Unnecessary Drama

July 3, 2023
Teens learning to trust again and discovering that drama is sometimes necessary for growth populate this sunny rom-com by Kenwood (It Sounded Better in My Head). Eighteen-year-old Brooke, a college freshman studying economics in Melbourne, is both excited and anxious to move into her “share house” with new dormmate Harper. As the two await their final roommate’s arrival, Harper, whose family owns the property, lays down the ground rules: “No pets; no romance between housemates; and no unnecessary drama.” Type A Brooke anticipates that following these rules will be a breeze, until she learns that her mystery roommate is Jesse, Brooke’s former high school friend who broke her heart when she was 14. To keep things civil, Brooke feigns friendliness in public and avoids Jesse at home, but the forced intimacy of their proximity erodes her long-held grudge. As the pair rehash old arguments, heal open wounds, and confide in each other about family conflict, Brooke finds herself falling back in love with the boy she swore to hate. Brooke’s high-intensity personality, amicable chatter, and hyper-independence propel the narrative through its believable and hilarious goings-on. Main characters cue as white. Ages 13–up.

Starred review from July 1, 2023

Gr 9 Up-Brooke has a plan for everything. She worries and is anxious but thrives on organization and is eager for a new start at university in Melbourne. Then, she discovers that her former friend Jesse, who kissed then humiliated her at a high school party, is her housemate. She has no other housing option and their third housemate, Harper, granddaughter of the owners, has a rule-no unnecessary drama-so Brooke pretends everything is fine while cautioning Jesse to leave her alone. While she is determined to keep her distance from Jesse, his help when she experiences a ruptured ovarian cyst and general kindness lead her to reluctantly see that there is more to him than his casual cruelty when they were younger. Told from Brooke's perspective, the novel captures the stresses of the early college experience of finding a friend group and discovering who you are as a "semi-adult." Enemies-to-love, set-ups, fake-dating high jinks to make an ex jealous-this one has a bit of everything, and readers will enjoy going along for the ride. Brooke doesn't drink; her older sister binge drinks and their absent father struggles with alcohol. Main characters cue white and there is LGBTQIA+ representation (the novel's most stable relationship is Harper and her girlfriend, Penny). VERDICT A fun, breezy read that feels lighthearted but is multilayered, this one will appeal to YA and new adult readers, especially those ready to begin college. Enthusiastically recommended.-Amanda Mastrull

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from June 1, 2023
A young Australian woman leaves her small town for university in Melbourne--only to have to face her past in a romantic comedy that brings the rom and tons of the com. Harper, whose grandparents own the house Brooke has moved into, has set three rules: "no pets; no romance between housemates; and no unnecessary drama." The two young women meet for the first time when Brooke moves in, but when the third housemate arrives, it's someone Brooke knows: Jesse. The same Jesse who jilted and publicly humiliated her when they were 14, after she experienced her first kiss with him. He became her secretly sworn enemy through the rest of their school days. Rule-follower Brooke does her best to avoid Jesse in order to prevent Harper's sensing any drama, but the two slowly get pulled into spending time together. Brooke is determined to hold on to her grudge, but Jesse proves himself worthy of redemption, rekindling feelings that have lain dormant for the past five years. Following numerous comedic missteps and beloved rom-com tropes, including "enemies to lovers" and "boy next door," the story culminates in a satisfyingly romantic ending. The hilarious scenes are cinematically portrayed, and the first-person narrative is heightened by Brooke's funny, anxious, distinctive inner monologue. All main characters present White. Sidesplitting comic writing and an appealingly messy protagonist to root for. (Fiction. 13-18)

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December 22, 2023
Grades 10-12 Brooke is a planner; she has to be. Her older sister lives life a little too close to the edge, and Brooke feels better when prepared for all eventualities. So when she leaves her small hometown for university in Melbourne, she has every intention of sticking to her organizational guns. But her new housemates aren't quite cooperating. Harper's grandmother owns the house, so she's sort of in charge, but she only has one real rule: no unnecessary drama (Brooke would like more rules. Hasn't anyone heard of a chore chart?). And the other housemate? He turns out to be Jesse from her high school, a former friend turned bitter rival. Brooke resolves to avoid drama by avoiding Jesse, but that's easier said than done when they're living together. Morris finalist Kenwood (It Sounded Better In My Head, 2020) has thrown together a buoyant, well-developed cast with loads of heart. While Brooke and Jesse's will-they, won't-they romance is inevitable, this is a true ensemble piece, and Brooke's tentative steps toward independence and self-acceptance are wonderful to watch.

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July 19, 2022
Things are going well for Brooke. Fresh out of high school and going straight into university, she is determined to reinvent herself from the nerdy and awkward person she once was. No more unreliable and despondent father, or sister that drinks too often and too much, or well-meaning but sometimes overbearing mother. But life catches up to Brooke the moment she meets her new housemates, one of whom is her old friend turned enemy Jesse. Nina Kenwood’s Unnecessary Drama, much like her debut novel, It Sounded Better In My Head, has potential to connect with YA readers. It takes readers through the tumultuous uncertainty that exists on the cusp of transitioning out of high school into adulthood; exploring one’s identity and discovering where it fits into the world. Through first person perspective, Kenwood presents Brooke's anxiety in an intimate way, taking the reader into her spirals. For example, at the first party the share house hosts, we see how Brooke examines every action and reaction with endless 'what if' questions. However, at times the oversaturation and use of anxiety as a narrative device for Brooke’s characterisation takes away from the book's impact and means it leans more towards caricature, which is hard to connect to as a reader. Ultimately though, readers will still root for Brooke to overcome her insecurities and struggles. Bohdi Byles is a freelance reviewer with a background in bookselling, publishing and writing.