📅 Published: 2022
📚 Format: Paperback, Ebook, Audio
📖 304 pages
✅ Target Audience: Ages 16+
🌶️ Little to No Spice
🏷️ Tropes:
Groundhog Day (repeating day)
Forced Proximity
Opposites Attract
⚠️ Content Warnings:
Car Crashes (minor details, part of the plot)
Loss of Sibling (brief mentions of death/accident)
Family Drama (divorced parents, new families)
Cheating (minor details, again part of the plot)
Language (cursing)
🛒 Get your copy:
Barnes & Noble (exclusive)
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💡 Tip: Can’t find it at your local library? Many libraries offer non-resident memberships with excellent digital collections. Some book lovers have multiple library cards for better Libby selections!
Librarian’s Note
It’s Valentine’s Day! Emilie’s got a big to-do list for the big day and she’s not letting anything stand in the way of her perfect Valentine. Not her siblings, not a car crash, not even when… her boyfriend kisses another girl?! After a disaster of a day, Emilie wakes up to the very same day all over again. What could go wrong this time?
Full Review
Rating Breakdown:
- Overall:
(5/5) - Plot: (4/5)
- Romance: (4/5)
- Characters: (5/5)
- Writing: (4/5)
The Romance & Relationship
From classmates to friends to lovers, they really had all the time in the world to get to know each other! It truly felt like fate because no matter what Emilie did, Nick was there. They had so many different interactions; it was so fun to see how each of them would react to the situation at the time!
I know it’s not appropriate, but I think skipping school is such a canon event for teenagers that everyone should do it once. It doesn’t have to be as wild of an adventure like Emilie and Nick took, but just doing something for yourself once in a while is refreshing! Their adventure was so meaningful to them and it allowed them to really fall in love.
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The Characters
Emilie
When Emilie realizes she can do whatever she wants with very few consequences because of the time loop, she decides to have a day of not caring and wow she truly did NOT care about anything. I understand that’s the whole point, but I was just surprised by how bold she was after people pleasing for so long! Love that for her though!
Nick
Aww, Nick was such a precious character! He’s often described as surly, but I think he’s just a quiet guy that stays to himself. He only speaks out when he genuinely has something he wants to say. Near the end, he has amazing character growth! Really love how his brother was incorporated into his story!
Josh
Surprisingly did not dislike Josh’s character, even though he did cheat on Emilie. To be fair, he didn’t always make the same choice to cheat during the time loop.
Chris
You can tell he’s an amazing best friend and always so supportive of Emilie! Also love that his love story wasn’t just a brief here and there mention but an actual relationship that became part of the friend group.
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The Setting & Style
What I Loved:
The way the friendships were written was just heartwarming! And I mean every single friendship interaction. From Emilie and her group of friends at the restaurant, to how all the different friend groups at school interact, plus including Nick and his friends outside of school!
I don’t know if it was the fact that I started (and finished) this book at 2 am or what, but the coffee run scene with all four squished in the car had me laughing SO much!
What Could’ve Been Better:
I’ve gotten used to Lynn Painter’s books having epilogues that I was really looking forward to it, but there wasn’t one! I know the Barnes & Noble exclusive edition has a bonus chapter from Nick’s POV, but I would’ve loved a “one year later” epilogue and how they celebrated that Valentine’s Day!
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Is The Do-Over Worth Reading?
Perfect for fans of:
- Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (movie)
- High school romcoms
Consider skipping if:
- You don’t like the time loop plot
- You don’t like a cheating subplot
