Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I enjoyed this book WAY more than I thought I would, given that I really do not enjoy reality TV. But Gonzales's writing is witty and fun, and Skye and Maya are really enagaging characters. I loved the twist in the plot at the end and the way that Jordy got his inevitable come-uppance! A breezy, fun read.

Maya only agrees to go on a reality dating show with her ex-boyfriend Jordy to tell the world what a cheating scumbag he really is. Skye, the girl Jordy cheated on Maya with, and four of his other exes are competing for the opportunity of a second chance romance with him, but when the two sworn enemies end up sharing a room in the lavish mansion they’re staying in, the boundaries of their relationships become blurred.

This book is, in a word, fun! You have the fictional European country the show takes place in, and the backstage and on canteen antics of a reality TV show. Add to that a cast of funny and charming girls that make up the shows contestants, it’s a recipe for success. But the standout points of this show are Maya and Skye by far. Their enemies to lovers relationship is cute and fun to read, and I love the girl power behind their plan to take Jordy down! A great read and a sure hit for anyone who loves a reality dating TV show.

If reality shows are your thing, and you love an easy, cheesy, fun book, I would definitely recommend picking this up!

it's always the j names —

this is a really fun, fast-paced book with a surprisingly refreshing bisexual romance that made me swoon. love love love!

As someone who loves Sophie Gonzales’ books and is a massive Swiftie, I was so happy to receive an e-arc of this book to read and review. I definitely think I’ve found a new all time favourite.

Firstly, the reality show setting made a perfect plot for this book. I was so invested in the drama and the relationship between the characters that I couldn’t put this book down. In fact, it’s perfect for bingeing, much like a good reality TV series.

I also really liked all of the characters (minus Jordy) and I was happy to see them all build a relationship throughout. My favourites, of course, were Maya and Skye. I was glad for the dual POV, so that we got to experience both of their internal thoughts and feelings. This made it so much easier to become invested in them and their relationship.

And, of course, the ending. I couldn’t have been happier with the ending. Perfection.

This is my first book of 2023- an amazing start to the year! I’d highly recommend this book to lovers of drama, ya sapphic romances and positive female friendships! I absolutely adored this book, a definite 5 star read for me!

5/5 ⭐️s

My first book of 2023 was Never Ever Getting Back Together by Sophie Gonzales and it was BRILLIANT! A definite 5 star read and an amazing start to the year 😍

I was ecstatic when the lovely team at Team BKMRK said they had a spare copy, I’ve been so excited to read this, I can’t thank you enough!! This has become a new favourite for me! It has everything I love; sapphic romance, romcom greatness, reality tv shows and revenge!

I LOVED the characters (except for Jordy obviously, number 1 Jordy hater right here 😂) but Maya & Skye have my whole heart!
I loved the chemistry they had together as they go from not being to stand each other to partners in crime!

Also, I love love love Sophie’s writing style! It is so nice to read and flows so well! I got halfway through this book yesterday without even realising and then I couldn’t put it down this morning! I was completely absorbed in this story and I HAD to know what was going to happen! Everything was executed perfectly and I’m sad that it’s finished! I’m going to have to do a reread soon!

As a Taylor Swift girlie, I was so exited about this title for this book and the perfect companion song for this book is definitely Karma!

Just in case you couldn’t tell from my gushing, I absolutely LOVED this book 😂 Never Ever Getting Back Together is being published on 5th January 2023 and I am definitely going to be recommending this book for ages to come!

Thank you to the publishers for providing me with an eArc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I knew that as soon as I heard of Sophie writing this book I needed to read it ASAP. As a lover of her previous works, I was confident that this book would be right up my street and I was correct!

Maya dumped her cheating ex, Jordy, two years ago. She thought that would be the end of it for good. But when she gets a call from a new tv show called Second Chances, with Jordy being their lead man, and surrounded by all his other past lovers, Maya is conflicted.

This could be the perfect chance to enact revenge on him after everything he did to her. But with only her family there to believe her, will her plans backfire?

When Maya is roomed with Skye, the girl that Jordy cheated on her with, Maya may think this whole thing is a bad idea.

Will Maya and Skye be able to put aside their differences and realise that they're on the same team? Or will Maya be sent home disappointed and having failed her own plan??

I was so annoyed that December was such a busy month for me because all I wanted to do was read this book, it was that good! I love the friendships and relationships that are shown and if you love a good reality show drama this could be the book for you!!

When I heard the concept for this book, I was sold. A bunch of ex’s in a reality tv game show, getting revenge on 1 man and a Taylor Swift song for a book title.

Unfortunately I think the writing style was not for me. I was lost with who was who and ultimately the book was a bit too long.

However, if you like Sophie’s other books, I’m sure you will enjoy this.

Thank you netgalley for the E-arc.

