TW: stressful family dynamics, bullying (due to sexual identity), toxic relationships (recounted indirectly)

Do you ever get that urge to read a book that is quintessentially teen? A love story that doesn't put immense focus on the usual tropes associated with queer love stories (coming out, non-supportive parents, etc.) but instead dives right into the messiness of teen relationships, regardless of the gender involved? Fake dating, sports rivalries (without detailed descriptions of how the sports games themselves taking place), a diverse cast full of loveable characters and the perfectly captured feeling of highschool in fall/winter? Then She Drives Me Crazy may be the perfect read for you. I really wish this hadn't come out at the start of the warmer season, because reading about christmas decor when it's so dang sunny outside just feels a bit weird.

I usually do not care much for enemies to lovers stories (to be fair, I barely read stories that feature these kinds of tropes in a specifically trope-y way), but I couldn't help but root for Scottie and Irene, who were just so loveable and human. The conversations had about toxic relationships, grief and healing were written in a very believable and fitting way, so that they didn't feel preachy or shoehorned in, but instead honest and realistic, which helped with the further development of the story.

I read She Drives Me Crazy in one sitting and was beaming and actually reacting to scenes in the story all throughout - I always thought all the bookish people who got on the romance book hype train last year were playing these reactions up for the camera, but I suppose that a well-written pairing can get you to have that sort of reaction!

Suffice to say: I had a ton of fun and hope to find more sapphic sports shenanigans in the new releases soon.