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You Can Go Your Own Way
No one ever said love would be easy…but did they mention it would be freezing?
Adam Stillwater is in over his head. At least, that’s what his best friend would say. And his mom. And the guy who runs the hardware store down the street. But this pinball arcade is the only piece of his dad that Adam has left, and he’s determined to protect it from Philadelphia’s newest tech mogul, who wants to turn it into another one of his cold, lifeless gaming cafés.
Whitney Mitchell doesn’t know how she got here. Her parents split up. She lost all her friends. Her boyfriend dumped her. And now she’s spending her senior year running social media for her dad’s chain of super successful gaming cafés—which mostly consists of trading insults with that decrepit old pinball arcade across town.
But when a huge snowstorm hits, Adam and Whitney suddenly find themselves trapped inside the arcade. Cut off from their families, their worlds, and their responsibilities, the tension between them seems to melt away, leaving something else in its place. But what happens when the storm stops?
Adam Stillwater is in over his head. At least, that’s what his best friend would say. And his mom. And the guy who runs the hardware store down the street. But this pinball arcade is the only piece of his dad that Adam has left, and he’s determined to protect it from Philadelphia’s newest tech mogul, who wants to turn it into another one of his cold, lifeless gaming cafés.
Whitney Mitchell doesn’t know how she got here. Her parents split up. She lost all her friends. Her boyfriend dumped her. And now she’s spending her senior year running social media for her dad’s chain of super successful gaming cafés—which mostly consists of trading insults with that decrepit old pinball arcade across town.
But when a huge snowstorm hits, Adam and Whitney suddenly find themselves trapped inside the arcade. Cut off from their families, their worlds, and their responsibilities, the tension between them seems to melt away, leaving something else in its place. But what happens when the storm stops?
336 pages, Hardcover
First published November 2, 2021
70 people are currently reading
10644 people want to read
About the author
Eric Smith
21 books895 followersEric Smith is a Young Adult author and literary agent living in Philadelphia.
His next book, Jagged Little Pill: The Novel, a collaboration with Alanis Morissette, Diablo Cody, and Glen Ballard, will be published with Abrams in April 2022. It’s an adaptation of the Grammy and Tony award winning musical.
His latest books include You Can Go Your Own Way (Inkyard Press) and the acclaimed anthology Battle of the Bands (Candlewick), co-edited with award-winning author Lauren Gibaldi. It’s currently being adapted for film by Playground Entertainment.
His novel Don’t Read the Comments was a YALSA 2021 Best Fiction for Young Adults selection. The paperback is out now.
He has short stories and essays in the anthologies Color Outside the Lines by Sangu Mandanna (Soho Teen), Body Talk by Kelly Jensen (Algonquin), Allies by Dana Alison Levy and Shakirah Bourne (DK), All Signs Point to Yes by Candice Montgomery, cara davis-araux, and Adrianne Russell (Inkyard), and Adoptee to Adoptee by Nicole Chung and Shannon Gibney (Harper).
His other books include the IndieBound bestseller The Geek’s Guide to Dating (Quirk), Inked (Bloomsbury), the anthology Welcome Home (Flux), and contemporary fantasy novel The Girl and the Grove (Flux).
His next book, Jagged Little Pill: The Novel, a collaboration with Alanis Morissette, Diablo Cody, and Glen Ballard, will be published with Abrams in April 2022. It’s an adaptation of the Grammy and Tony award winning musical.
His latest books include You Can Go Your Own Way (Inkyard Press) and the acclaimed anthology Battle of the Bands (Candlewick), co-edited with award-winning author Lauren Gibaldi. It’s currently being adapted for film by Playground Entertainment.
His novel Don’t Read the Comments was a YALSA 2021 Best Fiction for Young Adults selection. The paperback is out now.
He has short stories and essays in the anthologies Color Outside the Lines by Sangu Mandanna (Soho Teen), Body Talk by Kelly Jensen (Algonquin), Allies by Dana Alison Levy and Shakirah Bourne (DK), All Signs Point to Yes by Candice Montgomery, cara davis-araux, and Adrianne Russell (Inkyard), and Adoptee to Adoptee by Nicole Chung and Shannon Gibney (Harper).
His other books include the IndieBound bestseller The Geek’s Guide to Dating (Quirk), Inked (Bloomsbury), the anthology Welcome Home (Flux), and contemporary fantasy novel The Girl and the Grove (Flux).
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January 31, 2022I seem to be reading a lot of just okay books lately. There's nothing particularly wrong with them, but they're just fine. This was definitely that. I think a big issue was that I was expecting something different. The story took awhile to get going and the actual hook of the synopsis doesn't even happen until 65% of the way through or so. The pacing was a bit off for me, because from that point on things moved really fast. Which usually I don't complain about fast pacing, but it was too fast. I found the writing was a little chaotic at points throughout the story which made it hard to fall into the world and get to know the characters and their relationship. I wasn't fond of the business social media to be honest. It just read as quite corny to me. That being said, I did enjoy each of the characters in their own right, and their relationship even though it was rushed. The setting was well written and the addition of pinball was super interesting and unique. But I wish we had gotten to know the character a bit beyond his love of pinball. So overall this was just alright for me!
