Libby’s life unravels when a compromising video goes viral the same night her boyfriend ends up in a coma. The fallout is immediate: judgement from classmates, whispers in the village, and an overwhelming sense of shame. Her only ally is Neha, the new girl quietly harbouring a crush on her. Told through diary-style entries from Libby, Neha, and Dan, this is a layered story about reputation, friendship, sexuality, and the courage it takes to follow your heart.
Crossley captures the intensity of teenage life in the social media age, where mistakes are magnified and privacy is fragile. The book addresses slut-shaming, bullying, unsafe drinking, and homophobia, yet does so with warmth and hope.I admit I felt saddened that such attitudes are still out there but the story does unfortunately mirror the bullying in schools. The multi-perspective format helps readers see how truth is never one-sided and invites empathy for each character.
Tart will resonate with readers who enjoy contemporary YA exploring identity and relationships. It sits well alongside novels by Juno Dawson, Alice Oseman, and Sara Barnard. Content warnings include sexual assault, alcohol misuse, and homophobic language.
A heartfelt debut that balances grit with compassion, and a valuable addition for sparking conversations about online culture, consent, and queer identity.

Characters you can't help liking, a plot that is quite simple but well developed.

This is a lovely teenage lbtq+ coming of age, finding oneself book. The characters felt identifiable, the plot realistic.

Excellent!

This is a sweet and sharp read and that is full of heartache and healing. It’s a coming-out story wrapped in teen chaos, online cruelty, and the slow bloom of queer joy.

I loved this! I could not stop thinking about Libby and Neha, my favourite little sapphics <3

I was starting to experience a bit of burnout from YA before picking this up, but I'm so glad I did pick this up because this really shows what good YA is.

The friendship between Neha and Libby was so pure and really highlighted what true friends are. I really enjoyed how Libby became friends with Neha's friends, and they showed Libby that she didn't deserve the bullying she was experiencing.

I really felt for Libby throughout this book, and it truly shows how kind gestures towards someone who is experiencing bullying or having a bad time really go a long way.

Trigger warning: SA mentioned, on page bullying.

I actually really enjoyed reading this YA friend’s to lovers queer romance novel, as you open the book, it’s straight to the point! Leaving you with a cliffhanger. This book was such an easy read and chapters definitely weren’t too long so I enjoyed reading the POVs of Libby, Neha and Dan’s.

In this book, Libby was captured cheating on her boyfriend, Dan, and also got into a car accident the same night. Due to this mishap, the people who she thought were her friends decided to make her life a living hell in school. Until she meets Neha, her life finally became normal again and Libby started to have feelings for her.

I am in love with all the characters except from the horrible ones that bullied Libby along the way. This book really revolved heavily around the topic of bullying therefore might be a trigger warning for some people. I adored Neha for making Libby feel like a human again and they are so damn cute together. Also thank goodness for Dan to be there to stick up for Libby, definitely needed a character like that in the book and in real life! We all need a Dan!

As a person who spent her childhood and teenage years in a small town, this one felt like a very realistic portrayal of teenage issues and joys to me. While dealing with some VERY serious issues - homophobia, bullying, the use of social media to torment, racism, potential sexual assault, mental health etc - this is all handled really well and results in a story that is ultimately so hopeful and love-filled against all odds!

I can see this becoming essentially required reading for teenagers, it really models some great ways of supporting the people around you, without ever feeling preachy. The thee way POV allowed me to fully invest in each character even when their choices were extremely frustrating [teenage life amirite?] and I was just so happy that they all got some version of HEA by the end.

Plot summary: When Libby is caught on camera 'cheating' on her boyfriend Dan who ends up in a coma that same night, she becomes a social pariah at school, losing all of her friends and potentially her boyfriend at the same time. New student Neha, also feeling like an outsider comes into her life and they form a special connection.

I really enjoyed this! I was initially drawn in by the front cover and quite provocative title for a YA novel. Despite Libby and Neha going through a lot of bullying and hardships throughout the book it is quite a hopeful and modern story of self acceptance and the acceptance of your found and real family. It reminded me a little of Heartstopper in its inclusive portrayal of LGBT+ experiences in a small town.

A beautiful story that touches on friendships, discovering who you are, instead of who you are meant to be, being queer, and the highs and lows of being a teenager. Such an emotional read for people of all ages. Would definitely recommend! Thank you NetGalley for providing the arc!

This book would be perfect for teenagers or parents to read to show the struggles of being younger and the issues they end up facing, helping you understand how they might be feeling and how to give a better understanding. I saw this book in Instagram from the author so I was absolutely elated to have been given this as an ARC and I am so grateful for. It tackles hard issues but it is eye opening and really gives you the chance to understand yourself and relate to your younger self on the struggles you battled growing up and identfying who you are as a person. It is a beautiful book and it will stick with me for a while, Honestly, so so so recommended!

A beautiful book that tugs on the heartstrings but leaves you with hope.

