It Sounded Better in My Head
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- Create Date：2021-05-30 10:51:38
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Nina Kenwood
- ISBN：1250219280
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Summary
William C。 Morris Debut Award Finalist！ From debut author Nina Kenwood comes It Sounded Better in My Head， a tender and funny love letter to coming of age， and first love and its confusions， perfect for fans of Booksmart and To All the Boys I've Loved Before。
When her parents announce their impending divorce， Natalie can't understand why no one is fighting， or at least mildly upset。 Then Zach and Lucy， her two best friends， hook up， leaving her feeling slightly miffed and decidedly awkward。 She'd always imagined she would end up with Zach one day--in the version of her life that played out like a TV show， with just the right amount of banter， pining， and meaningful looks。
Now everything has changed， and nothing is quite making sense。 And then， an unexpected romance with Zach's older brother comes along and shakes things up even further。。。
When her parents announce their impending divorce， Natalie can't understand why no one is fighting， or at least mildly upset。 Then Zach and Lucy， her two best friends， hook up， leaving her feeling slightly miffed and decidedly awkward。 She'd always imagined she would end up with Zach one day--in the version of her life that played out like a TV show， with just the right amount of banter， pining， and meaningful looks。
Now everything has changed， and nothing is quite making sense。 And then， an unexpected romance with Zach's older brother comes along and shakes things up even further。。。
Reviews
Abigael
，
This book was funny， adorable， interesting， real， and different in a way。 It's different because of how real it is。 It doesn't promise any happy endings or anything。 Just the reality。 I liked that。 It was a breath of fresh air。 And I liked how the author did it in a way that made it interesting， funny and adorable。 I laughed so much during this book。 I liked the characters， all of them。 There wasn't a character I hated， even the ex-girlfriend was alright。 A part of me wishes there was a definite This book was funny， adorable， interesting， real， and different in a way。 It's different because of how real it is。 It doesn't promise any happy endings or anything。 Just the reality。 I liked that。 It was a breath of fresh air。 And I liked how the author did it in a way that made it interesting， funny and adorable。 I laughed so much during this book。 I liked the characters， all of them。 There wasn't a character I hated， even the ex-girlfriend was alright。 A part of me wishes there was a definite happy ending because I really really want to know if Lucy and Zach （Probably spelled it wrong。） ended up together or if her parents figured things out。 But a tiny part of me read book to escape so the happy ending comes in handy because it's an escape。 I would've also loved to know if she ever learned to love herself in her skin？ That would've been important to know。 It was a great read。 I enjoyed it， I laughed， I smiled， and most of all I liked it。 Totally give it a try。 Unless you like happy endings then idk if this is the book for you。 Even if you do， it doesn't hurt to give it a try。 。。。more
Gothikarose
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I don't even know how many stars to give this book， because I am not entirely sure how I feel about it。 The characters for the most part were fine， except for the main one Natalie。 My god she was a pain in the ass， her insecurities were very annoying and her pessimistic attitude irked me， which is insane because I am a bit of a pessimist myself。 She just kept complaining about every damn thing， and the way she treated her parents， especially her mom， after their announcement of a divorce was so I don't even know how many stars to give this book， because I am not entirely sure how I feel about it。 The characters for the most part were fine， except for the main one Natalie。 My god she was a pain in the ass， her insecurities were very annoying and her pessimistic attitude irked me， which is insane because I am a bit of a pessimist myself。 She just kept complaining about every damn thing， and the way she treated her parents， especially her mom， after their announcement of a divorce was so rude。 She was also way too immature， naive， and sheltered。 She straight up had no idea how the world worked， you'd think she'd have some semblance at 18， but nope。 She's the whiniest， most insufferable heroine I've read about in a while。 She also was very stuck in her ways。 At one point in the book， towards the end， she says to Alex "I know I'm hard work。。。 I'm not going to have some kind of Epiphany where I realize I'm a completely different person。 So you'd need to figure out a way to deal with that。" Uh excuse bitch？！！？！！ How about you work on that shit and fix your fucking flaws。 