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Meet Me at Midnight
They have a love-hate relationship with summer.
Sidney and Asher should have clicked. Two star swimmers forced to spend their summers on a lake together sounds like the perfect match. But it’s the same every year—in between cookouts and boat rides and family-imposed bonfires, Sidney and Asher spend the dog days of summer finding the ultimate ways to prank each other. And now, after their senior year, they’re determined to make it the most epic summer yet.
But their plans are thrown in sudden jeopardy when their feud causes their families to be kicked out of their beloved lake houses. Once in their new accommodations, Sidney expects the prank war to continue as usual. But then she gets a note—Meet me at midnight. And Asher has a proposition for her: join forces for one last summer of epic pranks, against a shared enemy—the woman who kicked them out.
Their truce should make things simpler, but six years of tormenting one another isn’t so easy to ignore. Kind of like the undeniable attraction growing between them.
Sidney and Asher should have clicked. Two star swimmers forced to spend their summers on a lake together sounds like the perfect match. But it’s the same every year—in between cookouts and boat rides and family-imposed bonfires, Sidney and Asher spend the dog days of summer finding the ultimate ways to prank each other. And now, after their senior year, they’re determined to make it the most epic summer yet.
But their plans are thrown in sudden jeopardy when their feud causes their families to be kicked out of their beloved lake houses. Once in their new accommodations, Sidney expects the prank war to continue as usual. But then she gets a note—Meet me at midnight. And Asher has a proposition for her: join forces for one last summer of epic pranks, against a shared enemy—the woman who kicked them out.
Their truce should make things simpler, but six years of tormenting one another isn’t so easy to ignore. Kind of like the undeniable attraction growing between them.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published April 7, 2020
About the author
Jessica Pennington
3 books355 followersJessica Pennington is no stranger to the combination of love and drama. She’s a wedding planner, after all. A writer since the age of ten—when she sought publication for her poem about a tree—Jessica likes the challenge of finding the humor in a sad situation or highlighting the awkwardness in a romantic one. She lives in a Michigan beach town suspiciously similar to the one in her novel, with her husband Josh and their son, Rory. She is the author of Love Songs & Other Lies, and When Summer Ends (April 2019). Find Jessica on twitter at @jessnpennington and IG @jessicapennington
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 741 reviews
April 6, 2020
how much do you hate me right now?
Meet Me at Midnight is the perfect enemies to lovers summer romance balanced with just the right amount of humour, banter and pranks.
We follow our main characters Asher and Sidney, star swimmers. Each year they and their families rent summer houses by the lake. But instead of spending their holidays relaxing- they take place in an intense prank war. From Kool-aid in the shower to mayonnaise covered floors, they are constantly on high alert, waiting for the other to making their move and planning their own retaliation. But it is now their last summer before going off to college, and they may have to team up against a common enemy.
Sparks will fly, but who knows if they will be the romantic kind or the explosive one?
This book was just what I needed. It was well written and easy to keep flipping the pages. I felt myself instantly connected to the characters, and really invested in their lives. Jessica Pennington did an excellent job at developing their relationship. By using dual POVs and a few flashbacks to their first summer, we get a clear understanding of not just one of the characters, but both. Their relationship progressed at just the right speed and there wasn't unnecessary drama added in to add roadblocks. Everything felt realistic and true to character.
"I was so scared of losing you, that I lost you anyway."
Admittedly, not much happens apart from a few pranks and parties but that didn't bother me personally. I was in it for the characters, which is just what I want from contemporary romances. The banter was A+ and the characters acted and spoke in a way that was true to their age (what a concept).
I loved the little details that made this story refreshing and new. The war board games they played at parties was really fun to read about, and I really related to Sidney in her strategic mind and competitive nature (I wonder why no one wants to play monopoly with me?) The entire time I read this I craved the chocolate chip pancakes Sidney would make Asher and wanted to go swim in a lake.
Something I really appreciated in this book was that Sidney was an athlete as well as Asher. A common trope of YA contemporary is that the boy is the athletic one, but in Meet Me at Midnight, they both were. As well as that, we see the actual training and work that goes into being a swimmer. From early morning swims to running, training and going to the gym.
Overall, if you are looking for a new hate to love summer romance- look no further!
Thanks to Tor Teen for the ARC
Release Date: 7 April 2020
Meet Me at Midnight is the perfect enemies to lovers summer romance balanced with just the right amount of humour, banter and pranks.
We follow our main characters Asher and Sidney, star swimmers. Each year they and their families rent summer houses by the lake. But instead of spending their holidays relaxing- they take place in an intense prank war. From Kool-aid in the shower to mayonnaise covered floors, they are constantly on high alert, waiting for the other to making their move and planning their own retaliation. But it is now their last summer before going off to college, and they may have to team up against a common enemy.
Sparks will fly, but who knows if they will be the romantic kind or the explosive one?
This book was just what I needed. It was well written and easy to keep flipping the pages. I felt myself instantly connected to the characters, and really invested in their lives. Jessica Pennington did an excellent job at developing their relationship. By using dual POVs and a few flashbacks to their first summer, we get a clear understanding of not just one of the characters, but both. Their relationship progressed at just the right speed and there wasn't unnecessary drama added in to add roadblocks. Everything felt realistic and true to character.
"I was so scared of losing you, that I lost you anyway."
Admittedly, not much happens apart from a few pranks and parties but that didn't bother me personally. I was in it for the characters, which is just what I want from contemporary romances. The banter was A+ and the characters acted and spoke in a way that was true to their age (what a concept).
I loved the little details that made this story refreshing and new. The war board games they played at parties was really fun to read about, and I really related to Sidney in her strategic mind and competitive nature (I wonder why no one wants to play monopoly with me?) The entire time I read this I craved the chocolate chip pancakes Sidney would make Asher and wanted to go swim in a lake.
