptoms. While this made it hard to read the book at times, as the main character having anxiety spirals was a little too relatable at times, I did think it was a great representation of exactly how it feels to have anxiety. There were giant blocks of text that were just the main character going through her thoughts, spiraling, and being unable to focus on one thing or worry at a time. There were also lots of moments where she jumped to the worst outcome, and fixated on how it might happen, which is also something I do so it was nice to see that represented in a book.
I'm a sucker for enemies-to-lovers, fake dating, and friends-to-lovers so having all of those little tropes in this book was like a little gift all wrapped up. Each of those tropes came up in realistic ways I felt, and the enemies-to-lovers wasn't unrealistic like in some romance books. The two main characters had a falling out and considering the main character has anxiety, it really did make sense why it happened. All of this combined made for a really cute romance between Jesse and Brooke finally seeing one another again and starting to hang out.
Overall, this is a very cute and fun romance read, with almost no spice and some main characters who are very relatable. It was a very quick read and something perfect to just sit down with and absorb, or even recognize mental health with. I think this is a great read and should definitely go onto your to-be-read list!
[TW: drinking, estranged parent, divorce mentioned, depiction of anxiety, health crisis and emergency room visit, depiction of panic attacks]
Read
August 4, 2023The following book reviews have been shared by Text Publishing – publisher of Unnecessary Drama
‘This is the MOST ADDORABLE BOOK I HAVE EVER READ…Pre-order it right now—it’s the best present you will ever give yourself.’
Jaclyn Crupi
‘Adorable, this book made us laugh, cry and feel all the warm and fuzzies. We just loved every single page.’
Ali Berg and Michelle Kalus
‘Takes readers through the tumultuous uncertainty that exists on the cusp of transitioning out of high school into adulthood.’
Bohdi Byles, Books+Publishing
‘I laughed out loud several times and fell in love with flawed protagonist Brooke…Completely charming from start to finish.’
Karys McEwen
‘One of the most hilarious books I have read in a very long time…Pure magic and an absolute delight to read. Enjoy the banter, prepare to relate to some wonderful characters and don’t forget to keep the tissues handy to wipe away those tears of laughter and joy.’
Kate McIntosh, Readings
‘This book had me crying tears of laughter! Nina Kenwood is rapidly becoming one of my favourite authors and Unnecessary Drama is a delightful gem!’
Sarah McDuling, Booktopia
‘This book had me in turns doubled over with laughter, flushing with second-hand embarrassment, and gasping with delight…Fun and deeply enjoyable.’
ArtsHub
‘Kenwood seems to be creating her own genre—the YA anxiety rom-com. Or if she’s not exactly creating it, she’s perfecting it…Cracking dialogue and authentic relationships. You’ll fall in love with Brooke and Jesse.’
Jo Case, InDaily
‘Nina Kenwood brings another quirky and relatable narrator to her latest novel…Authentic and appealing.’
Age/Sydney Morning Herald
‘Hilarious and desperately relatable…Full of glorious unresolved tension, meaningful looks, misunderstanding, big feelings and romantic tropes, Unnecessary Drama is a gorgeous book. It made me laugh and it made me cringe and it made me swoon.’
Lian Hingee, Readings
‘This book is the exact right balance of drama and dappled sunshine….I prescribe Unnecessary Drama for everyone’s weekend, whether it’s reading on the beach or under the doona in the cold November rain.’
Andrew Pople, 2SER Final Draft
‘Unnecessary Drama is a cute and light read with lots of feel-good moments.’
CBCA Reading Time
‘A funny and utterly charming story about finding love with the person you least expect and navigating life on your own for the first time.’
BookPeople
‘A joyous experience…Such an authentically delicious, chaotic and optimistic narrative.’
Kids' Book Review
‘Marvellous…Exquisitely funny.’
Lian Hingee, Readings
‘Unnecessary Drama is proof that Nina Kenwood knows perfectly how to capture the funny and nerve-wracking process of an anxious mind. You’ll recognise yourself and laugh and cringe along with Brooke.’
Micheal Earp, SMH/ Age
‘An absolutely charming story…I loved every minute…A hilarious and yet thoughtfully concerned journey for the reader. Nina Kenwood has got it just right.’
ReadPlus
‘I gulped down Unnecessary Drama like a cool glass of homemade lemonade on a hot day: tangy, refreshing, familiar and delicious—familiar in the best way, in that it reminded me of the way my own family and friends speak and act.’
Kate Constable, author of The Singer of All Songs
‘A perfect read for young people who have moved on from teen romance novels.’
Clare Millar, Big Issue
‘[A] romantic comedy that brings the rom and tons of the com...Sidesplitting comic writing and an appealingly messy protagonist to root for.’
Kirkus (starred review)
‘A fun, breezy read that feels lighthearted but is multilayered, this one will appeal to YA and new adult readers, especially those ready to begin college. Enthusiastically recommended.’
Library Journal (starred review)
‘This is the MOST ADDORABLE BOOK I HAVE EVER READ…Pre-order it right now—it’s the best present you will ever give yourself.’
Jaclyn Crupi
‘Adorable, this book made us laugh, cry and feel all the warm and fuzzies. We just loved every single page.’
Ali Berg and Michelle Kalus
‘Takes readers through the tumultuous uncertainty that exists on the cusp of transitioning out of high school into adulthood.’
Bohdi Byles, Books+Publishing
‘I laughed out loud several times and fell in love with flawed protagonist Brooke…Completely charming from start to finish.’
Karys McEwen
‘One of the most hilarious books I have read in a very long time…Pure magic and an absolute delight to read. Enjoy the banter, prepare to relate to some wonderful characters and don’t forget to keep the tissues handy to wipe away those tears of laughter and joy.’
Kate McIntosh, Readings
‘This book had me crying tears of laughter! Nina Kenwood is rapidly becoming one of my favourite authors and Unnecessary Drama is a delightful gem!’
Sarah McDuling, Booktopia
‘This book had me in turns doubled over with laughter, flushing with second-hand embarrassment, and gasping with delight…Fun and deeply enjoyable.’
ArtsHub
‘Kenwood seems to be creating her own genre—the YA anxiety rom-com. Or if she’s not exactly creating it, she’s perfecting it…Cracking dialogue and authentic relationships. You’ll fall in love with Brooke and Jesse.’
Jo Case, InDaily
‘Nina Kenwood brings another quirky and relatable narrator to her latest novel…Authentic and appealing.’
Age/Sydney Morning Herald
‘Hilarious and desperately relatable…Full of glorious unresolved tension, meaningful looks, misunderstanding, big feelings and romantic tropes, Unnecessary Drama is a gorgeous book. It made me laugh and it made me cringe and it made me swoon.’
Lian Hingee, Readings
‘This book is the exact right balance of drama and dappled sunshine….I prescribe Unnecessary Drama for everyone’s weekend, whether it’s reading on the beach or under the doona in the cold November rain.’
Andrew Pople, 2SER Final Draft
‘Unnecessary Drama is a cute and light read with lots of feel-good moments.’
CBCA Reading Time
‘A funny and utterly charming story about finding love with the person you least expect and navigating life on your own for the first time.’
BookPeople
‘A joyous experience…Such an authentically delicious, chaotic and optimistic narrative.’
Kids' Book Review
‘Marvellous…Exquisitely funny.’
Lian Hingee, Readings
‘Unnecessary Drama is proof that Nina Kenwood knows perfectly how to capture the funny and nerve-wracking process of an anxious mind. You’ll recognise yourself and laugh and cringe along with Brooke.’
Micheal Earp, SMH/ Age
‘An absolutely charming story…I loved every minute…A hilarious and yet thoughtfully concerned journey for the reader. Nina Kenwood has got it just right.’
ReadPlus
‘I gulped down Unnecessary Drama like a cool glass of homemade lemonade on a hot day: tangy, refreshing, familiar and delicious—familiar in the best way, in that it reminded me of the way my own family and friends speak and act.’
Kate Constable, author of The Singer of All Songs
‘A perfect read for young people who have moved on from teen romance novels.’
Clare Millar, Big Issue
‘[A] romantic comedy that brings the rom and tons of the com...Sidesplitting comic writing and an appealingly messy protagonist to root for.’
Kirkus (starred review)
‘A fun, breezy read that feels lighthearted but is multilayered, this one will appeal to YA and new adult readers, especially those ready to begin college. Enthusiastically recommended.’
Library Journal (starred review)
August 22, 2022
4.5 Stars for this book it was an absolute delight to read. There are some laugh out loud moments and some really heart wrenching ones as well. They are funny and heart wrenching because we have all been there. Brooke is one of the most relatable characters I have read in a long while, I saw so much of my teenage self and my friends in Brooke that at times it took my breath away.
It is not all fun and games and Nina Kenwood deals with some really sensitive issues with a really light hand. Kenwood tapes into the teenage mind so well she took me right back there.
Needless to say I loved this novel and I am pretty sure that anyone who picks it up will also love it.
Many thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this wonderful novel.
It is not all fun and games and Nina Kenwood deals with some really sensitive issues with a really light hand. Kenwood tapes into the teenage mind so well she took me right back there.
Needless to say I loved this novel and I am pretty sure that anyone who picks it up will also love it.
Many thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this wonderful novel.
January 9, 2023
Unnecessary Drama is the second novel by Australian author, Nina Kenwood. The audio version is narrated by Maddy Withington. Eighteen-year-old Brooke Williams has left her hometown to attend university in Melbourne. She’s a little anxious about the housemates she’ll be sharing with, but she’s super-organised and is confident they can establish a set of rules to ensure a harmonious existence (she can print and laminate them, have them spiral bound).
The house turns out to be a bit dilapidated, but she can cope with that, and she’s sure she and Harper will soon be firm friends, but their other housemate is a shock: unknown Jeremy turns out to be Jesse, her close friend at high school until an unforgivably humiliating incident in Year Eight that broke their bond. But she refuses to be driven out by his presence: they’ll just have to agree to quietly ignore one another.
That sort of works for a while, but it’s not easy to be barely civil to someone after they drive you to A&E and wait with you for hours: it seems Jesse has actually turned into quite a nice guy. And then there’s the situation in a pub with the last ex-boyfriend that requires a fake boyfriend to save face: Jesse volunteers, and maybe they’re not quite acting?
Kenwood’s protagonist is instantly loveable for her earnest good intentions and her guilelessness. The gradual revelation of her back story explains why she sees herself as the boring, responsible protector to her older sister, the wild reckless fun one, and why she doesn’t drink: “Being drunk would be messy, dangerous, out of control. My worst self might come out.”
She recognises that “I’m uptight, I’m controlling, I’m anxious, I worry about things too much, I’m not “fun”, although she’s probably way too hard on herself, but “being in control of myself is the most important factor to me feeling okay.” Brooke’s perspective is sometimes uniquely insightful: “And when you’re holding a party, and you need to invite people to said party and be sure they actually show up in person, it’s like a friendship exam.”
Brooke’s inner monologue and behaviour will resonate with any reader who admits to a tendency towards OCD even as it offers plenty of laugh-out-loud moments: the blind-date scene is absolutely hilarious. Reading this novel in the quiet carriage on public transport should probably be avoided; ditto eating or drinking whilst reading.
Readers in the mood for a funny feel-good Aussie romance that might also require the tissues, but promises a happy ending, will find that Kenwood’s second novel ticks all the boxes. Very entertaining!
