Genuinely really sad that I ended up dnfing this. I don't think I took into account that this was geared more towards teens than young adult readers. There were a few instances where I cringed, but I do think that's because I'm an adult now. Looking at this from a teens' perspective, I do think it would be enjoyable as the characters could be perceived as relatable, complex, and there are many representations that I appreciate.

I do wish I enjoyed this more than I did <3

You Started It is the second novel of author Jackie Khalilieh. Just like her first novel Something More I was struck by just how complex and three dimensional her teenage characters are. You Started It is about 17 year old Palestinian Canadian Jamie Taher-Foster who at the end of the summer before entering Grade 12 has created a bucket list of items for her and her boyfriend Ben to check off through the year. The only problem is Ben who has been away all summer breaks up with Jamie as soon as he returns. In one of the best meet cutes Jamie convinces 16 year old Tik Tok sensation Axel Dahini a Lebanese Canadian to be her fake boyfriend in an effort to win Ben back. I loved Axel! I loved how Jamie grew and took herself out of her own comfort zone while she was with him.

You Started It is deep, sweet and laugh out loud funny. It touches on internalized racism, mother-daughter dynamics, IBS and anxiety disorders. I loved it's portrayal of Arab men and we could all use an uncle like Amo Eli. I also loved that the bucket list centred on all the amazing places in Toronto. This is one of the best YA books I have read this year. A definite five star read
Thank you to Netgalley and Tundra Books for an Advanced Copy. This is my honest review.

I really enjoyed this as a romance novel and how it worked in this universe. The overall storyline worked well together with the characters and in the story. I enjoyed the way Jackie Khalilieh wrote this and was glad I got to go on this journey with the characters. It had that element that I was hoping for in the young adult novel and was glad I was able to read this.

3.5 ⭐️
I flew through this book, like literally finished it within hours. it was good, I liked it and I think the ending was sweet. I think their fake dating ended way too early though, it could’ve been stretched out to make the plot feel better. I do like how the author navigated the complex mother-daughter relationship and showing how Jamie coped with her dad leaving. I really enjoyed how Jamie wasn’t discomfited by her Palestinian lineage and tried embracing it after meeting Axel, even showing her mother that it’s nothing to be ashamed of. I related a lot to Jamie as I am half Indian and I didn’t grow up learning the culture or language like she didn’t, even though my Dad understands Hindi. I wish I had that experience. Jamie feeling like a fraud or not “Arab enough” in front of Axel’s parents really hit home as I’ve been told I’m not “Indian enough” before and it sucks. Enough about me…
There was a lottt of Gen Z references and slang which, is fine, but took me out of the story just a little bit. I didn’t like the few scenes where her uncle and mom invalidated her feelings or cared about others’ feelings over hers, kind of overlooking her experiences and emotions that she was going through. I also feel like Axel should’ve had to grovel a bit more for what he did and how he acted towards Jamie instead of putting all that burden on her. overall, a cute read that explored a lot of intricate topics pretty well.

Such a cute teen romcom taking place in the heart of Downtown Toronto. Being a Toronto native, it was so interesting to read so many iconic landmarks and be able to recognize what the characters were talking about. I was squealing like a kid again reading the story and think this book would be best read for 14 to 15 year olds who want a cute fun romance with some mature topics when it comes to relationships but not going into anything explicit. All the characters are loveable and they feel grounded and real as they aren't just one dimensional and have complexity with some of their own struggles. Ben was a very frustrating character to read but written in a good way where you see it's a lost teenager who doesn't really know how to navigate relationships and life. Also the main character feels very autistic coded which I have no clue if the author was aiming for that but it was a nice to see. Overall, a very cute and fun read.

An interesting book with well defined characters and a good attempt to examine the complexity of the transition from adolescence to adulthood but also tackling the truth that even as adults, we are constantly growing. Interesting read.

I think this book is a good jumping off point for a younger teen reading to get into the fake dating trope and see what it’s all about. The contracts, the dates for show, faking intimacy and all the typical stuff that comes with this trope. The romance between Axel and Jamie is pretty typical of a fake dating trope book and decently cute.

I will say, I felt like the pacing was off for this book. I wish more time was spent developing the relationship between Axel and Jamie before the book went into third act conflict section of the book. The conflict of the book just also felt very dragged out and repetitive. I wish more time of that had at least been spent on Jamie’s character development because it felt too brief for me. Also like mentioned in the book, are there more teen girls in Toronto than Jamie and Olivia? It would have been nice to see Jamie make friends outside of our small cast of characters!

Aside from those issues, I do think this would be an enjoyable enough read for readers on the younger side of the young adult spectrum. I also enjoyed the diverse characters, as well as the series of dates they go on around Toronto.

A friend introduced me to Jackie’s book this summer and since then I’ve been intrigued by the Toronto author, it’s so rare to find books set in Toronto that also have lead characters of colour. So when the cover for 'You Started It’ was revealed, I knew I wanted to read it. This was a surprisingly quick read for me.

If you loved ‘To All the Boys’ by Jenny Han or a bubbly young love book, then this is right up your alley.

Jamie’s recently gone through a breakup with her ex Ben and unexpectedly turns to Axel to be her fake boyfriend to make her ex jealous and win him back. It’s the classic YA romance formula, however, the beacon and saving grace of this book is Axel. I can’t say this enough, it’s so rare for writers to make characters of colour well rounded and just exist in their universes. Jackie does amazing work for Axel. Arab men are hardly featured in YA or Romance and Jackie writes such an effortless, joyful, and positive character. (The dance at the wedding scene? So good). I’ve always said reading can bring us closer while also imparting something important. The book touches on internalized racism, anxiety, alcoholism, abandonment, generational trauma and so many more topics. It’s a great book to start meaningful conversations which can help bridge gaps.

Wrapping this up, I love that Toronto shines in this book. Tim Hortons, Canada’s Wonderland (the inspiration of the book cover), Eaton Centre, and the CN Tower! The list is endless and I can’t wait to read more. Thank you Tundra Books and NetGalley for providing the arc!

Ahhhh this was so so good!! I’m so grateful I got to read an ARC of it. Thank you to Tundra Books for the privilege because I def would not have lasted until its pub date!

This book has Palestinian rep (written by a Palestinian Canadian author), anxiety rep, IBS rep. I loved Jamie’s relationship with her mom. As a teenage girl, I also was so adamant that I didn’t want to turn into my mom, and then one day had a terrifying thought that I was more similar to her than I was admitting to myself. Jamie feels cut off from her Palestinian roots because of her mom, and she has a lot of resentment for that. She also feels like her mom is responsible for her dad having left them three years ago. I like how Jamie grows to understand her mom, and her mom starts to see how her judgment has harmed Jamie. I think their arguments are realistic.

OH MY GOSH I LOVED AXEL. That boy has my entire heart. His passion for dance, his embracing of his Arab (Lebanese) roots, his clear love and care for Jamie… He’s the real MVP in this book.

I also came to love Olivia’s character. Jamie is so aware of how her dislike of Olivia is rooted in internal misogyny, but she also can’t help but hate her for “stealing her boyfriend” (Ben). I love that Olivia and Jamie eventually hash it out.

And okay, even Ben’s character wasn’t so terrible in the end, even though he made a ton of mistakes (don’t we all, especially as teenagers).

I have a feeling some readers will complain that Jamie is too immature. Yes, she is immature. But she’s a teenager. I think some people forget what they were like as teenagers. Everything feels so dramatic and raw because you’re going through so many firsts. I probably would have acted similarly to Jamie and had the same thought processes. Even as an adult I can relate so much to her all or nothing thinking and catastrophizing. I think Jackie writes teenagers so well, and I like that their flaws seem so real. Jamie grows exponentially from the start to the end of the novel.

I could go on and on about this book. I might add to my review tomorrow after I’ve had more time to digest. But Jackie is a goddess and this book is chef’s kiss good! *mwah*

I loved this book. Jamie is me. Seeing a character who is anxious to the point of snapping when triggered really made me feel seen. I know its not the way to do things but seeing her act that way made me feel less alone in my own struggles with anxiety. I will defend Jamie to the ends of the earth honestly.

Want to said thanks first from get Arc of “You started it” by Jackie Khalilieh from NetGalley and the Publisher.

