What happens when the boy who breaks your heart also steals the opportunity you've been dreaming about? Well, if you're seventeen-year-old Finley, you come up with a revenge plan. And perhaps find yourself falling for the one person who can help you pull it off. And so what if he happens to be your ex’s nemesis?
Better Than Revenge by Kasie West is a young adult contemporary romance that mixes high school drama, football, romantic tension, and a little bit of payback. With a determined heroine, a charming troublemaker, a great group of side-kick friends and a plan that might get more complicated than expected, this is a story for readers who enjoy sweet YA romance with plenty of personality.
What Is Better Than Revenge by Kasie West About?
Seventeen-year-old Finley has one big ambition: becoming a famous podcaster. She's prepared for her school's podcast auditions and has even come up with what she thinks is the perfect pitch.
Unfortunately, her football-player boyfriend, Jensen, has other plans. He decides to audition too, uses Finley's idea (or steals it, more likely), and ends up getting the podcast position she always wanted. To make matters worse, Finley is left feeling betrayed by someone she thought was on her side. Naturally, she's not exactly ready to let that go.
Determined to get even, Finley and her friends start looking for a way to take Jensen down a peg. But Jensen isn't easy to beat. Then Finley discovers she has a knack for kicking a football and comes up with a rather unexpected plan: take Jensen's spot on the football team. And it’s just her luck that there's just one person who can help her get there.
Theo is Jensen's nemesis (and this is where things get interesting). He's also cute, conceited, and perhaps not quite as easy to resist as Finley would like. As he agrees to help her train, their connection starts to develop into something neither of them planned. But Finley has revenge on her mind, and Theo has secrets of his own. Is getting even really worth it if she ends up missing out on something better?
What to Expect from Better than Revenge
If you're looking for a young adult romance with a fun premise and a little competitive spirit, let’s break down a few things that make Better Than Revenge particularly stand out:
1. A Revenge Plan That Involves Football
Finley's response to betrayal isn't to quietly move on. She's determined to prove herself, and taking Jensen's place as the team's kicker is certainly one way to do it.
The football angle gives the story an entertaining twist, especially since Finley isn't initially part of that world. Her unexpected talent creates a new challenge and puts her on a path she never anticipated.
2. A Love Interest Who Is Also Her Ex's Nemesis
Theo is not exactly the person Finley would have expected to turn to for help. He's Jensen's nemesis, and their connection makes the revenge plan considerably more interesting.
There's also the question of whether Finley can keep her feelings out of the equation. Training together might be about football at first, but things have a way of becoming more complicated when attraction enters the picture.
3. High School Drama and Complicated Feelings
Betrayal, competition, ambition, and first love all come together in this YA contemporary romance. Finley is dealing with more than a broken relationship. She's also figuring out what she wants, how much she values herself, and whether revenge is really the answer.
4. A Girl Finding Her Own Way
One of my favorite parts of Better Than Revenge is that Finley doesn't simply accept losing an opportunity because someone else got there first. She takes a chance on something unexpected and discovers a new side of herself along the way. And so, her journey gives the story a coming-of-age element alongside the romance.
Is Better Than Revenge a Good Choice for YA Romance Readers?
If you enjoy young adult contemporary romance, high school love stories, and sports romance, Better Than Revenge has several ingredients worth adding to your reading list.
It's a particularly appealing choice if you like:
🎒 High school romance and teenage drama
🏈 Football and sports romance
😈 Revenge plots and romantic complications
❤️ A love interest who happens to be the ex-boyfriend’s nemesis
🥰 Sweet romance and swoony moments
🌱 Coming-of-age stories about confidence and self-discovery
The combination of football, podcast ambitions, romantic tension, and revenge gives this book a premise that stands out from the usual high school romance setup.
The Podcast, Her Grandmother, and the Heart of the Story
One of the more emotional parts of Better Than Revenge is Finley’s relationship with her grandmother, who is living with Alzheimer’s disease. This storyline adds a layer of tenderness and sadness to the book, showing how difficult it can be to watch someone you love slowly lose their memories.
Finley’s podcast isn’t just about chasing a dream or getting back at Jensen. It also connects to her grandmother and the memories they share. The fear of losing those moments makes the story feel more personal, giving Finley’s ambitions a deeper meaning. She is running out of time to get her grandmother’s story before all memory disappears. Before she doesn’t recognize Finley anymore.
About Kasie West
Kasie West is a bestselling author known for her young adult and adult romance novels. Her books include The Fill-In Boyfriend, P.S. I Like You, Lucky in Love, The Distance Between Us (which is my favorite book by her!) and Sunkissed.
If you've enjoyed her other YA romances, Better Than Revenge is another title to add to your reading list.
Final Thoughts: Is Love Better Than Revenge?
While more often than not the best (or healthiest) revenge is moving on, finding your confidence, and discovering that there's more to life than the person who let you down, Better Than Revenge explores another alternative. Thus, Finley sets out to get even with her ex-boyfriend, only to find herself in an unexpected situation with the one person she probably shouldn't be getting involved with.
With football, high school drama, romantic complications, and a heroine determined to take matters into her own hands, Kasie West's Better Than Revenge is a YA romance worth checking out if you enjoy stories about first love, unexpected connections, and figuring out when it's time to let go.
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About Me
📍Dumbo - New York
I'm Zøe!
I write heartfelt, character-driven fiction featuring resilient teenage heroines navigating personal challenges and striving to become their best selves. Beyond my novels, I love storytelling in all its forms. On this blog, I share narrative-rich travel pieces, offering glimpses into my favorite places, hidden corners, and unforgettable encounters around the globe.
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