“Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute” by Talia Hibbert
Description: “Bradley Graeme is pretty much perfect. He’s a star football player, manages his OCD well (enough), and comes out on top in all his classes . . . except the ones he shares with his ex-best friend, Celine.
Celine Bangura is conspiracy-theory-obsessed. Social media followers eat up her takes on everything from UFOs to holiday overconsumption–yet, she’s still not cool enough for the popular kids’ table. Which is why Brad abandoned her for the in-crowd years ago. (At least, that’s how Celine sees it.)
These days, there’s nothing between them other than petty insults and academic rivalry. So when Celine signs up for a survival course in the woods, she’s surprised to find Brad right beside her.
Forced to work as a team for the chance to win a grand prize, these two teens must trudge through not just mud and dirt but their messy past. And as this adventure brings them closer together, they begin to remember the good bits of their history. But has too much time passed . . . or just enough to spark a whole new kind of relationship?”
Review: I’ll be honest, I started this book 3 times. The third time I really had to push myself to get into it. The first quarter of the book was hard to read. In the beginning I found the characters odd (but not in a charming way) and unlikable, luckily this perception did change for me. Also, you’re thrown right into the plot with no introduction and it’s hard to keep track of what’s going on and who is who. Once the story picks up speed and I had a better grasp on the characters and their relationships I was able to enjoy it more.
Celine and Bradley are both complex characters. At first I wasn’t the biggest fan of them but I soon grew to love them. I found it really interesting how they have certain personas they present to the world and certain aspects they try to keep hidden. I enjoyed watching Celine and Brad rebuild their friendship. The two of them knew everything about each other and were not able to hide from the other. Often YA books have instalove and it was a nice change to see a realistic, slower approach to having a crush and being in a relationship.
My favorite aspect of the book was the Breakspeare Explorer Program (BEP). The concept of the BEP was really interesting and I wish it was more of the focus. The central focus is really Celine, Brad and their growth. I would have appreciated it if more of the plot was about the program or Celine’s relationship with her estranged father. BEP is used as a vehicle to get Celine and Brad’s relationship rolling. The program was made out to be this rigorous camp but from the little that we read about it it didn’t seem that extreme.
I really enjoyed the friendship dynamics throughout the book, especially at the BEP. Everyone gets along (for the most part) and brings different assets to the group. It’s nice to see Celine be accepted for who she is and even admired. It’s also nice to see Brad be more of his true self and less of the jock front that he puts on in school. The kids at BEP seem like they might be the “outcasts” of their school but while in the program they found friends who accept them for who they are, quirks and all.
I can’t speak to the representation of OCD because that isn’t something I have personal experience with. The author did note that she has OCD so I’m guessing she gives an accurate description of what she has dealt with in her life. It was nice to see OCD being normalized and not stigmatized. Overall, it’s a really cute book that I think will resonate with many teens. I know there will be plenty of people who are able to connect with the characters. I would recommend this book to be added to most YA collections.
*please note that I received an advanced copy of the book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.