Never Ever Getting Back Together

Starred review from October 10, 2022
Two years after Maya dumped her cheating ex-boyfriend Jordy, he’s suddenly being touted across the news as Europe’s most eligible bachelor, following his sister’s marriage to a minor European royal. When Maya is invited to be a contestant on Second Chance Romance, a reality dating show that pits celebrity bachelors’ ex-girlfriends against each other for a chance to win their ex’s heart, Maya sees it as the perfect opportunity for revenge. She plans to publicly humiliate Jordy by dumping him on international TV—but she has to win first. Upon being whisked away to fictional European country Chalonne, Maya’s scheme gets off to a rocky start after she alienates the other contestants with her I’m-not-here-to-make-friends attitude. As the competition unfolds, however, she’s surprised to find herself connecting with Skye, the girl with whom Jordy cheated on Maya. Moreover, Maya is developing romantic feelings for her—and Skye feels the same. Employing hilariously biting alternating perspectives and a cast populated by strongly characterized female heroines and deliciously despicable reality TV villains, Gonzales (If This Gets Out) expertly taps into contemporary society’s Bachelor obsession to deliver a smart rom-com with a twist. Characters cue as white. Ages 14–up. Agent: Molly Ker Hawn, Bent Agency.

October 15, 2022
Revenge is a dish best shared. In the new reality show Second-Chance Romance, a bachelor will date his exes and try to "discover which of them might be the one that got away." American Maya Bailey dated Jordy Miller, who became famous when his sister married a prince. After a year together, she got her heart broken when he started dating another girl and moved away. Canadian Skye Kaplan dated Jordy for two months before Maya found out about it, though Skye was not aware at the time of Maya's existence. Now the two high school graduates, along with four other exes, have signed up for seven weeks at a mansion in the fictional European country of Chalonne. Maya, though, plans to serve Jordy some just deserts on international television. When she reveals Jordy's past behavior to Skye, the two begrudgingly make a pact that slowly but surely turns into a new attraction for the two young bisexual women. Readers know Jordy is a baldfaced liar by Chapter 3, so there's no love lost there. The book definitely passes the Bechdel test, but readers get little backstory about either of the girls independent of their dating histories. Those looking for an enemies-to-friends-to-lovers rom-com as an indulgent treat will have fun but will likely wish to know more about Maya and Skye. Main characters read White. A light, escapist read. (Fiction. 14-18)

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January 1, 2023

Gr 9 Up-Reality TV show contestants who are fresh out of high school and looking for love with a pseudo-member of a royal family? Gonzales ropes in readers and will have them hooked. Maya was dumped by Jordy, and he started dating Skye two years ago; his older sister is now married to a prince of a small European country and he's suddenly an eligible bachelor, hence the show, Second-Chance Romance, which brings together his exes for a competition to get back with him. Maya hates Jordy just as much as she hates Skye-who she's stuck rooming with for the duration of the filming-and agrees to do the show in hopes of secretly bringing Jordy down. On the other hand, despite many reservations after her relationship with Jordy abruptly ended when he moved, Skye decided to give him another chance. Though the story is slow to start and some suspension of disbelief regarding typical 18-year-old behavior is necessary, this novel finds ways to incorporate the importance of friendship, second chances, and love in all forms without feeling heavy or overbearing. The novel includes LGBTQIA+ representation in main characters as well as BIPOC side characters. There are age-relevant displays of affection. VERDICT A great addition to any high school collection looking to add light romance reads to their shelves and a solid recommendation for readers who are tired of drama on the screen or in real life but could use a distraction.-Samantha Hull

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Starred review from December 1, 2022
Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* This is for everyone who loved it when two women on The Bachelor: Vietnam left the show to date each other. It follows Maya and Skye, two teenage girls cast in a new reality show called Second-Chance Romance, in which their mutual ex, Jordy, has the opportunity to date all of his exes in the hopes of finding the one who got away. Maya is here to publicly break his heart, since he cheated on her two years ago. Skye is here for an actual chance at love, because she lost Jordy when he moved to another country, and she thinks they might have worked out. What Skye doesn't know is that Jordy cheated on Maya with her. Maya's plans for revenge mean that she and Skye start out as enemies, but as they learn about each other and Jordy, they become friends--and maybe something more. Fans of the enemies-to-friends-to-lovers trope will find lots to love here, as will anyone who's wanted to knock their pretentious ex down a few pegs. Narrated in alternating points of view by two layered, complex characters, this fun YA romance is full of twists and turns, petty revenge schemes, and chaotic drama that rivals an actual reality show. If you enjoyed Netflix's Do Revenge and are craving a bisexual season of The Bachelor, you absolutely must pick up this book.

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