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The Cheat Sheet #1
The Cheat Sheet
Is it ever too late to leave the friend-zone?
Hi, my name is Bree Camden, and I’m hopelessly in love with my best friend and star quarterback Nathan Donelson (so is half of America, judging by the tabloids and how much the guy dates). The first step is admitting, right? Except, I can never admit it to him because he clearly doesn’t see me that way, and the last thing I want is for things to get weird between us.
Nothing but good old-fashioned, no-touching-the-sexiest-man-alive, platonic friendship for us! Everything is exactly how I like it! Yes. Good. (I’m not crying, I’m just peeling an onion.)
Our friendship is going swimmingly until I accidentally spill my beans to a reporter over too much tequila, and now the world seems to think me and Nathan belong together. Oh, and did I mention we have to date publicly for three weeks until after the Super Bowl because we signed a contract with...oops, forgot I can’t tell anyone about that!
Bottom line is, now my best friend is smudging all the lines and acting very un-platonic, and I’m just trying to keep my body from bursting into flames every time he touches me.
How am I going to make it through three weeks of fake dating Nathan without anything changing between us? Especially when it almost-sort-a-kinda seems like he’s fighting for a completely different outcome?
Send help.
XO Bree
Hi, my name is Bree Camden, and I’m hopelessly in love with my best friend and star quarterback Nathan Donelson (so is half of America, judging by the tabloids and how much the guy dates). The first step is admitting, right? Except, I can never admit it to him because he clearly doesn’t see me that way, and the last thing I want is for things to get weird between us.
Nothing but good old-fashioned, no-touching-the-sexiest-man-alive, platonic friendship for us! Everything is exactly how I like it! Yes. Good. (I’m not crying, I’m just peeling an onion.)
Our friendship is going swimmingly until I accidentally spill my beans to a reporter over too much tequila, and now the world seems to think me and Nathan belong together. Oh, and did I mention we have to date publicly for three weeks until after the Super Bowl because we signed a contract with...oops, forgot I can’t tell anyone about that!
Bottom line is, now my best friend is smudging all the lines and acting very un-platonic, and I’m just trying to keep my body from bursting into flames every time he touches me.
How am I going to make it through three weeks of fake dating Nathan without anything changing between us? Especially when it almost-sort-a-kinda seems like he’s fighting for a completely different outcome?
Send help.
XO Bree
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 17, 2021
7,577 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38,880 reviews
April 10, 2023
“Bree is everything I aspire to be, everything I love, everything I desire. She holds my heart, and, with all that I am, I hope she never gives it back.�
edit : giving it a 1 star cause i took a good 5 minutes and contemplated my decision. yeah nope im giving it a 1 star
disclaimer : i know this book was a more PG sided book. i said smut would redeem it, not that i was expecting smut. plus, i did enjoy reading the books i just hated the execution. don’t hate me for my opinion <3
what is with women and pulling the “im so clueless i dont know he fucking loves me� card like bitch. BITCH. you only pull that card unless
1. youre stupid
2. you genuinely dont like them and want to friendzone
which clearly she doesnt want to friendzone him BECAUSE SHE’S FUCKING IN LOVE WITH HIM? so what in the actual pick me is this fucking book...
also i just thought of something I HATE WHEN THE CHARACTERS HAVE THESE FUCKING MORALS WHERE ITS LIKE "OH I DONT WANNA TAKE YOUR MONEY" like yes, in some cases thats fine but this man is rich as fcuk like take his money. if you wont i fucking will
the first half of this book was good. so addictive. i was honestly hooked. the second half?? bitch i wanted to claw my eyes out and sell my soul to satan like what the actual fuck. they kept “questioning� their feelings WHEN ITS FUCKING CLEAR AS DAY that they like each other??
this book was the biggest drag in history.. i wouldnt even call it sexual tension because its a fucking PG 13+ book like what part of that screams ”hot spicy sexual tension�??
exactly. none. of. it.
PLOT ˎˊ˗
2 besties, bree camden and nathan donelson. theyve been besties for 6 years and for the whole fucking six years theyve been in love with each other. surprised?? fuck no. bree is a ballet teacher and nathan is a star football player. theres a bit of fake dating (not the fun, hot fake dating tho) and then bam love. marriage. the end.
the plot?? basic asf. it was still fun to read but it wasnt anything that was interesting lol
also this may be a spoiler but its so bad that im just gonna say it:
who gets fucking married after a week of dating i dont fucking care you knew each other for 6 years like no. just no.
ROMANCE ˎˊ˗
there’s obviously no smut in this book cause duh PG 13+ ring any bells??
they were cute. there was kissing. VERY INNOCENT KISSING. ummm yeah idk 90% of this book is ”what they want with each other� but its all talk, no action like chop chop get together already??
honestly, maybe smut wouldve redeemed this book because it had potential and if youre gonna write a slow burn with a pretty basic plot and an annoying female mc at least give the readers the sex??
their romance was also a little.. cringe towards the end. it just got all lovey dovey and i was just like� what the fuck go back to being best friends
also a big BIG no no to public proposals id rather die and also i would hate to not be able to plan MY OWN WEDDING but everyone is different ig� *sigh*
!! SPOILERS?? even tho i think ive said a lot already so whatever read on i guess !!
bree camden :
� just a no for me.
who let her exist. no.. thats mean but just huh?? WHAT IN THE PICK ME GIRL IS THIS im sorry but was she not saying how ”she was being friend zoned� at the beginning of the book??
SHE WAS THE ONE DOING ALL THE FRIEND ZONING. THAT. WAS. ALL. HER.
literally losing braincells atm just give me a fat second
fhajkfkskfofowofoslfkvkekkekgkskekgkdlk kfkgkskkfkfkwkflglfleldkdkskkdvkkfkskdkfkflsldlvlfkdkekkgkvkdlelfkglfllwldlglflele
im calm :)
theres just SO MANY windows she could’ve taken but SHE DIDNT TAKE IT and half the time ran away??
nathan donelson :
� cute turned into cringe sigh
i liked him. didnt love him or hate him so� yeah. he was a good character UNTIL THE END where the love confessions came out and it was just� gross
idc about love confessions but ive read enough to know what a ”not so cringe kinda cute� confession should be. maybe im picky. maybe im judgemental but not gonna change my mind
he’s also THE BIGGEST SIMP which is ok i guess..?? he is so whipped for her tho like its fucking clear as day lmao and yet bree cant see it?? brb while i go lose more braincells
CONCLUSION ˎˊ˗
people hyped this book a bit too much because its really not that amazing. its average. its basic. yes, its addictive but like all in all, go pick up a smutty book and just read that instead. ok bye <3
August 8, 2022
I kept forgetting they were actual adults with jobs instead of 13yo kids.
I know some people have quirky personalities and I am sure that this was supposed to be quirky. It was not.
None of this was quirky.
It was annoying.
Not only did the female mc act so over the top and exaggerated all the time, but the guy was so weirdly immature that he really acted like a boy that still hadn’t gone through puberty.
I don’t get it. I also don’t get the appeal of making characters seem childish when trying to be quirky.
This is coming from a 20yo that still enjoys Disney movies and watches How to train your dragons on a weekly basis.
This wasn’t the “I am an adult but the child inside me still love xyz�.
This was “I am an adult but I am not like other girls/boys because I think like a child and still stick my tongue out at people�.
Now about the romance, why? This was just miscommunication. Not once till the end of the book did they think “mhm maybe the other person does like me�.
I can’t handle miscommunication anymore especially like this and don’t even get me started in the weird football team. Why did they act like that. Yes it was supposed to be comedic relief but it wasn’t.
One of the guys was funny and seemed like the funny best friend but the rest was weirdly immature.
I know some people have quirky personalities and I am sure that this was supposed to be quirky. It was not.
None of this was quirky.
It was annoying.