October 31, 2021
Eric Smith got me as he chose a title sharing same name from Fleetwood Mac song! A story centered around pinball machine arcade and two friends- enemies- friends again-maybe potential lovers what don’t know for sure what the end of blizzard brings already picked my interest.
Both characters deal with their own angsty issues and they’re both relatable.
Adam Stillwater does everything keep his head above the water, working hard to save family’s arcade pinball business. That’s the last thing left from his father and he is adamant to keep the business intact , saving the family business by fighting against Philadelphia’s new tech mogul who wants to turn the arcade into cold, soulless gaming cafe.
Whitney Mitchell is having a lot on her plate including emotional turmoil of her parents’ divorce, breaking up with her boyfriend, losing her connection with her friends. She’s managing to social media accounts of her father’s successful gaming cafe chains. But conducting the social media feeds includes harsh banters with once upon a time her friend and now her archenemy Adam who holds a grudge against her family.
Those banters are so close to be defined as insults. The high tension between these teens escalate at each tweet, so their corresponding way of enemies to lovers troupe reminds us Meet the Cute and You’ve got mail vibes.
But both of them never expected to be trapped in the arcade together during the blizzard. They’re cut off from everything in their lives including families, friends and their own daily issues. Tension escalates, emotions blast out: those old friends need to confront with each other and bury their hatchets to survive! And they basically do a great job! The unresolved issues are finally solved and a special bounding forms around them. But when the blizzard ends what will happen to them? Will they still be archenemies or they remain more than friends?
This is sweet, easy to read, different concept that I truly enjoy earned my four I’m still addicted to those archaic pinball machines stars!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
Both characters deal with their own angsty issues and they’re both relatable.
Adam Stillwater does everything keep his head above the water, working hard to save family’s arcade pinball business. That’s the last thing left from his father and he is adamant to keep the business intact , saving the family business by fighting against Philadelphia’s new tech mogul who wants to turn the arcade into cold, soulless gaming cafe.
Whitney Mitchell is having a lot on her plate including emotional turmoil of her parents’ divorce, breaking up with her boyfriend, losing her connection with her friends. She’s managing to social media accounts of her father’s successful gaming cafe chains. But conducting the social media feeds includes harsh banters with once upon a time her friend and now her archenemy Adam who holds a grudge against her family.
Those banters are so close to be defined as insults. The high tension between these teens escalate at each tweet, so their corresponding way of enemies to lovers troupe reminds us Meet the Cute and You’ve got mail vibes.
But both of them never expected to be trapped in the arcade together during the blizzard. They’re cut off from everything in their lives including families, friends and their own daily issues. Tension escalates, emotions blast out: those old friends need to confront with each other and bury their hatchets to survive! And they basically do a great job! The unresolved issues are finally solved and a special bounding forms around them. But when the blizzard ends what will happen to them? Will they still be archenemies or they remain more than friends?
This is sweet, easy to read, different concept that I truly enjoy earned my four I’m still addicted to those archaic pinball machines stars!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
June 20, 2024
Anyone’s trek through adolescence could feel treacherous, but for Adam, things are actually beyond bleak. If a person in or around Old City knows Adam, that person knows Adam’s family. And, in a tight-knit-community kind of way, everyone is aware of the family’s struggles.
It isn’t just the gnawing ache of absence that weighs Adam down, he’s mad. He is advertising his grief, his desperate plea for support as best he can. Clearly, everyone has noticed that his new wardrobe is someone else’s old one. While people of a particular generation can absolutely sport apparel proudly professing their adoration of bands, such as REO Speedwagon, it probably won’t pass for an already solitary teen-ager.
Adam is putting his all into saving the family pinball arcade. Home to all the birthday parties growing up, a comfortable place to hang out and unwind for older kids, a pillar of this section of town is inexplicably almost obsolete.
He blames the new e-sports café, with his ex-best-bud, Whitney, being the salt in his wounds. She runs the social media for her father’s over-the-top new venture. Neither of them can keep private angst out of their social media spats.
An epic snowstorm is what it took to cool the heated exchange. When there’s actually nothing to do but talk; a hard, heart-felt conversation (and Swedish fish) can go a long way towards reaching a resolution.
It is difficult for me to imagine reading anything by Eric Smith without riding the roller-coaster of emotions. Mr. Smith’s sincerity, kindness and absolute overall enthusiasm for others’ successes shines through, and not only in the sly mentions of amazing authors or groovy girl groups.
I’m so stoked to introduce (and donate) You Can Go Your Own Way to “my” students. I have no problem telling them that there are gaming references and tech-type topics that went way over my head, but are probably part of their everyday conversations. Or that, for the first time in my life, I really want to find a pinball machine to play.
It isn’t just the gnawing ache of absence that weighs Adam down, he’s mad. He is advertising his grief, his desperate plea for support as best he can. Clearly, everyone has noticed that his new wardrobe is someone else’s old one. While people of a particular generation can absolutely sport apparel proudly professing their adoration of bands, such as REO Speedwagon, it probably won’t pass for an already solitary teen-ager.
Adam is putting his all into saving the family pinball arcade. Home to all the birthday parties growing up, a comfortable place to hang out and unwind for older kids, a pillar of this section of town is inexplicably almost obsolete.
He blames the new e-sports café, with his ex-best-bud, Whitney, being the salt in his wounds. She runs the social media for her father’s over-the-top new venture. Neither of them can keep private angst out of their social media spats.
