Starred Review ALA Booklist (Mon May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)

Starred Review Nice guy Caden is just that: raised by a secret spy organization to be a Nice, carefully sculpted to nonthreatening physical perfection and full of boyish, bashful charm. Caden is also a Love Interest, trained to make a target chosen by the organization this case, high-school science whiz ­Juliet ll in love with him so he can steal her secrets. But there's a catch: competition in the form of Dylan, a Bad, trained to appear tough, brooding, and a little bit dangerous. Whoever doesn't get the girl dies. Caden, not as Nice as he should be, hopes that his will to survive will help him win, even though this means another boy's death. But Juliet turns out to be smart, capable, and kind, and Caden hates betraying her. Worse, Dylan has started showing up at his window in the middle of the night, and even though they're supposed to be enemies, Caden feels first camaraderie and then something deeper for him. For Caden, love was never supposed to be a factor, but it's starting to make all the difference. There's a Hunger Games vibe here to be sure deadly teen-on-teen competition d this is packed with similar questions of morality. High stakes, well-developed characters, and an LGBTQ slant on the classic spy story make it all the more intriguing. Stock up is one has something for everyone.

Horn Book (Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)

In a futuristic America, a secret organization trains teenage spies called "Love Interests": preternaturally perfect partners for unknowing teens who may become powerful adults. Two male agents--Caden ("a Nice") and Dylan ("a Bad")--compete for the affections of a female genius, but complications arise when they develop feelings for each other. This romp is part sci-fi romance, part parody; audacious metafictional fun.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

In this subversive take on the quintessential YA love triangle, two guys-the clean-cut boy next door and the brooding bad boy-compete for a girl-s affections. But nothing is as it seems: the guys are actually secret agents, trained to follow a script and fulfill specific romantic roles, and whoever doesn-t win his target-s love will be killed by his ruthless employer. Narrator Caden is a -Nice,- Dylan is a -Bad,- and Juliet is a genius with a bright future ahead of her. Caden has everything planned out-until he and Dylan fall for each other. As they explore this unexpected desire, they attempt to complete their mission, knowing one of them will die when Juliet makes her choice. Dietrich-s debut is impressive, provocative, and a clever take on well-worn romantic tropes. The emotional connections among Caden, Dylan, and Juliet balance out the artificial nature of the relationships forming, while the thriller elements add tension and numerous surprises. The only downside: the ending and epilogue leave too many dangling threads and unanswered questions about what happens in between. Ages 13-up. Agent: Leon Husock, L. Perkins Agency. (May)

Voice of Youth Advocates (Thu Apr 28 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

Caden, trained as a love interest his whole life, has finally been matched with his potential partner, a science genius named Juliet. Sent out with another potential candidate, it will either be nice boy Caden or bad boy Dylan who will win the job of spying on her for the rest of his life on behalf of the secret organization who raised them. Both boys know their lives are on the line because the organization does not let losers live, but even facing their demise, the boys cannot resist their mutual attraction and share a few stolen kisses. As Juliet makes her choice, Caden must face own feelings and determine if Dylan’s love is true because it may not be just his life he is putting in jeopardy as he steps in to take down those who would prevent him from finding freedom and love. The premise of a centuries-old organization that trains and engages teenaged spies offers this novel an intriguing context. Combined with the author’s use of stylized romance tropes, this leads to a sense of playful insight that will appeal to readers who push traditional boundaries. Much of the novel strains credibility, though. That such a powerful, all-knowing organization could miss the sexual-identity information about their own spies, and that revelations of betrayal are easily accepted makes what should be threatening seem unsophisticated. The rushed climax and the epilogue lack the sophistication of a great adventure and rebounds back to a romantic cliché of happily ever after.—Rachel Wadham.