A CONSTELLATION OF MINOR BEARS, by Jen Ferguson, Heartdrum, Sept. 24, 2024, Hardcover, $19.99 (young adult, ages 14 and up)

Three friends grapple with the fallout from a life-changing accident in A Constellation of Minor Bears, by Jen Feguson.

Before that awful Saturday, Molly used to be inseparable from her brother, Hank, and his best friend, Tray. The indoor climbing accident that left Hank with a traumatic brain injury filled Molly with anger.

While she knows the accident wasn’t Tray’s fault, she will never forgive him for being there and failing to stop the damage. But she can’t forgive herself for not being there either.

Determined to go on the trio’s postgraduation hike of the Pacific Crest Trail, even without Hank, Molly packs her bag. But when her parents put Tray in charge of looking out for her, she is stuck backpacking with the person who incites her easy anger. 

Despite all her planning, the trail she’ll walk has a few more twists and turns ahead. . .. —Synopsis provided by Heartdrum

A Constellation of Minor Bears is one of those books that will speak in some way to whomever reads it. Author Jen Ferguson tackles topics ranging from racism and body image to parental expectations and differing kinds of love.

The story unfolds from Molly and Traylor’s first-person accounts and Hank’s AITA (Am I The Asshole?) posts. These three unique voices are very personal, raw and real. These are well-developed main characters that are dealing with real-life implications. Their individual struggles with what they want for themselves and their friends makes for a compelling read.

Author Jen Ferguson has crafted a novel that ebbs and flows like the Pacific Crest Trail. She captures nature’s rugged beauty, making you feel like you are right on the trail next to Molly, Traylor and Hank.

A Constellation of Minor Bears isn’t a particularly fast-moving novel, but it’s one you want to stick with. It’s a story of self-discovery and connection that will resonate with many readers.

Copyright © 2024 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.

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MYSTERIOUS WAYS, by Wendy Wunder, Wednesday Books, Aug. 27, 2024, Hardcover, $20 (young adult, ages 14 and up)

A teen who can read minds struggles to make meaningful connections in Mysterious Ways, a young adult novel by Wendy Wunder.

Seventeen-year-old Maya knows everything. When she looks at someone, she instantly knows their history, their private thoughts, their secret desires, their most tragic failures. Combine these private miseries with the general state of the world, and it’s easy to see why Maya’s power starts to get her down…

Which is why she was sent to the Whispering Pines Psychiatric Facility, and also why starting at a new school is going to be such a challenge. Now, faced with Tyler, a cute guy she actually wants to know everything about, Maya realizes that maybe her power isn’t so horrible after all. Maybe she can use it for good. Maybe she can even get the guy. Or maybe there really is such a thing as knowing too much. —Synopsis provided by Wednesday Books

Mysterious Ways has the opportunity to be something special, but that potential is never fully realized. There are two major things that get in the way — pacing and a lack of focus.

Author Wendy Wunder’s writing has a real stream-of-consciousness, acquired taste feel to it. The narrative gets bogged down by rambling that is often easier to skim rather than wading through. The more time you sit with Wunder’s prose, the more comfortable it gets, but many readers won’t have the patience.

With a lot of storylines and sub storylines running throughout Mysterious Ways it’s hard to keep track of what’s going on and who’s who, making you want a flow chart to keep everything straight. Themes of climate change, mental illness, feminism, societal pressures, and first love all come into play in one giant smooshed up mess.

And maybe that’s what Wunder was after.

Life is messy. And this latest generation of kids is dealing with a lot at once. It is hard to juggle it all. Expectations are high but feel unattainable. In that way, Wunder is successful. And young adults feeling this will certainly relate.

Still, there’s room for improvement. I suggest checking Mysterious Ways out from the library to see if it’s a good fit prior to purchasing.

Copyright © 2024 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.

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ASH’S CABIN, by Jen Wang, First Second, Aug. 13, 2024, Paperback, $17.99 (young adult, ages 14 and up)

A misunderstood teen searches for a place of their own in Ash’s Cabin, a coming-of-age graphic novel by Jen Wang. 

Ash has always felt alone.

Adults ignore the climate crisis. Other kids Ash’s age are more interested in pop stars and popularity contests than in fighting for change. Even Ash’s family seems to be sleepwalking through life.