God what an immature asshole she was。 Way too childish and dumb to be in a relationship。 And that's any kind of relationship， including friendships， cause this chicks too odd。 Neurotic and odd。 The other characters were fine， there isn't a whole lot to say about them。 I liked Zach's parents， they were a bit funny， but we hardly spent any time with them。 Natalie's parents also seemed okay， but again， hardly spent anytime with them。 They were very mature and amicable during their divorce， which I appreciated。 Too bad Natalie didn't。 Zach and Lucy， I don't even know what to say about them。 They were Natalie's friends and their entire personalities were that they were supportive of Natalie， and they were dating。 Also Zach has issues with his brother， that's it。 There was some conflict with Zach and Lucy towards the end of the book， but it felt so teenager， so high school that I just did not give a shit。 My favorite part of this book was Alex。 He was very sweet， was misunderstood， and had a lot of patience to deal with Natalie。 He was pretty mature for 19 and I just enjoyed him， I would've loved to read this book from his POV。 I kinda feel like he was the only part that was really well written， he had layers and all around seemed like a nice guy。 This is also a "funny" book。 There's a ton of humor throughout the book， now I know that humor is subjective， but the humor in this book just didn't really do it for me。 It felt very try hard and quirky and annoying。 I hardly laughed， well Alex and Zack's mom and dad made me laugh but again they were barely in the damn book。 My other problem with this book was that there were a bit too many modern references in it。 This is one of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to books because I feel like too many references to modern shit can really date your work。 The author made references to BuzzFeed and constant references to Instagram， and being an influencer， among other things。 That bothers me cause it's gonna turn this book into an unintentional period piece very soon。 The book felt very 2019 and I didn't enjoy that， I like my stories feeling like they could be set at anytime during the modern day， not stuck in one specific period or year。 Ever read those early 2000s books with their constant references to MySpace？ Exactly。。Like I said， I don't know what to rate this because while it was a quick read， and I really liked Alex， it just kind of irritated more often than not because Natalie sucked so damn bad。 And if the voice of the story is a pain in the ass， and it's hard to understand why the love interest could ever like her， then we've got a problem。 2。5 stars。 。。。more
Catchingfire
，
4。5 This was so lovely and funny and cozy and pure in the way YA fiction always is。 Aghhh。 I will maintain that Australian authors will always be the superior YA fiction authors and no one can write better than them wow
Dorothy Tracey
，
Even though I am long past being a teenager or young adult， this book was incredibly relatable。 It made me laugh， it made me cringe， it made flash back to what it probably had been like when I was 18。 A heartfelt book that touches on navigating that point of life between young person and adulthood; of being awkward and insecure; of not knowing how to put yourself out there in order to grow as a person; and finally finding a balance and rhythm in taking chances and still remaining authentic to on Even though I am long past being a teenager or young adult， this book was incredibly relatable。 It made me laugh， it made me cringe， it made flash back to what it probably had been like when I was 18。 A heartfelt book that touches on navigating that point of life between young person and adulthood; of being awkward and insecure; of not knowing how to put yourself out there in order to grow as a person; and finally finding a balance and rhythm in taking chances and still remaining authentic to oneself。 。。。more
Michelle H
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Probably more of a 3。5。 I loved Alex and wanted more of him in the story， but that makes sense since I wanted a bit more romance。 I liked Natalie and loved the only one bed bits。 Their conversations made me grin from ear to ear， just so cute。 But I felt like her parents divorce， questions about college and her insecurities about her body and acne overpowered the story。 Overall it was a good YA read， maybe one I would have liked more a few years ago。
Nicole
，