The house turns out to be a bit dilapidated, but she can cope with that, and she’s sure she and Harper will soon be firm friends, but their other housemate is a shock: unknown Jeremy turns out to be Jesse, her close friend at high school until an unforgivably humiliating incident in Year Eight that broke their bond. But she refuses to be driven out by his presence: they’ll just have to agree to quietly ignore one another.
That sort of works for a while, but it’s not easy to be barely civil to someone after they drive you to A&E and wait with you for hours: it seems Jesse has actually turned into quite a nice guy. And then there’s the situation in a pub with the last ex-boyfriend that requires a fake boyfriend to save face: Jesse volunteers, and maybe they’re not quite acting?
Kenwood’s protagonist is instantly loveable for her earnest good intentions and her guilelessness. The gradual revelation of her back story explains why she sees herself as the boring, responsible protector to her older sister, the wild reckless fun one, and why she doesn’t drink: “Being drunk would be messy, dangerous, out of control. My worst self might come out.”
She recognises that “I’m uptight, I’m controlling, I’m anxious, I worry about things too much, I’m not “fun”, although she’s probably way too hard on herself, but “being in control of myself is the most important factor to me feeling okay.” Brooke’s perspective is sometimes uniquely insightful: “And when you’re holding a party, and you need to invite people to said party and be sure they actually show up in person, it’s like a friendship exam.”
Brooke’s inner monologue and behaviour will resonate with any reader who admits to a tendency towards OCD even as it offers plenty of laugh-out-loud moments: the blind-date scene is absolutely hilarious. Reading this novel in the quiet carriage on public transport should probably be avoided; ditto eating or drinking whilst reading.
Readers in the mood for a funny feel-good Aussie romance that might also require the tissues, but promises a happy ending, will find that Kenwood’s second novel ticks all the boxes. Very entertaining!
April 17, 2023
It's an easy, cute as well as entertaining read!!
My second book of this author and I really enjoy her writing..
My second book of this author and I really enjoy her writing..
December 28, 2024
4.2 ⭐
I liked this way better than I thought and it was such an easy smooth read. Brooke felt so connectable and real to me, her thoughts felt like reading inside my brain. I'll write a full review soon 🫶
I liked this way better than I thought and it was such an easy smooth read. Brooke felt so connectable and real to me, her thoughts felt like reading inside my brain. I'll write a full review soon 🫶
June 18, 2023
Oh believe me, ALL the drama was necessary!!
Soo goood.
Soo goood.
October 18, 2022
the only bad thing about this book is that i have to wait ten months to reread it and annotate it bc the paperback doesn't come out in europe until august 2023
July 21, 2022
This is such a joyful, relatable and genuinely funny new 'new adult' book. I laughed out loud several times and fell in love with flawed protagonist Brooke and her plight to get through first year uni, including her first experiences living in a sharehouse, and her often-disastrous love life.
But really... how could we expect any less from Nina Kenwood? Her debut is still one of my favourite Australian YA books of all time. This latest work is just as clever, witty and reassuring. Completely charming from start to finish. Get yourselves a copy as soon as it's out!
But really... how could we expect any less from Nina Kenwood? Her debut is still one of my favourite Australian YA books of all time. This latest work is just as clever, witty and reassuring. Completely charming from start to finish. Get yourselves a copy as soon as it's out!
November 27, 2022
Trigger warnings: mental health, panic attacks, alcohol abuse, emotional abuse, blood.
This was freaking adorable from start to finish. No one does end-of-high-school/start-of-uni YA quite like Nina Kenwood, and this was just as fantastic as It Sounded Better In My Head.
The characters are wonderful, and the dynamic between Brooke and Jesse is spectacular. I love how much messiness Kenwood includes in her stories, and the awkwardness and sweetness that's woven throughout the story here - especially the complexities of their past relationship - is just an absolute delight.
This was freaking adorable from start to finish. No one does end-of-high-school/start-of-uni YA quite like Nina Kenwood, and this was just as fantastic as It Sounded Better In My Head.
