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The Me I Meant to Be: A Steamy Teen Romance About Falling for Your Best Friend's Ex
Girl Code: Never date a friend’s ex.
Willa Evans has no intention of breaking the code. So what if she’s always secretly loved her next-door neighbor Zach? As her best friend’s boyfriend, he was always off-limits and it needs to stay that way, even though they just broke up. Even though every time she turns around he’s there, tempting her…
No keeping secrets from your bestie.
Flor Hidalgo has a lot on her plate: her breakup with Zach, her dad’s new dating life, and her struggling grades. So why can’t she stop thinking about her hot, know-it-all tutor? At least she’s got Willa, her constant in the chaos.
Breaking the code breaks friendships.
Two friends find themselves tempted by love that defies the rules in this steamy romance perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Simone Elkeles.
Willa Evans has no intention of breaking the code. So what if she’s always secretly loved her next-door neighbor Zach? As her best friend’s boyfriend, he was always off-limits and it needs to stay that way, even though they just broke up. Even though every time she turns around he’s there, tempting her…
No keeping secrets from your bestie.
Flor Hidalgo has a lot on her plate: her breakup with Zach, her dad’s new dating life, and her struggling grades. So why can’t she stop thinking about her hot, know-it-all tutor? At least she’s got Willa, her constant in the chaos.
Breaking the code breaks friendships.
Two friends find themselves tempted by love that defies the rules in this steamy romance perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Simone Elkeles.
305 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2019
49 people are currently reading
1933 people want to read
About the author
Sophie Jordan
83 books8,996 followersPseudonym:
Sharie Kohler
Sophie Jordan took her adolescent daydreaming one step further and penned her first historical romance in the back of her high school Spanish class. This passion led her to pursue a degree in English and History.
A brief stint in law school taught her that case law was not nearly as interesting as literature - teaching English seemed the natural recourse. After several years teaching high school students to love Antigone, Sophie resigned with the birth of her first child and decided it was time to pursue the long-held dream of writing.
In less than three years, her first book, Once Upon A Wedding Night, a 2006 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Nominee for Best First Historical, hit book shelves. Her second novel, Too Wicked To Tame, released in March 2007 with a bang, landing on the USA Today Bestseller's List.
Sharie Kohler
Sophie Jordan took her adolescent daydreaming one step further and penned her first historical romance in the back of her high school Spanish class. This passion led her to pursue a degree in English and History.
A brief stint in law school taught her that case law was not nearly as interesting as literature - teaching English seemed the natural recourse. After several years teaching high school students to love Antigone, Sophie resigned with the birth of her first child and decided it was time to pursue the long-held dream of writing.
In less than three years, her first book, Once Upon A Wedding Night, a 2006 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Nominee for Best First Historical, hit book shelves. Her second novel, Too Wicked To Tame, released in March 2007 with a bang, landing on the USA Today Bestseller's List.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 211 reviews
July 3, 2022
This was a cute YA book. Definitely geared towards teens with the writing style and the premise itself. However, it brought me back to high school. I enjoyed this one. I think Willa was my absolute favorite character. She was stuck in between what she wanted and doing what she felt she needed to do as a friend. Loved the character development and how the ending played out. Was cute with funny moments!
December 17, 2018
I requested this one so long ago and now that it’s time to read it, I’m not sure why I wanted to read it.
Willa and Flor were not the best MCs for me. There was a lot of potential, but I didn’t care for either of their inner monologues and struggled to care for their story line. I didn’t quite see why they were friends. As for the boys, they were sort of lackluster.
Plot wise, it was fairly dramatic. There are a lot of things going on and some issues felt glossed over {like the sister clearly being depressed.} It felt like a much younger book than the stated ages of the characters and I just never really settled into it.
Overall, it was sort of like a train wreck I couldn’t look away from. Something kept me reading, but I couldn’t tell you what it was.
**Huge thanks to HMH Books FYR for providing the arc free of charge**
Willa and Flor were not the best MCs for me. There was a lot of potential, but I didn’t care for either of their inner monologues and struggled to care for their story line. I didn’t quite see why they were friends. As for the boys, they were sort of lackluster.
Plot wise, it was fairly dramatic. There are a lot of things going on and some issues felt glossed over {like the sister clearly being depressed.} It felt like a much younger book than the stated ages of the characters and I just never really settled into it.
Overall, it was sort of like a train wreck I couldn’t look away from. Something kept me reading, but I couldn’t tell you what it was.
**Huge thanks to HMH Books FYR for providing the arc free of charge**
December 10, 2018
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Oh! Matters of the heart can be so complicated, especially when your heart is being torn in two. Willa's two best friends had dated, unsuccessfully, and though, in her mind, she knew she shouldn't want more with Zach, her heart wouldn't listen.
• Pro: This story kept me in its clutches! I had to keep reading, because I was just too invested in the outcome to stop.
• Pro: Jordan created some amazing chemistry between Flor & Grayson and Willa & Zach. There was no doubt in my mind that these two couples should happen, and I was shipping them both immediately.