Not only did the female mc act so over the top and exaggerated all the time, but the guy was so weirdly immature that he really acted like a boy that still hadn’t gone through puberty.
I don’t get it. I also don’t get the appeal of making characters seem childish when trying to be quirky.
This is coming from a 20yo that still enjoys Disney movies and watches How to train your dragons on a weekly basis.
This wasn’t the “I am an adult but the child inside me still love xyz�.
This was “I am an adult but I am not like other girls/boys because I think like a child and still stick my tongue out at people�.
Now about the romance, why? This was just miscommunication. Not once till the end of the book did they think “mhm maybe the other person does like me�.
I can’t handle miscommunication anymore especially like this and don’t even get me started in the weird football team. Why did they act like that. Yes it was supposed to be comedic relief but it wasn’t.
One of the guys was funny and seemed like the funny best friend but the rest was weirdly immature.
September 19, 2021
The second hand embarrassment I experienced from the first three chapters alone...... bye. My goodness the pick-me energy, the I'm not like other girls trope???? Yeah, i'll pass.
I have never DNF'd a book so fast
I have never DNF'd a book so fast
February 28, 2023
not really understanding the 1 star reviews. was this deeply emotional and incredibly nuanced? no. were the characters a lil immature for their actual ages? sure.
but this was an easy read, a palate cleanser, a slump buster. romance doesn’t have to be deep to be fun or worthy of a read :)
but this was an easy read, a palate cleanser, a slump buster. romance doesn’t have to be deep to be fun or worthy of a read :)
August 17, 2021
it was supposed to give but it did not give what needed to be gave
October 2, 2021
keeping everything aside, ppl in their 30s acting like teenagers and trying to be quirky is annoying and cringe.
May 20, 2022
4.75 stars!!!!!
August 18, 2021
learning how to read was the biggest mistake of my life! lobotomy here i come <3
September 22, 2021
There are things i can nitpick about this book, but overall, so wholesome, so cute, and just a very light and fluffy read
It’s what i wanted and what i expected, so I really enjoyed it
It’s what i wanted and what i expected, so I really enjoyed it
August 19, 2021
the more i think about this book the more it incites a deep rage in me
January 19, 2022
ugh! so cute and funny i wanna throw up sparkles everywhere!!! had me smiling and laughing out loud LOVE
March 19, 2025
DEPLORABLE. JAIL. my eyes should be paid a handsome compensation for the assault it endured reading the cheap shitshow cheat sheet. and even more compensation for the pure, excruciating, unadulterated rage it evoked. cheska and i were LITERALLY hitting this book and throwing it. click off this review if you want cause i’m about to go on a rant and be the biggest hater. buckle up!!
“maybe this popular mainstream romance book will finally be decent� and “it can't be that bad� i said for the umpteenth time. alas, i’m so incredibly wrong. again. everyone and their moms were raving about this book at one point, so instinctively i was like i ought to read this?? anyway, if theres one lesson to be learned it’s that i should really stop listening to them. BUT it’s been on my tbr forever (it was one of the first books i added) so i’ve been kind of looking forward to it. yes, i had some preconceived notions. but what i could not foresee, is that this would be one of my least favourite books of the year, perhaps of all time. i don’t think i’ve ever said “ew� out loud, hit the book, cringed, was physically repulsed, wanted to cry, twitched my eye, screamed and questioned my life choices (in a bad way), and physically and audibly celebrated finishing it this much since the spanish love deception.
this was 320 pages and 320 pages too long. the plot? SO UNFATHOMABLY STUPID. try not to act and think like middle schoolers challenge and those absurdly petulant adults failed miserably. they’re pushing 30 with jobs and yet they can’t talk, nor convey their feelings at the bare minimum. WHERE ARE YOUR FRONTAL LOBES. i can handle a reasonable amount of miscommunication and downplaying of emotions in romance, but this was TOO MUCH. an incomprehensibly exceeding amount. 300 pages worth. ITS NOT A SLOW BURN IF THE MCS ARE UTTERLY DUMB BEYOND REPAIR. i’m gonna implode. every single page it’s “does s/he like me? could we be more than friends? are we going to kiss?� are you stupid? are you dumb? are you brainless?
OH HOW I ABHOR BREE AND NATHAN. they deserve each other.
let’s start with bree. bree cheese. breenkets. bree cheesy cheese. yes she uses those nicknames daily. why she embraces them unabashedly? i will never know. i wanted to slap her into orbit and still do. to everyone (in the book), she’s pure sunshine. she’s eccentric. she’s QUIRKY. she’s also THE BIGGEST PICK ME AND NON GIRLS GIRL TO EXIST.
“These men could all squash me between their thumb and forefinger, but they are all softies who honest-to-goodness treat me like their queen. They would carry me around on a chair lifted above their shoulders if I let them. I have no idea why-probably because I'm that girl who doesn't have an ounce of threat in my five-foot-four body. To these guys (Nathan included), I'm just Bree Cheese, the fun-loving, curly haired girl everyone loves with the dance studio above the pizza parlor.�
WRAP IT UP. and when nathan was dating another girl, she so surprisingly found every opportunity to hate on her! cause bree is just better than her and thinks kelsey doesn’t deserve nathan! my sincere condolences go to kelsey and every other girl who talked to nathan. kelsey is real for telling the world he has erectile dysfunction because he chose bree. also justice for aubrey, the makeup artist whereupon simply talking to nathan as a part of her job got her hated on by bree. she rebuked her because she had cleavage and was blonde and bree also made fun of her pores. i support those girls and i will die on that hill. bree, when i catch you!! no wonder you have no friends. she also enjoys going on elaborate and didactic raves about nathan’s height or big hands or irresistibly alluring abs and muscles every! single! chapter! and i thought i hated ali hazelwood fmc’s cause they did that the best. i guess i owe them apologies.
then we have the oh-so-rare-never-seen-before, pinnacle, quintessential lacklustre love interest, nathan. mr hottie mchotterson, as bree puts it🤮. he is essentially the fictional male equivalent of plain white rice, unseasoned chicken, a white powerpoint slide solely with black text, dry rotisserie chicken breast, a bowl of lettuce, a beige wall, tap water, plain porridge, a blank notebook, and everything else among that category, with the body of a superhero to make up for his vapidity and hormonal primality of a caveman, which evokes him to talk on impulse (in his head most of the time thankfully) about kissing and touching bree every time humanly possible. it felt like EVERY PAGE. PLEASE CEASE FIRING WORDS. bree does something with her hair? he wants to kiss her. bree walks? he wants to kiss her. bree eats? he wants to kiss her. bree talks about wanting to go piss? he’ll probably talk about wanting to kiss her. ALSO, is no one going to talk about how he saw her naked and didn’t tell her until the end of the book? and how he kept bringing it up in his internal monologue? “i turned around immediately and left, but that beautiful image is burned-no, something better than burned...engraved, transcribed, memorialized in my memory forever.� LITERAL VIOLATION. hello restraining order! get me out of this man’s head. was he sweet sometimes? sure i guess. but ultimately i still felt nothing but disgust for him and his overbearing flirting that incited the urge to gouge my eyes out. to me, he’s the antithesis of sexy. he’s stupid, icky, and corny. he kept questioning why his girlfriends were always mad at him and bree too. this was him: “oh, i wonder why all my girlfriends were always mad at us for blatantly ogling each other and being attached at the hip, it makes no sense�
by the end, i was so exhausted that everything they did and said pissed me off. especially nathan's repeated sayings like “are you with me bree?� stop. i’m not with both of you. i’m actually on the brink of hauling myself off a cliff. the big confessions also had no effect on me whatsoever.
normally, i love a guy obsessed with his girlfriend, but if nathan and their story where they can’t talk at all and have dated other people for months while being in love with each other is the said standard for everybody, i don’t want it. may this love and man never find me. i rebuke this energy. anyway, horrid experience. 0/10, would not recommend. the millennial cringe narration did not help at all. and congrats if you read this whole review. this might be my longest one as of now.
some other nauseating quotes/quotes that pissed me off:
“His eyes are as dark as the sky at his back. I swallow thickly as he moves to hover over me. His weight. GAH. Golden taut skin. OOF. That ripped abdomen I finally get to dance my fingers across. MMM.� no.
