Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews (Wed Sep 06 00:00:00 CDT 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)

ALA Booklist (Mon Nov 06 00:00:00 CST 2023)

Though she's an autumn queen, Whit Rivera planned to have a summer to remember til 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.

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

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)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 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. (Oct.)