Something I really appreciated in this book was that Sidney was an athlete as well as Asher. A common trope of YA contemporary is that the boy is the athletic one, but in Meet Me at Midnight, they both were. As well as that, we see the actual training and work that goes into being a swimmer. From early morning swims to running, training and going to the gym.
Overall, if you are looking for a new hate to love summer romance- look no further!
Thanks to Tor Teen for the ARC
Release Date: 7 April 2020
September 20, 2020
This is cute. Really cute. I like the characters, the banter and the prank. It is not immature like many YA romance novel. Sydney and Asher have that romance where they practically spending summer vacation together. Both of them are competitive.
Their relationship from competitor turned into romance is cute and PG. Their conversation is cute. I wish I have a friend like Asher.
Really good read.
4 stars
Their relationship from competitor turned into romance is cute and PG. Their conversation is cute. I wish I have a friend like Asher.
Really good read.
4 stars
Read
June 23, 2021I skimmed the majority of this book, so I am labeling it a DNF.
(Very slow going in the second half.)
Another Goodread's reviewer (Holly) pointed out Sidney's immaturity - very astute! A true light bulb moment. Until I read Holly's review, I couldn't figure out why I found Sidney's character so tiresome.
Check out Holly's review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Claude Bookzone's review is also spot on.
(Very slow going in the second half.)
Another Goodread's reviewer (Holly) pointed out Sidney's immaturity - very astute! A true light bulb moment. Until I read Holly's review, I couldn't figure out why I found Sidney's character so tiresome.
Check out Holly's review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Claude Bookzone's review is also spot on.
November 28, 2019
How much do I hate Jessica Pennington? Negative 1 million! This book is absolute perfection and I loved every second of it! Get this preordered my friends - you will love it!!
November 6, 2019
This book was a really cute and fun read! It’s like a young adult version of The Hating Game! Sidney and Asher’s families rented houses every summer next to each other at the lake. Sidney and Asher both lived to torment and tease each other. Some of their pranks were pretty hilarious. Their pranks and antics end up getting them kicked out of their houses and lands them in one house. They team up together to prank the woman who kicked them out of their houses and begin to realize their true feelings for each other. The relationship between Sidney and Asher felt real and was well developed. The flashbacks were placed well and helpful to understand how they came to the point they are at. I would like to read more from Jessica Pennington in the future!
October 19, 2020
Too cute! I am enjoying so much Asher and Sid's daily pranks on each other until Sid got carried away and cost her and Asher's family to vacate their cabins in 48 hours that they all ended up sharing the same vacation house.
He said, she said POV is always the best for light romance and in this one, the POVs are spot on. Asher's is very distinct from that of Sidney's even though they are both hilarious in their own ways.
Everything is a competition between them even the truce leading to "outnicing" each other which eventually led to dating each other which also of course turns into a competition. Lol.
It's sweet, cute, funny, a tad bit predictable but enjoyable just kind of like Kasie West's books.
He said, she said POV is always the best for light romance and in this one, the POVs are spot on. Asher's is very distinct from that of Sidney's even though they are both hilarious in their own ways.
Everything is a competition between them even the truce leading to "outnicing" each other which eventually led to dating each other which also of course turns into a competition. Lol.
It's sweet, cute, funny, a tad bit predictable but enjoyable just kind of like Kasie West's books.
January 22, 2020
I so badly wanted to love this! Sidney and Asher have spent every summer together since they were 12/13 years old, their parents are best friends. After that first summer though, they have been in a battle of wits. Each one trying to outdo the other with pranks. Sounds cute and fun, right? Well, the first half was but the 2nd half lost its luster for me. By that time, it became strictly a love story, which would have been fine but I wanted more pranks and intense moments between them. The second half dragged & I was kinda getting bored with Sidney’s immaturity. Asher? I loved him but he wasn’t enough to save the story.
*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 4, 2020
It started really well and I thought the dynamics between Sydney and Asher were going to make this quite a funny read. And it was. However, it could have done with a nip and tuck to cut away some of the unnecessary parts. It would have made the story more entertaining because there wouldn't have been the lulls that I ended up speed reading my way through. Witty banter and funny shenanigans.
April 4, 2020
**A free copy was given to me via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. **
This is one of those books that make you want to scream and shout “FINALLY!” after everything goes well in the end. The kind that puts you through sweet and anxious moments in equal measure. You know that there’s inevitable doom but you don’t mind because it is fun and sweet so you just enjoy the moment while it lasts.
To be honest, I really wasn’t into this at first. I tried picking this up last January but left it for another book. Eventually, I picked this up again because I had to read it. So if you decide to read this, I beg that you hold on because things will definitely get more interesting.
Sidney and Asher spend every summer together because their families are friends. But instead of being normal people and spending time together, they spend it planning elaborate pranks. The pranks were really funny until it went too far and they were forced to call a truce. And that was when things really picked up because even though they don’t see it, they are so much better together than they are apart.
What I really loved about this book is how this is not the usual summer contemporary romance read. I really expected this to be light and fluffy but it was not. Did I find it entertaining? Yes. Was it also frustrating? Big, big YES. Sidney is the girl who overthinks everything and imagines the worst-case scenario even when it’s only just the beginning. Put every skepticism and remove trust in a person and you get Sidney. On the other hand, Asher is the guy who is cool with anything but a coward when it comes to confessing his feelings. But still, he is the bravest between them both. He is so sweet and deserves the world. Together, they put me through ups and downs and I alternated between having butterflies in my stomach and wanting to smack one of them in the head. Nevertheless, I ended up enjoying the frustration and anxiety I felt throughout their rollercoaster summer romance.
Through everything that happened, what I learned is that sometimes, the things you are afraid of losing are the things that you lose by being afraid. If you want a summer read that’s equal parts funny, frustrating, and sweet, I recommend this book.
Review can also be found on my blog.