An epic snowstorm is what it took to cool the heated exchange. When there’s actually nothing to do but talk; a hard, heart-felt conversation (and Swedish fish) can go a long way towards reaching a resolution.
It is difficult for me to imagine reading anything by Eric Smith without riding the roller-coaster of emotions. Mr. Smith’s sincerity, kindness and absolute overall enthusiasm for others’ successes shines through, and not only in the sly mentions of amazing authors or groovy girl groups.
I’m so stoked to introduce (and donate) You Can Go Your Own Way to “my” students. I have no problem telling them that there are gaming references and tech-type topics that went way over my head, but are probably part of their everyday conversations. Or that, for the first time in my life, I really want to find a pinball machine to play.
November 7, 2021
Hey, if a book has a Fleetwood Mac song for a title... you can bet your bottom dollar I want to read it!
Want to read
November 10, 2020only adding this because it's my favorite Fleetwood Mac song
February 2, 2022
This book raises a number of questions, like:
Will I ever get this song out of my head?
Do these pinball machines exist?
Was Coco a Pomeranian?
Will someone please punch Whit's dad?
It was also a total love letter to Philadelphia, as well as succulents, pinball machines, and '80's Crap Rock. (I said what I said!)
It was also really honest, about grief, and growing up, and friendship.
Will I ever get this song out of my head?
Do these pinball machines exist?
Was Coco a Pomeranian?
Will someone please punch Whit's dad?
It was also a total love letter to Philadelphia, as well as succulents, pinball machines, and '80's Crap Rock. (I said what I said!)
It was also really honest, about grief, and growing up, and friendship.
May 27, 2025
Sincere regards to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for providing me with this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. It doesn't influence my opinion on it.
What's up with new releases that continuously disappoint me during the last few months!! I jumped with joy when my request for this book was approved because it looked so promising. I had SO MANY expectations, and then all of them crashed onto the floor while reading this.
The pacing is extremely weird. The being-stuck-in-the-arcade situation included in the synopsis didn't happen until the 64% mark. Yes, that's more than half-way through the book without anything important besides Adam being childish and Whitney being naive. I never skimmed an ARC this furiously before.
Even when things started looking like the promise in the synopsis, I couldn't bring myself to enjoy the rest of the story. The only positive point about Adam's conversation with Whitney was that they were talking like actual teenagers. I don't like anything else besides that.
In the end, I thank this book for its many lessons on pinball machines. This is better off as a repairing manual, period.
What's up with new releases that continuously disappoint me during the last few months!! I jumped with joy when my request for this book was approved because it looked so promising. I had SO MANY expectations, and then all of them crashed onto the floor while reading this.
The pacing is extremely weird. The being-stuck-in-the-arcade situation included in the synopsis didn't happen until the 64% mark. Yes, that's more than half-way through the book without anything important besides Adam being childish and Whitney being naive. I never skimmed an ARC this furiously before.
Even when things started looking like the promise in the synopsis, I couldn't bring myself to enjoy the rest of the story. The only positive point about Adam's conversation with Whitney was that they were talking like actual teenagers. I don't like anything else besides that.
In the end, I thank this book for its many lessons on pinball machines. This is better off as a repairing manual, period.
Read
November 7, 2021To use Eric's own phrase, this is a hug in a book.
This is an enemies-to-lovers, only-one-blanket rom-com about being snowed into your family's failing arcade with the girl who used to be your best friend but is the daughter of a competing esports empire trying to purchase your family's business. But more than that, it's about friendship, about grief, and about family and pursing your dreams for yourself.
It's also a love letter to all things Philadelphia. Adam and Whitney have great, distinct voices, and Chris is such a cool character (the Swedish fish were a funny touch throughout).
Definitely one for fans of Verona Comics.
This is an enemies-to-lovers, only-one-blanket rom-com about being snowed into your family's failing arcade with the girl who used to be your best friend but is the daughter of a competing esports empire trying to purchase your family's business. But more than that, it's about friendship, about grief, and about family and pursing your dreams for yourself.
It's also a love letter to all things Philadelphia. Adam and Whitney have great, distinct voices, and Chris is such a cool character (the Swedish fish were a funny touch throughout).
Definitely one for fans of Verona Comics.
August 7, 2021
*4.5 stars
You Can Go Your Own Way follows Adam, who runs his late father's pinball arcade, and Whitney, who runs the social media for her dad's e-sports cafes. The two of them are ex-friends and currently have a sort of social media feud going on, always trading insults online. But when a huge snowstorm hits, Adam and Whitney find themselves trapped inside the arcade. Cue forced proximity and some reconciliation? And maybe more?
This book features some of my all-time favorite tropes: friends to enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and a social media feud (Tweet Cute style). The story is a fresh take on these tropes by incorporating the e-sports community and Adam's family pinball arcade. One of the biggest focuses of the book is family, from Whitney trying to win the attention of her dad or Adam hanging onto the memory of his father through the arcade. I loved how everything came full circle at the end. I got kind of emotional, really, because Adam was going through this period of self-reflection and dealing with his grief.