When I say this book was an emotional rollercoaster, it was an emotional rollercoaster! It’s told from three POVs, Dan, Libby and Neha. Dan gets into an accident in the first chapter and ends up in a coma. On the same night, a video starts to circulate on social media showing Libby, Dan’s girlfriend, kissing another boy. As a consequence, Libby is bullied and ostracised by everyone at school, including her best friend. New girl, Neha, is the only one who realises there might be more to the story. This book follows Libby and Neha’s developing friendship (and maybe something more) while also showing a reverse timeline of Dan and Libby’s relationship, all the way to a shocking beginning. I knew there was more to their story than met the eye, but I was not expecting THAT, and yet it was so well written that the revelation was the only thing that made sense.

This book is a commentary on bullying culture, social media and understanding that there are two sides to every story. This story does have a happy ending, but it was the tension at the beginning that kept me reading until the early hours of the morning (I literally read this in two days).

If you love Heartstopper and Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda, you will absolutely love this book.

Tart follows a young girl called Libby whose ‘friends’ take her out drinking where she gets sexually assaulted by a man in the club/bar. The video of this goes viral on TikTok and circulates around her school pretty quickly, where she gets accused of cheating on her boyfriend, Dan, who is in hospital after a car accident that happened before he could see the video. Neha, a new girl at the school, befriends Libby and they start to become something other than friends.

The positives! I liked what it had to say about slut-shaming, consent, bullying online and offline, and about being gay and the difficulties this still has even in 2025. Teenagers were written realistically and as messily as real life teenagers often can be, and I enjoyed watching them grow into better people.

There was a scene I really liked that involved a character being very drunk and another character stepped in so that they didn’t get harmed or taken advantage of in their vulnerable position. There was also a lot of conversations about consent and how it can be hard to step in and stand up for other people when they can turn on you, as well, and especially difficult to stand up against your friends. It takes a lot of bravery and courage to do so, and I appreciated that being mentioned to encourage readers to care more for their friends/peers.

I also liked what it had to say about what happened with Libby, and even if she did actually cheat on her boyfriend, she still wouldn’t have deserved the amount of hate and harm she was receiving. Also, about how she was discovering her sexuality and she doesn’t know what to label herself but she just knows what she feels, she doesn’t have to have it all figured out right away. Always a great message for young, LGBT+ children to hear.

(Shoutout to the Fear Street: Part Two 1978 mention, that whole trilogy is one of my favourite horror movie collections ever!)

I was wondering where the adults are, however? There were a few occasions where adults were involved but strange how nobody intervened. The TikTok of Libby getting assaulted goes viral, and many adults would have children that would have seen this video. Although accurate for British middle class people specifically to see this unfold and think “this is none of my business, I’m not going to get involved”, I thought teachers at the school should have. I would have loved a scene where we see that happen.

I would have also have loved to see helplines be involved because, although it’s great Libby had a friendship group to talk about it with, it would be great for teenagers reading this book to know what to do if this happens to them or someone they know.

Another thing I would have liked to see explored more as well is Libby’s mental health. Especially if she couldn’t get away from it at home or school, her boyfriend is in hospital in a coma and she lost her entire friendship group, it would be reasonable if she needed help with her mental health and, again, for other teenagers to know what to do if this happens to them or someone they know.

I also didn’t like that Katie and everyone else involved got next to no repercussions aside from losing Dan and a handful of other friends.

Despite the issues I had with it, I did still enjoy it and would still recommend it. I hope this becomes available at all UK schools, to make it easily accessible for teenagers, and I hope it starts conversations that need to be had about bullying/abuse, consent and slut-shaming.

This is so beautifully written, trying to capture the emotions of a student struggling with identity in school, coping with bullying and trying to even understand yourself

I really enjoyed this YA book and I felt super nostalgic reading it! Definitely wish that there was more access to books like this when I was younger!

Overall this was a cute fast paced read filled with teen drama and covering lots of important topics such as friendship, sexuality, bullying and grief! I would have loved to see more consequences in the book, especially for Katie who was one of the major ring leaders in the bullying, I feel like it would have been alot more impactful that way! Other than that i felt like it handled the important themes through a great story!

3.5 rounded up

Messy, heartfelt, and full of teen drama.

Tart captures the highs and lows of teenage life with sincerity.
I appreciated the layered look at identity, queerness, and friendship, and the emotional weight behind Libby’s journey felt real. Neha was a standout, and the themes of grief, guilt, and forgiveness were handled with care.

That said, some plot points felt a bit rushed, and a few character arcs. especially side ones, could have used more development. I didn’t fully connect with the romance, but the story’s heart and message still came through.
A solid debut, especially for fans of contemporary queer YA.

What a fabulous book exploring bullying, peer pressure and societal expectations for young people in 2025.

Libby's plight as an outcast (she is perceived as a 'tart' after being filmed with someone who isn't her boyfriend on the night he ends up in a coma) tugged at my heartstrings and the role social media played in her story petrified me as a mother of a teen.

I absolutely adored Neha as a character - she had a quiet depth and integrity.

