Author: Emma Lord
Reviewer: Kaitlin S
Overall Rating: 3/5 stars.
Okay, Tweet Cute is definitely catering to Gen Z and how much social media has become an integrated part of our lives. As stilted as some parts of this story felt, it was refreshing to read something that was so relatable and new!
Set in New York City, two teens, Pepper and Jack, begin feuding over Twitter. Pepper, a perfectionist and overachiever, gets put in charge of her family’s fast-food chain’s Twitter account. Jack, a native New Yorker and all-around tech nerd, works in his family’s local deli while trying to get out of the shadow of his twin brother. When Big League Burger is accused of stealing Girl Cheesing’s infamous grilled cheese recipe it turns into an all-out war – on Twitter. Cue memes, competition galore, and funny teenage antics.
Best things about Tweet Cute:
1. Pepper’s baking! I loved getting to read about all the recipes Pepper and Paige created.
2. The enemies-to-friends troupe!
3. The Twitter War.
The writing itself felt as if it was carefully calculated to be the standard young adult narrative. It didn’t stand out or give me any reason to think the writing style wouldn’t be like hundreds of other YA books I’ve read. It didn’t feel genuine until the second half of the book, when Pepper and Jack finally started to feel like real people. Pepper and Jack’s opposite personalities actually worked well with each other without feeling forced. Their competitive natures spurred most of the comedy throughout the book and provided some awesome rom-com moments. But I would’ve liked to see more of Pepper and Jack’s families. I think the plot would’ve benefited greatly if Jack and Ethan had actually talked more, given the conflict between them. Otherwise, the plot twist was a nice addition and the ending was well-written in regard to resolution of the conflicts. I also appreciated the epilogue (no spoilers!).
All in all, it was fun, easy-to-read book. I liked it well enough and it held its weight as a story. I’ll be looking for future works by Emma Lord.