If You Come Softly

by Jacqueline Woodson

First published 1998

Jeremiah and Ellie, two fifteen-year-olds from very different worlds, meet at their elite New York private school and fall deeply in love. But their relationship is complicated by the stark racial divides in their community. As they navigate the backlash from friends, family, and society, Jeremiah and Ellie must decide whether to keep fighting for their connection or surrender to the pressure around them. At its core, this is a poignant story about the power of young love to transcend even the most deeply rooted prejudices.

Genres: fiction, romance, contemporary, young-adult, contemporary-romance, family-drama

Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking

Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family

Setting: New York, New York (N.Y.), New York (State)

192 pages · Hardcover · G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

Content warnings: racism

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