August 21, 2023
High school senior Whitney Rivera, who is bisexual and Puerto Rican, had a difficult, lonely summer. First, her boyfriend moved from Massachusetts to New Hampshire. Then, after enduring months of chronic pain, she’s finally diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome, resulting in a summer spent in and out of doctors’ appointments. It doesn’t help that weight gain, facial hair growth, and constant exhaustion—all symptoms of PCOS—caused Whit to emotionally withdraw. Determined to have a perfect year, she plans to take charge of her school’s annual Fall Fest, a weeklong homecoming celebration. But her grand plans are derailed when her ex-boyfriend and archenemy, Afro-Latino Isaiah “Zay” Ortiz, volunteers to help. What’s more, tensions arise at home when Whit’s autistic younger sister Lily seeks independence from Whit’s protectiveness as she begins high school. As Whit’s personal issues cause mental strain, she’s pleasantly surprised by Zay’s serious commitment to festival planning, shifting her perception of him—and their relationship. Vivid prose by Maldonado (No Filter and Other Lies), paired with ample romantic and lighthearted antics, aids in levying serious interrogations of anti-fatness, chronic illness, and medical gaslighting, making for a compassionate and cozy read. Ages 14–up. Agent: Tamar Rydzinski, Context Literary.
Starred review from July 15, 2023
A meaningful exploration of self-love and a cozy ode to autumn. Whit Rivera, a bisexual Puerto Rican teenager living in a quaint Massachusetts town with her abuela and younger sister, Lily, is ready for the perfect summer and senior year. But then her boyfriend moves away and she is diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome, a chronic illness that keeps her in doctors' offices most of the summer when she would rather be lying by the pool with best friends Marisol, who is gay and Latina, and Sophie, who is Vietnamese American and has diabetes. To achieve the perfect senior year, Whit will help Lily, who is autistic, settle into life as a high schooler while planning Fall Fest, her school's annual celebration where her grandparents met and fell in love decades before. But Whit's plans become even more complicated when she finds out her co-organizer for Fall Fest is Afro-Latino Isaiah Ortiz, the ex who broke her heart in sixth grade. Rich, multidimensional character development showing the intersections of identity within each individual will lead readers to feel like they know Whit and her friends in real life. Authentic, naturally integrated representation of marginalized identities makes this novel, which never becomes didactic, an important addition to YA literature; the characters are memorable not because of their identities, but as fully developed individuals. A sentimental story about friendship, family, and love as sweet as a pumpkin spice latte. (author's note with content warning) (Fiction. 14-18)
COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Starred review from September 15, 2023
Grades 9-12 Though she's an autumn queen, Whit Rivera planned to have a summer to remember--until her boyfriend moved away, making her a fifth wheel to her friends, and she was diagnosed with PCOS. The frustrating symptoms include hair growth on her face and rapid weight gain, and while Whit doesn't believe thinness equals beauty, it's hard when her body feels out of her control. When her boyfriend dumps her as fall arrives, Whit is determined to re-find herself. What better way than helming her school's Fall Fest, a tradition that even her Abuela once celebrated? When she learns her second-in-command is her nemesis, Isaiah Ortiz, she decides to make the best of the situation. And to her surprise, Zay is not only invested in Fall Fest, he's funny? And charming? And hot Maldonado wraps this sweet romance in a satisfying story of self-acceptance, surrounding Whit with a fully realized cast of family and friends. Readers will swoon as they watch Whit and Zay fall for each other, but they'll love watching Whit fall in love with herself even more.
COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
January 1, 2024
It's the beginning of Whit's senior year, and after a summer spent in doctors' offices instead of at the pool with her friends or video-chatting with her now-long-distance boyfriend, she is ready to get back on track. Her plan is simple: lead the school Fall Fest committee to autumn-themed excellence, get closer to her younger sister, help Abuela at the tailoring shop, and manage her polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) so she can enjoy fall to the fullest. Nothing, of course, goes according to plan: Whit and her boyfriend break up. PCOS causes exhaustion, weight gain, and newly sprouting facial hair. In her concerns about her sister being mistreated for being autistic, Whit must face the fact that she was engaging in slightly ableist behavior herself. And Whit is partnered to plan Fall Fest events with Zay, her frustratingly attractive ex from middle school. Maldonado's writing warmly captures the charms and challenges of high school life for a Latina in a fat body, believably rendering the struggles and idiosyncrasies of teenagerhood. The heart-fluttering romance that ensues with the thoughtful Zay makes for a cozy autumnal read, but the depictions of friendship, family, and navigation of a chronic illness make this a solid choice for all seasons. Amanda R. Toledo
(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
January 1, 2024
It's the beginning of Whit's senior year, and after a summer spent in doctors' offices instead of at the pool with her friends or video-chatting with her now-long-distance boyfriend, she is ready to get back on track. Her plan is simple: lead the school Fall Fest committee to autumn-themed excellence, get closer to her younger sister, help Abuela at the tailoring shop, and manage her polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) so she can enjoy fall to the fullest. Nothing, of course, goes according to plan: Whit and her boyfriend break up. PCOS causes exhaustion, weight gain, and newly sprouting facial hair. In her concerns about her sister being mistreated for being autistic, Whit must face the fact that she was engaging in slightly ableist behavior herself. And Whit is partnered to plan Fall Fest events with Zay, her frustratingly attractive ex from middle school. Maldonado's writing warmly captures the charms and challenges of high school life for a Latina in a fat body, believably rendering the struggles and idiosyncrasies of teenagerhood. The heart-fluttering romance that ensues with the thoughtful Zay makes for a cozy autumnal read, but the depictions of friendship, family, and navigation of a chronic illness make this a solid choice for all seasons.
(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)