It Had to Be You

by Lizzy Charles

James Parson has a problem. His military dad is going to yank him out of his expensive boarding school if James doesn’t prove he’s no longer hooking up, pulling pranks, and charming his way out of consequences. What better way to show he’s now responsible than becoming the committed boyfriend of a U.S. diplomat’s daughter? Level-headed, book-smart Edelweiss may have traveled the world thanks to her dad’s job, but when it comes to friends and boys, she knows exactly nothing. Newly enrolled in boarding school, Edel is now on a mission to learn it all. James says he’ll help her experience the ultimate high school life—if she’ll be his fake girlfriend. And fake is perfect, because he’s exactly the kind of player she’d never date. This Entangled Teen Crush book contains red-hot romance, all the feels, and a soul-mate bad boy.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary

184 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 15, 2017

About the author

When Lizzy Charles isn’t scrambling to raise her two spunky toddlers or caring for premature and sick babies as a neonatal intensive care nurse, she’s in a quiet corner writing or snuggled up with a novel and a few squares of dark chocolate. Black tea keeps her constant and she loves guacamole. She married her high school sweet heart, a heart-melting musician, so it’s no surprise she’s fallen in love with writing contemporary YA romance novels.

Reviews

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 / 5 Fangs

It Had to Be You was a quick and adorable read that constantly put a smile on my face. This was a charming book that combines a sweet romance with tons of humor.

The main characters in this book, Edel and James, were precious and unique. I loved reading from their POVs because I felt like the author did a great job at creating distinctive voices and personalities for them. I loved the development Edel and James went through, however, I did think Edel's development near the end of the book was a tad too quick. That being said, I still ended the book loving both Edel and James.

The romance between Edel and James was simply adorable. I was shipping them so freaking hard as soon as they had their meet-cute. They were so supportive of each other and understanding. Their personalities suited each other perfectly, and I thought the author did a great job at developing their romance at a believable pace. THEY ARE SO CUTE, AND I CAN'T GET OVER IT!!!! The only issue I had with their romance was that their miscommunication and misunderstanding frustrated me at times! However, it kept the drama going, so I understood why the author wrote that into the book.

I thought the first half of the book was a lot of fun, even though it was a bit fast paced, but the second half of the book wasn't as enjoyable for me. There was some drama that I wish would have been handled differently. The story took a turn I was not expecting, and I didn't really like it as much after that. However, by the end of the book, I still really enjoyed it! I ended this book with a smile on my face. Overall, the plot of this book was extremely entertaining, sweet, and endearing.

If you are looking for a fun YA contemporary book with humor, heart-warming moments, and plenty of swoons, then I definitely would recommend this book! I guarantee It Had to Be You will make you feel all the feels!

3.5 / 5 Fangs

* Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. *
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
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[Diana · Rating 1 out of 5]

Edelweiss is a rich girl who has finally convinced her parents to allow her to school instead of being home schooled. James is the son of her father's best friend, and he is also attending the same school as Edel. He causes some havoc and his father wants him to leave the school and go to the military, but he and Edel spin the lie that they are dating. Is all a stunt really. Only both of them begin to get attracted to each other.
Couldn't "feel" the book. The characters were too typical for me: hot guy who plays soccer, rich perfect girl, mean ex girlfriend, quadrille of high school friends, some family drama, stir and cook.
I have to say that the author knows how to write so the book flows, but it wasn't for me.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sigh. Sterotypical mean girl and just . . . James had the making of an interesting character, but there wasn't enough there.

Also, the main female character is named Edelweiss and is often called "Edel" and male character asked her, "Like the singer Adele?" I know the nicknames can be weird, but THAT'S NOT HOW THE "EDEL" IN "EDELWEISS" IS PRONOUNCED.

[Romie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first thought ? That was freaking adorable. So cute, so freaking damn cute. Did I say it was cute ?

Obviously I liked the book, I read it in a day, and the fake dating trope is probably my favourite ... No regrets.

#J A M E S
I especially liked James, not because it's my favourite name of all time - because it is - but because this boy was something special.
He's trying his best to make his father proud, to be the best son ever, and he's trying so hard he's ready to fake date his dad's friend's daughter because he thinks it will make his father happy. And then he starts falling for her.
First they're friends, like really good friends, and James feels like he can be himself with her and doesn't hesitate to share his biggest secret with her. Because he trust her.
I liked that he was crazy scared of horror movies - I like it when authors show that tough guys can also be scared, thank you !
His goal ? Being the best version of himself.

#E D E L W E I S S
She was such a cutie.
She's never been to school in her entire life, and her first experience starts her Freshman year of High School. There she wants to experience real life : first love, first break up, first dance, first tutoring, first friends ... Everything.
I was glad to read about such a mature character, who's not afraid to face the consequences of her acts, who's brave and loyal, and unapologetic of who she is.
She tried her best to protect James, even when it meant bad things could happen to her.

#O V E R A L L
I really really really liked this story.
Slut shaming was condemned, the tough guys wasn't afraid to show he's somehow fragile, the nerdy girl was a true force of nature, AS JAMES SAID COMMUNICATION MATTERS, they were friends before they fell in love ...
It's like the only real bad thing about this book was that, sometimes, the plot was a bit absurd - the whole thing with Emma per example - but other than that ... I had an amazing time. That's it. An amazing time, and I really recommend this book.

4.25

Thank you Netgalley for providing me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me start with this, what a stinking cute story. I have to admit that I was hooked from the beginning. I'll be honest when I started this book I had a little bit of a hard time connecting with Edel, mostly because all I could think was she was this pretentious rich girl. Thankfully as the book went on I came to realize she was just a normal teen, and I also realized that I was judging her just like a normal teenager and I felt kind of bad for that. She's starting a brand new school, which she's never even been to school in the fist place! She just wants to have that normal teenage experience and this is basically her last chance before being thrown in to College Life and trying to adapt to that.

