You Should See Me in a Crown

This empowering YA rom-com follows Liz Lighty, a Black, queer high school senior in a small, wealthy Midwestern town. When her college financial aid vanishes, Liz reluctantly enters the prom queen race, hoping to win a scholarship. Despite her social anxiety and fear of public scrutiny, she's determined to achieve her dreams. The journey is complicated by her growing feelings for Mack, a fellow outsider and her main competition. The book explores themes of identity, class, race, first love, and perseverance, offering a joyful and authentic portrayal of a young Black woman finding her voice and belonging.

Liz Lighty has always believed she's too black, too poor, too awkward to shine in her small, rich, prom-obsessed midwestern town. But it's okay -- Liz has a plan that will get her out of Campbell, Indiana, forever: attend the uber-elite Pennington College, play in their world-famous orchestra, and become a doctor. But when the financial aid she was counting on unexpectedly falls through, Liz's plans come crashing down ... until she's reminded of her school's scholarship for prom king and queen. There's nothing Liz wants to do less than endure a gauntlet of social media trolls, catty competitors, and humiliating public events, but despite her devastating fear of the spotlight she's willing to do whatever it takes to get to Pennington.The only thing that makes it halfway bearable is the new girl in school, Mack. She's smart, funny, and just as much of an outsider as Liz. But Mack is also in the running for queen. Will falling for the competition keep Liz from her dreams ... or make them come true?