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Thanks, Carissa, For Ruining My Life
The person who ruined their lives just might bring them together...
Brad is ready for a perfect senior year: he has a seat at the popular lunch table, a gig co-hosting the school’s morning announcements, and a gorgeous girlfriend. But when Carissa breaks up with Brad, his carefully constructed life comes crashing down. Convinced everything would be perfect if only Carissa would take him back, Brad creates a “self-improvement plan” and vows to re-win her heart.
Rose wishes she were having a normal senior year like everyone else, but leave it to her twin sister Carissa to butt in and ruin her life. Carissa secretly nominated Rose for the reality TV show Help Me Lose Weight and Live Again—and now Rose is on her way to Texas for three months of calorie-counting, marathon-exercising hell. Rose already felt overshadowed by her “perfect” sister, and collapsing on a treadmill on national TV is not making things any better. Plus, Rose can’t squash feelings for her sister’s boyfriend Brad (even though she knows he would never see her as anything but a friend.)
For fans of friends-to-lovers romance comes a heartwarming novel about self-improvement, identity and acceptance in our image-obsessed culture.
Brad is ready for a perfect senior year: he has a seat at the popular lunch table, a gig co-hosting the school’s morning announcements, and a gorgeous girlfriend. But when Carissa breaks up with Brad, his carefully constructed life comes crashing down. Convinced everything would be perfect if only Carissa would take him back, Brad creates a “self-improvement plan” and vows to re-win her heart.
Rose wishes she were having a normal senior year like everyone else, but leave it to her twin sister Carissa to butt in and ruin her life. Carissa secretly nominated Rose for the reality TV show Help Me Lose Weight and Live Again—and now Rose is on her way to Texas for three months of calorie-counting, marathon-exercising hell. Rose already felt overshadowed by her “perfect” sister, and collapsing on a treadmill on national TV is not making things any better. Plus, Rose can’t squash feelings for her sister’s boyfriend Brad (even though she knows he would never see her as anything but a friend.)
For fans of friends-to-lovers romance comes a heartwarming novel about self-improvement, identity and acceptance in our image-obsessed culture.
346 pages, Paperback
First published February 8, 2022
11 people are currently reading
3738 people want to read
About the author
Dallas Woodburn
18 books169 followersDallas Woodburn's debut YA novel, The Best Week That Never Happened, was a #1 New Release on Amazon, a Featured Bestseller on Apple Books, a “Must Read” on Reedsy Discovery, and the Grand Prize Winner of the Dante Rossetti Book Awards for Young Adult Fiction. Her short story collection How to Make Paper When the World is Ending (Koehler Books) was a Grand Prize Finalist in the Eric Hoffer Book Awards. Dallas is also the author of the YA novels Before & After You & Me (Owl Hollow Press) and Thanks, Carissa, For Ruining My Life (Immortal Works); the nonfiction books 1,001 Ways to be Kind (Familius) and Your Book Matters (Breakthrough Books); and the short story collection Woman, Running Late, in a Dress, winner of the Cypress & Pine Short Fiction Award.
A former John Steinbeck Fellow in Creative Writing and San Francisco Writers Grotto Fellow, Dallas's writing has been honored with the international Glass Woman Prize, second place in the American Fiction Prize, and four Pushcart Prize nominations. She is editor of the series Dancing With The Pen: a collection of today's best youth writing. She is also a book coach, founder of the Thriving Authors Summit, and host of the Thriving Authors Podcast, where she interviews authors about their creative lives. Connect with her at www.dallaswoodburn.com.
A former John Steinbeck Fellow in Creative Writing and San Francisco Writers Grotto Fellow, Dallas's writing has been honored with the international Glass Woman Prize, second place in the American Fiction Prize, and four Pushcart Prize nominations. She is editor of the series Dancing With The Pen: a collection of today's best youth writing. She is also a book coach, founder of the Thriving Authors Summit, and host of the Thriving Authors Podcast, where she interviews authors about their creative lives. Connect with her at www.dallaswoodburn.com.
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December 14, 2021
The person who ruined their lives just might bring them together...
Brad’s ready for the perfect Senior year: he’s got a seat at the popular table, co-hosts the school’s morning announcements and he has a gorgeous girlfriend. That is until Carissa dumps him and everything comes crashing down. But Brad has a plan to win Carissa back…
Rose has spent her entire life in the shadow of her beautifully perfect twin, Carissa. As Senior year approaches all she wants to do is have a normal time, preferably without too much attention. But her sister ruins it by secretly nominating her to appear on reality tv show, Help Me Lose Weight and Live Again. Now heading to Texas for three months of calorie counting and extreme exercise—on on national television no less.
Collapsing on a treadmill is embarrassing enough but having every humiliating moment of it on camera for the world see is even more so. It doesn’t help that Rose can’t quash her feeling for her twin’s boyfriend Brad (who she knows could never see her as anything but a friend.)
This was a really heartwarming and enjoyable read that tackles the age old themes of friendship, Social pressure and learning to accept yourself instead of trying to conform to the expectations of others. It’s a message that I think will definitely resonate with a lot of people.
I really liked both Rose and Brad (though Brad took a little longer for me to warm too than Rose) and felt really empathetic towards how they were treated by Carissa (Rose especially.)
Its a bit of a slow burn romance and told through the POVs of both Brad and Rose which I really enjoy and loved the coming of age aspect of them learning to accept themselves for who they are, I also loved the chemistry between them.
Carissa was the perfect antagonist and I definitely disliked her from the first page—she definitely gave Regina George from mean girl vibes but she does redeem herself a little by the end.
I also loved how Dallas Woodburn tackles the toxicity of reality shows and the toll they have on the mental health of not just the contestants but viewers too. Rose’s speech in response to her last weigh in was an absolutely satisfying moment, she handled it superbly!
Overall this was a really enjoyable and uplifting read, I definitely recommend to fans of friends to lovers or YA Contemporary Romances.
Also,I just wanted to say a huge thank you to Dallas Woodburn for the e-arc.
Brad’s ready for the perfect Senior year: he’s got a seat at the popular table, co-hosts the school’s morning announcements and he has a gorgeous girlfriend. That is until Carissa dumps him and everything comes crashing down. But Brad has a plan to win Carissa back…
Rose has spent her entire life in the shadow of her beautifully perfect twin, Carissa. As Senior year approaches all she wants to do is have a normal time, preferably without too much attention. But her sister ruins it by secretly nominating her to appear on reality tv show, Help Me Lose Weight and Live Again. Now heading to Texas for three months of calorie counting and extreme exercise—on on national television no less.
Collapsing on a treadmill is embarrassing enough but having every humiliating moment of it on camera for the world see is even more so. It doesn’t help that Rose can’t quash her feeling for her twin’s boyfriend Brad (who she knows could never see her as anything but a friend.)
This was a really heartwarming and enjoyable read that tackles the age old themes of friendship, Social pressure and learning to accept yourself instead of trying to conform to the expectations of others. It’s a message that I think will definitely resonate with a lot of people.
I really liked both Rose and Brad (though Brad took a little longer for me to warm too than Rose) and felt really empathetic towards how they were treated by Carissa (Rose especially.)
Its a bit of a slow burn romance and told through the POVs of both Brad and Rose which I really enjoy and loved the coming of age aspect of them learning to accept themselves for who they are, I also loved the chemistry between them.
Carissa was the perfect antagonist and I definitely disliked her from the first page—she definitely gave Regina George from mean girl vibes but she does redeem herself a little by the end.
I also loved how Dallas Woodburn tackles the toxicity of reality shows and the toll they have on the mental health of not just the contestants but viewers too. Rose’s speech in response to her last weigh in was an absolutely satisfying moment, she handled it superbly!
Overall this was a really enjoyable and uplifting read, I definitely recommend to fans of friends to lovers or YA Contemporary Romances.
Also,I just wanted to say a huge thank you to Dallas Woodburn for the e-arc.
Read
February 4, 2022Round up to 3.5 stars⭐️
Siri play you belong with me by Taylor Swift.
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC copy of this sweet and charming book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
“Love, real love isn’t striving. It isn’t hard. Real love is feeling comfortable around someone. Like you can be your true self, because that person gets you, and underneath everything else they’re your best friend.”
I was drawn to this book because of the title and it did not disappoint! Carissa is something straight out of a Mean Girls movie and really did a number on two close people in her life. Namely her twin sister Rose, and her now ex-boyfriend Brad. Jump on this wild YA romance and watch how the one person who ruined their lives is the same one who draws them closer to each other.