"Yes, I know we lost. And yeah, I'm disappointed, but mainly I'm just relieved it's all finally over. I feel like this huge weight has dropped off of me.
Now, I'm just ready to breathe beside you for a while. Preferably on a beach somewhere. With you in the skimpiest bikini I can find." LET HER WEAR WHAT SHE WANTS. now, i'm just ready to see you verbally restrain yourself!
“They've been trying to convince Bree to date me? This news only validates my instinct that Bree and I would be perfect together, making me feel even flirtier. ‘So I shouldn't pinch your butt in front of them?’� nurse, he's out again!!
-
i fear this review is going to be a big one. rtc.
-
BR WITH BSF CHESKA 💪💪
“maybe this popular mainstream romance book will finally be decent� and “it can't be that bad� i said for the umpteenth time. alas, i’m so incredibly wrong. again. everyone and their moms were raving about this book at one point, so instinctively i was like i ought to read this?? anyway, if theres one lesson to be learned it’s that i should really stop listening to them. BUT it’s been on my tbr forever (it was one of the first books i added) so i’ve been kind of looking forward to it. yes, i had some preconceived notions. but what i could not foresee, is that this would be one of my least favourite books of the year, perhaps of all time. i don’t think i’ve ever said “ew� out loud, hit the book, cringed, was physically repulsed, wanted to cry, twitched my eye, screamed and questioned my life choices (in a bad way), and physically and audibly celebrated finishing it this much since the spanish love deception.
this was 320 pages and 320 pages too long. the plot? SO UNFATHOMABLY STUPID. try not to act and think like middle schoolers challenge and those absurdly petulant adults failed miserably. they’re pushing 30 with jobs and yet they can’t talk, nor convey their feelings at the bare minimum. WHERE ARE YOUR FRONTAL LOBES. i can handle a reasonable amount of miscommunication and downplaying of emotions in romance, but this was TOO MUCH. an incomprehensibly exceeding amount. 300 pages worth. ITS NOT A SLOW BURN IF THE MCS ARE UTTERLY DUMB BEYOND REPAIR. i’m gonna implode. every single page it’s “does s/he like me? could we be more than friends? are we going to kiss?� are you stupid? are you dumb? are you brainless?
OH HOW I ABHOR BREE AND NATHAN. they deserve each other.
let’s start with bree. bree cheese. breenkets. bree cheesy cheese. yes she uses those nicknames daily. why she embraces them unabashedly? i will never know. i wanted to slap her into orbit and still do. to everyone (in the book), she’s pure sunshine. she’s eccentric. she’s QUIRKY. she’s also THE BIGGEST PICK ME AND NON GIRLS GIRL TO EXIST.
“These men could all squash me between their thumb and forefinger, but they are all softies who honest-to-goodness treat me like their queen. They would carry me around on a chair lifted above their shoulders if I let them. I have no idea why-probably because I'm that girl who doesn't have an ounce of threat in my five-foot-four body. To these guys (Nathan included), I'm just Bree Cheese, the fun-loving, curly haired girl everyone loves with the dance studio above the pizza parlor.�
WRAP IT UP. and when nathan was dating another girl, she so surprisingly found every opportunity to hate on her! cause bree is just better than her and thinks kelsey doesn’t deserve nathan! my sincere condolences go to kelsey and every other girl who talked to nathan. kelsey is real for telling the world he has erectile dysfunction because he chose bree. also justice for aubrey, the makeup artist whereupon simply talking to nathan as a part of her job got her hated on by bree. she rebuked her because she had cleavage and was blonde and bree also made fun of her pores. i support those girls and i will die on that hill. bree, when i catch you!! no wonder you have no friends. she also enjoys going on elaborate and didactic raves about nathan’s height or big hands or irresistibly alluring abs and muscles every! single! chapter! and i thought i hated ali hazelwood fmc’s cause they did that the best. i guess i owe them apologies.
then we have the oh-so-rare-never-seen-before, pinnacle, quintessential lacklustre love interest, nathan. mr hottie mchotterson, as bree puts it🤮. he is essentially the fictional male equivalent of plain white rice, unseasoned chicken, a white powerpoint slide solely with black text, dry rotisserie chicken breast, a bowl of lettuce, a beige wall, tap water, plain porridge, a blank notebook, and everything else among that category, with the body of a superhero to make up for his vapidity and hormonal primality of a caveman, which evokes him to talk on impulse (in his head most of the time thankfully) about kissing and touching bree every time humanly possible. it felt like EVERY PAGE. PLEASE CEASE FIRING WORDS. bree does something with her hair? he wants to kiss her. bree walks? he wants to kiss her. bree eats? he wants to kiss her. bree talks about wanting to go piss? he’ll probably talk about wanting to kiss her. ALSO, is no one going to talk about how he saw her naked and didn’t tell her until the end of the book? and how he kept bringing it up in his internal monologue? “i turned around immediately and left, but that beautiful image is burned-no, something better than burned...engraved, transcribed, memorialized in my memory forever.� LITERAL VIOLATION. hello restraining order! get me out of this man’s head. was he sweet sometimes? sure i guess. but ultimately i still felt nothing but disgust for him and his overbearing flirting that incited the urge to gouge my eyes out. to me, he’s the antithesis of sexy. he’s stupid, icky, and corny. he kept questioning why his girlfriends were always mad at him and bree too. this was him: “oh, i wonder why all my girlfriends were always mad at us for blatantly ogling each other and being attached at the hip, it makes no sense�
by the end, i was so exhausted that everything they did and said pissed me off. especially nathan's repeated sayings like “are you with me bree?� stop. i’m not with both of you. i’m actually on the brink of hauling myself off a cliff. the big confessions also had no effect on me whatsoever.
normally, i love a guy obsessed with his girlfriend, but if nathan and their story where they can’t talk at all and have dated other people for months while being in love with each other is the said standard for everybody, i don’t want it. may this love and man never find me. i rebuke this energy. anyway, horrid experience. 0/10, would not recommend. the millennial cringe narration did not help at all. and congrats if you read this whole review. this might be my longest one as of now.
some other nauseating quotes/quotes that pissed me off:
“His eyes are as dark as the sky at his back. I swallow thickly as he moves to hover over me. His weight. GAH. Golden taut skin. OOF. That ripped abdomen I finally get to dance my fingers across. MMM.� no.
"Yes, I know we lost. And yeah, I'm disappointed, but mainly I'm just relieved it's all finally over. I feel like this huge weight has dropped off of me.
Now, I'm just ready to breathe beside you for a while. Preferably on a beach somewhere. With you in the skimpiest bikini I can find." LET HER WEAR WHAT SHE WANTS. now, i'm just ready to see you verbally restrain yourself!
“They've been trying to convince Bree to date me? This news only validates my instinct that Bree and I would be perfect together, making me feel even flirtier. ‘So I shouldn't pinch your butt in front of them?’� nurse, he's out again!!
-
i fear this review is going to be a big one. rtc.
-
BR WITH BSF CHESKA 💪💪
March 17, 2022
Listen, if The Cheat Sheet was set in high school, it would have easily got at least 3 stars from me, ok? At least. But you can’t expect me to buy into your love story between grownups � one of whom is actually a successful NFL quarterback to boot when you crammed it full of characters that act this immature and special-snowflaky.
And that ending scene was just sooo extra� I’ve never read more unrealistic scene in my life. Just wish-fulfillment to the max!
And that ending scene was just sooo extra� I’ve never read more unrealistic scene in my life. Just wish-fulfillment to the max!
October 31, 2021
4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️� THIS BOOK HAD NO BUSINESS BEING THIS CUTE SOS! The couple reminded me a lot of Nathan & Haley from One Tree Hill and that’s my fav show & fav couple so y’all KNOW I loved this. I only didn’t give it a full 5 stars because some parts were a bit too cheesy for me, but I still adored this book. <3
September 22, 2021
This book is absolutely adorable. Friends to lovers, mutual pining, fake dating... I'm in love. While the writing style may not be for everyone, I was completely hooked by the fun characters and their swoon-worthy romance.
[TW: Anxiety, panic attacks]
[TW: Anxiety, panic attacks]
February 19, 2023
where do i even begin with this?
one, the plot, it was a mess like it starts off with them as friends and they somehow end up married by the end of the book (it takes place over like 4 weeks??). it reminds me of that one movie baby’s day out where this rich baby is kidnapped by these men who have no idea how to keep track of a kid and so the kid goes literally everywhere and ends up at some construction site at some point. and like the plot makes no sense but it starts where it’s supposed to and it ends where it’s supposed to so you can’t really fault it for that. but for this book i will 100% complain about it because it makes no sense like i read this book yesterday and if you asked me to describe any of what happened today, after ive finished the book, i don’t think i could do that.
two, the main character, i just didn’t like bree in the beginning. like don’t get me wrong she gets better and definitely has her moments but i just couldn’t stand her in the first few chapters. she was a pick me but he did pick her so idk�
three, the fucking miscommunication BECAUSE THEYRE SO DUMB HE LITERALLY TELLS HER THAT HES FLIRTING WITH HER?? THEIR DIALOGUE QUITE LITERALLY GOES “are you flirting with me🤨� “yes☺️� AND RHIS 7MARA DECIDES TO JUST WALK AWAY??
four, the dialogue just didn’t make it feel like they were adults. like the lines with nathan and his team could have just as easily been used in a conversation from high schoolers and it would not change a thing. the side characters were just really flat and were only there to yell at nathan and bree for being morons. i don’t understand how this book is intended for adults because the writing was just so incredibly juvenile.
also you’ve got the rich x poor trope where rich person is like “you know i can buy you something i really don’t mind� and the reply is “no but ill feel bad🙁� and it made me want to rip my hair out. rip bree and her morals i don’t have any so if anyone ever wants to buy me a car i won’t mind.
i feel like the worst part is that i actually was looking forward to it because the tropes seemed cute but i just couldn’t deal with the writing�
i don’t think this is a book i would recommend to anyone bc it was an absolute trainwreck. there were definitely parts of this book that weren’t horrible but it was overshadowed by the sheer amount of garbage also in this book.
one, the plot, it was a mess like it starts off with them as friends and they somehow end up married by the end of the book (it takes place over like 4 weeks??). it reminds me of that one movie baby’s day out where this rich baby is kidnapped by these men who have no idea how to keep track of a kid and so the kid goes literally everywhere and ends up at some construction site at some point. and like the plot makes no sense but it starts where it’s supposed to and it ends where it’s supposed to so you can’t really fault it for that. but for this book i will 100% complain about it because it makes no sense like i read this book yesterday and if you asked me to describe any of what happened today, after ive finished the book, i don’t think i could do that.
two, the main character, i just didn’t like bree in the beginning. like don’t get me wrong she gets better and definitely has her moments but i just couldn’t stand her in the first few chapters. she was a pick me but he did pick her so idk�
three, the fucking miscommunication BECAUSE THEYRE SO DUMB HE LITERALLY TELLS HER THAT HES FLIRTING WITH HER?? THEIR DIALOGUE QUITE LITERALLY GOES “are you flirting with me🤨� “yes☺️� AND RHIS 7MARA DECIDES TO JUST WALK AWAY??
four, the dialogue just didn’t make it feel like they were adults. like the lines with nathan and his team could have just as easily been used in a conversation from high schoolers and it would not change a thing. the side characters were just really flat and were only there to yell at nathan and bree for being morons. i don’t understand how this book is intended for adults because the writing was just so incredibly juvenile.
also you’ve got the rich x poor trope where rich person is like “you know i can buy you something i really don’t mind� and the reply is “no but ill feel bad🙁� and it made me want to rip my hair out. rip bree and her morals i don’t have any so if anyone ever wants to buy me a car i won’t mind.
i feel like the worst part is that i actually was looking forward to it because the tropes seemed cute but i just couldn’t deal with the writing�
i don’t think this is a book i would recommend to anyone bc it was an absolute trainwreck. there were definitely parts of this book that weren’t horrible but it was overshadowed by the sheer amount of garbage also in this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 3, 2021
DNF� this was terrible lol
February 16, 2022
Let's say the appropriate title would have been "The Cheap Shit" instead of "The Cheat Sheet".
That's it. That's the review.
That's it. That's the review.
August 19, 2021
So this book has everything I love friends-to-lovers and fake dating trope but this was so boring to me.
Sure story is pure fluff but there is barely any conflict or plot to make to more engaging.
It’s very much Sarah Adams book and if you liked her previous books you will like this as well.
Sure story is pure fluff but there is barely any conflict or plot to make to more engaging.
It’s very much Sarah Adams book and if you liked her previous books you will like this as well.
December 26, 2021
I'm bailing a bit early (~15%) but I just can't at this point. The main problem is a personal one—that they've been sleeping with other people while in love with each other. I mean, they've been in love with each other for ten years, which makes it difficult anyway. I mean, have a conversation, people! Seriously. Only they're so busy friend-zoning each other preemptively that they can't have a serious talk, apparently. Which is bad. But worse, they're sleeping with other people!
This bugs me. I mean, it says something about you if you're sexing up other people while hung up on another. And while casual sex might be fine (dunno, never have, doubt I could), these are relationships with at least weeks standing (and Bree just dumped someone at the six month mark). And that's just a jerk move (to be in the relationship, not that she dumped him).
And being all uptight about this let me pick at the rest of the story in my head. Like that both sound about a decade younger than their given twenty-eight, making this feel like a YA romance. Which was weird. But worse was the whole thing with Bree and her bleeding heart school for dance. Don't get me wrong, my heart bleeds just fine. I find her goals admirable and would love to buy that she's really into providing needs-based tuition in a high-caliber dance curriculum. Only, at least some of the plot includes a rent increase that means she has to take on more classes when she's already exhausted with her current load. And she shuts Nathan down hard when he offers to subsidize the studio. "Imma do it myself!" she whines, petulantly (I may have editorialized that some).
Which means that she isn't actually serious about providing quality dance instruction, doesn't it? No, her pride or ego (or something) is more important than her supposed laudable goal. So the author wants to give her nobility points, but does so in a way that actually makes her kind of stupid and maybe a bit selfish. And also, Nate has already gone behind her back and is paying her landlord for part of her rent all sub-rosa. Because that's what a caring guy he is. Going behind his love's back to unilaterally solve an issue she can't solve on her own. Because he's the man, apparently.
See? This is high school stuff! So yeah. One star, though I did kind of like their interactions. I liked them as a couple, frankly. But a romance needs to show people falling in love. This ain't that. They're already in love. Their lives are already entwined. They just have to have a conversation and the book is over. So everything in the way of that conversation just feels dumb, to me.
This bugs me. I mean, it says something about you if you're sexing up other people while hung up on another. And while casual sex might be fine (dunno, never have, doubt I could), these are relationships with at least weeks standing (and Bree just dumped someone at the six month mark). And that's just a jerk move (to be in the relationship, not that she dumped him).
