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Ellie Is Cool Now
Meet the girl who’s “Most Likely to Make Everything Worse.”
TV writer Ellie Jenkins worked her butt off to put her nerdy, outcast teen years behind her. So there’s a certain delicious irony in that she works for a hit show about popular high school kids when she was So. Not. Cool. And now she’s been offered the promotion of a lifetime—if she attends her reunion. But Ellie’s memory of High School Hell isn’t nearly as traumatic as the reality . . .
No one at the reunion is what Ellie expected. Not her ex-best friend, who still has the ability to see right through Ellie. And not her secret crush, who has only gotten hotter, sexier, and way more complicated. The only way she’s going to survive this whole weird ordeal is by fixing her bad high school karma, kissing the boy who got away, and getting the hell out of Ohio for good. But Ellie’s discovering that in real life, she can’t just rewrite the script.
TV writer Ellie Jenkins worked her butt off to put her nerdy, outcast teen years behind her. So there’s a certain delicious irony in that she works for a hit show about popular high school kids when she was So. Not. Cool. And now she’s been offered the promotion of a lifetime—if she attends her reunion. But Ellie’s memory of High School Hell isn’t nearly as traumatic as the reality . . .
No one at the reunion is what Ellie expected. Not her ex-best friend, who still has the ability to see right through Ellie. And not her secret crush, who has only gotten hotter, sexier, and way more complicated. The only way she’s going to survive this whole weird ordeal is by fixing her bad high school karma, kissing the boy who got away, and getting the hell out of Ohio for good. But Ellie’s discovering that in real life, she can’t just rewrite the script.
352 pages, Paperback
First published March 21, 2023
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5456 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 258 reviews
March 15, 2023
Review coming soon.
October 28, 2022
2.5/5 ☆
Ellie is a writer for a popular TV show. When she gets the chance to become co-producer, she knows she can't say no when her boss forces her to attend her high school reunion. One stipulation: she hated high school.
This was okay. The plot was interesting enough, the writing was good and managed to keep me engaged throughout the entire book. I just ended up not really liking anyone... FMC is 28, but is immature and not likeable because of the decisions she makes throughout the book. MMC was boring and the backstory with him gave me the ick. The storyline with Ellie's bestfriend, Roxy, was probably the most interesting part of this book, but it was also so ambiguous that I felt left with unanswered questions.
Tropes:
-Small town
-Second chance
-Friends to lovers
-Forced proximity
Ellie is a writer for a popular TV show. When she gets the chance to become co-producer, she knows she can't say no when her boss forces her to attend her high school reunion. One stipulation: she hated high school.
This was okay. The plot was interesting enough, the writing was good and managed to keep me engaged throughout the entire book. I just ended up not really liking anyone... FMC is 28, but is immature and not likeable because of the decisions she makes throughout the book. MMC was boring and the backstory with him gave me the ick. The storyline with Ellie's bestfriend, Roxy, was probably the most interesting part of this book, but it was also so ambiguous that I felt left with unanswered questions.
Tropes:
-Small town
-Second chance
-Friends to lovers
-Forced proximity
April 4, 2023
The idea of attending my highschool reunion gives me hives, so I can definitely relate to Ellie not wanting to go.
Ellie Jenkins is a writer for a popular tv show, is living her best life, and is on her way to a fantastic promotion. But first, Ellie must attend her highschool reunion. EW! Ellie heads back to her hometown with a list of 10 tasks ("thanks" to her besties) to help her get through the experience.
I found this book quite entertaining. The tasks on the list were amusing and I enjoyed reading along as Ellie checked each one off of her list. Especially a certain one that involved a renaissance fair. Too funny!
Overall this was enjoyable. My thanks to Forever for this gifted copy!
Ellie Jenkins is a writer for a popular tv show, is living her best life, and is on her way to a fantastic promotion. But first, Ellie must attend her highschool reunion. EW! Ellie heads back to her hometown with a list of 10 tasks ("thanks" to her besties) to help her get through the experience.
I found this book quite entertaining. The tasks on the list were amusing and I enjoyed reading along as Ellie checked each one off of her list. Especially a certain one that involved a renaissance fair. Too funny!
Overall this was enjoyable. My thanks to Forever for this gifted copy!
March 13, 2023
Nope. This didn’t work for me. The premise sounds fun. Ellie Jenkins is writer for a popular tv show about high school kids. But Ellie didn’t like high school. With her 10 year reunion coming up the producer suggests she attend, dangling a co-executive producer promotion as the incentive. He is even more thrilled when she and two friends come up with a ten item list of things to show Ellie is Cool Now. Things like kiss her high school crush, prank the class clown etc.
Ellie returns to Ohio and the first person she runs into is her crush Mark. They never were together so this isn’t a second chance romance. He is working at a local bakery not living out his dreams of being a film maker. Next time she sees him it is at the reunion where he has Liz his ex-fiancée on his arm. They have been broken up for a week but are still living together. That situation isn’t salvageable. It isn’t funny when Liz catches the two making out on the couch in her home the next day. I’m team Liz, and Mark is a hard no-go as the the romantic lead.
