Unfortunately this one just wasn’t for me. The writing felt very childish and not in a refreshing way. I appreciate the opportunity to read this book!

Jackie holds a special place in my heart because buddy reading her other book brought me together with my bestie group and we chat daily now.

I love the way Jackie writes her YA books that feel YA and like real teen characters. They mess up, are snarky, funny and goofy sometimes and it’s so relatable. I appreciated the conversations in this one about Arab men/ family dynamics and the character development that happened with all the characters around this topic. The fake dating was funny and had me cracking up with them having a contract.

The FMc also has anxiety and it was nice to see her work through that and manage it.

𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘺
After spending an entire summer away from him, all Jamie wants is to spend time with her boyfriend Ben and continue the routine they’ve had for years. But when Ben dumps her with little to no explanation, she begins to question everything they had and everything she believed she wanted in life. Determined to get him back, she recruits the help of Axel, whose bike she may or may not have wrecked, in order to make Ben realize they are meant to be.

𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 & 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴
I believe my fellow YA readers will enjoy this! The characters were all so relatable, which made for an amazing story.

What I enjoyed about the main characters was how much they complemented one another. Jamie, who’s type A and goal-oriented, meets Axel, who is spontaneous and free-spirited. The differences in their personalities made their banter and relationship so fun. The side characters were equally entertaining, as they all provided something different yet significant, which kept the momentum of the story going.

What I enjoyed about the story itself was that it wasn’t one-dimensional; the focus wasn't just on the romance between the main characters. It tackled many relatable and serious issues such as stereotypes, prejudice, and dysunfucital families while also showing anxiety and IBS representation.

There are only a couple things to point out that didn't work for me. First, I wanted to see Jamie and her mom have a heart to heart; I felt there was so much left unsaid between them. Second, the ending felt a bit abrupt. These things didn’t work for me, but they did not take away from the book itself and the story being told.

All in all, I had such a great time reading this. So if you want a wholesome opposite-attract romance (with some fake dating!) that is full of endearing characters and many pop-culture references, then I would recommend You Started It by Jackie Khalilieh!

𝘎𝘦𝘯𝘳𝘦
contemporary romance

𝘛𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘴
bucket list
fake dating
he falls first
forced proximity
opposites attract

Thank you, Netgalley and Tundra Books, for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review! :)

Jackie Khalilieh’s sophomore novel is a great follow up rom-com to Something More, this time focusing on a more mature lens. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!!

I love love love a story with character development, and this book did not let me down in the slightest. Jamie went on a journey of self discovery of who she is and how she interacts with those around her. And I loved riding along with her.

Axel may be one of my favorite book boyfriends ever. He was just so lovely and everything you want to see in a male main character. Kind and dreamy, but also imperfect and willing to own up to that.

Miscommunication in romance is something that always frustrates me to read, and this book definitely had that. Likely because I enjoyed the characters so much, but I was literally was verbally reacting out loud while reading because I was frustrated at Jamie and Axel not realizing that they should be together.

There were a few small things that I didn’t like about this book. Specifically, there were a few moments where the Gen Z references felt a little cringe (I say this as a gen Z). I could feel that the book was written by someone who was older and felt like some phrases were there to seem quirky.

Also, I love character diversity and love the inclusion of a non-binary character, Diesel. But the moment between Diesel and Jamie felt cringy and like the language included was just there to make a point. I would’ve honestly preferred that a non-binary character just be represented and not the focus of a discussion relating to gender/sexuality. The placement of it felt weird to me. And it didn’t feel like it flowed in the story.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and loved that it was more mature than Khalilieh’s debut novel. It really makes me want an adult book from her!!

4.5 out of 5 stars

Jackie Khalilieh’s You Started It is a fresh and witty contemporary romance that perfectly captures the complexities of relationships and the messiness of modern communication. With sharp dialogue, relatable characters, and a story full of heart, this novel explores themes of misunderstandings, growth, and the beauty of second chances. A charming and heartfelt read that’s perfect for fans of smart, character-driven love stories.

An amazing second book by Jackie Khalilieh! I wasn't sure if anything could follow Something More, but this was absolutely delightful. I love love love fake dating and I loved all of the characters presented to us in this book! Axel was such a fun and complex love interest and I loved how he brought the best out of Jamie. I also loved Jamie's uncle, he brought a lot of light to an otherwise complicated family dynamic. Definitely recommend!!!

sorry, i don't know why i didn't like this...
I wasn't in love with the other book I read by Jackie Khalileh either.
maybe its the tropes, or the characters (which I couldn't really connect with) but I just couldn't get into this book
nothing explicitly terrible though, just not for me

"You Started It" by Jackie Khalilieh is a YA novel that follows seventeen-year-old Jamie as she enters a fake dating arrangement with Axel. As a fan of the fake dating trope, I loved how it was handled here in a sweet and age-appropriate way. Beyond the romance, the story delves into Jamie’s experience with anxiety, portrayed in an authentic and relatable manner for teens. The representation of Arab culture added depth and diversity to the narrative, making it a noteworthy read.
Thank you to NetGallery and Tundra Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