The only person who ever seemed to get Ash was their Grandpa Edwin. Before he died, he used to talk about building a secret cabin, deep in the California wilderness. Did he ever build it? What if it’s still there, waiting for him to come back…or for Ash to find it? To Ash, that maybe-mythical cabin is starting to feel like the perfect place for a fresh start and an escape from the miserable feeling of alienation that haunts their daily life.

But making the wilds your home isn’t easy. And as much as Ash wants to be alone…can they really be happy alone? Can they survive alone? —Synopsis provided by First Second

Ash’s Cabin is reminiscent of Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet but with more contemporary issues.

Ash feels misunderstood by everyone — their peers, their siblings, their parents. The only person who really seemed to get them was their grandfather. Ash decides that if they can find grandpa’s cabin, maybe it will be a special place. A place where they can be themselves, away from all the noise.

Ash’s plans are dangerous, yes, but they make sense to them. And that’s what makes sense with Jen Wang’s character study. In Ash, Wang explores gender identity in a way that will feel right to readers.

Wang’s distinct artwork, rendered in muted earth-tone watercolors, sets the tone. Emotion plays out in her illustrations, and her settings are beautiful.

Ash’s Cabin is a fast-moving graphic novel — I read it in one sitting — that stays with you days after completion. It won’t be a good fit for everyone, but it will resonate with the readers who need it most.

Copyright © 2024 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.

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THE GIRL WITH NO REFLECTION, by Keshe Chow, Delacorte Press, Aug. 6, 2024, Hardcover, $19.99 (young adult, ages 14 and up)

The crown prince’s young bride learns the dark truth the royal family has been hiding for centuries in The Girl with No Reflection, by Keshe Chow.

Princess Ying Yue believed in love…once upon a time.

Yet when she’s chosen to wed the crown prince, Ying’s dreams of a fairy tale marriage quickly fall apart. Her husband-to-be is cold and indifferent, confining Ying to her room for reasons he won’t explain. Worse still are the rumors that swirl around the imperial palace: whispers of seven other royal brides who, after their own weddings, mysteriously disappeared.

Left alone with only her own reflection for company, Ying begins to see things. Strange things. Movements in the corners of her mirror. Colorful lights upon its surface. And when, on the eve of her wedding, she unwittingly tears open a gateway, she is pulled into a mirror world.

This realm is full of sentient reflections, including the enigmatic Mirror Prince. Unlike his real-world counterpart, the Mirror Prince is kind and compassionate, and before long Ying falls in love—the kind of love she always dreamed of.

But there is darkness in this new world, too.

It turns out the two worlds have a long and blood-soaked history, and Ying has a part to play in the future of them both. And the brides who came before Ying? By the time they discovered what their role was, it was already too late. —Synopsis provided by Delacorte Press

The Girl with No Reflection is a YA fantasy loosely based on Imperial China.

At the center of the story is Ying, a young woman who was matched to the crown prince and swept away from her home and everything she’s ever known. Ying’s early interactions with the prince leave her wishing for a life elsewhere, and when she’s given the choice, she takes it. Except, some offers really are too good to be true.

Ying’s a strong, independent character, but she lacks depth and can be unrelatable at times. There’s opportunity for the prince to be the more interesting of the two, but he spends so much time glowering that it feels like a missed opportunity.

The best part of The Girl with No Reflection is the mirror world. This is where debut author Keshe Chow shines. She hooks readers from the start, and really sets the stage going forward. The magical world that Chow creates is exciting and clever, and I wish she had explored it more. And it makes me wonder how the story told from the mirror world Ying’s perspective would have played out.

And while Chow’s magical world is, well, magical, I wish she had spent more time with her prose, which feels contemporary in a story that is very much not. There were a few spots where I actually paused and went, “what?”

That said, I still enjoyed The Girl with No Reflection, reading it in less than three days. It’s a decent YA fantasy.

Sensitivity note: violence, gore, swearing, death, suggestive sexual content

Copyright © 2024 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.

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LOVE, OFF THE RECORD, by Samantha Markum, Margaret K. McElderry Books, June 11, 2024, Hardcover, $19.99 (young adult, ages 14 and up)

Wyn is going to beat Three even if it kills her—or, preferably, him. Being freshmen staffers on the university newspaper puts them at the bottom of the pecking order—until a rare reporter spot opens up. Wyn and Three are both determined to get the position, starting a game of sabotage that pushes them to do their worst, from stealing each other’s ideas to playing twisted mind games. No road is too low when it comes to winning.