Also can we talk about the "meet cute". I am a sucker for a good meet cute whether it be in a book, on a show, or in a movie. Granted I would have been pretty upset had I been in Edel's position, but I think James saved it. I felt like I knew a little bit about how things were going to go with this, but then again I was pretty surprised with things that were happening. The whole time I was questioning things but I still kept wanting to read and keep figuring things out.

Yes, this book is extra cheesy, but isn't that what makes contemporary's what we love? I know personally that I really love cheesy contemporary books because it just makes me fall in love with the characters even more and gives me that butterfly feeling in my stomach. That is how I know I've found a good contemporary novel. Sometimes things seemed a bit convenient when twists happened, but I never lost that butterfly feeling with this book and I just felt that it was so cute I couldn't stop reading it.

If you are an avid contemporary reader I would suggest this from you. It is such a fun and easy read that just pulls you in and makes you want to continue to read it. It really is hard to put it down until you realize that it's over. I am so excited to know that this is technically a first book so I'm excited to see how the next novel will go and what will happen!

[Betwixt the Pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Parson has a problem. His military dad is going to yank him out of his expensive boarding school if James doesn’t prove he’s no longer hooking up, pulling pranks, and charming his way out of consequences. What better way to show he’s now responsible than becoming the committed boyfriend of a U.S. diplomat’s daughter?

Level-headed, book-smart Edelweiss may have traveled the world thanks to her dad’s job, but when it comes to friends and boys, she knows exactly nothing. Newly enrolled in boarding school, Edel is now on a mission to learn it all. James says he’ll help her experience the ultimate high school life—if she’ll be his fake girlfriend. And fake is perfect, because he’s exactly the kind of player she’d never date.

Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book contains red-hot romance, all the feels, and a soul-mate bad boy.

Rating: 4/5 Penguins
Quick Reasons: super cute, endearing romance; absolutely love the "fake to real" relationship trope; not sure I buy that they "love" each other after such a short amount of time, but I'm willing to overlook this; Edel's character arc is well-rounded and entertaining

Huge thanks to Lizzy Charles, Entangled Teen Crush, Chapter by Chapter Book Tours, and Netgalley for sending me a free digital galley of this title in exchange for an honest review! This in no way altered my read of or opinions on this book.

"I'll never get elected to the student council if we're caught like this."

He pauses, whipping his head around. "Student council? You're joking, right? I'd have pegged you for a cheerleader."

"I don't jump."

There's just something about contemporaries that, recently, have me falling head over feet to get through. I don't know if it's that I can "turn off my brain" and just enjoy the journey, or something else entirely...either way, contemporaries have been calling my name a LOT lately. It's a good thing I've got a ton of them on standby for such occasions, I suppose?

Regardless--this was SUCH a cute, entertaining contemporary. I sat down expecting it to be just like all the rest...and instead found myself sucked straight into the story. There's something adorable about Edel that I couldn't look past, and something searingly steamy about the "fake to real" relationship.

"Great job out there," Edelweiss says when I reach her.

"You still have no clue what I'm doing on the field, do you?"

"You catch the football and run. What else is there to know?"

The character arcs are also entertaining and enlightening. I really enjoyed that we got front seats to both James' and Edels' changes over the course of just a few short months. Many of the side characters also step into their own, and I loved seeing how they each brought something new and unique to the table. Learning the intricacies of familial relationships--the the rules of boarding school--right next to Edel was a great way to bridge the gap between characters and readers, in my opinion. The fact we got to watch her interact with and react to the varying situations that crop up only helped to more vibrantly paint her across the page. This was, in fact, true of all the characters; due to this, they all were bright sparks of personality woven into the pages.

In the end, I had a ton of fun (as I usually do!) stepping out of the chaos of my own life and into the chaos of someone else's for a little while. Lizzy Charles wrote these characters with intricate, vibrant personalities--and made me care for each of them as individuals. The plot, while not inundated with action, was fast-paced and entertaining all the same, and I cannot wait to pick up another Lizzy Charles novel in the future! I definitely recommend this to lovers of boarding school settings, bad boys struggling to change, and "fake to real" relationships. Care to redefine relationships? Pick up this book!

[Manon the Malicious · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was the usual tale of boy meets girl. Boy and girl pretend to date but end up falling for each other. And that’s when shit gets complicated.
The girl was Edelweiss, a junior who has been homeschooled her entire life but wants a true high school experience before going to college. Edelweiss is amazingly beautiful and all the boys hit on her but she doesn’t know how beautiful she is.
The boy was James. James is a football player (a wide receiver from what I got from the games), a senior and captain of the football team. James is incredibly hot and every girl wants him. He’s also actually pretty smart and into litterature. His “ex”, Emma, is a true mean girl, of course.

This book was okay. I kinda enjoyed the story but I feel like it could have been deepened and made longer so that readers could truly form connections to the characters. It was such a fast read, I didn’t have time to feel the growing feelings in the main relationship but also within the friendships. I liked how some characters were secretly related to each other though. I also liked the whole boarding school vibe.

I enjoyed the writing and I’ll be waiting for the next book in this series.

[Scrill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Received an ARC from Entangled Publishing, LLC via Netgalley for a fair review.

It Had to be You has all the ingredients that make that feel-good romantic teen story.
-inexperienced girl
-super popular guy
-inexperienced girl and popular guy have a spectacular meet cute
-inexperienced girl inspires popular guy to be a better guy
-super popular guy sweeps inexperienced girl off her feet
-miscommunication causes a rift between the two
-they fix their problems at the end
With all the cliché elements we are given the same tried story with just enough spin to get you through. While the characters were sweet I found the two main characters to be a little too level headed, too conscious of their actions. Now while Edelweiss was pretty much raised around adults, she had access to tv & Netflix, the girl couldn’t have been that naïve and James seemed to have his ranging hormones just a little too much in check. In all honesty, their relationship was sweet, but probably not that realistic considering their surroundings, ages, and overall situation. They handled themselves a little too maturely for what would be expected from a pair of confused teens.
The cliché ex gf bully seemed a little…well cliché. And while it’s not exactly unrealistic, it just seemed too unoriginal, especially paired with the whole fake bf/gf turns into real feelings trope. I think the struggles that Edelweiss could have been a little more creative. With that being said, teen bullying is entirely plausible, but in my experience can be a lot more vicious than just a few silly pranks. Girls can be very mean, especially when their feelings are involved and they are bat shit crazy.
What I did appreciate was that there was a little diversity in the students going to the private school. It wasn't just a bunch of white privileged kids. There was a little depth given to the students that could have been played on a little more. Using the heritages or backgrounds that were mentioned could have been woven into the story to give a little more flavor.
So, like I said, cliché and slightly predictable. I feel like I’ve read this story or seen the movie version several times already and could have used a little bit more flare to get my attention. Still it was cute, and made heart clench up at least a tiny bit.