My only critique is I wish that the middle section of the book where Adam and Whitney are actually stuck in the arcade together was extended (also the miscommunication moment near the end was not my fave but it's ok). This isn't just my love for forced proximity speaking: I wish there was some more relationship development and moments of just the two of them as steady friends before they actually got together. Their relationship is really sweet, though, and the ending made my heart really happy. They both grew a lot over the course of the novel and beyond just reconciling their relationship, they got a handle on the conflicts affecting them personally.
Quick list of everything else I loved in this book:
- the incorporation of music, Whitney's love for plants, and reading! a bunch of my favorite authors, like Leigh Bardugo, were mentioned in this book and they were like fun easer eggs
- the little electrical engineering moments that made my EE-loving heart very happy
- the way Aaron and Divya from Eric Smith's other book, Don't Read the Comments, made a cameo in this book AND THEY WERE SO CUTE
- a lot of comments that made me chuckle (the side characters are so funny??)
- the way this book is like a love letter to Philadelphia
Overall, this is more than just a romance novel: it's a story of grief, family, friendship, and community. Definitely recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
CW: death of loved one (in the past, off-page), grief
You Can Go Your Own Way follows Adam, who runs his late father's pinball arcade, and Whitney, who runs the social media for her dad's e-sports cafes. The two of them are ex-friends and currently have a sort of social media feud going on, always trading insults online. But when a huge snowstorm hits, Adam and Whitney find themselves trapped inside the arcade. Cue forced proximity and some reconciliation? And maybe more?
This book features some of my all-time favorite tropes: friends to enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and a social media feud (Tweet Cute style). The story is a fresh take on these tropes by incorporating the e-sports community and Adam's family pinball arcade. One of the biggest focuses of the book is family, from Whitney trying to win the attention of her dad or Adam hanging onto the memory of his father through the arcade. I loved how everything came full circle at the end. I got kind of emotional, really, because Adam was going through this period of self-reflection and dealing with his grief.
My only critique is I wish that the middle section of the book where Adam and Whitney are actually stuck in the arcade together was extended (also the miscommunication moment near the end was not my fave but it's ok). This isn't just my love for forced proximity speaking: I wish there was some more relationship development and moments of just the two of them as steady friends before they actually got together. Their relationship is really sweet, though, and the ending made my heart really happy. They both grew a lot over the course of the novel and beyond just reconciling their relationship, they got a handle on the conflicts affecting them personally.
Quick list of everything else I loved in this book:
- the incorporation of music, Whitney's love for plants, and reading! a bunch of my favorite authors, like Leigh Bardugo, were mentioned in this book and they were like fun easer eggs
- the little electrical engineering moments that made my EE-loving heart very happy
- the way Aaron and Divya from Eric Smith's other book, Don't Read the Comments, made a cameo in this book AND THEY WERE SO CUTE
- a lot of comments that made me chuckle (the side characters are so funny??)
- the way this book is like a love letter to Philadelphia
Overall, this is more than just a romance novel: it's a story of grief, family, friendship, and community. Definitely recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
CW: death of loved one (in the past, off-page), grief
October 20, 2021
Well here are my thoughts.
-didn’t care for the characters one bit. Except for the babysitter who has two lines.
-didn’t care for the writing style and all the details about pinball machines
-kinda confused on key elements of the plot/character decisions
-I thought there was supposed to be romance in this book?
-I didn't like the pop culture references. It already dates the book and it hasn't even been published yet
-meh meh meh skim skim skim
Thanks to NetGalley for the arc!
-didn’t care for the characters one bit. Except for the babysitter who has two lines.
-didn’t care for the writing style and all the details about pinball machines
-kinda confused on key elements of the plot/character decisions
-I thought there was supposed to be romance in this book?
-I didn't like the pop culture references. It already dates the book and it hasn't even been published yet
-meh meh meh skim skim skim
Thanks to NetGalley for the arc!
July 25, 2022
I have been on a bit of a YA-binge and this cute title has cemented YA-romance as one of my top sub-genres. It's a classic "will they; won't they" romance between two supposed enemies that had once been as thick as thieves.
Although it took me sometime to get into the narration—I listened to the audiobook—the high more than made up for my brief disinterest. Definitely recommend if you want a light YA, you like the rivals trope, you don't mind a ton of references to arcade games, or you like banter between two enemies.
— — — —
Although it took me sometime to get into the narration—I listened to the audiobook—the high more than made up for my brief disinterest. Definitely recommend if you want a light YA, you like the rivals trope, you don't mind a ton of references to arcade games, or you like banter between two enemies.
— — — —
Links: Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Reedsy
December 23, 2023
Probably closer to 3.5 stars? I can’t believe they didn’t talk about Fleetwood Mac at all ☹️
October 21, 2021
Full Review on The Candid Cover
You Can Go Your Own Way by Eric Smith is an original story about growth and second chances. Centred around a pinball arcade, this one contains social media battles and two narrators. While I had some issues with the story’s slow pacing, this is still a heartwarming read that would be perfect to cozy up with this winter.
Adam and Whitney used to be best friends, but after the death of Adam’s father and the success of Whitney’s father’s gaming café chain, the two have resorted to trading insults through their business’s social media. When Whitney’s father sets his sights on Adam’s family’s pinball arcade, Adam is determined to do everything he can to save the only piece of his father he has left. However, when Adam and Whitney find themselves trapped in the arcade during a blizzard, they are given the chance to rekindle their friendship, and maybe even turn it into something more.
