Blaine for the Win

In Chicago, muralist Blaine Bowers, a high school junior, is preparing for “the date night of all date nights”—his first anniversary with his senior-class-president boyfriend, Joey, at a swanky restaurant downtown. He’s certain that Joey will ask him on his family’s spring break trip to Cabo, but instead, Joey breaks up with him, citing immense family pressure. Bolstered by his best friend, Trish; her girlfriend, Camilla; and his aunt Starr, Blaine navigates his first big heartbreak—Legally Blonde style. Rather than hide away, Blaine realizes that he needs to become the “Serious Guy” Joey says he wants—and that means running for senior class president. He adapts his style and marshals his forces, with the addition of classmate Danny, and launches himself into the world of school politics, self-discovery, and navigating life’s ups and downs. With panache and an upbeat tone, Couch (The Sky Blues) delivers a lighthearted rom-com pastiche that updates its source material, tackling issues of mental health and self-care, socioeconomic divides, and staying true to oneself. Trish reads as Black, Danny is of Vietnamese descent; all other characters are presumed white. Ages 12–up. Agent: Moe Ferrara, BookEnds Literary. (Apr.)