WE ARE NEVER GETTING TOGETHER

Two high school seniors begin fake dating in an attempt to keep their parents from dating each other.

After Madeline Seibold got the lead in the school play in junior year, beating out Cooper Nash’s sister, he retaliated, believing that her wealthy donor father “bought” her the part. This year, their pranks escalate, culminating in a disastrous incident that lands both of them—and their single parents—in principal Mrs. Tsuru’s office. To the teens’ consternation, a romantic spark ignites between Madeline’s dad and Cooper’s mom, who go out for a meal together under the pretext of discussing an appropriate punishment. Horrified by the prospect of becoming stepsiblings, Madeline and Cooper hatch a plan to fake date, hoping their own relationship will deter their parents’ burgeoning romance. Their arrangement quickly becomes complex, requiring increasingly elaborate maintenance, especially with homecoming approaching. As they spend more time together, genuine feelings develop, leaving them both unsure whether the other person is still just pretending. The leads, who share the narration, are cued white. Rallison introduces themes of wealth and class differences, but the topic would have benefited from deeper exploration. Madeline is a lawyer’s daughter, and Cooper, who works to help support his family, feels conflicted about dating someone of her means. He’s banking on a college football scholarship and an NFL career to bring him financial security. The ending feels rushed, leaving some plot threads underexplored.

An enemies-to-lovers romance that’s a fun romp but ultimately lacks depth.