Keep My Heart in San Francisco

by Amelia Diane Coombs

“An absolute charmer of a book…Delightful!” —Jenn Bennett, author of Alex, Approximately and Starry Eyes

Sparks fly when two ex-best-friends team up to save a family business in this romantic and witty debut perfect for fans of Jenn Bennett and Sarah Dessen.

Caroline “Chuck” Wilson has big plans for spring break—hit up estate sales to score vintage fashion finds and tour the fashion school she dreams of attending. But her dad wrecks those plans when he asks her to spend vacation working the counter at Bigmouth’s Bowl, her family’s failing bowling alley. Making things astronomically worse, Chuck finds out her dad is way behind on back rent—meaning they might be losing Bigmouth’s, the only thing keeping Chuck’s family in San Francisco.

And the one person other than Chuck who wants to do anything about it? Beckett Porter, her annoyingly attractive ex-best friend.

So when Beckett propositions Chuck with a plan to make serious cash infiltrating the Bay Area action bowling scene, she accepts. But she can’t shake the nagging feeling that she’s acting irrational—too much like her mother for comfort. Plus, despite her best efforts to keep things strictly business, Beckett’s charm is winning her back over…in ways that go beyond friendship.

If Chuck fails, Bigmouth’s Bowl and their San Francisco legacy are gone forever. But if she succeeds, she might just get everything she ever wanted.

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary, Young Adult Contemporary, Audiobook, Mental Health, Fiction

400 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 14, 2020

About the author

Amelia Diane Coombs is the author of Keep My Heart in San Francisco; Between You, Me, and the Honeybees; Exactly Where You Need to Be; and All Alone With You. She’s a Northern California transplant living in Seattle, Washington, with her spouse and their Siberian cat. When she isn’t writing or reading, Amelia spends her time playing video and tabletop games, road-tripping, and hiking the Pacific Northwest.

Reviews

[Vicky Again · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet, heartfelt, and atmospheric, Keep My Heart in San Francisco is a genuine but light story of romance, family, and home. Think the family struggles of Lauren Spieller's She's the Worst meets the ex-best friends to lovers of Jenn Bennett's Starry Eyes, all wrapped up in San Francisco, bowling, and with mental illness rep!

Would definitely highly recommend for an entertaining and modern romance.

[Rachel Solomon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A unique, retro contemporary YA romance that revolves around bowling! These flawed, layered characters are written with so much depth and empathy. I'm a huge fan of setting as character, and this book truly captures the heartbeat of San Fransisco. Perfect for fans of Jenn Bennett.

[Nursebookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a charming and romantic read from author Amelia Diane Coombs that stole my heart for its characters, the setting in beautiful San Francisco, a bowling alley, and ex-best friends trying to fight to save a family business!

I recommend this contemporary YA novel that is full of heart that I really enjoyed!

[Danielle (Life of a Literary Nerd) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

This might've had the most ridiculous premise of any book I've ever read, but I had fun. Trying to save her family's failing bowling alley by going undercover and hustling games to try and make eight grand in a week with her former best friend and crush, Chuck Wilson has a lot on her plate. Many hi-jinks and adventures ensure in this story. I enjoyed seeing Chuck and Beckett's relationship reform after a fallout in freshman year but the actual plot is so wacky it was definitely hard to take it seriously at time. But it was still a quick and light-hearted read.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

[Kiret · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was pretty bad, Chuck and Beckett were both terrible characters. The whole premise for the book was unbelievable and ridiculous.

[chloe · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
• best friends to enemies to best friends to lovers?? (+ bonus points for the slow burn romance)
• bipolar disorder / depression representation
• some parts were predictable, but nonetheless i enjoyed the story
• bowling bowling bowling!!!

[Sabi · Rating 2 out of 5]

More of a YA drama than a lighthearted comedy.

Had the potential to be funnier...

[Samantha (WLABB) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The family business is in trouble, and Chuck knows that if it fails, she will be forced to leave San Francisco. She loves this city! It's a part of her, and she would do just about anything to stay. But she wonders if it's worth reconciling with her former best friend after his betrayal?

I won't lie. I expected this to be fluffier than it was. That said, I throughly enjoyed it anyway.