I have a hard time being sympathetic to Ellie as a character. She was like most high schoolers not peaking in HS. She got good grades and went on to college and her dream career. The fact that she missed out on teen sex and drinking parties that are part of her tv show isn’t a big motivating thing for me to like her. She wasn’t popular but no one was intentionally mean to her and she has no need to show anyone up at her reunion. She knows she is the rebound and that Liz is not over Mark and yet she gets involved. The most interesting character was her supposedly best friend Roxy. Ellie hasn’t spoken to her since Roxy kissed Mark at a HS party. That storyline at least has an interesting arc.
Sadly I’ve found no reason to root for, be sympathetic towards or even like the main characters. I found them shallow and immature. And the story didn’t manage to work in how doing the things on the list helps her in writing or on her tv show which is supposedly the purpose. My reason for reading the book isn’t to have her meet up with a crush in a half step from cheating scenario.
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC in exchange for a voluntary review. (2.5 Stars)
Ellie returns to Ohio and the first person she runs into is her crush Mark. They never were together so this isn’t a second chance romance. He is working at a local bakery not living out his dreams of being a film maker. Next time she sees him it is at the reunion where he has Liz his ex-fiancée on his arm. They have been broken up for a week but are still living together. That situation isn’t salvageable. It isn’t funny when Liz catches the two making out on the couch in her home the next day. I’m team Liz, and Mark is a hard no-go as the the romantic lead.
I have a hard time being sympathetic to Ellie as a character. She was like most high schoolers not peaking in HS. She got good grades and went on to college and her dream career. The fact that she missed out on teen sex and drinking parties that are part of her tv show isn’t a big motivating thing for me to like her. She wasn’t popular but no one was intentionally mean to her and she has no need to show anyone up at her reunion. She knows she is the rebound and that Liz is not over Mark and yet she gets involved. The most interesting character was her supposedly best friend Roxy. Ellie hasn’t spoken to her since Roxy kissed Mark at a HS party. That storyline at least has an interesting arc.
Sadly I’ve found no reason to root for, be sympathetic towards or even like the main characters. I found them shallow and immature. And the story didn’t manage to work in how doing the things on the list helps her in writing or on her tv show which is supposedly the purpose. My reason for reading the book isn’t to have her meet up with a crush in a half step from cheating scenario.
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC in exchange for a voluntary review. (2.5 Stars)
April 19, 2023
I had high hopes for this book, but it didn’t work for me. It read like a YA novel with drinking. All her time in LA seemed like she learned it from Instagram. I was honestly shocked to find out the authors lived in LA. The idea of the list of things was fun, but I don’t think it worked in execution.
Thank you to @readforeverpub for the ARC.
Thank you to @readforeverpub for the ARC.
April 7, 2023
Have you attended or will you attend your 10-year high school class reunion? How many of your classmates are still in touch with you?
Ellie Is Cool Now
by Victoria Fulton; Faith McClaren
Pub Date 21 Mar 2023
Romance
4.5/5
In Ellie Is Cool Now, high school friends get a second chance at meeting each other and reminisce about their high school years. There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments in this plot that is relatable and endearing. It is written by talented authors and best friends Victoria Fulton and Faith McClaren.
Ellie Jenkins' dream is becoming a reality in Los Angeles. She's a writer for a hit television series about high school students. Ellie hated high school, and her writing reflects that, so her boss tells her to attend her 10-year high school reunion to gain some perspective. He promises a big promotion if all turns out well on the assignment. Despite her desire to be elsewhere, Ellie feels forced to attend. What will the high school reunion be like? Is reconnecting as horrifying as she remembers?
Thank you Victoria Fulton, Faith McClaren @victoriaxfaith and Forever @readforeverpub for sharing this fantastic book with me. Your kindness is appreciated! I highly recommend this heartwarming book to romance readers.
#EllieIsCoolNow #Gifted #Bookmail #bookishcommunity #bookstagramcommunity #blogtour #readingcommunity #Books #bookfriends #booksbooksbooks #booksta #bookstagram #newtobookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #instabookstagram #bookish #bookishielife #newtobookstagram #newtoinsta #newtoinstagra #Bookishcom #trending #bestsellingbooks
Ellie Is Cool Now
by Victoria Fulton; Faith McClaren
Pub Date 21 Mar 2023
Romance
4.5/5
In Ellie Is Cool Now, high school friends get a second chance at meeting each other and reminisce about their high school years. There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments in this plot that is relatable and endearing. It is written by talented authors and best friends Victoria Fulton and Faith McClaren.
Ellie Jenkins' dream is becoming a reality in Los Angeles. She's a writer for a hit television series about high school students. Ellie hated high school, and her writing reflects that, so her boss tells her to attend her 10-year high school reunion to gain some perspective. He promises a big promotion if all turns out well on the assignment. Despite her desire to be elsewhere, Ellie feels forced to attend. What will the high school reunion be like? Is reconnecting as horrifying as she remembers?
