London teens navigate crushes and family drama in this story that highlights making errors-and making amends.Matilda Taylor isn't happy that Grandad is moving in-there's enough going on, and she's sure they won't be able to handle his Alzheimer's. Tilly and best friend Teddy Booker are still processing the loss of their beloved mutual friend, Grace, three years earlier, when they were 13. On top of that, Tilly and Teddy don't always feel like they fit in with their musical families: They aren't creative and have no interest in pursuing careers in the arts. But when Teddy needs support with going after Katherine Cooper-Bunting, the girl he fancies, Tilly begrudgingly accompanies him to the community theater audition where Katherine will be. Unfortunately, when Tilly first lays eyes on Katherine, she's smitten. Organized into three acts, this novel includes a sex-positive, will-they-won't-they romance that follows Tilly's desperate attempts to protect her friendship with Teddy while also harboring a secret crush. Against the backdrop of West End amateur dramatics, the delightful cast of characters provides pages of witty banter, swoony moments, and poignant scenes. Tilly and Teddy navigate their familial and grief-related traumas productively, and the mistakes they make are addressed seamlessly, with respect, and in a non-preachy manner. This sweet and serious story is perfect for fans of Alice Oseman. Main characters read white.Authentic and artful. (Fiction. 14-18)

Gr 9 Up —When 16-year-old Tilly agrees to help her best friend, Teddy, win over his crush by auditioning for a theater fundraiser, she has no idea how much it will upend her summer. It's bad enough that Tilly has to be "script girl" for a bunch of amateur thespians and that her parents expect her to watch over her grandfather, but the real trouble is that she and Teddy's crush, Katherine, have an undeniable attraction. Tilly is rough around the edges in a way that is heartbreakingly relatable as she struggles with a world where she feels ignored and passed over. Particularly refreshing is the fact that Tilly is often influenced by her physical desires, a teen experience less commonly represented in female characters. The secondary plot of Tilly's grandfather's developing dementia adds depth to the story without weighing it down. Many side characters stray too close to predictable stereotypes and Tilly's peers seem to emerge from bad behavior unscathed (when one character is outed rather meanly, only Tilly is blamed initially). An abundance of hashtags and LOLs make the book feel slightly dated, and the British references may be difficult for some readers. VERDICT An enjoyable queer romance with extra appeal for performing arts lovers.—Amy Diegelman