ARC, 320 pages
Release Date: January 28, 2025
Published by: Zando Young Readers
Read from: December 6, 2024- January 10, 2025
Stand-alone
Source: Publisher (I received a free ARC copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a just and honest review. This did nothing to influence my review.)
Content Warning: Body Shaming, Toxic Friendship, Vomit, Fatphobia, Panic Attacks/Disorders
For Readers Interested In: Romance, Books about Books, Body Diversity, Realistic Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Family Diversity, YAIn this opposites-attract YA rom-com inspired by Emma, a failed romantic gesture puts a damper on a queer teen bookseller’s summer of book matching and matchmaking until a handsome lifeguard and romance skeptic waltzes into his bookstore. Sometimes you get a second chance at happily ever after when you least expect it…
Curvaceous, clever, and an avid reader, seventeen-year-old Bobby Ashton never misses a main character moment. So when it comes to asking out his crush, he plans a romantic gesture grand enough to go down in local history. Unfortunately, though, his extensive knowledge of every rom-com trope ever doesn’t prepare him for how tragically he misreads the situation. Suddenly Bobby’s very public romantic gesture turns into an ordeal so embarrassing it could be a villain origin story.
Having masterfully shattered every plan for his perfect summer before college, Bobby’s last resort is working at his uncle’s sleepy bookstore. Soon, Bobby is expertly recommending books for customers to perfectly cure what ails them. Attempting to rebound after a breakup? There’s a book for that. Trying to tame your crochety coworker? There’s a book for that too. Then a plot twist Bobby never saw coming walks through the door in the form of Luke, an unfairly attractive and staunchly anti-romantic lifeguard.
Bobby’s blossoming connection with Luke reminds him of some of his favorite tropes: grumpy-sunshine, quippy banter, and even forced proximity. But after his last romantic disaster, should Bobby use all the tricks in his arsenal to turn Luke’s head? Or is he misreading all the signs again? Do grand gestures really need to be so…grand?
Perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli, Kacen Callender, and Jason June, Recommended Reading is a big-hearted rom-com about discovering love beyond what’s in the books . . . but hey, the perfect recommendation can get you pretty far!
*MY THOUGHTS*
I was hype about this book as soon as I saw the cover. I didn’t need much prodding. It has everything I want in a book basically. A diverse couple, books, AND a character with body diversity. So obviously i had to read it right? It basically was a need not a want lol So imagine my surprise when it showed up at my house!
So one thing I loved about this was the romance. It was the slowest of burns and usually I hate that lol But this time I actually thought it was ok. I think I didn’t mind because Bobby had some growing up to do and he needed to realize that he needed to love himself more than whoever it was he was trying to get with. He needed to realize that he meant more than anyone else. But when they finally got together it was the cutest. Maybe I’m biased because it all started in a bookstore but whatever. They were cute and I was happy to see them together. (If you’re wondering, I’m purposefully not saying WHICH bookstore it was because reasons lol) The rest of the plot tho was all over the place lol There was so much happening. I don’t think I can really explain how much. The way he was recommending reads to people, the putting people together, the drag queen, the bonfires, the Gladys x2, it was just a lot lol
The romance was cute, but I didn’t care for the actual characters by themselves. Which is 100% different than what I usually think when reading. But this one was weird. Bobby didn’t grow up the entire book. He saw what happened at the very beginning and he STILL was doing the same thing over and over. I thought at most he would have left his friend alone, but he still did what he did to her. And that was 1,000% not his call. She was right, what if that had gone bad? But he didn’t grovel enough for me. He did all of these things to the people in his lives and they thanked him. No one actually got mad so I don’t think he learned anything from it.
The premise was cute! I love romances set in bookstores. The visiting author was random, but still cute. I loved how REAL Bobby was. Because let me tell you I have reacted the exact same way being in line for an author that I love. I cannot tell you how much I’ve fan girl-ed for authors. And I know its weird to say when I’ve already found my hubs, but I love the fact that I felt seen. It means the author sees us and accepts our fan person-ing (???) and I loved that. I also thought he was real because of his body imagining. I didn’t care for how he saw his body (I thought he was perfect and that other guy would absolutely be looking at him) but in reality I knew that wasn’t how he always saw himself. That’s not how many people would see themselves. I’m never surprised at that because I experienced this first hand back in the day. The important thing is Bobby ended the book seeing himself the way the love interest saw and appreciated him.
This book was really cute. It definitely wasn’t what I was expecting but it was fun and I enjoyed it. It definitely kept me on my toes because I had no idea what to expect next. I hope if you pick this up you’ll come and let me know how you like it. I need to compare notes.
Overall, I give this
