A review by fanboyriot
Exes & Foes by Amanda Woody

emotional funny lighthearted slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

♡ Hurt/Comfort
♡ Second Chance 
♡ Emotional Growth

This wasn’t fully what I was expecting.  While I liked the friendship and the second chance vibe it had it was just honestly really slow-paced for a good portion of the book.  Getting to know Caleb and Emma and their complex history for more than half of the book.  Ex-best friends who could have easily been more—falling for the same girl and placing a bet that whoever the girl kissed first got to date her… obviously things don’t go as planned.  Not going to lie I thought this was going to go in a poly relationship route but unfortunately that wasn’t the case.  I did like the demisexual and aro/ace representation though, the characters in general all had depth and good development as the story progressed.

Though there were a few things that felt a bit out of pocket.  Emma randomly getting hit by a car for example then just getting up like nothing happened.  The whole scene seemed unnecessary.  However, the last few chapters seemed to get better, the book ended on a good note, and the humor was lovely!

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, Penguin Teen, and Viking Books for Young Readers for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Spice Level: mentioned (off page)
Angst Level: 💧(1/5)
POV: Duel, First Person
Release Date: 23, July 2024
Rep: Demisexual (Main Character), Bisexual (Main Character), Aro/Ace (Side Character), Mental Health, LGBTQIA+, BIPOC
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