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This is a cute, cute, cute high school contemporary story.
Liz Lighty feels she doesn't fit. Tall, black, queer in a largely white environment, Liz has her escape plan hinging on Pennington, the best private college. With excellent grades and a talent in music, only the scholarship needs to come through for her better tomorrow to become a reality. So when her scholarship is rejected, Liz is crushed. She knows that if her grandparents get a whiff of this they'll sell their house to make it happen for her and she totally doesn't want that. The one slim chance is to enter Campbell's prom queen drama since part of the winner kitty is a scholarship. Her intrepid friends, led by childhood best friend, Gabi, rally around her to make it happen.
This is a feel-good story with a cute sapphic romance thrown in. All the typical high school elements are nicely mixed -- staunch friends, misunderstandings, an old friend who'd rejected her returning, unexpected peer support, a stereotypical mean girl, challenges in the family (disease in this case). The pacing and writing is excellent -- humour, banter, well-etched characters, sweet, sweet relationships (siblings, friends, romantic relationship).
Somehow, YA books cover a huge gamut of emotions and this one does it exceptionally well. Johnson sweeps you with the highs, the lows, the ability to feel with abandon, and overall just, you know, living, that is the life of a teenager.
This book is utterly and completely enjoyable.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