Brad just had his heartbroken by Carissa and immediately starts planning how to get her back. She is his everything. Plan? A to-do-list to get his life in order so she can see he is a changed man and come running back into his arms.With Carissa going to every length to ignore him, making him uncomfortable among is own friends and even losing his gig as the morning announcer at school, all he can think to himself is: Thanks for ruining my life Carissa. Brad slowly starts checking down every set goal and soon realizes this self-improvement is more for him than anyone else. With this new found confidence and a head clear of Clarissa, he discovers he is feeling butterflies in his stomach again, but for Carissa’s twin…
Rose has been sent of to Texas Fat Camp(aka reality TV show Help me lose weight and live again)by none other than her gorgeous skinny twin, Clarissa. Embarrassed and humiliated with camera’s documenting her every horrible exercising marathon and calorie counting move, she can’t help but curse Clarissa for butting in.Being overshadowed by your own twin is bad enough,and collapsing on a treadmill for everyone to see isn’t helping either. Neither is her thinking of Brad constantly doing much for her heart knowing he only sees her as a friend and only wants Clarissa. Thanks, Clarissa, for ruining my life.
This book contains everything from friends-to-lovers, self-improvement to dealing with fat-shamming culture and body acceptance. Its so simply and beautifully written. You will find yourself cheering these characters on page after page and feel wholly satisfied with the ending. Quick and super enjoyable read, this book offers an insightful look into the value of friendships and the journey of self-discovery.
Highly entertaining, highly recommended!
Siri play you belong with me by Taylor Swift.
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC copy of this sweet and charming book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
“Love, real love isn’t striving. It isn’t hard. Real love is feeling comfortable around someone. Like you can be your true self, because that person gets you, and underneath everything else they’re your best friend.”
I was drawn to this book because of the title and it did not disappoint! Carissa is something straight out of a Mean Girls movie and really did a number on two close people in her life. Namely her twin sister Rose, and her now ex-boyfriend Brad. Jump on this wild YA romance and watch how the one person who ruined their lives is the same one who draws them closer to each other.
Brad just had his heartbroken by Carissa and immediately starts planning how to get her back. She is his everything. Plan? A to-do-list to get his life in order so she can see he is a changed man and come running back into his arms.With Carissa going to every length to ignore him, making him uncomfortable among is own friends and even losing his gig as the morning announcer at school, all he can think to himself is: Thanks for ruining my life Carissa. Brad slowly starts checking down every set goal and soon realizes this self-improvement is more for him than anyone else. With this new found confidence and a head clear of Clarissa, he discovers he is feeling butterflies in his stomach again, but for Carissa’s twin…
Rose has been sent of to Texas Fat Camp(aka reality TV show Help me lose weight and live again)by none other than her gorgeous skinny twin, Clarissa. Embarrassed and humiliated with camera’s documenting her every horrible exercising marathon and calorie counting move, she can’t help but curse Clarissa for butting in.Being overshadowed by your own twin is bad enough,and collapsing on a treadmill for everyone to see isn’t helping either. Neither is her thinking of Brad constantly doing much for her heart knowing he only sees her as a friend and only wants Clarissa. Thanks, Clarissa, for ruining my life.
This book contains everything from friends-to-lovers, self-improvement to dealing with fat-shamming culture and body acceptance. Its so simply and beautifully written. You will find yourself cheering these characters on page after page and feel wholly satisfied with the ending. Quick and super enjoyable read, this book offers an insightful look into the value of friendships and the journey of self-discovery.
Highly entertaining, highly recommended!
December 10, 2021
This is a story of Brad, Carissa, Rose and a lot of miscommunication.
Brad and Carissa have been together for a while now when out of nowhere Carissa breaks up with Brad. He feels like his life is about to fall into shambles so he makes a detailed self improvement list to win her back.
Meanwhile Carissa's Twin Rose is on a Reality TV show Help Me Lose Weight and Live Again.
There is a lot of miscommunication involved between the three of them which is basically the central plot.
Brad and Carissa have been together for a while now when out of nowhere Carissa breaks up with Brad. He feels like his life is about to fall into shambles so he makes a detailed self improvement list to win her back.
Meanwhile Carissa's Twin Rose is on a Reality TV show Help Me Lose Weight and Live Again.
There is a lot of miscommunication involved between the three of them which is basically the central plot.
January 20, 2022
Note: Thank you to Netgalley & publishers for allowing me access to this arc in exchange for an honest review!
The first thing that drew me to Thanks, Carissa, For Ruining My Life was the title, and the second was the cute cover. I knew right off the back that this would be a fun read, and for the most part, I was right! If you're looking for a YA (I'd say middle grade-high school is definitely the perfect audience), cute, quick read, this is your book!
The Good Things
1. Brad and Rose are fantastic main characters. Despite a large amount of miscommunication between characters (fitting, since they are teenagers), the two of them have chemistry.
2. The story, overall, was cute, making this a light read that would be enjoyable for teenagers.
3. The cover and title are both fitting for the book.
The Bad Things
1. The drama was a tad too much for my taste. However, this IS a YA book, so it fits the category and probably shouldn't be counted as a "bad" thing.
2. Some chapters were VERY dialogue-heavy, which in my opinion, takes away from the overall story.
3. Discussion Questions. In theory, these are a good idea, but not my favorite addition to YA fiction.
The first thing that drew me to Thanks, Carissa, For Ruining My Life was the title, and the second was the cute cover. I knew right off the back that this would be a fun read, and for the most part, I was right! If you're looking for a YA (I'd say middle grade-high school is definitely the perfect audience), cute, quick read, this is your book!
The Good Things
1. Brad and Rose are fantastic main characters. Despite a large amount of miscommunication between characters (fitting, since they are teenagers), the two of them have chemistry.
2. The story, overall, was cute, making this a light read that would be enjoyable for teenagers.
3. The cover and title are both fitting for the book.
The Bad Things
1. The drama was a tad too much for my taste. However, this IS a YA book, so it fits the category and probably shouldn't be counted as a "bad" thing.
2. Some chapters were VERY dialogue-heavy, which in my opinion, takes away from the overall story.
3. Discussion Questions. In theory, these are a good idea, but not my favorite addition to YA fiction.
February 1, 2022
***Actual Rating: 5/5 Fluffy-Romance Stars***
Thanks, Carissa, for Ruining My Life is a super cute, light-hearted, and extremely uplifting Coming-of-Age romance story. This book is one of the best comfort reads I’ve ever had as the writing style makes it easier to fall in love with the main characters, whose personalities are simply too distinctively down-to-earth not to be friends with. This story is told from both Brad and Rose’s POVs; the former is Carissa’s ex-boyfriend, and the latter her (plus size) twin sister.
Despite the fact that Brad’s trying his best to win Carissa back with the “Self-Improvement Plan” at first, he turns out to be a better, more confident version of himself eventually. Similarly, even though Rose has zero interest in participating in the TV reality show Carissa signs up for her, she also gets to learn more about her own strength and herself in general. Both protagonists embark on a memorable self-discovery journey after having their lives ruined by Carissa…or at least that’s what it seems in the first place. *wink*
What I appreciate most about this book is that the characters are incredibly lovable as everything they experience is somewhat indispensable in our lives, making their adventures much more relatable. With the spectacularly eloquent writing style, I can easily resonate with Brad, Rose, and even Carissa to some extent, and I’m truly in awe. Never in a million years do I expect to feel so close to fictional characters; thus, this story will definitely stay with me for a very long time.
What’s more, bonus brownies points for this book since Brad’s a radio-host-wannabe just like me!!! This is probably the first time I’ve read about someone who also dreams about hosting their own show on the air so kudos to the author for all the detailed radio show references!
Lastly, I’d like to wrap up this review by saying that Thanks, Carissa, for Ruining My Life is undoubtedly the best choice for Coming-of-Age, YA Contemporary Romance book recommendation. The story teaches us how to be a better person by constantly being KIND, spreading POSITIVITY, and putting yourself in others’ shoes as often as you can. You never know whether it’s also a hard decision for someone like Carissa—who seems superficial on the outside but is actually a big softie on the inside—to RUIN your life by doing what she does.
By the way, have I mentioned the romantic element in this book is a cherry on top? Brad, Rose, Daniel, Carissa, Holly, Leo…gahhh, enough said, please just go pick this book up and savor every page!! You can thank me later.
