The publisher kindly sent me an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Ryan McCullough and Gabby Hart are the unlikeliest of friends. Introverted, anxious Gabby would rather do literally anything than go to a party. Ryan is a star hockey player who can get any girl he wants – and does, frequently. But against all odds, they became not only friends, but each other’s favourite person. Now, as they face high school graduation, they can’t help but take a moment to reminisce and, in their signature tradition, make a top ten list – counting down the top ten moments of their friendship:
10. Where to begin? Maybe the night we met.
9. Then there was our awkward phase.
8. When you were in love with me but never told me …
7. Those five months we stopped talking were the hardest of my life.
6. Through terrible fights …
5. And emotional makeups.
4. You were there for me when I got my heart broken.
3. … but at times, you were also the one breaking it.
2. Above all, you helped me make sense of the world.
1. Now, as we head off to college – how am I possibly going to live without you?
Top Ten Review
Top Ten is my first Katie Cotugno book and I was hoping to have a new go-to contemporary author. I’m happy to say, I think I do!
Top Ten follows Ryan and Gabby who are two best friends. As they near graduation, they make a top ten list to reminisce on their friendship. They also create top ten lists for the future.
I really enjoyed the characters in this book. Ryan and Gabby are both great, and I loved the shift in perspective in each chapter. Katie Cotugno really does a great job at changing the perspectives, but making you feel like nothing changed.
The fact that both Ryan and Gabby struggle with personal issues is really important in this book. Gabbys struggles with crippling anxiety, while Ryan struggles with issues that come with concussions. It helps to strengthen their characters, which is refreshing to see!
Another thing Katie Cotugno does well in this book is the top ten theme. Not only are the chapters a countdown of memorable moments throughout high school, but they’re also creating more top ten lists. For example, creating a list of top ten non-touristy things to do in New York!
The ending is not something I expected and honestly, was a let down. But, it may have been the best ending for Ryan and Gabby’s story. In the end, I’m glad the book ended this way because it did strengthen the personalities of the characters and their natural storyline.
Overall, Top Ten is an enjoyable contemporary romance. It’s filled with witty humour and relatable characters. It’s also great book for those who love friendship storylines and those looking for an LGTBQ+ main character.
Rating: ★★★★☆
About the Author
Katie Cotugno went to Catholic school for thirteen years which makes her, as an adult, both extremely superstitious and prone to crushes on boys wearing blazers. She routinely finds herself talking about the romantic endeavours of characters on TV shows as it if they actually exist in the world. The great loves of Katie’s life include child’s pose, her little sister, and mozzarella and honey sandwiches. She lives in Boston (and in sin) with her boyfriend, Tom.
Goodreads | Instagram | Twitter | Website
Buy Top Ten
Amazon CA | Amazon US | Book Depository | Indigo
Pin for Later!
[…] kindly sent me an ARC of Top Ten by Katie Cotugno and I really really enjoyed it (read my review here)! They also kindly sent me an ARC of 9 days and 9 nights and I’m really excited to dive into […]