As Wyn’s search for the perfect story leads her to an anonymous, campus-wide dating app, she hits it off with a mystery man she thinks might be the cute RA from her dorm. But Wyn is all too familiar with being rejected because of her weight, and she’s hesitant to reveal her identity, even as she grows closer with someone who might be the guy of her dreams.

When Three breaks a story that’s closer to home than he or Wyn expects, the two must put aside their differences to expose the truth—and face their real feelings for each other, which threaten everything Wyn has built with her anonymous match.

SEVENTEENTH SUMMER, by Maureen Daly, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; Reissue edition, May 7, 2024, Hardcover, $20.99 (young adult)

First published in the 1940s, Seventeenth Summer is considered the first young adult novel. Now with refreshed text and a brand-new look, this timeless, sweeping romance is perfect for fans of Morgan Matson and Jenny Han.

Angeline “Angie” Morrow always thought high school romances were just silly infatuations that come and go. She certainly never thought she would fall in love. But when she’s asked out on her first date by the school basketball star, Jack Duluth, their connection is beyond any childish crush.

Suddenly, Angie and Jack are filling their summer with stolen moments and romantic nights. But fall is coming—Angie is going off to college in Chicago, while Jack is planning to move to Oklahoma to help with the family bakery—and they must figure out if their love is forever, or just a summer they’ll never forget.

SUMMER NIGHTS AND METEORITES, by Hannah Reynolds, G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, May 21, 2024, Hardcover, $19.99 (young adult)

Jordan Edelman’s messy dating days are over. After a few too many broken hearts, and a father who worries a bit too much, she’s sworn off boys—at least for the summer. And since she’ll be tagging along on her father’s research trip to Nantucket, she doesn’t think it’ll be too hard to stick to her resolution.

But hooking up with the cute boy on the ferry doesn’t count, right? At least, not until that cute boy turns out to be Ethan Barbanel. As in, her father’s longtime research assistant Ethan Barbanel, the boy Jordan has hated from afar for years. And to make matters worse, Jordan might actually be falling for him.

As if that didn’t complicate her life enough, Jordan’s new summer job with a local astronomer turns up a centuries-old mystery surrounding Gibson’s Comet—and as she dives into her research, what she learns just might put her growing relationship with Ethan in jeopardy.

SIXTEENTH SUMMER, Part of: Sixteenth Summer (4 books), by Michelle Dalton Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; Reissue edition, May 7, 2024, Hardcover, $20.99 (young adult)

Anna is dreading another tourist-filled summer on Dune Island that follows the same routine: beach, ice cream, friends, repeat. That is, until she locks eyes with Will, the gorgeous and sweet guy visiting from New York. Soon, her summer is filled with flirtatious fun as Anna falls head over heels in love.

But with every perfect afternoon, sweet kiss, and walk on the beach, Anna can’t ignore that the days are quickly growing shorter, and Will has to leave at the end of August. Anna’s never felt anything like this before, but when forever isn’t even a possibility, one summer doesn’t feel worth the promise of her heart breaking…

FIFTEENTH SUMMER (Sixteenth Summer), Part of: Sixteenth Summer (4 books), by Michelle Dalton, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; Reissue edition, May 7, 2024, Hardcover, $20.99 (young adult)

Chelsea isn’t looking forward to her summer at the lake. It’s the first time her family has been there since her grandmother died, and she can’t break out of her funk. But her summer takes a turn for the better when she meets a boy who works in the bookstore. Josh is cute, sweet, funny…and best of all, seems to like her as much as she likes him. As the days pass by in a blur of boat rides, picnics, and stolen kisses, she can’t believe how lucky she is. No one has ever made her feel so special, or so beautiful.

But Chelsea knows her days with Josh are numbered. She’ll be heading home at the end of the summer—and he’ll be staying behind. Will this be Chelsea’s summer of love? Or will it be the summer of her broken heart?

PULLED UNDER (Sixteenth Summer), Part of: Sixteenth Summer (4 books), by Michelle Dalton, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; Reissue edition, May 7, 2024, Hardcover, $20.99 (young adult)

In the small town of Pearl Beach, Florida, Izzy Lucas needs only her surfboard and the water to be completely happy. She wants nothing to do with parties, popularity contests, or showing her face around the clichéd touristy hangouts. Izzy’s tight group of coworkers at the local surf shop have tried relentlessly to break shy Izzy out of her (sea)shell. But Izzy isn’t interested…until the day Ben Barker walks into the store.

