It’s Wednesday and Sophia Rose is here with a slow burn young adult, contemporary romance. Seen Her Year by Baylin Wing will transport you back to high school and remind you of your teenage crush.
by Baylin Wing
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
Heat Level:
For fans of cute slow-burn romance of Kimi Ni Todoke and high school senior vibes of Prom Pact; a heartwarming story about two broken teenagers finding solace in each other as they survive a senior year full of high school romance, friendship drama, and a jealous ex.
Thoughtful-but-misunderstood Kayla Summers has always been the second choice; to her father, her former crush, and her childhood friend. Tired of feeling like a screwup, she’s given up on getting too close to people. However, on the last day of her junior year, she fails to comfort her crying friend and ends up overhearing a dramatic breakup of an old crush of hers. Another innocent mistake, but it might just be the best one she’s ever made. That’s if . . . she’s willing to be a choice again.
Emotionally-worn-out Aiden McLaren will never be good enough; not for his dad nor his cheating girlfriend. Bruised by one-sided efforts and unmeetable expectations, getting involved with another girl is the last thing this football jock needs. But when the very witness of his humiliation provides him the comfort and healing he didn’t know he needed, maybe this girl can be trusted. Still, he’s learned a few things. Good things never last . . . or so he keeps telling himself to escape another broken heart.
She’ll give and he’ll give to their newfound relationship, but to what extent will they take?
It’s senior year.
Anything can happen.
Sophia Rose’s Review
Nobody notices her and she’s resigned to the fact until she accidentally witnesses her secret teen crush’s breakup. Is this her big chance to be first choice for once or will she put herself out there for nothing and end up with the biggest disappointment of them all? When I spotted Seen Her Year, I was in an odd, rare mood wanting an easy-going slow burn teen romance. Baylin Wing’s story ticked off all those boxes and I’m glad I followed my reading mood into her debut book.
Kayla has been second pick for so long- at least from her perspective- from family to friends to even athletics. The guy she has crushed on doesn’t even know she’s alive until that fated day when she fails to notice her friend’s crisis and does notice Aiden’s when he breaks up with his cheating girlfriend. Only Kayla is privy to the reason for the break up and Aiden doesn’t correct the general assumption since, like Kayla, he’s busy focusing on how yet again, he’s not good enough for somebody like his dad and now his ex-girlfriend.
The pair of them are now fully in each other’s sights after Kayla stumbled into Aiden’s recent crisis moment. But, this didn’t launch the pair into anything fast and furious. The slow burn part is real. Kayla and Aiden get stuck in their heads, stuck on forward progress, and get in their own way of a smooth path. I wanted them to not dive into insta-love, but, then again, I wanted them to pick up the pace.
Part of the reason for that is that they weren’t layered characters where new discoveries were found when they delved into themselves and another reason I was impatient was that the prime focus of the story was this pair and everyone and everything else felt more two-dimensional background.
That said, this had a cute, easygoing quality to it and it felt like a tribute to all the best teen romance tropes out there since several are present. It was light even when they are trying to be angsty. I liked them together and they built a friendship while the romance is happening.
So, it was right along the lines I was looking for and reminded me of those long-gone days when I had my own teen hang-ups and made them out to be bigger than they were. I’d recommend it to those who want an easy plot friends to lovers-style sweet teen romance.
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About Sophia Rose
Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Mary Kirkland
That sounds like it would be a good read.
Sophia Rose
It was, Mary! I don’t get the itch to read YA much, but was glad this one hit the mark even if a little slow.
Nadene
Sounds a bit to slow burn for me.
Sophia Rose
Yeah, the pace was a struggle.
ailyn koay
slow burn was too slow eh?
that’s a shame
Sophia Rose
I am so hard to please. 🙂