The Cheat Sheet
Easy read
Feel good
Sweet

The Cheat Sheet

Sarah Adams2021
"Hi, my name is Bree Camden, and I'm hopelessly in love with my best friend and star quarterback Nathan Donelson (so is half of America, judging by the tabloids and how much the guy dates). The first step is admitting, right? Except, I can never admit it to him because he clearly doesn't see me that way, and the last thing I want is for things to get weird between us. Nothing but good old-fashioned, no-touching-the-sexiest-man-alive, platonic friendship for us! Everything is exactly how I like it! Yes. Good. (I'm not crying, I'm just peeling an onion.) Our friendship is going swimmingly until I accidentally spill my beans to a reporter over too much tequila, and now the world seems to think me and Nathan belong together. Oh, and did I menion we have to date publicly for three weeks until after the Super Bowl because we signed a contract with...oops, forgot I can't tell anyone about that! Bottom line is, now my best friend is smudging all the lines and acting very un-platonic, and I'm just trying to keep my body from bursting into flames every time he touches me. How am I going to make it through though three weeks of fake dating Nathan without anything changing between us? Especially when it almost-sort-a-kinda seems like he's fighting for a completely different outcome? Send help. XO Bree" -- back cover
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Reviews

Photo of camile
camile@moszide
3.5 stars
Feb 1, 2025

vergonhoso em alguns momentos mas foi muuuito doce acompanhar a história deles kk

Photo of C
C@carinaa
5 stars
Nov 23, 2024

This book is chef kiss. I like the fact that the guy is pursuing the girl so hard, it’s rare to find a guy like that in REAL LIFE, so it’s refreshing to read a guy like that.

+3
Photo of kels
kels@kelseysoderberg
3 stars
Sep 29, 2024

this was so good for the first ⅔ and then sorta fell off. all of a sudden bree says i love you to nathan and it felt so random that she said it when she did. it feels like the author had this great plot planned out, then got bored and wrapped everything up as quickly as possible.

This review contains a spoiler
Photo of Zoë Mauldin
Zoë Mauldin@zoe_m
4.5 stars
Aug 28, 2024

4.75!

Photo of Zoe R
Zoe R@zrobber
5 stars
Jul 5, 2024

Yes this is the millionth time I’ve read this book and it’s just as good as the first

Photo of Kate W
Kate W@katewoodson1
4.5 stars
Jun 5, 2024

This was so cute!!

Photo of a
a@literaury
2 stars
May 21, 2024

2.5*

Photo of Selin Igten
Selin Igten@emerense
3 stars
Apr 2, 2024

awh this was cute and decent i didn’t really like bree in the first few chapters but she’s cute 3.5

Photo of Sandrin
Sandrin@sandrin
3 stars
Mar 9, 2024

I like cheesy romance. That's fun and easy to read about, but cringy? Not as fun. This is a challenging read to rate. It had its funny and endearing moments, yes, but also so many questionable plot decisions, some pick-me girl vibes, and bad dialogue. The writing didn't help either - lots of telling and not enough showing. It felt like one large exposition that actually hindered the two main character's chemistry. So, 2.5 stars, but I will round it up to 3, because our protagonists were kinda cute together and the story had fun supporting characters.

Photo of Ana Luiza
Ana Luiza@anaelin
4 stars
Mar 1, 2024

Que livro fofoooo! A Bree é LITERALMENTE a Jess de New Girl! Serio, exatamente a mesma personalidade. O que quer dizer que no inicio a achei um pouco irritante, meio pick me, mas depois logo me apaixonei pelo jeitinho dela. O Nathan é perfeito, um dos melhores protagonistas homens dos ultimos tempos. No começo não estava me importando muito com a história porque não sou muito fã de friends to lovers, mas logo fui conquistada. Não achei que a história seguiu um rumo muito clichê, me surpreendi com varias atitudes dos protagonistas. Quando eles ficaram juntos finalmente em tipo 75% eu pensei aii que saco la vem algum problema, que logo vai ser resolvido antes de terminar o livro. E isso não rolou! Achei muito legal. Quero ler mais da autora em outro momento

Photo of Ash
Ash@ashtheslothh
4 stars
Feb 9, 2024

It's easy to forget that they are adults when it feels like they are very much teenager's. I liked the story it was well written, and I read it in 2 days, which is fast for me, I didn't like Bree, though she was like a stubborn teenager. 😐

Photo of ezmeralda
ezmeralda @ezmeralda
5 stars
Feb 1, 2024

This book was sorta like a slow burn romance but it kept things exciting at the same time! I loved how it showed the characters povs between chapters. Nathan is such a sweet lovely man, so goddamn precious. Bree has the kindest soul ever, they're the perfect match! I loved the relationship between Nathan and his teammates. They had his back the entire time and you don't see that kind of friendship everyday especially in sports. I'm very happy with the ending, it was really heartwarming and cozy. This book feels like a nice cup of hot chocolate while sitting by the fireplace on a winter day. Highly recommend this book!

