Series Review: Grad Night by Molly E Lee

Series Review: Is this series worth your time? Does it get better as the novels progress? Or does it get worse? Find out below:

Synopsis for Love in the Friend Zone (from Goodreads):

The only thing worse than not being able to tell your best friend you’re head over heels in love with him? Having to smile and nod when he enlists your help to ensnare the girl of his dreams.

Braylen didn’t even want to go to Lennon Pryor’s epic graduation-night party, but when Fynn begs her to be his “wingwoman,” she can’t deny him. Talking up her BFF—how he’s magic behind a camera, with a killer sense of humor and eyelashes that frame the most gorgeous blue eyes in the history of forever—is easy. Supporting his efforts to woo someone so completely wrong for him? Not so much.

Fynn knows that grad night is his last shot before leaving for college to find true love. And thanks to Bray, he gets his chance with the beautiful Katy Evans. But over the course of the coolest party of their high school careers, he starts to see that perhaps what he really wants has been in front of him all along. Bray’s been his best friend since kindergarten, though, and he’d rather have her in his life as a friend than not at all.

Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book contains one epic party, complete with every high-schoolers-gone-bad shenanigan, and two best friends whose sexual chemistry is off the charts…if only they’d succumb to it

SERIESous’ Top Picks: Fav Couple (Love Between Enemies)
Series: Grad Night
Author: Molly E Lee
# of Books: 3 (Love in the Friend Zone, Love Between Enemies, Love Beyond Opposites)
Book Order: Companion
Complete?: Yes
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Drama
Heat Rating: cool
Point of View: First Person, Alternating
Publication Dates: August 2017 – May 2018
Source & Format: Own–eBook (Love in the Friend Zone); Netgalley (#2 & #3)

Copies of *Love Between Enemies* & *Love Beyond Opposites* only

Why I Picked it Up / My Expectations:

I was actually alerted to a sale for Love in the Friend Zone and that’s how I discovered this series. I also read the synopsis for Love Between Enemies and just had to learn more. These books sounded like a lot of fun and heartwarming, so it seemed like a no-brainer to try them out.

The Concept:

The idea is that each book follows a different couple on the night of their high school graduation. With college looming on the horizon, each character has their own set of “goals” they want to accomplish before the summer starts and college begins and they all see this final high school party as the opportune time to get things done.

So essentially, you have 3 stories running simultaneously in the setting (hence the “companion” label I give this series). You get little inklings of the other stories while you read a single novel but not enough to completely ruin the surprise of what is happening with the other couples. It entices you to want more while also bringing back some nostalgia of the other stories. It’s a very cool atmosphere to have in a series.

The Plot:

Considering these books all take place within a 24 hour span or so, nothing ever felt rushed to me. Every scene has a purpose in driving the narrative forward so I really enjoyed the lack of petty drama. It focuses on the characters and establishing that hidden to them (but obvious to everyone else) connection that will steal your heart.

This book was a lot of fun too. All the silly stuff that happens at the party definitely gave me a few chuckles as I read.

The Characters:

I’ll admit, it took me a little while to warm up to Fynn and Braylen (Love in the Friend Zone). I feel like we get thrown into their story since they are the first couple we meet and as such, we don’t get those little moments throughout the story like the other couples do. But I have to say, as the story progressed, I really grew to enjoy them as characters.

It was a different situation in Love Between Enemies. I felt like that novel gave us a little more background about the rivals and helped set the stage for their motives. I had a much better grasp on them as characters before the party even started and I think that helped my enjoyment of the story overall.

The Romance:

These are all such sweet romances! They are exactly what I love to see in my romantic reads: great partnerships. All the couples have this great understanding of each other. They get each other’s quirks and they love them more for it. I just adored watching all of them fall in love and showing that vulnerable side to the other.

My Expectations for the Rest of the Series:

OMG, I am so excited for Lennon’s story! After getting little hints in the previous two books I am dying to find out what happens to him on graduation night.

–May 6, 2018– Book #3: Love Beyond Opposites

These two were completely adorable–I seriously had butterflies in my stomach the entire time I was reading this. Lennon is so in love with Jade that he had me wrapped around his finger by the end of the prologue. Reading his inner monologue about why he thought the world of her had me on the floor in a puddle. It was the cutest thing; especially when there were little slips about his true feelings to Jade.

Jade is equally charming in this story as well. It was great watching her build up her confidence–not just with her feelings towards Lennon but with respect to her own talents and personality.

With this series, Molly E Lee has been able to put into words the adorably awkward feelings of first love–and this book is the best example of it by far. These two are so perfect for each other and watching them discover that put a smile on my face from start to end–with a few swoons along the way.

Series Rating: 4/5

Love in the Friend Zone 3.5/5 | Love Between Enemies 5/5 | Love Beyond Opposites 5/5

This series has some of my favourite tropes and executes them perfectly! The whole concept of three romances that come to life at the last party of their high school lives is a fun premise that will have you wanting more!

Read if You Like: high school romances, companion novels
Avoid if You: want steamier scenes