The Unexpected Mess of It All

by Gabrielle Tozer

From the YA Queen of Rom-com comes a funny and fraught 'enemies-to-will-they-won't-they' romance between family friends Jamila and Billy.

Jamila Dakhoul wants to escape her life.

Forget everything.

Forget that her only friends are strangers on the internet.

Forget she's stuck in a caravan after a fire destroyed her family's house.

Forget that Year 12 is a brutal hellhole where bullying is an Olympic sport.

Forget Billy Radcliffe once and for all.

But as Jamila tries to untangle the messy threads of her life on a weekend away with her family, it becomes clear that she can't outrun her past, no matter how hard she tries ...

A coming-of-age story about falling apart, starting over, and the people and places you can't live without from the award-winning author of Remind Me How This Ends, Can't Say it Went to Plan and The Intern.

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2024

About the author

Gabrielle Tozer is the award-winning and internationally published author of young adult novels The Intern, Faking It and Remind Me How This Ends. She is a contributor to HarperCollins’ Begin, End, Begin: A #LoveOzYA Anthology, and her debut picture book, Peas and Quiet (illustrated by Sue deGennaro), is out now. Gabrielle's first middle-grade novel Melody Trumpet hits stores in 2019. Based in Sydney, Gabrielle loves sharing her passion for storytelling and creativity, and has appeared at festivals, schools and conferences around Australia.


Say hello: gabrielletozer.com, facebook.com/hellogabrielletozer, twitter.com/gabrielletozer and instagram.com/gabrielletozer.

Reviews

[Jessica Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly, I want to thank Harper Collins for sending me this book. this one was an unexpected five star read. I adored it so much. Jam and Billy had such an interesting story. The character dialogue was written so well and I found myself constantly smiing or laughing. l'l denitely check out more books by this author and I highly recommend checking this one out to anyone reading this review. It was such a fun, awesome, exciting book.

[hannah! · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was my fav cover of this year <3 its soooooooooooooooo pretty

i love gabrielle tozer and this was def one of her best books. jam and billy's story was the most adorable childhood friends-enemies-to lovers ive read

when i get home from school ill add my quotes so rtc

[✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰Janeane ✰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Copy received from Harper Collins Australia for an honest review

Oh boy, did this book bring back memories of my high school experience!

I wasn't a loner, I had my tight friends group, and I had friends, but I was never going to be the popular kid, I was never going to be the best looking, the one invited to all the parties etc.

There was the mean girls, the guys who though they were god's gift, the pettiness and the bitchiness.

Put it this way - I loathed high school, except it was where I met my best friend, and decades later, she is still my BFFF.

Jamila and Billy's friendship is one that we have all had along the way. Best friends, to no longer speaking to each other, with nostalgia brining friends back together.

So much is changing, but so much is still the same.

I could feel Jam's palpitations as thing happen in this book. A similar sort of thing happened to me in high school, when someone I thought was a friend betrayed my trust, so I get her hesitance to involve herself in a lot of things.

I laughed out loud, it was funny a times, and poignant, and there is bit of Jamila in all of us.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gobbled up this sweet treat in 3 nights. The Unexpected Mess of it All, is Gabrielle Tozer in her best YA boots, parading majestically through fields of long grass in the perfect golden light. There’s a horse in the neighboring paddock (Chia) and memories being made and nostalgia making a lump in my throat.

I loved Jamila and Billy so damn much (and Daph!) Everyone is going through it in this book. Jamila’s family is surviving the loss of their farm to a horrific fire, living in a caravan in their best friends’ back yard. Billy is struggling in the aftermath of national humiliation bombing in a reality tv singing show. Daph’s lost and floundering at uni. And years of friendship looks almost lost.

It’s the last year of high school for Jamila and Billy, they’ve been friends their whole lives but things have turned frosty. The hurt and confusion is so hardcore relatable. High school bullying is rampant. (Gotta say, I love Jamila’s take no prisoners response to the ass-hattery.)

When the 3 old mates are thrown together at their favourite family holiday spot/camp ground the opportunity for many conversations/confrontations abound, in the funnest and funniest ways. Is there anything I love more than awkward (fictional - not in real life because I die) conversations?! No there is not. Jamila does not make things easy for poor Billy, but nor does he deserve an easy ride! However, I love that the deep foundations of friendship form this sturdy bridge to ‘something more’ even though that transition from friends to lovers is so tenuous and terrifying.

Subplot yumminess: Jamila and her mum. Their path from contention to reconciliation made me tear up. Daph and her less than ideal camping partner, Margot. I loved seeing a healthy resolution to their awkwardness.

Also, hard relate: I was I’m pretty sure I stayed at this holiday park last summer, run down, peeling paint, chipped enamel, graffiti, broken lights in the bathroom stalls and bugs, bugs, bugs! And loved every minute.