Ben’s from the city. He’s cute, charming, and wants her help adjusting to beach town culture. As the weeks of surfing lessons and pizza shack visits fly by, Izzy and Ben realize their attraction goes beyond mere friendship. But Ben is only in town for three months, and Izzy wonders if this amazing guy is worth stepping out of her comfort zone for what might be the perfect summer romance—or her first heartbreak.

SWEPT AWAY (Sixteenth Summer), Part of: Sixteenth Summer (4 books), by Michelle Dalton, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; Reissue edition, May 7, 2024, Hardcover, $20.99 (young adult)

Mandy Sullivan isn’t exactly looking forward to the summer months as tourists invade her seaside hometown on the coast of Maine. Her best friend, Cynthia, has abandoned her for camp and her older brother just announced he’ll be staying at college taking classes for the summer, leaving Mandy with nothing to do and no one to hang out with. Hoping to keep herself busy, Mandy takes a volunteer job at the Rocky Pointe Lighthouse.

On her very first day, Oliver Farmingham asks for a private tour. A new—and incredibly cute—face in Rocky Pointe, Oliver seems more interested in Mandy than the lighthouse and its history. Without her best friend at her side, Mandy is scrambling to act the right way and say the right things when Oliver is around. Cynthia—not Mandy—has always been the confident, flirtatious girl that everyone wanted to be around.

As Mandy and Oliver spend more time together exploring the coast, biking through the woods, and attending the local summer festivals, their budding friendship becomes much more. But with Mandy’s insecurities creeping to the surface, can she open her heart to someone who will only be in town for three months?

Copyright © 2024 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.

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WITTY IN PINK, by Erica George, Entangled: Teen, Aug. 6, 2024, Paperback, $12.99 (young adult, ages 14 and up)

Two enemies join forces to secure their futures in Witty in Pink, a YA Regency romance by Erica George.

Keep your friends close. Keep your nemesis closer.

After nearly five years of avoiding him, Briggs Goswick may have appeared at my feet on horseback like a handsome white knight but, in fact, he is a certified man-child.

Briggs may be many things―a society darling (annoying), attractive (so unfair), and heir to an elite family (helpful)―but after humiliating me at a ball several years ago, he is primarily my archnemesis.

His presence has made this summer go from bad to…complicated. I have the weight of saving my family’s name and finances solely on my shoulders, while I endure an endless parade of dreary balls and insufferable suitors to make a favorable match. But I have another idea―a business venture―to save my family. All I need are investors.

And as for Briggs? He’s hiding a secret as well: he’s flat broke.

Now the person I loathe the most in this world is just as trapped as I am―both penniless and our households depending on us to save them. And I think I know how. All I have to do is play nice with the very devil I’ve sworn to hate…

His society connections can boost me from near obscurity to help me win over investors for my business. And perhaps I can help him woo an aloof heiress with deep pockets. It’s a long shot. It might even work…but do I want it to? —Synopsis provided by Entangled: Teen

Regency romances are a popular genre in part because they stem from a love Jane Austen and because they bridge the gap between YA and adult fiction. Witty in Pink is one such book.

Told through dual perspectives, the story focuses on Briggs and Blythe. The two have known each other since childhood when Briggs would pull pranks and mercilessly tease Blythe.

Fast-forward a few years and Blythe is fully grown and, with a little effort, fully capable of landing herself a well-to-do husband. And that’s exactly what her parents need her to do. Their finances depend upon it. But Blythe has other plans — a business that could save everything.

Briggs’ future also depends on making money. A lot of money. He needs to marry someone with a sizable dowry if he’s going to save his family’s estate. He’s got just the girl in mind, and he needs Blythe’s help wooing her. In exchange, Briggs will introduce Blythe to all the influential families in the county — people who may be willing to invest in a new venture.

The problem.

There’s much more than animosity brewing beneath the surface.

As with most Regency romances, the basic outcome of Witty in Pink is fairly predictable. The fun, however comes in the details. And there are a bunch of fun twists along the way.

Though author Erica George’s settings are cinematic, it’s the banter she’s created between Briggs and Blythe that really takes the book over the top. It’s what moves the story forward and adds emphasis in all the right places.

Witty in Pink is a slow-burning romance (aka clean) that focuses on the relationship and building attraction. There’s a slightly steamy part, but it’s pretty tame. George’s prose has a more modern feel to it and some situations reflect more modern tastes, but it’s still a lot of fun. This fast-moving novel will appeal to older teen, new adult and adult readers alike.

