Two teens from competing families team up to thwart the destruction of their local mall.As long as they can remember, high school juniors Chloe Kwon and Peter Li have been told to stay far away from one another. For more than a decade, their families have been sworn enemies in a feud of mysterious origin. Running in different social circles-self-effacing Chloe is in the artsy crowd and genial Peter is an athlete-their interaction in school is minimal, outside of some occasional banter. However, with working competing holiday jobs plus pitching in at their families' restaurants-all at the local mall-their crossing paths is inevitable. And when Chloe and Peter discover a plan for the impending sale and demolition of the mall, they might just need a Christmas miracle. The pair team up in an attempt to save their parents' businesses and change the landlord's mind. Late-night forbidden food swaps, friendly favors, and research into tenant rights find their tentative truce transforming into a budding romance. Dual narration affords a candid look at the two protagonists as they deal with familial miscommunication, racism (Chloe is Korean American; Peter is Chinese American), community organizing-and falling for one another. Chloe's narrative feels dominant as she balances another life-changing event: A subplot about a national youth photography competition sees her discovering her artistic voice. Peter's character development and personal stakes feel less even.A fun rivalry-to-romance romp. (Romance. 13-18)

Park (So We Meet Again) utilizes on-point dialogue and an amicable cast to keep the holiday spirit alive in this Romeo and Juliet flavored rom-com. The parents of Korean American Chloe Kwon and Chinese American Peter Li, who run food court restaurants at their local Tennessee mall, have been fiercely competitive for as long as the teens can remember. Following their parents’ lead, Chloe and Peter have always had an intense rivalry, which heats up further when they both get mall jobs working at competing seasonal businesses: budding photographer Chloe photographs children with Santa, while Peter operates thrilling virtual reality sleigh rides. When news gets out that the mall will be closing after the holidays, the two high schoolers must set aside their differences to help prevent the closure and save their parents’ livelihoods. As they work toward a common goal, the duo navigate varying interpersonal issues, such as Chloe’s participation in a national youth photography competition and their growing attraction to each other. Chloe’s and Peter’s alternating perspectives capably drive this witty novel,

Gr 8 Up —Chloe Kwon and Peter Li's families own competing restaurants in their local mall's food court, and the two classmates have been sworn enemies for as long as they can remember. They even have competing holiday jobs: Chloe works as a photographer at the mall's Santa's Village display, while Peter operates the nearby North Pole-themed virtual reality experience. Their disparate lives become connected when the mall doles out eviction notices and announces its impending demolition. Chloe and Peter must put their differences aside and work to save their parents' businesses, since neither set of stubborn parents is willing to work with the other. The Christmas Clash has all the components of a feel-good holiday rom-com, including a small town setting and an enemies-to-lovers trajectory, but the novel fails to achieve the warmth and fuzziness that readers may be seeking. Those looking for a slow burn will be disappointed that the "will they, won't they" tension of the story only lasts until about halfway through. From then on, Chloe and Peter's romance is cemented, and the focus shifts to their efforts to save the mall. These chapters are tedious, with a focus on lease clauses, legal jargon, and council meetings. Outside of the holiday jobs and the impending mall demolition deadline, not much mention is made of the holidays. VERDICT Those looking for a Christmas story or a satisfying romance may not find either here.—Mary Kamela