I love Gabrielle Tozer’s writing, the characters she brings to life and the world she builds. Her words are beautiful and the balance of sentiment and sass, never fails to squeeze my heart and make me smile. Also, this story ends with the most gorgeous final line.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh where was this book when I was a teenager?!! This YA - enemies to will they or won’t they be in love - covers so many topics relatable to all young adults, however this novel focusses specifically on the tricky Year 12 time of growing up from your childhood and what lays ahead in adulthood.
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This book covers topics such as bullying, friendships, family relationships, social media and that it’s ok to have childlike fun. Jamila, the main female character, has a lot of growth, and is ultimately a coming of age story. There are down to earth discussions throughout and that you should not be in a relationship where you cannot be yourself and are accepted as such. Billy, the main male character, is strong, shows emotion and ultimately grows too.
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This was very well written and I really loved that the story covered a long weekend of camping, of memories and traditions. It really made me reminisce of my family camping traditions growing up! It was a very clean read - a bonus as a parent!

[Renae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a lovely book to read and lose yourself in. I loved the characters and their relationships with each other. It's about that awkward time of not knowing where to from here and how much has and will change after Year 12. Two best friends Jamila and Billy who have know each other since birth have a falling out but their friendship and memories win in the end and bring them closer than ever. A devastating fire at Jamila's family house see's her living in a caravan in the backyard of Billy's house and navigating living in the caravan with her brother and parents is a challenge. Every year on the long weekend Jam and her family camp at Hamill Bay with Billy and his mothers. This is were the memories start flooding in and Jam and Billy rekindle their friendship and find out their deepest secrets. I enjoyed this book easy to read and get lost in. Thank you to #BRPreview and HarperCollins for giving me this opportunity to review the uncorrected copy.

[SuzieLeigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story pivots around Year 12 student Jamila Dakhoul, living in a caravan with her parents and brother after a devastating fire completely destroys her family home and property.
Jamila (Jam) hosts a blog - 'Jam and Scream' where she shares her life and secrets with her followers, the 'Screamers' which she feels are her only real friends left in the world.
Living in the backyard of childhood friend Billy Radcliffe, Jam's life takes a turn for the worse, as Billy's popularity rise at school leaves Jam behind and wondering why, after everything she has been through, he no longer wants to know her.
Jam and Billy's family take their traditional annual family trip to the Hamill Bay Holiday Park, where over a long weekend, secrets will be told, lives will unravel and friendships will be tested.
A sweet Friends to Enemies - to something more story that takes you back to high school times, where what others think, can make or break you.
Happy reading

[Bec Condran]

DNF this book. I was over half way through but just wasn’t being captured by this book. It was easy to read and a few laughs but wasn’t for me.
Thank you to Harper Collin’s for sending me this advance copy as well.

[Kathy Soltan · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I started this book, the first couple of chapters had me worrying that it was going to be similar to so many other books in this genre. But as I persevered, the plot and characters, especially our heroine Jam, began to morphe into something totally unexpected. Here we had a girl on the verge of womanhood, not scared to express her thoughts and opinions, even though she feels on the outside looking in to those around her, in a frank and honest way. Her best friend Billy is struggling as well to find his place, worried that he has to conform and move away from Jam to be accepted. Luckily, our second heroine Daphne appears to save the day with her coloured hair, new girlfriend and sense of adventure and fun, to remind everyone that being true to yourself is actually something to be admired, not hidden.
As they embark on one last adventure together, Jam realizes how strong the bonds of family and friendship are, and their true meaning and importance in her life. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the transformation of these characters as they hurtle head first into a brave and exciting future together. Read and enjoy!

[mavis · Rating 3 out of 5]

read this on a whim as i was looking for something to read at the library and recognised tozer's name from the intern! i do remember reading another of her titles in the past year and feeling let down but i picked this up anyway. i haven't been reading YA and i guess this genre's not really for me anymore...? the amount of...drama that went down in the first chapter was quite ridiculous and left me feeling embarrassed for the characters, and that wouldn't be the last time lmao. i found some of the dialogue so unreal and had me like "who speaks like that irl?" the story felt quite predictable too, nothing i've not seen before. my favourite character was probably grace since she was a bully in jam's eyes but actually from the beginning since their encounter on the bus i thought she was actually quite normal - i knew they would eventually become friends. still don't understand how jam runs a successful vlog channel but doesn't fit in at school when she doesn't hide her face in her videos and her personality remains the same.

[Blue · Rating 2 out of 5]

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Thank you Harper Collins for this book in exchange for an honest review

Okay, so The Unexpected Mess of It All had a cool premise—burned-down house, living in a caravan, Year 12 chaos, friendship drama... sounds juicy, right? But honestly? It just didn’t land.

The main character, Jamila, had so much going on, but somehow I still felt… nothing? Her voice didn’t feel real or relatable, and the emotional moments that should have hit? They kind of just floated by. And don’t get me started on the friendship drama—what could’ve been a deep, complex relationship just felt rushed and kind of flat.

