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"What I Like About You" by Marisa Kanter (Review)

One of the things that made me pick up this book is that it was a debut novel, and it’s interesting to see a new author’s writings. And I loved the synopsis about a book blogger struggling between her two separate identities: online and IRL (in real life). Plus, I think the idea of a cupcakes-paired-with-book-reviews blog is a great idea.


There are a million things that Halle likes about her online best friend, Nash. He’s a talented graphic novelist, loves books almost as much as she does, and she never has to deal with the awkwardness of seeing him in real life. But she can’t tell him who she really is. Because online, she’s Kels, creator of One True Pastry a YA book blog that pairs custom cupcakes with covers and reviews. Kels has everything Halle doesn’t: friends, a growing platform, tons of confidence, and Nash. That is until Halle arrives to spend a senior year in Gramps’s small town and finds herself face-to-face with real, human, not-behind-a-screen Nash. He’s somehow everywhere she goes. He doesn’t know she’s Kels. If she tells him, it’ll ruin their digital friendship. Not telling him though, means it can never be anything more. Because while she starts falling for Nash, he’s in love with Kels.


I enjoyed reading about Halle’s struggle with keeping her real life and Kels separate, even though there were times when she could’ve brought it up. But I understand why she was reluctant to. She was afraid of what could happen to her budding relationship with Nash if he knew she was Kels.


I don’t really think there’s much about the book I didn’t like if anything at all. Even the Jewish religion worked perfectly in the book. I just wish there was a prequel story about how Halle created Kels.


Fans of romcom and struggling with two separate identities and of IRL versus online life, you’d love this book.

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