Copyright © 2024 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.

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CASTLE OF THE CURSED, by Romina Garber, Wednesday Books, July 30, 2024, Hardcover, $21 (young adult, ages 14 and up)

Following her parents’ deaths, a young woman moves to her family’s ancestral Spanish home in Castle of the Cursed, by Romina Garber.

The house is always hungry…

After a mysterious attack claims the lives of her parents, all Estela has left is her determination to solve the case. Suffering from survivor’s guilt so intense that she might be losing her grip on reality, she accepts an invitation to live overseas with an estranged aunt at their ancestral Spanish castle, la Sombra.

Beneath its gothic façade, la Sombra harbors a trove of family secrets, and Estela begins to suspect her parents’ deaths may be linked to their past. Her investigation takes a supernatural turn when she crosses paths with a silver-eyed boy only she can see. Estela worries Sebastián is a hallucination, but he claims he’s been trapped in the castle. They grudgingly team up to find answers and as their investigation ignites, so does a romance, mistrust twined with every caress.

As the mysteries pile up, it feels to Estela like everyone in the tiny town of Oscuro is lying and that whoever was behind the attack has followed her to Spain. The deeper she ventures into la Sombra’s secrets, the more certain she becomes that the suspect she’s chasing has already found her . . . and they’re closer than she ever realized. —Synopsis provided by Wednesday Books

Castle of the Cursed is a YA fantasy gothic romance that sounds intriguing, but lost points on execution.

I love Gothic novels. I started reading them when I was 12 and have had a soft spot in my heart for them ever since. So, I came into Castle of the Cursed with high expectations. I finished it feeling ambivalent.

Author Romina Garber definitely gets the tone aspect of the genre, creating a setting that has you looking over your shoulder, even when you’re not sure why. There’s also lots of emotion and a romance. It’s just that not all of it fit together. And the romance element just didn’t work for me.

Garber’s pacing/structure could also have benefited from some reworking — there’s a big info dump that happens later in the book that feels just like an info dump for necessity’s sake.

Castle of the Cursed isn’t one of my top YA picks for the summer, but if you’ve got time, it makes for an interesting library read.

Copyright © 2024 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.

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ASKING FOR A FRIEND, by Kara H.L. Chen, Quill Tree Books, July 23, 2024, Hardcover, $19.99 (young adult, ages 14 and up)

An ambitious teen is determined to win a business competition started by her late father in Asking for a Friend, by Kara H.L. Chen.

Juliana Zhao is absolutely certain of a few things:

1. 1. 1. She is the world’s foremost expert on love.
      2. She is going to win the nationally renowned Asian Americans in Business Competition.

When Juliana is unceremoniously dropped by her partner and she’s forced to pair with her nonconformist and annoying frenemy, Garrett Tsai, everything seems less clear. Their joint dating advice column must be good enough to win and secure bragging rights within her small Taiwanese American community, where her family’s reputation has been in the pits since her older sister was disowned a few years prior.

Juliana always thought prestige mattered above all else. But as she argues with Garrett over how to best solve everyone else’s love problems and faces failure for the first time, she starts to see fractures in this privileged, sheltered worldview.

With the competition heating up, Juliana must reckon with the sacrifices she’s made to be a perfect daughter—and whether winning is something she even wants anymore. —Synopsis provided by Quill Tree Books

At the center of Asking for a Friend is Juliana, a young woman who feels the weight of her mother’s and community’s expectations on her shoulders. Winning her late-father’s competition would not only fulfill her “duty” but a promise she’s made to herself.

And she knows she can make that happen.

Except — what with her partner dropping her before the competition even begins — things don’t start off well.

That’s where Garrett comes in. Garrett who she once thought could be more than a friend. Garrett who turned his back on her. Garrett for whom she may still have feelings for.

As advice “experts,” Juliana and Garrett become Sunny and Cloudy respectively. These personas are a good juxtaposition, but also serve to show where the two started and where they finish.

This all happens against the backdrop of the small community in Old Taipei. Some of the best moments are born out the community elements and ideas — both old and new.

Asking for a Friend is a fast-moving read that explores topics of family, friendship, expectations, gentrification and community.

Though Asking for a Friend is recommended for readers ages 14 and up, that suggestion is based on character age rather than content. Asking for a Friend is a sweet coming-of-age story with a bit of PG-rated romance.

Copyright © 2024 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.