Chuck was looking to keep her heart in San Francisco, and she did a great job showing me why. I absolutely love when a book takes me places, and Coombs deftly whisked me away to San Fran. She took me throughout the city, showing me places that are well known, as well as some I had was unaware of. Her admiration for the city was clearly displayed throughout the story, and I had a fantastic time touring the city.

I also loved Chuck. She really spoke to me. She was very witty, a bit snarky, and she charmed the pants off of me. Her loneliness and struggles with her mental health were things I easily related to, but I was also fond of her passion for fashion. I ate up all the little fashion and design morsels peppered throughout the story, and I loved trying to imagine what she was wearing. I have a soft spot for creative types, and it was fun getting to peek at her design dreams.

Though Beckett betrayed Chuck and seemed to give up on her, I had nothing but love for him. It was wonderful watching him and Chuck reconnect, because they were both sort of lost without the other. Chuck and Beckett experienced a lot of disappointment in their year apart, and they survived, but they were much stronger together. These two knew each other inside and out, and it was nice to see Beckett fighting to save their friendship.

Then, there was bowling. Fact: I am a terrible bowler, but I grew up around it and rather enjoy the game. I liked being immersed in the bowling world with these two, and I found the game sequences quite exhilarating. I was happy to be cheering for Chuck as she attempted to save the business and couldn't stop hoping that she could turn her family situation around.

Overall: I found this to be a wonderful story of family, friendship, and mental health, which warmed my heart and had me rooting for the little guy to win.

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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[Namera [The Literary Invertebrate] · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC received in exchange for an honest review - thank you!

Well, I really wanted to like this book. It sounded like a cute rom-com with sparks flying between ex-best friends (aka one of my favourite relationship dynamics). But, despite good discussions of mental health, it had a tepid storyline featuring flat and somewhat incredibly stupid characters.

Seventeen-year-old Caroline ‘Chuck’ Wilson is a hardcore loner. Ever since she broke from her best friend Beckett Porter for betraying her, she’s done nothing but go to school and dream about studying fashion. And, of course, work: she’s an assistant at Bigmouth’s Bowl, a bowling alley owned by her dad.

But they’re in severe financial difficulties. When Beckett accidentally re-enters her life, they quickly realise that unless something is done soon, Chuck will have to leave San Francisco – the city of her heart. They have ten days to come up with $8000 or Bigmouth’s Bowl is finished.

So, confronted with this seemingly insurmountable problem, what do these intrepid teenagers do? That’s right. They turn to hustling, and not just any hustling – bowling hustling. Turns out tenpin bowling is a shadier rig than it seems, and there are all sorts of people willing to run gambles on it. Chuck is a brilliant bowler, and she and Beckett soon start building up funds. But of course, it’s a dangerous business, as they quickly find out.

And… yeah, it has to be said that neither of these characters really wowed me with their intelligence . Especially Beckett, whose idea the hustling was in the first place. $8000 is a chunky enough sum that you aren’t going to get it quickly without playing for serious stakes, which of course means the potential for serious losses. I know they were desperate, but the fact that they didn’t even consider any other options before this stupid one is not something that really bowls me over. (Sorry, had to work that in somewhere).

The romance also leaves me dubious. Beckett is a pretty lifeless character, and I didn’t feel any tension or investment in their relationship. Plus, maybe reading all these historical romances has just made me old-fashioned, but I don’t like that he’d drop her off at her house past midnight and then drive away without making sure she’d actually gone in. Chuck and Beckett are the only friend the other has, so it’s also kind of an ‘uh… you guys are in a really closed circle here’ situation. It’s a really codependent relationship in that neither of them have a single other friend to turn to.

Now onto the mental health. Essentially, Chuck is on the bipolar spectrum, and has had depressive episodes in the past. (It’s an #ownvoices novel in this regard). Over the course of the book she understands that she shouldn’t let her fear of BPD hold her back from doing things, which is good. But I don’t know that she’s in a totally healthy place for a romantic relationship – when her friendship with Beckett fell apart, it felt like she existed in limbo until she patched things up with him. This goes back to the ‘codependency’ thing again and makes me even more averse to the romance.

