For What It's Worth


Thursday, February 9, 2023

Review: Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Brown Sisters trilogy, comes a laugh-out-loud story about a quirky content creator and a clean-cut athlete testing their abilities to survive the great outdoors--and each other.


Bradley Graeme is pretty much perfect. He's a star football player, manages his OCD well (enough), and comes out on top in all his classes . . . except the ones he shares with his ex-best friend, Celine.

Celine Bangura is conspiracy-theory-obsessed. Social media followers eat up her takes on everything from UFOs to holiday overconsumption--yet, she's still not cool enough for the popular kids' table. Which is why Brad abandoned her for the in-crowd years ago. (At least, that's how Celine sees it.)

These days, there's nothing between them other than petty insults and academic rivalry. So when Celine signs up for a survival course in the woods, she's surprised to find Brad right beside her.

Forced to work as a team for the chance to win a grand prize, these two teens must trudge through not just mud and dirt but their messy past. And as this adventure brings them closer together, they begin to remember the good bits of their history. But has too much time passed . . . or just enough to spark a whole new kind of relationship? ~ Goodreads

Source: e-arc provided by the publicist in exchange for an honest review

Review: I've adored Hibbert's books going way back to her self publishing days - so when I saw she had her debut YA book coming out - I took the rare step or requesting an arc. 

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute his most of same notes and themes as her adult books. Mental health, quirky hobbies, witty banter - check, check, and check!

Celine and Brad used to be best friends until Brad decided to be more concerned with fitting in with the popular kids - which does not include introducing them to UFO, Big Foot - conspiracy theory obsessed Celine. Instead they've become enemies, waging verbal warfare and trying to one up each other academically. 

Their fighting goes too far during an (accidental) altercation which leaves Celine with a bum foot and Brad with a giant case of guilt.

When Celine, aspiring lawyer, is accepted to a survival course in the woods with a grand prize to meet her idol, help her career path and yeah - maybe stick it to the father who abandoned her family, she jumps at it. Brad, feeling like he needs to help her win after what he did signs up as well.

Their rivalry softens at the camp and they open up to each other more about what happened in the past and their struggles and hopes for the future.

This is a really adorable romance with two great kids trying to overcome natural insecurities, mental health issues (OCD) and abandonment - surrounded by good parents (minus the absentee dad, of course) and supportive friends. This is light, easy reading which was nice.

Having said that, I was expecting more adventure, rivalry and I guess more about Celine being a popular social media conspiracy theorist lol All of those things take a backseat to Brad and Celine's budding romance. It is super sweet, as I said, but I felt like those cool elements that made me want to pick up the book were more stated as fact than part of the plotline described int he summary.

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute does tackle several deeper issues (brilliantly by the author, as always) and both characters show a lot of growth but this is mostly a low stakes, lots of witty banter/inner monologue, romance/coming of age story vs action and big characters - which is fine! just not what I was expecting.

Overall, despite not being what I was hoping for, it was the adorable, light read I was looking for anyway, 

24 comments:

  1. I have heard good things about this book. The romance taking center stage would be a plus for me, as I never feel YA romances have enough romance.

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    1. This was more of the butterflies in my stomach - does he/she like me sort but it was adorable. I think they just need to be better at the cover copy lol this is a very Hibbert book though - so funny and sweet are guarantied.

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  2. This is the perfect kind of read to have around Valentine's Day!

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  3. Sounds good. Nice to have some OCD rep and the conspiracy theory stuff, plus good parents (minus the bad one). But how common is that?? It does seem like it misses the boat a little with the conspiracy theory stuff. I mean, come on.

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    1. She's great at writing mental illness and especially chronic pain rep. It was just weird to say a character has something like a conspiracy theory social media channel then never show it or have it be a factor at all lol

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  4. First I've heard of this but it sounds good.

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  5. I had no idea Hibbert had released a YA. I'm usually all about the romance so that taking center stage wouldn't bother me. :)

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    1. It's very YA and more about fluttery feelings than actual romance but it was very cute!

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  6. This sounds like such a fun read. It sucks that the romance overshadowed so much of it :(
    Kristin (Book Sniffers Anonymous)

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    1. I wouldn't say it was overshadowed but the fun things that made me pick the book up were minimal.

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  7. I love this author's Brown Sisters series but don't enjoy YA. However, I have to read a YA romance for one of the reading challenges. I think I may get this one.

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    1. I'm unsure if you would like it. Same humor and type of characters as the Brown sisters - it's more about personal growth than being stupid - which I think you would like but also a lot of heart fluttering YA type romance.

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  8. It sounds like Talia Hobbert delivers her usual excellent read, even if it's a YA book which breaks from her usual writing. It's disappointing some of the things mentioned in the summary weren't really central to the story, especially if those were the things which grabbed your interest but it certainly doesn't seem to have ruined your enjoyment of the book at least even if it wasn't quite what you expected.

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    1. Yes - that! Wasn't what I was hoping for in the way of adventure but still adorable. Celine could be a Brown sister relative lol

      I guess I was expectign her to look for Big Foot while hiking ??? lol I don't know - more silliness that had to do with her SM channel and outdoor hijinks.

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  9. Lovely review. I think I'd enjoy this one now I know what to expect.

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    1. Expectations can ruin it but it was still cute!

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  10. I really liked this one too, but I agree - some of the "extra" topics could have been focused on a BIT more.

    Lauren @ www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. It's was kind of weird to make a point of saying she's a conspiracy theorist popular on SM and then never really explore that. Like, shouldn't she be looking for Big Foot in the woods? lol

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  11. Adorable and light, I am in for that

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    1. Yeah. This one was very light despite tackling tough topics. The author always does that well.

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  12. This sounds like such a fun read! I'm going to add it to my shelf and see if it's on audible.

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