Frozen fans and romance lovers will fall for this endearing tale.
Before Elsa and Anna from Frozen (2013) were born, their parents—Iduna, a Northuldra, and Agnarr, prince of Arendelle—faced their own trials and tribulations.
When Iduna was 12 she selflessly saved her enemy, which inadvertently led to her being separated from her family and trapped in Arendelle. Growing up alongside Agnarr, the two naturally became friends and, after some years, inseparable. Slowly, Iduna began to make a life for herself in Arendelle, knowing that she must keep her true identity a secret. All the while, Iduna and Agnarr’s chemistry grew undeniable, but as crown prince, Agnarr faced heavy pressure from the council to find a royal bride. Told mainly through Iduna’s first-person perspective, with a few chapters from Agnarr’s, the story of their friendship-turned-romance will swell readers’ hearts. Filled with tidbits from the movies and building upon Frozen lore, this simple love story is filled with all the things fans adore about the franchise: wholesome characters, love, and a little magic. Descriptive writing, two interesting and independent leads, and a warm cast of background characters enhance the story. Iduna and Agnarr’s relationship is one built on trust, equality, support, and kindness. Characters’ ethnicities are the same as the movies; Iduna and Agnarr are both White.
Frozen fans and romance lovers will fall for this endearing tale. (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: Nov. 3, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-368-06361-6
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Disney Press
Review Posted Online: Aug. 27, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2020
A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind.
In this companion novel to 2013’s If He Had Been With Me, three characters tell their sides of the story.
Finn’s narrative starts three days before his death. He explores the progress of his unrequited love for best friend Autumn up until the day he finally expresses his feelings. Finn’s story ends with his tragic death, which leaves his close friends devastated, unmoored, and uncertain how to go on. Jack’s section follows, offering a heartbreaking look at what it’s like to live with grief. Jack works to overcome the anger he feels toward Sylvie, the girlfriend Finn was breaking up with when he died, and Autumn, the girl he was preparing to build his life around (but whom Jack believed wasn’t good enough for Finn). But when Jack sees how Autumn’s grief matches his own, it changes their understanding of one another. Autumn’s chapters trace her life without Finn as readers follow her struggles with mental health and balancing love and loss. Those who have read the earlier book will better connect with and feel for these characters, particularly since they’ll have a more well-rounded impression of Finn. The pain and anger is well written, and the novel highlights the most troublesome aspects of young adulthood: overconfidence sprinkled with heavy insecurities, fear-fueled decisions, bad communication, and brash judgments. Characters are cued white.
A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind. (author’s note, content warning) (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781728276229
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Jan. 5, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
Exactly what the title promises.
A grieving teen’s devotion to romance films might ruin her chances at actual romance.
Liz Buxbaum has always adored rom-coms, not least for helping her still feel close to her screenwriter mother, who died when she was little. Liz hopes that her senior year might turn into a real-life romantic fantasy, as an old crush has moved back to town, cuter and nicer than ever. Surely she can get Michael to ask her to prom. If only Wes, the annoying boy next door, would help her with her scheming! This charming, fluffy concoction manages to pack into one goofy plot every conceivable trope, from fake dating to the makeover to the big misunderstanding. Creative, quirky, daydreaming Liz is just shy of an annoying stereotype, saved by a dry wit and unresolved grief and anger. Wes makes for a delightful bad boy with a good heart, and supporting characters—including a sassy best friend, a perfect popular rival, even a (not really) evil stepmother—all get the opportunity to transcend their roles. The only villain here is Liz’s lovelorn imagination, provoking her into foolish lies that cause actual hurt feelings; but she is sufficiently self-aware to make amends just in time for the most important trope of all: a blissfully happy ending. All characters seem to be White by default.
Exactly what the title promises. (Romance. 12-18)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5344-6762-0
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
