DECEMBER 2022 - AudioFile
Enjoy this rambunctious performance by glowing narrators Barrie Kreinik and Natalie Naudus. Skye and Maya have two things in common: They’re both exes of Jordy, and they’re both invited to participate in a dating game show to win back his affections. While Maya is dead set on exposing Jordy as a master manipulator, Skye is optimistic that she might rekindle love again. Both Kreinik and Naudus offer polarizing narrations, at first, with Skye possessed by fiery anger and Maya aloof. But as the game show continues, Skye and Maya open themselves up to more possibilities for happiness as they get to know each other. After that, the performances become light, flirty, and quite wholesome. A nice twist on a fun plot. G.M. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
Publishers Weekly
★ 10/10/2022
Two years after Maya dumped her cheating ex-boyfriend Jordy, he’s suddenly being touted across the news as Europe’s most eligible bachelor, following his sister’s marriage to a minor European royal. When Maya is invited to be a contestant on Second Chance Romance, a reality dating show that pits celebrity bachelors’ ex-girlfriends against each other for a chance to win their ex’s heart, Maya sees it as the perfect opportunity for revenge. She plans to publicly humiliate Jordy by dumping him on international TV—but she has to win first. Upon being whisked away to fictional European country Chalonne, Maya’s scheme gets off to a rocky start after she alienates the other contestants with her I’m-not-here-to-make-friends attitude. As the competition unfolds, however, she’s surprised to find herself connecting with Skye, the girl with whom Jordy cheated on Maya. Moreover, Maya is developing romantic feelings for her—and Skye feels the same. Employing hilariously biting alternating perspectives and a cast populated by strongly characterized female heroines and deliciously despicable reality TV villains, Gonzales (If This Gets Out) expertly taps into contemporary society’s Bachelor obsession to deliver a smart rom-com with a twist. Characters cue as white. Ages 14–up. Agent: Molly Ker Hawn, Bent Agency. (Dec.)
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"Employing hilariously biting alternating perspectives and a cast populated by strongly characterized female heroines and deliciously despicable reality TV villains, Gonzales expertly taps into contemporary society’s Bachelor obsession to deliver a smart rom-com with a twist.” ―Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Narrated in alternating points of view by two layered, complex characters, this fun YA romance is full of twists and turns, petty revenge schemes, and chaotic drama that rivals an actual reality show. If you enjoyed Netflix’s Do Revenge and are craving a bisexual season of The Bachelor, you absolutely must pick up this book." - Booklist, starred review
"Never Ever Getting Back Together is an absolute home run...the queer feel-good romcom of the year." ―The Nerd Daily
"Containing juicy secrets, sizzling chemistry, swoon-worthy reveals, and all the drama one could want, Gonzales's delightful rom-com will leave readers craving more." ―PopSugar
"A hilariously charming mix of romance meets reality show." ― Paste Magazine
"A light, escapist read." —Kirkus
“Wickedly funny [and] searingly sexy... Gonzales has written an incisive reflection on the thin line between love and hate. Don’t let this one get away.” —Kelly Quindlen, author of She Drives Me Crazy
"A fun, fast-paced enemies-to-lovers romcom, full of banter and heart... queer love and teen girls you can’t help but cheer for. This book gets my final rose and all the ones before it." —Jenn Dugan, author of Some Girls Do
“As binge-worthy as your favorite Netflix series...a bitingly funny, warm, and wonderful knock-out of a romcom.” —Julia Lynn Rubin, author of Trouble Girls
School Library Journal
01/01/2023
Gr 9 Up—Reality TV show contestants who are fresh out of high school and looking for love with a pseudo-member of a royal family? Gonzales ropes in readers and will have them hooked. Maya was dumped by Jordy, and he started dating Skye two years ago; his older sister is now married to a prince of a small European country and he's suddenly an eligible bachelor, hence the show, Second-Chance Romance, which brings together his exes for a competition to get back with him. Maya hates Jordy just as much as she hates Skye—who she's stuck rooming with for the duration of the filming—and agrees to do the show in hopes of secretly bringing Jordy down. On the other hand, despite many reservations after her relationship with Jordy abruptly ended when he moved, Skye decided to give him another chance. Though the story is slow to start and some suspension of disbelief regarding typical 18-year-old behavior is necessary, this novel finds ways to incorporate the importance of friendship, second chances, and love in all forms without feeling heavy or overbearing. The novel includes LGBTQIA+ representation in main characters as well as BIPOC side characters. There are age-relevant displays of affection. VERDICT A great addition to any high school collection looking to add light romance reads to their shelves and a solid recommendation for readers who are tired of drama on the screen or in real life but could use a distraction.—Samantha Hull
DECEMBER 2022 - AudioFile
Enjoy this rambunctious performance by glowing narrators Barrie Kreinik and Natalie Naudus. Skye and Maya have two things in common: They’re both exes of Jordy, and they’re both invited to participate in a dating game show to win back his affections. While Maya is dead set on exposing Jordy as a master manipulator, Skye is optimistic that she might rekindle love again. Both Kreinik and Naudus offer polarizing narrations, at first, with Skye possessed by fiery anger and Maya aloof. But as the game show continues, Skye and Maya open themselves up to more possibilities for happiness as they get to know each other. After that, the performances become light, flirty, and quite wholesome. A nice twist on a fun plot. G.M. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2022-09-28
Revenge is a dish best shared.
In the new reality show Second-Chance Romance, a bachelor will date his exes and try to “discover which of them might be the one that got away.” American Maya Bailey dated Jordy Miller, who became famous when his sister married a prince. After a year together, she got her heart broken when he started dating another girl and moved away. Canadian Skye Kaplan dated Jordy for two months before Maya found out about it, though Skye was not aware at the time of Maya’s existence. Now the two high school graduates, along with four other exes, have signed up for seven weeks at a mansion in the fictional European country of Chalonne. Maya, though, plans to serve Jordy some just deserts on international television. When she reveals Jordy’s past behavior to Skye, the two begrudgingly make a pact that slowly but surely turns into a new attraction for the two young bisexual women. Readers know Jordy is a baldfaced liar by Chapter 3, so there’s no love lost there. The book definitely passes the Bechdel test, but readers get little backstory about either of the girls independent of their dating histories. Those looking for an enemies-to-friends-to-lovers rom-com as an indulgent treat will have fun but will likely wish to know more about Maya and Skye. Main characters read White.
A light, escapist read. (Fiction. 14-18)
