by Rufi Thorpe
First published 2021
Bunny Lampert stands 6'3 tall with the build of an athlete and the face of an angel. Her father brings chaotic energy to their wealthy household, but her mother is gone. Despite her blonde hair, money, and Olympic volleyball prospects, Bunny's life holds darker truths. Next door in a small cottage, Michael lives with his aunt. He sports a ponytail and septum piercing, works at Rite-Aid, and secretly uses Grindr. When Bunny finds Michael smoking in her yard, she reveals that her seemingly perfect existence carries hidden flaws. The two forge an unlikely friendship that defies their different worlds. Michael experiences his first real love, but vicious rumors begin spreading through their community. A violent incident erupts, forever altering both teenagers' paths. The story explores how people act against their intentions, desire what they shouldn't, and love those they cannot afford to lose.
Genres: coming-of-age, contemporary, lgbt, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, unlikely-friends
Setting: Cottage, Rite-Aid
Period: 21st-century
288 pages · Paperback · Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Content warnings: violence