You Started It: A Journey Through High School Drama and Self-Discovery
When I first stumbled upon You Started It by Tessa Cole, I was immediately drawn in by its playful tagline and the promise of a high school romcom that I could dive into with my middle school sister. As a fellow teen navigating the intricate labyrinth of high school relationships, I was eager to see if this book could echo my own experiences or provide some comic relief with its fake dating trope. Unfortunately, my expectations didn’t quite align with what I found within its pages.
The story centers around Jamie Taher-Foster, a senior set on winning back her ex-boyfriend, Ben, who recently declared he wants to “try new things.” Heartbroken but fiercely determined, Jamie enters into a fake relationship with Axel, a younger, charming TikTok dancer. What follows is a tangled web of emotions, friendships, and the blurry lines of pretend versus real feelings. At least, that’s the intention.
Here’s where it started to falter for me. Jamie was depicted as an emotionally immature character whose consistent oscillation between yearning for her ex and developing feelings for Axel became grating. There are countless moments where I found myself shouting, “Make up your mind!” as she swayed between obsession and budding affection. I couldn’t help but feel that her detour into pining over Ben was frustratingly repetitive—his name is mentioned a staggering 668 times! I kept questioning whether this was a romantic comedy or an ode to her ex-boyfriend’s mediocre qualities.
The supporting cast seemed one-dimensional, lacking the depth that would have elevated this story into something memorable. Characters like Diesel, Axel’s non-binary best friend, had immense potential to diversify the narrative and add complexity, but instead felt like token representations without much substance. While I appreciate the effort to introduce LGBTQ+ representation and cultural backgrounds, the execution seemed rushed and inconsistent, missing an opportunity for richer storytelling within the Toronto setting.
Cole’s writing has some bright moments, particularly in the upbeat dialogue that reflects the chaotic nature of teenage life. However, stretches of melodrama had me struggling to connect with Jamie’s journey. While I appreciated the depiction of mental health elements, I wished they’d been treated with greater nuance rather than as plot devices. Jamie’s anxiety felt sidelined until it was convenient to mention, making her emotional struggles less relatable.
Despite my misgivings, I found some glimmers of hope in the story. Jamie’s journey can resonate with readers grappling with self-identity and the pressure of relationships, even if I didn’t agree with her choices. The moments of realization towards the end, where she makes efforts to take control of her life, brought a small degree of satisfaction, warming my heart just briefly in an otherwise tumultuous read.
In conclusion, You Started It may appeal to those who revel in the tropes of a classic teen romance or are searching for a light-hearted distraction. However, I found the narrative lacking depth and emotional resonance. If you’re looking for nuanced portrayals of teenagers navigating heartbreak and personal growth, this might not be your cup of tea. But perhaps, if you’re in the mood for a rollercoaster of high school drama and don’t mind a few bumps along the way, give it a whirl. After all, sometimes it’s the messy journeys that lead to the best lessons.
Happy reading!
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