[Milli (MiracleMilliReads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coming into this book I was not expecting whole lot. Just another love story gone bad, then they end up together because of love. I barely read romance because I feel like every story is the same and nothing changes. which makes the story predictable from the beginning, but....

I was WRONG about this story! This is your typical love story, but it was written so uniquely and so many twist that had me wondering if they were really going to be together in the end. I loved the writing style, the duo POV'S of the two main characters, and the change you see in the end from each character.

Edelweiss, daughter of a US diplomat, traveled all over the world and never experienced the physical school life. To get better recommendations for her college resume, she convinced her parents to put her in a high known school. This private school was dormed and coed, but there were serious amount of rules. Edel's first day and she was trampled by James Patterson, the bad boy, who is her dads best friends son. Not knowing of who he was, they were already late and James helped her sneak into the student assembly without getting caught or so they thought. Everyone knew about there entrance and James ex best friends, Emma, had it set out for Edel since then. As the story unfolds, there are twist, untold secrets, and conflicts between characters. A fake relationship was proposed, would feelings get in the way of the perfect "fake" love?

[Daphnee · Rating 3 out of 5]

It Had to Be You by Lizzy Charles was a very cute but very predictable book. Nothing really original but the characters were well-thought of. Some annoying "we're not talking enough" parts but I guess it might just be me who always shares too much of my feelings haha! Quick and cute read. Thank you NetGalley for the free ebook copy.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Guess I'm too old for this book. It just felt so juvenile and simple and I felt absolutely no connection between James and Edel.

[Mariam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog!

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

I picked this up because I just loved the cover. It is so bright and colorful and I loved that there is a black boy on the cover. God knows we need more diversity in contemporary young adult books especially ones with healthy relationships.

The book has dual point of views which is lovely because we get to see what goes on in Edel and James’ minds concerning the little romance they have. I always enjoy romance books from dual point of views because AGH, pining, amazing stuff, which this book had plenty of!

The book starts off with Edel joining the boarding school. She’s excited and is refreshing to read because I love me an honestly kind and determined girl. Edel wanted to get as involved as possible seeing as she spent all of her life being home schooled by her mom. Don’t be fooled by the blurb, Edel isn’t entirely all into the whole boyfriend experience, she simply gets into the fake relationship (which she suggests) so she can go through the first months without being hounded by somewhat creepy boys. Let’s admit it, we all wish we could be somewhat protected from creeps. I liked Edel’s straightforward nature. She was inexperienced with people but in no way was she disrespectful.

James on the other hand is sort of a reformed bad boy. Be aware that he is the softest, smartest and cutest boy despite his label as a bad boy. He’s guilty of loving to prank the headmistress, and they’re harmless jokes. I actually had several “Oh wow,” moments in which I fell for James. He’s afraid of horror films, talks about his feelings toward his dad and can analyze Russian novels without breaking into a sweat.

Also: he’s a jock. He’s quite far from the stereotype of a jock. He is so aware of the weird rules of society and I liked that he also had a great relationship with his aunt. See, James is biracial and gets his melanin from his mother side. His Aunt Julie teaches him not to wear his hoodie at night, and not to seem dangerous, which are lessons he didn’t get from his white Irish dad despite his dad being a military man. I liked that James didn’t fit into any bad stereotypes of how black boys are portrayed in media. He was honest and earnest in making his dad proud. Also: he was so soft on Edel and truly worked hard to take care of her while they were ‘fake’ dating.

The plot moved at a really nice pace that gave you an insight at Edel and James as well as the friendships they have. There are antagonists like Emma (who is James’ ex-girlfriend and cheats on him) and this creepy guy John who tries his best to get into Edel’s orbit but my girl blocks him fairly amazingly.

The writing flows nicely enough and makes the whole book very easy to read and get into. The characters are relatable despite one minute where Edel thinks light lip gloss and eyeliner is “too much makeup” *looks into the camera with my full makeup look* that made me laugh a lot.

There are also many friends. Edel has not one but three girl friends and I just loved the female solidarity. There is Tuti who is Indian and a youtuber with a crush. There is Charlotte who comes from a poor background and talks about her drunk mom. There is Ainsley who is tough as nails and has her own secret which she reveals once she’s comfortable enough.

I liked that this didn’t have the somewhat excessive focus on sex that some other books have. It was fairly PG13 and I know it might sound unrealistic but believe me: not all teens are thinking of sex all the damn time. Asexuals (and Aromatic) teens exist. Not that there are any asexuals in this book as far as I know.

I also like that when James and Edel meet, he doesn’t touch her before asking for her consent. Hallelujah for the zero times the word “crazy” was used in joking. Lack of usage of food to refer to James’ brown skin: amazing. I know, it’s the minimum that I could ask of but I really didn’t find a reason to dislike this book or not give it five stars besides just one thing and I don’t think I need to fuss over too much.

I liked that James is already a changed boy by the time he’s introduced so Edel was not going to “fix” him or anything like that. But it got on my nerve that Edel, at times later in the book, would doubt James. She’d think he’s being draped by girls when he told her that he was not interested in being with girls since he was focused on school in his senior year. I felt like she should have trusted him more but that doesn’t mean that her misconceptions of him turn into scorn, she simply feels this way because she’s hurting and I could understand. She soon enough thinks otherwise.