My new favorite from Palestinian Canadian author, Jackie Khalilieh!! This YA romcom features a mixed race Arab teen girl, Jamie who finds herself single after getting unceremoniously dumped by her longtime boyfriend, Ben. She then somehow stumbles into a fake dating relationship with Ben's younger neighbor, Axel who helps her let loose and explore Toronto in a way Jamie's anxiety hasn't let her before. There was a lot of family drama, identity issues and teen angst but also great disability and mental health rep (Jamie has a diagnosed anxiety disorder and IBS and she also sees a therapist). I loved it and highly recommend for fans of authors like Lynn Painter, Jane Igharo and Farah Heron. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

really this is more of a three star read for me but i'm adding an extra star for:
- the fact that this is advertised as YA and is actually YA
- the diversity and representation, it was so refreshing
- and the author's note (or even her little review here on goodreads bc help why was i going to cry)

genuinely if you have a sister or brother or cousin or friend or anyone that's a younger teenager, please hand this book to them when it comes out. the way that it tackles heavier topics (anxiety, absent parent, etc.) while simultaneously remaining a fun little romance book is just done so well. the balance between topics and moods was masterful.

i'm a few years older than the target audience, admittedly, so maybe this complaint is just because of that - but i did find some of the characters (specifically some side characters) to be written in such an obnoxious (?) way. i generally liked both of our main characters, but the others were kind of up and down the entire time for me.

alsooo!!! the author is palestinian and our mmc is arab!!! yay for diversity!!! free palestine!!!

thank you to netgalley & tundra book group for the arc! all opinions are my own <3

I want to start off by saying that though this was a good book, it wasn't a romcom. It was a book about self-discovery. It had a very romcommy cover and title, so I felt a little misled. But aside from that, there were many things I admired about You Started It.

First is the honesty. Jamie, the MC, has a lot going on: an absent father, anxiety, and anxiety-induced IBS. In the acknowledgements, Jackie wrote about how she'd worried that including IBS in the book would be going too far. But I think that if it's real -- if it helps readers feel recognized -- then it's never going too far. Maybe some people find it uncomfortable, but that's their problem. I was glad to find such raw honesty (even if it was a fictional story) in Jamie's thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Second is the growth. Jamie does a LOT of growing over the course of the story ... maybe the reason I liked her arc so much was because of how I resonated with it. I went on a similar journey of self discovery not too long ago, and reading about Jamie experiencing the same thing, and the people who helped her, was empowering because it showed me that I'm not the only one.

In that note, the third thing I admired was Axel and Jamie's romance. They fit together so perfectly. They were exactly what the other needed. And while their relationship wasn't all cupcakes and roses, it was still heartwarming watching them come together -- and stronger.

At some points, the dialogue *did* feel a little scripted. And there was a *little* too much angst for my liking. But when it comes to the core of the story, I'm a fan!

I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

i loved this book it was so olivia rodrigo coded. the fake dating trope is one of my favorites and i love that the mmc is a dancer because i usually don't read about them often. thank you so much for the arc as i really enjoyed this

You Started It - Jackie Khalilieh
⭐️
I am very thankful to be selected as an ARC reader for this book. Unfortunately, this was not the book for me and I found it hard to be able to finish the book. After reading the description, I thought that this would be an enjoyable and quick read, however I did find myself not staying engrossed in the book.

This book was super cute with a surprising amount of depth and great character development for a YA novel.

Jamie is a wonderfully flawed character who I felt reflected a lot of the ups and downs of trying to navigate love and relationships as a teenager. I will admit, her attitude and behavior in the first chapter gave me pause about continuing the book, but I am glad I continued, because her bold introduction gave way to lots of character development. Her evolution and self-development journey, like in life, were not entirely linear, but she persisted and her journey was better for it.

Axel is simply a wonderful human being, secure in who he is and unapologetic for it and uncaring about the possibility of failing because it means he tried and learned something. He is the perfect blend of supportive and attentive to what Jamie needs but knows her well enough to challenge her to go beyond her comfort zone without pushing her too far. It seems that, in everything they did, he found ways to help Jamie find herself, allowing her to finally feel like she deserved to take up space.

One of my favorite things about this book is that while the story surrounds Jamie and Axel’s relationship, each character, even the secondary family members and friend, seemed to have some level of character development and most relationships evolved in one way or another❤️

The novel is definitely written for a YA audience, but is written well and with compelling characters that can hold your attention and remind you of your teenage years, even if they are behind you.
—
📚YA romance
🚲 Fake dating
📚 MMC 16/MFC 17
🚲 Kill-it *bucket* list
📚Anxiety disorder & panic attacks
🚲 Absent parent
📚 Book dragon
🚲 TikTok dancer
📚 Closed door
🚲 Single POV
📍Toronto area, Canada
—
In general, I would give this 3-3.5⭐️ but for the YA genre I would give this 4⭐️
—
Thank you Tundra Book Group & NetGalley for this complimentary ARC - all thoughts are my own! 📚
Publishers release date 5/20/2025

This book was very enjoyable however I think I am a few years above the demographic. The book follows the relationship of 17 year old Jamie taher-Foster. The story is honestly very realistic and relatable to me as a 19 year old. There is some miscommunication and it shows that not every love story is perfect. My favorite aspect though was the portrayal of Anxiety Disorder, it was very accurate on how anxiety can present itself which I loved.
The one thing that was a bother to be was the use of slang. A lot of the time it didn’t make sense but it was really just at the start of the book. I believe this book would be good for 13-15 year olds. There is a little talk about sexual activity but it is not acted on.


