Bradley Graeme is pretty much perfect. He’s a star football player, manages his OCD well (enough), and comes out on top in all his classes . . . except the ones he shares with his ex-best friend, Celine.
Celine Bangura is conspiracy-theory-obsessed. Social media followers eat up her takes on everything from UFOs to holiday overconsumption—yet, she’s still not cool enough for the popular kids’ table. Which is why Brad abandoned her for the in-crowd years ago. (At least, that’s how Celine sees it.)
These days, there’s nothing between them other than petty insults and academic rivalry. So when Celine signs up for a survival course in the woods, she’s surprised to find Brad right beside her.
Forced to work as a team for the chance to win a grand prize, these two teens must trudge through not just mud and dirt but their messy past. And as this adventure brings them closer together, they begin to remember the good bits of their history. But has too much time passed . . . or just enough to spark a whole new kind of relationship?
I don't know why, but I did think that this was a holiday book, so somehow I was a teensy bit disappointed when midway through the book we hadn't mentioned holidays. Once I got over that though, this is very cute. I think it's really interesting that I read 2 YA books in less than a month. And 2 YA books by authors that I've previously read adult romance books of theirs. There must be a glitch in the matrix of my brain, or maybe just my algorithm.
This is also my second Talia Hibbert book in less than a month, and that was very jarring. Merry Inkmas was an adult holiday romance, and the similarities between the two books were there. She loves a miscommunication. Like a "I want to leave them before they have a chance to leave me." Which is an effective trope, but this one was rough. And seeing that trope in a YA was also hard. Mostly because HEAs in YA books are tough. These kids are both planning to go to different universities and such, so like, that did kind of dampen the HEA.
But I am OBSESSED with Celine Bangura. She's hilarious and I would absolutely follow her and listen to her conspiracy theories. Bradley's adorable, and they're really cute together. Their journey from best friends to worst enemies to friends who kiss to in a relationship was very cute. And all in the backdrop of hiking in the wilderness? For a social media obsessed teenager and a kid that struggles with OCD. I mean, the opportunities for comedy were rampant!
I would like to point out that this book is like an advertising pamphlet for therapy and I was here for it! And when Celine's mom goes in on her father's life choices.... I legitimately clapped. She was reading him for filth and it was everything.
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