by Nancy Werlin
Steffie should feel grateful. As the new girl, she managed to befriend some of seventh grade's nicest students. But every Monday brings the same ritual. The five girls gather around Olivia, their unofficial leader, for mandatory confessions about their romantic interests. Steffie must announce who she likes, whether she wants to or not. Week after week, she watches her friends comply with Olivia's demands. The pressure builds as Steffie realizes the group won't accept her true feelings. She faces a choice between fitting in with her new friends and staying true to herself. Can she find the courage to break free from a friendship that requires her to hide who she really is? Nancy Werlin explores the painful dynamics of middle school social hierarchies and the cost of belonging when acceptance comes with conditions.
Genres: family-life, friendship, contemporary, adolescence, school, young-adult, contemporary-romance
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fitting-in, found-family
12 pages · Kindle Edition