title: Didn't See That Coming
author: Jesse Q. Sutanto
publisher: Delacorte Press
publication date: November 28, 2023
pages: 320
peppers: 1 (on this scale)
warnings: bullying, mention of vomit
summary: In this YA novel, Kiki has been using a hyper-masculine pseudonym to avoid the kind of comments she used to get with a feminine-sounding username on her online gaming community. Online, she makes a good friend, who shares his emotions believing he's talking with a boy. Meanwhile, Kiki's parents make her start at a new school because they want her to learn some manners to get along better in society. At the school, super-rich Jonas starts harassing her and she's slowly becoming friends with quiet Liam.
tropes:
- fake dating
- false identity
- I knew you before I knew you
- great younger friends
- super rich
- mean teachers
- new kid in school
what I liked:
- This book did a great job of showing a lot of the garbage girls have to put up with in predominantly male spaces.
- I liked how it showed Kiki's response to bullying.
- Good girlfriend scenes
what I didn’t like: not much
overall rating: 5 (of 5 stars)