Find me: Blog | Twitter | Tumblr | Instagram | Spotify
This is one of those books that make you want to scream and shout “FINALLY!” after everything goes well in the end. The kind that puts you through sweet and anxious moments in equal measure. You know that there’s inevitable doom but you don’t mind because it is fun and sweet so you just enjoy the moment while it lasts.
To be honest, I really wasn’t into this at first. I tried picking this up last January but left it for another book. Eventually, I picked this up again because I had to read it. So if you decide to read this, I beg that you hold on because things will definitely get more interesting.
Sidney and Asher spend every summer together because their families are friends. But instead of being normal people and spending time together, they spend it planning elaborate pranks. The pranks were really funny until it went too far and they were forced to call a truce. And that was when things really picked up because even though they don’t see it, they are so much better together than they are apart.
What I really loved about this book is how this is not the usual summer contemporary romance read. I really expected this to be light and fluffy but it was not. Did I find it entertaining? Yes. Was it also frustrating? Big, big YES. Sidney is the girl who overthinks everything and imagines the worst-case scenario even when it’s only just the beginning. Put every skepticism and remove trust in a person and you get Sidney. On the other hand, Asher is the guy who is cool with anything but a coward when it comes to confessing his feelings. But still, he is the bravest between them both. He is so sweet and deserves the world. Together, they put me through ups and downs and I alternated between having butterflies in my stomach and wanting to smack one of them in the head. Nevertheless, I ended up enjoying the frustration and anxiety I felt throughout their rollercoaster summer romance.
"I was so scared of losing you, that I lost you anyway."
Through everything that happened, what I learned is that sometimes, the things you are afraid of losing are the things that you lose by being afraid. If you want a summer read that’s equal parts funny, frustrating, and sweet, I recommend this book.
Review can also be found on my blog.
Find me: Blog | Twitter | Tumblr | Instagram | Spotify
March 29, 2020
"How much do you hate me right now?"
A fun summer contemporary romance that is sure to have every reader smiling.
SUMMARY
For the past ten years, Asher and Sidney have spent their summers as neighbours at Lake House A and Lake House B, engaged in a brutal prank war. They spend their time constantly scheming and on high alert, prepared for the worst. When their pranks suddenly go too far, and their families are kicked out of their rentals, Asher and Sidney call a truce. They decide to team up and enact revenge on the person who threatened to ruin their summer. But now that Asher and Sidney are no longer enemies, feelings that have been silent start to make noise.
REVIEW
It has been a while since I have read a YA contemporary romance, and this was so much fun. I found myself smiling and chuckling softly at the banter and sweet-but-sassy comments. From the beginning, it was obvious that Asher and Sidney would end up together. I mean, it's a YA contemporary. However, I was genuinely pleased with the way Pennington went about their relationship development and the bumps in the road they had to deal with. The ending was not what I would've typically expected of a YA novel, and I loved it so much more.
Asher and Sidney are both swimmers who are attending the same college in the fall as D-2 swimmers. I loved this shared connection, especially as someone who grew up around swimming as a competitive sport. It was fun how swimming and training for their upcoming collegiate year helping them become friends and build a foundation for their romance.
I wouldn't call this an enemies-to-lovers romance, because from the beginning you can see that there is some underlying romantic tension between the two characters. I loved watching the romance develop and the way in which they started to reform their friendship and have a second shot at their relationship after having been "nemeses" for years. This was a fun teen romance, with two teens that make mistakes and act their age. I never once thought that these characters acted too immature or too mature for the age they were supposed to be (18). This is hard to come across in YA literature, and I commend Pennington for her accurate representation.
I can 100% see myself re-reading this novel during a summer. It has the sort of tone and story that would be fun to revisit while lounging in the sun. Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of YA contemporaries.
A fun summer contemporary romance that is sure to have every reader smiling.
SUMMARY
For the past ten years, Asher and Sidney have spent their summers as neighbours at Lake House A and Lake House B, engaged in a brutal prank war. They spend their time constantly scheming and on high alert, prepared for the worst. When their pranks suddenly go too far, and their families are kicked out of their rentals, Asher and Sidney call a truce. They decide to team up and enact revenge on the person who threatened to ruin their summer. But now that Asher and Sidney are no longer enemies, feelings that have been silent start to make noise.
REVIEW
It has been a while since I have read a YA contemporary romance, and this was so much fun. I found myself smiling and chuckling softly at the banter and sweet-but-sassy comments. From the beginning, it was obvious that Asher and Sidney would end up together. I mean, it's a YA contemporary. However, I was genuinely pleased with the way Pennington went about their relationship development and the bumps in the road they had to deal with. The ending was not what I would've typically expected of a YA novel, and I loved it so much more.
Asher and Sidney are both swimmers who are attending the same college in the fall as D-2 swimmers. I loved this shared connection, especially as someone who grew up around swimming as a competitive sport. It was fun how swimming and training for their upcoming collegiate year helping them become friends and build a foundation for their romance.
I wouldn't call this an enemies-to-lovers romance, because from the beginning you can see that there is some underlying romantic tension between the two characters. I loved watching the romance develop and the way in which they started to reform their friendship and have a second shot at their relationship after having been "nemeses" for years. This was a fun teen romance, with two teens that make mistakes and act their age. I never once thought that these characters acted too immature or too mature for the age they were supposed to be (18). This is hard to come across in YA literature, and I commend Pennington for her accurate representation.
I can 100% see myself re-reading this novel during a summer. It has the sort of tone and story that would be fun to revisit while lounging in the sun. Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of YA contemporaries.
September 25, 2020
This was the perfect contemporary summer romance with the perfect setting of being on a lake alongside a lifelong frenemy.
From the writing, to the characters and the setting, I loved everything about this novel from start to finish. I loved this story so much that I easily read the whole of this novel in one sitting while also not wanting the magic of it to end.
