A wild and satisfying romp.
A romantic, fast-paced thriller inspired by a classic.
Things start off sweet in San Diego, where swimmer Micaela and aspiring photographer Veronica meet by chance at a party and romance instantly sparks between them. After Veronica snaps a perfect photo of camera-shy Mick, their relationship complicates and escalates as hesitant Mick suddenly becomes the subject of Veronica’s budding photography career. Meanwhile, the two girls engage with the local activist scene along with Veronica’s longtime artist friend Nico, but the stakes rise with every rebellious art installation—even leading to death for some of those involved. Mick and Veronica pursue their increasingly unstable relationship while parental neglect, illegal activity, and the threat of violence set them on an escalating, dangerous path. The story unravels in colorful, electric prose through Mick’s and Veronica’s first-person points of view, alternating between past and present. The tension builds well, leading to an exhilarating and twisty final third. Believable and clever banter bounces back and forth between sympathetic characters, and allusions to The Picture of Dorian Gray provide a scaffold without requiring readers’ prior knowledge of the original to appreciate the story. This dark, winding novel expertly interweaves suspense and romance. Mick is cued as White and Veronica is Latinx; both are queer.
A wild and satisfying romp. (Thriller. 14-adult)Pub Date: March 30, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-250-24675-2
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: Dec. 9, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2021
A compelling romance inhabited by complex and appealing characters.
When star hockey player Alec Barczewski’s estranged childhood friend, Dani Collins, moves to town, they end up in a mutually beneficial fake-dating relationship that reignites old feelings.
Following her parents’ divorce, Dani and her mom move in with Dani’s hockey legend grandfather in Southview, Minnesota, where she spent a month every summer as a child and where her friendship with Alec grew. Between visits, the two were pen pals, but they eventually fell out of touch. Despite some tensions over their loss of friendship, the high school seniors reconnect. Desperate to get off Harvard’s waitlist, Dani needs another extracurricular activity, while Alec—whose reputation took a hit when a photo of him holding a bong appeared on social media—is eager to improve his tarnished image for NHL scouts. The pair strike a deal: They’ll fake date, making Alec look like a stable guy whose academically gifted girlfriend is related to hockey royalty, and in exchange, he’ll get Dani a team manager position that will catch the eye of Harvard’s admissions officers. Eventually, complicated feelings about their past, stressful family relationships, and their brewing romance boil over. Romance fans will love the deliciously tension-filled scenes between Alec and Dani, who are believable friends with heavy demands weighing on them. They feel like real teenagers, and readers will enjoy rooting for them as the well-paced story unfolds. Main characters present white.
A compelling romance inhabited by complex and appealing characters. (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 30, 2025
ISBN: 9781665921268
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Aug. 2, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2025
A promising premise that’s lacking in spice.
A fall romance with a New England backdrop.
Autumn leaves aren’t the only stunning thing to hit the town of Briar Glen—so has good-looking new boy Jack Harper, and Lucy Kane is enamored with both. Her new crush is the perfect thing to take her mind off the fact that Java Junction, part of a global chain, is opening across the street from Cup o’ Jo, Lucy’s mother’s coffee shop, where they take pride in baking everything from scratch and avoiding artificial ingredients. But there’s more than coincidence in the timing of the arrivals of both Jack and Java Junction: The Harper family moved to Briar Glen specifically to open this franchise location, which will bring competition that threatens Cup o’ Jo. This scenario has the makings of a perfect autumnal adversaries-to-lovers romance, but the writing lacks charm and chemistry. Jack seems to be completely enamored with Lucy, but her character isn’t sufficiently developed to warrant his attention. Lucy’s friends are continually supportive of her but have few distinguishing characteristics, and the story is weakened by confusing timelines and repetitive elements. The resolution relies upon successes that come too easily and do not feel earned. Major characters are cued white.
A promising premise that’s lacking in spice. (Romance. 12-16)Pub Date: Aug. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781339030753
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
© 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.