All in all, I HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND Thanks, Carissa, for Ruining My Life and though this book is my first by this author, it certainly won’t be the last. Very looking forward to Dallas’ future works and I hope you’ll enjoy Brad and Rose’s story as much as I do.
***Thanks to the author for generously providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.***
Thanks, Carissa, for Ruining My Life is a super cute, light-hearted, and extremely uplifting Coming-of-Age romance story. This book is one of the best comfort reads I’ve ever had as the writing style makes it easier to fall in love with the main characters, whose personalities are simply too distinctively down-to-earth not to be friends with. This story is told from both Brad and Rose’s POVs; the former is Carissa’s ex-boyfriend, and the latter her (plus size) twin sister.
Love means gaining pieces of yourself that you never knew existed. I am the same person I’ve always been—only now, when I’m with Rose, I feel like more of myself than I ever was before. Maybe it’s because she could always see this more confident, purposeful, happy version of myself. She saw it before even I could see it.
Despite the fact that Brad’s trying his best to win Carissa back with the “Self-Improvement Plan” at first, he turns out to be a better, more confident version of himself eventually. Similarly, even though Rose has zero interest in participating in the TV reality show Carissa signs up for her, she also gets to learn more about her own strength and herself in general. Both protagonists embark on a memorable self-discovery journey after having their lives ruined by Carissa…or at least that’s what it seems in the first place. *wink*
"What I like about Brad is that he treats me like I’m a normal person. Usually when people look at me, it’s obvious that all they see is my weight. Like I’m a giant anonymous blob rather than a human being with thoughts and skills and emotions and ideas. But Brad isn’t like that. He looks at me and sees Rose. Just Rose.
What I appreciate most about this book is that the characters are incredibly lovable as everything they experience is somewhat indispensable in our lives, making their adventures much more relatable. With the spectacularly eloquent writing style, I can easily resonate with Brad, Rose, and even Carissa to some extent, and I’m truly in awe. Never in a million years do I expect to feel so close to fictional characters; thus, this story will definitely stay with me for a very long time.
What’s more, bonus brownies points for this book since Brad’s a radio-host-wannabe just like me!!! This is probably the first time I’ve read about someone who also dreams about hosting their own show on the air so kudos to the author for all the detailed radio show references!
I want to host my own radio show—interviewing people, offering advice, talking about issues of the day. When you’re on the radio, it doesn’t matter what you look like.
Lastly, I’d like to wrap up this review by saying that Thanks, Carissa, for Ruining My Life is undoubtedly the best choice for Coming-of-Age, YA Contemporary Romance book recommendation. The story teaches us how to be a better person by constantly being KIND, spreading POSITIVITY, and putting yourself in others’ shoes as often as you can. You never know whether it’s also a hard decision for someone like Carissa—who seems superficial on the outside but is actually a big softie on the inside—to RUIN your life by doing what she does.
Real love is feeling comfortable around someone. Like you can be your true self, because that person gets you, and underneath everything else they’re your best friend.
By the way, have I mentioned the romantic element in this book is a cherry on top? Brad, Rose, Daniel, Carissa, Holly, Leo…gahhh, enough said, please just go pick this book up and savor every page!! You can thank me later.
All in all, I HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND Thanks, Carissa, for Ruining My Life and though this book is my first by this author, it certainly won’t be the last. Very looking forward to Dallas’ future works and I hope you’ll enjoy Brad and Rose’s story as much as I do.
***Thanks to the author for generously providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.***
February 8, 2022
I am so proud of THANKS, CARISSA, FOR RUINING MY LIFE and the journey it took to get here. I worked on this novel for more than a decade and went through SO many seasons of rejection and disappointment. Now, to hear from readers who are resonating with this story and falling in love with these characters who I have loved for years and years… it is amazing. ❤
Thank you for reading!! I am so grateful for every single reader + every single review.
Thank you for reading!! I am so grateful for every single reader + every single review.
December 11, 2021
DNF @ 30%. I love myself which is why I don’t think I can put myself through this book. Both main characters are ANNOYING. Brad and Rose are LOSERS. Brad’s shaking and crying in front of the whole school because he got dumped and Rose just lets herself be taken away to fat boot camp like girl what?????
February 12, 2022
RTC. Happy pub day to this book!
************
ARC provided by publisher & author via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
It took me a little long to write this review but here it is:
First of all I want to thank the publisher for accepting my request of this book and I want to thank the author, Dallas Wooburn, for my physical ARC that is yet to come! I am glad to have had the privilege of reading this book before it was published (on the 8th of February!)
I have some mixed thoughts on this book. I was planning on giving it 3 stars when I was halfway through but then I decided that 1 star would be more than enough. The first half was very good but I'm not sure about the second half of the book because it felt like everything was rushed for a slowburn. We could say that I was somehow disappointed by the time I finished reading (I skimmed the last 60 pages).
SPOILERS ahead, read at your own risk!!
Let's start with the characters.
Brad: At first I did not like Brad, I found him rather obsessive and toxic, trying to "win back" her ex, Carissa, after he was rejected several times. He still thought that he could win her back (bestie, that is not okay, you can't win back a person who's rejected you and asked you to get away from them). However, there was a major character development in both Rose and Brad that I enjoyed witnessing. Brad became more like himself, he stopped pretending to be someone he wasn't and worked on his physical and mental health, once he was free of Carissa. Go Brad! Also the amount of Taco Carnitas they ate was really unhealthy. I recall Brad and his friend going to Tony's taco shack twice in a day. Okay Brad!
Carissa: Although this book revolved around the events of Carissa's life, we never got to see her point of view. Which I'm not complaining about, but I was surprised when I realised that the book consisted of two povs; Brad and Rose (which literally foreshadows the ending of the book). I did not like Carissa at all. Even when her brattiness and mean motives were reasoned to be something else (I can't even remember it).
Rose: Rose was perhaps the only character that I adored, so by the time I reached the end, she inevitably became the character that I disliked nearly as much as Carissa, her "perfect twin" (God if I hear that word one more time-). The book was mainly about Rose's journey of self-love, and the love of others that comes within. I really liked Rose, she was friendly, real, and "easy to talk to", so basically she was everything that Carissa was not. Yet she still thought being Carissa would make her happier. I would have still liked her if she weren't so irritating by the end.
The relationships were all poorly developed. I'm not only talking about Rose & Brad but also about Rose & Daniel and what was the name of the prop friend- I meant best friend, again? Oh yes, Daniel & Holly. I'm sorry but what the heck??!! These relationships were so complicated and so toxic that my jaw dropped while reading about them, and not in a good way. I could not bring my mind to believe that Holly; Rose's best friend, danced the night away with Daniel, who was Rose's boyfriend, who also CARESSED Holly's hair while they danced and Rose was OK with it? I mean you can't go kiss a girl, call her your girlfriend and then slow dance with her BEST FRIEND and caress her hair. There goes your "boyfriend" babe. The couples were not even close to being loyal. And Rose, herself, was not a bed of roses either. She was fantasizing about her TWIN sister's boyfriend while they were dating? I saw that one coming, but I thought that it would stay as a crush and nothing more because dating twins? That must be illegal right? And what kind of an ill-minded guy would do that?
"Carissa's thin. She's popular. She's everything I'm not."
I'm sorry but that was not it. There was no chemistry between Rose and Brad to start with. It all came out of nowhere, abruptly. The main ship lacked chemistry and realness, which is why I disliked both Rose and Brad, who were the two tolerable characters in this book. I found it very irritating that every two seconds pops an opportunity and the characters are like "oh look! there is my opportunity to do this" and then it disappears and they go "when will I ever find an opportunity" and then it comes again. Guess what happens next? It disappears! The book was very repetitive, it felt like I read every chapter several times, I started skimming most of the chapters because the two povs were literally the same. I get it, the characters think similarly, but do they really think of the exact same things at the same time every two seconds?
"I've never known anyone who can make the minutiae of life seem so interesting."
Brad and Rose's relationship was so unnecessary, I did not root for them because there wasn't a development between the two. You know how it is in slow burns. They communicate, they hang out, they talk over the phone. This book had none of it. In fact the trope in this book was the "miscommunication trope" which I HATE. Like come on, please talk instead of reading so much into everything. They keep thinking "no he doesn't love me" just because they weren't the first person they looked at, the minute they entered the room. One irrelevant event happens and they keep go "oh wait he likes me!!". JUST TALK. PLEASE. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. I CANNOT DO THIS ANYMORE. The characters were very indecisive, even more indecisive than myself, and they did absolutely nothing to solve their problems and rid themselves of their doubts.