❀ DUAL PERSPECTIVES
This book is told through dual perspectives, and both main characters are interesting. I enjoyed Adam’s character more than Whitney’s since the grief he experiences after the loss of his father is powerfully written, and it is easy to feel his pain as he must come to terms with the threat of letting a part of his father go. Whitney has her own struggles, especially with getting her father to recognize her hard work, but I would have like to see more development in her character. In terms of their relationship, I loved watching Adam and Whitney mend their friendship and grow together, but the romance fell flat for me. There isn’t enough chemistry to make the romance feel believable, and I found that the story would have been more effective if they had stayed as best friends.
❀ SLOW-PACED
While the concept of this book has a lot of potential, I had some issues with the pacing. This one has a slow start, and the actual snowstorm doesn’t happen until over 60% through the book. Based on the synopsis, I was expecting a lot more of the story to be about being trapped inside an arcade, so I was a little disappointed to see so little space dedicated to this. The book as a whole is still entertaining, but I would have loved to see more cozy snowstorm moments.
❀ A TOUCHING STORY
You Can Go Your Own Way by Eric Smith is a touching story about grief and rekindled friendship. I loved the uniqueness of the pinball arcade, and the main character’s emotional connection with the arcade is well described. I did have some issues with the slow pacing of the story but ultimately found this to be a heartfelt read perfect for fans of the enemies to lovers trope.
You Can Go Your Own Way by Eric Smith is an original story about growth and second chances. Centred around a pinball arcade, this one contains social media battles and two narrators. While I had some issues with the story’s slow pacing, this is still a heartwarming read that would be perfect to cozy up with this winter.
Adam and Whitney used to be best friends, but after the death of Adam’s father and the success of Whitney’s father’s gaming café chain, the two have resorted to trading insults through their business’s social media. When Whitney’s father sets his sights on Adam’s family’s pinball arcade, Adam is determined to do everything he can to save the only piece of his father he has left. However, when Adam and Whitney find themselves trapped in the arcade during a blizzard, they are given the chance to rekindle their friendship, and maybe even turn it into something more.
❀ DUAL PERSPECTIVES
This book is told through dual perspectives, and both main characters are interesting. I enjoyed Adam’s character more than Whitney’s since the grief he experiences after the loss of his father is powerfully written, and it is easy to feel his pain as he must come to terms with the threat of letting a part of his father go. Whitney has her own struggles, especially with getting her father to recognize her hard work, but I would have like to see more development in her character. In terms of their relationship, I loved watching Adam and Whitney mend their friendship and grow together, but the romance fell flat for me. There isn’t enough chemistry to make the romance feel believable, and I found that the story would have been more effective if they had stayed as best friends.
❀ SLOW-PACED
While the concept of this book has a lot of potential, I had some issues with the pacing. This one has a slow start, and the actual snowstorm doesn’t happen until over 60% through the book. Based on the synopsis, I was expecting a lot more of the story to be about being trapped inside an arcade, so I was a little disappointed to see so little space dedicated to this. The book as a whole is still entertaining, but I would have loved to see more cozy snowstorm moments.
❀ A TOUCHING STORY
You Can Go Your Own Way by Eric Smith is a touching story about grief and rekindled friendship. I loved the uniqueness of the pinball arcade, and the main character’s emotional connection with the arcade is well described. I did have some issues with the slow pacing of the story but ultimately found this to be a heartfelt read perfect for fans of the enemies to lovers trope.
September 17, 2021
Huge thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy to review!
Okay let me start by saying I have been DYING to get my hands on this book! Ever since I saw the first post about it on the author's Instagram, I knew it would be high on my TBR!
Eric Smith kind of came out of nowhere for me as an author. I was sent his book Don't Read The Comments by the publisher when it came out and immediately fell in love.
One of my favorite things about his writing thus far, especially in You Can Go Your Own Way is the number of good pop culture references.
Eric, lives locally to me, so getting to read about so many places I recognized and hearing about so many things I love was an absolute treat.
Another thing I really love about Eric's writing and specifically in You Can Go Your Own Way is the character building. None of Eric's characters ever feel flat. They are the kinds of characters who stay with you long after you've closed to the book.
This book feels like a coming of age story that is suitable for all ages, in the sense that Eric did a great job of touching in a topic we have all had to navigate in someway.
If you are looking for a really well written, refreshingly honest, and heart-felt story, definitely definitely pick this one up!
I will most likely be re-reading this when the physical copy comes out!
Okay let me start by saying I have been DYING to get my hands on this book! Ever since I saw the first post about it on the author's Instagram, I knew it would be high on my TBR!
Eric Smith kind of came out of nowhere for me as an author. I was sent his book Don't Read The Comments by the publisher when it came out and immediately fell in love.
One of my favorite things about his writing thus far, especially in You Can Go Your Own Way is the number of good pop culture references.
Eric, lives locally to me, so getting to read about so many places I recognized and hearing about so many things I love was an absolute treat.
Another thing I really love about Eric's writing and specifically in You Can Go Your Own Way is the character building. None of Eric's characters ever feel flat. They are the kinds of characters who stay with you long after you've closed to the book.
This book feels like a coming of age story that is suitable for all ages, in the sense that Eric did a great job of touching in a topic we have all had to navigate in someway.
