FUN FACT: I LOVE YOU

Just before graduation, former friends reconnect over disappointment, grief, and secrets.

Valedictorian Nellie Samsin has a five-year plan that takes her all the way to grad school for astrophysics. Nothing’s going to stop her—until she begins to spiral following a disappointing first kiss and a devastating family event. The only thing that makes sense is Jensen Nichols’ re-entry into her life. Unable to penetrate her mother’s cold walls and angry with and disconnected from her unsupportive best friend, Nellie begins spending time with Jensen, a childhood friend who’s liked by everyone, and she starts seeing him in an entirely new light. Jensen has always wanted to be with Nellie, and now, if he’s brave enough, he might be able to. But her world has just changed irrevocably, and he still has a secret that he doesn’t know how to share. If there’s one thing they’ve both learned, though, it’s that no one can totally prepare for the future. This sweet if somewhat convoluted story shows teens navigating deep love and deep heartache. The main characters, who are cued white, are well developed, but the complications from external relationships feel superfluous at times. Larsen explores numerous serious themes but doesn’t provide enough room to delve into each sufficiently; this lack of depth, combined with the lack of closure around several storylines, leads to some emotional whiplash and a feeling of dissatisfaction for readers.

A short, overstuffed novel about love, loss, and the unknown.