OVERALL

Not as funny as I hoped it would be (or at all) and with characters who distinctly did not capture my imagination.

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[Alaina · Rating 3 out of 5]

All kinds of ridiculous wrapped into a fun and entertaining book.

Keep My Heart in San Francisco introduces you to Caroline Wilson. She also goes by Chuck. She works at her family-owned bowling alley for free and comes up with this plan to save them from closing down. I mean, yeah, what kid wouldn't do that?

Before she even comes to this idea, we meet her ex-best friend Beckett. Basically gorgeous and overall super sweet. Unless they start to bicker, which gives you some insight into some serious tension. Together they come up with the plan to hustle their way into some major cash. It doesn't hurt that while they are working together, they start to get closer than ever.

When the feelings, chemistry, and sparks start to fly - it was pretty easy to ship these two together. Yet, the entire time I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop (meaning they get caught and have to deal with some serious consequences). This didn't stop me from enjoying the book though.

In the end, it was cute and they were cute.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trigger warnings: mentions of suicide and of the loss of a parent, bipolar disorder, depression.

I really enjoyed this one and the family, mental health themes and the adorable best friends to strangers to lovers romance.
Full review coming soon :)

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[hope lowman lohman lomein lemon lomanstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book!

Chuck was a great MC, and I liked watching her grow over the course of the novel, even if sometimes she made poor choices.

I stand by my earlier opinion that Beckett is one of the best YA boyfriends ever. He was funny and sweet and very thoughtful, and I really liked how good he was at communicating with Chuck. It was refreshing to see a YA book where miscommunication wasn't used as a plot device.

Also, I loved seeing how much the author loves San Francisco. This book was just as much of a romance between Chuck and the city as it was her and Beckett. Great read!

[Cloe Beane · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this book 1000 stars I would! This was such a good story! I highly recommend reading this!

[S.C. Yung · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rofl. Imagine writing a book set in SF without any significant people of color, queer rep, or even ~ethnic~ food and then literally including quotes like this:

“From its fraught history to the Gold Rush boom to the 1906 earthquake to the AIDs crisis, San Francisco’s had a rough life. A city felled by earthquakes and scorched by fire. A city that built itself back up. A city so diverse, welcoming, and unique. Streets without judgment, nights without limits. I can’t imagine living somewhere that isn’t steeped in diversity like San Francisco. A city where I can be myself.”

In the whole novel, there are two (2) Asians (both Japanese, one is described as,,, Zen and the other is just there to "accept his fate without a fight") and one wlw character (only revealed at the very end). Even if you were to disregard the total absence of Black / Latinx / Native / mixed rep (which... I don't know why you would), the U.S. Census shows Asian Americans are the largest minority group in SF County (34.3% Asian vs. 45.4% white), and like ~20% of those are Chinese (with ~1% Japanese, so...). Anyway, I'm getting tired of trotting out percentages, but I think it's fair to say that SF also has one of the highest percentages of LGBTQ+ individuals / households in the U.S., so the lack of rep there is also Bad.

Moving on from that, for a book with San Francisco in the title, this reads like it's by someone who didn't grow up here, or even in the Bay Area. If she did, I bet it's somewhere far from SF lol—the setting feels ungrounded. A lot of the places mentioned are newer / touristy (i.e., Dynamo over Bob's, Booksmith instead of Green Apple, Miette over Schubert's, etc.)—and this might just be a preference thing, I'll admit, but it doesn't sit entirely well with me that on top of only having white characters, they primarily go to white-owned restaurants in S.F. (There's one Thai restaurant that goes unnamed.) Like, what's the point? Coombs literally could've thrown in b. Patisserie if she was looking for a POC-led French bakery to name, but you know she didn't think about that.

Additionally, the protags travel around SF and the Bay more than my friends and I ever would've in high school (honestly, we would not willingly go to Berkeley / Brisbane / Alameda / etc. all in one week, but maybe that's an us thing). And I get that food isn't everyone's priority, but going to Dolores Park without stopping by Bi-Rite and heading into the Mission without getting tacos is just??