This book had the perfect mixture of fluff and situational angst that got me rooting for the couple to get things in order. They just had so much cute energy together and it was really fun to read it. Plus, it’s really short and the pacing is great for a good pick-me-up book that’ll get anyone out of a reading slump!

I definitely recommend this book for anyone who loves contemporary young adult books with characters that are likeable and kind.

[Harker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book at just the right time! Last week as part of my Top 5 Wednesday post, I talked about what kind of Summer time reads I was looking forward to and I spotlighted contemporary novels. While this book doesn't take place in the summer, I think it's just the right kind of lighthearted fare to read during the hot months ahead (if you're in the Northern Hemisphere like me, though you should totally still read this if it isn't summer).

Edelweiss and James are two students at Brockmore Academy, a boarding school that I wouldn't be out of place comparing to Chilton from the television show Gilmore Girls. In fact, Edelweiss and her roommate Tuti talk about binge-watching this show and whose team they're on more than once in the course of the book.

Edelweiss (shortened to Edel) and James are at Brockmore for different reasons and both want to stay there. Through a slightly complicated series of events, they come up with an arrangement: pretend to be dating to show that James is serious to his father and so Edel can have the normal high school experience after being home schooled by her diplomat parents.

This was a fast read that had all the hallmarks of a high school drama. It was a lot of fun to read and I didn't find any slow points. I think there are some parts that could have been fleshed out a bit more, such as the friendships that Edel formed between herself and her roommate and some of the other girls in her dorm, or some of the smaller chats that she and James must have had that lead to them falling in real love.

There are some cliches in the book, such as the high school Mean Girl who we don't learn too much about other than the cursory things (she's James's ex, she's jealous of Edel, etc.). Maybe it's because I don't read too many of these books, but this didn't bother me too much even though I know it's happened a lot before. I am curious if we'll learn more about her, though, her inner workings, that sort of thing.

The secondary characters introduced had the potential to be really great: Tuti, the YouTube celebrity that pays her bills by promoting her channel supremely well; Ainsley, the foster kid with a head for computers; Charlotte, Grant, Procter, and more. I learned just enough about each of them to be able to keep them separate in my head, but I wish I knew more. This book, however, was mostly true to Edel and James, so I understand in the end why we might not have heard as much as I'd have liked about the others.

I think this is only Brockmore Academy book #1, so there will hopefully be more adventures for all involved.. James still has half a year left as a senior at the school and Edel has her own senior year before the advent of college. Who knows what lays in store for these two? Will Emma, the school's Mean Girl and James's ex, come back with a vengeance? Will Ainsley, one of the friends Edel has made this year, find a resolution to her own familial questions? Lizzy Charles has authored a brilliant little book here and I hope to read more soon.

And, for the record, I'm with Edel on this Gilmore Girls opinion: #TeamLogan all the way!



I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Heather Eagar · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are very few books that keep me up hours past my self-imposed bed-time. (I admit that i go to bed early. With 2 kids, I never know when they'll get up)

If you are judging this book by the synopsis and the cover...don't. Based on those two things I was expecting a cheesy teenage rom-com that would be cute, but not necessarily original or life-altering. The synopsis doesn't seem to get to the heart of the story, and I wish there weren't people on the cover, because my image of what Edel and James looked like differed from the models on the cover and it messes with my psyche.

But all of that aside, I read the entire thing in one sitting. I don't do that. Thankfully it wasn't longer than it was, because I only got five hours of sleep last night. First off, I loved the character of Edelweiss (don't you love that name?). She is a girl who has been homeschooled her whole life, and is now wanting to try out a boarding school to help prepare her for college. As a parent who homeschools my own child, I laughed out loud at her missteps, knowing they were totally realistic. She has an idealistic view of the world, and is taken aback when she realizes that she had no idea how to navigate this new world she has been thrown in. (To be fair to homeschoolers, I don't think anyone would know how to navigate that school. A boarding school for rich kids, it turns out, is messed up!)

I also loved James. He's a good kid who still has typical teenage boy stuff going on (loves to do pranks, going out with girls, etc.) I wish he hadn't been the stereotypical football player (seriously, choose a new sport, people.) But the point is, he was likeable, but also completely real. And the push and pull dynamic between him and Edelweiss was so spot-on, it had me crying in all the right places. (Yes, I totally bawled at like midnight. Thank goodness my husband was asleep or I'd have been so embarrassed.)

This is a character-driven novel where the people are driving the story, not reacting to it. This can be difficult to write because you don't have a complex plot to make up for flaws in your character development. But I felt Lizzy Charles did a beautiful job at this. She has a simple writing style where she doesn't try to be overly-flowery. No drawn out scenes that didn't need to be, no complex language that convoluted things. None of her characters were over-the-top or corny. It was straight-up awesomeness.

If it wasn't obvious, I am giving It had to be You 5 out of 5 Stars and a place in my Top Hits.

NOTE: There is a little vulgarity, including a couple uses of the F-word, a few sexual innuendos, and although there isn't physical violence, there is some bullying.

[Esther Haddie's Haven · Rating 5 out of 5]

New, different and great ♥

Only people who have lived the 90s will know what I mean when I say: This book kind of reminded me of that movie "My Date with the President's Daughter". Just because James starts dating the daughter of a diplomat. I don't know the connection, but that's what I thought of. This is a quick, light-hearted read. I was able to read it in a few hours (in between life and watching rowdy brothers). Lizzy Charles has done a great job to bring a new, different story to the world. I highly recommend you pick it up. :)

DISCLAIMER: I own a copy of this book, but I also requested an e-ARC from NetGalley, and am participating in a blog tour with Chapter by Chapter Book Tours

[Andi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I loved the theme of honesty prevailing and how integral their parents were. That's not something overly prevalent in YA novels. I loved the characters' story and I hope Lizzy writes more about these two characters! Lizzy writes so effortlessly and I have thoroughly enjoyed all of her books!

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My initial thoughts after finishing this book were that it was such a cute and adorable read! It definitely picked me up and I read most of it in ONE GO. Of course, I had to make some breaks, but even during those moments I missed going back to this story and the characters! This was 100% a light, fluffy and beautiful story that brightened my day!