A） This book is set in Australia。 Which is really cool。B） I've never read a book with a protagonist who had such a traumatic experience because of puberty。 Every teenager has some kind of acne horror story （including me） but I never had to visit a dermatologist， never got scarring because of it， never had to go on medication。 Natalie did。 The whole reframing of "no one else has problems because their skin is clear" to "all people have their own struggles and their own 'if only ____ wasn't happen A） This book is set in Australia。 Which is really cool。B） I've never read a book with a protagonist who had such a traumatic experience because of puberty。 Every teenager has some kind of acne horror story （including me） but I never had to visit a dermatologist， never got scarring because of it， never had to go on medication。 Natalie did。 The whole reframing of "no one else has problems because their skin is clear" to "all people have their own struggles and their own 'if only ____ wasn't happening， I'd be happy'" was amazing to see represented。Overall， it was cool to see the anxiety over self-image so accurately represented - the difficulty of "well I *should* love myself" with "but I really don't love myself"。 I didn't like the overall listlessness of the ending （I'm picky with my endings） but I thought the book was a great representation of what it is like to be an 18 year old - still a teenager but also an adult。 。。。more
Penny
，
This is YA novel that every high school student will relate to at some level as they navigate the minefield that is high school。 Nina Kenwood may be a number of years out of high school herself but she clearly remembers well exactly how it feels。 Central are Natalie， Zac and Lucy who all met at a writers camp three years earlier and are now just on the edge of adulthood waiting to hear which universities they will be heading off to。 Each carries a burden or a secret。 Natalie’s is the most obviou This is YA novel that every high school student will relate to at some level as they navigate the minefield that is high school。 Nina Kenwood may be a number of years out of high school herself but she clearly remembers well exactly how it feels。 Central are Natalie， Zac and Lucy who all met at a writers camp three years earlier and are now just on the edge of adulthood waiting to hear which universities they will be heading off to。 Each carries a burden or a secret。 Natalie’s is the most obvious; for three years she suffered from the most horrendous polycystic acne and her body has been left scarred and pitted， she has been left nervous and unbelieving that anyone could like her for who she is。 Given how common acne is – every teenager has had the pimple that erupts at the wrong time， even if they don’t suffer continually – it is refreshing to find a novel with this affliction taking centre stage rather than another ‘has cancer， about to die’ novel。 Lucy is outwardly confident but inwardly terrified and worries about too many things while trying to maintain the perfect exterior。 And Zac actually does seem to be the perfect package with nothing more than the ‘normal’ teenage worries， which are enough for anyone。 He and Lucy have formed a couple and Natalie while happy for them is feeling a bit left out although they are still very much a threesome。 So when Zac’s older brother takes an interest in her， can it be real？ Everything about this book rings true。 The deceit of teenagers， the inevitable day of reckoning， the continual misunderstandings and worries of early love， the fear of being in the spotlight， and of course the constant thoughts of sex and the whole will we， won’t we dance。 This is Kenwood’s debut novel and I will certainly be looking for others from her。 。。。more
Julie Trapp
，
2。5 When her parents announce their impending divorce， Natalie can’t understand why no one is fighting， or at least mildly upset。 Then Zach and Lucy， her two best friends， hook up， leaving her feeling slightly miffed and decidedly awkward。 She’d always imagined she would end up with Zach one day―in the version of her life that played out like a TV show， with just the right amount of banter， pining， and meaningful looks。 Now everything has changed， and nothing is quite making sense。 And then， an 2。5 When her parents announce their impending divorce， Natalie can’t understand why no one is fighting， or at least mildly upset。 Then Zach and Lucy， her two best friends， hook up， leaving her feeling slightly miffed and decidedly awkward。 She’d always imagined she would end up with Zach one day―in the version of her life that played out like a TV show， with just the right amount of banter， pining， and meaningful looks。 Now everything has changed， and nothing is quite making sense。 And then， an unexpected romance with Zach’s older brother comes along and shakes things up even further。 [Amazon synopsis]This hookup with Alex had no preamble。 Guess anyone who didn't freak out at her skin problem， was prime bait。 Feeling like a 3rd wheel didn't help her self esteem either。 Not a great story。 。。。more
Hamna
，
A fast and realistic read but too much backstory
Haley Galabow
，
I enjoyed reading this book a lot。 It wa very hooking， and I related because my parents are also divorced， so it was interesting to hear about other peoples parents divorces compared to mine。 I dont know if everyone will relate to this， and if you will be as interested if you aren´t， but if your parents are divorced I reccomend this because you will most likely be able to relate。
