It Sounded Better in My Head by Nina Kenwood

When her parents announce their impending separation, Natalie can't understand why no one is fighting or at least mildly upset. Then Zach and Lucy, her two best friends, hook up, leaving her feeling slightly miffed and decidedly awkward. She'd always imagined she'd end up with Zach one day - in the version of her life that played out like a TV show, with just the right amount of banter, pining and meaningful looks. Now everything has changed and nothing is quite making sense. Until an unexpected romance comes along and shakes things up even further... It Sounded Better in My Head is a tender, funny and joyful novel about longing, confusion, feeling left out and finding what really matters - from an exciting new voice in Australian YA writing.

YAY for the brutal honesty in this book. I could relate way too much haha. I had a laughing fit about halfway through, couldn't stop. Friends of mine love this book too. Another Australian YA gem.

Cute YA book, with a heroine who is funny without being all-out snarky. She also has cystic acne, which you don't see in a YA romance novel every day. I had pretty much garden-variety acne (although it has lasted well into middle age) but I could still identify with Natalie's reluctance to socialize or show any skin when she's having a bad breakout, and let's not even get started with the side effects of Accutane and the dire warnings regarding pregnancy that accompany every single dose.

I wish I had been more engaged in Natalie's first relationship with Alex, her friend Josh's older (only by a year) brother. He was cute and kind, but he made a few bonehead mistakes, and I had to agree with Josh that she could do a lot better. Still, while Natalie is very careful to make sure she doesn't allow her self-esteem to depend on having a real boyfriend, there's no doubt that he helps her realize her potential and her ability to deal with all the changes involved in being 18 years old, going to uni, and having your parents suddenly split up.

I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.