• Pro: The heroes were both fabulous, but Zach really, really won my heart. The whole boy-next-door-bestie-to-more thing was totally working for me. At first, I just thought he was just a really smooth talker, but then I realized how he was simply speaking openly and honestly from his heart. I loved the way he put it all out there. There were swoons.
• Con: Although I was not disappointed in the ending, I would have liked a little more time dedicated to that resolution.
• Pro: Flor and Willa each had some family issues they were dealing with, but Flor's really broke my heart. I wanted to just go and mom hard on her, because her parents were the actual worst. The fact that I cared so much for her can be attributed to how well Jordan crafted these characters.
• Pro: It may not have been under the best circumstances, but I sort of cheered when Willa finally stopped pretending and started being honest. She never wanted to make waves or cause any drama, and by avoiding these things, she kind robbed herself of some happiness. It was nice to see her go and grab something for herself, while still considering how it affected those around her. I also liked her realizing that she wasn't inferior to Flor, that she was desirable and worthy of attention.
• Pro: Though Willa and Flor's friendship was tested by all the secrets they were keeping, I never doubted their love for one another, and I kept hoping they each could have everything they wanted without having to sacrifice each other.
Overall: A fun twofer romance, which had me flipping the pages and grinning from ear-to-ear.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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Oh! Matters of the heart can be so complicated, especially when your heart is being torn in two. Willa's two best friends had dated, unsuccessfully, and though, in her mind, she knew she shouldn't want more with Zach, her heart wouldn't listen.
• Pro: This story kept me in its clutches! I had to keep reading, because I was just too invested in the outcome to stop.
• Pro: Jordan created some amazing chemistry between Flor & Grayson and Willa & Zach. There was no doubt in my mind that these two couples should happen, and I was shipping them both immediately.
• Pro: The heroes were both fabulous, but Zach really, really won my heart. The whole boy-next-door-bestie-to-more thing was totally working for me. At first, I just thought he was just a really smooth talker, but then I realized how he was simply speaking openly and honestly from his heart. I loved the way he put it all out there. There were swoons.
• Con: Although I was not disappointed in the ending, I would have liked a little more time dedicated to that resolution.
• Pro: Flor and Willa each had some family issues they were dealing with, but Flor's really broke my heart. I wanted to just go and mom hard on her, because her parents were the actual worst. The fact that I cared so much for her can be attributed to how well Jordan crafted these characters.
• Pro: It may not have been under the best circumstances, but I sort of cheered when Willa finally stopped pretending and started being honest. She never wanted to make waves or cause any drama, and by avoiding these things, she kind robbed herself of some happiness. It was nice to see her go and grab something for herself, while still considering how it affected those around her. I also liked her realizing that she wasn't inferior to Flor, that she was desirable and worthy of attention.
• Pro: Though Willa and Flor's friendship was tested by all the secrets they were keeping, I never doubted their love for one another, and I kept hoping they each could have everything they wanted without having to sacrifice each other.
Overall: A fun twofer romance, which had me flipping the pages and grinning from ear-to-ear.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
February 4, 2021
all i gotta say abt this book is:
flor+grayson > willa+zach
sorry it had to be said. giving it 3 stars cause the ending was cute but rushed.
flor+grayson > willa+zach
sorry it had to be said. giving it 3 stars cause the ending was cute but rushed.
January 2, 2019
Original review on Julalicious Book Paradise
I didn’t know what to expect when I first started reading this book. I just knew that it was Sophie Jordan writing it and I needed to read it. So I started the story without any expectations really and I was sucked into this book fast.
Willa and Flor’s friendship is your typical best friends’ relationship you can imagine; they do a lot together, tell each other almost anything and have each other’s back no matter what. Everything we are taught that best friends should do.
So when Flor decides to do the Girl Code book after feeling the betrayal from another friend, Willa agrees though she isn’t so keen on the idea, but she knows her friend needs it. So from there, the story unravels where more codes are added and their friendship is tested in ways they didn’t expect.
Willa has always seemed to put everyone’s needs in front of hers and so often, she hides her own desires so the others get what they want. Flor’s ex-boyfriend is part of the ones she hides, but when her friendship with him starts to change, she is more confused about what to do even though the temptation is harder to resist. Zach knows what he wants and that’s Willa and he’s done hiding it, but Willa just can’t seem to let herself accept that it could be true; scared mostly what that betrayal could cost her.
Flor’s life isn’t as most expects. The image she projects to the world is different from what actually is, but she likes it like that. Even her friends don’t know everything so it becomes a surprise to her when she opens up to her tutor, a guy she had never really spoken to before. From there, her life is starting to head towards something she isn’t sure she’s ready to accept and she will fight to keep some kind of control about what she believes she wants which is whatever gives her a sense of comfort.
This book tests the friendship between the two girls, but it’s also about how both girls are growing and are taken charge of what they actually want and need rather than just going for what people expects from them. The outcome isn’t always what you expect and the book is the proof of it.