If you are looking for a really well written, refreshingly honest, and heart-felt story, definitely definitely pick this one up!
I will most likely be re-reading this when the physical copy comes out!
October 27, 2021
a super cute and cosy read that screams for a winter evening and a side of hot chocolate.
whilst I do feel the pacing could have been improved upon slightly and the writing read a little clumsy at times, this was overall a lovely story and one that is dying to be made into an a+ netflix rom-com.
whilst I do feel the pacing could have been improved upon slightly and the writing read a little clumsy at times, this was overall a lovely story and one that is dying to be made into an a+ netflix rom-com.
August 1, 2021
I really loved parts of this, so I'm not sure why I didn't love it as a whole. Some parts were written super well and hit my emotions super hard. Others just missed the mark.
I think the romance is what really killed this one for me. If Whitney and Adam would've stayed friends, I would've loved this. They had a great connection as friends, but I never felt the chemistry between them as a couple. Their relationship just felt forced, and it threw me out of the story.
Despite disliking the romance, I really enjoyed some of the aspects of this. Some of the scenes were absolutely adorable, and I loved the concept. The scenes inside the pinball museum were some of my favorites, I loved the descriptions of all the old machines. I grew up with pinball machines, and I loved how they appeared in this.
I think my main problem with this was the ending. I know it was inevitable, and that it was probably the best way for this to end, but I still disliked it. To me, it felt like it did the characters (especially Adam) a disservice.
Although I didn't end up liking this one, I can see why someone would. It was full of some of my favorite tropes (enemies to lovers, only one bed, forced proximity), but I just didn't enjoy the way they were combined.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review
I think the romance is what really killed this one for me. If Whitney and Adam would've stayed friends, I would've loved this. They had a great connection as friends, but I never felt the chemistry between them as a couple. Their relationship just felt forced, and it threw me out of the story.
Despite disliking the romance, I really enjoyed some of the aspects of this. Some of the scenes were absolutely adorable, and I loved the concept. The scenes inside the pinball museum were some of my favorites, I loved the descriptions of all the old machines. I grew up with pinball machines, and I loved how they appeared in this.
I think my main problem with this was the ending. I know it was inevitable, and that it was probably the best way for this to end, but I still disliked it. To me, it felt like it did the characters (especially Adam) a disservice.
Although I didn't end up liking this one, I can see why someone would. It was full of some of my favorite tropes (enemies to lovers, only one bed, forced proximity), but I just didn't enjoy the way they were combined.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review
November 16, 2021
very bad. 0 stars. don’t care about pinball. no spark.
January 5, 2022
okay super repetitive and the snowstorm didn’t even happen until 3/4 and the pacing was so slow before that and then the ending was rushed so like???
October 24, 2023
I don't know what is it about this book that made me bored out of my mind ..
The story essentially about Adam and Whitney, they were both childhood friends, but them Adam's father died and Whitney's parent split up and they became part of different groups, but now they meet again because Whitney's father decided to buy Adam's family store which sells .. pinballs machines !! .. so their relationship have its ups and downs until they both find themselves stuck together in a snowstorm
I mean .. pinballs machines?? really ? even I don't know what that is until I googled it .. the plot was barely moving and nothing really happens, I was really shocked when it abruptly ended that I though there was a missing chapter I don't know about .. I didn't like this book but it wasn't the worst thing I've read
The story essentially about Adam and Whitney, they were both childhood friends, but them Adam's father died and Whitney's parent split up and they became part of different groups, but now they meet again because Whitney's father decided to buy Adam's family store which sells .. pinballs machines !! .. so their relationship have its ups and downs until they both find themselves stuck together in a snowstorm
I mean .. pinballs machines?? really ? even I don't know what that is until I googled it .. the plot was barely moving and nothing really happens, I was really shocked when it abruptly ended that I though there was a missing chapter I don't know about .. I didn't like this book but it wasn't the worst thing I've read
May 22, 2021
Review copy courtesy of Edelweiss
This is the kind of YA I’d compare to a chocolate chip cookie, grounded in reality enough to effectively give you a glimpse into Philly (and Philly twitter) and the struggles of owning a failing old business, but just romantic and sweet enough to give you the warm fuzzies as you get to know two Philly teens, who used to be friends until high school and a dad’s death turned them enemies. Adam’s family owns an old fashioned pinball arcade in Old City, while Whitney’s family are semi moguls with their e-gaming cafes, and the story unfolds during a snowstorm and a winter festival as the two get back in touch.
P.S. try and read this without hearing the song echo through your head
This is the kind of YA I’d compare to a chocolate chip cookie, grounded in reality enough to effectively give you a glimpse into Philly (and Philly twitter) and the struggles of owning a failing old business, but just romantic and sweet enough to give you the warm fuzzies as you get to know two Philly teens, who used to be friends until high school and a dad’s death turned them enemies. Adam’s family owns an old fashioned pinball arcade in Old City, while Whitney’s family are semi moguls with their e-gaming cafes, and the story unfolds during a snowstorm and a winter festival as the two get back in touch.
P.S. try and read this without hearing the song echo through your head
November 9, 2021
I guess this was sort of cute. I enjoyed the setting, and Adam’s best friend Chris is a gem.
