The Cheat Sheet (Book Review)

Title: The Cheat Sheet

Author: Sarah Adams

Type: Novel

Published: 2021

Chapters: 32 + Epilogue

Characters: Bree Camden, Nathan Donelson, Jamal, Prince, Dylan, Levi, Lily.

 

Review:

 

Love is a beautiful thing. A friendship can turn into a relationship. But if it doesn’t work out, there’s no way going back to friendship. The fear of it is a torture in itself. Sometimes you can’t tell a person that you are in love with them because you don’t want to lose that person. The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams follows the same idea. Bree and Nathan had been in love with each other since the day they met, but they are afraid that if they cross their ‘friend zone’, it may turn into a horrible disaster. Both had assumed that the other one is not interested in turning it into anything romantic. Bree and Nathan are happy in their ‘friend zone’ because they don’t want to lose each other. For them, friendship is more important than a relationship. Both has accepted the fact that they can just be friends. Is should be easy no? Maybe not.

 

Bree is a funny, kind-hearted, strong girl. Nathan is generous, faithful and protective for her. Both had been friends for six years. They have a tradition of running together every Tuesday morning. Both avoids any situation which may reveal their true feelings for each other. When Bree was drunk, she admits her feelings for Nathan to a reporter who shoots the video and shares it in social media. Nathan is a well-known football player, so the video got viral. However, Bree lied that it was just because of the alcohol. But Nathan wanted it to be otherwise. Nathan want it to be more and he is ready to try for it. Luckily his manager suggested that because of the video his publicity has been increased. So, they should actually date or fake-date for more publicity.

 

Eventually they both agrees in a hope that at least they can see what it would be like. With the help of his friends, Nathan makes a romantic cheat sheet mentioning the stages in which he should express his true feelings for her. He wanted Bree to be his entire life, and he wanted to succeed. But what if Bree doesn’t want the same? He may even lose her friendship because of this if she doesn’t. With friendship at the stake Nathan decides to execute the cheat sheet.

 

Another aspect the novel explores is about chasing dreams and ambitions, getting out of the comfort zone and taking risks. Bree devoted her entire childhood and teens in becoming a best dancer but after a car accident she couldn’t dance. She was shattered, her dream was never going to be fulfilled. She build up walls of comfort around her in a way that she dreads change. She likes to be in her own comfort zone. The reason she is not admitting her love for Nathan is that she don’t want to change anything between them. She likes to be his friend and nothing else. After the accident, she somehow accepts what she gets. She stopped hoping for anything more. She doesn’t allow herself to desire. She would stay in her comfort zone and won’t take risks.

 

It is okay to desire and hope for something better. If we hope for things and it doesn’t turn out the way we want it to be, it may hurt for some time but we shouldn’t stop hoping. Not hoping means being in a box without light. The darkness in the box can be lethal. Universe has a great way to provide you things you deserve. If you hope and it’s not fulfilled, it may hurt you now, but in the end, you’ll realize that it actually turned out the way it should be. One way or the other it’s much better then what you’d hoped it to be.

 

The novel is an easy read. The language is simple. The novel is written from two perspectives of Bree and Nathan. Each chapter declares the narrator first, from which perspective the chapter would be narrated. I really liked both the characters. They are funny, sweet and adorable.

 

Recommendation:

·         A One-time read

·         Can add to TBR list

·         Won’t be disappointed

·         Can read once

·         OKOK

·         Only recommend