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Classic rom-com setup with teen angst underpinnings.

Jewish Shoshanna has a perfectly imperfect life: her parents, Mom and Mama, have always showered her with love and affection; her amazing best friends, Geraldine and Cheyenne, always have her back; and while money is tight, Shoshanna has a dream job at Once Upon, the independent bookshop in the local mall. But this year everything feels different: Her mothers are fighting, and the new hire at the bookstore (attractive Jake, who is Jewish—a rarity in their Georgia city) has made Shoshanna’s happy space fraught. A diverse cast of secondary characters lack dimension but are respectfully portrayed (even the supremely weird goth couple at the bookstore) while frequent musings on favorite books and Harry Potter references will make any book nerd’s heart flutter even before the romance begins. This fast, undemanding read offers snappy dialogue, implausibly happy endings almost all around, and affirmation for nerdy girls everywhere. Contemporary Jewish characters remain elusive; this may not be a zinger, but it fills a niche, and Jewish teens seeking themselves in text will particularly appreciate it. Shoshanna, her parents, and Jake are white; Geraldine is Mexican American, Cheyenne has dark brown skin and is queer, and there is diversity in the supporting cast.

Perfectly pleasant.