Photo of á
á@marya
2 stars
Jan 13, 2024

rerated: 2.5/5 coming down from my high and coming to a realization im afraid. (view spoiler)[definitely one of the most unsatisfying bffs to lovers romance i read this year. and underwhelming one too. ik a lot of ppl love this book but it isnt for me. --- okay. first of all i am going to talk about the things i love about The Cheat Sheet. i love and appreciate the display of vulnerability bree and nathan showed to each other. (view spoiler)[nathan was there for bree when she needs shoulder to cry on, and bree was there for nathan when he had his breakdown (hide spoiler)]. their honestly, openness, and trust is beautiful. also, i really like the friendship between the shark boys and bree. my favorite of the bunch is jamal, he's funny yet caring (if there was any side character i'd love to read the love story of, it would be him). now, things i don't really like. there's some scenes that made me internally cringed (view spoiler)[aka in the first half (or more?) of the book bree keep repeating that if she and nathan date it would be like incest. like, she keep stating it over and over again. i want to scream to bree because 1) no, you are nathan are not and 2) stop repeating incest word over and over please consider using other words to beat having feelings for nathan allegations. (hide spoiler)]. i almost cannot stand that. good thing i gave it a chance and keep reading because, yes, it's getting better on the second half and the character development definitely there. (hide spoiler)] my favorite part of the book was probably only the second last chapters and the epilogue; they're so sweet.

Photo of peyton
peyton @peyy_millie11
4 stars
Jan 1, 2024

Good just not my fav!!!

Photo of taryn
taryn@tarynbrickner
2 stars
Dec 6, 2023

** spoiler alert ** It was cute? Fun. Fake dating. Friends to lovers. But the fade to black was overall disappointing. And all the sexual tension build up to "wait until marriage" didn't make sense.

Photo of Kenzi Linton
Kenzi Linton@delicatedayreads
5 stars
Dec 4, 2023

This is my first book by Sarah Adams and I am so mad that I waited so long to read it. I was invested and so in love with everything about this book from the characters to the scenes to the way it was written. To top it off, there is awareness about panic attacks and anxiety in some of the chapters. As someone who has been diagnosed with social anxiety and gets panic attacks way too often, this book made me feel seen. Everyone needs to read it. I truly don’t have enough words to say how much I loved reading this book.

Photo of Meghan Morris
Meghan Morris@meghamorron
1 star
Oct 25, 2023

Nah

Photo of melina25
melina25@evieweasley
5 stars
Oct 11, 2023

I am absolutely in love with Nathan. This book had me in its grip from the first page all the way to the last one. Gotta admit I thought that whole cheat sheet list will bite him in the ass when Bree finds out about it but boy was I wrong. Wonder if I'll ever find myself a guy who will be so in love with me like Nathan was in love with Bree😅😩

Photo of Sarah Campbell
Sarah Campbell@wiltedsarah
1.5 stars
Oct 11, 2023

This book was so cringy to me. I struggled through it. There was absolutely no angst, and it was entirely too much insta-love. I almost gave up on it. The cheesiness was too much.

Photo of Hana
Hana @han31
4.5 stars
Oct 7, 2023

Friends to lovers I loved the plot I just hated how it took Bree forever to finally accept Nathan as more than a friend.

This review contains a spoiler
Photo of nanafark
nanafark@nanafark
4 stars
Sep 6, 2023

it was cute, funny, lovely and adorable. i also need to mention that is a slow-burn!

i’m quite happy with the plot, except for two little things maybe but overall pretty satisfied.

Nathan is such a cutie pie and i enjoyed his POV. i also enjoyed way too much his POV with his friends/teammates. it’s been such a pleasure to see their friendship and dialogues.

Bree was a tiny bit annoying with how she sort of ruined every single moment but she was also funny so i can’t stay mad at her lol.

it left me happy and satisfied which is always the best feeling after reading a book.

i’d recommend it as a funny and light read.

+5
Photo of Melissa
Melissa@melissapaaboel
3 stars
Aug 19, 2023

Alright but kind of disappointed. Friends to lovers simply does not make me go feral

Photo of Yasmin Dunnewind
Yasmin Dunnewind@burstingofhappiness
3 stars
Aug 10, 2023

It was cute, but also cringey. Nathan is a nice character, but Bree could be a little annoying. I absolutely dispise the tiktok reference and when they finally confessed their love, it was kinda anticlimactic. But overall it was just a easy fun read, that you can easily finish in a dayyy

Photo of Cindy McKee
Cindy McKee@cindy-lou23
4 stars
Aug 10, 2023

Cute little Rom- Com about life long friends who each are madly in love with each other but are both stuck in the friend zone.

Highlights

Photo of Alesha Clifford
Alesha Clifford@aleshadclifford

Bree is everything I aspire to be, everything I love, everything I desire. She holds my heart, and, with all that I am, I hope she never gives it back.

