WHAT'S NOT TO LOVE

Alison and Ethan are cutthroat competitors for the valedictorian spot at San Mateo’s Fairview High.

They both want to attend Harvard. They both excel in AP classes and participate in student government and the school paper, Alison as editor-in-chief and Ethan as a reporter. The frenemies spend most of their time together despite their constant bickering. How does this fractious relationship veer into romance? Principal Williams asks the sparring duo to organize the 10-year reunion that a famous alum has botched—it’s her attempt at conflict resolution, as their ongoing rivalry is proving disruptive in many of their classes. But despite this effort at social engineering, their fighting continues: Alison remarks on his stained shirt; Ethan counters by insulting her fashion sense. It takes almost 100 more pages of acerbic back and forth until they kiss. They eventually even manage a real restaurant date, but Alison is still wary of what being with Ethan in college would mean while Ethan realizes that he needs to explore his own desires. Although somewhat repetitive, this dryly witty romance with its verbal sparring, college rat race references, and satirical high school descriptions will likely appeal to high-achieving readers who can laugh at themselves. Alison and Ethan are White; there is some diversity in the supporting cast.

Academic rivalry leads to love in this banter-filled romance.