Plot:
This book made me laugh and blush so hard until my cheeks were utterly red! The worst thing was that I read the first part of this book at school in-between classes, and sometimes even before they started. I was really engaged in the story and took every opportunity I had to continue reading. So there I sat, with my Kindle on my desk in front of me, trying to maintain composure and doing the best I could at keeping my blushes at bay and the gasps to myself.
I failed miserably and laughed out loud, squealed twice, and had my face burning with embarrassment that I felt for the main character. And in case you were wondering, EVERYONE noticed.

If there is something that stood out to me was that certain scene at the beginning of the book that I literally roared with laughter at. I couldn’t help the tears when I read that chapter, and I felt SO BAD for the main female character! Check out the summary for more information about the main storyline!
But poor Edelweiss has a lot of things to learn, and those first moments at Brokemore weren’t exactly what she expected the High School Life to be like.
I was blushing so hard and my face was red because I read that specific scene right before class started, but had to stop MID-CHAPTER!
I had then to endure 2 periods during which all I could think about was how screwed up poor Edelweiss was, and wanted nothing else but continuing to read!

Honestly, the beginning of this book was absolutely amazing and so enjoyable! I had the greatest time reading the first half and was excited to continue with the story after that great start. However, the middle part of the book was a bit more tedious for me and I did not enjoy it AS MUCH. There was a lot of miscommunication between the characters, and it frustrated me a lot.
I do understand why it was put there since it kept the storyline going. But it was still frustrating at times and it made my reading experience be lowered down. 

But this book was still ultimately cute, extremely embarrassing at times, the good type of romance cheesy, and SO adorable. It read super quickly, and every chapter kept me wanting more.
It was definitely a page-turner that I could NOT put down! 

Characters:
James was such a caring guy, even though he messed it up sometimes with his BOY habits and poor choice of words. But either way, he made for such a cute boyfriend I couldn’t help but fall in love with!
For Edelweiss I felt really bad. She had an unfortunate beginning, but she was SUCH a slaying queen and her attitude inspired me SO much! She let NOBODY overpower her. She stood her ground flawlessly and really made a great job at controlling all of her emotions during petrifying situations, walking with her shoulders back and a chin raised high. She was an empowering and VERY strong-willed main character.
Her parents and the parental figures in this book were SUPER well written as well! They were involved, and we also learned a lot about which values Edel’s parents had made sure they taught her while bringing her up. Often in YA we never get to see the family, and even though they were far away, we still read about how involved and caring they were for their daughter.
They also ALL gave SUCH good advice sometimes!!!

The characters from It Had to be you were over the top intriguing to me. Asides from James and Edelweiss, whom I loved, I was super interested in EVERY other character that we met!

But unfortunately, none of the other ones were developed as much! Truthfully my only critique, I think, is that there was SUCH A GREAT set-up for most of the characters in Brokemore Academy (for example most of James’ friends and SURELY each and every one of Edel’s circle of girls, the Headmistress Creighton, and also James’ dad!), but we saw almost nothing about their backgrounds!
There are a thousand other characters too that I am DESPERATE to read about! Lizzy Charles made me feel super intrigued about each of them, and I was hoping everyone would be developed MUCH more.

The book is clearly centered in James and Edelweiss, but there is so much more to everybody else I NEED to read more about.
I am hoping sequels will be released soon so that I can get to see MORE about them. But even if more books are written (which apparently will happen because this is the start of a series), the book really lacked the development of the other characters that would have made it feel complete.

Overall Thoughts:
Basically, I need more. My love and need have not been satiated and I need to find out RIGHT. NOW when any more books are coming out!
I highly recommend this if you are looking for a pick-me-up, funny and swoon-worthy romance that will brighten your day, if you are looking for a book that will get you out of a reading slump, and if you liked anything by Jenny Han, if you enjoyed It Started with Goodbye by Christina June or Geekerella by Ashley Poston!

This had such great Boarding-School vibes and I felt SO happy while reading it! I had a blast while enjoying my rainy day at home and listening to my May playlist on Spotify! There is no doubt you’ll be able to read this in one sitting and have an awesome time all the way through. I recommend you listen to some music while reading this, too. Especially the classic shower-songs!
I am left feeling giddy and happy, but I still need to know more about the rest of the characters! I hope the sequel is released soon!

Rating Report:
Cover: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5 stars
Writing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars
Pacing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars
Swoons: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 stars
General Book Feels: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars

Enjoyment Rate: 90%
My Overall Rating: 4 stars!  

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given an ARC of It Had To Be You by Lizzie Charles in exchange for an unbiased review. 3.5 Stars
It Had To Be You is a fun, lighthearted “fake relationship” teen romance. Our hero, James, is the son of a military officer who is friends with the diplomat parents of our heroine, Edelweiss (Edel rhymes with Adele). James, whose mother died, has been sent away to school for years while his absentee father moves from base to base. James is a good-looking, very bright, popular, precocious high school football star with a penchant for pranks and practical jokes. He is also a bit of a young man whore. James’ father has threatened James that he will pull him out of his high-end boarding school and homeschool him with an on-line High School if James does not shape up. This is James senior year and being pulled or expelled from his school would essentially kill his dream of attending West Point and following in his dad’s footsteps. Edel, who has been schooled around the world, traveling with her free spirited, culturally aware parents from country to country, convinced her parents she needed a real High School experience before heading to college. Edelweiss is naïve, sweet and sheltered. She comes to Brokemore School as a Junior with a long list of things to experience, including failing, making friends, doing something stupid, falling in love and having her heartbroken. Needless to say she works her way through that list in this sweet tale.
James and Edel have never met and James literally crashes into Edel on her first day. A deal/relationship is struck to keep James out of trouble and give Edel time to scope out the Brokemore social landscape. Of course real feelings ensue that neither teen is willing to admit. The teens are supported by a great group of secondary characters. Some of these like Gavin, James roommate and BFF, and Ainsley, left me wanting to learn more and see where their lives and loves take them. Others like Emma, James’ ex and the queen bee bully at the school, provide a foil and drama for our H/h.
Some of the secrets and relationships seem too pat or too much; I am not sure we needed an aunt and a secret sister alongside the parental connection of our H/h. Also the author touches on but never fully explores or develops the racial issues of the hero being the black biological son of a white military officer at a primarily white school with a black headmistress. The secret sister is likely dark complexioned too and this is never even discussed. Nor is the issue of having found a half sister born out of wedlock nor are the challenging feelings James has for his father fully explored and the coming together of these too is awfully easy as the story wraps. The novel could have been longer and gone into more depth on some of these issues and this would have resulted in a more interesting romance. By the time James and Edel actually admit their feelings the story ends leaving the book feeling like it was not quite finished.
Overall I liked the book, the relationship and romance between the H/h and the sweet nature of how their feelings developed. I think the story could and should have been more developed and continued on but what was there is worth a read.

