Liz Lighty has her immediate future planned. She’s waiting on the scholarship she needs to attend her dream college and then she can study hematology and play in their famed orchestra.
But when the scholarship doesn’t materialize, she decides to take a different route and run for prom queen. In her small Indiana town, prom is SERIOUS, and the king and queen receive hefty scholarships.
No one like Liz (read: black) has ever been a legitimate contender for prom queen and none of the popular candidates are threatened by her, except one girl who has always seen Liz as a rival. For her part, the last thing Liz wants is to have her whole life on display and have everything she does and wears matter. But her best friend Gabi is determined to lead Liz to victory, no matter what it takes.
But Liz doesn’t count on crushing on Mack, the new girl in school and another candidate for queen. Mack doesn’t care what other people think of her—except Liz—but Liz cares too much, and for the wrong reasons. Will the truth ruin any chance they might have at a relationship?
"I don't believe in fairy tales and love at first sight and all that, but for just a second, I think this girl and those eyes and the way her freckles dot the entire expanse of her face are cute enough to make a believer out of me."
Despite dealing with some serious issues such as racism, homophobia, the toxic culture of popularity, and standing up for yourself and your beliefs, there is so much joy in this book. Liz and Mack are so appealing, and even though I wanted to shake some of the characters to make them speak their minds, I enjoyed this so much. You'd never know this is Johnson's first novel!
And the great Pride Reads keep coming!!
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