If you like Sarah Dessen, Morgan Matson, or Nicholas Sparks (albeit younger characters), I'd highly recommend checking this one out. This is a summer romance that will be hard to forget and I know now that I will be looking for more of this author's novels in the future.
***Thank you to the publisher for supplying me with an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***
From the writing, to the characters and the setting, I loved everything about this novel from start to finish. I loved this story so much that I easily read the whole of this novel in one sitting while also not wanting the magic of it to end.
If you like Sarah Dessen, Morgan Matson, or Nicholas Sparks (albeit younger characters), I'd highly recommend checking this one out. This is a summer romance that will be hard to forget and I know now that I will be looking for more of this author's novels in the future.
***Thank you to the publisher for supplying me with an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***
October 14, 2021
Potential spoilers:
Can someone please tell me why I left this book on my tbr for so damn long? I loved the relationship between Sydney and Asher, it was so cute. I love when childhood friends get together so much.
Can someone please tell me why I left this book on my tbr for so damn long? I loved the relationship between Sydney and Asher, it was so cute. I love when childhood friends get together so much.
January 29, 2020
DNF @52%
My first DNF of the year happened way quicker this year than last, but this book was way too slow and way too long for me to keep reading and be even remotely engaged. I thought this would be a light romance with some enemies to lovers vibes and a fun time would be had by all, but the story just dragged and somehow managed to feel repetative when not that much was happening. The characters were fine, but nothing really stood out about them to make me want to continue. Here's hoping this isn't a 2020 trend.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
My first DNF of the year happened way quicker this year than last, but this book was way too slow and way too long for me to keep reading and be even remotely engaged. I thought this would be a light romance with some enemies to lovers vibes and a fun time would be had by all, but the story just dragged and somehow managed to feel repetative when not that much was happening. The characters were fine, but nothing really stood out about them to make me want to continue. Here's hoping this isn't a 2020 trend.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
November 9, 2019
— review on my blog ✧
Sidney and Asher have one peaceful summer at age fourteen before a battle of pranks ensues for the next four years. Shampoo bottles are replaced with Kool-Aid, flip flops are glued to decks, and floors are covered in mayonnaise. However, after one too many childish pranks, Asher and Sidney’s families are asked to leave their rental home by the owner, and they all move into a new place. The two decide to call a ceasefire and team-up to pull pranks on the person who almost ruined their summer.
YA contemporary isn’t something I typically give high ratings to, but there’s so much to love about Meet Me At Midnight. It’s a rare contemporary released in the past couple of years that isn’t filled with terrible, irritating popular culture references or cringeworthy Gen-Z language. Other YA authors need to take notes from Jessica Pennington: you can write a cute romance without referencing “fangirling”, “fanfiction”, Harry Potter, or anything of that caliber. Furthermore, it has a specific trope you can’t help but love: two people pretending to hate each other to mask their feelings for each other, while an innocent bystander points out to the cynical one that the other obviously loves them. Sprinkle in some cute banter, sweet moments, and a few flashbacks, and it’s the perfect recipe for me.
There isn’t much to gush about since most of the plot and story revolved around the romance. Which I’m definitely not complaining about because Aiden and Sidney were adorable. I mean, having their first kiss under the stars and pretending they don’t remember it, showing each other prized possessions they kept for each other because they were too scared to admit their feelings, the way they talked about how familiar they were with each other and it felt like second nature to touch each other. It was all perfect. The only complaint were the kiss scenes where it would begin with “and our mouths touch” and then there was barely any subsequent description, which felt awkward. I loved everything else about their romance, though.
I was briefly considering giving this 3 stars because of how much the plot dragged toward the ending, but everything outlined above made me overlook it. After the third act breakup, there’s considerable plot left and not enough angst to keep you entertained through their struggle to find a balance between friendship and being exes. In addition, the side characters weren’t developed and were pushed to the back of the story. Characters would be introduced to establish drama, but their storyline would extinguish and they’d never appear again. Which felt pointless. Though it’s a YA contemporary written with the purpose of enjoying a sweet romance, so I’m not complaining much.
I like informing people whether they’ll like something in my reviews, so I’ll cover possible negatives for others (that weren’t a dealbreaker for me). I typically love tropes and plot points everyone else dislikes, so I’ll be transparent. If you’re a New Adult reader who likes explicit content, you probably won’t like this. All discussions of sex – and even the kiss scenes – are fade to black or implied. Accompanied by a poetic, faded (dry humping?) scene. If you’re seeking a hate to love romance where both parties genuinely dislike each other, this also might not be the book for you.
Meet Me At Midnight is simply an adorable contemporary romance filled with sweet moments, pranks, friendship, and family dynamics. It was such an enjoyable read for me and I highly recommend it!
"Sidney Walters is a proverbial ray of sunshine-with everyone but me."
Sidney and Asher have one peaceful summer at age fourteen before a battle of pranks ensues for the next four years. Shampoo bottles are replaced with Kool-Aid, flip flops are glued to decks, and floors are covered in mayonnaise. However, after one too many childish pranks, Asher and Sidney’s families are asked to leave their rental home by the owner, and they all move into a new place. The two decide to call a ceasefire and team-up to pull pranks on the person who almost ruined their summer.
YA contemporary isn’t something I typically give high ratings to, but there’s so much to love about Meet Me At Midnight. It’s a rare contemporary released in the past couple of years that isn’t filled with terrible, irritating popular culture references or cringeworthy Gen-Z language. Other YA authors need to take notes from Jessica Pennington: you can write a cute romance without referencing “fangirling”, “fanfiction”, Harry Potter, or anything of that caliber. Furthermore, it has a specific trope you can’t help but love: two people pretending to hate each other to mask their feelings for each other, while an innocent bystander points out to the cynical one that the other obviously loves them. Sprinkle in some cute banter, sweet moments, and a few flashbacks, and it’s the perfect recipe for me.
