Review: Fool Me Twice

Fool Me Twice

By Mandy Hubbard

Published: May 6, 2014

Mackenzie and Landon were the perfect couple . . . until he dumped her and broke her heart. Fast-forward a year and they're back where they first met—Serenity Ranch and Spa, where they are once again working together for the summer. Talk about awkward.

Then, Landon takes a nasty fall and gets amnesia. Suddenly, he’s stuck in the past—literally. His most recent memory is of last summer, when he and Mack were still together, so now he’s calling her pet names and hanging all over her. It's the perfect chance for revenge. The plan is simple: keep Landon at arm’s length, manipulate him so he’s the one falling love, and then BAM, dump him. There’s just one problem: Mack can’t fall for Landon all over again.

The If Only romance line is all about wanting what you can't have, and Mandy Hubbard's hilarious break-up/love story is sure to captivate anyone who has ever wished for a second shot at love.

My review:

Last summer was amazing for Mackenzie with her job at Serenity Ranch and Spa, spending time with her best friend Bailey, and falling in love with Landon. Sadly he dropped her like a rock at the start of the school year to go back to his ex-girlfriend. This year, Mack and Bailey are back at Serenity and unfortunately so is Landon. The first time they see each other he seems to be mocking her and then expects her to be his friend again. Of course Mack rebuffs him and wonders what she ever saw in him. When Landon takes a nasty spill from his horse during a rodeo practice he has amnesia and thinks it is the previous summer and he and Mack are still a couple. Bailey convinces Mack that this is the opportunity to get him back for dumping her so rudely. They hatch a plan to get him to fall in love with her so this time she can dump him. What Mack doesn't count on is her own feelings getting in the way.

I initially had a problem with Landon because he did come across as a jerk. I half hoped the author would introduce another love interest for Mack. Fortunately things changed after Landon's accident and he once again seemed to be a nice guy but it left me puzzled as to which guy is real. It is only towards the end that the truth emerges about Landon's behavior and why he dumped Mack. 

What I liked about this book was the humor and Mack's friendship with Bailey. Mack and Bailey both enjoy playing pranks on Landon and Bailey pushes Mack outside her comfort zone. She definitely makes the book more entertaining. I also liked that this time around Mack is being herself since she isn't actually trying to impress Landon. She admits that last summer she was too busy trying to be the girl Landon thought she was. The real Mack likes to argue and debate, she likes to play pranks, dressing outlandishly and she loves horror movies. As she starts being herself around Landon, he gets to fall in love with her true self, a message which I appreciated. 

Overall I thought this was a fun romantic comedy even with its flaws. The plot device of convenient amnesia is not very believable but if the reader is able to overlook that, they may find themselves enjoying the humor or friendships. I think Fool Me Twice would appeal to younger teens who are looking for romantic fiction but older teens may find it a little bland.

Note: I received an ARC for review purposes courtesy of Netgalley and the publisher