On Again, Awkward Again

Kelly (The First State of Being) and Mbalia (Jax Freeman and the Phantom Shriek) tackle the ups, downs, and awkward in-betweens of young love in this wholesome rom-com collaboration. When high schoolers Pacy Mercado and Cecil Holloway spot each other during freshman orientation, they feel that they suddenly understand the meaning of love at first sight. But life gets in the way and their meet-cute is interrupted. They’re resigned to never acting on their feelings—until they’re appointed to the same event committee for their freshman dance. Yet even as Pacy and Cecil grow closer, they struggle to believe that a shot at love is worth enduring the challenges both internal and external that seem determined to keep them apart. Via the teens’ earnest dual POVs, Kelly and Mbalia redefine established romance concepts such as soulmates and instalove. Humorous conversational dialogue and occasional early-2000s pop culture references balance the protagonists’ cringe-worthy moments and provide an approachable window into the heartwarming center of this seemingly doomed-from-the-start love story. Pacy is of Filipino descent; Cecil is Black. Ages 13–up. (Apr.)