However, I couldn’t get past how the author kept referring to Whitney’s friends as “the girls”. Didn’t matter what character was saying it, they all only referred to them as “the girls”. Every single time, and it happened often, I would cringe. The portrayal of female friendship was so clearly written from a male perspective. And I get that the friends were supposed to be using Whitney, but the issues went beyond the plot device. It was gross and felt a little sexist.
In some parts of dialogue it was hard to discern who said what. The character voices sounded the same and the formatting didn’t provide clarity.
The online Twitter feud part of this book reminded me a lot of Emma Lord’s book Tweet Cute.
The story was a little typical but there were a few cute parts that made me chuckle. I might maybe recommend this to young teens looking for a wintery Rom Com.
However, I couldn’t get past how the author kept referring to Whitney’s friends as “the girls”. Didn’t matter what character was saying it, they all only referred to them as “the girls”. Every single time, and it happened often, I would cringe. The portrayal of female friendship was so clearly written from a male perspective. And I get that the friends were supposed to be using Whitney, but the issues went beyond the plot device. It was gross and felt a little sexist.
In some parts of dialogue it was hard to discern who said what. The character voices sounded the same and the formatting didn’t provide clarity.
The online Twitter feud part of this book reminded me a lot of Emma Lord’s book Tweet Cute.
The story was a little typical but there were a few cute parts that made me chuckle. I might maybe recommend this to young teens looking for a wintery Rom Com.
December 5, 2021
“So much about pinball is about letting go. Pulling the plunger and taking the journey. And there’s a lot I need to let go of. But it’s so much easier playing a game, than living a life.”
Content Warning: Death of a parent
Bonus points for titling a book from a Fleetwood Mac song!
You Can Go Your Own Way is a random pick that surprised me. Who knew I'd be reading a book about pinballs, gaming, and ex-friends turned lovers? This book started slow and I almost got bored but I fell in love with the characters and their entire community.
Want to read
March 26, 2021honestly the blurb sounds really familiar… but of course i wanna read it anyways :))
Read
February 27, 2022oh this needs to be a movie expeditiously. YA contemps can be good! whoda thunkie! really sweet and loving and warm. doesn’t try too hard.
May 20, 2022
Welcome Back!
I feel like May is flying by, we have a little over a week left of the month and then it will be June! I am hoping to catch up on a lot of reading this summer (as well as catching up on some television). One of the books that was in my nightstand stack (for quite a while now, I am very sorry to this book for making it wait so long), was You Can Go Your Own Way. Last year I read Don’t Read the Comments also by Eric Smith and I read the book in a day. I became obsessed with it! So when I saw that Eric Smith was writing something new, I knew I needed to give it a try.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Adam and his family own a local pinball arcade (which is pretty cool) however, it’s hard to compete with the gaming cafe nearby. But Adam is not going to let the pinball arcade fail, because it’s a piece of his dad. Adam’s dad passed away a few years back and the arcade makes Adam feel connected to him, it gives him a mutual project with his dad and a place to feel happy and safe. However, Adam knows with the advances in technology they might not be able to stay open forever. But in the immediate future, Adam can look forward to the yearly street festival that they participate in. They will bring some machines outside, and people will stop by, it’s one of his favorite things all year. However, when a big snowstorm hits on the same day as the festival and Adam gets stuck at the arcade he is not sure what to do. Luckily Adam is not stuck alone as Whitney, the daughter of the gaming cafe owner is here with him. But can the two put aside their rivalry, sort out their differences and survive the storm?
I picked up this book at the perfect time! It had a winter storm (which I was greatly missing the snow, I am a fall and winter person), a good storyline, and really unique characters. I think Adam and his family as well as the pinball arcade were the most interesting to me. Throughout the story he seemed to go through an arc in which he learned a lot about himself and what he might want to do, be, or what direction to go in the future. I listened to the majority of this book on audiobook and I felt the narrator did a stunning job as well! Before I wrap this review up, I do want to give an honorable mention to the cover. I love this cover so much, it’s got a really nice illustrated scene that feels like it could have come straight from the pages of the story!
Goodreads Rating: 3 Stars
I feel like May is flying by, we have a little over a week left of the month and then it will be June! I am hoping to catch up on a lot of reading this summer (as well as catching up on some television). One of the books that was in my nightstand stack (for quite a while now, I am very sorry to this book for making it wait so long), was You Can Go Your Own Way. Last year I read Don’t Read the Comments also by Eric Smith and I read the book in a day. I became obsessed with it! So when I saw that Eric Smith was writing something new, I knew I needed to give it a try.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Adam and his family own a local pinball arcade (which is pretty cool) however, it’s hard to compete with the gaming cafe nearby. But Adam is not going to let the pinball arcade fail, because it’s a piece of his dad. Adam’s dad passed away a few years back and the arcade makes Adam feel connected to him, it gives him a mutual project with his dad and a place to feel happy and safe. However, Adam knows with the advances in technology they might not be able to stay open forever. But in the immediate future, Adam can look forward to the yearly street festival that they participate in. They will bring some machines outside, and people will stop by, it’s one of his favorite things all year. However, when a big snowstorm hits on the same day as the festival and Adam gets stuck at the arcade he is not sure what to do. Luckily Adam is not stuck alone as Whitney, the daughter of the gaming cafe owner is here with him. But can the two put aside their rivalry, sort out their differences and survive the storm?