"All you get to take with you at the end are the memories you make with the people you care about."
Are we going to ignore the fact that this book was not YA, despite it being intended to be a YA book? It sounded like it was written by a child. I'm sorry but "The Brosie Show"? What are you, ten? Some parts were just so cringe, I wanted to stop reading altogether. And there is going to be a SEQUEL????? No, thanks. This review was way too long. To conclude, I want to say that I did not like this book at all. I wanted it to end. I did wish I had some taco carnitas to eat but that was probably the only positive thought I had while reading this book. Thank you very much.
************
ARC provided by publisher & author via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
It took me a little long to write this review but here it is:
First of all I want to thank the publisher for accepting my request of this book and I want to thank the author, Dallas Wooburn, for my physical ARC that is yet to come! I am glad to have had the privilege of reading this book before it was published (on the 8th of February!)
I have some mixed thoughts on this book. I was planning on giving it 3 stars when I was halfway through but then I decided that 1 star would be more than enough. The first half was very good but I'm not sure about the second half of the book because it felt like everything was rushed for a slowburn. We could say that I was somehow disappointed by the time I finished reading (I skimmed the last 60 pages).
SPOILERS ahead, read at your own risk!!
Let's start with the characters.
Brad: At first I did not like Brad, I found him rather obsessive and toxic, trying to "win back" her ex, Carissa, after he was rejected several times. He still thought that he could win her back (bestie, that is not okay, you can't win back a person who's rejected you and asked you to get away from them). However, there was a major character development in both Rose and Brad that I enjoyed witnessing. Brad became more like himself, he stopped pretending to be someone he wasn't and worked on his physical and mental health, once he was free of Carissa. Go Brad! Also the amount of Taco Carnitas they ate was really unhealthy. I recall Brad and his friend going to Tony's taco shack twice in a day. Okay Brad!
Carissa: Although this book revolved around the events of Carissa's life, we never got to see her point of view. Which I'm not complaining about, but I was surprised when I realised that the book consisted of two povs; Brad and Rose (which literally foreshadows the ending of the book). I did not like Carissa at all. Even when her brattiness and mean motives were reasoned to be something else (I can't even remember it).
Rose: Rose was perhaps the only character that I adored, so by the time I reached the end, she inevitably became the character that I disliked nearly as much as Carissa, her "perfect twin" (God if I hear that word one more time-). The book was mainly about Rose's journey of self-love, and the love of others that comes within. I really liked Rose, she was friendly, real, and "easy to talk to", so basically she was everything that Carissa was not. Yet she still thought being Carissa would make her happier. I would have still liked her if she weren't so irritating by the end.
The relationships were all poorly developed. I'm not only talking about Rose & Brad but also about Rose & Daniel and what was the name of the prop friend- I meant best friend, again? Oh yes, Daniel & Holly. I'm sorry but what the heck??!! These relationships were so complicated and so toxic that my jaw dropped while reading about them, and not in a good way. I could not bring my mind to believe that Holly; Rose's best friend, danced the night away with Daniel, who was Rose's boyfriend, who also CARESSED Holly's hair while they danced and Rose was OK with it? I mean you can't go kiss a girl, call her your girlfriend and then slow dance with her BEST FRIEND and caress her hair. There goes your "boyfriend" babe. The couples were not even close to being loyal. And Rose, herself, was not a bed of roses either. She was fantasizing about her TWIN sister's boyfriend while they were dating? I saw that one coming, but I thought that it would stay as a crush and nothing more because dating twins? That must be illegal right? And what kind of an ill-minded guy would do that?
"Carissa's thin. She's popular. She's everything I'm not."
I'm sorry but that was not it. There was no chemistry between Rose and Brad to start with. It all came out of nowhere, abruptly. The main ship lacked chemistry and realness, which is why I disliked both Rose and Brad, who were the two tolerable characters in this book. I found it very irritating that every two seconds pops an opportunity and the characters are like "oh look! there is my opportunity to do this" and then it disappears and they go "when will I ever find an opportunity" and then it comes again. Guess what happens next? It disappears! The book was very repetitive, it felt like I read every chapter several times, I started skimming most of the chapters because the two povs were literally the same. I get it, the characters think similarly, but do they really think of the exact same things at the same time every two seconds?
"I've never known anyone who can make the minutiae of life seem so interesting."
Brad and Rose's relationship was so unnecessary, I did not root for them because there wasn't a development between the two. You know how it is in slow burns. They communicate, they hang out, they talk over the phone. This book had none of it. In fact the trope in this book was the "miscommunication trope" which I HATE. Like come on, please talk instead of reading so much into everything. They keep thinking "no he doesn't love me" just because they weren't the first person they looked at, the minute they entered the room. One irrelevant event happens and they keep go "oh wait he likes me!!". JUST TALK. PLEASE. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. I CANNOT DO THIS ANYMORE. The characters were very indecisive, even more indecisive than myself, and they did absolutely nothing to solve their problems and rid themselves of their doubts.
"All you get to take with you at the end are the memories you make with the people you care about."
Are we going to ignore the fact that this book was not YA, despite it being intended to be a YA book? It sounded like it was written by a child. I'm sorry but "The Brosie Show"? What are you, ten? Some parts were just so cringe, I wanted to stop reading altogether. And there is going to be a SEQUEL????? No, thanks. This review was way too long. To conclude, I want to say that I did not like this book at all. I wanted it to end. I did wish I had some taco carnitas to eat but that was probably the only positive thought I had while reading this book. Thank you very much.
January 10, 2022
I am a big fan of Dallas after I finished reading her book The Best Week That Never Happened. The book left such an impression on me that I re-read it two times and each time I was flooded with emotions that refused to go away. When I was approached for her next work I grabbed the book like one grab for oxygen at high altitude. Her work takes me to a different level where even when reading I can visualize each scene as I read each sentence. That's the magic she draws with her words, a magical spin of words catching you in its net. I managed to finish the book in one week and then I re-read it again. I delayed writing the review as it felt that a piece of me was going away.
I am relieved that I chose to read the ARC on offer. My hopes were really high after her earlier novel and must confess it was set really high. Dallas did not disappoint me in the least. The book caught on me from the first page itself. The author presents the story of Rose, Carissa, and Brad in first-person accounts, though only Rose and Brad and speaking. This style of writing makes the characters more real and also contemporary.
This is a beautiful journey of friendship turning to love between Rose and Brad. But do not be mistaken. This love story is anything but smooth. Rose and Carissa are identical twins, but nothing is identical about them. Be it their physical appearance, their nature, their attitude to life, or friends. They have nothing in common. Carissa is little Miss Perfect who has it all going for her. The perfect body, looks, grades, friends, etc. She is popular in school and adored by the teachers. On the other hand, Rose is shy and timid, gentle by nature, and overweight. She lives in the shadow of her sister and is more or less ignored by everyone. Brad, is Carissa's boyfriend on whom Rose has been majorly crushing upon. Life comes crashing down for Brad when Carissa announces the breakup. He is unable to handle this and becomes clingy and needy. He tries his level best to win back Carissa and even charts out a “self-improvement plan”. Carissa would hear nothing of it. In the meanwhile, Carissa has signed up her sister, rose for the reality TV show Help Me Lose Weight and Live Again. Rose leaves for Texas for its shooting unaware of the changes back home. She befriends Daniel who helps her gain confidence and also discover the star inside her. Her journey of weight loss becomes more than just a number as she discovers her true potential and accepts herself completely for the first time.
What happens when she returns home? Does Rose lose all of her weight? Does Brad win back Carissa? Pick up the book to seek your answer. I promise you will be lost in the magic Dallas spins within the pages. You will relate with the issues faced by the characters as they are not exaggerated nor are they out of proportion for the sake of a work of fiction. These characters seem like the regular teens we would see in any high school.
Some lines in the book really touch you deeply and will rest with you forever long after you've closed the book. This book will help you see the importance of self-worth and self-acceptance in a world of photoshopped and Instagram images. This book resonated with me on several levels as I too face weight issues and the battle is very much real.
I would like to thank Dallas and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I am relieved that I chose to read the ARC on offer. My hopes were really high after her earlier novel and must confess it was set really high. Dallas did not disappoint me in the least. The book caught on me from the first page itself. The author presents the story of Rose, Carissa, and Brad in first-person accounts, though only Rose and Brad and speaking. This style of writing makes the characters more real and also contemporary.