Thank you Victoria Fulton, Faith McClaren @victoriaxfaith and Forever @readforeverpub for sharing this fantastic book with me. Your kindness is appreciated! I highly recommend this heartwarming book to romance readers.
#EllieIsCoolNow #Gifted #Bookmail #bookishcommunity #bookstagramcommunity #blogtour #readingcommunity #Books #bookfriends #booksbooksbooks #booksta #bookstagram #newtobookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #instabookstagram #bookish #bookishielife #newtobookstagram #newtoinsta #newtoinstagra #Bookishcom #trending #bestsellingbooks
April 25, 2025
1.5⭐️
Just halfway decent. Seen it before, and I’ve seen it done better.
Just halfway decent. Seen it before, and I’ve seen it done better.
August 18, 2023
Does everyone remember the 5SOS song, Amnesia? Yeah, that’s what I wish I could wake up with. I cannot believe I gave this book an ounce of my time. I should’ve DNFed the second our female protagonist started obsessing over her high school classmates.
Let’s start with the elephant in the room…
“But if it’s any consolation, I was pretending it was you the entire time.”
GIRL RUN. RUN NOW WHILE YOU STILL CAN. This is the red flag to end all red flags.
Both of our protagonists, Mark and Ellie, are home wreckers. I said what I said. Their “relationship” was very clearly supposed to be some sort of forbidden romance, but now I just despise both of them with every ounce of my being. Him and his ex-FIANCÉE were separated for a WEEK before he’s sticking his tongue down another girl’s throat. That is the biggest ick I’ve ever experienced, in my entire life. Liz deserved better! Let’s also talk about Ellie’s odd possessiveness over him. She was PROUD that Liz walked in on her sucking the face off her ex-fiancée on THEIR COUCH. Girl please be so for real…you quite literally ran from him every opportunity he gave you to be together. So let’s stop acting so smug.
Even if I could root for them as a couple, there is no way in hell I would root for them as individuals. As someone that would also rather do anything than go to her high school reunion, Ellie was just way too much of a judgmental prick about it. Whether she wants to believe it or not, she definitely peeked in high school. What other reason is there for her making it her entire personality? Roxy’s clearly God’s strongest soldier because I could never be friends, let alone best friends with Ellie.
Oh and let’s talk about that. Ellie was such a fake friend! Roxy was literally relapsing and instead of being her rock, the shelter in the storm, she really goes all “not my problem” on her. But don’t worry! After a near death experience for Roxy, they’re best friends again…I feel the need to point out that this is very clearly a women’s wrong and I cannot be a girls girl in this situation.
Don’t even get me started on Mark. That man is the epitome of everything I despise about men. How you get them is how you lose them, that’s all I’m gonna say about that
In theory, the premise sounds…oh who am I kidding? In no universe did I think this was going to play out well. What can I say though? I’m an optimist.
Anyway…thank you to Forever Publishing for the gifted copy. As you can clearly tell, my opinions were in no way influenced by early access to this title.
Let’s start with the elephant in the room…
“But if it’s any consolation, I was pretending it was you the entire time.”
GIRL RUN. RUN NOW WHILE YOU STILL CAN. This is the red flag to end all red flags.
Both of our protagonists, Mark and Ellie, are home wreckers. I said what I said. Their “relationship” was very clearly supposed to be some sort of forbidden romance, but now I just despise both of them with every ounce of my being. Him and his ex-FIANCÉE were separated for a WEEK before he’s sticking his tongue down another girl’s throat. That is the biggest ick I’ve ever experienced, in my entire life. Liz deserved better! Let’s also talk about Ellie’s odd possessiveness over him. She was PROUD that Liz walked in on her sucking the face off her ex-fiancée on THEIR COUCH. Girl please be so for real…you quite literally ran from him every opportunity he gave you to be together. So let’s stop acting so smug.
Even if I could root for them as a couple, there is no way in hell I would root for them as individuals. As someone that would also rather do anything than go to her high school reunion, Ellie was just way too much of a judgmental prick about it. Whether she wants to believe it or not, she definitely peeked in high school. What other reason is there for her making it her entire personality? Roxy’s clearly God’s strongest soldier because I could never be friends, let alone best friends with Ellie.
Oh and let’s talk about that. Ellie was such a fake friend! Roxy was literally relapsing and instead of being her rock, the shelter in the storm, she really goes all “not my problem” on her. But don’t worry! After a near death experience for Roxy, they’re best friends again…I feel the need to point out that this is very clearly a women’s wrong and I cannot be a girls girl in this situation.
Don’t even get me started on Mark. That man is the epitome of everything I despise about men. How you get them is how you lose them, that’s all I’m gonna say about that
In theory, the premise sounds…oh who am I kidding? In no universe did I think this was going to play out well. What can I say though? I’m an optimist.
Anyway…thank you to Forever Publishing for the gifted copy. As you can clearly tell, my opinions were in no way influenced by early access to this title.