Quibble: What's the point of making up Castelli High when it plays no real part in the narration? Coombs could have stuck her hand into a hat with the names with the Founding Fathers and gotten something more accurate (Wash and Jefferson are right there,,, and everyone knows about Lowell and Lick if she wanted something non-presidential).

Another quibble: Old music... authors, please. Do a little research instead of pulling from whatever era you grew up in. Frightened Rabbit? Manchester Orchestra as one of Chuck's "more recent favorite bands"? Father John Misty? We get it, you're an older Millennial! I'm not asking for 100 gecs to be thrown in there, but c'mon.

Honestly, there are some decent bits—the discussion of mental health, while definitely unsubtle (especially in that egregious epilogue), is worthwhile, and Chuck and Beckett have some genuine moments. Still, this managed to tick a whole bunch of boxes on my pet peeves list (as you can likely tell by this review's length) and the tonal unevenness was also an issue, so two stars is kinda generous (taking into consideration 1) I'm harder on books set in the Bay 2) this is a debut).

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the interest of full disclosure, my best friend is the author's agent, and I sent her this string of text messages midway through:

DO THEY SAVE THE BOWLING ALLEY

DO THEY GET CAUGHT HUSTLING AND BETTING

THIS ISN'T RELAXING

I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR THEM

Despite how non-relaxed I was while fretting over the characters' well-being, this was the lighthearted read I needed right now and it was a fantastic escape from Pandemic 2020. As far as YA contemporary romance characters go, Chuck and Beckett are a perfect mix of strong and messy. I really enjoyed spending time with them and watching them try to find their footing with each other. Their successes felt earned and the author also did an excellent job giving them consequences for their mistakes when they got in over their heads. I also was really satisfied with the ending - and also relieved I no longer had to chew my fingernails in worry over what those kids were going to get themselves into.

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

That plot did not go how I expected at all. I also didn’t like Chuck, she was too whiny and it had nothing to do with her mental health. Beckett was also a bad influence and I don’t like how everyone thinks he’s so great.

[emrel woody · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5 stars


This book was just.... a rollercoaster. And I don’t mean all of that in a positive way. I really hope people look at my review of this book since I know a thing or two about bowling. And by that, I have been bowling for more than 10 years, and I bowled competitively for 7 years. So I think I know a thing or two about the sport if I do say so myself.

There was a LOT of bowling inaccuracies scattered throughout this book. For one thing, what really REALLY threw me off was continuously it was said there was 2 strikes in the 10th frame. Maybe Chuck doesn’t get all 3 and gets some random pin count for the 3rd, but this book really made it sound like there’s only a maximum of 2 strikes in the 10th when it should be 3. Also, there was a part where Chuck says along the lines of how people just bowl to get drunk while throwing a 10 pound ball. That’s also inaccurate. Maybe for a woman who doesn’t have a lot of upper arm strength, but generally a grown man or woman is going to throw between a 12-16 pound bowling ball. I throw a 14. So really the 10 pound wasn’t a good number to round that off on. Plus, the book continuously said she hit the head pin to make a strike. While it might be true that if you hit the head pin you make something happen, you’re more likely to get some type of spare shot or split from that. The magic spot to get a strike is “the pocket”, which for her being right handed with her “left hook” would be between the head pin and third pin. Maybe Amelia meant it like that, but some more detail describing that would be nice. Also- how on earth does Chuck NOT OWN HER OWN EQUIPMENT?! If she’s that good, if she’s that good to win against grown men and woman who probably bowl in leagues and competitions, I would expect her to have her own bowling ball, bowling shoes, etc. I would also expect her to be more passionate about bowling than what she was described to be. It takes lots and lots of practice constantly to continue to stay on top of your game. So her just bowling like a pro and beating all these people left and right seemed very unrealistic to me, even if her dad owns a bowling alley and she lost games along the way. No way in hell she’d be amazing at bowling with pulling an alley ball from each bowling alley she goes too as well. And with her dad owning a bowling alley, that just proves even more that she should have her own equipment. Beckett even said so towards the end that it was weird that she didn’t have her own equipment. That honestly should have prompted another draft to rewrite that part...