This is a beautiful journey of friendship turning to love between Rose and Brad. But do not be mistaken. This love story is anything but smooth. Rose and Carissa are identical twins, but nothing is identical about them. Be it their physical appearance, their nature, their attitude to life, or friends. They have nothing in common. Carissa is little Miss Perfect who has it all going for her. The perfect body, looks, grades, friends, etc. She is popular in school and adored by the teachers. On the other hand, Rose is shy and timid, gentle by nature, and overweight. She lives in the shadow of her sister and is more or less ignored by everyone. Brad, is Carissa's boyfriend on whom Rose has been majorly crushing upon. Life comes crashing down for Brad when Carissa announces the breakup. He is unable to handle this and becomes clingy and needy. He tries his level best to win back Carissa and even charts out a “self-improvement plan”. Carissa would hear nothing of it. In the meanwhile, Carissa has signed up her sister, rose for the reality TV show Help Me Lose Weight and Live Again. Rose leaves for Texas for its shooting unaware of the changes back home. She befriends Daniel who helps her gain confidence and also discover the star inside her. Her journey of weight loss becomes more than just a number as she discovers her true potential and accepts herself completely for the first time.
What happens when she returns home? Does Rose lose all of her weight? Does Brad win back Carissa? Pick up the book to seek your answer. I promise you will be lost in the magic Dallas spins within the pages. You will relate with the issues faced by the characters as they are not exaggerated nor are they out of proportion for the sake of a work of fiction. These characters seem like the regular teens we would see in any high school.
Some lines in the book really touch you deeply and will rest with you forever long after you've closed the book. This book will help you see the importance of self-worth and self-acceptance in a world of photoshopped and Instagram images. This book resonated with me on several levels as I too face weight issues and the battle is very much real.
I would like to thank Dallas and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.
October 29, 2021
THANKS, CARISSA, FOR RUINING MY LIFE
***SNEAK PEEK REVIEW***
I love how this book starts out with Brad’s detailed struggles in getting his heart crushed by Carissa breaking up with him. I felt for Brad in just the first few pages and couldn't stop reading!
Carissa is quite self-centered and as I turned the pages, I discovered a great dislike for the mean girl, especially when she enters her twin sister Rose in a contest to lose weight that is actually televised! My heart not only went out to Brad because of his blind love sickness over Carissa, but also to Carissa’s twin, Rose and her struggles with her weight. Carissa never treated Rose with much respect, in fact, it was quite the opposite!
I also loved the separation of characters of Brad and Rose and how they each told their own story throughout the book and was secretly happy not to see Carissa’s story. I liked the additional sympathetic best friends that helped these two through trying situations! I was happy to see Brad and Rose become better friends and I’m not going to say another word about that part! (Sooo cuute!)
You will need to buy the book in February 2022 and also take a peek at @DallasWoodburnauthor page for more details! 💫💫
I think any teenager will be able to relate to the highs and lows that Brad and Rose go through. This clean story brought me all the way back to high school (that’s a long way) and made me think of the little love triangles and young crushes along with the simplicity of just trying to fit in.
I liked how self-esteem and body image along with basic teen struggles were so perfectly implemented into this page turner!
Another story where I read in one day (!) that took me somewhere inside the lives of the characters, that even at my age, I could somehow relate to. I couldn’t put the book down and found myself cheering on Brad and Rose all the way to the end.
Thank you @DallasWoodburnauthor for asking me to review an early copy as I absolutely enjoyed (!) this lovely clean story about young simple love.
(.....and have to add that the title is nothing short of perfect!)👏👏👏👏👏👏
***SNEAK PEEK REVIEW***
I love how this book starts out with Brad’s detailed struggles in getting his heart crushed by Carissa breaking up with him. I felt for Brad in just the first few pages and couldn't stop reading!
Carissa is quite self-centered and as I turned the pages, I discovered a great dislike for the mean girl, especially when she enters her twin sister Rose in a contest to lose weight that is actually televised! My heart not only went out to Brad because of his blind love sickness over Carissa, but also to Carissa’s twin, Rose and her struggles with her weight. Carissa never treated Rose with much respect, in fact, it was quite the opposite!
I also loved the separation of characters of Brad and Rose and how they each told their own story throughout the book and was secretly happy not to see Carissa’s story. I liked the additional sympathetic best friends that helped these two through trying situations! I was happy to see Brad and Rose become better friends and I’m not going to say another word about that part! (Sooo cuute!)
You will need to buy the book in February 2022 and also take a peek at @DallasWoodburnauthor page for more details! 💫💫
I think any teenager will be able to relate to the highs and lows that Brad and Rose go through. This clean story brought me all the way back to high school (that’s a long way) and made me think of the little love triangles and young crushes along with the simplicity of just trying to fit in.
I liked how self-esteem and body image along with basic teen struggles were so perfectly implemented into this page turner!
Another story where I read in one day (!) that took me somewhere inside the lives of the characters, that even at my age, I could somehow relate to. I couldn’t put the book down and found myself cheering on Brad and Rose all the way to the end.
Thank you @DallasWoodburnauthor for asking me to review an early copy as I absolutely enjoyed (!) this lovely clean story about young simple love.
(.....and have to add that the title is nothing short of perfect!)👏👏👏👏👏👏
October 22, 2021
Oh, I just loved this YA romance! I absolutely fell in love with the characters and couldn’t finish fast enough. I usually read thrillers so the fact that I loved this so much says a lot!
Thanks, Carissa, For Ruining My Life is such a great book. Not only for the writing but for the little messages the author put in there for the readers. I feel like I could definitely take some of the “lessons” and apply them to my own life.
The book starts out with a high school breakup….ughhh we all remember those! The worst! Brad gets his heart stomped on by Carissa. She is beautiful, popular and outgoing. Carissa has a twin sister, Rose, who is nothing like her at all or so she thinks. (Wink wink)
Without giving too much away, the characters all navigate the changes within themselves and others to find their path. It was a beautiful story and as much as I wanted to find out the ending….I was not ready!!! I need a sequel!
5 stars all around!
Thanks, Carissa, For Ruining My Life is such a great book. Not only for the writing but for the little messages the author put in there for the readers. I feel like I could definitely take some of the “lessons” and apply them to my own life.
The book starts out with a high school breakup….ughhh we all remember those! The worst! Brad gets his heart stomped on by Carissa. She is beautiful, popular and outgoing. Carissa has a twin sister, Rose, who is nothing like her at all or so she thinks. (Wink wink)
Without giving too much away, the characters all navigate the changes within themselves and others to find their path. It was a beautiful story and as much as I wanted to find out the ending….I was not ready!!! I need a sequel!
5 stars all around!
May 5, 2022
It had been a while since I read a young adult book. This one by Dallas Woodburn was a great one to get me back into the genre. I loved the way she did her characters, the reader could really feel their emotions. And her plot was great!
I love that you see things through two perspectives in this one. Brad is the guy who gets broken up with in the very first chapter. He’s confused as to why. And he decides the best thing to do is to make a list of things to change about himself and change them. But, a funny thing happens as he starts changing things, he realizes that he really is okay how he is. And that maybe he’s not happy with Carissa to begin with.
The other person the reader gets to “know” is Rose. Rose is Carissa’s sister. And Carissa really does something to hurt Rose. She signs her up for a weight loss reality TV show. Some of the parts there were kind of sad to read. It’s sad when we can’t be happy with our bodies the way they are. But Rose learns a lot about her body and herself there.
I loved this book so much! It’s one I didn’t want to put down.
I was sent an e-copy of Thanks, Carissa, for Ruining My Life as a gift from the author. All opinions are my own.
I love that you see things through two perspectives in this one. Brad is the guy who gets broken up with in the very first chapter. He’s confused as to why. And he decides the best thing to do is to make a list of things to change about himself and change them. But, a funny thing happens as he starts changing things, he realizes that he really is okay how he is. And that maybe he’s not happy with Carissa to begin with.
The other person the reader gets to “know” is Rose. Rose is Carissa’s sister. And Carissa really does something to hurt Rose. She signs her up for a weight loss reality TV show. Some of the parts there were kind of sad to read. It’s sad when we can’t be happy with our bodies the way they are. But Rose learns a lot about her body and herself there.
I loved this book so much! It’s one I didn’t want to put down.
