Quick Thoughts: Room to Breathe by Kasie West

 

Room to Breathe

by Kasie West

 January 6, 2026

Goodreads Summary:

From the critically acclaimed author of Sunkissed comes a new swoony YA romance. Indy and Beau’s friendship is shattered, but getting accidentally locked in a bathroom together just might be what's needed to reconnect.

When the walls close in, the truth comes out.

When Indy’s life came crashing down, she made a no one could know. To the world, she’s still the same Indy—cool, calm, unshaken. But behind the scenes? It’s chaos.

Her tight-knit crew—Beau, Caroline, and Ava—were once her everything. Now they’re strangers she can’t seem to reach—especially Beau. And the only person she talks to these days is Cody, a skater-boy she used to think was so not her type. Funny how everything changes when your world flips upside down.

And then, as if things couldn’t get weirder, Indy finds herself literally stuck in a school bathroom with Beau. After months of silence, and there’s no escape. If they want out, they’ll have to face the messy truth about what happened between them and find a way back to what they once had. Or maybe even more . . .

Review

I have been gravitating away from YA novels lately but I'd never say no to a Kasie West book ;) Room to Breathe was more dramatic than her usual stories but it still had her signature humour and heart.

What I Liked:

- short chapters that made the flashbacks bearable

- a tight-knit group featuring different personalities

- Indy's helplessness felt so real

- the anticipated angsts

- watching Indy and Beau slowly reconnect

- communication is key!

- Indy slowly discovering who she is

- Indy and Beau together was super cute

The Not So Much:

- how much Indy's parents kept from her

- hated seeing Indy spiraling because she couldn't tell her friends the truth

"But I think people are who they are at their core. Maybe they put on a mask sometimes, but who they are will always be there." (p. 144)