Also, just bowling in general I feel was portrayed in a really bad light. I don’t know, maybe Amelia has had bad experiences with bowling alleys. But bowling alleys aren’t always as beat up or as bad as some of these alley’s sounded. Sure some are a bit old and smell like cigarettes and alcohol, but it legit isn’t the end of the world. Some bowling alleys are amazing and make you go “whoa” when you walk in. I’ve been in enough of them to know that I guess. But yeah, all the bowling alleys Chuck and Beckett went to were just constantly read to filth. Honestly, it makes me very upset since bowling can be a great time. I feel like this book with its dirty bowling alley and husseling of old men hitting on an innocent girl plot will turn so many people away from experiencing how fun and great bowling can be. Seeing my sport be represented in a bad light with this whole gambling part really sucked... This book’s plot did more harm than it did good, and it honestly made me very upset the sport I love so much was portrayed in such a bad light.

The romance as well I wasn’t a fan of. Maybe because Chuck wasn’t my favorite character I’ve ever read about, but I don’t mind reading about unlikeable main protagonists, so that wasn’t the issue for me. Sometimes she can be flat out rude to Beckett and no consequences come from it. But I must admit, I think Amelia did a great job with the mental health representation (I’ve read other reviews and they’ve said the same. It’s an own voices as well so :) ) Another complain I’ve seen is the lack of diversity, and honestly I can agree with that. I think Ameila had a great opportunity to throw in more diversity with the San Francisco area, but she completely missed that opportunity. The only part I liked about the romance was Beckett’s date. That was adorable, not gonna lie.
But the drama between the two I feel was completely either useless or she forgave him too quickly. I just feel like that aspect wasn’t needed or needed to be explored more. Honestly, I’m kind of tired of throwing in enemies to lovers if the reason why they’re enemies isn’t a good reason or fleshed out more. Just make a beautiful friends to lovers instead without the drama! That would have been so cute and amazing without the drama. But that’s just my opinion, just like this whole book review.

But yeah. This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year because a YA book about the sport I love? Sign me up! But this whole book was just a disappointment if I’m being honest... Will I read Amelia’s other books when they come out? Probably since I like her writing style. I also realize this is a debut, so I can’t wait to see what also is in store moving forward. But this book in general? It completely just made me disappointed as my soul left my body in the first 30 pages.
Don’t hate the author, hate what’s written I guess is the motto.
But I seriously hope Amelia continues to grow as a writer since her story about how she’s always wanted to be one I related to a lot. I hope her other books get success as well. But I wouldn’t recommend this really... I’m sorry to say.

[Em · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a lot to Chuck's story that worked for me, especially the depiction of her mental health. Her worries about growing to exhibit signs, of bipolar disorder as her mother had were well developed and made her relatable. The premise (illegal bowling!) was just absurd enough to be believable and fun. The writing was fun and light, but strong.

Where this fell apart for me was the setting. I grew up in and around San Francisco and I never bought into Chuck's love of the city. Her fear of leaving seemed more about fear of change/leaving her home town than specifically about losing San Francisco. Other than some geographic references I felt like this could have taken place anywhere. That city has so much personality, so much color, and to see it come through so flatly in this book was disappointing.

[cate · Rating 3 out of 5]

yes, bowling is a sport

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/4 I can’t decide

[Kate Waggoner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to #NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing for allowing me to read a digital ARC of Keep My Heart in San Francisco by Amelia Diane Coombs. This contemporary young adult novel is set to be released in August of 2020. All opinions are my own.

Caroline "Chuck" Wilson plans to spend her spring break antiquing and touring the fashion school she hopes to attend when she graduates. Those plans go down the drain when her dad informs her that one of their employees (they own a bowling alley called Bigmouth's) has quit and she'll need to cover for him. Chuck begrudgingly agrees and is forced to face her former best friend, Beckett, on her first day of spring break. The two overhear her father talking to the landlord and learn that Chuck's dad is way behind on back rent. Beckett approaches Chuck with a plan to save the bowling alley. She agrees to participate but things get complicated as their friendship starts to heal and it seems like it might be something more.