There isn’t much to gush about since most of the plot and story revolved around the romance. Which I’m definitely not complaining about because Aiden and Sidney were adorable. I mean, having their first kiss under the stars and pretending they don’t remember it, showing each other prized possessions they kept for each other because they were too scared to admit their feelings, the way they talked about how familiar they were with each other and it felt like second nature to touch each other. It was all perfect. The only complaint were the kiss scenes where it would begin with “and our mouths touch” and then there was barely any subsequent description, which felt awkward. I loved everything else about their romance, though.
I was briefly considering giving this 3 stars because of how much the plot dragged toward the ending, but everything outlined above made me overlook it. After the third act breakup, there’s considerable plot left and not enough angst to keep you entertained through their struggle to find a balance between friendship and being exes. In addition, the side characters weren’t developed and were pushed to the back of the story. Characters would be introduced to establish drama, but their storyline would extinguish and they’d never appear again. Which felt pointless. Though it’s a YA contemporary written with the purpose of enjoying a sweet romance, so I’m not complaining much.
I like informing people whether they’ll like something in my reviews, so I’ll cover possible negatives for others (that weren’t a dealbreaker for me). I typically love tropes and plot points everyone else dislikes, so I’ll be transparent. If you’re a New Adult reader who likes explicit content, you probably won’t like this. All discussions of sex – and even the kiss scenes – are fade to black or implied. Accompanied by a poetic, faded (dry humping?) scene. If you’re seeking a hate to love romance where both parties genuinely dislike each other, this also might not be the book for you.
Meet Me At Midnight is simply an adorable contemporary romance filled with sweet moments, pranks, friendship, and family dynamics. It was such an enjoyable read for me and I highly recommend it!
April 30, 2020
Obviously I'm a little partial to this book. Partly because I'm a total sucker for a love-to-hate romcom, and partly because, well, I wrote it. I had a ton of fun writing about these two snarky weirdos and their summer shenanigans (and swoons), so I hope you love it!
Meet Me At Midnight is OUT IN THE WORLD! If you've read it, please consider copying your review over to Amazon, I'd really appreciate it! And if you loved MEET ME AT MIDNIGHT, then check out my other books:
Meet Me At Midnight is OUT IN THE WORLD! If you've read it, please consider copying your review over to Amazon, I'd really appreciate it! And if you loved MEET ME AT MIDNIGHT, then check out my other books:
When Summer Ends is full of summer swoons (you'll recognize the setting--River Depot!) and Love Songs & Other Lies is a secondchance romance told in past and present and full of summery music vibes, nights on the beach, and trapped-on-a-tour-bus-with-your-ex angst!
For all of the latest news like excerpt reveals, pre-order campaigns, and inside info on my upcoming books, be sure to JOIN MY NEWSLETTER! I'm usually drowning in work, so now worries about me spamming your inbox--you can expect to get my "monthly" newsletter 2-6 times a year, and I ALWAYS include a giveaway.
March 7, 2023
you can't convince me these people are seniors. they literally act like 8 year olds
April 7, 2020
I want to thank Tor Teen & NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
My feelings for this book are a little messy, and it's hard to explain but I'll try my best. On the one hand, I enjoyed many aspects, especially the familiar one, and I liked the setting A LOT, I also think that most of the book is entertaining and keeps you wanting to continue reading. But on the other hand, the characters are quite immature, the whole "enemies" situation felt forced, as well as some dialogues and I feel that in the end only one of the characters has a marked growth & I think that although it didn't seem heavy to read it, could have been a little shorter than it was and transmit the same message going straight to the point.
3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
You can find more reviews & other content on my blog A Book. A Thought.
This book is an enemies-to-lovers romance that follows Asher and Sidney whose families are friends and since they're little, they've always spent summers in the same place, they have a relationship that consists of challenging and joking each other all the time. Until one day a joke goes wrong and both families must spend the summer in the same house. Due to what has happened, Asher and Sydney decide to join forces against a common enemy, and from here unexpected feelings begin to arise between them.
I started super excited reading this book because I wanted to read something heavy on romance, which is rare for me, so it was a special moment, and sadly didn't fully meet my expectations. The whole first part, maybe even a little more than half, is quite good, it's a simple romance plot, with silly but entertaining dialogues, where there are small discussions and a lot of drama, but it's quite entertaining and it progresses very fast, which I appreciate. We know a lot about the characters, their pasts and their present lives in that first part, and I always enjoy meeting new characters, is fun for me, so all that first part, maybe despite some over-the-top moments, was pretty good, create depth and plant a lot of intrigues to know what will happen, not to mention that it's fun. But the second half is messy, I began to feel tired of the romantic relationship of the characters, when something was just happening between them was fun, but then it gets boring for me, it's all because I think Asher gives a lot of himself and Sidney is a mess of emotions and doubts and teenager stuff and I felt super uncomfortable at times. I also felt that the "sarcastic" jokes and discussions were starting to get too much, and honestly and it's super ugly to say it, but I got really bored as it started being repetitive.
There are romantic scenes that are very beautiful and especially when everything begins to take shape and the characters begin to relate, it's beautiful to read because despite having known each other for years, they've never established a deeper relationship. But then it's very frustrating, especially due to the difference in personalities that exists between them. Asher is a lovely person, I love this boy, he's sweet, considerate and very attentive, to the point that I think he gives too much of himself, which makes me want to hug him. On the other hand, Sidney is a very dramatic girl and I understand that she's just a teenager, so I'm not going to judge her too hard, but it was very stressful to follow her voice because she's too much, I even feel a little sorry for her because she has a lot of trauma and issues with herself, but I would have liked this to be explored from another side, you know? and not from romance. It's a shame because there are beautiful scenes, but the romance deteriorates a lot towards the ending, especially since I couldn't stand the characters anymore and their relationship became "meh" for me. I'm aware, though, that it's very difficult for me to like a romance and that I feel the chemistry between characters, so this is super personal, I think that if you read it maybe you'll be able to connect more with them and with their stories.