Mia
，
Rating: 5 stars One of the very best books I’ve read in a long time - It Sounded Better is going straight to the top of my favorite books of the year list。 If you’ve ever struggled with body image， anxiety， and insecurity， this book is a love letter that validates every crazy thought and anxious doubt you’ve ever had。 I cannot emphasize enough how realistic this book is in its depiction of a teenage girl finally coming into her own， dealing with life-changing shifts outside her control like d Rating: 5 stars One of the very best books I’ve read in a long time - It Sounded Better is going straight to the top of my favorite books of the year list。 If you’ve ever struggled with body image， anxiety， and insecurity， this book is a love letter that validates every crazy thought and anxious doubt you’ve ever had。 I cannot emphasize enough how realistic this book is in its depiction of a teenage girl finally coming into her own， dealing with life-changing shifts outside her control like divorce and college applications。 I cried， laughed my ass off （seriously， Nina Kenwood has wit like no other）， and used three entire packages of tabs while reading this。 I just know I’ll be picking the book up off my shelf and skim reading parts of it all the time， and I desperately need Nina Kenwood to write a spinoff！ 。。。more
Sarah
，
mediocre but very relatable
María M
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Cute and fun。 It was good; that’s it 👍
Pink Fox
，
I loved this book！ The characters were all well developed！ It was a fun YA novel！！
Jodie
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 not my favorite，
Manya
，
2。5*
Amber
，
3。5
Maude Fleurent
，
C'était bon， mais je m'attendais à quelque chose de plus ？ Peut-être que j'en ai juste trop lus。 Toutes ses réponses sont bonnes。 C'était bon， mais je m'attendais à quelque chose de plus ？ Peut-être que j'en ai juste trop lus。 Toutes ses réponses sont bonnes。 。。。more
Stella
，
this was so cute。 so。 cute。
Alexandra
，
*3。5 Stars*This book wasn't a bad read and I actually enjoyed the book。 I just wanted the book to explore some of the topics brought up。 Instead， most of the topics were dismissed and eventually the book had a happily ever after ending。 It was still a good read for me though and would recommend it。 *3。5 Stars*This book wasn't a bad read and I actually enjoyed the book。 I just wanted the book to explore some of the topics brought up。 Instead， most of the topics were dismissed and eventually the book had a happily ever after ending。 It was still a good read for me though and would recommend it。 。。。more
Macy Davis
，
This was a pretty cute YA and I liked the candid voice of the main character as well as the exploration of some subjects in a way that YA novels often seem to avoid。
Arein Musa
，
Average YA rom com。 There really isn’t much of a story， more like a “week in the life” for the main character。
C
，
I don't know how to put into words what it is I like about Alex。 Part of it is something that feels too shameful to say: that he makes me feel special， wanted， desired， seen for the first time in my life。 Which is problematic， because I'm supposed to love and accept myself without the help of anyone else。 I know that， I have absorbed that message via every possible channel。 Alex can't be the hero who saves me from my low self-esteem。 But when people say you've got to love yourself first， they ne I don't know how to put into words what it is I like about Alex。 Part of it is something that feels too shameful to say: that he makes me feel special， wanted， desired， seen for the first time in my life。 Which is problematic， because I'm supposed to love and accept myself without the help of anyone else。 I know that， I have absorbed that message via every possible channel。 Alex can't be the hero who saves me from my low self-esteem。 But when people say you've got to love yourself first， they never explain how， exactly， you get past people screaming， "Gross bitch，" how you get past feeling like your best days are only your best days because you're managing to hide the bad bits， how you feel desirable if no one has ever desired you。 It's something I haven't managed to figure out on my own， and Alex makes me feel like I'm a little bit closer。This was。。。okay？ It was a very middle-of-the-road book。 There is really only one main plot point happening — the romance between Natalie and her best friend's brother， Alex — which begins abruptly， ends right as it seems to be getting started， and has a very drawn-out middle as Natalie attempts to overcome the insecurities and navigate the obstacles that accompany first relationships。Natalie's two best friends， Lucy and Zack， are in a relationship; at one point， Natalie thought she and Zack might end up together， and while the book makes it seem like Natalie and Zack's almost-relationship — and Natalie's subsequent insecurity about Lucy dating Zack instead — is a big deal， it's mentioned once and then brushed off。 