An enemies-to-lovers romance that’s a fun romp but ultimately lacks depth.
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. (Romance. 13-18)Pub Date: April 7, 2026
ISBN: 9781639935154
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Review Posted Online: Feb. 2, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2026
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away.
A Mexican American boy takes on heavy responsibilities when his family is torn apart.
Mateo’s life is turned upside down the day U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents show up unsuccessfully seeking his Pa at his New York City bodega. The Garcias live in fear until the day both parents are picked up; his Pa is taken to jail and his Ma to a detention center. The adults around Mateo offer support to him and his 7-year-old sister, Sophie, however, he knows he is now responsible for caring for her and the bodega as well as trying to survive junior year—that is, if he wants to fulfill his dream to enter the drama program at the Tisch School of the Arts and become an actor. Mateo’s relationships with his friends Kimmie and Adam (a potential love interest) also suffer repercussions as he keeps his situation a secret. Kimmie is half Korean (her other half is unspecified) and Adam is Italian American; Mateo feels disconnected from them, less American, and with worries they can’t understand. He talks himself out of choosing a safer course of action, a decision that deepens the story. Mateo’s self-awareness and inner monologue at times make him seem older than 16, and, with significant turmoil in the main plot, some side elements feel underdeveloped. Aleman’s narrative joins the ranks of heart-wrenching stories of migrant families who have been separated.
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-7595-5605-8
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.
The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.
Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head. (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
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