[Angelica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was so cute and fluffy, and I loved it! I needed a book like this to read during finals and get my mind off actual work.

I am a huge fan of fake romance turned true love stories. As cliched and cheesy as they are, I cannot help but enjoy their drama.

This book was adorable and a surprisingly quick read. It follows Edelweiss and James, a quiet girl going to school for the first time, and the most popular guy on campus. With that alone, I knew I was going to enjoy this novel.

Edelweiss (Edel for short) has lived all around the globe with her diplomat parents. Now, for the first time, she is going to go to an actual school, Brokemore Academy, and she has with her a list of things she wants to complete to have officially lived a good high school experience. Among those things are:

-Make the type of friends who will laugh with you until you cry or cry with you until you laugh
-Stay up all night long binging Netflix with my roommate
-Give a speech

And the most important:

-Fall in love and break up

Enter James, charming, handsome, and resident bad boy at Brokemore. His dad is in the military and has traveled the world to do his duty. Sadly, this means that he has left James behind to be raised by his aunt with the hopes of giving him a normal life. And while James is thankful, all he really wants is his father’s attention and to make him proud.

And then, James runs into Edle (literally), and sparks (and a little bit of pizza) fly.

In order to please James dad, and give Edel a sense of security at the new school, the two make a deal, pretend to date each other through the semester. With the bargain struck, a friendship starts to build, and soon, something else starts to form beneath. But what I liked more than the romance was the characters.

I like they are each their own person. Many times in YA romance novels the characters are only half people, needed their other half to be a full person. I don’t like that. Here, both James and Edel know what they want and who they are. They are strong minded and loyal, and good. James especially, I felt was a very well developed character. Usually, the male lead’s personality revolves around being handsome and tough. James, on the other hand, was such a nice guy who genuinely loved his family and truly did everything in his power to make his father happy.

I also loved all of the side characters. Julie was great, I love seeing good depictions of adults in YA. So many times are adults two-dimensional idiots or heartless jerks in YA. And then there is Ainsley, I want more of her story. I want to know what happens next with her, which is why I am glad that there will be more to this series.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I read it all in one night and could not put it down. Admittedly, it took me a bit to truly get into it, but once I did, I was hooked. Great novel!

Also, just cause, let’s give a hand up for this super awesomely adorable interracial couple. Honestly, the people on the cover was what really pulled me in and made me want to read it. I need more books like this in YA contemporary!



**I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**

[T.J. Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

** ARC provided in exchange for honest review **

“It Had to Be You” is a sweet YA Romance, which turned into out to be a fairly good read. Charles wrote an intelligent portrayal of teenager characters, both with complexity and depth rather than being stereotyped.

Edelweiss (Admittedly, I had the song from the Sound of Music stuck in my head during the first few chapters) is a home-schooled daughter of a diplomat, what she lacks in typical high school experience, she makes up for with maturity and world-views. Edelweiss convinces her parents to enrol her into an elite boarding school, determined to experience the high school lifestyle to prepare her for college. Edelweiss was a likeable heroine and although innocent and slightly naïve at first, she was certainly an active protagonist within the story. Edelweiss certainly was a great example of a female lead for readers; she had the right mixture of strength and vulnerability.

James, the male lead and a combination of hot jock and computer genius was the second narrator. At risk of being pulled out of boarding school, James and Edelweiss agree to a fake relationship – for James, this would help prove that he is serious about his studies and for Edelweiss, this would allow her to be harassed by guys and adjust to her new school. James was a fairly rounded character, his history was quite difficult to piece together – there were so many twists and revaluations – and despite his flirtatious and cocky exterior, there were vulnerabilities he had.

The relationship between James and Edelweiss was pretty refreshing; it progressed from a genuine friendship into romantic feelings. The only real issue between them was communication, which became quite tedious for me as a reader. When they both realised they were falling for each other, neither can actually build the courage to have the confidence to bring it up. This became somewhat infuriating as there was no real conflict arising until the end, the silence and their inner monologues of the “what ifs” held them back – hopefully their communication will improve in the sequel. What I truly loved about this relationship was that it was interracial and that was not an issue whatsoever – Edelweiss was white and James was black (mixed-raced to be exact) and their racial differences was never brought up or a source of conflict. I definitely feel like more authors should take note, writing a cast of racially diverse cast and making them more complex and humane needs to be seen more in YA literature.

Another aspect of this novel that stuck out for me was how brilliantly written the female characters were – specifically Edelweiss and her group of friends. It was energising to read a book with a group of young women who were genuine friends, had their own issues and still had each other’s backs. Edelweiss was not a lone woman surrounded by male admirers and cynical of other girls around her – which sadly, this is seen a lot within NA and YA literature – and instead we see her throughout the novel with three good friends, enjoying their company and lifting each other up when they’re down. Even Emma (who is the antagonist and bitter ex-girlfriend of James) feels like a character that could be further developed, originally introduced as a bitchy mean girl, she has a much darker vindictive side – I am hoping that Charles develops Emma’s character further to see different sides of her.

Overall, this was a good read and was very well developed with a rich cast of characters and a decent narrative.

