Review by Booklist Review
Saine wants to make documentaries. Ever since her late grandmother introduced her to them, she's had a camera in hand. Now all that stands between her and her dream is a short film she needs to make about a VR-headset contest in her hometown. When her original subject drops out, Saine is stuck with the only choice left: her ex-friend Holden, who also happens to be her best friend's ex-boyfriend. He embarrassed Saine years ago, and it ended their friendship, but he's the only option left for a story. The more they work together, the more old feelings resurface, and Saine starts to realize she's falling for the enemy. Saine is a messy and flawed main character who has been bottling up her emotions about her grandmother's death. She makes mistakes, and though she can be selfish, her actions are realistic and complicated. Emotional and mental health and therapy are all addressed in a positive way, and each character feels well-developed. Even the side story lines are well-rounded. A fun rom-com with an emotional punch.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 9 Up--Eighteen-year-old student filmmaker Saine's eye for storytelling is why she knows her friendship with Holden Michaels is over when he rejects her publicly during a middle school game of spin-the-bottle and, years later, dates and breaks up with her best friend. But then Saine needs his help to complete her documentary for a filmmaking program at Temple University when her original subject drops out. With her preliminary application submitted, Saine has to stick to her topic--following a contestant through a series of live-action gaming competitions to win a prototype virtual reality headset--which is where Holden comes in. Following her ex-best-friend around while thinking she's telling a familiar tale about a white boy getting what he wants is hard. Doing that while worrying if her current best friend is jealous is even harder. Saine's fixation on the success of her film makes it easy to put her growing feelings for Holden and crumbling relationships on hold while she tries to shape real life to make sure her documentary wins her a spot at Temple, inventing financial problems and resorting to sabotage. As her lies and manipulations grow, Saine faces a reality check when she realizes that sometimes narrative growth hurts--especially when it comes to facing the consequences of her actions. Saine and Holden are white, with some secondary characters cued as BIPOC. The cast also includes characters across the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. VERDICT A fast-paced rom-com with a main character whose singular focus often works against her character development.--Emma Carbone
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
An aspiring documentarian finds her new subject in her estranged ex--best friend. Eighteen-year-old high school senior Saine Sinclair hopes to secure a coveted spot in a documentary pilot program at Temple University. To complete her application, she'll need to submit a short documentary. When her original subject, a woman competing in the Vice and Virtual video game competition, drops out and the deadline looms, Saine turns in desperation to another competitor, Holden Michaels. Not only is Holden her childhood best friend, but he's also the ex-boyfriend of her current BFF, Corrine Baker. Saine has done her best to avoid Holden since an awkward spin-the-bottle incident in sixth grade, but now she'll be filming his every move. The twosome's journey plays with rom-com tropes as Rodkey explores the messiness of feelings--including growing pains and miscommunication--through flawed characters who don't always take the easy road. Saine, who is single-minded about filmmaking and not above manipulation if it'll make for a better movie, has to reckon with the consequences of her actions. Some plot points are clearly foreshadowed, but with a well-developed secondary cast and lots of places for the protagonists to go, the fast-paced story maintains readers' interest. Main characters are White; there is some diversity in race and sexual orientation in the supporting cast. A rom-com that deftly hits many emotional beats. (Romance. 13-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