You started it it’s about Jamie Taher-Foster get dumps by her long-time boyfriend Ben Cameron then discovers he is going out Olivia Chen. So Jamie decided to make a plan to over win Ben back by faking dating his new neighbors, Axel Dahini. But things get mess when someone start to caught feelings.Jamie doesn’t know what to do and start to question what she wants in life.


This book was fun,messy and hilarious. There are moments that makes want me to cry but out of nowhere a joke will come in change my mood, I will be laughing. If Jackie Khalilieh decides to stop being Author, she should be a Comedian. I can’t wait to get copy of this book.

Thank you to Tundra Books for a chance to read an arc this book! 🖤

5⭐️ Fun, messy, and heartwarming! | tropes: fake dating, ya romance, opposites attract, anxiety rep, Palestinian fmc x Lebanese mmc | digital

"You’re not getting the win on this one, Ben. You started it. Now, I’m going to finish it."

characters
🩶 I loved Jamie immensely! I understood why she wanted Ben back and how that related to her relationship with her absent father. I loved how anxiety was talked about in this book and how it acknowledges that it isn't just something you can think away but something that takes effort and sometimes a physical toll on you. Seeing Jamie struggle but also succeed validated my own struggles with anxiety. I also loved how real she felt. She had a lot of feelings to unravel and process in a short amount of time!
🩶 I liked Axel as well! He was charismatic and fun. I loved that he had a deeper side we got to see with his relationship with his family and his friends. Like yes, he's confident but he also needs reassurance and support.

"If this is supposed to be fake, then why does it feel more real than anything I ever experienced with Ben."

favorite bits
🖤 I love fake dating! I loved Jamie and Axel's relationship and how fun and sweet they were together. I thought they brought the best out of each other and tried to understand each other even when they didn't see eye to eye. But I also appreciated their relationship was perfect and they were still characters with emotions and flaws. It was a messy road but worth it in the end.
🖤 At first I didn't understand why Jamie would want Ben back but then I realized it was more about control and anxiety then Ben himself and I completely understood her. She also really loved him and it's hard to immediately break off with a person you depended on for so long.
🖤 I often complain that parental issues are often are brushed over and rushed to be fixed in YA novels but here we get to see them being worked through on page and I really appreciated that. Jamie's feelings were validated and understood by both her parents and we see them making changes and putting the work to mend those relationships.
🖤 I also enjoyed the conversations about culture and how it's important but also different for each person. I empathize with Jamie's mom a lot about how negative family / community experiences can lead to a intense negative connotations to it in the future but I also empathized with Jamie and her desire to have a relationship with her extended Palestine family and want to know more about her history, language and culture.

"And he likes me. The real me."

final thoughts:
I really loved this book! I meant to read 10% during a emotionally tough day at work but ended up reading the entire book in one day because I fell in love with these characters and their story! I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this book and "Everything comes back to you" next year!

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy of this book to review.*

Jamie’s senior year takes a wild turn when her long-time boyfriend Ben breaks up with her, prompting a fake-dating scheme with Axel, the “new guy” in town who is a carefree TikTok dancer. As they navigate their unlikely pairing, Jamie discovers that not everything in life needs to be planned or checked off a list.

This book was so good! I enjoyed my time with it and spent a lot of time giggling and squealing. I also felt my emotions with some of the stuff they go through. Phewwwwwww.

I LOVE how messy these characters are. I loved Jamie’s quirks and anxiety and stress and BIG EMOTIONS. I loved how she grew. Her vulnerability was amazing to witness.

Also - AXEL!!! What a genuine sweetheart and I loved how causally queer he was… like he didn’t need to be defined, he just liked everyone. He made me smile so much with his cocky, yet loving and deeply caring personality. He was such a great love interest.

Speaking of - there is great representation throughout this book, and I am here for it!! From the family dynamics to the friendship groups, it was awesome.

I really loved this one. Yet another gem from Jackie Khalilieh. Definitely recommend picking this one

4.5 stars
17 year old Jamie has her senior year planned. her boyfriend of three years comes home after being away at summer camp and breaks up with her. She finds him with another girl the day after the breakup and it leads her to begin a fake dating situation with Axel. As they begin to spend time together she begins to fall.