I love the setting, I adore when everything is established in a beach house, it's really beautiful, especially at night.
I enjoyed the writing style, it's the first time that I read something from the author, so I have no comparison with another of her works, but I really liked it, her style flows very well, especially I think it's perfect for softer and quick to read contemporary stories. I would read something more by her because I'm curious to know another type of facet, perhaps with another type of plot that's not exclusively romantic and with other types of characters, without a doubt, I think I could enjoy it more.
So I don't have much more to say, it's a polarizing book regarding my own feelings and thoughts, one half I loved and the other is forgettable. I couldn't enjoy as I would have liked the ending, I don't think it's bad, though, but I was already a little tired by that point and didn't connect. Still, I think I would recommend it if romance is something you like, if you like enemy-to-love relationships and a bit of drama, in a beautiful summer setting. I adored Asher, so if you want a good main male character, which is SUPER important, he's perfect and deserves better.
First Thoughts 06/04/20
This was a very fun book to follow, I really liked the setting, super summery & it is the typical hate-to-love romance, which is enjoyable in some moments, but the characters aren't solid enough to me to be able to commit 100% to this story. I felt a little overwhelmed and tired of the fights between the characters without any sense, it felt a little forced for me. But the aspects outside of the romance are pretty good. Even so, I know that I usually have problems with the genre, so I think that if you like summer romances and easy to read plots this is a good option, personally I think it was ok, but nothing really stands out for me.
April 8, 2023
ate this UP!!
this had my two fav romance tropes (enemies to lovers and childhood best friends to lovers) combined into one and it was so good!! i liked the pacing a lot. sidney and asher were so adorable, i can definitely see this being a comfort reread just for their fluff.
also the end reminded me a little of love and basketball when they're in college if yk what i mean?
anyways, all the characters were so well developed! especially sidney, i related to her a lot. i'm an anxious overthinking mess so i felt very seen by her.
the plot was also super fun and super vibey!! i loved the pranks we saw and all of the things that happened :)
i had a blast with this one, i'm surprised it's not as popular. it seems right up booktok's alley.
5/5 ⭐️
*this isn't very coherent i wrote this during a 20 minute layover after a 7 hour red eye flight*
this had my two fav romance tropes (enemies to lovers and childhood best friends to lovers) combined into one and it was so good!! i liked the pacing a lot. sidney and asher were so adorable, i can definitely see this being a comfort reread just for their fluff.
also the end reminded me a little of love and basketball when they're in college if yk what i mean?
anyways, all the characters were so well developed! especially sidney, i related to her a lot. i'm an anxious overthinking mess so i felt very seen by her.
the plot was also super fun and super vibey!! i loved the pranks we saw and all of the things that happened :)
i had a blast with this one, i'm surprised it's not as popular. it seems right up booktok's alley.
5/5 ⭐️
*this isn't very coherent i wrote this during a 20 minute layover after a 7 hour red eye flight*
March 21, 2020
“All I want is to be under the stars with him. To sit on the bench in front of the fire, our bodies pressed together. I want his arm draped over me, like he wants everyone to know we’re together. Together.”
Every summer since they were fourteen, Sidney and Asher have been pulling pranks at each other and considered themselves as “enemies”. However, for their last summer before going off to college, Sidney and Asher will have to team-up against a common enemy who nearly ruined their summer and forced them and their families to live together for the rest of summer.
This book was such a cute and fun read. I have to say it took me a few chapters to get into the story, but once Sidney and Asher started pranking and bantering with each other I was hooked! I loved the writing a lot and the way the chapters were structured, per day, helped to set the perfect pace, it was not too slow nor too fast. Some flashbacks about Sidney and Asher’s first meeting and other moments between them were also included and it helped understand their relationship and special bond.
The book’s main focus was the romance between the two characters and I loved witnessing the evolution of their relationship. From the outset, it was clear how much Sidney and Asher knew about each other, but you also understood that their mutual “hatred” was hiding something else. Once they teamed up, they didn’t really know how to act around each other, so their interactions rapidly became awkward. I think this was my favorite part of the book. The way they acted all weird around each other and started discovering their feelings for each other was the cutest and sweetest thing!
Overall this was a really adorable contemporary romance, I liked both main characters and their relationship was really sweet. I removed one star because as I explained it took me some time to get into the story. Maybe it’s because I mainly read NA and not YA romance these days. Anyways, you should all check out Meet Me at Midnight because Sidney and Asher were the cutest and I enjoyed their story very much.
*ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 20, 2020
It's hard getting on board a romance between two people who treat each other so badly, especially when they have very few actual conversations about why they "hate" each other. Pennington hints that those conversations will happen, and have happened, but in almost every instance, she side-steps showing us the conversations, themselves, in favor of giving us a flashback to the summer when Asher and Sidney were kind to one another. Instead of watching current-day Asher and Sidney connect, I'm told that they used to get along and now suddenly get along again.
The secondary characters are just as undeveloped as the romance, with the parents serving as motivation for Asher and Sidney to be nice to one another, Sidney's girlfriends appearing whenever she needs advice on her relationship (more conversations we're told happen but don't actually get to read), and Asher's BFF acting more as proof of Asher's years-long crush on Sidney than a BFF. The end result is a feeling that Asher and Sidney exist in a bubble untouched by the real world...and that their love is just as Doomed as Sidney thinks it is.
That might be a bit of a spoiler, but anyone who's watched Hallmark Christmas movies knows that someone in the relationship will freak out at the eleventh hour and Ruin Everything. Pennington doesn't present anything different here...and you don't have to know Sidney for more than 50 pages before you know she's the one who'll be doing the Ruining. Unfortunately, that last-minute relationship sabotage coincides with the end of the summer, whereupon the book loses almost all its momentum. By the time Sidney attempted her Grand Gesture to Fix It All, I was a lot more invested in getting to the end of the book than the relationship it depicted.
