akacya ❦'s Reviews > Exes & Foes

2024 reads: 211/250

i received an advanced review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.

content warnings: emotional abuse, bullying, homophobia

emma and caleb, once best friends, are now as close as strangers. emma has been getting in the way of every romantic prospect of caleb’s, but when caleb becomes interested in the new girl at school, juliet, he’s desperate to get to know her before emma asks her out. so, they have a little challenge: emma and caleb will get to know juliet, and whoever juliet kisses first gets to go out with her. as they make plans with juliet, though, she seems to be interested in hanging out with both of them at the same time, leading caleb and emma to wonder whether winning juliet’s heart is worth opening old wounds.

this might be a bit of an implied spoiler? but with a description like that, it was easy to see this story going one of two ways, either of which i would’ve been happy with. luckily, it did go one of my two predicted ways!

i loved all these characters so much. even though juliet doesn’t have a pov of her own, i enjoyed getting to know her<3 and caleb and emma had so much history that i loved learning about.

the writing was a bit silly at times, but honestly i think it added to the vibes of the book, so i didn’t mind that too much. i can’t wait to read more of amanda woody’s books!