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EVEN IF IT BREAKS YOUR HEART

A deeply satisfying romance in which personal growth and dreams are realized.

In finding each other, a bull-riding champion and a barrel racer on the rise also find their true callings as a romance rooted in friendship blooms.

Ever since his best friend Walker’s death, Case Michaels has engaged in destructive, risky behavior. Case met Walker at the age of 10, in line for their first bull rides, and Walker’s friendship and passion motivated Case, even though he was less invested in the sport. Winnie Sutton helps support her two younger siblings by working on the Michaels’ ranch in the Texas Panhandle, tending horses and leading trail rides for rich guests. Winnie is a rodeo natural but hasn’t had the time or resources to compete. When Case is sent to work in the stables as punishment for one of his latest escapades, their paths cross—a catalyst for them to examine their lives, let go of the roles that have defined them, and find their true potential. The three-dimensional characters carry the slow-burn romance as Case and Winnie prioritize friendship while developing feelings for each other. Winnie learns to accept help from a community she’s held at bay, and Case, who’s grown up with a great deal of privilege, leans into challenges outside the rodeo arena. Through details about horses, rodeo life, and the ranch, Hahn creates a world that feels lived in, like a pair of comfy jeans. Main characters are cued white.

A deeply satisfying romance in which personal growth and dreams are realized. (Romance. 14-18)

Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024

ISBN: 9781250761279

Page Count: 320

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Review Posted Online: Nov. 4, 2023

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2023

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FAKE SKATING

A compelling romance inhabited by complex and appealing characters.

When star hockey player Alec Barczewski’s estranged childhood friend, Dani Collins, moves to town, they end up in a mutually beneficial fake-dating relationship that reignites old feelings.

Following her parents’ divorce, Dani and her mom move in with Dani’s hockey legend grandfather in Southview, Minnesota, where she spent a month every summer as a child and where her friendship with Alec grew. Between visits, the two were pen pals, but they eventually fell out of touch. Despite some tensions over their loss of friendship, the high school seniors reconnect. Desperate to get off Harvard’s waitlist, Dani needs another extracurricular activity, while Alec—whose reputation took a hit when a photo of him holding a bong appeared on social media—is eager to improve his tarnished image for NHL scouts. The pair strike a deal: They’ll fake date, making Alec look like a stable guy whose academically gifted girlfriend is related to hockey royalty, and in exchange, he’ll get Dani a team manager position that will catch the eye of Harvard’s admissions officers. Eventually, complicated feelings about their past, stressful family relationships, and their brewing romance boil over. Romance fans will love the deliciously tension-filled scenes between Alec and Dani, who are believable friends with heavy demands weighing on them. They feel like real teenagers, and readers will enjoy rooting for them as the well-paced story unfolds. Main characters present white.

A compelling romance inhabited by complex and appealing characters. (Romance. 14-18)

Pub Date: Sept. 30, 2025

ISBN: 9781665921268

Page Count: 448

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: Aug. 2, 2025

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2025

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POWERLESS

From the Powerless Trilogy series , Vol. 1

A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes.

The Plague has left a population divided between Elites and Ordinaries—those who have powers and those who don’t; now, an Ordinary teen fights for her life.

Paedyn Gray witnessed the king kill her father five years ago, and she’s been thieving and sleeping rough ever since, all while faking Psychic abilities. When she inadvertently saves the life of Prince Kai, she becomes embroiled in the Purging Trials, a competition to commemorate the sickness that killed most of the kingdom’s Ordinaries. Kai’s duties as the future Enforcer include eradicating any remaining Ordinaries, and these Trials are his chance to prove that he’s internalized his brutal training. But Kai can’t help but find Pae’s blue eyes, silver hair, and unabashed attitude enchanting. She likewise struggles to resist his stormy gray eyes, dark hair, and rakish behavior, even as they’re pitted against each other in the Trials and by the king himself. Scenes and concepts that are strongly reminiscent of the Hunger Games fall flat: They aren’t bolstered by the original’s heart or worldbuilding logic that would have justified a few extreme story elements. Illogical leaps and inconsistent characterizations abound, with lighthearted romantic interludes juxtaposed against genocide, child abuse, and sadism. These elements, which are not sufficiently addressed, combined with the use of ableist language, cannot be erased by any amount of romantic banter. Main characters are cued white; the supporting cast has some brown-skinned characters.

A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)

Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2023

ISBN: 9798987380406

Page Count: 538

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: Sept. 9, 2023

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2023

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