I really loved the way this book was written in a way that not everything is black or white because not every situation is the same. It’s something that both girls will go through and will have to decide what they want to do about these.
I won’t lie that I would have wanted a bit more into the book because I felt like there were parts in the end that went to quickly and I feel like we could have gotten a little bit more of insight into the aftermath of everything that went down.
But overall, this was just an awesome read and I recommend it to everyone who loves a good YA read.
I was given an advanced copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.
I didn’t know what to expect when I first started reading this book. I just knew that it was Sophie Jordan writing it and I needed to read it. So I started the story without any expectations really and I was sucked into this book fast.
Willa and Flor’s friendship is your typical best friends’ relationship you can imagine; they do a lot together, tell each other almost anything and have each other’s back no matter what. Everything we are taught that best friends should do.
So when Flor decides to do the Girl Code book after feeling the betrayal from another friend, Willa agrees though she isn’t so keen on the idea, but she knows her friend needs it. So from there, the story unravels where more codes are added and their friendship is tested in ways they didn’t expect.
Willa has always seemed to put everyone’s needs in front of hers and so often, she hides her own desires so the others get what they want. Flor’s ex-boyfriend is part of the ones she hides, but when her friendship with him starts to change, she is more confused about what to do even though the temptation is harder to resist. Zach knows what he wants and that’s Willa and he’s done hiding it, but Willa just can’t seem to let herself accept that it could be true; scared mostly what that betrayal could cost her.
Flor’s life isn’t as most expects. The image she projects to the world is different from what actually is, but she likes it like that. Even her friends don’t know everything so it becomes a surprise to her when she opens up to her tutor, a guy she had never really spoken to before. From there, her life is starting to head towards something she isn’t sure she’s ready to accept and she will fight to keep some kind of control about what she believes she wants which is whatever gives her a sense of comfort.
This book tests the friendship between the two girls, but it’s also about how both girls are growing and are taken charge of what they actually want and need rather than just going for what people expects from them. The outcome isn’t always what you expect and the book is the proof of it.
I really loved the way this book was written in a way that not everything is black or white because not every situation is the same. It’s something that both girls will go through and will have to decide what they want to do about these.
I won’t lie that I would have wanted a bit more into the book because I felt like there were parts in the end that went to quickly and I feel like we could have gotten a little bit more of insight into the aftermath of everything that went down.
But overall, this was just an awesome read and I recommend it to everyone who loves a good YA read.
I was given an advanced copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.
December 16, 2018
This is not as engaging as I hoped but I am going to press on for the good of my GR 2018 goal....
UPDATE: Finally finished this. It had some good aspects but others I wasn't so crazy about. I liked Flor's story a lot - all the drama and tension was in her parts of the story. Willa and Zach were sort of blah (I was more interested in Willa's sister) and I didn't get Zach's appeal at all.
This story was supposed to be about female friendship and "the girl code" but since most of the book is about each of the girls hanging out with a guy, not each other, that part didn't ring that true to me.
When I got to the part about I almost gave up. I didn't see that coming but only because it was so outlandish. That was (an equally ridiculous) plot on season four of the O.C. and seemed to belong in a completely different book.
And after all that breaking of the girl code and stepmother drama and possible friend drama and poor Grayson ... the ending felt pretty unfinished.
Read more of my reviews on JenRyland.com! Check out my Bookstagram! Or check out my Jen In Ten reviews on Youtube - get the lowdown on current books in 10-30 seconds!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
UPDATE: Finally finished this. It had some good aspects but others I wasn't so crazy about. I liked Flor's story a lot - all the drama and tension was in her parts of the story. Willa and Zach were sort of blah (I was more interested in Willa's sister) and I didn't get Zach's appeal at all.
This story was supposed to be about female friendship and "the girl code" but since most of the book is about each of the girls hanging out with a guy, not each other, that part didn't ring that true to me.
When I got to the part about I almost gave up. I didn't see that coming but only because it was so outlandish. That was (an equally ridiculous) plot on season four of the O.C. and seemed to belong in a completely different book.
And after all that breaking of the girl code and stepmother drama and possible friend drama and poor Grayson ... the ending felt pretty unfinished.
Read more of my reviews on JenRyland.com! Check out my Bookstagram! Or check out my Jen In Ten reviews on Youtube - get the lowdown on current books in 10-30 seconds!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
October 31, 2018
This needed a lot more pages to reach truly satisfying conclusions for all the character relationships. Dana was not very kind or loving toward Flor and was obviously manipulating Flor's dad, but one brief conversation and Flor thinks Dana's not so bad? Willa's sister Chloe has serious issues (depression and possibly addiction), but she has one conversation with Willa and makes one trip to the grocery store and now everything's going to be okay? I'm not sure if this book was supposed to be about the relationship between Willa and Flor or Willa and Zach or Flor and Grayson because they all felt a little perfunctory and superficial. There were consequences of certain actions that were smoothed over way too easily and quickly. This has the bones of a book that would be enjoyed by fans of Sarah Dessen or Stephanie Perkins or Huntley Fitzpatrick, but none of the depth.