I wanted to read this book for the cover and concept of ex-best friends being thrown together to complete a wacky scheme where sparks were sure to fly. This book, however, is so much more than a YA romance. It deals with a topic not often covered in books or even really spoken about: mental health. The relationship between Chuck and Beckett and losing Bigmouth are both conflicts in the novel, but I think the larger and more important conflict is Chuck's internal struggle with her mental health and her view/understanding of her mother. Her mental health journey and the realizations she makes throughout the book are incredibly powerful. I think it makes it even more powerful that this story is in some ways a reflection of the author's own journey with her mental health. Mental disorders are highly stigmatized and this book does an amazing job of explaining this and helping the reader develop a better understanding of mental disorders and those affected by them. I really enjoyed this book and think it is an important book to include in a classroom library due to the topics it addresses.

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

Grade: C-
An e-galley was provided by Simon & Schuster via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: This book seemed like it would be perfect for me. It's contemporary YA, and it has a great pitch (a bowling alley? a setting other than Los Angeles or New York? former friends reforming their relationship?). But something didn't work.
There were just so many communication problems. Chuck's dad isn't telling her anything about their problems at Bigmouth's Bowl; she's not telling him how she's trying to save it. I also really couldn't get behind two teenagers running around and illegally gambling on bowling games.
I was also a bit bored by the lack of characters. The story is mainly just Chuck and Beckett, and I think Chuck really needed at least one more friend, just for some variety. I also felt Keep My Heart in San Francisco followed the same trite pattern of a parent with mental illness and their child being afraid of following in their footsteps. There was too much stigma around mental illness (specifically bipolar disorder and depression).

Content warnings: bipolar disorder, suicide, foul language, underage drinking and gambling

The Verdict: I felt very let-down by this book.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The romance in this book had strong echoes of Jenn Bennett, so if that's your kind of swoony guy--sweet, smart, endearing, funny--then you will enjoy Beckett immensely. Hands down my favorite parts of the novel!

This book was a nice mix of serious and fun. Chuck's grappling with secrets about her mom, her mental health, and that horrible feeling when you're not in control of your own life, specifically when your parent is the one who decides where you rest your head. I think it helps that I have visited San Francisco before, so I could understand personally some of the reasons Chuck loves it so much and its little quirks. If it's one of your favorite cities I bet you will commiserate with her desperation to stay.

Like in many books, sometimes it felt like some of Chuck's problems could be solved if she just TALKED to her dad, but I could understand, intimately, how that seems like a completely insurmountable task when you are a teenager, so I can give her a pass for that.

A solid debut novel that makes me look forward to what Coombs has up her sleeve next! (Anyone up for a friendly game of bowling? I promise I will definitely NOT be able to hustle you.)

[Krysti · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartfelt, own voices story about love, mental health, and the meaning of home. When Chuck Wilson finds out that her dad is behind on the rent for the family bowling alley, she leaps in to try to help out. Terrified that if they go under, she'll have to move to Arizona, Chuck's desperate to save the business and finish high school in her beloved city, San Francisco. She'll do anything, including agreeing to her annoyingly attractive friend Beckett's somewhat illegal plan to take part in the Bay Area's underground bowling league. As they hustle the other bowlers for much-needed cash, Chuck becomes increasingly confused both by her changing feelings for Beckett, and the torment of emotions constantly flooding her and taking control of her life.

This book has an adorable romance, yet it's also got great depth and touches on some very serious and important issues. I enjoyed it immensely and can't wait to see more from this author in the future.

[haven ⋄ f (hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming with deeper twists.

Have to say, I wasn't expecting the story. It took me by surprise. The prose was endearing and kept me interested. Whenever I picked it up again after not reading it for a while, it sucked me into the story. The characters are pretty cool. The plot twists are pretty crazy.

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for providing me with an ARC.

[Karen (^ v ^) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one surprised me with its themes on mental health.
A cute hate-to-love childhood friends romance again after a falling out.
Criticisms are that yes the premise and activities our MC and love interest engage in are a tad bit ridiculous for 17 year olds honestly surprised they didn't get caught sooner

[Rachel007 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, delightful, charming, and perfect for fans of Jenn Bennett.

[Olivia Wildenstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute romance with a solid plot that made me want to go bowling the entire time!

[kiki · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Cait · Rating 1 out of 5]

For me personally, this absolutely suffered from being compared to Sarah Dessen & Jenn Bennet.