I’VE GOT MY LOVE TO KEEP ME WARM

In Lansing, Michigan, two high school seniors have clear goals—but they need money to make them a reality.

Following a traumatic incident with her mother, who suffered a breakdown, 8-year-old Lyric Watkins was placed into foster care; Grammy Viv gained custody two years later. Grateful for the stability, Lyric works as an online beauty influencer to help with bills and save up for a local cosmetology program that will allow her to stay close to home. Lyric’s classmate Juniper Jones longs to take a gap year and “do something wild and wonderful,” traveling the country and being in nature, where she’s happiest. However, after reuniting following a separation, her moms are on shaky ground, and Juniper is afraid her plans will fall apart along with her family. When Lyric, seeking content for her BeautyStarz social media account, runs into Juniper by the Capitol Christmas tree and asks her to pose for a photo, she doesn’t expect it to go viral. The two Black girls decide to make the most of its success by fake dating to earn enough to fund their respective dreams. Their calculated plan quickly spirals into something far more complicated as the line between pretend and reality blurs. Alternating between Lyric’s prose chapters and Juniper’s verse ones, the story moves at a steady, slow-burn pace that effectively keeps the pages turning. Lockington carefully and sensitively explores themes of dealing with anger, grief, and fear of abandonment.

An emotional, engaging story of love and growth.