January 18, 2019
3.5 Stars
The Me I Meant to Be read like two love stories with some crossovers here and there. I liked that the book touched on a lot of possible teen issues but I wish they were more deeply explored.
The book wasn't so much about friendship but seeing two different relationships play out. From a romance point of view I really enjoyed The Me I Meant to Be. But from a friendship viewpoint the story left a lot to be desired.
Willa and Flor are best friends but they hardly had any scenes together. The ones where they were together barely lasted a few pages. Their physical interactions were quite minimal. Even though they were constantly on each other's minds I felt like their bff status was more in proclamation than anything else. This made their ultimate confrontation lacking in conviction.
Having read Sophie Jordan's other works I knew she could write a tension-worthy romance. I got two in The Me I Meant to Be. Suppressed feelings and animosity made for some scandalicious and butterfly-inducing story. Both Willa and Zach and Flor and Grayson were every bit as swoony as I could ask for. I love how the two relationships played out.
The Girl Codes at the beginning of each chapter were sensible however, these rules weren't very present in the story itself. I can tell they related to what was happening in the chapters but I wish they were better expanded on in the actual story.
The Me I Meant to Be would also be a stronger book if the other issues in the story were more fully explored. I love that they were in the story but a lot of times they felt brushed over and even not resolved or too easily cleared up .
Despite my mixed feelings for some things in The Me I Meant to Be I really liked the romances. The story is a quick one and not too serious.
The Me I Meant to Be read like two love stories with some crossovers here and there. I liked that the book touched on a lot of possible teen issues but I wish they were more deeply explored.
The book wasn't so much about friendship but seeing two different relationships play out. From a romance point of view I really enjoyed The Me I Meant to Be. But from a friendship viewpoint the story left a lot to be desired.
Willa and Flor are best friends but they hardly had any scenes together. The ones where they were together barely lasted a few pages. Their physical interactions were quite minimal. Even though they were constantly on each other's minds I felt like their bff status was more in proclamation than anything else. This made their ultimate confrontation lacking in conviction.
Having read Sophie Jordan's other works I knew she could write a tension-worthy romance. I got two in The Me I Meant to Be. Suppressed feelings and animosity made for some scandalicious and butterfly-inducing story. Both Willa and Zach and Flor and Grayson were every bit as swoony as I could ask for. I love how the two relationships played out.
The Girl Codes at the beginning of each chapter were sensible however, these rules weren't very present in the story itself. I can tell they related to what was happening in the chapters but I wish they were better expanded on in the actual story.
The Me I Meant to Be would also be a stronger book if the other issues in the story were more fully explored. I love that they were in the story but a lot of times they felt brushed over and even not resolved or too easily cleared up .
Despite my mixed feelings for some things in The Me I Meant to Be I really liked the romances. The story is a quick one and not too serious.
April 28, 2022
Review to come!
August 19, 2018
This book was fun and cute to read. It is told in dual POV between two best friends, but I really preferred Flor's plot line. I liked Willa's family plot line, but her romantic one was annoying. I am not a huge fan the trope of best friends liking/dating the same guy and that is what Willa's plot revolves around. It was strange to me that Willa and Flor rarely hung out, for two people who are best friends it seemed odd. The ending felt off to me and is wrapped up in an odd way.
But, it was a cute and fun read. Especially Flor's plot line. I loved seeing her and Grayson's scenes. To be honest if the whole book was from her POV I might have liked it more.
*Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review*
But, it was a cute and fun read. Especially Flor's plot line. I loved seeing her and Grayson's scenes. To be honest if the whole book was from her POV I might have liked it more.
*Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review*
January 2, 2019
3.5/5
Sophie Jordan's books have this incredible addictive quality to them, so I'm always pulled towards her stories. I was in the mood for a dramatic type of contemporary YA when I stumbled upon The Me I Meant to Be. My interest was only heightened when I discovered the book is the story of two friends. As with Jordan's previous novels, this book was easy to dive into.
The book told the story of Flor and Willa, two best friends and the emotional upheaval they face in their senior year of high school. Flor and Zach used to be an item, only now they are broken up and Willa's feelings for him, that she had kept hidden for ages, were beginning to surface all over again. Willa, however, wants to stick by the girl code and not go after her best friend's ex, especially because the best friend wants Zach back. Obviously, that does not work out the way she wants to and things get even more muddled as she realizes that Zach might like her back too. On the other side of the story, Flor was dealing with some changes in her home with the introduction of her father's young new girlfriend just as she's trying to get over her breakup with Zach. The only positive in her life was the hot new secretive tutor helping her out, Grayson.