And being all uptight about this let me pick at the rest of the story in my head. Like that both sound about a decade younger than their given twenty-eight, making this feel like a YA romance. Which was weird. But worse was the whole thing with Bree and her bleeding heart school for dance. Don't get me wrong, my heart bleeds just fine. I find her goals admirable and would love to buy that she's really into providing needs-based tuition in a high-caliber dance curriculum. Only, at least some of the plot includes a rent increase that means she has to take on more classes when she's already exhausted with her current load. And she shuts Nathan down hard when he offers to subsidize the studio. "Imma do it myself!" she whines, petulantly (I may have editorialized that some).
Which means that she isn't actually serious about providing quality dance instruction, doesn't it? No, her pride or ego (or something) is more important than her supposed laudable goal. So the author wants to give her nobility points, but does so in a way that actually makes her kind of stupid and maybe a bit selfish. And also, Nate has already gone behind her back and is paying her landlord for part of her rent all sub-rosa. Because that's what a caring guy he is. Going behind his love's back to unilaterally solve an issue she can't solve on her own. Because he's the man, apparently.
See? This is high school stuff! So yeah. One star, though I did kind of like their interactions. I liked them as a couple, frankly. But a romance needs to show people falling in love. This ain't that. They're already in love. Their lives are already entwined. They just have to have a conversation and the book is over. So everything in the way of that conversation just feels dumb, to me.
July 10, 2024
“I’ve been dying for you to love me back—but I never thought you would.�
. ݁� � . ݁˖ . ݁🩰 . ݁� � . ݁˖ . ݁🏈 . ݁� � . ݁˖ . ݁🩰 . ݁� � . ݁˖ . ݁ 🏈. ݁� � . ݁˖ . ݁
rating: � �
ˋ°�*⁶� plot
two best friends secretly in love with each other but too scared to tell one another their true feelings out of fear that the other one not feeling the same and ruining their friendship. and sprinkle some fake dating into the mix.
that’s it. that’s the whole plot.
. ݁� � . ݁˖ . ݁🩰 . ݁� � . ݁˖ . ݁🏈 . ݁� � . ݁˖ . ݁🩰 . ݁� � . ݁˖ . ݁ 🏈. ݁� � . ݁˖ . ݁
ˋ°�*⁶� overall thoughts
welp. i should’ve listened to the reviews.
this was very cringy and like I said in one of my updates you cannot convince me these mc’s are over the age of 20. don’t get me wrong this was entertaining to say the least, there were some funny parts and I laughed but for the most part it was annoying and cringy to read about these two. throughout the whole story I was silently screaming for one of them to just confess to the other because this back and forth was getting annoying.
. ݁� � . ݁˖ . ݁🩰 . ݁� � . ݁˖ . ݁🏈 . ݁� � . ݁˖ . ݁🩰. ݁� � . ݁˖ . ݁ 🏈. ݁� � . ݁˖ . ݁
ˋ°�*⁶� characters
⁶� Bree: 🩰🎀
Oh sweet, sweet Bree how shall I start with you?😀
I’m not a threat to these women…until they make him choose. Then, I’m more threatening than a glitter bomb.
y’all that was ONLY PAGE 10 😭 from the beginning she gave off major pick me vibes and I almost dnf right then and there but sadly I pushed through.
from then on it was just best friend this and best friend that and he’s like a brother too me blah, blah, blah, you get the point.
He’s lost all reason! Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs!
He’s mine! Uh, wait, what? No. He’s fake mine. Fake fake fake fake fake.
and what if he doesn’t love me back! *insert giant inhale here* See? I’m losing it! I’ve lost too many fries from my Happy Meal!
GIRLLLL ??? 🌚 I just couldn’t with her inner monologue.
everytime she said something “quirky� I couldn’t help but cringe. If I didn’t know she was a full grown adult I would’ve assumed she was a teenager.
Let’s also not forget instead of talking out her feelings or anything the first thing she does is runs away to avoid any communication.
I care about these girls. I care if they’re eating. I care if they have clothes for school in the fall. I care if they are fighting with a friend and need a hug or a ride to class that day. I care more about what their eyes are telling me than the turnout of their feet.
The only thing I did like about her is how she cares about the girls she teaching in her ballet class. She provides her students to attend her classes based on income based tuition, so if a family makes less income, then that students tuition is also less. Bree genuinely cares for each girl in her classes and makes sure they’re heard, loved, and seen.
⁶� Nathan: 📝
honestly there wasn’t anything wrong with him. he makes it’s pretty clear he’s in love with Bree but she’s too dumb to see it.
he’s a big softy and he can never say no to anyone.
He and his friends come up with the idea of the cheat sheet to finally see if Bree feels the same way he does. On said sheet are different ideas for Nathan to do on Bree. This was my favorite part of this book because it was funny how he and his friends came up with all these ideas.
Also I liked how towards the end he was struggling with anxiety (not him struggling but showing the representation of it) even though he didn’t know it at the time until he had a panic attack and overcame it and how Bree helped him at that moment since she knew what he was going through since she experienced it before.
. ݁� � . ݁˖ . ݁🩰 . ݁� � . ݁˖ . ݁🏈 . ݁� � . ݁˖ . ݁🩰 . ݁� � . ݁˖ . ݁ 🏈. ݁� � . ݁˖ . ݁
ˋ°�*⁶� final thoughts
I expected nothing and still was surprised when I got exactly that 🤡
maybe i would’ve loved this more if it was a high school setting romance.
didn’t like the fact that they got married a week after he purposed and officially got together simply because they been best friends for years and they love each other so it didn’t matter to wait any longer😀
no third act breakup but LOTS of miscommunication.
no hate to anyone who did love this, im happy you did but sadly it wasn’t for me :(
~~~~~~~
expectations are so low for this but it’s been on my tbr since forever so I’ll give it a try 🌚
February 1, 2025
To było naprawdę zabawne i przyjemne tylko co to za końcówka rodem z telenoweli XD Mimo wszystko bawiłam się wspaniale! Rzadko śmieje się na książkach.
August 11, 2024
|| 1.0 star ||
WARNING: THIS BOOK WILL GIVE YOU THE FIERCEST BOUTS OF CRINGING YOU’LL EVER EXPERIENCE!
I was only one chapter in and already near tears. It told me everything I needed to know about the kind of book this would be, and I immediately had a feeling I would be in for a miserable time, which unfortunately, proved to be true.
After about the halfway point I couldn’t take it anymore and decided to skim. I think it surprises no one that I missed absolutely nothing while doing this, since it was the simplest, most meaningless, uneventful book that gave me nothing but ridiculous quirkiness and over-the-top immaturity. Every single page was the exact same and nothing ever changed!
The beginning already showed me exactly how dreadful the heroine would be as it had me sit through an entire monologue about how AWFUL Bree thinks Nathan’s girlfriend is because said girlfriend doesn’t like her. Of course, the girlfriend’s dislike is entirely valid since Bree DID have feelings for her boyfriend, Bree DID want to steal him from her, Bree DID treat her like she didn’t remotely matter to Nathan, and Bree DID look down on her for merely existing as a female like the big pick-me girl she is.
Anyway, clearly I hated “I’m not like other girls� Bree with a fiery passion, and, although he was definitely better, I did not hold any love for Nathan either. These two were so painfully immature, and I couldn’t deal with their whole quirky dynamic that was supposed to be cute somehow, but just wasn’t. They both just needed to shut. up. Mostly Bree, but still. Nathan deserves to get shamed too just for loving that behaviour and going along with it.
Also, both of them had to be the most blind people on the planet. They both think the other had “friend zoned� them, even though they’ve clearly been desperately in love with each other for years. Of course, neither of them is ever willing to admit their feelings to the other or act on them, so they’re continually in this stupid kind of limbo where they keep dating other people (basically stringing them along) while behaving towards each other like they’re in a relationship anyway.
I mean, God, they really gave me a headache. Just be honest and communicate with each other, or at least just open your damn eyes! It’s not that hard.