There were some side plots involving Natalie's parents' divorce and Lucy's family's disapproval of her not getting into a law school， but these felt incomplete， too。 Everything that didn't involve Natalie and Alex just sort of fell into the background and it didn't feel like a well-rounded story。This book did do a good job of highlighting insecurities， especially Natalie's acne problems。 Not a lot of YA books mention acne， for some reason， even though it affects so many people in a major way， and I like that this book didn't shy away from how many doctors Natalie had to visit， the number of medications she tried， and how the medication that did work for her had nasty side effects。 The differences between Natalie and Alex as they learn more about each other — he likes to go to parties， she doesn't; she bottles things up while he prefers direct communication; he has more experience and an ex-girlfriend still in the picture — and the conflicts that follow also felt realistic， too。 。。。more
Jenna Tanner
，
3。5 ⭐
GavShire
，
The author did a great job。 If you have some great stories like this one， you can publish it on Novel Star， just submit your story to hardy@novelstar。top or joye@novelstar。top
Shaina Goodson
，
4。5⭐️/5⭐️I stumbled upon this audiobook while waiting to board a plane back to HOU。 Such a cute story！ Natalie’s story reminds me of what my high school students might be thinking every minute of every day: Does this boy like me？ What are people thinking of me？ How does my appearance look？ Etc。 Natalie’s thought process is hilarious， and 100% relatable。 Thoroughly enjoyed this novel by Nina Kenwood。
Christine Kelley
，
It Sounded Better in My Head by Nina Kenwood is a YA book that follows the story of an 18 year old young lady who is struggling through relationship issues。 She is also breaking down the walls of self-consciousness she has built up most of her life。 The story speaks of real life issues young women face everyday。 She must learn how to accept who she is and find a way to allow others in。 This is a great book for young people who are struggling with self esteem issues。 Even though it is a YA book I It Sounded Better in My Head by Nina Kenwood is a YA book that follows the story of an 18 year old young lady who is struggling through relationship issues。 She is also breaking down the walls of self-consciousness she has built up most of her life。 The story speaks of real life issues young women face everyday。 She must learn how to accept who she is and find a way to allow others in。 This is a great book for young people who are struggling with self esteem issues。 Even though it is a YA book I would not recommend it for readers younger than 15。 There is a lot of conversation about sexual relationships that younger readers might not be ready for。 。。。more
Anwita Tripathi
，
To be honest this book sounded better than it was。 It was really not a great read。 The protagonist of this book was really insecure about herself and was constantly doubting herself， which gave me secondhand stress and anxiety making this book really not that enjoyable。 It had its own good bits as well but I feel like it's really not worth your time。 To be honest this book sounded better than it was。 It was really not a great read。 The protagonist of this book was really insecure about herself and was constantly doubting herself， which gave me secondhand stress and anxiety making this book really not that enjoyable。 It had its own good bits as well but I feel like it's really not worth your time。 。。。more
Moni Cannon
，
This was。。 okay。 It had a lot of amazing moments。 It was a slow first love filled with all of the angst and drama that comes with it。 It was awkward and messy and really it sounded better in my head （sorry！ Couldn't help myself！）I found the main character Natalie rather obnoxious and she always obsessing over her appearance。 Her skin and how it looks to others。 Which makes a lot of sense because she's a teenager- but she is defined by these things。 Natalie makes some growth through the story， bu This was。。 okay。 It had a lot of amazing moments。 It was a slow first love filled with all of the angst and drama that comes with it。 It was awkward and messy and really it sounded better in my head （sorry！ Couldn't help myself！）I found the main character Natalie rather obnoxious and she always obsessing over her appearance。 Her skin and how it looks to others。 Which makes a lot of sense because she's a teenager- but she is defined by these things。 Natalie makes some growth through the story， but I found it rather limited。 Natalie also had a habit of having flashbacks to explain significant meetings or memories。 These are fine for the sake of the story but it was often difficult to see where they began and ended。 。。。more
Beth
，