February 4, 2025
1.5🌟 hey so this is bad
May 22, 2023
2.5 stars
Didn’t hate it, definitely didn’t love it. Ellie was quite immature and that didn’t really change throughout the book. The ending was also a bit underwhelming.
Didn’t hate it, definitely didn’t love it. Ellie was quite immature and that didn’t really change throughout the book. The ending was also a bit underwhelming.
April 4, 2023
Ellie is forced to attend her high school reunion with a list of tasks to complete in order to get the promotion she's been craving to Executive Produce her own show. I thought this was a cute premise and I liked how Ellie got a chance to fix some of the regrets and relationships she had about high school but overall this was a bit too dramatic and just wasn't my thing. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
January 29, 2023
Thank you Forever for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Ellie is living her best life in LA, she is working as a writer on a popular show and can see her future before her. She is eagerly awaiting a promotion and looking forward to being able to write things she’s passionate about. Her boss is telling her that her attitude sucks and she needs to rehabilitate her attitude toward as she is too much of a cynic in school and her judgement is clouded by her high school days. Ellie was awkward in school and she had a crush on Mark but it never went anywhere in fact Mark had sex with her best friend Roxy which completely devastated her.
Unfortunately for her somehow her boss finds out about the high school reunion at her school and tells her if she attends and completes a list of tasks to complete she will be promoted to Co-Producer of the show. There are 10 items on the list.
I read this book over a couple days. It is a light read and I didn't have high expectations. The main character Ellie doesn’t come across as very emotionally mature .The book is engaging and predictable at times but still a fun read. If you like romcoms or are in need of a fun silly distraction this book should fill that bucket for you. It is a great book to take on a vacation or a book that will leave you feeling satisfied.
Ellie is living her best life in LA, she is working as a writer on a popular show and can see her future before her. She is eagerly awaiting a promotion and looking forward to being able to write things she’s passionate about. Her boss is telling her that her attitude sucks and she needs to rehabilitate her attitude toward as she is too much of a cynic in school and her judgement is clouded by her high school days. Ellie was awkward in school and she had a crush on Mark but it never went anywhere in fact Mark had sex with her best friend Roxy which completely devastated her.
Unfortunately for her somehow her boss finds out about the high school reunion at her school and tells her if she attends and completes a list of tasks to complete she will be promoted to Co-Producer of the show. There are 10 items on the list.
I read this book over a couple days. It is a light read and I didn't have high expectations. The main character Ellie doesn’t come across as very emotionally mature .The book is engaging and predictable at times but still a fun read. If you like romcoms or are in need of a fun silly distraction this book should fill that bucket for you. It is a great book to take on a vacation or a book that will leave you feeling satisfied.
June 28, 2023
I loved this book! A very easy cute read ❤️
February 16, 2023
*Paperback ARC
3.5 rounded up for GR
“This gig was always meant to be a stepping stone. Unfortunately, five years in, I think my shoe is stuck.”
“Does growing up turn you into a different person, or do you just become more you?“
So Ellie hated high school….you might wonder how on earth she ended up writing for a show about high school…she’s cynical and her job…well, she’s not where she imaged she’d be, but she’s trying (and struggling) to make the best of it. She’s got dreams, she’s got aspirations so when her boss tells her she needs to 𝘿𝙊 𝘽𝙀𝙏𝙏𝙀𝙍 in writing for the show and then presents her with her high school reunion invitation (which she had already thrown in the trash…because why would she go!?) and tells her to go to the reunion to get some “perspective” and dangles a sweet promotion in her face…what choice does she have?
Luckily she has some great besties, Vic & Tina, by her side to make sure going to the reunion is a bit less painful. How do they do that!? With an “Ellie is cool now” list. Oh yeah fun times.
Her HS bestie on the other hand (Roxy) I didn’t care for. Honestly, the entire time I was like she’s a terrible friend. However, the scene towards the end with the hospital bed sitting up made me laugh. I could legit visualize it in my head. No matter what life throws at you sometimes you’re stuck with each other “BEFRI STENDS Forever” right!?
Overall the book was enjoyable but, full disclosure…I didn’t like the majority of the characters. I liked Vic, Tina and Ellie’s boss (esp that little stunt he pulled that made Ellie want to throw him out of the window). I wanted to like Mark but he was a bit flat. It’s weird because usually if I dislike the majority of the characters usually I don’t like the book but in this case even with “meh” characters the book was still good. It would certainly make a cute movie.
3.5 rounded up for GR
“This gig was always meant to be a stepping stone. Unfortunately, five years in, I think my shoe is stuck.”
“Does growing up turn you into a different person, or do you just become more you?“
So Ellie hated high school….you might wonder how on earth she ended up writing for a show about high school…she’s cynical and her job…well, she’s not where she imaged she’d be, but she’s trying (and struggling) to make the best of it. She’s got dreams, she’s got aspirations so when her boss tells her she needs to 𝘿𝙊 𝘽𝙀𝙏𝙏𝙀𝙍 in writing for the show and then presents her with her high school reunion invitation (which she had already thrown in the trash…because why would she go!?) and tells her to go to the reunion to get some “perspective” and dangles a sweet promotion in her face…what choice does she have?