I thought both of the romances were enjoyable. Jordan writes great chemistry between her couples and that was very much prevalent here. I was engaged enough in both of their stories, though I'll admit that there were moments of incredulity here and there. What I thought was lacking here though was a thorough exploration of Willa and Flora's friendship. With all that was going in the girls' lives, the focus was more on all the individual issues and I thought more attention should have been given to them, their history and their present.
The Me I Meant to Be was a very compulsively readable novel and I recommend it if you're in the mood for something light, dramatic and has all the teenage angst.
Sophie Jordan's books have this incredible addictive quality to them, so I'm always pulled towards her stories. I was in the mood for a dramatic type of contemporary YA when I stumbled upon The Me I Meant to Be. My interest was only heightened when I discovered the book is the story of two friends. As with Jordan's previous novels, this book was easy to dive into.
The book told the story of Flor and Willa, two best friends and the emotional upheaval they face in their senior year of high school. Flor and Zach used to be an item, only now they are broken up and Willa's feelings for him, that she had kept hidden for ages, were beginning to surface all over again. Willa, however, wants to stick by the girl code and not go after her best friend's ex, especially because the best friend wants Zach back. Obviously, that does not work out the way she wants to and things get even more muddled as she realizes that Zach might like her back too. On the other side of the story, Flor was dealing with some changes in her home with the introduction of her father's young new girlfriend just as she's trying to get over her breakup with Zach. The only positive in her life was the hot new secretive tutor helping her out, Grayson.
I thought both of the romances were enjoyable. Jordan writes great chemistry between her couples and that was very much prevalent here. I was engaged enough in both of their stories, though I'll admit that there were moments of incredulity here and there. What I thought was lacking here though was a thorough exploration of Willa and Flora's friendship. With all that was going in the girls' lives, the focus was more on all the individual issues and I thought more attention should have been given to them, their history and their present.
The Me I Meant to Be was a very compulsively readable novel and I recommend it if you're in the mood for something light, dramatic and has all the teenage angst.
January 7, 2019
As soon as I heard about this book, I knew I had to read it. I have been a fan of the author, Sophie Jordan, for a long time, ever since I read her book, Uninvited. I've read several other books by her since then, but this was the first YA from her in awhile it seemed. While visiting the different publisher booths at ALA last summer, when I saw this one I immediately had to ask if they had a copy I could read. It was one of my unicorn ARCs that I was very happy to take home with me from New Orleans last June. I didn't get to it as soon as I'd hoped, before release date last week. But, I was lucky enough that when I did get to it, January 3rd, I had nothing else I had to do that day, and was able to basically just sit and read almost all day long. Which I did, and I finished it in one day. I could barely put it down to do anything else. The characters were perfect, so realistic in my opinion. And so much about the story itself. There was the usual slut-shaming that you see in real life, but what I liked is that the girls, well, Willa at least - especially, called people out about it. Something that needs to be done. But it wasn't all just about the romance. There were friendships to keep up with, both between the girls, Willa and Flor, and then also between Willa and Zach, Flor's ex, but one of Willa's best friends for longer than that. And it wasn't like their home lives were perfect. Flor had issues with her dad and his new girlfriend. Willa was dealing with her older sister who had moved home with a baby and major depression. Then there was a surprise about Flor's tutor towards the end that I didn't see coming. Some hints about his home life had played out on one of their study sessions, and it totally did not go where I was assuming it would go. A great, emotional read, highly recommended, and one I'll definitely be purchasing for my school library in the future.
December 21, 2019
Ukh, disappointing. I almost want to rate it a little lower now, it was just lacking. Lackluster. Almost boring. This is a book about the "girl code" and "friendship", and yet the two girls barely interact and don't seem to know anything about what the other girl is going through. Also, the girl code is ridiculous. These girls can be mean and bullies to other girls for no reason. It's seriously disappointing.
Also, I really wanted to like the whole Willa and Zach romance, but God was it an overkill. So dramatic. More physical than anything else, and jeez, what the hell is the appeal with this Zach guy? Am I missing something? Flor and Grayson definitely more believable. I found them adorable. I also found their budding romance more natural, but then there's the whole Fight Club thing, which was just...ridiculous. Ukh. I'm saying ridiculous a lot, but it just was.
There were other things that I found ridiculous too. Like Flor's dad and his girlfriend who is half his age. The way he was torn up about losing his wife, but was completely OK with neglecting his child and then asking her to move out of the house. The way Flor spends the entire book clashing with her dad's girlfriend, and suddenly it's all sorted out in like one paragraph at the end. It's just all a little weird.
I don't know. I really think I need to rate this lower now to match my review.
Also, I really wanted to like the whole Willa and Zach romance, but God was it an overkill. So dramatic. More physical than anything else, and jeez, what the hell is the appeal with this Zach guy? Am I missing something? Flor and Grayson definitely more believable. I found them adorable. I also found their budding romance more natural, but then there's the whole Fight Club thing, which was just...ridiculous. Ukh. I'm saying ridiculous a lot, but it just was.