The book tried to do a lot—family stress, bullying, identity, social media messiness—but ended up barely scratching the surface. I kept waiting for that "omg yes" moment, but it never really came.

Honestly, it had potential. I wanted to love it. But instead, I was just waiting for it to wrap up.

[Ariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and I sped through it. It was filled with friendship,loss and love. It was a great book and I really enjoyed it. I loved the plot and the location of the story, it was different to other books I have read. I really liked it, I gave it a 4-stars because two tiny scenes made me cringe a bit but overall it was good. I loved the characters, they were all so cool, Jam- was strong and spoke her mind, posting for her many followers and building a community while navigating the lose of her house and farm in a fire. Billy was a good character and I enjoyed reading about him although he was a bit of a pain in the backside in the argument scene but oh well! Daph was a cool and unique character, she was confident, her style was amazing and cool. I loved how the story navigated through topics like cyber-bullying, loss and growing-up while main thing a cute rom-com. Definitely a great read and I will definitely re read!!

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, my heart! I absolutely devoured this sweet, generous and genuinely funny book. I want to hang out with and hug all of these characters. A note-perfect love story about that bittersweet time in life when it feels like everything is changing, and a moving exploration of how to find your true self amidst grief and the chaos of life. A beautiful, funny and touching ode to friendship, love and the family holiday park!

[Scarlett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy this book, it was an easy read and the characters were likeable. My main issue was despite the characters age they didn’t swear, I understand why this decision would’ve been made but in doing so I think it lacked authenticity after all this is a story following teenagers, in, I’m almost certain their last year of school??? Tbh I forgot to write a review for this one so I can’t remember all the details. Despite this, it was a nice story.

[Holly Cardamone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gosh I loved this! It perfectly captures all the emotional intensity of adolescence that exists anyway, but throw in a protagonist experiencing the trauma of homelessness post-fire, and struggling to find her place, and I'm one happy reader. I loved how the nostalgia of family holidays at the daggy old caravan park took on heightened importance and the shower block scene? Fabulous.

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5?

once again i am probably not the target audience. it was fine, i read it fairly quickly and easily.

bonus points for the author mentioning wagga wagga, which is around where my family grew up. i spent many hours in the city library, so that warmed me a little lol.

[Cassie Musetti · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 60%

Started a while ago, was somewhat enjoying but then got bored and put it down… have tried to get back into it MULTIPLE times but just can’t - I might finish sometime in the future but it’s just irritating me now

[prathaaaaaaaa]

was unexpected and was a mess

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this young adult novel about family, loss, friendship, memories, bullying and romance.

[Virginia O'Rourke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great, easy read, likeable characters and fast moving plot. Another great book By Gabbi Tozer!!

[Ella Missen · Rating 4 out of 5]

So damn cute!

[Amelia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Found this YA quite cringey and challenging to become engaged with.

[Sofia Dimas · Rating 3 out of 5]

super boring!

[Clare Snow · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know why I read this, when I don't like romance.

[Erin Ezza Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I should get a medal for perceiving with this 😂

[Jamie Lonza · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute little Aussie YA novel

Took me ages to read though. I just wasn’t in the mood for this kind of book.

No Luke Evans

[Nicole Langley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never clicked so well with a book from the beginning. Jamila is an outsider at her school where she watches the rest of her classmates without being part of any Group. That is a until a long weekend away with her ex-best friend (Billy) changes it all. I've never connected well with a book better on a personal level than this one. While I wasn't a loner is school, I was not part of the popular group and could sympathise with Jamila on her thoughts and feelings. I loved how the writing allows you to feel like you are the main character, and adds the humour of comparing moments to those that would happen in standard RomCom style movies etc. Another great read from Tozer.

[Jamie Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jamila Dakhoul is eighteen, in Year 12, and wants to escape her life and the brutal hellhole of school. She’s living with her annoying younger brother and fighting parents in a caravan in Billy Radcliffe’s backyard, after a fire destroyed her family’s home the year before. Since her friendship group disintegrated (Daph went to university and her former bestie, Billy, ditched her for the popular kids), her only friends have been strangers on the internet.

But for a long weekend, she’s brought together with Billy and Daph at the camping grounds where they all holidayed as kids, while being grounded and unable to connect to her online fans. In the space of a few days, all three friends try to untangle who they want to be and the relationships they want to have.

Jamila’s black humour was one of the many highlights of this novel. For example: ‘The compost worms at the school have more social capital than I do’ and ‘His so-called friends have the combined emotional intelligence of a flea, and that’s mean to fleas.’ The banter between Jamila, Billy and Daph was at times both witty and poignant.

The Unexpected Mess of It All is a funny and endearing enemies-to-lovers story which will appeal to readers 14+.

[Gracie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute coming of age story. Set against the backdrop of a girl losing her family home in a bushfire, so local Aussie context. Not the best coming of age story I have read, but good light hearted fun. :)