I was sent an e-copy of Thanks, Carissa, for Ruining My Life as a gift from the author. All opinions are my own.
October 20, 2021
The playful voice in Thanks, Carissa, For Ruining My Life brings out the hard and thoughtful elements all the more. Like a lemon paired with an apple pie, each contrasting bit helping to enhance the other. I absolutely love the message behind this story and the Legally Blonde-esque moments where the characters realize that they are trying to change themselves for all the wrong reasons—and what they strive so hard to achieve is not worth nearly as much as discovering the beauty they had inside them all along.
Read
January 29, 2022It’s Mean Girls meets Some Kind of Wonderful. One girl popular, pretty but toxic, The other always felt out of place, insecure but has a huge crush on the sister’s boy. Nice boy too enamored to notice the other girl until it was too late.
It’s not my typical genre. More catered for early teens. The story was sweet but predictable. Kind of dated. Who uses the landline anymore? The two main characters, Brad & Rose, were likable. Enjoyed reading each other’s point of views. I like how it started with Brad’s POV. My other favorite characters were Daniel and Holly.
“…I refuse to let fear rule my life. And that includes being terrified of gaining the weight back.”
There were body shaming triggers between the sisters and during the show. Some were kind of harsh especially from the coaches. But all in all, I thought the whole book ended on a good note. People may find it moving and inspirational. If you want a quick and easy read, this one’s for you.
Thank you, Ms. Woodburn, for the ARC and the chance to review your book.
It’s not my typical genre. More catered for early teens. The story was sweet but predictable. Kind of dated. Who uses the landline anymore? The two main characters, Brad & Rose, were likable. Enjoyed reading each other’s point of views. I like how it started with Brad’s POV. My other favorite characters were Daniel and Holly.
“…I refuse to let fear rule my life. And that includes being terrified of gaining the weight back.”
There were body shaming triggers between the sisters and during the show. Some were kind of harsh especially from the coaches. But all in all, I thought the whole book ended on a good note. People may find it moving and inspirational. If you want a quick and easy read, this one’s for you.
Thank you, Ms. Woodburn, for the ARC and the chance to review your book.
November 24, 2021
Thank you to the author, Dallas Woodburn, for reaching out to me about reading and reviewing the book as well as NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of the book to review. Thanks, Carissa, for Ruining my Life is a YA contemporary romance novel set to release in February of 2022.
The story follows high-school seniors, Rose and Brad, in a dual-point-of-view format, which I really liked. The infamous Carissa mentioned in the title is the twin sister of Rose and the ex-girlfriend of Brad. At the beginning of the story, we find out that Carissa has “ruined” Brad’s life by breaking up with him, and Rose’s by signing her up for a reality television show without her permission. Throughout the book, both Rose and Brad come to some really important revelations about themselves as well as each other. Rose and Brad’s relationship was wholesome throughout the book going from friends to eventually lovers. The relationship is very slow in progression as the two are always wondering if the other feels the same about them and not communicating their feelings toward each other. I liked the slow-burn aspect of the book. Carissa is an added obstacle in the book along with Daniel, another contestant on the reality television show. There is a sort of love-triangle aspect to the book, too.
Overall, this was an enjoyable book. I feel it is more geared towards middle-grade and younger YA readers, though I believe many readers could find something to like about this book. However, please check the trigger warnings on this book as Carissa, as well as the hosts of the reality television show Rose is on, are both very toxic. There are other topics in the book that may be triggering to some readers as well.
The story follows high-school seniors, Rose and Brad, in a dual-point-of-view format, which I really liked. The infamous Carissa mentioned in the title is the twin sister of Rose and the ex-girlfriend of Brad. At the beginning of the story, we find out that Carissa has “ruined” Brad’s life by breaking up with him, and Rose’s by signing her up for a reality television show without her permission. Throughout the book, both Rose and Brad come to some really important revelations about themselves as well as each other. Rose and Brad’s relationship was wholesome throughout the book going from friends to eventually lovers. The relationship is very slow in progression as the two are always wondering if the other feels the same about them and not communicating their feelings toward each other. I liked the slow-burn aspect of the book. Carissa is an added obstacle in the book along with Daniel, another contestant on the reality television show. There is a sort of love-triangle aspect to the book, too.
Overall, this was an enjoyable book. I feel it is more geared towards middle-grade and younger YA readers, though I believe many readers could find something to like about this book. However, please check the trigger warnings on this book as Carissa, as well as the hosts of the reality television show Rose is on, are both very toxic. There are other topics in the book that may be triggering to some readers as well.
July 10, 2023
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks, Carissa, For Ruining My Life was an interesting book. For the most part, I didn't like Carissa. She seems to be one of those people who thought she was joking but was just mean to everyone around her. I also didn't like how she kept telling Rose that she was fat and unhappy. They were twins and why does it matter what her size is?
Once Rose goes off to fat camp, to lose weight and truly fall in love with herself, I just felt bad for her. At first, she was completely humiliated, embarrassed, and alone. Along the way, she did start improving though. Self-improvement was such a big journey for her. Sure, she lost some weight and learned to love herself all over again. Yet, she told them that counting calories and gaining weight towards the end was okay. Heck, it could have been muscle for crying out loud.
Then there's Brad. Oh man. I get that his heart was ripped out of him and stomped all over by the love of his life, Carissa. Yet, I just didn't get the vibe that they were right for each other. Soon he learned who was more of his vibe and it just happened to be her twin sister, Rose. Of course, they sort of danced around one another until they finally told the truth. It took forever but I guess that's what you get when one is sent to camp and the other is starting a new job at a radio station.
Either way, they found their way to one another, and I was really happy for that. The drama was meh, but I did enjoy the body acceptance towards the end. Definitely glad that I got the chance to jump into this book and will look forward to next book Dallas writes.
Thanks, Carissa, For Ruining My Life was an interesting book. For the most part, I didn't like Carissa. She seems to be one of those people who thought she was joking but was just mean to everyone around her. I also didn't like how she kept telling Rose that she was fat and unhappy. They were twins and why does it matter what her size is?
Once Rose goes off to fat camp, to lose weight and truly fall in love with herself, I just felt bad for her. At first, she was completely humiliated, embarrassed, and alone. Along the way, she did start improving though. Self-improvement was such a big journey for her. Sure, she lost some weight and learned to love herself all over again. Yet, she told them that counting calories and gaining weight towards the end was okay. Heck, it could have been muscle for crying out loud.
Then there's Brad. Oh man. I get that his heart was ripped out of him and stomped all over by the love of his life, Carissa. Yet, I just didn't get the vibe that they were right for each other. Soon he learned who was more of his vibe and it just happened to be her twin sister, Rose. Of course, they sort of danced around one another until they finally told the truth. It took forever but I guess that's what you get when one is sent to camp and the other is starting a new job at a radio station.
Either way, they found their way to one another, and I was really happy for that. The drama was meh, but I did enjoy the body acceptance towards the end. Definitely glad that I got the chance to jump into this book and will look forward to next book Dallas writes.
May 31, 2022
I completely adored this book!
I loved how the chapters switched from Brad to Rose's perspectives.
I loved the way they both changed.
I loved that Carissa was the thing that tied it all together. Honestly, I wanted to throw her in time out for half the book, but by the end I felt very differently.
That, to me, is master storytelling.
I loved how the chapters switched from Brad to Rose's perspectives.
I loved the way they both changed.
I loved that Carissa was the thing that tied it all together. Honestly, I wanted to throw her in time out for half the book, but by the end I felt very differently.
That, to me, is master storytelling.
February 8, 2022
Enjoyed this cute coming of age YA romance by Dallas Woodburn! The writing really drew me in and I became completely invested in the characters and story. There were so many great messages and I loved the friendship and romance between Rose and Brad. It’s a sweet story of self acceptance, resilience, the importance of true friendship, and real love.
“Love means gaining pieces of yourself that you never knew existed.”
Brad is devastated when his beautiful, popular girlfriend breaks up with him right before Senior year. Not only does he lose her, but also the gig he loves doing morning student announcements. Determined to win her back, he develops a self improvement plan. He exercises, gets a job, learns to play guitar, reads and does his homework, etc. The longer he works on his goals, he finds he’s no longer doing it for Carissa, but for himself. He lands his dream job of working at a radio station and as time goes on he recognizes that Carissa’s sister Rose is the person he misses the most and wants to have a relationship with.
