by Chloe Walsh
First published 2025
Lizzie Young climbs onto the school bus each morning carrying more than her backpack. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder as a child, she has spent years feeling like she doesn't belong anywhere. Her family doesn't understand her. Her friends keep their distance. Her community sees her as too intense, too complicated, too much. Then Hugh Biggs takes the seat beside her. He possesses wisdom that seems impossible for his age and a moral compass that never wavers. Where others see Lizzie's struggles, Hugh sees strength. He wants to share her load and become her anchor. Lizzie discovers what it feels like to be truly seen for the first time. Their connection runs deeper than attraction or teenage romance. They create an electric bond that seems impossible to break. But Lizzie and Hugh will learn that even love this powerful can fracture when secrets surface and reality intrudes on their perfect understanding.
Genres: mental-illness, contemporary, young-adult, contemporary-romance
Vibes: emotional-atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
745 pages · Paperback · Piatkus
Content warnings: mental-illness