A swoony blend of romance, friendship, humor, and fandom—a must-read for fans of Taylor Swift.
Three best friends, all die-hard Swifties, set out on a cross-country summer road trip to catch Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour.
Carson, Eleanor, and Noemi have been inseparable since they were 13, bonded by their shared love for Taylor Swift. With college just around the corner, the recent high school grads’ final summer together becomes a whirlwind adventure after Eleanor’s influencer mom secures three tickets to the sold-out concert of their dreams. They only have 13 days to convince their parents to let them go, pack, and make the cross-country journey from Goosefish, Maine, to Los Angeles. Early on their journey, Carson has a meet-cute with a charming aspiring photographer who’s (aptly) named Dean. He joins their road trip, adding a romantic twist to the adventure. As the trio travels, they navigate the ups and downs of friendship, love, and personal growth against the backdrop of their mutual passion for Taylor Swift. The novel blends humor, nostalgia, and emotional depth, crafting a coming-of-age story that highlights how leaving home can lead to feelings of vulnerability and anxiety even as home remains a grounding force. Ultimately, this is a heartfelt celebration of art, adventure, and the transformative power of friendship. Carson and Noemi read white, Eleanor is cued as Chinese American and white, and Dean is Mexican American and white.
A swoony blend of romance, friendship, humor, and fandom—a must-read for fans of Taylor Swift. (Fiction. 12-18)Pub Date: June 3, 2025
ISBN: 9798894141206
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Running Press Kids
Review Posted Online: April 19, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2025
PERSPECTIVES
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
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away.
A Mexican American boy takes on heavy responsibilities when his family is torn apart.
Mateo’s life is turned upside down the day U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents show up unsuccessfully seeking his Pa at his New York City bodega. The Garcias live in fear until the day both parents are picked up; his Pa is taken to jail and his Ma to a detention center. The adults around Mateo offer support to him and his 7-year-old sister, Sophie, however, he knows he is now responsible for caring for her and the bodega as well as trying to survive junior year—that is, if he wants to fulfill his dream to enter the drama program at the Tisch School of the Arts and become an actor. Mateo’s relationships with his friends Kimmie and Adam (a potential love interest) also suffer repercussions as he keeps his situation a secret. Kimmie is half Korean (her other half is unspecified) and Adam is Italian American; Mateo feels disconnected from them, less American, and with worries they can’t understand. He talks himself out of choosing a safer course of action, a decision that deepens the story. Mateo’s self-awareness and inner monologue at times make him seem older than 16, and, with significant turmoil in the main plot, some side elements feel underdeveloped. Aleman’s narrative joins the ranks of heart-wrenching stories of migrant families who have been separated.
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-7595-5605-8
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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