ARC Review: As If On Cue by Marisa Kanter

Title: As If on Cue

Author: Marisa Kanter

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Hardcover, 400 Pages
Publication Date: September 21st, 2021

Summary: Lifelong rivals Natalie and Reid have never been on the same team. So when their school’s art budget faces cutbacks, of course Natalie finds herself up against her nemesis once more. She’s fighting to direct the school’s first ever student-written play, but for her small production to get funding, the school’s award-winning band will have to lose it. Reid’s band. And he’s got no intention of letting the show go on. But when their rivalry turns into an all-out prank war that goes too far, Natalie and Reid have to face the music, resulting in the worst compromise: writing and directing a musical. Together. At least if they deliver a sold-out show, the school board will reconsider next year’s band and theater budget. Everyone could win. Except Natalie and Reid. Because after spending their entire lives in competition, they have absolutely no idea how to be co-anything. And they certainly don’t know how to deal with the feelings that are inexplicably, weirdly, definitely developing between them…

We received an advanced reader's copy of AS IF ON CUE from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, and I'm really glad that we did, because I loved this book. I have so many things to say and so many gushy feelings to get out, so without further ado, let's jump into my review!

As the summary explains, Natalie and Reid are family friends who have been feuding via prank wars for their entire life -- over everything. Everything between the two of them is a competition -- pranks. Family attention. Even music, which is something that they both love. So in high school, Reid is the star of the band and Natalie is fighting to have her play produced during the semester. But what neither of them expect is to find out that either Reid's band or Natalie's play will get funding this year -- not both. That is, unless they can hatch a plan to make it happen. But there are several different issues with that plan: they hate each other, they don't want to support each other, and neither of them want to give up what they're fighting for to make the other person's dream happen. That is, unless they can find a way to combine them...but that plan is rockier territory than they expect, including the surprising feelings that pop up when they scheme together...

Like I said, I absolutely adored this book. I was a huge fan of WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU back when it came out last year, so when I heard that Marisa had a sophomore novel on the way, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. And I'm so glad that I did, because this book was so sweet and funny and had me swooning and laughing out loud left and right. I really loved hearing the history of the prank war between Natalie and Reid, as well as how close their families were, and all of the school drama going on. There were several moments in this book where I actually swooned or squealed out loud and had to hold the book up to my face because I was blushing or laughing so much. AS IF ON CUE definitely nails the rom-com vibes, that's for sure! It was such a sweet, happy, engaging read that I tore through and couldn't get enough of.

My favorite character in this book was definitely Reid. Not only was his banter with Natalie hilarious, and some of his pranks pretty epic, but it was clear how much of a friendship the both of them had even under all of the hatred that they pretended to have for each other. Sure, he could be a bit cocky or annoying toward Natalie at times, but overall -- and especially after finishing the book -- I think he is definitely the best character in the whole story. I swooned over him lots and loved reading about him whenever he popped up on the page! 

Something else that I really enjoyed in AS IF ON CUE was the way that so many different avenues of the arts are explored! Seriously -- Natalie's mom is a writer, her dad is a music teacher, she's interested in theater, Reid is a musician, Fitz wants to be a fashion designer...it was just really cool to see all these different ways that the arts can mean various things to various different people. In addition to being a sweet, hilarious rom-com, it felt like such an awesome celebration of being creative and following your passions, in whatever form that means to you. Reading this book felt like one big sweet, swoony, giant hug.

Overall, I absolutely loved AS IF ON CUE. If you're looking for a sweet, funny, riveting read to hook you and soak up your whole day, then I definitely recommend picking this one up! The same with WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU. Marisa Kanter is a master of writing sweet, hilarious rom-coms that keep you invested from the first word until the very end. I'll absolutely be reading whatever else she writes in the future -- I'm a fan for life!