A destined-to-be romance hits a snag.Andie Rose is no shirker-she doesn't fear hard work, and she has ridiculous plans for achieving her goals. The first step is transferring from Little Fells Community College to competitive Blue Ridge State, where her boyfriend, Connor Whit, is a student. Andie is certain the two were made for each other. She will major in psychology and write a self-help guide for achieving happiness, which of course means she must first master it herself. Hoping to give Connor the surprise of his life, midyear freshman transfer Andie shows up at the university without telling him-only to discover that Connor has in fact transferred to Little Fells in an effort to surprise her. The couple decide to grin and bear it for a semester, and as Andie does her best to navigate this absurd situation, she finds comfort in the company of attractive but surly resident adviser Milo Flynn and a gig anonymously giving advice on the university's long-standing pirate radio show. The premise references popular romantic tropes that will appeal to many readers. Unfortunately, the book is let down by thin characterization: Laser-focused Andie feels over-the-top and there's no real friction, desire, or excitement between her and Milo. Without exciting narrative hooks to keep readers invested, the story fails to spark.Contains all the right ingredients but doesn't quite come together. (Romance. 14-18)

Eighteen-year-old Andie always dreamed of studying psychology at Blue Ridge State, where her go-getter mother, who died seven years ago, pioneered the college’s radio program. After she’s rejected, though, she attends Little Fells Community College while her boyfriend, Connor, heads off to Blue Ridge. When she’s given the opportunity to transfer, she keeps the good news secret from Connor, hoping to surprise him. But upon arriving at Blue Ridge, she learns that Connor has transferred to Little Fells to be near her. Andie’s anxiety at being alone in an unfamiliar place is further complicated by her struggle to maintain a long-distance relationship with Connor, pass a difficult statistics class, and get to know her perpetually sleep-deprived RA, Milo, who inexplicably appears when Andie needs help. Andie jumps at the chance to headline an anonymous advice show at the radio station her mother started, but an emotional mishap jeopardizes her budding collegiate life. Utilizing sparkling humor, familiar romantic tropes, and tidily resolved conflicts, Lord (When You Get the Chance) deftly balances Andie’s challenges with an authentic teen voice, leading to a gratifying romance. Andie, Connor, and Milo cue as white. Ages 12–up. Agent: Janna Bonikowski, Knight Agency. (Jan.)