The publisher kindly sent me a physical copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
High school senior Cameron Bright’s reputation can be summed up in one word: bitch. It’s no surprise she’s queen bee at her private L.A. high school — she’s beautiful, talented, and notorious for her cutting and brutal honesty. So when she puts her foot in her mouth in front of her crush, Andrew, she fears she may have lost him for good.
In an attempt to win him over, Cameron resolves to “tame” herself, much like Katherine in Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. First, she’ll have to make amends with those she’s wronged, which leads her to Brendan, the guy she labelled with an unfortunate nickname back in the sixth grade. At first, Brendan isn’t all that receptive to Cameron’s ploy. But slowly, he warms up to her when they connect over the computer game he’s developing. Now if only Andrew would notice …
But the closer Cameron gets to Brendan, the more she sees he appreciates her personality — honesty and all — and wonders if she’s compromising who she is for the guy she doesn’t even want.
If I’m Being Honest Review
If I’m Being Honest is my favourite book by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka so far! It has great characters, fantastic writing as well as a loveable storyline!
If I’m Being Honest follows Cameron, a high school senior with a rough reputation. She’s popular but she’s also blunt and brutal. In order to change her crush’s perception of her, she decides to right her wrongs, starting with a fellow student, Brendan.
I absolutely adore Cameron’s character. She is blunt and brutal, but she also has a big heart. It’s really great to see how her character changes throughout the book. Her character arc is really impressive, especially as you witness her personality shift. She turns out to be this really heartfelt character that you can’t help but love.
Brendan is also a wonderful character. I love the different sides that he brings out in Cameron but I also love his dedication and unwavering focus. Not only is he a great romantic interest, but he’s also just a fun character individually.
The plot of this book is a reimagining of The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. While I’ve never read the original to compare, I think the authors do a great job at showcasing a reinvention. Cameron reinvents herself and while it starts off to suit a purpose, she really does change her perspective on life.
The overall plot is fun and entertaining. It’s full of funny pop culture references that will leave you smiling. And the side characters, particularly Brendan’s sister, are fantastic. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry — but you’ll leave this book with a smile on your face.
Overall, If I’m Being Honest is a really great young adult contemporary romance. This sophmore novel has certainly solidified Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka as one of (if not) my favourite author duos!
Rating: ★★★★★
Favourite Quote
It’s not hard to be with someone you love. It’s the most natural thing in the world.
About the Authors
Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka met in high school and fell in love over a shared passion for Shakespeare. Austin went on to impress Emily with his literary anlysis while Emily studied adolescent psychology at Princeton. They live in Los Angeles, where they’ve combined their interests and decied to write stories of high school, literature and first love.
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Buy If I’m Being Honest
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