Luckily she has some great besties, Vic & Tina, by her side to make sure going to the reunion is a bit less painful. How do they do that!? With an “Ellie is cool now” list. Oh yeah fun times.
Her HS bestie on the other hand (Roxy) I didn’t care for. Honestly, the entire time I was like she’s a terrible friend. However, the scene towards the end with the hospital bed sitting up made me laugh. I could legit visualize it in my head. No matter what life throws at you sometimes you’re stuck with each other “BEFRI STENDS Forever” right!?
Overall the book was enjoyable but, full disclosure…I didn’t like the majority of the characters. I liked Vic, Tina and Ellie’s boss (esp that little stunt he pulled that made Ellie want to throw him out of the window). I wanted to like Mark but he was a bit flat. It’s weird because usually if I dislike the majority of the characters usually I don’t like the book but in this case even with “meh” characters the book was still good. It would certainly make a cute movie.
March 13, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
CW: chronically ill parent (side character), toxic relationship with a parent (side character), violence, slut-shaming (challenged), alcoholism (side character), cheating (side character), alcohol poisoning (side character)
I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)
-high school reunion
-childhood crush/second chance ish
-coming home
-second chance friendship
This book was messy and funny in the best way. Written for anyone who did not enjoy high school (like me), I loved this one. Ellie is challenged by her boss to complete a list and return home for her high school reunion. In her professional life she's excelled, but her personal/love life has struggled. Ellie was snarky, driven, and scared shitless to let love in and I just found her really relatable.
Coming home gives her an opportunity with Mark her childhood crush that almost was. These two had such great chemistry and Mark was messy too but I love how he saw Ellie coming home as an opportunity as he looked at his life and what he wanted out of it. These two were award, and bumbling and just sweet and tender. I loved their romance against the backdrop of coming home after a long time away. Seeing how all of the people you thought were going to excel in high school are doing now and just accepting yourself. Most of all accepting love even when it does scare you.
Steam: 3
CW: chronically ill parent (side character), toxic relationship with a parent (side character), violence, slut-shaming (challenged), alcoholism (side character), cheating (side character), alcohol poisoning (side character)
I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)
-high school reunion
-childhood crush/second chance ish
-coming home
-second chance friendship
This book was messy and funny in the best way. Written for anyone who did not enjoy high school (like me), I loved this one. Ellie is challenged by her boss to complete a list and return home for her high school reunion. In her professional life she's excelled, but her personal/love life has struggled. Ellie was snarky, driven, and scared shitless to let love in and I just found her really relatable.
Coming home gives her an opportunity with Mark her childhood crush that almost was. These two had such great chemistry and Mark was messy too but I love how he saw Ellie coming home as an opportunity as he looked at his life and what he wanted out of it. These two were award, and bumbling and just sweet and tender. I loved their romance against the backdrop of coming home after a long time away. Seeing how all of the people you thought were going to excel in high school are doing now and just accepting yourself. Most of all accepting love even when it does scare you.
Steam: 3
March 18, 2023
Ellie is Cool Now by Victoria Fulton and Faith McClaren
Rating: 4 stars
Steam: 1 chili
Pub Date: 3/21
Ellie is living her dream in L.A. as one of the writers for a hit TV drama about high school kids. Ironically, Ellie hated high school, and it’s starting to show in her writing. Her boss tells her that in order to gain some perspective for the show, she should go to her 10-year high school reunion. He promises her there’s a big promotion in her future if all goes well, so she feels like she has to go, even though she’d rather do anything else.
Her two bffs, Vic and Tina, create an ‘Ellie is Cool Now’ list to help her get through the experience. Items like Grab a Beer with Best All-Around and Hook up with the prom king, are at the top. The one that worries her the most is getting back in touch with her high school crush, Mark Wright.
This book gave me Never Been Kissed vibes, and I loved it! I wasn’t sure about this one initially because Ellie seemed extremely cynical and over the top about her hatred for high school. But it only took a few chapters for me to warm up to her, and once I did, I found this book funny and endearing.
I think many people will relate to the feelings of awkwardness and of not fitting in. As we all know, there’s life after high school, and I loved how this book made that statement loud and clear.
I liked Mark as an MC, and I could really feel the chemistry between him and Ellie. Their relationship was rocky at first, but I enjoyed watching them get to know each other all over again. There’s a strong “it’s always been you” vibe which is my favorite! I also really enjoyed Roxy’s character, but I wish we had gone deeper into her friendship with Ellie and gotten to know her better.
Overall, I enjoyed this small-town, second-chance romance and can’t wait to read more from this duo! Thank you so much to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for the gifted earc! Ellie is Cool Now hits shelves on 3/21.
