People think we live one life: THE RIVAL.

The Rival by Emma Lord
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Lifelong academic rivals, Sadie and Seb, have spent years locked in a battle of wits and will. Sadie thinks she’s finally free of him in college—ready to reinvent herself—until he unexpectedly makes it off the waitlist and shows up on campus. Their competitive fire reignites as they both set their sights on the same coveted spot at the school’s zine, Newsbag, trading sharp banter and well-aimed zingers along the way.

But soon, their rivalry takes a backseat to a bigger issue: student-run organizations like Newsbag are struggling to stay funded while sports programs seem to have an endless cash flow. Suddenly, the two aren’t just competing for a position—they’re fighting to ensure the zine survives at all. Forced to work together, Sadie begins to realize that Seb is the one person who truly sees her, beyond the image she’s carefully curated for her boisterous family. He understands her humor, her love of writing, and the parts of herself she’s hidden for years.

The novel repeatedly underscores the pressures both Sadie and Seb face from their families—Sadie, expected to be the peacemaker, and Seb, expected to be the perfect student. And if you don’t catch this theme the first time, don’t worry—you’ll be reminded at least 50 more. Their so-called "rivalry" is also hammered home constantly, despite it being glaringly obvious to everyone (except them) that their animosity is fueled by something much deeper. When the story shifts focus to their slow-burn realization of feelings, Sadie’s personal growth, and the struggles of student-led organizations, it becomes far more engaging. Unfortunately, the forced antagonism and family dynamics start to feel repetitive and frustrating.

That said, the book shines in its side characters—like the lovable lesbian café owners, the Newsbag team, and Sadie’s roommate, Christina (to whom Sadie is, frankly, a terrible friend for much of the novel). While her self-actualization is central to the story, her selfishness makes it hard to root for her at times.

There are plenty of sweet and enjoyable moments here, but they’re sometimes weighed down by repetition and overused tropes. YA readers may find comfort in its exploration of parental expectations and the journey of self-discovery in college, but a little more nuance would have made this story truly stand out.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Wednesday Books in exchange for an honest review.

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Seven wonders, city streets: THE GETAWAY LIST.

The Getaway List by Emma Lord
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really love Emma Lord.

Her books are so effusive and original. THE GETAWAY LIST is an enjoyable ode to New York City, growing up, and finding yourself. When Riley graduates from high school, she thought she'd have a plan, but she has none. Her mom expects her to stay home over the summer, work at her coffee shop, and go to community college, but when Riley has the chance to visit New York City for the weekend, her visit suddenly turns into... staying. New York City feels like home, like herself, like Riley can finally breathe again. Lord makes us feel like a part of NYC with Riley, bringing the city to life as Riley slowly discovers pieces of herself that she lost while molding herself into the version of Riley that pleased her overbearing mom.

New York also has Tom, Riley's childhood best friend, who moved to the city four years ago. The two expected to see each other often, but when that didn't happen, they developed "The Getaway List," a bucket list of sorts, filled with ideas to keep them connected. Once together, they start knocking items off the list--take a class together, do a run together for the delivery service where Tom works, etc. Riley loves everything about New York, including the fun new group of friends she meets, but she is a bit confused by the new feelings she has for Tom. Falling in love with NYC is one thing; falling in love with Tom is certainly another.

While this is certainly a YA book filled with teen angst and drama, Riley and Tom are mature, and this is such an effervescent and intriguing story. Riley and Tom bonded as children over a time traveling book series, which is woven throughout the book; it's so nerdy and cute, just like them. Like many of Lord's books, this is a romantic story, but also a tale of friendship at its core. She writes about friendship so beautifully, and it's wonderful reading about Riley and Tom's journey.

THE GETAWAY LIST has a bouncy set of ancillary characters who boost the story, from Tom and Riley's other childhood friend, Jesse, who is trying to make it with his band; to Mariella, Tom's cheerful, brilliant tech genius /artistic friend; and Luca, whom Tom and Riley meet at a writing class. This group's new friendship is sweet and touching too. As for Tom and Riley, they do not have overwhelming chemistry, but a deep, calm relationship. Their friendship is the basis for anything more and watching them grow is special in its own way. They are also funny, nerdy, and growing up.

As with any book by Lord, this story is unique, humorous, and entertaining. LIST delves into mother/child relationships, friendships, coming-of-age, and romance with its own special insight. 4+ stars.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Wednesday Books in return for an unbiased review.

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How do you count all the stars in the sky: BEGIN AGAIN.

