For teens navigating the complexities of online connections, this book explores how digital friendships can blossom into something deeper, fostering self-discovery.
A parent might reach for this book when their teen's social life seems to exist entirely online, and they want to better understand the validity and depth of digital friendships. Gena/Finn explores the powerful connection between two teen girls who meet through their shared love for a TV show. Told entirely through texts, emails, and blog posts, the story authentically captures how their friendship blossoms into a romance, helping them navigate family pressures and discover their own identities. This book is a gentle, affirming look at modern relationships and LGBTQ+ identity, perfect for teens 13 and up. It validates the realness of online bonds and can open up conversations about fandom, creativity, and love in the digital age.
Deals with themes of loneliness and significant parental emotional pressure.
LanguageMild
Occasional mild profanity typical for the young adult age group.
Sensitive Topics
The book's central theme is the exploration of LGBTQ+ identity, specifically a developing lesbian romance. The approach is direct, secular, and emotionally focused, normalizing the experience of discovering one's sexuality. The resolution is hopeful and affirming. It also touches directly on themes of parental emotional pressure and the feeling of not being understood by one's family.
Ideal Reader
A teen (14-17) who is deeply engaged in online communities or fandoms, or who has intense friendships that exist primarily online. It’s perfect for a reader questioning their identity or sexuality, who would appreciate a gentle, contemporary romance that feels authentic to their digital experience.
Parent Prep
The book can be read cold. Parents unfamiliar with fandom terms like "shipping," "fanfic," or "OTP" (One True Pairing) might want to look them up for context, but the story is clear without prior knowledge. The content is emotionally focused and lacks explicit scenes, so no specific page previews are necessary. A parent notices their teen is spending immense amounts of time talking to an "internet friend" or is deeply absorbed in the world of fan fiction. The parent may feel a mix of confusion and concern, and wants to understand why this online world is so important to their child.
Age Experience
A younger reader (13-14) will likely connect strongly with the friendship and fandom elements, and the drama of Gena's family life. An older teen (15-18) will more fully appreciate the nuances of the romantic development, the challenges of navigating a long distance relationship, and the themes of self-discovery and identity.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many books that use fandom as a backdrop, Gena/Finn places the creative act of writing fan fiction at the very center of the characters' relationship and identity formation. Its purely epistolary format is a standout feature, perfectly capturing the rhythm and intimacy of modern digital communication and making the online relationship feel completely real and valid.
Read plot summary
Living in different states, teens Gena and Finn connect online through their shared fandom for the TV show "Up Below". Their friendship, built on co-writing fan fiction, deepens into a romantic relationship documented through a collage of emails, text messages, and journal entries. The narrative follows their journey of discovering their feelings for each other while grappling with real-world pressures, including Gena's controlling mother and Finn's impending college decisions, culminating in their first in-person meeting.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Gena and Finn fall in love before they ever meet in person. Do you think their relationship is as 'real' as one that starts offline? What are the pros and cons of getting to know someone this way?
2
Gena's mother disapproves of her writing and her online life. Why do you think she is so controlling? How does Gena use her fandom identity to cope with her home life?
3
The story is told only through texts, emails, and blog posts. How did this format affect your experience? Did it make you feel closer to the characters, or did you miss traditional narration?
4
Finn is confident in her identity, while Gena is more hesitant and questioning. How do their different personalities and levels of confidence support each other throughout the story?
