
The Fall of Whit Rivera is a delightful young adult romantic comedy that follows Whitney Rivera, a perfectionist with PCOS, as she's reluctantly paired with her long-time nemesis, Zay, to organize their school's Fall Formal. What begins as a disaster quickly evolves into a charming and insightful exploration of their complicated relationship, revealing that their feud might have been a misunderstanding all along. Beyond the 'frenemies-to-lovers' trope, the book thoughtfully addresses significant topics such as chronic illness (PCOS), body image, fatphobia, sexuality, Latine identity, and class differences. It's a 'snug and cozy' read that offers both laugh-out-loud moments and profound observations, making it a celebrated choice for teens aged 12-18 who enjoy romance with substance and strong character development.
Could you plan the Fall Formal with your (hot) nemesis? Whit Rivera is about to find out. A Massachusetts Book Award Winner Frenemies Whit and Zay have been at odds for years (ever since he broke up with her in, like, the most embarrassing way imaginable), so when they’re forced to organize the fall formal together, it's a literal disaster. Sparks fly as Whitney—type-A, passionate, a perfectionist, and a certified sweater-weather fanatic—butts heads with Zay, a dry, relaxed skater boy who takes everything in stride. But not all of those sparks are bad. . . . Has their feud been a big misunderstanding all along? Blisteringly funny and profoundly well-observed, The Fall of Whit Rivera is a snug and cozy autumn romcom that also tackles weightier topics like PCOS, chronic illness, sexuality, fatphobia, Latine identity, and class. Funny, honest, insightful, romantic, and poignant, it is classic Crystal Maldonado—and it will have her legion of fans absolutely swooning. A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year A Kirkus Reviews Best Young Adult Book of the Year A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection A Massachusetts Book Award Winner "Meaningful. . . Multidimensional. . . An important addition to YA literature."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review "A celebration of love in all its forms—family, friends, romance, and (especially!) self."—Monica Gomez-Hira, author of Once Upon a Quinceañera "Satisfying and delightful... Maldonado shines!"—Kelly Jensen, editor and author of (Don't) Call Me Crazy, Body Talk, and Here We Are: Feminism for the Real World