First published 2020
Kim arrives in San Diego for what might be her last chance at finding a real home. She has the entire summer before sophomore year to figure out whether this foster placement will work or if she needs to keep searching. The house feels different from the chaos she escaped in Texas, but Kim quickly discovers that "normal" families come with their own complications. Andrea, the territorial teenager already living there, makes it clear Kim isn't welcome. At dance class, Kim connects with Quaneisha and Marrisa, two girls whose foster situation proves just as messy as what she left behind. She also meets Davion, the attractive swimming instructor from next door. As summer unfolds, Kim's new friendships pull her toward unexpected trouble while she struggles to navigate the delicate balance of her potential new family. Each choice forces her to weigh what she's willing to risk for belonging against the hard lessons she's learned about protecting herself.
Genres: romance, friendship, contemporary, young-adult, foster-children, adoption, family-drama, foster-parents
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: San Diego, Texas
Period: Sophomore Year, Summer
259 pages · Kindle Edition · Three Sons' Press