Title: She Drives Me Crazy
Author: Kelly Quindlen
Genre: YA Rom-Com
Publisher: Macmillan
Pages: 304
Release Date: 13 October 2022
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Hello fellow book lovers, today I'm sharing my review of She Drives Me Crazy, the witty and hilariously heartfelt LGBTQ+ Rom-com about first loves, toxic relationships and learning how to move on from painful experiences from author, Kelly Quindlen.
Synopsis
After an embarrassing loss to her ex-girlfriend in their first basketball game of the season, seventeen-year-old Scottie Zajac gets into a fender bender with the worst possible person: her nemesis, Irene Abraham, head cheerleader for the Fighting Reindeer.
Irene is as mean as she is beautiful, so Scottie makes a point to keep her distance. When the accident sends Irene's car to the shop for weeks' worth of repairs and the girls are forced to carpool, their rocky start only gets bumpier.
But when an opportunity arises for Scottie to get back at her toxic ex--and climb her school's social ladder--she bribes Irene into an elaborate fake- dating scheme that threatens to reveal some very real feelings.
Review
As a massive enemies to lovers fan I was super excited to get my hands on a copy of this—And it definitely surpassed all of my expectations. I literally binge read the majority of this in a single day and didn’t want to put it down!
The characters were all expertly written and had a depth and complexity that brought realism to their experiences (and quite often flawed emotional reactions.)
I did really like Scottie, who was a typical teenage girl just trying to deal with her first ever heartbreak. The emotional journey she embarks on was well written and I enjoyed seeing Scottie finally coming to terms with the toxicity of her former relationship, slowly learning to heal from it and finally move on from Tally (and find closure.) But I have to admit Irene,Captain of the Cheerleading squad (and Scottie’s school nemesis turned fake girlfriend) was quickly became my favourite character.
At first I wasn’t a fan of Irene, as she appeared to be the typical high school bully—popular, pretty and captain of the cheer squad. But, I definitely warmed to her when she lets go of her mean girl persona and shows Scottie (and us) the real Irene—a funny, loving, headstrong and vulnerable teenage girl who’s just trying to overcome her self esteem issues and the fear of getting her heart broken again. I also really respected her drive to win Student Athlete of the Year (SAOY) despite the prejudice and negative stereotypes surrounding Cheerleading.
I also really loved several of the supporting characters who’s individual personalities really shined through (especially Honey-Belle, Danielle and Pickles the cat—who I definitely would’ve loved to see more of.)
The romance was absolutely perfect and the attraction that brews between the pair is recognisable from the moment these two crash head first into each others orbit.
The vibes and visuals that Quindlen evokes is definitely reminiscent of some of my fave early 00s teen movies, though with more inclusive and LGBTQ+ representation and I can absolutely see this making an incredible teen movie —so someone please snap up the rights/ option this ASAP!
Overall, a heartwarmingly funny, enemies to lovers, fake dating rom-com that fans of Becky Albertalli and sapphic contemporary romance should definitely pick up.
Also thanks to Bethan over at Macmillan Kids UK for the PB copy
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
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