[Pragati · Rating 3 out of 5]

For full review - It Had To Be You on The Inked In Book Blog

*Review copy received from publisher in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts are entirely my own and in no way biased.*

It Had To Be You is a cute contemporary romance featuring Edelweiss and James. Edel, who is home schooled, wants to experience high school before she goes off to college. So, her parents enroll her into this one boarding school. She meets James, who is, of course, the most popular boy in school and they quickly start a fake relationship so that they can both find advantage out of it.

The book is full of cliches - from the naive, new girl in school to the popular boy and their fake relationship turning to a real one to the bitchy ex that the boy has. This book has it all and then some.

What I really liked about this is that it was a quick read. I was done in some two hours and that's great for my TBR! I like that the characters, though cliche, were endearing and I couldn't help but like them and their story. Of course, they do stupid stuff, but hey! They're teenagers. As a whole though, Edel and James both seem wise beyond their ages. Their relationship, though, was really cute and I found myself rooting for them from the beginning. They're so cute and adorable together and their relationship is healthy. I like it.

I like how James isn't a bad boy, bad boy, but just a boy who made some bad decisions, as people his age tend to do. He's scared of horror movies and he's a literature nerd! So, there. I love that.

I also loved how this book has diversity. So, bonus points for that!

What I didn't like was all the lack of communication in the book. Like, so much of the conflict could have easily been resolved if people just TALKED TO EACH OTHER. Plus, the bitchy ex was a little too bitchy and I am not okay with it. Like, girl, let go. You do not need to do all this shit just to prove a point. You're good just the way you are!

Also, too much drama!

All in all, an okay read that I enjoyed! It was definitely better than I expected, but could have been made better in a few more aspects!

[Kristine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Original review can be found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...

** I received an advanced readers copy from Entangled Teen in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!**

Edelweiss was a Diplomat's daughter who travelled with her family and was homes schooled. She convinced her parents to let her have a normal high school experience in order to prepare herself for college. It was at Brokemore Academy that she bumped (literally) into James, the son of a family friend and parent designated shower of the ropes. James was always playing pranks and getting into trouble to the point that his father was going to pull him from the school. Together the two of them came up with a plan to pretend that they were dating to help both of them accomplish what they wanted. As is the norm for these fake relationship stories it wasn't hard to see where it was heading.

This was a super cute and somewhat cheesy story that I'm sure that the youngest of the YA genre readers will gobble up. For the older YA readers like myself, I couldn't help but see some of the flaws in the story. Edelweiss wanted a typical high school experience but was Brokemore a typical high school? Lets see... a prestigious live in school filled with mostly rich students living in dorms. It certainly wasn't my high school experience or most people I know so I did struggle with that a bit. Also, for someone as well travelled as Edelweiss she was overly naive in the beginning. Both Edelweiss and James came across as younger than they were.

The story was pretty predictable but it still managed to deliver all of the things that make these fake relationship stories work. I liked the chemistry between the two and thought that they were cute together. It could easily be read in one sitting and although the cheese factor was quite high, it still managed to put a smile on my face. I liked the group of kids that were enrolled at the school and could envision future stories where they will get the lead. In fact, I have a feeling that this is a series that will get better as it goes.

I look forward to what Brokemore Academy has to offer next!

[Jae Mod · Rating 4 out of 5]

** ARC provided by author in exchange for honest review **

It Had To Be You by Lizzy Charles is a young adult, fake boyfriend/girlfriend high school romance that is sweet with a little bit of drama. James and Edelweiss both need each other to survive a year at the Academy but got so much more than they were expecting.

Edelweiss, daughter of an Ambassador is a junior who has been homeschooled her whole life. In preparation for college her mom agrees to enroll her in Brockmore Academy a co-ed boarding school. Edelweiss has compiled a list of 62 items to do before college such as fail at something and pick myself up, be a math tutor, and get a boyfriend and break up with him. Turns out high school is not what Edelweiss expected so she proposes a plan to James to be her fake boyfriend so they can help each and help her cross some items off her list. James and Edelweiss's father are old friends so they had some common ground. James is a senior, football star, prankster and all the girls in the Academy are lining up to date him. James spent the summer proving he has changed but when he gets in trouble with his dad he immediately says he’s dating Edelweiss. Of course everything becomes complicated.

Will lines be blurred, that it becomes difficult to tell what’s fake and real?
Who will fall in love first?

Ms. Charles crafted a well written young adult book that was sweet and had a good amount high school drama. The characters had so many lies throughout the story that they came crashing down on them as fast as they started. Ms. Charles had a lot of story lines that seemed separate at the time but easily flowed together, connecting all the story lines. Edelweiss and James were fighting to prove something to themselves and their parents, which had them facing many obstacles. The story was enjoyable. Edelweiss and James where both stubborn that had me asking a lot of questions but when they reached there HFN of story it was all worth it.


4 stars

[Maddy Martinelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would first like to thank Chapter by Chapter Blog Tours for including me in the blog tour for this novel and providing me with a copy of the novel in exchange for a review! Every book that I have read that has been published by Entangled Teen Crush has been so good and so cute, and this book was no exception! I really enjoyed reading about Edel and James, and thought that their story was super adorable and interesting - the prospect of fake relationships is always a plot that ends very interesting. This book was so cute, and I loved how the relationship between Edel and James was able to grow despite what others thought of them. The entire plot twist that I did not see coming was crazy, and I genuinely did not think that they would be able to resolve the problem before it got out of hand. Emma was a great character to hate, especially with what she did to Edel (and her hair!). I am so glad that everything worked out in the end, I will definitely be reading more of Lizzy Charles' books! I highly recommend this to fans of a good contemporary novel and Anna and the French Kiss. You can see the full blog stop on my blog, linked below! There is also a GIVEAWAY!