Rose’s life is ruined when her twin sister Carissa nominates her for a weight loss reality show (Help Me Lose Weight and Live Again). She agrees to fly to Texas and undergo an intense weight loss exercise program where she’s constantly surrounded by cameras and every move is intensely scrutinized. She suffers through some embarrassing situations, but gains the friendship of Daniel. Still, she can’t forget her crush on her sister’s boyfriend Brad and wishes she could be more to him than just a friend.
There’s a surprising amount of depth in this story. Both Brad and Rose undergo a lot of growth. They both realize that Carissa did them a huge favor by ruining their lives because it brought them closer together. They genuinely learn what real love is, the importance of kindness and acceptance, the harm in perfectionism, and the deceptiveness of reality shows. I loved Rose’s brilliant speech she gives at the end of the show and her recognizing that just losing weight didn’t create a perfect life. I loved Brad’s discovery that lasting love is based on true friendship which inspires and encourages.
Despite a lot of miscommunication, thanks in part to Carissa, there is a happy ending. Even Carissa who starts out as a really mean, manipulative, selfish girl, begins to redeem herself in the end. I also loved Holly, Daniel, and Leo. They are true friends who stick by and encourage Rose and Brad through their difficult times.
I recommend this to teens and adults alike who enjoy a really good YA romance. It’s clean with only some passionate kissing. There are very brief mentions of alcohol and getting drunk, but none of the kids actively drink in the story. There is no swearing which is a refreshing change. For sensitive readers, there is a cancer diagnosis and discussions of weight loss if those are tender subjects for you. Thanks so much to the author for providing an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.
“Love means gaining pieces of yourself that you never knew existed.”
Brad is devastated when his beautiful, popular girlfriend breaks up with him right before Senior year. Not only does he lose her, but also the gig he loves doing morning student announcements. Determined to win her back, he develops a self improvement plan. He exercises, gets a job, learns to play guitar, reads and does his homework, etc. The longer he works on his goals, he finds he’s no longer doing it for Carissa, but for himself. He lands his dream job of working at a radio station and as time goes on he recognizes that Carissa’s sister Rose is the person he misses the most and wants to have a relationship with.
Rose’s life is ruined when her twin sister Carissa nominates her for a weight loss reality show (Help Me Lose Weight and Live Again). She agrees to fly to Texas and undergo an intense weight loss exercise program where she’s constantly surrounded by cameras and every move is intensely scrutinized. She suffers through some embarrassing situations, but gains the friendship of Daniel. Still, she can’t forget her crush on her sister’s boyfriend Brad and wishes she could be more to him than just a friend.
There’s a surprising amount of depth in this story. Both Brad and Rose undergo a lot of growth. They both realize that Carissa did them a huge favor by ruining their lives because it brought them closer together. They genuinely learn what real love is, the importance of kindness and acceptance, the harm in perfectionism, and the deceptiveness of reality shows. I loved Rose’s brilliant speech she gives at the end of the show and her recognizing that just losing weight didn’t create a perfect life. I loved Brad’s discovery that lasting love is based on true friendship which inspires and encourages.
Despite a lot of miscommunication, thanks in part to Carissa, there is a happy ending. Even Carissa who starts out as a really mean, manipulative, selfish girl, begins to redeem herself in the end. I also loved Holly, Daniel, and Leo. They are true friends who stick by and encourage Rose and Brad through their difficult times.
I recommend this to teens and adults alike who enjoy a really good YA romance. It’s clean with only some passionate kissing. There are very brief mentions of alcohol and getting drunk, but none of the kids actively drink in the story. There is no swearing which is a refreshing change. For sensitive readers, there is a cancer diagnosis and discussions of weight loss if those are tender subjects for you. Thanks so much to the author for providing an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.
January 14, 2022
Thanks, Carissa, For Ruining My Life was one of the most refreshing books I've read in a long time. We start out with a high school breakup, which I think all of us remember QUITE well. Brad gets his heart ripped out, stomped on, and then thrown away by Carissa Hayward. At first glance, you'd think that the other POV would be Carissa's, but we actually follow Brad and Carissa's twin sister Rose. Carissa signs Rose up for a weight-loss reality TV show against her will.
What I love most about Rose is that while she's upset about the submission, she ultimately finds confidence in her own skin, starts to heal her unhealthy relationship with food, and really just goes on a beautiful journey of self-discovery that I think all teenagers go through at 17-18. Rose was such a wonderfully written character. Dallas Woodburn really reminds you what it was like to be a scared teenager who just wants to thrive. It makes you hurt for these characters and root for them all at the same time.
Brad is such a wonderful, wholesome boy. He just wants to do right by the people in his life, no matter how hard it is. I highly suggest if you love quick reads about self-discovery and love of all kinds, you should pick this wonderful book up when it comes out on February 8th!
What I love most about Rose is that while she's upset about the submission, she ultimately finds confidence in her own skin, starts to heal her unhealthy relationship with food, and really just goes on a beautiful journey of self-discovery that I think all teenagers go through at 17-18. Rose was such a wonderfully written character. Dallas Woodburn really reminds you what it was like to be a scared teenager who just wants to thrive. It makes you hurt for these characters and root for them all at the same time.
Brad is such a wonderful, wholesome boy. He just wants to do right by the people in his life, no matter how hard it is. I highly suggest if you love quick reads about self-discovery and love of all kinds, you should pick this wonderful book up when it comes out on February 8th!
January 23, 2022
Brad is starting senior year with the almost perfect girlfriend, Carissa. Unfortunately she dumps him, because Brad is not 'her type'. Rose, Carissa's twin, is also starting senior year, but her sister signs her up for a reality show about loosing weight. Both are thinking that Carissa has ruined their lives.
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It was a cute YA novel about self-discovery. It was an easy read and I loved both POV. It's a slow burner, and the relationships were pretty messed up. Like Rose was with Daniel, but still she was thinking about Brad. And uggh, Brad was a bit annoying in the first half. I couldn’t relate to any of the characters, there could be more character development. I think it is perfect for any mid teens. It felt a bit repetitive at times. The cover and synopsis was so nice that's why I was looking forward to reading this story but sadly it kinda slightly disappointed me. There wasn’t any proper moments in between Brad and Rose. But it was lovely to see Rose’s journey to self love.
Oh, the reality show reminded me of MTV Splitsvilla xD
I received a free copy via NetGalley from the author in exchange for an honest review.
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It was a cute YA novel about self-discovery. It was an easy read and I loved both POV. It's a slow burner, and the relationships were pretty messed up. Like Rose was with Daniel, but still she was thinking about Brad. And uggh, Brad was a bit annoying in the first half. I couldn’t relate to any of the characters, there could be more character development. I think it is perfect for any mid teens. It felt a bit repetitive at times. The cover and synopsis was so nice that's why I was looking forward to reading this story but sadly it kinda slightly disappointed me. There wasn’t any proper moments in between Brad and Rose. But it was lovely to see Rose’s journey to self love.
Oh, the reality show reminded me of MTV Splitsvilla xD
I received a free copy via NetGalley from the author in exchange for an honest review.
February 24, 2022
This was such a cute one. Thank you @dallaswoodburnauthor for sharing your book with me!
Brad thinks senior year is going to be great when suddenly Carissa breaks up with him while at the Dairy Queen. What?! She’s saying they are different people with different interests and, she just doesn’t love him anymore. Oh yeah? Brad is determined to change in order to win Carissa back.
Rose is sitting on her bed when her twin, Carissa, barges in waving something. Apparently, Carrissa signed Rose up for a reality TV show - for people to lose weight! UGH! See Carissa is the perfect, thin twin and Rose is the quiet, overweight twin. Carissa always thinks she knows best.
Carissa just ruined Brad and Rose’s lives… or did she?
Told from Brad and Rose’s POVs, these characters are funny and likable, although I really wanted to slap Carissa, (no, I don’t advocate violence 😂). 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬, 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐚, 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐲 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 is a sweet, friends-to-lovers, although very G-rated, story with some miscommunication thrown in. I’d love to see where these characters go from here.
Brad thinks senior year is going to be great when suddenly Carissa breaks up with him while at the Dairy Queen. What?! She’s saying they are different people with different interests and, she just doesn’t love him anymore. Oh yeah? Brad is determined to change in order to win Carissa back.
Rose is sitting on her bed when her twin, Carissa, barges in waving something. Apparently, Carrissa signed Rose up for a reality TV show - for people to lose weight! UGH! See Carissa is the perfect, thin twin and Rose is the quiet, overweight twin. Carissa always thinks she knows best.
