November 1, 2020
Mia's friends concoct a plan to find her a date for her sister Samantha's wedding. When the groomsman Mia was paired with has to cancel at the last minute, bridezilla Sam insists Mia can't go to the wedding alone because the photos will look asymmetrical. But instead of finding another friend of the groom for her, Sam decides Mia should find her own date--which is easier said than done because Mia has spent the first three years of high school absorbed in studying, swim team, and math club. Mia's friends decide to help her out by arranging meet-cutes; they are convinced that if she bumps into someone and has a special moment with them, it will give her the opening she needs to take things further. Mia reluctantly agrees, nervously approaching each surprise meet-cute. After a few disastrous meetings, Mia turns to Gavin, the guy she volunteers with at the community garden, for relationship advice. The dating fails and Mia's exasperation provide just enough cringeworthy comedy to move the story along. The supportive female friendships are also a strength of the book. Although readers will see the ending coming, Mia's personal growth and the romance project will keep them engaged. All major characters are Black or people of color. A satisfying, feel-good rom-com. (Romance. 14-18)
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January 1, 2021
Grades 8-11 In her debut novel, Richardson puts a cynical teenager in romcom-level situations for a delightful read. Mia's world is turned upside down when she is informed that she is responsible for securing her own date to her bridezilla sister's wedding. As a junior in high school who spends all of her energy perfecting her breaststroke, Mia doesn't have a lot of experience in the dating department. Luckily her friends have the perfect situation: arrange a meet-cute. Each of Mia's friends chooses one boy and picks a spot for the two to have a chance meeting and hopefully hit it off. Mia's journey to find love is also an opportunity to discover more about herself and find the confidence to voice her own wants and needs. Despite not providing tons of situational or background details, this playful novel about an athletic Black girl in search of love will engross readers. Hand this to teens who loved Jenny Han's To All the Boys I've Loved Before (2014) or Leah Johnson's You Should See Me in a Crown (2020).
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