Sophie Gonzales does it again! As soon as I read the blurb of this book I knew it is one I would love, and boy I wasn't mistaken. I absolutely loved the character development of Maya and Skye, and their blossoming relationship (even if it did begin around their mutual hatred for Jordy). This is such a feel-good romance, that had me giggling at moments, and also had me burning with anger at others (mostly at Jordy).

This book was a lot of fun! The reality show setting was great and made for lots of drama to take place. Some parts of the plot were kind of predictable but that didn’t take away from the fun of the revenge plot and I loved seeing girls working together to take down the guy, who let’s be honest, had everything he got coming to him and well if they just so happen to fall in love along the way then so be it!

Enemies to lovers, bi rep, drama and romance… what’s not to love!

This book was the definition of revenge, drama, and feminism all through reality TV which was unique and interesting. I did find some parts kind of predictable but the plot and characters were interesting and balanced. I LOVED the dynamics between characters I never expected to get along and the Rep is incredible.

I am such a fan of Sophie Gonzales I will read everything they ever write. The writing style is perfect and the characters are always really well developed. I think the only thing I struggled with was suspending disbelief enough to believe some of the back stories, in particular the royalty storyline.

However I completely believe that there would be a reality TV show like this and the behind the scenes producing felt very accurate.

Overall a fun read if you can suspend belief enough for some of the characters backstories

Jordy doesn't know what's coming for him.

He thinks life has taken a pretty good turn - he's minor celebrity since his sister married the prince of a small country, known as a humanitarian and heartthrob worldwide. But he's still the same Jordy underneath.

Maya still has to see him everywhere she looks despite not even being on the same continent anymore, after he gaslighted her, cheated on her and ruined her life two years ago. Skye is reeling from the first boy she ever let into heart ghosting her and never knowing why. So when Maya and Skye along with several other ghosts from the past get invited to take part in the reality dating show Second Chance Romance, both of them know exactly what to do.

They're both looking to heal - but Skye is hoping for a romantic reunion, to win and get back together, whereas Maya is looking for her revenge and retribution. But as they navigate their way through the insanity of reality tv as well as their own emotions, they realise they might get exactly what the show promised after all. A second chance at romance - just not in the way they expected.

"I'm fairly equal opportunity when it comes to who I briefly care about before they inevitably let me down."

An over-the-top, bold story full of chaos, drama and hilarity that could only happen in a book - or a reality TV show in a book. From the very beginning, everything was INTENSE. I immediately felt such kinship with the girls and a deep hatred for Jordy as I watched him manipulate and lie in ways that felt all too familiar and rage-inducing.

At first, the characters might seem petty, insecure or awkward. But do you remember being a teenager, or in your early twenties? How intensely you felt everything, how long you could hold a grudge for? And while I did feel like the characters felt like they should have been a little older, the understanding I felt for them made me connect with them even more. As we become acquainted with the wider cast of the show, on the surface it seems like the standard line-up of dating show until we slowly start to see underneath, at the way the pressures and cameras can shape a person and make them crack.

Every single page was packed full of emotion, starting with a bang, slowing down to a deliciously simmering tension before exploding into chaos all over again. As soon as the show started, it felt like the lights had been turned onto full beams - everything was loud and vibrant but hiding behind the cameras, crying and conflict was a lot of heart and warmth. There's no shocking reveals in this story, it feels clear from the start where this story is going but the journey there was an absolute rollercoaster of chaos that I couldn't have seen coming.

As always, Gonzales nails writing the kind of LGBT+ fiction that we deserve to read - including the perfect depiction of the 'chaotic disaster bisexual' - which yes, might be a bit of stereotype but honestly I can relate. She captures so many of the things that bisexual women struggle to explain especially when they're young; like the fact that speaking to a beautiful woman is legitimately terrifying, even if you are also a beautiful woman!

A Taylor Swift book title? By Sophie Gonzales? Enemies to lovers? Bi rep? Sign up the fuck up a million times over x

Sophie Gonzales is one of my favourite YA authors. Her writing style is so simple, yet so compelling at the same time. There is no messing around with Gonzales' writing, she just jumps right in and gets down to the nitty and gritty. I can honestly say this book was a pure delight from front to back.

Just the idea of two girls scheming together to expose their ex on LIVE television together has me jumping up and down with joy. But, the fact they end up falling for one another at the same time??? Pure genius. And the fact the two characters were so real and relatable got me even more invested. I mean, who wouldn't act like Maya if you were chucked in a mansion, sharing a room with the girl who your ex cheated on you with? I know I would. Maya's character really shone through for me. Her drive and determination, her humour and loyalty to everyone other than Jordy. I just loved her!

Enemies to lovers though - my favourite. This book is full of drama, tension, sly remarks, side eyes, and pure hatred. This book is just made up of it all and I bloody loved it.