In all fairness, though, I blame Bree a lot more for their miscommunication than Nathan. At least Nathan actually had to deal with Bree constantly shouting she only saw him as a friend or as a brother and saying she would never date him, so I get why he’d be confused by the mixed signals. Bree had zero excuse, though, since Nathan was obviously in love with her and never really claimed he wasn’t. He tried to, sort of, make multiple moves on her and she shot it down each time for no reason.
Honestly, the only thing I did like here was how insanely whipped Nathan was. That boy was head-over-heels and in full-on adoration mode when it came to Bree. He would have done anything for her and loved every little bit about her. I adore love-sick heroes like that, especially if they treat their girl delicately and like they’re the most important thing in the world. Even when the heroine doesn’t deserve it because she’s an annoying pick-me girl like Bree, I can still appreciate the love he has for her. Sort of.
WARNING: THIS BOOK WILL GIVE YOU THE FIERCEST BOUTS OF CRINGING YOU’LL EVER EXPERIENCE!
I was only one chapter in and already near tears. It told me everything I needed to know about the kind of book this would be, and I immediately had a feeling I would be in for a miserable time, which unfortunately, proved to be true.
After about the halfway point I couldn’t take it anymore and decided to skim. I think it surprises no one that I missed absolutely nothing while doing this, since it was the simplest, most meaningless, uneventful book that gave me nothing but ridiculous quirkiness and over-the-top immaturity. Every single page was the exact same and nothing ever changed!
The beginning already showed me exactly how dreadful the heroine would be as it had me sit through an entire monologue about how AWFUL Bree thinks Nathan’s girlfriend is because said girlfriend doesn’t like her. Of course, the girlfriend’s dislike is entirely valid since Bree DID have feelings for her boyfriend, Bree DID want to steal him from her, Bree DID treat her like she didn’t remotely matter to Nathan, and Bree DID look down on her for merely existing as a female like the big pick-me girl she is.
These men could all squash me between their thumb and forefinger, but they are all softies who honest-to-goodness treat me like their queen. They would carry me around on a chair lifted above their shoulders if I let them. I have no idea why—probably because I’m that girl who doesn’t have an ounce of threat in my five-foot-four body. To these guys (Nathan included), I’m just Bree Cheese, the fun-loving, curly haired girl everyone loves with the dance studio above the pizza parlor.
Anyway, clearly I hated “I’m not like other girls� Bree with a fiery passion, and, although he was definitely better, I did not hold any love for Nathan either. These two were so painfully immature, and I couldn’t deal with their whole quirky dynamic that was supposed to be cute somehow, but just wasn’t. They both just needed to shut. up. Mostly Bree, but still. Nathan deserves to get shamed too just for loving that behaviour and going along with it.
Also, both of them had to be the most blind people on the planet. They both think the other had “friend zoned� them, even though they’ve clearly been desperately in love with each other for years. Of course, neither of them is ever willing to admit their feelings to the other or act on them, so they’re continually in this stupid kind of limbo where they keep dating other people (basically stringing them along) while behaving towards each other like they’re in a relationship anyway.
I mean, God, they really gave me a headache. Just be honest and communicate with each other, or at least just open your damn eyes! It’s not that hard.
In all fairness, though, I blame Bree a lot more for their miscommunication than Nathan. At least Nathan actually had to deal with Bree constantly shouting she only saw him as a friend or as a brother and saying she would never date him, so I get why he’d be confused by the mixed signals. Bree had zero excuse, though, since Nathan was obviously in love with her and never really claimed he wasn’t. He tried to, sort of, make multiple moves on her and she shot it down each time for no reason.
Honestly, the only thing I did like here was how insanely whipped Nathan was. That boy was head-over-heels and in full-on adoration mode when it came to Bree. He would have done anything for her and loved every little bit about her. I adore love-sick heroes like that, especially if they treat their girl delicately and like they’re the most important thing in the world. Even when the heroine doesn’t deserve it because she’s an annoying pick-me girl like Bree, I can still appreciate the love he has for her. Sort of.
April 1, 2025
3.75 stars
This was a cute, fast read. Not as good as Sarah's most recent books but enjoyable nonetheless.
The maturity level was a little lower than I was anticipating; something about Bree just didn't really resonate with me, but I really liked Nathan's character, though I do think his interactions with his friends was a little too PG, but honestly still made me laugh.
Would recommend if you're looking for a light, vanilla romance.
This was a cute, fast read. Not as good as Sarah's most recent books but enjoyable nonetheless.
The maturity level was a little lower than I was anticipating; something about Bree just didn't really resonate with me, but I really liked Nathan's character, though I do think his interactions with his friends was a little too PG, but honestly still made me laugh.
Would recommend if you're looking for a light, vanilla romance.
February 21, 2023
0.5 - this was one of the worst books i’ve ever read.
there’s a lot to comment on but let’s start with the writing. when i tell you it felt like i was reading dork diaries. this is clearly catered toward 11 year olds - but even then, you’d hope that there was at least correct use of the english language and conventions. there were way too many forward slashes used, such as “confused/laughing/crying�. pick ONE or use the word ‘or�. if you’re going to use forward slashes, at least only use one at a time. something else that really irritated me was the use of brackets in speech??? it only happened once but that is one time too many because literally what the fuck. you should know better and so should your editors. the writing was overall just extremely immature. it was super choppy especially toward the end when switching through scenes, and i know she was trying to be emotive and eloquent when writing the romantic scenes (closed door btw. not an issue just thought i’d mention it in case u were wondering), but it just sounded so stupid and childish. the way you could tell something was trying to be achieved but it so violently was not😭
there was also a lot of use of capital letters to convey yelling which always rubs me the wrong way in books. usually i can look past it, but it happened SO often and it wasn’t even in speech half the time.
another thing; there was NO differentiation between the characters in their POVs. Nathan’s inner monologue would sound exactly the same as Bree’s. if they didn’t explicitly state the name at the beginning of each chapter i would’ve had no idea it was meant to be two different perspectives/people. there’s a difference between having a similar personality and just outright copy and pasting your characters.
Bree was such a pick me quirky girl it was so humiliating to sit through. the way she acted around Nathan’s girlfriends and the way she was “one of the boys� with the team was so embarrassing.
I ALMOST FORGOT TO MENTION HOW MUCH I HATED THE ACTUAL PLOT. it was so fucking stupid and frustrating the way bree was so cynical all the time. not to mention how WEIRD it was that she was mentioning incest and kept saying nathan was like brother to her. i hated it so much. and every time you thought “oh! finally she’s going to accept that they like each other� she turned around and decided that there’s no way he could like her like that bc they’re “besties!!!� i hated her. there is not one iota of bree that i liked. she was annoying and made her and nathan weird as hell.
getting through this wasn’t exactly a chore bc i cant lie some parts were funny and Nathan’s team were truly the saving grace - that being said, i dnf’d this last year like 20 pages in and decided to pick it up again this year bc i’ve been seeing reels about it. i was so close to dnf’ing it for a second time but got through it purely bc it was so childish and light and seemed easy to just skim read parts and finish for the sake of finishing.
i think i’m just really not a romcom girlie anymore bc the main character is always so quirky and not like other girls and i cant handle it😭
there’s a lot to comment on but let’s start with the writing. when i tell you it felt like i was reading dork diaries. this is clearly catered toward 11 year olds - but even then, you’d hope that there was at least correct use of the english language and conventions. there were way too many forward slashes used, such as “confused/laughing/crying�. pick ONE or use the word ‘or�. if you’re going to use forward slashes, at least only use one at a time. something else that really irritated me was the use of brackets in speech??? it only happened once but that is one time too many because literally what the fuck. you should know better and so should your editors. the writing was overall just extremely immature. it was super choppy especially toward the end when switching through scenes, and i know she was trying to be emotive and eloquent when writing the romantic scenes (closed door btw. not an issue just thought i’d mention it in case u were wondering), but it just sounded so stupid and childish. the way you could tell something was trying to be achieved but it so violently was not😭
there was also a lot of use of capital letters to convey yelling which always rubs me the wrong way in books. usually i can look past it, but it happened SO often and it wasn’t even in speech half the time.
another thing; there was NO differentiation between the characters in their POVs. Nathan’s inner monologue would sound exactly the same as Bree’s. if they didn’t explicitly state the name at the beginning of each chapter i would’ve had no idea it was meant to be two different perspectives/people. there’s a difference between having a similar personality and just outright copy and pasting your characters.