The secondary characters are just as undeveloped as the romance, with the parents serving as motivation for Asher and Sidney to be nice to one another, Sidney's girlfriends appearing whenever she needs advice on her relationship (more conversations we're told happen but don't actually get to read), and Asher's BFF acting more as proof of Asher's years-long crush on Sidney than a BFF. The end result is a feeling that Asher and Sidney exist in a bubble untouched by the real world...and that their love is just as Doomed as Sidney thinks it is.
That might be a bit of a spoiler, but anyone who's watched Hallmark Christmas movies knows that someone in the relationship will freak out at the eleventh hour and Ruin Everything. Pennington doesn't present anything different here...and you don't have to know Sidney for more than 50 pages before you know she's the one who'll be doing the Ruining. Unfortunately, that last-minute relationship sabotage coincides with the end of the summer, whereupon the book loses almost all its momentum. By the time Sidney attempted her Grand Gesture to Fix It All, I was a lot more invested in getting to the end of the book than the relationship it depicted.
Want to read
March 19, 2020A summer evening on Les Champs Elyses
A secret rendezvous they planned for days.
A sea of faces in a crowded cafe,
A sound of laughter as the music plays.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoTLn...
A secret rendezvous they planned for days.
A sea of faces in a crowded cafe,
A sound of laughter as the music plays.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoTLn...
February 24, 2023
AWWWW I’m obsessed w them!!!
This is a super cute YA romance book. It's nothing overly special but if you liked Better Than the Movies (YA) or Love and Other Words (NA) I really think this will be a great quick read for you. Very summer vibes.
This is a super cute YA romance book. It's nothing overly special but if you liked Better Than the Movies (YA) or Love and Other Words (NA) I really think this will be a great quick read for you. Very summer vibes.
July 4, 2021
This was a super cute and fun read! It was fast-paced and I loved that it was written in dual POV so you get both main characters’ perspectives. Definitely perfect for the summer!
June 18, 2022
i liked the idea of this book and i liked asher.
i did not like sidney.
i did not like sidney.
May 13, 2020
Really enjoyed this one, sorry to my buddy reading friends I constantly did not want to stop reading and read ahead until it was a must finish. Haha you could definitely read this in one sitting. Perfect summer read!
May 20, 2020
I loved everything about this book! I loved the enemies to lovers trope. I loved all the pranks they played on each other. And I loved the banter between Sydney & Asher!
Jessica never disappoints!
Jessica never disappoints!
April 10, 2020
"It’s not like kissing someone gives you any sort of claim to them. There’s not some binding contract of exclusivity that goes along with a kiss."
The World is dealing with a lot of sadness and heartbreak lately and I seriously needed something cute and sweet to boost my spirits. Meet Me At Midnight did that job and so much more. This was the right thing to add to my life live right now.
Sidney and Asher live to torment each other even though they fit perfectly together on paper. They are both competitors and love to swim but are always forced to spend their summers together. When they should be enjoying the nice warm weather and beach, they find the ultimate ways to prank each other. But one prank too many gets them kicked out of their rental houses. Which results in both families staying inside the same house for the rest of the summer.
With two of the best pranksters, they come up with a devious plan to get back at their old landlady. Together they'll come up with something explosive to settle the score. But can they agree on a truce while working together? Will they admit the fireworks that go off while they're together? Or will this ruin their summer of fun before college?
This was absolutely adorable. The pranks that Sidney and Asher pulled on each other had me laughing out loud. I just couldn't believe how much trouble they went through to get the other to crack. Asher was my favorite character because he seemed the most genuine and super easy to love while Sidney felt like an intruder. But I still liked them as a combo. I also really enjoyed that it wasn't an instant happy ending and we saw how this split affected both of them while attending the same college. It was genius.
Meet Me At Midnight is the perfect book to read to boost your mood. The enemies to lovers trope is definitely a guilty pleasure and this one was just fun. This will put your faith back into swoony romances. This adorable and quirky read is the right pick-me-up!
The World is dealing with a lot of sadness and heartbreak lately and I seriously needed something cute and sweet to boost my spirits. Meet Me At Midnight did that job and so much more. This was the right thing to add to my life live right now.
Sidney and Asher live to torment each other even though they fit perfectly together on paper. They are both competitors and love to swim but are always forced to spend their summers together. When they should be enjoying the nice warm weather and beach, they find the ultimate ways to prank each other. But one prank too many gets them kicked out of their rental houses. Which results in both families staying inside the same house for the rest of the summer.
With two of the best pranksters, they come up with a devious plan to get back at their old landlady. Together they'll come up with something explosive to settle the score. But can they agree on a truce while working together? Will they admit the fireworks that go off while they're together? Or will this ruin their summer of fun before college?
This was absolutely adorable. The pranks that Sidney and Asher pulled on each other had me laughing out loud. I just couldn't believe how much trouble they went through to get the other to crack. Asher was my favorite character because he seemed the most genuine and super easy to love while Sidney felt like an intruder. But I still liked them as a combo. I also really enjoyed that it wasn't an instant happy ending and we saw how this split affected both of them while attending the same college. It was genius.
Meet Me At Midnight is the perfect book to read to boost your mood. The enemies to lovers trope is definitely a guilty pleasure and this one was just fun. This will put your faith back into swoony romances. This adorable and quirky read is the right pick-me-up!
August 10, 2020
I actually really struggled to get through the second half of this book. The first half was super cute and funny, I loved the pranks we got to see. However, the second half devolved into the more stereotypical romance novel drama, with the eventual breakup. Considering that this book draws you in with the promise of epic pranks against Nadine, I really wish we would've seen more of those. They really only pranked her three times, and two of them didn't go too well.
