**I received a copy of this book from YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**

If anyone could make me enjoy a YA Contemporary based on a love triangle, it's Monica Murphy.

Her stories always have great twists and characters that I love reading about so I knew this story had the potential to impress me.

And for the most part, I did enjoy this novel. I think my hesitancy to start this novel helped a lot. I went in with very low expectations and just let the novel take me where it goes.

While the love triangle is a huge focus of this novel, it is also a coming of age story as well. And boy does Olivia need to grow up a bit...

I feel like a lot of readers won't like her given her attitude at times. I hate to say it, but she's your typical YA heroine in a contemporary: one who can't make up her mind and is often petty. It's annoying for sure and I think that'll annoy a lot of readers. I--surprisingly--sympathized a bit with her. I understood her stance on most things once everything gets revealed but I did roll my eyes at time. She's a little all over the place in how she handles everything but I cut her some slack as the story progressed.

Once more characters--and their potential romantic relationships--are brought to light, everything gets a little more interesting. Amanda's story in particular really grabbed my attention and I can't wait to read more about that in the next novel.

And just as everything was building and some potential twists were laid down, the novel ends a little abruptly. I'm super curious to see how everything plays out because I really want to know how it all wraps up.

Especially the love triangle. I wasn't a fan of either choice in the the start but as I neared the end, I started to lean to one side more than the other...so I can't wait for that to be resolved.

Check out more spoiler-free book and series reviews on my blog SERIESousBookReviews.com as well as read book series recaps!

Full Review:
Actual Rating: 3.5/5 ( )

A tale of partying, drinking, getting high, and casual hookups. This could have been a story of true friendships overcoming obstacles but every character in this book was too selfish to look beyond what they wanted for the moment. ( )

Will read next book. ( )

[view this review on Goodreads for a better experience: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1736621199 (-: ]

Now time for me to express my feelings and thoughts regarding this book utilising quotes from the book and gifs, with as minimal words as possible bc I'm not sure I can use just words without ranting.

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1. This didn't live up to my expectations, at all

I was looking forward to something dark, not a bunch of angsty teens having a bitch fest and hooking up left and right. Also, chill down on the jealousy will ya? Go eat some cupcakes and pizza. You are all in serious need of food therapy.

―

2. Annoying teens who really need to get their priorities straight

“I don't want to be the last virgin. But I don't really want her to be the last virgin either and one of us is going to have to be eventually. This isn't a race.”

Um, if the order in which you lose your virginity is an issue, you need to get more hobbies ASAP.

―

3. Olivia's POV was a pain to read

“I don't know how I've become so completely caught up in this love triangle, as Amanda calls it, but I hate it.”

“Though I can't deny the attention is... nice. I've never had two guys want to be with me before. I've never had any guy want to be with me before, except Dustin. I never planned on us hooking up. It happened almost... naturally, which sounds crazy.”

MAKE UP YOUR MIND WOMAN. DO YOU LIKE IT OR DO YOU NOT.

“It's a betrayal, pure and simple. Though how can it be if she didn't know Dustin and i hooked up in the first place? Whatever. She messed around with him. He played us both. She's a fool. But then again, so am I.”

Oh yes LET'S NOT FORGET THIS STELLAR PARAGRAPH SHALL WE:
“The only bright side is that betrayal is an excellent diet. I've barely eaten anything and I'm guessing I've already lost a few pounds.”

“I would never consider myself petty. I'm not one to stoop low and I don't like playing games. But at this very moment, I feel like my life has turned into one giant game, and I need to stay ahead in order to not get burned. I was already burned by Em and Dustin, and their betrayal cut like a knife. Maybe now I can finally even up the score.”

*insert Bobby gid* Well boo hoo, I'm sorry your feelings are hurt princess.

―

4. What's the story about again????

A hell lot of drama, that's what. And you take all that drama and let them run laps around a track for all of eternity. I know that this is part of a series but it felt like barely anything actually happened in this book.

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5. I just really disliked Olivia tbh

Half my problems just revolve around her. Her and her unrelatable thoughts. Her and her stupid decisions. Her and her absolutely useless priorities. She hooked up with Dustin and didn't tell Em about it, but hey, it was just a drunken moment so let's sweep it under the rug. Oh but then when Em banged Dustin and didn't tell Olivia about it? Somehow, Em has managed to offend Olivia and apparently even betrayed her. And so did Dustin for ‘cheating’ on her.

*insert Spock gif* Logical.

And her relationship with Ryan? 1) not cool mate, not cool at all 2) it basically ran around in so many circles my head spun harder than when I get off a rollercoaster.

Let me present to you more quotes as evidence (in chronological order):

“I swatted his [Ryan] hand away and called him a pervert.”

“Oh. Shit. I'm not stupid. He's totally flirting with me. This is so not cool. What about Em?”

“Everything Ryan says is laden with sexual innuendo. And for one breathless shivery moment, I wanted him to talk to me like that again. Touch me again.”

“Unease slips down my spine. I don't particularly like Ryan either. He's funny and awful and sexy and arrogant, yet... I'm drawn to him. It makes no sense.”

“It pissed me off. That Ryan could flirt with me, say such crazy as hell things to me and then go off and bang Em behind closed doors. What an asshole.”

“He's a total douche. A sexy douche, but still.”

They finally get together towards the end but that cliffhanger... hmmmmmm... I predict that there will be more laps to run in the next book.

―

Now I think that I'm the one in need of a chill pill and some food therapy ASAP. I've had enough drama for the month.

*insert Cowboy Bebop gif* NOPE

((Maybe it's because of the cultural difference. Maybe it's because here, we don't go around throwing parties and screwing people every weekend so I really can't relate to the characters or whatever possible problems they're dealing with. Still, I did not enjoy the dramatic bitch fest and that's a fact.)) ( )