Bree was such a pick me quirky girl it was so humiliating to sit through. the way she acted around Nathan’s girlfriends and the way she was “one of the boys� with the team was so embarrassing.
I ALMOST FORGOT TO MENTION HOW MUCH I HATED THE ACTUAL PLOT. it was so fucking stupid and frustrating the way bree was so cynical all the time. not to mention how WEIRD it was that she was mentioning incest and kept saying nathan was like brother to her. i hated it so much. and every time you thought “oh! finally she’s going to accept that they like each other� she turned around and decided that there’s no way he could like her like that bc they’re “besties!!!� i hated her. there is not one iota of bree that i liked. she was annoying and made her and nathan weird as hell.
getting through this wasn’t exactly a chore bc i cant lie some parts were funny and Nathan’s team were truly the saving grace - that being said, i dnf’d this last year like 20 pages in and decided to pick it up again this year bc i’ve been seeing reels about it. i was so close to dnf’ing it for a second time but got through it purely bc it was so childish and light and seemed easy to just skim read parts and finish for the sake of finishing.
i think i’m just really not a romcom girlie anymore bc the main character is always so quirky and not like other girls and i cant handle it😭
October 1, 2022
4.5 stars
Nathan is to me the sexiest fictional man OH LORD.
The pining was legendary.
His chapters made me question my whole I-hate-dual-pov-in-romance personality.
The brownie scene, Nathan's experiment, Bree’s “experiment�....I might have combusted a little bit.
Trust me when I say I was already uncontrollably squealing from chapter 1. This book made me so happy and honestly that's the best feeling ever. Some people say Bree and Nathan act too childish and I completely understand where they come from, however for me that is the book's charm honestly! There isn't a single romance book I've read that makes me feel like it's happiness bottled up in book form like this one. This was so unique, funny, cute and heartwarming in the best way possible. There's basically no drama, and even when the characters recall bad moments in their lives the happy mood never shifts, and it's not because those events don't get the right representation. This book is amazingly balanced and so fun.
I'm calling it. This right here is the best friends-to-lovers romance of all time. Miss Sarah Adams made history, I'm gonna have to pick up all her books now. I love sweet romances and I can see she excels at them. Who cares about smut when you can read about a wholesome love story? Tbh I don't even like smut that much so this is perfect for me 💕�
[I don't know if I made this up in my head, but I swear this has Dial A for Aunties romance vibes. You're probably going to love this book if you loved Meddie and Nathan's relationship.]
“Your soul is my favorite in this entire world.�
Nathan is to me the sexiest fictional man OH LORD.
The pining was legendary.
His chapters made me question my whole I-hate-dual-pov-in-romance personality.
The brownie scene, Nathan's experiment, Bree’s “experiment�....I might have combusted a little bit.
Trust me when I say I was already uncontrollably squealing from chapter 1. This book made me so happy and honestly that's the best feeling ever. Some people say Bree and Nathan act too childish and I completely understand where they come from, however for me that is the book's charm honestly! There isn't a single romance book I've read that makes me feel like it's happiness bottled up in book form like this one. This was so unique, funny, cute and heartwarming in the best way possible. There's basically no drama, and even when the characters recall bad moments in their lives the happy mood never shifts, and it's not because those events don't get the right representation. This book is amazingly balanced and so fun.
I'm calling it. This right here is the best friends-to-lovers romance of all time. Miss Sarah Adams made history, I'm gonna have to pick up all her books now. I love sweet romances and I can see she excels at them. Who cares about smut when you can read about a wholesome love story? Tbh I don't even like smut that much so this is perfect for me 💕�
[I don't know if I made this up in my head, but I swear this has Dial A for Aunties romance vibes. You're probably going to love this book if you loved Meddie and Nathan's relationship.]
September 6, 2023
no eres tú, soy yo.
demasiado adorable para mi alma depravada.
demasiado adorable para mi alma depravada.
April 16, 2025
જ⁶➴ 𝟑.𝟕𝟓₊˚⊹🍩 𝟘𝟜/𝟙𝟜/𝟚𝟝—𝟘�/𝟙𝟞/𝟚𝟝
i understand why a lot of people dislike this book, but i don’t think it deserves half the hate it gets. sure, it’s cringey and the adults act like high schoolers but it’s also fun and cute to read!
i feel like it’s a common theme i’m seeing that sarah adams books are just really cheesy because in both ‘the cheat sheet� and ‘practice makes perfect� i’ve felt the same way. the best way i could describe the writing is if the author is trying to make it sound babyish(?) and quirky. so if you seem appalled at that you most likely won’t love this book—but i still could enjoy it.
i love a good friends to lovers romance so obviously i enjoyed nathan and bree! i loved how it was obvious to everyone else they were pining after each other but they both were 100% sure the other had no romantic feelings to them (spoiler alert: they did!) i think the vibes between them were definitely so cute and the ‘chest sheet� nathan and his friends made (a written plan to get bree to want nathan) was so funny!
my only complaint in the romance would probably be how they treated nathan’s ex girlfriends. this man literally went out and said, “i only kept the girlfriends to distract myself from liking bree.� i just think it’s so disrespectful to have a girlfriend when you obviously like someone else.
the friend group nathan had was so funny and definitely one of the reasons i gave this four stars (rounded up)! i think all of his friends definitely gave off highschool school boy humor (which is both a bad thing and a good thing for me?) while it was funny it’s at the same time “how old are these boys?�. nevertheless, it definitely makes me want to read the next book to read about derik!
overall, if your in the mood for a cheesy, quick romance this is definitely something to look for!! warning: it’s heavily cringey but also cute so do what you will with that!
╰┈� tropes to expect!
� friends to lovers
� fake dating
� mutual pining
� ballerina x footballer
� slow burn
𐙚🧸ྀ� || 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝:
i loved ‘practice makes perfect� so of course i’m jumping into the book that started it all for sarah adams! i’ve heard mixed reviews about this but i think i’ll love it!
i understand why a lot of people dislike this book, but i don’t think it deserves half the hate it gets. sure, it’s cringey and the adults act like high schoolers but it’s also fun and cute to read!
i feel like it’s a common theme i’m seeing that sarah adams books are just really cheesy because in both ‘the cheat sheet� and ‘practice makes perfect� i’ve felt the same way. the best way i could describe the writing is if the author is trying to make it sound babyish(?) and quirky. so if you seem appalled at that you most likely won’t love this book—but i still could enjoy it.
i love a good friends to lovers romance so obviously i enjoyed nathan and bree! i loved how it was obvious to everyone else they were pining after each other but they both were 100% sure the other had no romantic feelings to them (spoiler alert: they did!) i think the vibes between them were definitely so cute and the ‘chest sheet� nathan and his friends made (a written plan to get bree to want nathan) was so funny!
my only complaint in the romance would probably be how they treated nathan’s ex girlfriends. this man literally went out and said, “i only kept the girlfriends to distract myself from liking bree.� i just think it’s so disrespectful to have a girlfriend when you obviously like someone else.
the friend group nathan had was so funny and definitely one of the reasons i gave this four stars (rounded up)! i think all of his friends definitely gave off highschool school boy humor (which is both a bad thing and a good thing for me?) while it was funny it’s at the same time “how old are these boys?�. nevertheless, it definitely makes me want to read the next book to read about derik!
overall, if your in the mood for a cheesy, quick romance this is definitely something to look for!! warning: it’s heavily cringey but also cute so do what you will with that!
