The Cheat Sheet | Review

Is it ever too late to leave the friend-zone?

Hi, my name is Bree Camden, and I’m hopelessly in love with my best friend and star quarterback Nathan Donelson (so is half of America, judging by the tabloids and how much the guy dates). The first step is admitting, right? Except, I can never admit it to him because he clearly doesn’t see me that way, and the last thing I want is for things to get weird between us.

Nothing but good old-fashioned, no-touching-the-sexiest-man-alive, platonic friendship for us! Everything is exactly how I like it! Yes. Good. (I’m not crying, I’m just peeling an onion.)

Our friendship is going swimmingly until I accidentally spill my beans to a reporter over too much tequila, and now the world seems to think me and Nathan belong together. Oh, and did I mention we have to date publicly for three weeks until after the Super Bowl because we signed a contract with…oops, forgot I can’t tell anyone about that!

Bottom line is, now my best friend is smudging all the lines and acting very un-platonic, and I’m just trying to keep my body from bursting into flames every time he touches me.

How am I going to make it through three weeks of fake dating Nathan without anything changing between us? Especially when it almost-sort-a-kinda seems like he’s fighting for a completely different outcome?

Send help.
XO Bree

I loved this book so much! I devoured it in one sitting and have no regrets. The bff-to-lovers trope was top-notch and I’d reread it in a heartbeat.

First, I want to comment on how fun and funny Nathan’s teammates were. I loved every scene that included the guys and their hilarious commentary. Their fake dating advice is literally all I’ve wanted from a fake dating book so thank you Adams for giving that to me.

Second, I have to talk about the romance because there was no shortage of it. Two best friends that have been in love with each other but haven’t told each other for lack of their relationship changing, thinking the other doesn’t feel the same, etc? Yeah, I lapped it up. Alllllll the feels could be felt in this book and I’m not afraid to admit I shed a tear.

Perhaps, however, one of my favorite parts about this book was the way it was written (formatted?). Adams did an amazing job of putting words in all caps or italics or whatever to convey the tone of the character’s dialogue or thoughts and it made the book for me.

My only issue (and honestly it wasn’t that big of an issue because I ended up loving this book anyway) was the lack of conflict at the end. There was nothing that came between our two main characters to make them doubt their romance at the end of the book and I didn’t love that. I need a little moment of conflict that allows for a grand gesture or a declaration of love and we didn’t quite get that. However, as I mentioned, I’m not too mad about it because I loved the rest of the book so much.

Give me another copy and I’ll read this book again and again and again.

Rating

To check out my other reviews, click here. Or to check out more books by Sarah Adams, go to her Goodreads profile.