Carissa just ruined Brad and Rose’s lives… or did she?
Told from Brad and Rose’s POVs, these characters are funny and likable, although I really wanted to slap Carissa, (no, I don’t advocate violence 😂). 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬, 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐚, 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐲 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 is a sweet, friends-to-lovers, although very G-rated, story with some miscommunication thrown in. I’d love to see where these characters go from here.
February 18, 2022
Brad and Carissa are the picture perfect couple. Until, unexpectedly, Carissa dumps Brad at the beginning of senior year. Rose, Carissa’s sister, also finds herself on a weight loss reality show as a result of her sister’s interference. Both Brad and Rose see Carissa’s actions as detrimental. But, as time goes by, they begin to see their circumstances and themselves differently and some unexpected possibilities in each other.
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This was a multi-layered, lovely story. I enjoyed getting to see Rose and Brad as they grew throughout the book. The author tackled some difficult issues in a way that felt authentic and yet not too heavy. I laughed, I cried, and I celebrated! I would definitely recommend this one!
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I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book that the author graciously shared. All opinions are my own.
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This was a multi-layered, lovely story. I enjoyed getting to see Rose and Brad as they grew throughout the book. The author tackled some difficult issues in a way that felt authentic and yet not too heavy. I laughed, I cried, and I celebrated! I would definitely recommend this one!
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I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book that the author graciously shared. All opinions are my own.
February 7, 2022
The title of ‘Thanks, Carissa, for ruining my life’ caught my eye. I was so overjoyed when I found it in my Netgalley shelf just waiting to be read.
This is a sweet contemporary read about Brad and Rose. It’s light-hearted, makes you laugh, easy do read and dual perspective.
Read my full review on my blog!
This is a sweet contemporary read about Brad and Rose. It’s light-hearted, makes you laugh, easy do read and dual perspective.
Read my full review on my blog!
April 24, 2022
Friends to lovers — or in this case, sort of friends / secret crushes to lovers — is one of my favorite tropes, and this book definitely delivers! Rose and Brad both feel like their lives have imploded, thanks to Rose's domineering twin sister Carissa. The journey they take through this book shows that while you can change parts of you, your true nature — the things that make you YOU — are the most important, and you should keep close the people who see you for who you truly are.
January 20, 2022
This isn’t my typical genre, it was more targeted towards younger teens, but I did actually enjoy it! It was a sweet read about finding yourself and falling in love. I couldn’t put this down, I read it in one sitting. I just wanted to keep reading and see what happened.
This is a slow burn and it focuses more on them as individuals for most of the book. I do wish we got to see more of Brad and Rose’s relationship, a few more chapters of them actually together would of been great!
I loved Rose’s speech during her last weigh in, it was such a good message!
If you want a quick and easy read that has a great message behind it, give this one a go!
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a slow burn and it focuses more on them as individuals for most of the book. I do wish we got to see more of Brad and Rose’s relationship, a few more chapters of them actually together would of been great!
I loved Rose’s speech during her last weigh in, it was such a good message!
If you want a quick and easy read that has a great message behind it, give this one a go!
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 6, 2021
I read this book in one evening... once I started, I couldn't put it down! Brad and Rose are characters that you just can't help but fall in love with.
I was immediately drawn in by the storyline (I LOVE dual perspective books!), and the entire book was simply a joy to read. It's super cute and entertaining - AND - it has a really impactful lesson about it being who you are on the inside that counts.
I was immediately drawn in by the storyline (I LOVE dual perspective books!), and the entire book was simply a joy to read. It's super cute and entertaining - AND - it has a really impactful lesson about it being who you are on the inside that counts.
November 26, 2021
*I received a free copy through Netgalley, this in no way influenced my review*
I felt very conflicted about this book, because while I did enjoy reading it, there was nothing special to me about it...
For me, it’s just another YA contemporary with the same plot that I’ve seen hundreds of times and nothing added to make the book stand out.
The thing I disliked most was how there was little to no conflict? Everything builds up throughout the entire book and then by the ending, everything is okay again in 5 pages??
So yeah, I rated this 4 stars because nothing is particularly wrong with it, but it didn’t feel very special.
I felt very conflicted about this book, because while I did enjoy reading it, there was nothing special to me about it...
For me, it’s just another YA contemporary with the same plot that I’ve seen hundreds of times and nothing added to make the book stand out.
The thing I disliked most was how there was little to no conflict? Everything builds up throughout the entire book and then by the ending, everything is okay again in 5 pages??
So yeah, I rated this 4 stars because nothing is particularly wrong with it, but it didn’t feel very special.
September 7, 2022
This heartwarming, quick read was refreshing. I enjoyed the clean, charming content and characters. I hope to purchase a physical copy of this story soon and look forward to reading more from this author.
I received an ARC of this story from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I received an ARC of this story from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
January 6, 2022
This is my first e-arc and I was so excited to read and review it!
The book is written out of two perspectives, Brad’s and Rose’s. Both have had their life ruined by the book’s title character Carissa. At first, this single thread is all that links the characters, as they are in two different places living out two different stories. Brad, Carissa’s ex-boyfriend, is trying desperately to win her back. Rose is Carissa’s twin sister who signed her up for a reality TV show to force her to lose weight. Dallas did a great job of making the characters feel like actual teens, and capturing all the angst and aches of high school. Brad’s arc and growth is amazing. Brad is basically every teenager who had their heart broken by their first love. As Brad tries to become a ‘better person’ to win back his ex, you can feel the conflict he has as he grows and his feelings grow and change, and the struggle he has with it.
I felt a lot of sympathy towards Rose. Not only was she basically forced to go to this fat camp reality TV show against her will, but the coaches and overall environment is toxic. There is no body positivity for Rose in either direction. I felt real anger at most of the people at the camp, who even when Rose was making good choices, if it didn’t show on the scale, she was shamed. Because of this, Roses personal growth felt a bit unnatural. You still can’t help but cheer for her as she learns to stand up for herself a bit, but given the environments she was in (both at home and at camp) it felt forced.
Overall the book was a great YA contemporary. Once I got to the 20% mark, I stayed up all night to get to the end. My only gripe is that there was a story line that was left unfinished and a lot of buildup to all the story-lines that were finished in the last ten pages. I felt like the story could have been longer to wrap things up neater and feel less rushed.
The book is written out of two perspectives, Brad’s and Rose’s. Both have had their life ruined by the book’s title character Carissa. At first, this single thread is all that links the characters, as they are in two different places living out two different stories. Brad, Carissa’s ex-boyfriend, is trying desperately to win her back. Rose is Carissa’s twin sister who signed her up for a reality TV show to force her to lose weight. Dallas did a great job of making the characters feel like actual teens, and capturing all the angst and aches of high school. Brad’s arc and growth is amazing. Brad is basically every teenager who had their heart broken by their first love. As Brad tries to become a ‘better person’ to win back his ex, you can feel the conflict he has as he grows and his feelings grow and change, and the struggle he has with it.
I felt a lot of sympathy towards Rose. Not only was she basically forced to go to this fat camp reality TV show against her will, but the coaches and overall environment is toxic. There is no body positivity for Rose in either direction. I felt real anger at most of the people at the camp, who even when Rose was making good choices, if it didn’t show on the scale, she was shamed. Because of this, Roses personal growth felt a bit unnatural. You still can’t help but cheer for her as she learns to stand up for herself a bit, but given the environments she was in (both at home and at camp) it felt forced.
Overall the book was a great YA contemporary. Once I got to the 20% mark, I stayed up all night to get to the end. My only gripe is that there was a story line that was left unfinished and a lot of buildup to all the story-lines that were finished in the last ten pages. I felt like the story could have been longer to wrap things up neater and feel less rushed.
January 2, 2022
This romance novel centers around two main characters, Brad and Rose.
Dallas takes you through their journey of insecurities from their point of view. As they grow to accept their new found confidence, due to each tackling their own fears and doing something about it, you can actually relate to how they see themselves and how they change and learn to love and accept who they are.
This Story is inspiring and motivational. It defines the fact that it is what you are inside that matters. “Beauty is skin deep” “ Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder”
Dallas takes you through their journey of insecurities from their point of view. As they grow to accept their new found confidence, due to each tackling their own fears and doing something about it, you can actually relate to how they see themselves and how they change and learn to love and accept who they are.
This Story is inspiring and motivational. It defines the fact that it is what you are inside that matters. “Beauty is skin deep” “ Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder”
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