I received a copy of this title to read and review for Wicked Reads 
 4 stars 
 Young Adult age-range: 14+ 
 Weddings, Crushes, and Other Dramas most definitely cannot be read as a standalone. The Creative HeArts series features 4 couples written separately by 4 different authors, all intersecting in the same universe. Willa & Finn are couple #2 in the series, with the first book of theirs being book #2 (this is their conclusion, but also the 6th in the series). Complicated? Yes. So if you're picking this book up to read as a standalone, don't do it. Go back to the beginning. 
 As a big fan of the series, I've been patiently waiting for more of Willa & Finn's story. Finn has been a large focal point by all the authors in all their books- he's a heartthrob but also a strong friend to have in your corner. The reader can feel how appreciated Finn is by the creators of the series. Willa was lying just beneath the surface of the other books, seen and often times discussed, but never a scene-stealer. The couple are the perfect balance for one another. 
 Truthfully, this book had me wanting to reread their first novel before this book, in order to get the full impact, as they are my favorite couple of the series. May do that soon. Enemies with a push-pull romance, mixed with the taboo of the impending doom of becoming step-siblings. Their relationship is the height of forbidden romance. Angsty deliciousness. 
 If you're reading this review, debating if you wish to buy a copy, you either didn't heed my warning to check out book 1 in the series, or you're a series veteran. Either way, I'm not going to spoil the plot points. If you're reading this series, by book 6, you know all the major players and their stories. 
 In a nutshell, Emily McKay has a fluid writing style, with characters that exhibit the emotional maturity befitting their age group, with realistic reactions/actions. Dual-POV, we hear both sides. Finn is our brooding, tortured artist, struggling with a conflict of conscience. Willa is basically in denial, closing herself off because it's easier to think Finn a player. As a grown woman, I wanted to shake Willa a few times, give her a piece of my mind, and set her straight. Then I wanted to give Finn a hug and some advice on how to deal with a teenage girl. Both had realistic reactions to the situation they were placed in, which makes for yummy reading. 
 As a big fan of the author and series, the reason I couldn't hand out a perfect 5 star is two-fold: I wished the story was slightly longer, and I'm well-written novella's biggest fan. A few more pages to tie up loose threads to create solid character building. Also, the adult in me appreciated that this is a young adult novel, keeping it clean for the younger readers. However, the ex-teenager that I used to be, knows that teenagers are not saints. So my only complaint on the not-so-realistic front is the lack of hormonal responses from our kids. Nothing explicit, simply true-to-life. We have a pair of step-siblings in love, living in the same house, so the reader missed out on a lot of tension buildup without any payoff. There was an opportunity for a few heart-pounding moments, which would have been comical. But that's just what I felt was 'missing' from the story. 
 I look forward to book 7, as well as Emily McKay's next book.