Rating: 4 stars
Steam: 1 chili
Pub Date: 3/21
Ellie is living her dream in L.A. as one of the writers for a hit TV drama about high school kids. Ironically, Ellie hated high school, and it’s starting to show in her writing. Her boss tells her that in order to gain some perspective for the show, she should go to her 10-year high school reunion. He promises her there’s a big promotion in her future if all goes well, so she feels like she has to go, even though she’d rather do anything else.
Her two bffs, Vic and Tina, create an ‘Ellie is Cool Now’ list to help her get through the experience. Items like Grab a Beer with Best All-Around and Hook up with the prom king, are at the top. The one that worries her the most is getting back in touch with her high school crush, Mark Wright.
This book gave me Never Been Kissed vibes, and I loved it! I wasn’t sure about this one initially because Ellie seemed extremely cynical and over the top about her hatred for high school. But it only took a few chapters for me to warm up to her, and once I did, I found this book funny and endearing.
I think many people will relate to the feelings of awkwardness and of not fitting in. As we all know, there’s life after high school, and I loved how this book made that statement loud and clear.
I liked Mark as an MC, and I could really feel the chemistry between him and Ellie. Their relationship was rocky at first, but I enjoyed watching them get to know each other all over again. There’s a strong “it’s always been you” vibe which is my favorite! I also really enjoyed Roxy’s character, but I wish we had gone deeper into her friendship with Ellie and gotten to know her better.
Overall, I enjoyed this small-town, second-chance romance and can’t wait to read more from this duo! Thank you so much to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for the gifted earc! Ellie is Cool Now hits shelves on 3/21.
March 24, 2023
More Like 3 and a half Stars ✨.
I enjoyed this!
Please do not be discouraged by the star rating. It’s the one and two star ratings you need to be weary of when it comes to my reviews. Three and above is the green light to pick up a book.
Ellie is Cool Now was a fun fast read. I can see this book as something that could easily get a reader out of a reading slump.
I enjoyed the premise and the fact that it centers around a high school reunion. It takes place in the fall. Fall is my favorite time of year. There’s a small town setting. Unique and flawed characters and a List.
Why This Wasn’t a 5 Star Read- Mainly the romance. I wasn’t invested. I didn’t care for the way that the heroine treats the love interest. In the past and in the present. Ellie recognizes a pattern of behavior but doesn’t fix it. There was just no growth. I was a tad frustrated.
Overall- I still recommend this book. I’d definitely give this author duo another read.
I enjoyed this!
Please do not be discouraged by the star rating. It’s the one and two star ratings you need to be weary of when it comes to my reviews. Three and above is the green light to pick up a book.
Ellie is Cool Now was a fun fast read. I can see this book as something that could easily get a reader out of a reading slump.
I enjoyed the premise and the fact that it centers around a high school reunion. It takes place in the fall. Fall is my favorite time of year. There’s a small town setting. Unique and flawed characters and a List.
Why This Wasn’t a 5 Star Read- Mainly the romance. I wasn’t invested. I didn’t care for the way that the heroine treats the love interest. In the past and in the present. Ellie recognizes a pattern of behavior but doesn’t fix it. There was just no growth. I was a tad frustrated.
Overall- I still recommend this book. I’d definitely give this author duo another read.
November 13, 2022
First, a huge thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.
Second, this is such a cute book! I mean who hasn't dreaded a high school reunion and had horrible memories about a secret crush!? We've all been there so that part is very relatable. The part that makes this book not so relatable is her life in LA and her challenge at work. I would gladly do all the things Ellie had to do to get a promotion! The challenge, the boy, even the ex best friend, it creates a cute book that I couldn't put down. I was so excited to see how her week would end but was sad when it ended so quickly...there were several times I wanted to shake Ellie and tell her to grow up and the end was definitely one of them. For that reason I didn't love it but I definitely liked it quite a bit and would suggest it as a fun quick read for my friends.
Second, this is such a cute book! I mean who hasn't dreaded a high school reunion and had horrible memories about a secret crush!? We've all been there so that part is very relatable. The part that makes this book not so relatable is her life in LA and her challenge at work. I would gladly do all the things Ellie had to do to get a promotion! The challenge, the boy, even the ex best friend, it creates a cute book that I couldn't put down. I was so excited to see how her week would end but was sad when it ended so quickly...there were several times I wanted to shake Ellie and tell her to grow up and the end was definitely one of them. For that reason I didn't love it but I definitely liked it quite a bit and would suggest it as a fun quick read for my friends.
March 5, 2023
Ellie Jenkins is a TV writer for a popular TV show about high school. Ironically Ellie hated high school. She has written an episode for the mid season finale and the boss hates it. He requests for her to go to her 10 year high school reunion to gain some fresh perspective. Her friends come up with an "Ellie is cool now" list. If she completes the list she will be named co- executive producer.
She teams up with her high school crush, Mark Knight and he helps her with the list.
This was a fun hilarious fast read about high school/ small town shenanigans. At first I wasn't a fan of Ellie but by the end I was rooting for her.