I really enjoyed this one. It’s well written and moves a decent pace. Jamie has anxiety and her experiences and felt realistic to me. I have had similar experiences.
Jamie is selfish and immature at the beginning of the book but you see her grow throughout the book. You see other characters in the book also experience personal growth. This book is more character driven versus plot driven. It is has a diverse cast of likable characters. I would recommend this book to others

Thanks to NetGalley and Tundra Book Group for providing me this digital copy ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.3/5
I had to remember that this is an <I>actual.</I> YA book, meant for teenagers. I am 22, so I'm a few years off of the high school lifestyle.

*minor spoiler?*
Since it's a book meant for teenagers, beginning was honestly a bit cringe for me. Her thoughts and ideas after Jamie found Ben with another girl (not a spoiler, it's in the blurb); made me uncomfortable. I understand it's in the mindset of a teenage girl, but her calling him "mine", sounded possessive. And making Olivia seem like a literal villain was too much, it definitely got me a bit annoyed. I can see how she'll react that, especially since he's all she's known, but to that level? But to those who are going to follow this, keep in mind she's sheltered. I understand that 100%, but I just wished it was worded differently. It almost made her sound child-like, which of course, she isn't.

Jamie
A young girl who's a bit more reserved and sheltered in the life of a young adult. From that we see her blossom into a young adult who learns to embrace her heritage, get out of her shell, and finds out who she is. And also sets the blueprint for her to continue doing so, herself. She's has a few quirks, but it's what makes her, <I>her.</I>.

Axel
He's the opposite of Jamie, to some extent. He knows a bit more about his heritage, and traditions. He's had a bit more freedom in his life, hence his behavior with other people. While he is confident, when needed, we see a deeper and more vulnerable side of him behind is facade.

But this book was too cute! It's an opposites attract, breaking free, they both help each other kind of romance. Finding themselves, with each other.

If you know anyone who has a 15-18 year old, who may be struggling with finding themselves, hobbies they can't share, anxiety, panic attacks, a missing parent, or anything in relation to this book. This is a good read for them; unless they're not into romance.

ARC REVIEW : Publication DATE: MAY 20 2025

You Stated It by Jackie Khalilieh is a young adult romance revolving around a fake dating scenario between 17-year-olds Jamie and Axel. Jamie is hoping to rekindle a romance with her ex, while Axel is using the opportunity to meet new people. What starts as a simple arrangement quickly turns into a web of emotions and confusion. While the book has its moments, overall, I found it to be a bit too immature for my taste. The premise of You Stated It is solid—fake dating is always an interesting trope in young adult romance novels. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t live up to the promise. The storyline felt overly dramatic and shallow, with much of the tension and conflict unfolding too quickly and in a way that didn’t seem realistic. Jamie’s emotional back-and-forth between her ex, Ben, and Axel felt repetitive and childish, which made it difficult to fully engage with the plot. While the drama might appeal to younger readers, it didn’t work for me. The writing itself was decent—not too long, not too short, with a pacing that kept things moving. I appreciated that the book was told from Jamie’s perspective, which provided a sense of intimacy with her character. However, this choice also limited the overall experience. While I understand the focus on Jamie’s emotions, the narrow perspective felt a bit limiting, especially when I would have liked to see more from Axel’s side of things. This is where the book really lost me. Jamie, the protagonist, struck me as overly immature and self-centered. Her constant indecision and lack of self-respect made it hard for me to sympathize with her, let alone root for her to get her happily-ever-after. The back-and-forth between her and Axel, and her obsessive focus on getting back with her ex, felt frustrating and childish. I was hoping for a more mature and self-aware character, but Jamie never seemed to learn from her mistakes. Axel, while nice enough, didn’t feel fully fleshed out, and seemed more like a plot device to create drama than a fully realized character. All of the drama felt crammed into a very short time frame, making everything seem rushed and over-the-top. The excessive drama overshadowed any meaningful character development or growth, leaving me with a sense that the book was more about creating conflict than exploring relationships in a thoughtful way. Unfortunately, You Stated It wasn’t the book for me. While the fake dating trope might appeal to fans of young adult romance, the immaturity of the characters and the lack of emotional depth were a big turn-off. I’d recommend this book to readers who enjoy lighthearted, drama-filled YA romances, but I’d caution anyone looking for a more mature, nuanced take on teenage relationships. It’s a quick read, but for those seeking more substance, it may feel too juvenile.