by Carrie Arcos
First published 2017
Neruda Diaz carries the name of Pablo Neruda, the famous love poet, but at sixteen he still waits for someone to love him back. He has fallen for many girls before, always hoping this time will be different. When a school project pairs him with Callie, everything shifts. She creates art, speaks her mind, and breaks the pattern of his usual crushes. They discover shared interests and dreams. Neruda believes he has finally found his true love while his artistic goals align perfectly. But love proves more complex than poetry suggests. As his feelings deepen beyond anything he has experienced, the relationships around him begin to crumble. His models for romance fail him when he needs guidance most. Neruda must learn that real love brings chaos alongside beauty, and that speaking the words carries genuine risk.
Genres: romance, coming-of-age, contemporary, contemporary-romance
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, friends-to-lovers
320 pages · Hardcover · Viking Books for Young Readers