Begin Again by Emma Lord
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Andie Rose always needs a plan. And her current one seems flawless. Transfer from her community college to Blue Ridge State to be with her long-time boyfriend Connor, major in psychology, and get her life back on track. But as soon as she arrives at Blue Ridge, a major crack hits: Connor has transferred from Blue Ridge to be with her. Oops. Blue Ridge is tough academically. Andie needs a campus job. And her new roommate Shay needs a major, which Andie is struggling with, despite her reputation as someone who can fix anyone's problems... except maybe her own.

So this is cute and fun, for sure. Not my favorite Emma Lord (that is still TWEET CUTE) but a very good read nonetheless. I spent half the book trying to figure out if Blue Ridge was a stand-in for UVA, so I need some mental health help of my own. Andie certainly came with her own set of issues, but don't we all? Her mom passed away when she was young and then her dad basically bailed, leaving her in the care of two sweet, silly grandmas. Sure, they took care of her, but wouldn't that give you a bit of a complex, too? Blue Ridge is where Andie's parents met and fell in love, so she's dealing with that extra heaping of pressure.

The highlights in this book are the friend groups. I loved AGAIN's message about finding yourself and finding your friend family in college (or anywhere). Shay, Andie's roommate, is great, as is Valeria, another friend. And Andie's R.A., Milo, is wonderful--along with his extended family that seems to lurk at every place in Blue Ridge, including the local bagel shop. Andie and Milo's relationship is a slow burner, but it's a good one, and like a lot of Emma Lord relationships, it's really hard not to get behind it. They are just so darn... perfect. Milo has lost his dad; we know Andie has lost her mom, and the book does a strong job of exploring grief and how losing a parent affects your ability to trust. (We will just ignore the whole side plot with Connor, because frankly, he's not worth our time.)

This one felt a bit repetitive off and on--Andie is obsessed with earning these school ribbons, for example, because her parents did--that are tied to club events at the school and sometimes that all felt too much. For someone who loves to give advice, you wanted to shake her from time to time for her decision-making. There's a broadcasting/radio angle that seemed like it would be too much, but actually turned out to be perfect.

Overall, BEGIN AGAIN is chaotic and probably not one bit reflective of my college experience, but it's sweet and touching and full of charm and humor. There are representative characters and a couple you can root for--sometimes there's not much more you need, right? 3.5 stars, rounded to 4 here.

I received a copy of this book from Wednesday Books and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review. Look for BEGIN AGAIN on 01/24/2023!!

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When you look behind you there's nothing there to see: YOU HAVE A MATCH.

You Have a Match by Emma Lord


Abby only signs up for a DNA test to help her friend (and secret crush) Leo. But when the results come back, it's not Leo who gets a surprise, it's Abby. Apparently, she has an older sister. And not a half sister, but a full-fledged sister. A sister who just happens to be beautiful, polished, Instagram star, Savannah "Savvy" Tully, who is only a year and half older than Abby. Neither Abby or Savvy can figure out how this happened, so they hatch a plan. They'll both attend summer camp at Camp Reynolds, where they can learn more about their parents and each other. But they quickly learn that they are very different: Savvy is a rule follower who is addicted to her Instagram and follower count. Abby is more go-with-the-flow. And, of course, there's Leo, who turns up at the same camp. How on earth will Abby negotiate her newfound sister, her secret crush--oh, and the fact that her parents will soon realize she lied about going to camp?

"Normal isn't having a big, stupid, ridiculous crush on one of my best friends, especially when he most certainly doesn't have one on me."

So, this is a good book, but I have to admit that I was disappointed because it wasn't the same as TWEET CUTE. I absolutely loved that YA romance, and while this is an interesting read, it just didn't have the romantic twang of TWEET CUTE. It's probably not fair to compare the two, but I couldn't help it. MATCH focuses less on romantic chemistry and more on Abby finding her way/coming of age and meeting Savvy, her "new" sister.

I actually liked the sister piece overall. The DNA twist is different (rarely do we get full siblings!) and there's also a nice LGBTQIA relationship thrown in. But, I never felt like Abby and Leo's relationship fully gelled. It just didn't feel as fun and flirty as I wanted. And, much of the book's plot is propelled by misunderstandings. At some point, it got to be too much: if some characters had just spoken up, so much could have been avoided! There's so much going on--the sister aspect, romance, secrets, etc. At times, it feels like the plot is struggling to contain them all.

Still, there's a lot to enjoy about this story. Don't get me wrong at all. The camp setting is a lot of fun, and Abby and Savvy are both great characters. Watching Abby develop is rewarding, and there are plenty of humorous and tender scenes as the sisters get to know each other. Even though MATCH didn't meet my TWEET CUTE expectations, it's an enjoyable read. (I judge romances on whether I'll get a copy for my SIL and this one passes the test.) 3.5 stars.

I received a copy of this book from St. Martin's Press and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.

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