CHARMED AND DANGEROUS

Two high school seniors agree to fake date to help each other achieve their goals.

Monroe Bennett is excited to officially be one of six new junior recruits for the Bureau of Mystical Affairs. Even better, the recruits have their first case: investigating the illegal distribution of a love charm at Fair Glen High that’s violently disrupting romantic interactions between poor love matches. Self-professed love skeptic Monroe is determined to solve this case, but she lacks the social clout to investigate successfully. Enter Iris James, who, like Monroe, is cued Black. Popular, romance-loving Iris is the daughter of the Bureau’s director. After Monroe saves Iris from a charm-driven mishap, a video of the incident—which appears to show the pair locked in an intimate gaze—goes viral. Inspired, Iris proposes they fake date so Monroe can help her win her ex-girlfriend Anita back. In return, she’ll assist Monroe with her investigation of the illicit charm. An initially uninterested Monroe agrees after the director guarantees her a promotion if she sticks close to and protects Iris. But the more time they spend together, the harder it becomes to avoid catching feelings for one another. Some readers may wish for a more explicit exploration of questions around agency and love, but those seeking a light read will appreciate the splash of fantastical elements that add whimsy to an otherwise familiar world.

An entertaining, magical queer romance.