There were other things that I found ridiculous too. Like Flor's dad and his girlfriend who is half his age. The way he was torn up about losing his wife, but was completely OK with neglecting his child and then asking her to move out of the house. The way Flor spends the entire book clashing with her dad's girlfriend, and suddenly it's all sorted out in like one paragraph at the end. It's just all a little weird.
I don't know. I really think I need to rate this lower now to match my review.
March 11, 2019
THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD. I'm normally meh about contemporaries, but this hit all the right feels. It reminded me of the contemporaries I discovered in middle and high school and gave me tummy tingles when the love interests came into play and Flor and Willa were all swoony. TUMMY TINGLES, GUYS. I almost never experience those while reading.
I just want more. I want to get more of the heat and intensity between Will and her love interest. I want to see Flor's love interest make her feel so good when her life is spiraling. Part of me loved how it ended, but again...I want more of these characters. They were so real. Their feelings were raw and open. The situations they entered were 100% plausible and, not going to lie, several of them caught me off guard and I audibly gasped. And that is another thing, I am rarely verbal as I read--I make expressions, but rarely any verbal exclamations. But reading this book? I was constantly saying comments, so much so that my fiance thought I was talking to him several times.
I love this book. Though I am sending my arc off to someone else for their enjoyment, I am going to buy a hardcover. Love this book.
If you liked The Kiss Collector by Wendy Higgins, The Me I Meant to Be is right up your alley!
I just want more. I want to get more of the heat and intensity between Will and her love interest. I want to see Flor's love interest make her feel so good when her life is spiraling. Part of me loved how it ended, but again...I want more of these characters. They were so real. Their feelings were raw and open. The situations they entered were 100% plausible and, not going to lie, several of them caught me off guard and I audibly gasped. And that is another thing, I am rarely verbal as I read--I make expressions, but rarely any verbal exclamations. But reading this book? I was constantly saying comments, so much so that my fiance thought I was talking to him several times.
I love this book. Though I am sending my arc off to someone else for their enjoyment, I am going to buy a hardcover. Love this book.
If you liked The Kiss Collector by Wendy Higgins, The Me I Meant to Be is right up your alley!
July 18, 2018
The Willa/Zach plot was very relatable and sympathetic. However, I found the Flor/Grayson stuff a little silly. His secret identity was ridiculous. Plus, Dana's villainy was over the top and the attempt near the end to rehabilitate her a little was too little too late. This was fine. I probably would've enjoyed it in middle school or early high school. There just wasn't much there.
I read an e-ARC through NetGalley.
I read an e-ARC through NetGalley.
November 9, 2018
loved reading this book. it was a page Turner for sure, and I just fell in love with the characters, I'm really hoping for a sequel. if you like romance and a little bit of drama you should pick it up.
January 14, 2019
4.5 stars
November 16, 2018
(3.5-3.75)
Fans of Jenny Han and Maurene Goo this is a novel for you. Romance, friendship, and family are all major aspects of this story. Nicely pieced together.
Fans of Jenny Han and Maurene Goo this is a novel for you. Romance, friendship, and family are all major aspects of this story. Nicely pieced together.
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May 7, 2020I found this on my library e catalogue and then checked it out. Mixed feelings.
January 1, 2019
So much more than a YA romance!
The Me I Meant to Be is the story of Willa and Flor navigating their senior year of high school while also dealing with real life, family, and love. The Girl Code edicts that head each chapter are so spot on and are what took this from being “just a YA romance” to a book that will resonate with every reader regardless of age or gender identification.
This story is very much the sum of its parts from the exploration of first and unexpected loves, to dealing with parental disappointments, to the illusion of perfection and having it all, to knowing when relationships are too precious to give up on or too toxic to hold onto.
Sophie Jordan’s voice is so resonate and fluid that regardless of the genre/sub-genre she’s writing in, you know it’s her and that you are going to get a story that makes you laugh, makes you want to cheer and cry alongside the characters, and makes you believe in love, whether it’s romantic love, friendship love, or familia love.
The Me I Meant to Be is the story of Willa and Flor navigating their senior year of high school while also dealing with real life, family, and love. The Girl Code edicts that head each chapter are so spot on and are what took this from being “just a YA romance” to a book that will resonate with every reader regardless of age or gender identification.
This story is very much the sum of its parts from the exploration of first and unexpected loves, to dealing with parental disappointments, to the illusion of perfection and having it all, to knowing when relationships are too precious to give up on or too toxic to hold onto.
Sophie Jordan’s voice is so resonate and fluid that regardless of the genre/sub-genre she’s writing in, you know it’s her and that you are going to get a story that makes you laugh, makes you want to cheer and cry alongside the characters, and makes you believe in love, whether it’s romantic love, friendship love, or familia love.
December 25, 2018
I got an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley next change for a review.
What first drew me to this book is the two love stories in one concept. I liked the idea that Willa had to struggle with realizing she had feelings for her best friend's ex boyfriend; and that Flor was struggling between wanting her tutor or wanting to get back together with her ex.
