This book feels like a teen holiday romcom movie in book form—if those movies ever starred queer Black main characters. We switch between two points of view: Dominique, who took off to New York City to chase his influencer dreams; and Andy, his cousin, who stayed in their hometown and is pursuing her career goal of being an investigative reporter. Both of them gets a queer romance plot line, so this is two love stories in one!
Part of the reason this felt like a movie to me is that it takes place almost entirely over a single day. Dominique has returned to his small town to be the spokesperson for a new business opening there. Meanwhile, Andy wakes up after a New Year’s Eve party to find that last night a) she dropped her phone in the host’s fish tank, b) she threw up on her crush’s shoes, and c) someone stole her car. Now, Andy has to track down her car, grab the USB in the glove compartment, and present Dominique with the evidence that he shouldn’t be going through with that spokesperson job.
We alternate between both points of view, with Dominique trying to repair the relationships he damaged by leaving so suddenly, both with his grandmother and with with ex-best friend/crush. He’s also slowly realizing how much he has missed: the town has become gentrified, and the family hardware shop is in danger of closing.
Andy’s story is basically a scavenger hunt as she tries to chase down her car and find her cousin. She’s accompanied by the new girl in school, who she’s determined to hate, given that her family is part of the gentrification of the town. But the more time they spend together, the harder it is for Andy to remember that.
Of course, the climax of the story tells place at the town’s New Year’s celebration, where the villains are confronted and confessions of love takes place.
It’s a fun, quick read that has that holiday nostalgic teen movie appeal. It can be a bit cheesy, and there is slang that won’t age well, but it’s entertaining, and it’s one I would love to see adapted.
