Never Ever Getting Back Together by Sophie Gonzales
Published: November 29, 2022
Wednesday Books
Pages: 373
Genre: Young Adult Romantic Comedy
KKECReads Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.
Sophie Gonzales writes young adult queer contemporary fiction with memorable characters, biting wit, and endless heart. When she isn’t writing, Sophie can be found ice skating, performing in musical theatre, and practicing the piano. She currently lives in Melbourne, Australia, where she works as a psychologist.
Skye Kaplan was always cautious with her heart until Jordy said all the right things and earned her trust. Now his face is all over the media and Skye is still wondering why he stopped calling.
When Maya and Skye are invited to star on the reality dating show Second-Chance Romance, they’re whisked away to a beautiful mansion―along with four more of Jordy’s exes―to compete for his affections while the whole world watches. Skye wonders if she and Jordy can recapture the spark she knows they had, but Maya has other plans: exposing Jordy and getting revenge. As they navigate the competition, Skye and Maya discover that their real happily ever after is nothing they could have scripted.
“… maybe people who leave you don’t always stay lost to you forever.”
Maya is on the precipice of change when she gets an unexpected phone call. And that call leads to a bizarre offer. Skye has been living a solitary life, traveling the world alone. When she gets an unexpected invitation, she accepts. What’s the worst thing that could happen?
This was a cute story. I did have to keep reminding myself that it was a YA romcom, though. How certain things were handled or the thought process involved was very young and naive. But appropriate for the age group, and the level of maturity does strengthen as the plot thickens.
I enjoyed the characters; the leading group of six were all different and had a sparkle about them. Maya and Skye are our main characters, and they were an excellent balance. Perrie was a beautifully written side character, and I loved her from the start. Francesca was bold and spoke her mind. Lauren was a peacemaker. Kim was a romantic. They all played well off of each other and the circumstances they faced together.
The concept for this story was interesting, kind of like the Bachelor but for young adults. There were some twists along the way, but I found the pacing well done.
I enjoyed the alternating narrators and the way the story progressed. It felt authentic. Overall this was a charming romance that people will love. Memorable characters, crazy moments, and learning to follow your heart!
I would love to see Perrie get her own spin-off book, though. She was my favorite from the beginning.