Willa felt relatable. She struggled with not just her feelings, but how her relationship was with her older sister, Chloe, after she (Chloe) returned from breaking up with her husband with a daughter she struggle to raise, and her mom while her dad worked away from the family. I did kind of feel towards the end that her revelation for her feelings for Zach (the ex) was a little rushed because the book was coming to an end. I would have rather seen her resolve things with her best friend first. And her ending chapter felt like it was taken from an early 2000s movie.
I kept wondering why Flor wanted to get back together with Zach. But I could understand and see her growing attraction to Grayson. He was the guy I liked more out of the two. He was a mystery that needed to be explored further, I feel. I did feel bad for Flor when it came to her relationship with her parents. Mom barely talks to her, and Dad's more involved in his new relationship with a woman closer to her age. I've had divorced parents most of my life, so I know the feeling.
All in all, I would have preferred to see more of Flor and Willa's relationship with each other. Still, I feel the book was a cute little love story.
What first drew me to this book is the two love stories in one concept. I liked the idea that Willa had to struggle with realizing she had feelings for her best friend's ex boyfriend; and that Flor was struggling between wanting her tutor or wanting to get back together with her ex.
Willa felt relatable. She struggled with not just her feelings, but how her relationship was with her older sister, Chloe, after she (Chloe) returned from breaking up with her husband with a daughter she struggle to raise, and her mom while her dad worked away from the family. I did kind of feel towards the end that her revelation for her feelings for Zach (the ex) was a little rushed because the book was coming to an end. I would have rather seen her resolve things with her best friend first. And her ending chapter felt like it was taken from an early 2000s movie.
I kept wondering why Flor wanted to get back together with Zach. But I could understand and see her growing attraction to Grayson. He was the guy I liked more out of the two. He was a mystery that needed to be explored further, I feel. I did feel bad for Flor when it came to her relationship with her parents. Mom barely talks to her, and Dad's more involved in his new relationship with a woman closer to her age. I've had divorced parents most of my life, so I know the feeling.
All in all, I would have preferred to see more of Flor and Willa's relationship with each other. Still, I feel the book was a cute little love story.
January 13, 2019
Flor and Willa have been best friends for ever and know everything about each other, or at least they think they do.
In love with her next door neighbour, Zach, Willa can’t reveal her feelings because he’s dated her best friend. Flor feels abandoned by her mother who barely talks to her and her father who’s got a new girlfriend. Failing school she gets a new tutor, Grayson, and...of course...he’s attractive and ends up helping her see a lot more about herself/her situation than she expected.
A realistic dynamic between the friends was presented, and though it was all quite apparent how it would go I was surprised this was targeted at middle-school readers.
In love with her next door neighbour, Zach, Willa can’t reveal her feelings because he’s dated her best friend. Flor feels abandoned by her mother who barely talks to her and her father who’s got a new girlfriend. Failing school she gets a new tutor, Grayson, and...of course...he’s attractive and ends up helping her see a lot more about herself/her situation than she expected.
A realistic dynamic between the friends was presented, and though it was all quite apparent how it would go I was surprised this was targeted at middle-school readers.
February 8, 2019
With all honesty, this was a really weird book. The switching perspectives really threw me off, and I think she could have made it work without Flor's POV. Grayson was not as great as Zach and the 4 stars are only for Willa and him (my humble opinion). I personally could not see how wonderful Flor and Willa's friendship was. The whole story made it seem like the story was about two girls from the same friendship circle rather than two best friends. Therefore, I was not really upset about the whole breaking of the girl code. Personally thought that Flor's character could have been better, but I guess her character played a crucial role in the book.
April 20, 2020
I was going to rate this a 3.5, but it started to grow on me the closer I got to the end.
Now, I will 100% say that if my *best* friend were to get with my ex it would crush me, but I understand from Willa’s POV too. She had liked him since she could remember, but she should’ve gone about it in the right way and just talk to Flor.
All in all, love the split POVs in this book and being able to see both of the girl’s standpoints. It was interesting to see the journeys of love both girls were on, especially when Flor found out about Grayson!
Now, I will 100% say that if my *best* friend were to get with my ex it would crush me, but I understand from Willa’s POV too. She had liked him since she could remember, but she should’ve gone about it in the right way and just talk to Flor.
All in all, love the split POVs in this book and being able to see both of the girl’s standpoints. It was interesting to see the journeys of love both girls were on, especially when Flor found out about Grayson!
December 22, 2018
The Me I Meant to Be by Sophie Jordan
Published by: HMH Teen
Pub Date: January 1, 2019
Rating: 4.5 Stars
One of the best YA contemporaries I read this year. I loved the struggles, friendships, romance and coming to realize what you really want and not settling. I only wish their had maybe been more of an epilogue.
Published by: HMH Teen
Pub Date: January 1, 2019
Rating: 4.5 Stars
One of the best YA contemporaries I read this year. I loved the struggles, friendships, romance and coming to realize what you really want and not settling. I only wish their had maybe been more of an epilogue.