Thank you net galley for letting me read this Arc.

This was so good! Jamie and Axel were so cute, and I just really had a great time reading this. I loved that they were both Arab and Axel helped Jamie connect with her heritage a bit more.

i'm an full grown adult but i will always love the bubbly feeling of first love in a ya book. i adored To All the Boys I Loved Before and i kept getting the same happy kicking my feet feelings i got from that series, So i'd say this is a perfect book for fans of Jenny Han.

Fake dating is always a top trope for me, so when it started in this book i was PUMPED. I also just love the slow burn of realizing they actually like each other.

I really enjoyed the representation in the book, i have been trying to diversify my reading the past few years so really making sure to read books about or written by people of color and lgbtqia+ communities. So Axel was a welcome change to the generic love interest in so many other books. He felt fully realized and well rounded, and while some of the moments of internalized racism were emotionally hard to go through i felt it was important to experience with the character.


I'd never read anything by this author before so i can't want to read more!!

Alright, let’s talk about Jamie Taher-Foster, the girl who has her life planned out down to the very last "Winter Formal fairytale moment." But then, BAM—her boyfriend of three years, Ben, goes full plot twist and dumps her out of nowhere. And the kicker? She finds him cozying up to Olivia Chen the very next day. Like, excuse me? Jamie's not about to let this slide, and thus begins her epic (and slightly unhinged) plan to get him back, which includes fake dating TikTok-famous Axel Dahini. Yes, that Axel Dahini—the guy whose bike she accidentally destroyed.

Now, if you’re thinking “fake dating trope? Sign me up!”—same. But this book isn’t just your usual rom-com chaos (though there’s plenty of that). Jamie is a whirlwind of anxiety, lists, and messy Type A energy, while Axel is this calm, laid-back, TikTok-dancing sweetheart who couldn’t be more opposite. And somehow, their oddball dynamic just works.

The fake dating starts as a “means to an end” kind of thing, but it quickly evolves into something deeper. Through their forced hangouts, Jamie starts to learn that life isn’t always about ticking things off a checklist or chasing perfection. Axel? He’s not just comic relief or a "plot device" to make Ben jealous—he's got layers. Their cultural connection as Arab teens adds another dimension to their relationship, grounding the story in shared heritage and giving it a depth that’s refreshing in a rom-com.

What I loved most is how Jamie’s anxiety is portrayed. It’s raw and real, but not her entire identity. Khalilieh balances the heavy stuff with laugh-out-loud moments (Axel’s TikTok antics are gold), making it a story that feels both relatable and fun.

And the ending? It’s not your predictable “let’s wrap it all up in a perfect bow” vibe. It’s realistic, heartfelt, and leaves you rooting for Jamie to keep growing—whether or not it involves a boy.

You Started It is an absolute must-read if you’re into chaotic love stories, characters who feel like your messy best friends, and just the right mix of swoon and self-discovery. Plus, Axel Dahini might just be my new favorite book boyfriend. Sorry, Ben—you had your chance.

This was one of the cuter YA books I have read in a while. I loved the chemistry between Axel and Jamie. The complexity between the dynamic of her feeling unlovable and Axel's ability to shows love adds a level of character building that helps to keep the story flowing. I prefer characters when someone feels at their worst they can still be worthy to someone else. The fake dating trope definitely gives the characters more to work with. The one thing I loved about this book was the fact that they told each other they had crushes pretty early on! As much as I love a good pining over someone else, I appreciated how the characters just let each other know how they felt and had room to grow their relationship. It felt so much more relateable since I would be the type to say it straight out when I like something.

This book follows Jamie Taher-Foster who has big plans for her last year of high school. She has a bucket list of places in Toronto for her and her boyfriend to check off. But then, Ben puts a wrench in the plan by coming back from a summer camp and breaking up with Jamie. When she sees Ben with another girl the next day, Jamie is determined to get him back. Which might even mean fake-dating the younger, cocky TikTok dancer Axel Dahini. When she accidentally runs over Axel's bike, she feels obligated to pay him back and give him rides to school in the meantime, but they quickly use this as a cover for a fake-dating scheme. Though the two have very little in common, their forced proximity leads them to understand each other better.

"Be scared. Be uncomfortable. It means you're challenging yourself. You can't put fear on a checklist, Jamie. You can't write it down and cross it off. You have to live through it. You have to experience it. You have to take that risk."

This is very much a coming-of-age story that is compared to Better Than the Movies and the Sour album from Olivia Rodrigo. I really enjoyed the fake-dating aspect, and I feel like it was really well done. I saw myself in Jamie, specifically with the anxiety representation, so there was a lot of the book that really cut deep. I think this book would be perfect for teens because of the Gen Z references. I didn't feel so unconnected from all of it, but I do think I'm not the target audience.