Book Review: “Exes & Foes” by Amanda Woody

“Exes & Foes” by Amanda Woody (2024)

Genre: Romance, YA, Fiction, LGBT

Page Length: 384 pages (paperback edition)

Synopsis:

Emma has been a thorn in Caleb’s side since middle school. Having tarnished their friendship in eighth grade, she’s now little more to him than an unkempt, unruly, disastrous bisexual mess. Over the years, she’s gotten in the way of every romantic relationship he’s attempted to settle into, using little more than mischievous charisma to lure them into her clutches.

To Emma, Caleb sets the record for World’s Largest Stick in the Mud. Uptight, unbearably tidy, and a rule-follower, he’s exactly the kind of boring person her mother wishes she was. When she discovers they’re both after Juliet, the new girl, Emma proposes a competition to nudge him out of the way. Whoever can get Juliet to kiss them first wins, and the opposition must bow out with the promise of never talking to her again.

But plans go awry when Juliet seems mostly interested in hanging out with both of them together. Emma and Caleb just have to figure out whether winning Juliet’s heart is worth the torment of constantly dealing with each other, and the risk of reopening wounds from a past they thought they had left behind.

Review:

If you enjoy the following things in a YA novel then this book is your cup of tea:

Friends-to-lovers romance
Snarky banter and cute misunderstandings
A conversation around the definition of family
Finding a place where you belong

These elements above and more made this novel an enjoyable read with very diverse rep (especially when it comes to discussions around sexuality and identity. Though the competition aspect felt a bit iffy at first, I was happy with the way it panned out throughout the story. The novel tackles conversations around mental health especially as Caleb and Emma deal with trauma from their parents. The novel takes the time for the these characters to develop their individual growth and while they do heal it’s not just with the power of love which I greatly appreciated.

The novel leans heavy into the romantic comedy elements which often lead to tension-filled but witty banter, misunderstandings, and wacky hijinks that give the book its light-hearted vibe. I enjoyed the dual point-of-views between the two leads that led me get a glimpse inside of their heads especially when they interact more since the latter part of the novel. I felt that the characters felt fleshed out and relatable even when it came to the friend group consisting of Juliet, Jas, and Alice that is presented in the story. Their friendship grounded the story when some of the cringe rom-com moments occur plus I feel like they added to the overall story feeling fleshed out.

Most of all in this novel, I enjoyed the balanced focus of two friends reconnecting in love and the overarching theme of knowing your worth. It was funny, made me smile, and was wholesome overall. I enjoyed the complex relationships presented in the novel and I also felt that it did a good job of presenting some of the struggles in the queer community that teens can face growing up. I would recommend adding Exes & Foes to your reading list this summer!

Final Verdict: