We’ve got to celebrate because I read my first book as a new mom, and it has me in my feels! Today, we’re diving into We’ll Never Be Friends…And Other Girlhood Mishaps, the third book in the Emma Bishop series by Rebecca Garner. I’m so excited to dive in.
Rating: 5 Stars
Synopsis
Everything in my brain goes fuzzy for half a second, but then fireworks shoot off, a crowd cheers, and a chorus starts singing before a tiny voice shouts from the back, Focus!
After secretly crushing on him for months, Emma Bishop finally kissed Matt Martinez. Unfortunately, Emma’s ex-boyfriend, Andy (who happens to be Matt’s best friend), caught them in the moment.
All Emma’s ever wanted is to be loved, and this could finally be her chance. But will best friends and bullies stand in her way? Will Andy forgive Matt and Emma? Will Matt ever kiss her again? Or will she be alone with her cat forever?
Add an annoyingly pretty bully, an early curfew, and an intimidating piece of cotton, and it all feels confusing, complicated, whatever.
In the third installment of the Emma Bishop series, Emma is back with more girlhood mishaps from toothy kisses and tampons to belly laughs and broken hearts.
These relatable, laugh-out-loud young adult books explore the realities of what it’s really like to be a teenager. Friendship, love, embarrassing moments, Emma experiences it all–and isn’t going to leave a detail out.
What I Enjoyed
I’m always going to gush about our winning trio: Emma, Ruby, and Cher. With each book, we learn more about their ups and downs, but they always have each other’s backs. We’ll never have enough stories about friendship, and Garner’s approach to their dynamic is really what makes this series work for readers of all ages.
The pacing throughout the book is also realistic and well done. There are moments where Emma is worried about how Matt, her mom, or her ex will react to her actions, and it just took me back to my freshman year of zeroing in and freaking out about how my crush felt about me. Older readers might react like “Okay, relax, Emma,” but the pacing matches Emma’s age, personality, and angst.
The voice is also very timeless—in the sense that the words that these characters use felt appropriate for their age (there’s some light swearing throughout, but nothing vulgar) without relying on modern slang. It feels like Emma could be from any generation except for the use of smartphones.
And we have to talk about the ending—no spoilers. We’ll Never Be Friends is the final book in the Emma Bishop trilogy, and with that comes higher expectations for a satisfying conclusion. And Garner sticks the landing. When writing books for teens, authors have the challenge of writing something that is educational and relatable. And what Emma goes through feels very relatable—in the sense that she’s getting bullied and hates confrontation. She doesn’t tell her parents or teachers; she chooses to handle it on her own with the support of her besties.
Emma’s response to this dilemma made my heart soar. After following Emma’s journey, I was rooting for her. She starts as a somewhat self-centered kid (weren’t we all? Especially when recording our experiences in a journal) and comes out a real girl’s girl and hall-of-fame bestie. If you’ve ever wanted to have that “shower argument” victory IRL, this confrontation scene was incredible.
My Final Thoughts
As always, this book is ideal for young readers (middle school and early YA especially), regardless of gender. Even though this book is largely about a typical girl’s experience, boys can get a lot out of this story, too: the ups and downs of dating, discovering your talents, showing up for your friends, curfews, bullying, and knowing who to lean on when you’re feeling alone.
Hopefully, I shared enough to pique your curiosity. Want to catch up on Emma’s adventures? If so, I highly recommend you look up Rebecca Garner on social media:
If you want to check out my other book reviews, check out our Book Reviews tab. If you’d like me to review your book, you can contact us.