** You can find all of my reviews here, on my Goodreads page; add me as a friend!, as well as on my blog: www.thepaperworlds.blogspot.com and can find me on Instagram and Twitter as @thepaperworlds and on my Tumblr: www.thepaperworlds.tumblr.com **

[Rose Froehle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved all of Lizzy Charles’ previous books but there was something special and refreshing about “It Had to Be You”. From the very beginning, I was drawn in by James’s charm and confidence and I related to Edelweiss’s innocence and optimism about her unfamiliar environment. Lizzy added so many interesting elements and details about each of the characters that kept me turning page after page. You get to see two sides to James, the popular guy that always keeps his cool in front of his friends as well as the protective guy who just wants to make his dad proud. We also get to see that there are multiple sides to Edelweiss. She has gained so much life experience and maturity from moving around the world yet the idea of boys, exams, and high school are intimidatingly foreign to her. We get to see both of them figure out who they are as individuals and grow in their relationships with each other, their friends, and their parents. I also really appreciate that Lizzy writes incredibly likable, relatable, and realistic characters. It is so pleasant to read a book that balances just the right amount of angst and depth with the right amount of tenderness and humor. I would LOVE to read more of Edelweiss’s friends and I hope this book continues as a series! This is a truly delightful and swoon-worthy read that left me smiling all day and made me want to revisit the magic of Lizzy Charles’ previous works! FIVE STARS!!!!

[Mandy Reads Indie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edel wants the whole high school experience after being home schooled all her life. James just wants to make it to graduation without his father ripping him out of school for another prank gone wrong. Together they team up to help the other out. What neither expected was for feelings to develop and blur the lines between fictitious and reality. Will they be able to pull this relationship off? Or will one of them be sent packing?

I absolutely love reading books that revolve around a fake something or another. Especially fake boyfriend/girlfriend. There is so much good that could come from this circumstance and so much that could go wrong with it as well. Charles did a great job playing on all the wrongs and rights that seemed to explode from such a little white lie. I happily devoured every ounce of this read. I couldn’t get enough.

There were some parts concerning a few characters and how they all tie together that seemed too convenient for the plot, almost like the author was reaching in those areas to make it work. I sort of wished the author had left it out because it made the story come off as unbelievable. At least to me. That seemed to be my only fault with the book.

IT HAD TO BE YOU was such a cute, quick read that held my attention the whole time. I would love to see if there would be more stories to emerge from some of the other cast of characters. 4 Stars!

[Michele Cisneros · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review is based on an ARC I received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts on this book are my own.

I tend to love stories about people who are pretending to be a couple for some reason actually end up falling for each other but I have to admit that this story wasn’t exactly my favorite. It just all felt a little flat. A lot of the characters fit into clichés. Popular guy who is also the class joker who needs a girlfriend to show that he is mature. The innocent and beautiful new girl. The mean ex who will bully anyone who her ex-flame is seen with. And the I felt like Edelweiss was a little more naïve than she should have been, it kind of reminded me of the movie Mean Girls in a way. Also I just wanted to yell at them that they should just talk to each other…if they were really getting that close they should have felt comfortable enough talking about their feelings, although I understand why the fear of being shutdown would be there. The pros of this book, I really enjoyed some of the little twists the author had thrown in there. I also loved the dual POV as I love hearing romance stories from the guy’s perspective sometimes and not just always from the girls. That being said I will most likely read the next book in this series as I am interested in getting to know some of their friends even better.

[Gill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a charming story, it was the perfect mix of light-hearted humour and sweet romance.
Edel and James were both really charismatic and loveable, Edel took longer to warm up to because on first impressions I was convinced I was going to hate her. She seemed like a spoiled rich kid but as the story progressed, her character developed and we got to see other sides to her. The personalities of Edel & James matched either other so perfectly, her weaknesses were his strengths and vice versa. I shipped them for the moment they met, seeing how supportive and understanding they were of each other and watching their relationship play out was tooth-achingly adorable.
I loved that the author went against all the cliches - the quiet nerdy girl was actually a force to be reckoned with, the bad boy wasn’t afraid to be vulnerable and share his feelings. Also, one of the most refreshing things about this story was that slut shaming was actually called out and criticised. More books need to follow suit on that one.
The story takes a turn about half way through that I wasn’t really expecting and I’m not sure I totally enjoyed but by then end I was completely engrossed again.
Overall it was a captivating, pleasant little story that managed to stay entertaining all the way through. I hadn’t read a Lizzy Charles book before but I’ll definitely be back for more in future.

[Hayli · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received this book as an arc from NetGalley and all thoughts are my own!*

I actually really liked this book. The premise is really cute and the two main characters, James and Edelweiss, were so cute together. Plus, I just love the fake dating trope. It's my favorite. (And I feel like it made it all the more interesting that it was set at a boarding school.) This book was so cute and fluffy and would be a great short read for anybody who wants a cute little romance.

Though, the characters were pretty trope-y. James is a fantastic football player, master prankster, super popular, and a total hit with the ladies. Only to find out that he has some flaws and he has really good grades that only makes him even more appealing in Edel's eyes. Now, Edelweiss, she's the new girl. She could be considered as "not like the other girls" because of how she grew up and how she traveled the world with her parents all of her life. And, of course, she is super pretty and smart too. So, if those kinds of "typical" characters bother you, you may not want to read this book. I personally don't mind tropes so I really enjoyed this book regardless.

I would definitely recommend this book! :)

[Casey Bloom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d firstly like to thank Entangled TEEN for allowing me to receive this e-book arc of It Had To Be You via Netgalley to read and review.

It Had to be You was an adorable and super quick read. It was one of those stories that just came to life as I was reading and one I could easily picture being a super cute on-screen rom-com…who do I have to beg to make that happen?!

One of my absolute favourite YA tropes is the “fake to real relationship trope.” I loved how their relationship developed over time. From a fake relationship to appease his military father (who is very close with Edel’s parents), into a genuine relationship. The story is full of other typical YA cliches and tropes that I’m a sucker for and found It Had To Be You to be an extremely fun and easy read, perfect for a lazy Sunday.

The only negative I have was that at some points, I found myself groaning at both Edel and James because they got themselves into situations that could have easily been avoided if they just communicated with each other and those around them…sighhh.

I definitely recommend this charming read if you’re in the mood for a sweet YA romance thats full of humour, drama and many adorable, swoon worthy moments!