The characters are wonderful, and the dynamic between Brooke and Jesse is spectacular. I love how much messiness Kenwood includes in her stories, and the awkwardness and sweetness that's woven throughout the story here - especially the complexities of their past relationship - is just an absolute delight.
July 3, 2024
Is it annoying how much the main character stresses about everything? Yes. Is that how much I stress about everything? Yes.
October 19, 2022
My expectations for Unnecessary Drama were very high, since I loved It Sounded Better In My Head so much, but I not only wasn't disappointed, but loved this book so much, too!
I love the author's voice, how she is able to make me feel deeply with her MC, how she captures a 18/19-year-old's insecurities in a believable way.
The fact that we got only the female MC's pov was a perfect choice (just like in her first book).
Brooke was an amazingly written character, and Jessie was sweet and so good for Brooke.
Loved it. I'm without a doubt going to reread this.
5 stars.
I love the author's voice, how she is able to make me feel deeply with her MC, how she captures a 18/19-year-old's insecurities in a believable way.
The fact that we got only the female MC's pov was a perfect choice (just like in her first book).
Brooke was an amazingly written character, and Jessie was sweet and so good for Brooke.
Loved it. I'm without a doubt going to reread this.
5 stars.
August 12, 2024
third read: august 2024
this is my better than the movies <3
first read: august 2023
Literally obsessed with this, it was so cute and funny, like I genuinely laughed out loud multiple times
this is my better than the movies <3
first read: august 2023
Literally obsessed with this, it was so cute and funny, like I genuinely laughed out loud multiple times
April 23, 2023
I went into this book expecting a cute, fun and fluffy romance set against going to uni in Melbourne and navigating life in the big city, which is exactly what I got. And that's okay! Not every book has to blow you away or go above and beyond your expectations. Sometimes you just want to sit on the couch with a cup of tea and read a low-stakes YA rom-com style, and this is the perfect book for that desire.
Brooke is practical and responsible, the classic "Mum friend" taking care of everyone else, even after moving out of home to live in the big city. Despite me being almost 10 years older, I have a lot of history in common with what Brooke is experiencing in this book, so I found it very easy to understand what she was going through.
Jesse is more social and out-going, and definitely "slobbier" than Brooke would like, considering they are housemates. Although very early, he is established as having a kind heart, caring about Brooke and trying to fix their broken relationship.
The plot is a run-of-the-mill enemies-to-lovers, but that's one of my favourite tropes, so I was eating it up. Tropes exist for a reason, and it's the characters and setting that make it different. I wouldn't call this a slow-burn, considering the book is only just above 300pages, but the character dynamics were fun, and it was nice to see Jesse and Brooke heal the friendship they had in early high school. However, a lot of the "conflict" in this book came about because characters just WOULDN'T TALK TO EACH OTHER!!! Communication, people!! So many misunderstandings wouldn't happen if people just talked!
All in all, a fun and cute YA/New Adult romance perfect for a rainy weekend read.
Brooke is practical and responsible, the classic "Mum friend" taking care of everyone else, even after moving out of home to live in the big city. Despite me being almost 10 years older, I have a lot of history in common with what Brooke is experiencing in this book, so I found it very easy to understand what she was going through.
Jesse is more social and out-going, and definitely "slobbier" than Brooke would like, considering they are housemates. Although very early, he is established as having a kind heart, caring about Brooke and trying to fix their broken relationship.
The plot is a run-of-the-mill enemies-to-lovers, but that's one of my favourite tropes, so I was eating it up. Tropes exist for a reason, and it's the characters and setting that make it different. I wouldn't call this a slow-burn, considering the book is only just above 300pages, but the character dynamics were fun, and it was nice to see Jesse and Brooke heal the friendship they had in early high school. However, a lot of the "conflict" in this book came about because characters just WOULDN'T TALK TO EACH OTHER!!! Communication, people!! So many misunderstandings wouldn't happen if people just talked!
