Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest review.
Meet Pepper, swim team captain, chronic overachiever, and all-around perfectionist. Her family may be falling apart, but their massive fast-food chain is booming ― mainly thanks to Pepper, who is barely managing to juggle real life while secretly running Big League Burger’s massive Twitter account. Enter Jack, class clown and constant thorn in Pepper’s side. When he isn’t trying to duck out of his obscenely popular twin’s shadow, he’s busy working in his family’s deli. His relationship with the business that holds his future might be love/hate, but when Big League Burger steals his grandma’s iconic grilled cheese recipe, he’ll do whatever it takes to take them down, one tweet at a time. All’s fair in love and cheese ― that is, until Pepper and Jack’s spat turns into a viral Twitter war. Little do they know, while they’re publicly duking it out with snarky memes and retweet battles, they’re also falling for each other in real life ― on an anonymous chat app Jack built. As their relationship deepens and their online shenanigans escalate ― people on the internet are shipping them?? ― their battle gets more and more personal, until even these two rivals can’t ignore they were destined for the most unexpected, awkward, all-the-feels romance that neither of them expected. Tweet Cute is an adorable, modern enemies-to-lovers romance that’s sure to hook any contemporary reader. Its charming, tropey storyline and classic plot full of heart had me from the very first page. I loved the Twitter war, the anonymous chat app, and all the little things about watching Jack and Pepper fall in love. Jack and Pepper were such well-developed characters who complemented each other perfectly. Pepper is an over-achieving superstar, with top grades and extracurriculars… but is also funny, down to earth, and loves desserts. Jack helps run his family deli in between swim practices and self-pity over his “golden child” twin brother. These two had the wittiest conversations and text chats, while also feuding on Twitter via corporate accounts for their family businesses. Their chemistry was amazing. Pepper and Jack knew each other so well, even when they were just starting to become friends. I’m honestly so jealous of their relationship and ability to cut to the core of what was bothering the other person. The way they connected is so innately realistic as well, showing the joy of finally getting to know someone you’ve been around for years. All of the characters made this novel shine, but I especially loved Pepper. I think she’s the most relatable character to me in some aspects, and I had so much sympathy for her plights. She struggled to balance her school life, baking blog, and friends with her mother’s demands, and I constantly hoped that she would find balance. Once she lets down her guard she starts to enjoy her senior year more, make some new friends, and realize there’s more to life than working, I saw her light up on the page. I also appreciate her struggle to keep her family together and being a go-between for her mom and sister who no longer speak. That takes a toll on her energy and is a source of frustration throughout the novel. The plot is equally adorable. Tweet Cute is a modern “You’ve Got Mail,” with Jack and Pepper acting as rivals while falling in love over a chat app. Their antics were so amusing, and I had so much fun watching them up the ante on their feud. Of course, the emotional and familial components to the story tie in perfectly, with neither Jack nor Pepper missing out on their fair share of family drama. Luckily, they find each other—though they don’t find that out until much later. The tension between Pepper and Jack wondering who the person on the other end of the app is while simultaneously but unknowingly growing close in person drew me in. I wanted them to figure it out from all the dropped hints, but I also thought it fun to read about them (especially Pepper) wondering who it was. The Twitter war, however, is my favorite plot point. It’s the hook of the novel, giving insight into the difference between running a small business and a big corporation, and the families behind both. Pepper and Jack go to bat for their restaurants armed with memes and witticisms, and their over-the-top challenges got a laugh out of me, keeping me on my toes! The combination of this humor and the romance gripped me throughout the novel. Lastly, Pepper and her sister Paige connect over a baking blog they run, and seriously, with all the food talk, Tweet Cute made me so hungry! From Grandma’s Grilled Cheese to Monster Cake and Kitchen Sink Macaroons, I *need* a recipe book stat! I love books that connect to real world fun, but in this one I hope hard copies contain recipes, because I think this needs to be an interactive activity! My one bug is that I think some of the cultural references will date Tweet Cute quickly. Two, five, seven years from now, will we be interacting with media culture in the same ways Tweet Cute expects readers to understand? It’s a very specifically timed novel, and time will tell whether these quirks and specific late 2010’s in-jokes will age well. However, this is such a subjective issue that I decided not to let it affect my overall rating. Tweet Cute earned 5 stars from me because of its sharp ideas and originality. This has to be one of the cutest new romances I’ve read in a while, and you should check it out!
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The BaronessHey, I'm Shreya! I love to read, write, travel, and drink tea. Disclosure: I am an affiliate of bookshop.org and I will earn a small commission if you click the above link and make a purchase.
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