Review by Booklist Review
Naveah, or Nav, has had a rough couple of years: her mother abandoned her family, and she just learned that she won't be able to attend camp with her best friend, Hallie. She spends her time drinking too much at parties and comforting Hallie through her many heartbreaks. When a shy new student, Gia, expresses an interest in Hallie but has no confidence to approach her, Nav agrees to take Gia under her wing to teach her the art of flirting. Through their lessons, Nav empowers Gia to navigate her general anxiety disorder, and Gia helps Nav face her unhealthy coping mechanisms and move forward after her mother's betrayal, all while falling in love along the way. Lewis crafts a moving romance that perfectly balances a sweet love story with authentic teen challenges. Gia feels isolated because of her anxiety, and Nav's relationship with her dad has been fraught ever since her mother left. While Gia and Nav are quite different, they lean on each other and are inspired to be better versions of themselves. Nav's journey is particularly moving: she exhibits destructive behavior and risks her closest relationships, but her growth throughout is satisfying, and her interactions with Gia are nothing short of adorable. Come for the fluffy romance, stay for the incredible characters.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 9 Up--A heartwarming and relatable story about coming to terms with change, growing up, and getting out of one's own way. Lewis uses humor and heart to illustrate normalcy within the queer experience as well as within dealing with anxiety, offering readers kinship and resonance. The book follows Nav, the witty main character, as she balances working part-time with high school. New girl Gia asks Nav for help getting to know her best friend Hallie; amid hangouts and fake dates to prep Gia, who has an anxiety disorder, for the real thing, feelings inevitably get involved. Lewis's writing is clear and informative, balancing difficult topics, such as divorce, feelings of abandonment, and more with an engaging narrative that has readers feeling as though they are Nav's best friend. What sets this book apart is its ability to distill the complexity and vulnerability of Nav's life experiences into digestible and captivating entries. Readers will also laugh along as Nav falls in love with Gia (and her dog Jordan!) and shows off her smarts. Nav is Black; Gia has a Mexican American mother and an Italian father. VERDICT For avid YA romance readers or casual readers with an interest in LGBTQIA+ experiences, this book provides a heartwarming and relatable overview of a teenager's life.--Jenna LaBollita
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A lesbian who doesn't believe in love plays dating coach. Naveah has never had "an official girlfriend"--she's against dating on principle; relationships are too "messy." Instead, Nav keeps things casual and fun, unlike her bisexual best friend, Hallie (both girls are Black). Hallie is constantly getting her heart broken. After Hallie's latest boyfriend turns out to be a cheater, Nav is determined to fix things for her. The problem is that Hallie is headed to an academic summer camp Nav didn't get into. Then Italian and Mexican American new girl Gia, who has social anxiety and whose mom is a sponsor for Hallie's camp, asks Nav for help getting Hallie's attention. Nav agrees to teach Gia how to win over Hallie in exchange for the spot at camp that Gia's planning to give up. Since Nav is good at flirting, this should be simple--but after Gia's anxiety ruins her first date with Hallie, Nav has to go back to basics with her romance lessons. When Nav starts to have feelings for Gia, she panics. Nav hates change--and now she has to decide whether her perfect summer plan is more important than taking a chance on love. The highly relatable characters make cringeworthy mistakes while also showing their vulnerability. This book is about more than just romantic love: Lewis balances family trauma and complicated relationships with depictions of strong support systems. Funny, serious, and adorably awkward in all the best ways.(Romance. 12-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