September 11, 2019
I wasn't expecting this book to be anything out of the ordinary, but I ended up really enjoying it to the extent that I stayed up reading till 2am and am now shattered at work. The plot doesn't do a whole lot - it's just a case of meandering boyfriend/ex-boyfriend angst, but the characters were really great, especially Willa and Zach. I'd deffo recommend this one.
December 11, 2021
Oh dear, these girls go themselves into a right mess. Willa was in love with Zack, but couldn't actually be with him because he'd dated her best friend Flor, and girl code meant that she then couldn't be with him, even when he told her that he loved her. Then Flor was all annoyed that Zack was ignoring her, when she was having feelings for someone else 🤦 So glad I'm not in high school anymore.
January 2, 2019
Original review on Julalicious Book Paradise
I didn’t know what to expect when I first started reading this book. I just knew that it was Sophie Jordan writing it and I needed to read it. So I started the story without any expectations really and I was sucked into this book fast.
Willa and Flor’s friendship is your typical best friends’ relationship you can imagine; they do a lot together, tell each other almost anything and have each other’s back no matter what. Everything we are taught that best friends should do.
So when Flor decides to do the Girl Code book after feeling the betrayal from another friend, Willa agrees though she isn’t so keen on the idea, but she knows her friend needs it. So from there, the story unravels where more codes are added and their friendship is tested in ways they didn’t expect.
Willa has always seemed to put everyone’s needs in front of hers and so often, she hides her own desires so the others get what they want. Flor’s ex-boyfriend is part of the ones she hides, but when her friendship with him starts to change, she is more confused about what to do even though the temptation is harder to resist. Zach knows what he wants and that’s Willa and he’s done hiding it, but Willa just can’t seem to let herself accept that it could be true; scared mostly what that betrayal could cost her.
Flor’s life isn’t as most expects. The image she projects to the world is different from what actually is, but she likes it like that. Even her friends don’t know everything so it becomes a surprise to her when she opens up to her tutor, a guy she had never really spoken to before. From there, her life is starting to head towards something she isn’t sure she’s ready to accept and she will fight to keep some kind of control about what she believes she wants which is whatever gives her a sense of comfort.
This book tests the friendship between the two girls, but it’s also about how both girls are growing and are taken charge of what they actually want and need rather than just going for what people expects from them. The outcome isn’t always what you expect and the book is the proof of it.
I really loved the way this book was written in a way that not everything is black or white because not every situation is the same. It’s something that both girls will go through and will have to decide what they want to do about these.
I won’t lie that I would have wanted a bit more into the book because I felt like there were parts in the end that went to quickly and I feel like we could have gotten a little bit more of insight into the aftermath of everything that went down.
But overall, this was just an awesome read and I recommend it to everyone who loves a good YA read.
I was given an advanced copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.
I didn’t know what to expect when I first started reading this book. I just knew that it was Sophie Jordan writing it and I needed to read it. So I started the story without any expectations really and I was sucked into this book fast.
Willa and Flor’s friendship is your typical best friends’ relationship you can imagine; they do a lot together, tell each other almost anything and have each other’s back no matter what. Everything we are taught that best friends should do.
So when Flor decides to do the Girl Code book after feeling the betrayal from another friend, Willa agrees though she isn’t so keen on the idea, but she knows her friend needs it. So from there, the story unravels where more codes are added and their friendship is tested in ways they didn’t expect.
Willa has always seemed to put everyone’s needs in front of hers and so often, she hides her own desires so the others get what they want. Flor’s ex-boyfriend is part of the ones she hides, but when her friendship with him starts to change, she is more confused about what to do even though the temptation is harder to resist. Zach knows what he wants and that’s Willa and he’s done hiding it, but Willa just can’t seem to let herself accept that it could be true; scared mostly what that betrayal could cost her.
Flor’s life isn’t as most expects. The image she projects to the world is different from what actually is, but she likes it like that. Even her friends don’t know everything so it becomes a surprise to her when she opens up to her tutor, a guy she had never really spoken to before. From there, her life is starting to head towards something she isn’t sure she’s ready to accept and she will fight to keep some kind of control about what she believes she wants which is whatever gives her a sense of comfort.
This book tests the friendship between the two girls, but it’s also about how both girls are growing and are taken charge of what they actually want and need rather than just going for what people expects from them. The outcome isn’t always what you expect and the book is the proof of it.
I really loved the way this book was written in a way that not everything is black or white because not every situation is the same. It’s something that both girls will go through and will have to decide what they want to do about these.
I won’t lie that I would have wanted a bit more into the book because I felt like there were parts in the end that went to quickly and I feel like we could have gotten a little bit more of insight into the aftermath of everything that went down.
But overall, this was just an awesome read and I recommend it to everyone who loves a good YA read.
I was given an advanced copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.
January 19, 2019
Though this was an easy, one-sitting read, there was SO much either glossed over or completely ignored .
June 6, 2018
4.5 stars
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