Although difficult topics are explored there is hope through friendship and solidarity. This will appeal to fans of Becky Albertalli and Julie Murphy.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury for an advance copy of this title for review.

This book was chock full of story. You have romance, queer awakening, high school drama, a cheating scandal, and a heartwarming reunion.

It's a perfect encapsulation of teenagehood and how ruinous high school life can be.

You have three unique voices from three unique characters. Flashbacks from before the accident that sent Dan into a coma. His girlfriend Libby who dealing with a scandal of being caught cheating the night of Dan's accident. And the new girl Naha trying to find her place in a new school after some personal devastation.

I'm sometimes weary of debut novels, wondering how developed the voice of the author is. But Becki Jayne Crossley has such a well-rounded writing voice that feels effortless.

I flew through this. Enthralled by the suspense and tension built around the secrets kept, friendships made and hearts broken.

Overall, I really enjoyed this. It felt nostalgic and truthful to the universal experience of uncertainty of being a teenager. It was heartfelt and touching with an ending that felt like a big hug.

This is a great read for anyone looking for a brilliant new voice in queer YA.

This was such a lovely read - nostalgic and hopeful in a way that sort of made me want to cry the whole time - dealing with grief and guilt, but also the joy of discovering something about yourself that you'd pushed away for years. Every time I had a spare moment to read, I wanted to be reading this book! Becki Jayne Crossley does an incredible job of tackling the heavy issue of bullying (both online and in-person), while still managing to centre queer joy and the beauty of being unashamedly yourself.

I have so much love for so many of the characters in this book - Libby, Dan, Neha, and Neha's friends from her previous school are wonderfully written and so relatable and funny, I found myself grinning down at the page like a weirdo on several occasions. The dynamics between these characters as they grow and get to know one another (and themselves) better was such a joy to read.

I'm not going to lie, a lot of the bullying aspects of this book were a tough read, but (without spoiling too much) I promise you that the resolution to this story is absolutely worth it and made me so happy.

I wish Tart had been around in my high-school years - this could be an absolute game changer for teenagers coming to terms with their sexuality and dealing with all the swirling emotions that come along with that.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bloomsbury YA for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Something a bit different for me!
Tart by Becki Jayne Crossley is a beautifully written YA queer coming-of-age story that explores identity, grief, loyalty, and first love with honesty and heart. After a viral video falsely accuses Libby of cheating and her boyfriend Dan falls into a coma, her world unravels. Only friend Neha who is secretly in love with Libby stands by her.

As secrets come to light, including Dan’s hidden truth and Neha’s feelings, the story unfolds into a slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romance full of emotional depth. The author captures the rawness of teen life—social pressure, judgment, and the fear of standing out—while balancing it with warmth and humour.

Huge thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing and Becki Jayne Crossley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

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Tart by Becki Jayne Crossley is an amazing addition to what is quite a small selection of amazing YA bisexual representation in literature. I absolutely appreciated Libby's self-discovery and how realistic her thoughts around liking both Dan and Neha were. I also loved Dan, Neha and Libby as well-rounded, well-written and fully-fleshed out characters--flaws and all. All three were so unique and you can tell, unlike some multi-POV stories, who was 'speaking'.

The only reason for 4 stars, instead of 5, was the pacing at the beginning. It took a bit of time for me to get into the flow of the story, particularly with the time jumps and multi-POVs.

I loved the plot, though beware, it's heavier than the cover and description will lead you to believe. But I loved the slight-angsty quality, it lent the story a more realistic feel. Even more so with the narrow-minded village attitude. I have 100% been in small English villages with similar mindsets!

Tart is a beautifully written, heartfelt story that tackles identity, loyalty, and the sometimes messy journey of discovering who you truly are. Becki Jayne Crossley has crafted a tender queer romance with emotional depth and a refreshingly honest voice.

Libby’s world is turned on its head when a video falsely painting her as unfaithful goes viral the same night her boyfriend, Dan, ends up in a coma. The fallout is immediate and brutal, with classmates turning on her and only the quiet but fiercely loyal Neha by her side. But there’s more to the story than anyone realises. Dan’s been hiding a secret, one that could change everything, and Neha has a secret of her own—she’s been in love with Libby for months.

What makes this book so moving is how gently and genuinely it handles themes of grief, identity, and first love. Libby’s confusion and heartbreak are palpable, and her growing relationship with Neha is both sweet and real. It’s a slow-burn friends-to-lovers tale that gives plenty of space for the characters to grow, both together and individually.

Crossley doesn’t shy away from the realities of teenage life—social pressure, the harshness of school gossip, and the fear of being different. Yet she balances the heavier themes with moments of warmth, humour, and hope. The friendship between Libby and Neha is the heart of the story, and watching it blossom into something more is truly lovely.

Perfect for fans of coming-of-age stories with emotional weight and queer representation, Tart is a thoughtful, uplifting read. A story about love in all its forms—messy, brave and honest—it’s one that will stick with you long after the final page.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.