Common Sense Media Review
By Sage Moreaux
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fun fake dating tale promotes lying with few consequences.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In WE'RE A BAD IDEA, RIGHT? Audrey has a plan. She's been accepted at a prestigious glass-blowing program, and she's all set to head out of state after graduating high school; all she needs is her parents' permission and help with tuition. But they want her to attend business school, and before she has a chance to convince them otherwise, they've headed to Europe. Meanwhile, her best friend Henry's heart has been broken, and Audrey agrees to pretend to date him in hopes of making his ex jealous. But after making a huge mistake, Audrey needs thousands of dollars, and quickly. Feeling partially responsible, Henry agrees to help her with an outlandish plan. But as they rope more and more people into the scheme, will their fake dating plan work, or will it backfire, leaving Audrey to realize how much she wishes they could erase the 'fake' part of the dating?
Is It Any Good?
Cute and light, this fake-dating, friends to lovers books is an easy read. We're a Bad Idea, Right? adds a spin to a much-used romance plot with the addition of glass blowing and vacation rental schemes. The characters are fine, though the strained relationships between a few of them felt unrealistic at times. The plot was also a bit uneven, with the love triangles reading a bit awkwardly. The addition of glass blowing, with details on technique and equipment, was one of the more interesting parts of this story. Overall, the consequences for Audrey's mistakes never felt serious, and this took away from the story's impact. Everything tied up a little too neatly in the end. But fans of fake dating and the antics that ensue will find this story a light, satisfying read.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about responsibility and honesty in We're a Bad Idea, Right? Audrey's 18, but continues to make poor decisions. How much does peer pressure play into Audrey's choices, and how much does she lean into teamwork to get her out of the ensuing mess?
The author explores the concept of different life paths after college, but ultimately, the main character chooses to accept her enrollment in a prestigious college after a gap year. Why do you think the author decided to explore this topic?
Quite a few young adult romance novels showcase a great love between two teenagers. How likely do you think this is? Do you think this kind of story puts pressure on real-life teen relationships?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Romance
- Topics : Arts , Family Stories ( Dads , Moms ) , Friendship , School ( College & Graduate School )
- Character Strengths : Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Delacorte Press
- Publication date : March 31, 2026
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 17
- Number of pages : 384
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : May 5, 2026
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