╰┈� tropes to expect!
� friends to lovers
� fake dating
� mutual pining
� ballerina x footballer
� slow burn
𐙚🧸ྀ� || 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝:
i loved ‘practice makes perfect� so of course i’m jumping into the book that started it all for sarah adams! i’ve heard mixed reviews about this but i think i’ll love it!
August 29, 2021
I was expecting a lot from this book and it didn't deliver. I was so so so excited to read it and then I started it...and now I can't even finish it.
The problem is, most likely, my super high expectations. This was supposed to be amazing, a new favourite, something I'd recommended to people over and over again...I'm disappointed.
The biggest issue I have is how the ballerina and football player roles tie into this. It's sort of like a background thing, they could be doing completely different jobs and it wouldn't make a difference.
Their careers were what made me want to read this so bad in the first place, so I wish it was executed better.
Then there's the two leads themselves. I don't particularly like either of them, but Bree is a whole different level of dislike.
It's clear from the starting scenes that she's immature which is okay, she's not an adult adult, she's still young, but as the book goes on this starts to get annoying. I have a special place reserved for drunk Bree, that's her at her worst by far. It's not cute, it's just sad.
It's commendable that she wants to provide dance classes to those who can't afford them, but something about that felt forced. I can't explain how exactly, it just didn't feel natural. I'm mostly talking about the dance class scenes. As a dancer myself I might be biased, sure, but that wasn't it.
Nathan...I barely have anything to say about him. He's nice and does things for other people, and it feels less forced than Bree's good deeds and yet...meh? Seeing into his head isn't all that interesting either.
The side characters are really something. Nathan's teammates were cool in some parts and cringy in others. I think I still like them better than Bree and Nathan overall.
The book is mostly fluff which is a point in its favour. If it had more angst I would've quit reading a lot earlier.
The writing is one thing I don't have faults with. There's nothing wrong with it.
Finally, this is not a bad book, but it wasn't my cup of tea. I'm giving it 2.5 stars rounded down.
The problem is, most likely, my super high expectations. This was supposed to be amazing, a new favourite, something I'd recommended to people over and over again...I'm disappointed.
The biggest issue I have is how the ballerina and football player roles tie into this. It's sort of like a background thing, they could be doing completely different jobs and it wouldn't make a difference.
Their careers were what made me want to read this so bad in the first place, so I wish it was executed better.
Then there's the two leads themselves. I don't particularly like either of them, but Bree is a whole different level of dislike.
It's clear from the starting scenes that she's immature which is okay, she's not an adult adult, she's still young, but as the book goes on this starts to get annoying. I have a special place reserved for drunk Bree, that's her at her worst by far. It's not cute, it's just sad.
It's commendable that she wants to provide dance classes to those who can't afford them, but something about that felt forced. I can't explain how exactly, it just didn't feel natural. I'm mostly talking about the dance class scenes. As a dancer myself I might be biased, sure, but that wasn't it.
Nathan...I barely have anything to say about him. He's nice and does things for other people, and it feels less forced than Bree's good deeds and yet...meh? Seeing into his head isn't all that interesting either.
The side characters are really something. Nathan's teammates were cool in some parts and cringy in others. I think I still like them better than Bree and Nathan overall.
The book is mostly fluff which is a point in its favour. If it had more angst I would've quit reading a lot earlier.
The writing is one thing I don't have faults with. There's nothing wrong with it.
Finally, this is not a bad book, but it wasn't my cup of tea. I'm giving it 2.5 stars rounded down.
January 8, 2022
It's literally so hard to review a book I loved BECAUSE I CAN'T EXPLAIN WHY I LOVE IT BECAUSE ITS IN THE DETAILS AND YOU GOTTA READ IT TO UNDERSTAND but here we go:
General review:
THIS IS THE CUTEST THING I'VE EVER READ😭
This book made me realize that friends to lovers is so underrated.
THE MUTUAL PINING, THE JEALOUSY, THE FEAR, THE FLUFF, THE HIDDEN FEELINGS JUST BUBBLING OVER KJEBKVHEJ
Dual POV was literally the best choice for this book although I was in fact yelling at both Bree and Nathan throughout the whole book TO JUST KISS ALREADY EKJHBEBVD (warning: it is very slow burn and if you're expecting smut you won't find it)
This is the best rom-com I've ever read, I was laughing so much through all of it. It's so well and uniquely written and SO CUTEEE
I love how there are also these scenes when the characters are vulnerable and experiencing these very real-life things and I love how anxiety/panic attacks are dealt with and not taken lightly.
The Characters:
Bree is the most adorable ray of sunshine AND NOW IM IN DESPERATE NEED OF A BREENKET!!
Nathan is literally so unexpected and sweet and kind (and let's admit it is JUST VERY HOT) AND HES LITERALLY A HUGE SOFTIE AND I NEED A BEAR HUG FROM HIM (would also love to call him dad...)
BREE AND NATHAN ARE BOTH SO KIND AND ADORABLE AND GOOFY AND CHEESY AND THE WAY THEY TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER IS THE SWEETEST THING I CAN'T EVEN
I literally love the whole football team I WANT TO BE BEST FRIENDS WITH ALL OF THEM
Special shout out to Lily because she is so cute🥺
Favorite Scenes: (minor spoilers)
- Nathan carrying Bree to his car
- Bree drunkenly defending Nathan and him helping her home
- Nathan and the team making the romance cheat sheet
- EVERY SINGLE TIME BREE AND NATHAN TEASED OR FLIRTED WITH EACH OTHER
- The kiss at the party (also literally any kiss scene)
- “Yeah, but that was when it was just fake.�
- Bree takes care of Nathan during his panic attacks (especially when she tells him everything)
- The proposal + the wedding
- ANYTIME THE TEAM WAS THERE
- Any conversation between Bree and Lily
General review:
THIS IS THE CUTEST THING I'VE EVER READ😭
This book made me realize that friends to lovers is so underrated.
THE MUTUAL PINING, THE JEALOUSY, THE FEAR, THE FLUFF, THE HIDDEN FEELINGS JUST BUBBLING OVER KJEBKVHEJ
Dual POV was literally the best choice for this book although I was in fact yelling at both Bree and Nathan throughout the whole book TO JUST KISS ALREADY EKJHBEBVD (warning: it is very slow burn and if you're expecting smut you won't find it)
This is the best rom-com I've ever read, I was laughing so much through all of it. It's so well and uniquely written and SO CUTEEE
I love how there are also these scenes when the characters are vulnerable and experiencing these very real-life things and I love how anxiety/panic attacks are dealt with and not taken lightly.
The Characters:
Bree is the most adorable ray of sunshine AND NOW IM IN DESPERATE NEED OF A BREENKET!!
Nathan is literally so unexpected and sweet and kind (and let's admit it is JUST VERY HOT) AND HES LITERALLY A HUGE SOFTIE AND I NEED A BEAR HUG FROM HIM (would also love to call him dad...)
BREE AND NATHAN ARE BOTH SO KIND AND ADORABLE AND GOOFY AND CHEESY AND THE WAY THEY TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER IS THE SWEETEST THING I CAN'T EVEN
I literally love the whole football team I WANT TO BE BEST FRIENDS WITH ALL OF THEM
Special shout out to Lily because she is so cute🥺
Favorite Scenes: (minor spoilers)
- Nathan carrying Bree to his car
- Bree drunkenly defending Nathan and him helping her home
- Nathan and the team making the romance cheat sheet
- EVERY SINGLE TIME BREE AND NATHAN TEASED OR FLIRTED WITH EACH OTHER
- The kiss at the party (also literally any kiss scene)
- “Yeah, but that was when it was just fake.�
- Bree takes care of Nathan during his panic attacks (especially when she tells him everything)
- The proposal + the wedding
- ANYTIME THE TEAM WAS THERE
- Any conversation between Bree and Lily
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