This is John Tucker Must Die meets Do Revenge but make it gay(er). And set during a reality TV show. If that alone isn’t enough to make you put this book on your TBR immediately, let me elaborate.
Two years ago, Maya dumped her ex-boyfriend Jordy after she found out he was cheating on her with another girl, Skye. While most people have the luxury of not having to see their cheating ex again, Maya can’t really escape her ex since Jordy’s sister married the crown prince of a minor European country and turned Jordy into a charming heartthrob the whole world seems to be obsessed with. Skye, meanwhile, is still wondering why Jordy just up and ghosted her and has closely guarded her heart ever since.
When Maya and Skye are invited to star on a new reality dating show called “Second Chance Romance” in which Jordy, capitalising on his fame, invites six of his exes to stay in a beautiful mansion for a chance to recapture the spark with one of his old flames, both girls accept. While Skye accepts to maybe finally get answers out of Jordy, Maya accepts intending to expose Jordy’s manipulative character and get revenge. What neither Skye nor Maya expect is that their happily ever after…might just be each other.
I don’t think I’ve had as much fun reading a book this year as I had with Never Ever Getting Back Together. As a long-time fan of Sophie Gonzales, I knew this was going to be a good story but Gonzales. Did. That!
Jordy is one of those characters you will love to hate. If you’ve ever had a boyfriend—or really, anyone—in your life that gaslit you, then let me introduce you to the personification of gaslighting: Jordy. From weaving an intricate web of lies about himself as well as the women he dated, every word out of Jordy’s mouth is calculated and you’ll have a tough time not wanting to strangle him every single time he graces the page. But it’s undeniable that it’s such a fun time hating him and rooting for him getting exactly what he deserves that you’ll find yourself flipping the pages to see how it all ends.
While I can’t say too much about Maya and Skye’s initial interactions lest I spoil the surprise, I can say that their chemistry is off the charts. From Maya’s bitterness to Skye’s charismatic aura, their interactions will make your heart race and mutter ‘just kiss already’ to yourself. When they strike a reluctant alliance to finally take Jordy down for good, sparks fly and truths are exposed that no one can see coming.
And the drama, baby, oh, the drama. From unlikely alliances between the other contestants (which, yes, will have you wanting to pull your hair out and scream ‘that’s not being feminist!’ at the top of your lungs while also, sadly, getting why they behave the way they do), to Jordy’s manipulative scheming, this book has entertaining drama coming out the wazoo. There are competitions and gorgeous dresses and too many drinks to count that all make this feel like a daydream.
Lest you think that this book is just a good time, there is also a whole lot of depth to the story. Gonzales balances out the fun parts with the more introspective side of things when it comes to getting your heart broken and trying to reassemble yourself while everyone is rooting for your ex. Both Maya and Skye have had their fair share of heartbreak but when they finally put the missing pieces of their past together and open up to each other about their hopes, fears and dreams for the future, their bond truly shimmers. There is also a plethora of commentary on blinding your partner that will for sure appeal to anyone who’s ever seen red flags and chose to ignore them—or was made to be blind to them. All in all, Never Ever Getting Back Together is an absolute homerun of a romcom. If this ever gets turned into a movie, you bet your sweet bottom I’ll be the first in line to audition so I can punch fictional Jordy myself.
Featuring drama thrown around like confetti, a sapphic revenge plot that will leave you reeling and a villain you’ll love to hate, Never Ever Getting Back Together is the queer feel-good romcom of the year, perfect for fans of Alison Cochrun’s The Charm Offensive and the iconic movie John Tucker Must Die.
Never Ever Getting Back Together is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of November 29th 2022.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
When their now famous ex-boyfriend asks them to participate in a teen reality show, two eighteen year old girls—one bent on revenge, the other open to rekindling romance—get tangled up in an unexpected twist when they fall for each other instead in Never Ever Getting Back Together by nationally and internationally-bestselling and Indie Next Pick author Sophie Gonzales.
“Wickedly funny [and] searingly sexy.” —Kelly Quindlen, author of She Drives Me Crazy
It’s been two years since Maya’s ex-boyfriend cheated on her, and she still can’t escape him: his sister married the crown prince of a minor European country and he captured hearts as her charming younger brother. If the world only knew the real Jordy, the manipulative liar who broke Maya’s heart.
Skye Kaplan was always cautious with her heart until Jordy said all the right things and earned her trust. Now his face is all over the media and Skye is still wondering why he stopped calling.
When Maya and Skye are invited to star on the reality dating show Second-Chance Romance, they’re whisked away to a beautiful mansion—along with four more of Jordy’s exes— to compete for his affections while the whole world watches. Skye wonders if she and Jordy can recapture the spark she knows they had, but Maya has other plans: exposing Jordy and getting revenge. As they navigate the competition, Skye and Maya discover that their real happily ever after is nothing they could have scripted.