Have to love a YA romance and although slightly obvious (and sometimes I wanted to shout that there is no way a girl would fall for that nonsense) I really enjoyed it

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I liked reading “Never Ever Getting Back Together” but I didn’t love it. On paper it’s the perfect book for me but I just felt something was missing. It sometimes felt like events were skimmed over or there were time jumps. I understand why, as it’s quite a long period of time to cover and the book would be huge if every little thing was covered but I wanted more of Skye and Maya. It felt like they went from kissing to being in love super quickly and I think that’s because chunks of their time together were missed.

Don’t get me wrong, this is a good read and I don’t want to put anyone off as I think a lot of people will love this book but I just felt like I wanted more.

Never Ever Getting Back Together is a fun, entertaining YA romcom very reminiscent of The Bachelor. I'm a sucker for any contemporary with fame (in this case, reality TV) elements so this definitely scratched that itch. However, I'm inclined to agree with a few other reviews I've seen in that this book might have been better had it been New Adult or Adult. I'd still recommend though!

3.5 stars.

I really enjoyed this book. Sophie Gonzales doesn’t disappoint. It gave you all of the fun reality show craziness that you wanted but still had more to it. My only criticism would be that the relationship felt like it came together a touch too quickly. I loved the before and after they got together but the actual start of the relationship felt a little bit too quick. Overall I would recommend this book.

2.5 - I will start this review by saying that the main reason for this rating is personal choice. Although Sophie Gonzales had probably the right ideas for this book, I personally was unsatisfied with the story.

*Spoiler-ish review ahead*
Never Ever Getting Back Together is supposed to be a fun, entertaining read, but I found it frustrating and very rage-inducing. This is most likely because of the fact that I was very thirsty for revenge against Jordy, which is the reason I stuck through the entire book despite being turned off by the way the reality show progressed. I didn't like how the women in the book were so quick to tear each other down; I know that it was meant to be a realistic view of manipulation and gaslighting, but the miscommunication between the characters at the start of the book made me want to pull my hair out. I wish the relationships between all the girls was written a little different, but alas, I tolerated it, just as I did the infuriating behaviour of both main characters at some points -all for the revenge plot. That was the only thing I was looking forward to; call me petty, but I wanted Jordy crushed! Which is exactly why all the little things that turned me off amounted to a huge disappointment when the more 'mature' approach was taken. Yes, it was cute, and yes, it was probably a good decision, but my hatred for Jordy, and all men like him, wanted to see him destroyed in every way possible. This is entirely a personal preference, just me being tired of having to be the bigger person and now craving vengeance on men like Jordy - which is why you may enjoy it whereas I didn't.
Overall, I appreciate the idea behind the plot and wanting to make it entertaining, and different, just a little disappointed with the execution.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Children's Group for this ARC.

Never Ever Getting Back Together is the perfect book for fans of The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun, just YA and sapphic.

-Dual POV
-Sapphic
-Enemies to lovers
-Young Adult
-RomCom
-Forced Proximity

Maya is invited onto a reality tv dating show to get a ‘second chance’ at dating her ex, Jordy. She decides to go once she realises she can get back at him for cheating on her.

Jordy is basically a POS and deserves nothing more than to be humiliated on TV. Oh, and his sister married a prince, so he’s even more full of himself now, than when he was dating all of these girls.

Skye is another one of Jordy’s ex girlfriends and is actually interested in the whole idea of potentially seeing Jordy again. She’s in the middle of backpacking around the world, why not sleep in a mansion for 6 weeks? Unbeknownst to Skye, she's the one Jordy cheated on Maya with.

Jordy sets the girls up against each other by telling Skye that Maya is manipulative and is spreading lies about their messy breakup, so it takes ⅓ of the book before we get some good bonding time between Skye and Maya. While you would expect bitching between women in this situation I was a little let down by how much there was between all 6 contestants. I get that they’re all 18-20 year olds and put in such a high stress environment, but I was hoping they’d see Jordy’s red flags sooner.

While I do complain about how long it takes Maya and Skye to stop hating each other, it does add to the enemies to lovers trope. Also good if you enjoy forced proximity because they’re roommates. It was very satisfying to watch their relationship change over time and I appreciated their scheming to take Jordy down together. It was also really nice to see the book portray how slimy reality TV can be behind the scenes.

I felt like this book would have been better if it were intended for an older audience and everyone were aged up a bit. It felt a bit weird that Jordy has at least 6 ex girlfriends and they’re all around 18-20. Maybe this is why publishing companies need to get on beard with New Adult content and market it as such?

Wonderful cast of characters with lots of personalities to fall in love with.

Thank you NetGalley, Hachette Children’ Group, and Hodder Children's Books for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.