She teams up with her high school crush, Mark Knight and he helps her with the list.
This was a fun hilarious fast read about high school/ small town shenanigans. At first I wasn't a fan of Ellie but by the end I was rooting for her.
May 20, 2023
2.5 stars. This book had a fun premise but the execution just wasn't for me. Ellie is about to get the job of being EP on a popular TV show but first she has to go back to her high school reunion. Furthermore, she has to complete certain tasks based on the yearbook superlatives (ex: Get a drink with best hair, etc. and she has to have her high school crush help her with at least one). This is about almost 30 year olds but the drama and angst feels like teenagers. You are told and not shown a lot about connection and chemistry between people and I felt literally nothing. The plot makes jumps in relationships that feel completely unreal and I just had zero investment in this.
December 8, 2023
Meh. Entertaining enough. I just couldn’t buy the 24 hour love story.
December 22, 2024
This book made me remember I need to read more rom com chick lit books. Loved this!
July 25, 2025
initial review
- i thought this was a cute little romance. it was a quick read for me and i was enjoying the story and most of the characters. it was a second chance type of romance but the characters never dated before so it was interesting to see how they tried to navigate their high school feelings for each other as they reconnected in their late twenties. I do feel the timing of a few things were a little bad, having the two characters get together right after one had just ended a marriage was definitely not the best way to begin their relationship. there was very little spice, a brief scene in the middle ish of the book and a brief scene towards to end that didn’t get into too much detail.
- i thought this was a cute little romance. it was a quick read for me and i was enjoying the story and most of the characters. it was a second chance type of romance but the characters never dated before so it was interesting to see how they tried to navigate their high school feelings for each other as they reconnected in their late twenties. I do feel the timing of a few things were a little bad, having the two characters get together right after one had just ended a marriage was definitely not the best way to begin their relationship. there was very little spice, a brief scene in the middle ish of the book and a brief scene towards to end that didn’t get into too much detail.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 27, 2023
Ellie didn't have a great high school experience, so writing scripts for a tv show set in a high school is a bit of a challenge for her. She's up for a promotion, but her boss wants her to get over her disdain and come back fresh and less jaded. Luckily, her ten-year reunion is coming up and the perfect time to reconnect with her former peers.
I can understand not having fond memories of high school, but Ellie's wasn't really so terrible and I felt like she blew it way out of proportion. She wasn't popular, but also didn't make attempts to make friends other than her bff Roxy. Ellie was bullied, just more of a background player. She had a crush, but instead of talking to Mark, she was pretty mean to him and ran away. What did you expect then??
I also thought Ellie was a terrible friend to Roxy. She was clearly struggling with abuse at home and turning to drinking, drugs, and sex as coping mechanisms. Ellie just distanced herself instead of trying to be there for Roxy or asking an adult for help. Then ten years later, Ellie still treats Roxy like crap. Did you learn anything?
The idea of the story wasn't bad and I like crossing off the list of superlatives, but Ellie was too unlikeable for me, down to the very end I thought she was selfish and cowardly. Not my cup of tea.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for the copy.
I can understand not having fond memories of high school, but Ellie's wasn't really so terrible and I felt like she blew it way out of proportion. She wasn't popular, but also didn't make attempts to make friends other than her bff Roxy. Ellie was bullied, just more of a background player. She had a crush, but instead of talking to Mark, she was pretty mean to him and ran away. What did you expect then??
I also thought Ellie was a terrible friend to Roxy. She was clearly struggling with abuse at home and turning to drinking, drugs, and sex as coping mechanisms. Ellie just distanced herself instead of trying to be there for Roxy or asking an adult for help. Then ten years later, Ellie still treats Roxy like crap. Did you learn anything?
The idea of the story wasn't bad and I like crossing off the list of superlatives, but Ellie was too unlikeable for me, down to the very end I thought she was selfish and cowardly. Not my cup of tea.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for the copy.
March 21, 2023
Thank you @readforeverpub @netgalley for a copy of this book. I think we all put a lot of pressure to be our best self for high school reunion. I can see why Ellie doesn't want to go and the idea of a to do list during her reunion was a fun premise. This felt more like a women's fiction with some romance. Parts of the story was fun and parts got me scratching my head with the characters actions. Overall, this was a fun and kept me interested.
did-not-finish
April 8, 2023DNF @ page 70.
This one was not for me. The characters seemed so painfully immature despite being in their late 20s/early 30s and the flow of the story was not written in a format that was enticing to me.
.
.
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As I did not finish the book, I will not be providing a star rating. Thank you Read Forever Publishers for providing a finished copy in exchange for my honest opinions.
This one was not for me. The characters seemed so painfully immature despite being in their late 20s/early 30s and the flow of the story was not written in a format that was enticing to me.
.
.
.
As I did not finish the book, I will not be providing a star rating. Thank you Read Forever Publishers for providing a finished copy in exchange for my honest opinions.