Page 272
This highlight contains a spoiler
Photo of peyton
peyton @peyy_millie11

Bree is everything I aspire to be, everything I love, everything I desire. She holds my heart

This highlight contains a spoiler
Photo of nanafark
nanafark@nanafark

“I will cherish you until my last breath,” he whispers against my bare shoulder, and the sound of my dress falling is like wind through luscious green trees.

Photo of nanafark
nanafark@nanafark

Bree is everything I aspire to be, everything I love, everything I desire. She holds my heart, and, with all that I am, I hope she never gives it back.

Photo of nanafark
nanafark@nanafark

“It is not the things you do that make you worthy, it’s that you have a beating heart in your chest. You have a soul, which means you are allowed to feel hurt, tired, stressed, sad, angry. All of those things—you are allowed to feel them. Everyone is.”

Photo of nanafark
nanafark@nanafark

“You’re not broken. Having a panic attack or anxiety does not reflect your wholeness. You’re burned out, and that’s completely understandable. You push yourself more than anyone I’ve ever seen before, and it’s only natural for you to reach this point.”

Photo of nanafark
nanafark@nanafark

Bree’s hand squeezes mine, and I look back to see her crinkle her nose at me in her signature cute smile. It’s her Can you even believe it? look. My heart bursts. It’s wide open, completely hers for the taking. Always has been.

Photo of nanafark
nanafark@nanafark

My heart is in my throat. No, it’s in my hands. I’m holding it out here for her to take.

Photo of nanafark
nanafark@nanafark

“hope is healthy. Even if you prepare yourself for the worst in life, it will never make the fall hurt less.”

that’s actually such a great advice.

Photo of nanafark
nanafark@nanafark

I don’t like craving more, because I don’t like who I was back when all I did was strive for more. Contentment is what I need.

Photo of nanafark
nanafark@nanafark

So I like to nap and they always get out of hand —what about it?

hahaha 🤷🏼‍♀️

Photo of nanafark
nanafark@nanafark

It’s fine. I’ll just climb up there like all of us short people learned to do when we stopped growing at the age of twelve.

duh haha 🙄

Photo of nanafark
nanafark@nanafark

If there is anything important I learned through my accident in high school and losing the only future I planned for, it’s that everything works out better if I just live in the now and work with what I’ve got. No sense in relying on something I don’t officially have in my hands at that moment. Life pulls the rug out from under us all the time, so if I can just be happy with what I have at this exact moment, I’ll live a healthier life.

Photo of nanafark
nanafark@nanafark

I wish I could lean forward and kiss her. Just a quick peck to let out a little of how I feel about her. It’s been bottled up for so long it physically hurts, but I don’t have permission to be that man in her life.

Photo of nanafark
nanafark@nanafark

Because here’s the thing about dancers at this level: they will do anything to succeed, which usually translates to working themselves so hard their feet bleed, starving themselves so their bodies have leaner lines, constantly striving for perfection and spending more time dancing than living. That was me at one point, and I’m so thankful it’s not me anymore. Now, I eat when I’m hungry, and I live life outside of dance.

that’s so true.

Photo of nanafark
nanafark@nanafark

I only date other women because Bree is always dating other men. But currently she’s not…and since I can’t seem to find a woman even remotely as amazing as Bree, I feel like it’s time I quit looking anywhere else.

Photo of nanafark
nanafark@nanafark

Bree is one of the strongest human beings I know, but she’s also somehow the softest.

Photo of nanafark
nanafark@nanafark

They think I’m a major threat. But that’s where the story gets sad.

I’m not.

They all get to have Nathan in a way I never will.

[…]

Because here’s what I forgot to mention before: I’m not a threat to these women…until they make him choose. Then, I’m more threatening than a glitter bomb. I might not get to sleep in Nathan’s bed, but I do have his loyalty —and to Nathan, there’s nothing more important than that.

Photo of raia – inactive
raia – inactive@raieuh

I lose sight of Nathan and feel slightly panicky. How is he holding up? My steel teddy bear of a perfectionist is on this field somewhere, and I know he’s crushed. I need to get to him.

Photo of raia – inactive
raia – inactive@raieuh

Bree is everything I aspire to be, everything I love, everything I desire. She holds my heart, and, with all that I am, I hope she never gives it back.

Photo of raia – inactive
raia – inactive@raieuh

“You’re such a big softie.”

“With you, yes.”

Photo of raia – inactive
raia – inactive@raieuh

Our gazes connect, and for one glorious moment, everything else falls away. It’s just me and her here. Her smile splits across her face, and my favorite dimples punctuate her cheeks.

Photo of raia – inactive
raia – inactive@raieuh

“Your soul is my favorite in this entire world,”

Photo of raia – inactive
raia – inactive@raieuh

“When you told me ballet was over for you and you cried over the phone…” He sounds anguished. “Bree, I would have sold my soul to be able to get your dreams back for you in that moment.”