First published 2026
Lennon enters high school determined to be the perfect daughter her Palestinian Canadian father expects. Her autistic mind processes rules clearly, and she has always followed them. Then her older sister announces she's pregnant, shattering their parents and placing enormous pressure on Lennon to compensate. When she meets John, a white boy one grade ahead, attraction blooms despite knowing her parents would never approve. Their relationship stretches across four years of high school, marked by connection and separation as Lennon struggles between obedience and desire. She experiences shame and yearning in equal measure, her autism shaping how she navigates both family loyalty and personal longing. Eventually another relationship forces Lennon to reconsider what family and happiness truly mean. She must choose between the safety of parental approval and the risk of authentic self-discovery, knowing her decision might cost her everyone she loves.
Genres: literary-fiction, coming-of-age, contemporary, young-adult, 21st-century, family-drama
Vibes: bittersweet, emotional, intimate, introspective, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, family-loyalty-vs-personal-desire, forbidden-romance, slow-burn
Setting: Canada, High School
Period: 21st century, Contemporary
440 pages · Hardcover · Tundra Books
Content warnings: emotional-abuse