The Lovers, the Liars, and Me

This dazzling young adult novel follows Jaliya Powell, a high school valedictorian who has always faded into the background. Seeking answers about her absent mother, Jaliya embarks on a summer trip to Jamaica to stay with her uncle's family. There, she finds herself in a vibrant new world, navigating tricky family dynamics with her cousin, uncovering long-held secrets about her mother, and unexpectedly falling into a love triangle. The story explores themes of self-discovery, identity, first love, and cultural connection, as Jaliya learns to speak up for herself and embrace who she is becoming. It's a journey of growth set against the beautiful backdrop of Jamaica, perfect for teens exploring their own identities and relationships.

A teen travels to Jamaica hoping to answer questions about her absent mother, only to discover more about her identity than she could have ever expected—and find herself caught up in an unexpected love triangle—in this dazzling young adult coming-of-age novel. Jaliya Powell has never had a real adventure, a real boyfriend, or spoken up for herself. She’s never even been kissed. Despite being valedictorian of her high school class, Jaliya is used to fading into the background. But this summer will be different. This summer, Jaliya is visiting her uncle and his family in Jamaica. Under the guise of one last vacation before college, she plans to find out more about her estranged mother, whose absence has remained an unspoken mystery. But things have changed in the seven years since Jaliya last visited. Her cousin has his own life and is reluctant to let Jaliya in, her childhood crush has only gotten hotter and more unavailable, and her aunt and uncle aren’t everything she remembered, either. Then she meets India, who’s vibrant, gorgeous, and free-spirited. And who makes Jaliya feel something she’s never felt before. While searching for traces of her mother across the island, Jaliya finds herself entangled in complicated relationships, tricky secrets, and a passionate new love. As she navigates this perfectly complicated summer, Jaliya must choose between who she has always been or who she hopes to become.