I do have to say that the relationship in this was pretty enjoyable. It didn't feel super rushed, and it felt natural. It was cool to have a main character who was a swimmer, it's a sport that's left out in a lot of books. While I did find this enjoyable, it got a bit too predictable and drawn out for me.
I do have to say that the relationship in this was pretty enjoyable. It didn't feel super rushed, and it felt natural. It was cool to have a main character who was a swimmer, it's a sport that's left out in a lot of books. While I did find this enjoyable, it got a bit too predictable and drawn out for me.
March 2, 2020
The past five summers have been filled with swimming, the lake, and pranks. This summer, Sidney and Asher agreed to a truce, but once they were not preoccupied with their normal antics, these two began to finally recognize the romantic feelings they had been harboring for one another.
• Pro: This was a enemies-to-lovers type romance, and I think many will appreciate the way a their well established prank war gave way to a pretty mushy courtship, that was filed with great banter and lots of chemistry.
• Pro: You know what I like? I like when couples have history, and Sidney and Asher had plenty of it. I liked learning about their past, but I was ecstatic when they slowly revealed their well concealed feelings for each other.
• Pro: These two were high level competitive swimmers, and I liked this aspect of their lives. It tied them together, and there were a lot of really great swim related scenes, which I enjoyed.
• Con: I did like Sidney, but the emotional runner in her drove me batty. She did it so much, I was able to spot it even before it happened.
• Pro: Asher was easy to love from the start. He was sweet and charming, and he would store away little bits of information about Sidney, which he would use at just the right time to create some magnificent moments. I almost wanted to give Sidney a good shake to find out what her problem was with him. Oh, don't worry, you will learn the root of the great lake prank war.
• Pro: Does Jessica Pennington know me or what? She gifted me a wonderful epilogue, which left me happy and smiling.
Overall: I throughly enjoyed my summer at the lake, as I watched these two lifelong enemies finally acknowledge and act on their feelings for each other. Such a fun, sweet, and swoony romance.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
• Pro: This was a enemies-to-lovers type romance, and I think many will appreciate the way a their well established prank war gave way to a pretty mushy courtship, that was filed with great banter and lots of chemistry.
• Pro: You know what I like? I like when couples have history, and Sidney and Asher had plenty of it. I liked learning about their past, but I was ecstatic when they slowly revealed their well concealed feelings for each other.
• Pro: These two were high level competitive swimmers, and I liked this aspect of their lives. It tied them together, and there were a lot of really great swim related scenes, which I enjoyed.
• Con: I did like Sidney, but the emotional runner in her drove me batty. She did it so much, I was able to spot it even before it happened.
• Pro: Asher was easy to love from the start. He was sweet and charming, and he would store away little bits of information about Sidney, which he would use at just the right time to create some magnificent moments. I almost wanted to give Sidney a good shake to find out what her problem was with him. Oh, don't worry, you will learn the root of the great lake prank war.
• Pro: Does Jessica Pennington know me or what? She gifted me a wonderful epilogue, which left me happy and smiling.
Overall: I throughly enjoyed my summer at the lake, as I watched these two lifelong enemies finally acknowledge and act on their feelings for each other. Such a fun, sweet, and swoony romance.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
March 28, 2020
I just finished “Meet Me at Midnight” by Jessica Pennington and my thoughts are all over the place. I really loved this and then sometimes I wanted to throw my kindle at the wall. I have a love/hate relationship with this book and I’ll explain why.
Blurb: Asher and Sidney have vacationed and pranked each other for years, but it isn’t until they decide to call a truce and turn their pranks onto a mutual enemy that the two start to show their true feelings.
“Meet Me at Midnight” is an enemies to lovers slowest, slow burn YA romance with a touch of angst and whole lot of self-sabotage. There were a lot of positives and negatives about this book and I’ll just break it down for you.
POSITIVES:
•Asher makes this book. He’s sweet, thoughtful, kind, endearing. I almost gave the book four stars just because of Asher.
•The prank war premise was interesting.
•Sidney and Asher’s chemistry is undeniable. I loved reading about their innocent young love.
NEGATIVES:
•This book felt really long, only because I think it took a good portion of the book to get to the actual romance.
•Sidney drove me crazy. She constantly doubted everything and her teenage insecurity, was understandable, but annoying at times. I kept thinking, get it together girl. This guy really likes you.
•The ending was good, but not great. I needed more comfort after so much angst.
So with all that being said, this was an interesting read for me. One character alone made me want to give this a four star, but I think in the end I needed just a little less self-doubt from Sidney and a lot more romance from an earlier point.
Thanks @netgalley and @torteen for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Blurb: Asher and Sidney have vacationed and pranked each other for years, but it isn’t until they decide to call a truce and turn their pranks onto a mutual enemy that the two start to show their true feelings.
“Meet Me at Midnight” is an enemies to lovers slowest, slow burn YA romance with a touch of angst and whole lot of self-sabotage. There were a lot of positives and negatives about this book and I’ll just break it down for you.
POSITIVES:
•Asher makes this book. He’s sweet, thoughtful, kind, endearing. I almost gave the book four stars just because of Asher.
•The prank war premise was interesting.
•Sidney and Asher’s chemistry is undeniable. I loved reading about their innocent young love.
NEGATIVES:
•This book felt really long, only because I think it took a good portion of the book to get to the actual romance.
•Sidney drove me crazy. She constantly doubted everything and her teenage insecurity, was understandable, but annoying at times. I kept thinking, get it together girl. This guy really likes you.
•The ending was good, but not great. I needed more comfort after so much angst.
So with all that being said, this was an interesting read for me. One character alone made me want to give this a four star, but I think in the end I needed just a little less self-doubt from Sidney and a lot more romance from an earlier point.
Thanks @netgalley and @torteen for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
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