Thank you Netgalley and Disney Hyperion for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Lauren Ho's "Bite Me, Royce Taslim" is a delightful rom-com that blends sharp wit, relatable characters, and a charming romance into an engaging read. From the very start, Ho's signature sharp writing and witty humor shine through, making this a fun and enjoyable experience for readers. If you’re looking for a fun and humorous book, you will definitely like this book, especially if you are a fan of stand-up comedy!

The story follows Agnes Chan, whose dreams of a track scholarship are shattered in a moment of humiliation involving her arch-nemesis, Royce Taslim. However, when Agnes discovers an opportunity to salvage her scholarship hopes through an international stand-up comedy contest for teens, she's surprised to find herself competing against none other than Royce himself.

One of the highlights of the book is its well-developed characters, particularly Agnes and Royce. Agnes is a realistic and relatable protagonist, while Royce emerges as a sweetheart whom readers can't help but root for. Their dynamic, filled with banter and chemistry, adds depth and charm to the story. I really enjoyed learning more about Royce and his own personal drama as it really added depth to his character and prevented him from becoming the stereotypical “rich boy” love interest.

Ho masterfully captures the humor of teenage angst and the complexities of having a crush, creating a book that is both funny and endearing. I thought the humor was well-written as I actually found myself becoming amused with the jokes being told in the comedy routines. It can be difficult to write those out in the book form without being seen as overdone, and I thought there was a good balance with the humor. Nothing to make me laugh out loud per say, but exhale through my nose in silent laughter. The romance between Agnes and Royce is charming and believable as well. I really liked the rivals to friends to lovers aspect of their relationship. The change wasn’t immediate; there was a gradual change and buildup in their relationship.

The setting was also great as well. I don’t think I’ve read a book set in Malaysia before, so I was very interested in learning more about the setting and the culture. Because of my lack of prior knowledge, I do think there was a bit of a disconnect with my understanding of the setting and specific aspects of the book, like the differences when applying to college in Malaysia vs the US.

One aspect I wish had more development was Agnes’s humor and stand-up routines. With her first routine where she didn’t plan it and it was sprung on her, she did extremely well and didn’t bomb; there was actual laughter from her routine. Even with her second routine, she said she didn’t really practice and was ab-libbing some of it, which I just didn’t find realistic for those with no experience whatsoever in comedy routines. I would assume for someone’s first time, they would be incredibly nervous, would mess up, or something like that. I wanted to see her grow as a comedian and improve with her confidence and her routine instead of just being a prodigy with her routines, especially without practice.

Overall, "Bite Me, Royce Taslim" is a fast-paced and enjoyable YA romance with its mix of humor, romance, and relatable characters. Whether you're a longtime fan of Lauren Ho or discovering her for the first time, this book is a must-read for anyone who loves a good laugh and a heartwarming love story.

As I expected, this book has Lauren Ho's signature sharp writing and witty humor. There's so much to love about this book: a main character having to pivot after her student athlete dreams were dashed by an injury, secret lives of teens online and in-person, complicated family dynamics, and a sweet romance. Can't wait to see more YA from Lauren!

This was a great YA that hit a lot of the tropes that young readers want while still presenting an original and engaging story.

Humorous enemies to lovers that is heavy on the high school drama. I loved that the book portrayed nuanced characters that dealt with very real issues in regards to young adults (notably the stress related to planning their futures).

Bite Me, Royce Taslim was a fun YA read. When track start Agnes is injured and sees her college dreams slip away, she ends up finding more than she imagined in an international stand up comedy contest. I liked that this book was set in Malaysia, which felt fresh and new. I'm not much into stand up comedy as a genre, but I thought that the details about Agnes's experience were interesting and fun.

I know that that this one was a YA, but even still at least to this read the teen drama was a little over the top.

I loved this rom-com that was HEAVY on the comedic side! Lauren Ho is hilarious and really captures the humor in teenage angst and having a crush that just won’t leave your head. The characters are well-developed and offer a lot to the story beyond just the protagonist’s journey. The romance was very charming and believable, leading me to root for it all the way through. Funny, endearing, exciting, and funny again, Bite Me, Royce Taslim has a lot to offer in an easy to read package! Huge thanks to Disney Publishing Worldwideand and NetGalley for this ARC!