The Feeling of Falling in Love

Two white teens’ fake dating ploy prompts convoluted feelings in Deaver’s (The Ghosts We Keep) angsty romance. When 16-year-old transmasculine Neil Kearney’s friend-with-benefits, Josh, confesses his love, Neil panics. To end their arrangement, Neil claims he’s dating aspiring musician Wyatt, his roommate at their North Carolina boarding school. But Josh still plans to attend Neil’s older brother’s wedding back home in Beverly Hills. Stressed about Josh uncovering his lie at the event, Neil begs Wyatt (who is queer and “not quite ready to have those conversations. Even with myself,” when prompted for additional labels) to accompany him. Though he initially declines, Wyatt eventually agrees to attend—in exchange for Neil promising to set up an audition with his record producer brother. During the weeklong wedding festivities, Neil manages jealousy over Josh potentially dating another boy and annoyance at his family’s fixation on his physical appearance as he gradually realizes that he might be falling for his fake boyfriend. While Wyatt’s seemingly unending patience with Neil’s occasionally grating brashness sometimes reads as overly idealized, Deaver details Neil’s challenges navigating body dysmorphia and transphobia, and his slowly dawning self-awareness toward his treatment of others, with empathy. Ages 14–up. Agent: Lauren Abramo, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. (Aug.)