honestly... a few too many plots going on at once sometimes but the love story was so DANG CUTE!!! it dragged on a little towards the end but man am i a sucker for the enemies to lovers trope

I did not expect to like this book as much as I did.

I had tried reading this book once before and I hadn't managed to get past the first chapter. Perhaps I wasn't in the mood for teen romance back then. Whatever the reason I decided to give it another chance and I'm so glad I did.

The beginning is difficult to get through. Cameron comes off as a mean girl with no redeeming qualities. Slowly as the story progresses we do see her acknowledge her failings and celebrate that which makes her unique. The love story started with animosity, of course, but again I loved the progression. The book also, didn't lack in the inevitable college decision process, that comes with a YA-Romance set in senior year of high school.

If I had to give one criticism it would be regarding the relationship with her mother. The relationship with her mother improves, but I just didn't like the reason why it improved. I'm going to need to put the rest under a spoiler tag.

Spoiler

It wasn't necessarily the reason, it was more to do with the explanation that Cameron's mom made for her actions. Telling your 17 year old daughter that you left her father because he was a controlling ass who would never have appreciated them, is all well and good. That still doesn't make up for the fat that for years Cameron had been taking care of herself. If it was her decision to leave, because she knew that Cameron's father was an ass, then why did she spend so many years chasing after him? Not even trying to provide for herself and Cameron. Why was she never a mom to Cameron? In the end she explains to Cameron that she left because their life would have been worse under his thumb, and I believe her about that point, but she also didn't apologize for truly making Cameron's teen years so difficult. Let's face it Cameron didn't have parents. Cameron's mom started acting like one, in Cameron's senior year. Instead of explaining why she left and what happened in the past with Cameron's father, she should have been acknowledging her failings, apologizing for not being there, and promising that she would do better and then, actually manifesting that promise by doing better. I'm glad that Cameron and her mom made up in the end. I'm glad that the mom actually started pulling her life back together and becoming strong and independent. I don't like that she never really apologized for being a bad mom. I don't like that the book made it seem like everything was forgiven because Cameron learned that her mom had made one good decision 18 years ago.

**** Great read, 4 stars ****

I liked that this was retelling-adjacent ("THe Taming of the Shrew" kind of takes the MC on a self journey), but felt a little paint-by-numbers to me. However, there is some grade A flirting in this book, if that is your kind of thing.

4.5 stars.
I really enjoyed reading this.
Had some important messages that more young people need to hear.
-be yourself for you, don’t be what everyone else wants you be.
-there’s room for second chances.
-there’s always time to right your wrongs.
And so much more.
It had such a cute ending.
Definitely recommend giving this a read.

read on my blog

But the truth is you're a bitch, Cameron Bright.

I enjoyed Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka's debut, Always Never Yours, so I was already excited for their next book If I'm Being Honest, especially when I heard the comparison to 10 Things I Hate about You, which is one of my favorite movies! And what an apt comparison because this book did not disappoint. If I'm Being Honest was such a great read.

This is definitely very "90s teen flick"-esque, and I loved it, especially because they expanded on the tropes. Instead of a makeover montage (à la She's All That), Cameron makes a list of people to help as a way to make herself a better person. Similarly, she befriends the "weirdo" of the grade (Bring It On or Clueless), but she doesn't make her over (wow, why are so many movies that hinge on makeovers). And, of course, this book is based on The Taming of the Shrew just like 10 Things I Hate about You.

Cameron is definitely one of the best unlikable heroines in YA, if not the best (because honestly, we don't get a lot). I mean, yes, it was a bit hard to empathize with her at first because of all the dick-ish things she would say, but you grow to love her. That's good writing right there!!

You know, being yourself isn't permission to be a terrible person.

The character developments were definitely some of the best and most realistic I've read in YA. I liked that Cameron called out her friend for being a bad friend, but she didn't immediately reflect over her actions and change. Some people are just like that; they place the blame on everybody else and ice you out when you say anything remotely negative about them, even if it's constructive. Also, it was nice to see her friend call Cameron out for ghosting her and their other friends because that's what somebody would actually do in this situation. Usually this is just glossed over in other books.

The romance was super cute! I stan one boy and one boy only, and that is Brendan. He and Cameron have a bit of a hate-to-love relationship because she was one of the kids who would make fun of him in elementary school. However, they bond over the video game he's creating. (Also! Cameron being into coding! As a CS gal myself, I really enjoyed reading another girl who's interested in it.) I did think that the last time she lashed out at him went a little too far, but again, unlikable heroine, so.

There may or may not be cameos from certain characters from Always Never Yours, and that's all I have to say on that [smirking face].

I think it might be literally impossible to be your friend and not be inspired to be yourself. Be real. Be brave.

If I'm Being Honest was such a delightful read. If I'm being honest, I definitely recommend this one if you're looking for a fun, 90s-esque rom-com! You can pick it up on April 23.

original review:

cuteeee

How did I not know that the authors of this book also wrote [b:Always Never Yours|34092885|Always Never Yours|Emily Wibberley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1509252283l/34092885._SY75_.jpg|55108695] which was one of my all-time YA romance books of 2018??? It literally took me until the last 10 pages of this book (during that cameo with the main characters of [b:Always Never Yours|34092885|Always Never Yours|Emily Wibberley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1509252283l/34092885._SY75_.jpg|55108695]) to make the connection bc I thought the characters’ names sounded familiar... smh. ALSO, how did I not know that the authors of this book are a couple in real life? This makes this 10x cuter!!!

I honestly can’t recommend this book enough. It was actually more than a little emotional having to read about Cameron’s struggles with feeling like she’s not good enough for her dad and her thinking that she is pathetic and worthless. There were lighthearted bits too, of course, but I definitely shed a few tears here and there. Since this is a contemporary retelling of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, which is a comedy and a tragedy, this makes sense. There was a perfect balance of cutesy fluff and emotional angst. I also love the overall message of the story; there’s definitely substance there. The romance was adorable and fluffy (but not too fluffy) and just perfect. Like, can I please have my own Brendan? Most of the other characters were really loveable too, especially Paige. This book’s really got it all - dimensional characters, a meaningful story, and the most wholesome romance ever. The only thing I regret is not reading this earlier!

This was really fun. I liked the slow burn romance and the character development, along with the backsliding that comes with actual character development. It made the story more believable. Similarly, I liked that not every loose end was tied up at the end. I wasn’t a huge fan of Cameron’s relationship with her parents throughout most of the book, but my issues with them were resolved in the end, so assumedly that was just something else she was meant to work through. The cameo at the end, I believe it was at least, of the authors’ previous characters felt really forced and didn’t make since to me since I haven’t gotten to that one yet. But overall this was a read I really enjoyed.