THERE'S ALWAYS NEXT YEAR

Two formerly close cousins who have drifted apart find themselves on opposing sides of their Indiana hometown’s gentrification—with their family business in the crosshairs.

After his video went viral, Dominique Cole, 17, left Oakrun behind to pursue life as an influencer in New York City. When Oakrun’s mayor reaches out to Dominique with an opportunity that could reinvigorate his struggling career—being the public face of the town’s fancy new hotel—he reluctantly returns. Aspiring journalist Andy Cole, also 17, writes for Oakrun High’s student paper, reporting on issues like the impact of the mayor’s economic policies on local businesses. It’s personal—Cole’s Hardware, which her family has run for over 70 years, will soon close, to be replaced by the boutique hotel chain Dominique is representing, and she’s sure there’s something fishy going on. Both cousins are attempting to help their family; their clashing approaches eventually lead them to reconnect and grow. Sweetly, along the way, the teens, who are Black and queer, each find love in unexpected places. The story unfolds hour-by-hour over the course of New Year’s Day, swiftly but with enough breathing room to explore the complicated ethical tensions at its heart. The ending is a little too neat, but the story’s optimism is its greatest strength, joyfully depicting the power of community care.

A well-told holiday tale about family, forgiveness, love, and doing what’s right.