I picked up this book at the perfect time! It had a winter storm (which I was greatly missing the snow, I am a fall and winter person), a good storyline, and really unique characters. I think Adam and his family as well as the pinball arcade were the most interesting to me. Throughout the story he seemed to go through an arc in which he learned a lot about himself and what he might want to do, be, or what direction to go in the future. I listened to the majority of this book on audiobook and I felt the narrator did a stunning job as well! Before I wrap this review up, I do want to give an honorable mention to the cover. I love this cover so much, it’s got a really nice illustrated scene that feels like it could have come straight from the pages of the story!
Goodreads Rating: 3 Stars
dnf
March 16, 2022okay okay hear me out...
soooo I decided to dnf this book because I have been reading it for a while and just have no motivation to read it. I don't know if it is because of me or if it is the book. This book was not really intriguing from the 100 pages that I read and I had no desire to finish it. I kind of feel really bad because I thought that I would really like this book but sadly it just wasn't my vibe...
plus i can usually handle swear words and there wasn't a lot in this book but the ones that were, it just seemed a little unnecessary...
anyways,
I am kind of pumped to start a new book and I am really sad because I am falling behind on my reading goal but this book wasn't going anywhere anytime fast...
have a wonderful wednesday! : )
soooo I decided to dnf this book because I have been reading it for a while and just have no motivation to read it. I don't know if it is because of me or if it is the book. This book was not really intriguing from the 100 pages that I read and I had no desire to finish it. I kind of feel really bad because I thought that I would really like this book but sadly it just wasn't my vibe...
plus i can usually handle swear words and there wasn't a lot in this book but the ones that were, it just seemed a little unnecessary...
anyways,
I am kind of pumped to start a new book and I am really sad because I am falling behind on my reading goal but this book wasn't going anywhere anytime fast...
have a wonderful wednesday! : )
May 14, 2021
Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of You Can Go Your Own Way in exchange for an honest review.
You Can Go Your Own Way is a cute former friends to enemies to lovers romance taking place mostly in the events surrounding a snow-in at an arcade (yes, all of the fanfic 'there's only one bed!' tropes you're thinking of are thriving here). It was a fun read with occasional emotional moments that help ground it and while I would have liked to see our protagonists (Whit in particular) be a tad more defined, this was still a good time.
You Can Go Your Own Way is a cute former friends to enemies to lovers romance taking place mostly in the events surrounding a snow-in at an arcade (yes, all of the fanfic 'there's only one bed!' tropes you're thinking of are thriving here). It was a fun read with occasional emotional moments that help ground it and while I would have liked to see our protagonists (Whit in particular) be a tad more defined, this was still a good time.
January 19, 2024
This was actually written quite well but I just could not get invested in the characters or storyline at all.
February 20, 2025
Eric Smith’s books are perfect for when you need a rom-com that tackles big emotions in a way that makes them feel manageable. (Or when you need a story set in Philly because you’re missing it, like me.) You Can Go Your Own Way handles grief—for the loved ones we’ve lost, the living who can’t show up for you in the ways you need, and the dreams that simply will never manifest—with the care and humor that Smith’s readers have come to count on from his work. In this story, former friends Adam and Whitney have been going their own ways, but when their paths cross again, they must consider if maybe they’d fare better together than against each other.
October 26, 2021
3.5 stars
This was a cute YA contemporary romance and though some things stretched the imagination (the catalyst for their latest Twitter fight and the supposed fall out from it, for example), I kept in mind not to take things too seriously and to remember this was YA.
Adam’s father died four years ago and this is a big part of the book—Adam coming to terms with the loss of his father and understanding that letting go of the arcade, which is barely breaking even, doesn’t mean letting go of his father.
Another big part is Whitney’s relationship with her father, who is pretty inattentive and whom she feels only pays attention to her when it has to do with the business. The reason she manages the social media accounts and works for his company is because she thinks that’s the only way to get any of his attention, and that really tears her up.
* This review is of an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Some changes and/or edits may be made to the final published version.
What the hell? Why is Adam Stillwater, of all people, making me feel like a walking blush?Adam and Whitney used to be best friends, but summer before freshman year of high school everything changed, and since then they’ve barely said a word to one another; their minimal exchanges are limited to sniping at each other on social media through their parents’ businesses’ Twitter accounts, which they each run. When Whitney’s brother damages one of the games at Adam’s arcade shop, Whitney has to go into damage control mode. Their sniping goes a little too far and when Whitney and Adam next run into each other, they’re awkward and unsure and regretful about how out of control things got. As they both try to make amends, they spend more and more time together and both are left missing the close friendship they once had and wondering if something more might be blooming between them.
This was a cute YA contemporary romance and though some things stretched the imagination (the catalyst for their latest Twitter fight and the supposed fall out from it, for example), I kept in mind not to take things too seriously and to remember this was YA.
Adam’s father died four years ago and this is a big part of the book—Adam coming to terms with the loss of his father and understanding that letting go of the arcade, which is barely breaking even, doesn’t mean letting go of his father.
Another big part is Whitney’s relationship with her father, who is pretty inattentive and whom she feels only pays attention to her when it has to do with the business. The reason she manages the social media accounts and works for his company is because she thinks that’s the only way to get any of his attention, and that really tears her up.
* This review is of an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Some changes and/or edits may be made to the final published version.
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