All in all, a fun and cute YA/New Adult romance perfect for a rainy weekend read.
October 24, 2023
You expect so much of people, sometimes you can’t see the good parts because you’re dwelling on the ways they don’t live up to who you want them to be
When I read two years ago the debut of the author I was ecstatic. A YA/coming-of-age modern novel isn't my favourite genre but I like to choose from this shelf from time to time. Nina Kenwood confirmed with this book, that she is currently one of the best authors of the genre.
Funny, thoughtful, real. Without pretense, and without unnecessary drama. Yet, giving me a few moments of sighing. The mix I love the most.
I have found here not only a convincing, sweet, real love story but also a mature view of different relationships between children and parents.
I liked that she didn't try to write a book with the adults as the main characters but that she concentrated on "the semi-adult". I agree with Brooke:
I thought the story would matter more if the characters were older, with kids and houses and finances at stake, but maybe I’m wrong. Maybe it doesn’t need any of that
If you are honest as a writer and you feel the story - the story among young/semi-adults can be as great and interesting as one taking place among adults.
Nina Kenwood took four years to write the second book, but if these years were necessary to give us such a charming novel - I will wait for another one (although, impatiently).
August 25, 2023
I enjoyed this book so much! Utterly engaging & so relatable, once I started reading UNNECESSARY DRAMA, I couldn’t stop.
This YA rom com is the feel-good read to turn to the next time you want something warm-hearted and adorable!
The behaviour and over-thinking of 18-year-old protagonist, Brooke as she navigates her first year at uni and living in a share house was so damn relatable. Her anxious thoughts and attempts to fit in resonated with me and I thought her inner monologue and feelings were really well portrayed. I was nodding alone the whole time.
I received an e-copy of this book from NetGalley & Text Publishing and I’m so glad I read this book! This was the author’s second book & I’ve already bought her debut to enjoy over summer.
UNNECESSARY DRAMA is the kind of book that will fill you with nostalgia for your post high school days. This was such a delightful read!
This YA rom com is the feel-good read to turn to the next time you want something warm-hearted and adorable!
The behaviour and over-thinking of 18-year-old protagonist, Brooke as she navigates her first year at uni and living in a share house was so damn relatable. Her anxious thoughts and attempts to fit in resonated with me and I thought her inner monologue and feelings were really well portrayed. I was nodding alone the whole time.
I received an e-copy of this book from NetGalley & Text Publishing and I’m so glad I read this book! This was the author’s second book & I’ve already bought her debut to enjoy over summer.
UNNECESSARY DRAMA is the kind of book that will fill you with nostalgia for your post high school days. This was such a delightful read!
November 28, 2023
Obsessed with this book 😍I swear I had a smile on my face the whole time I was reading it, and cruised through it in a day or two. I know many reviewers found Brooke annoying but omg I loved her! I found her hilarious and so relatable when I think back to myself at that age. Jesse is a sweetheart and I loved the dynamic between him and Brooke.
I just found this book SO cute and charming and it put me in a good mood while reading it. Highly recommend if you want a cute, light read.
I just found this book SO cute and charming and it put me in a good mood while reading it. Highly recommend if you want a cute, light read.
February 13, 2025
I adored this. I was enamoured by it. Brooke is so me and I could just 1000% completely understand her and could feel her every emotion.
It was beautifully written and captures so much of anxiety and a little OCD.
reread feb 2025:
she’s so me core
It was beautifully written and captures so much of anxiety and a little OCD.
reread feb 2025:
she’s so me core
October 23, 2024
3.5★
Unnecessary Drama by Aussie author Nina Kenwood was an enjoyable light romance novel. With relatable characters, this story was an easy read. Recommended.
With thanks to the publishers for my copy to read and review.
Unnecessary Drama by Aussie author Nina Kenwood was an enjoyable light romance novel. With relatable characters, this story was an easy read. Recommended.
With thanks to the publishers for my copy to read and review.
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