Ask Me Anything

By Author / Illustrator

Bethany Rutter

Genre

Romance & Relationships

Age range(s)

14+

Publisher

Hot Key Books

ISBN

9781471419362

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

06-11-2025

Synopsis

A gorgeously sassy campus-set romcom, where problem pages and parties turn enemies to lovers

As Mary-Elizabeth starts her second year at university in London, she has set her sights on Felix Balfour, the charming, very sexy and outwardly feminist editor of the university magazine. This is where she writes 'Ask M-E Anything' - a column full of perky, optimistic advice for the lovelorn. As for her own love-life, she only wants a little no-strings fling with Felix, and of course she'll be able to pull that off. Fun times ahead!

Meanwhile, annoying grump Laurie from the uni newspaper (the university's more highbrow and serious publication) just seems to be a thorn in her side. After mocking her at a Quad Media mixer party, he seems to be continuing to mock her from the newspaper's own problem page - an idea they've stolen from the magazine and made much less fun. Mary-Elizabeth is sure the newspaper's brutal responses to the same problems she's tackling could only be penned by Laurie.

Mary-Elizabeth is certainly prejudiced against proud-seeming Laurie. But when Mary-Elizabeth loses her way, and the fun times with Felix start to sour, Laurie is always there to pick her up, and not asking for anything in return ... But surely Laurie isn't the answer to her problems?

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Reviews

Sue

Mary-Elizabeth Baxter is a girl brimming with confidence. Agony aunt for the university's magazine, she offers up-beat advice to her fellow students and, having set her sights on Felix Balfour, she is looking forward to a year of fun - sex with no strings attached. When she meets grumpy Laurie, who works on the uni newspaper, Mary-Elizabeth is convinced that he is behind the sudden appearance of a rival problem page which offers far harsher advice. However, when things with Felix start to go wrong and Mary-Elizabeth finds her confidence shaken, Laurie proves he is not the bad guy after all.

Lively and engaging, Ask Me Anything is a fun read about university life which offers plenty to think about. I have to confess that initially I found Mary-Elizabeth intensely irritating! Her personal brand of chirpy optimism and self-assurance felt over-blown and false. However, she quickly became more endearing as the cracks in her armour developed and she became more rounded and plausible. In her pursuit of Felix and her determination to stick to her rules, she ignores her true feelings and the warning signs which she would be sure to have plenty of advice to offer to others in the same situation.

There is an element of 'Pride and Prejudice' in her relationship with Laurie, who she quickly takes against, and Felix, the Wickham of the piece, and like Lizzie Bennet, she emerges stronger, wiser and more self-aware by the end of the story. Mary-Elizabeth's relationship with her parents also gives an interesting twist to the tale. Never quite at ease with her mother, events lead to greater understanding between the two whilst her father seems to feel that financial support can replace in person contact and interest.

University life makes an appealing background to the story with plenty of friendships and fun and empathetic, supportive staff offering guidance when needed. The problem letters which Mary-Elizabeth answers give some sound advice which may well support readers - of any age!- experiencing similar issues. Written in a very easy-to-read style, Ask Me Anything is thoroughly enjoyable.

304 Pages / Reviewed by Sue Wilsher, teacher