January 31, 2023
No matter what you do, who you become, or where you're going you will always be, in some way a part of who you were in high school. Ellie is going to discover that she is the sum of all her parts in Ellie Is So Coll Now by Victoria Fulton and Faith McClaren. I loved the evolution and the throwbacks to her high school days. She's about to discover she's not at all who she thought she was and that the other kids weren't as great as they pretended to be. Ellie is definitely cooler now that she has an understanding, not only of herself but, of the people she once called friends and those she deemed enemies. I truly hope this is just the beginning of a new series. There are so many characters that I am longing for a deeper look into. It really is the perfect setup.
~Tanja
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~Tanja
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July 6, 2023
A book about a TV writer who has to go to her high-school reunion to prove to her boss that she can write about teenagers while reconnecting with her ex-BFF, unrequited crush, and various high school bullies? I wanted to love this because that premise sounds great, but it didn't quite hit it out of the park for me.
I think my problem is that I expected it to play funnier, and more silly, than the actual tone of the novel. I went into this expecting something along the lines of Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion or Never Been Kissed. But a lot of the funnier moments definitely felt like they had more serious undertones. The FMC and MMC getting caught by his live-in former-fiancee? Funny, but then you realize how devastated she is about the end of their relationship. The best friend being kind of drunk and slutty? Oh, she actually has a very serious drinking problem!
Ellie's relationship with Roxy was the worst part of the book because she so clearly has no sympathy for Roxy and what she is going through. She also has these very nice parents who she is apparently close with, and yet she hardly interacts with them throughout the book. It just felt like she was very self-involved and had little to no time to think of anything other than herself or her crush.
Thank you to the authors and Forever Publishing for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
I think my problem is that I expected it to play funnier, and more silly, than the actual tone of the novel. I went into this expecting something along the lines of Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion or Never Been Kissed. But a lot of the funnier moments definitely felt like they had more serious undertones. The FMC and MMC getting caught by his live-in former-fiancee? Funny, but then you realize how devastated she is about the end of their relationship. The best friend being kind of drunk and slutty? Oh, she actually has a very serious drinking problem!
Ellie's relationship with Roxy was the worst part of the book because she so clearly has no sympathy for Roxy and what she is going through. She also has these very nice parents who she is apparently close with, and yet she hardly interacts with them throughout the book. It just felt like she was very self-involved and had little to no time to think of anything other than herself or her crush.
Thank you to the authors and Forever Publishing for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 3, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and Forever for my advanced copy!
Ellie is Cool Now features the dreaded high school reunion, a list of challenges to earn a promotion, and confronting some tough topics. This was a cute and quick read that I enjoyed but wasn’t quite in love with. Several parts, I felt Ellie was frustrating and immature. Her beliefs and opinions of other people felt no different than how she felt others treated her.
The plot is quite quirky and I feel most can relate to being the “uncool” kid in high school or having tension and awkwardness with other cliques. I’d have liked to seen the chemistry between Ellie and Mark blossom a bit and I craved more from Roxy and her friendship, both past and present, with Ellie. The rest of the cast gave a good feel of high school doesn’t necessarily define you for the rest of your life and appearances don’t always match what goes on behind closed doors.
Ellie is Cool Now features the dreaded high school reunion, a list of challenges to earn a promotion, and confronting some tough topics. This was a cute and quick read that I enjoyed but wasn’t quite in love with. Several parts, I felt Ellie was frustrating and immature. Her beliefs and opinions of other people felt no different than how she felt others treated her.
The plot is quite quirky and I feel most can relate to being the “uncool” kid in high school or having tension and awkwardness with other cliques. I’d have liked to seen the chemistry between Ellie and Mark blossom a bit and I craved more from Roxy and her friendship, both past and present, with Ellie. The rest of the cast gave a good feel of high school doesn’t necessarily define you for the rest of your life and appearances don’t always match what goes on behind closed doors.
January 31, 2023
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
For all those who hated their high school journeys!
Ellie Jenkins is a writer for a popular TV show, living her best life in LA (as far away from her small town home as she can get). Her entire life gets flipped upside down when she is forced to go back 'home' for her high school reunion. Antics ensue and a certain Mark from her past is still looking just as fine as he once did. With a list (to spice her past experiences up) to tick off - Elle is on a one way track to re-live a time in her life she'd rather forget.
This book was a laugh out loud read. The book did attempt to deal with some heavy themes but somewhat failed to hit the mark there. I also wanted more from the list - it was such a fun idea!
Worth a read :-)
For all those who hated their high school journeys!
Ellie Jenkins is a writer for a popular TV show, living her best life in LA (as far away from her small town home as she can get). Her entire life gets flipped upside down when she is forced to go back 'home' for her high school reunion. Antics ensue and a certain Mark from her past is still looking just as fine as he once did. With a list (to spice her past experiences up) to tick off - Elle is on a one way track to re-live a time in her life she'd rather forget.
This book was a laugh out loud read. The book did attempt to deal with some heavy themes but somewhat failed to hit the mark there. I also wanted more from the list - it was such a fun idea!
Worth a read :-)
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