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THE DARKNESS WITHIN US, by Tricia Levenseller, Feiwel & Friends, July 9, 2024, Hardcover, $24.99 (young adult, ages 14 and up)

A young woman will stop at nothing to keep hold of the fortune she’s fought so hard for in The Darkness Within Us, by Tricia Levenseller.

Chrysantha Stathos has won.

By hiding her intelligence and ambition behind the mask of a beautiful air-headed girl, she has become a wealthy duchess. And, once her elderly husband dies, she will have all the freedom, money, and safety she’s ever wanted.

Or so she thought.

A man claiming to be the estranged grandson of Chrysantha’s lecherous late husband has turned up to steal her inheritance. To make matters worse, her little sister is going to be queen and is rubbing it in her face.

Chrysantha decides that the only thing to do is upstage Alessandra at her own wedding. And as for this grandson, he has to go. Never mind that he’s extremely handsome and secretive with mysterious powers . . . No, Chrysantha wants Eryx Demos dead, and in the end, a Stathos girl always gets what she wants. —Synopsis provided by Feiwel & Friends

The Darkness Within Us is a companion novel to Tricia Levenseller’s The Shadows Between Us. And it’s really worth reading both in order, especially since The Shadows Between Us is so strong.

In The Darkness Within Us Levenseller once again enters a morally grey world where the main characters aren’t particularly likeable but are so compelling you need to keep reading. Like her sister, Alessandra, Chrysantha is cool and calculated and knows what she wants. The juxtaposition between the sisters strengthens the books overall and gives you greater appreciation for Levenseller’s ability to get inside her characters’ heads.

Levenseller excels at world-building, and the tension between her enemies-turned-lovers will keep the pages turning.

Like its predecessor, I wouldn’t recommend The Darkness Within Us for younger YA, but readers 14 and up will enjoy it.

Copyright © 2024 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.

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FUN FACT: I LOVE YOU, by Gina Larsen, Shadow Mountain, July 2, 2024, Hardcover, $19.99 (young adult)

Two high school seniors think they’ve got everything figured out until a family tragedy changes their trajectories in Fun Fact: I Love You, by Gina Larsen.

Fun fact: Nellie Samsin has ten days left of high school, and she’s never been kissed—which is fine with her. She’s been more focused on editing the yearbook and being named valedictorian than worrying about a boyfriend. But when she has a chance to kiss her longtime crush, she hopes it will be a magical experience. Until she learns it was all a lie, a hurtful prank orchestrated by her so-called best friend, leaving Nellie heartbroken and angry with everyone involved.

Jensen Nichols has spent his senior year keeping three massive secrets: first, he’s been writing a best-selling romance fantasy series under the pseudonym “Jen Dimes”; second, he’s been harboring a secret crush on Nellie, to the point where he’s based his fictional romantic heroine on her; and third, Nellie’s dad has been his writing mentor and coach. Jensen has promised himself that he’ll reveal his secrets—but only when the time is right. Then he sees Nellie kissing his best friend, and his unexpected rush of jealousy means that the time for keeping secrets is running out.

When a family tragedy rocks Nellie’s world, the future she meticulously planned for is threatened. And when she learns the people she thought were her friends have lied to her, she feels lost and betrayed. At least she has Jensen, who is the one person she knows for a fact she can trust. But the more time the two of them spend together, the more Nellie suspects Jensen is hiding something from her. (Fun fact: Keeping secrets is the worst.)

It seems Nellie and Jensen are perfect for each other, but they will need to separate fact from fiction in order to see if their unplanned romance can last beyond graduation day. —Synopsis provided by Shadow Mountain

Fun Fact: I love You is a sweet YA romance that has a bit more steam than I was expecting but still remained chaste.

At the center of the story are Nellie and Jensen. Lifelong friends that realize they may have more than just friend feelings for each other. Author Gina Larsen develops each character well, allowing for growth and self-realization along the way. They don’t have the best communication skills when it comes to each other, but they learn along the way.

Supporting characters are less developed and feel more like they’re there to progress the plot — Nellie’s mom is a real piece of work — but the story works nonetheless.

Larsen’s writing is inviting and familiar, helping readers quickly find their footing, and her pacing pushes the story forward.

Fun Fact: I Love You does deal with themes of death, deception, neglect and adultery, but it remains fairly lighthearted. There is some passionate kissing, but it’s fairly tame compared to a lot of YA books. It’s a good choice for teens entering high school.

Copyright © 2024 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.

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