Rules for Fake Girlfriends

New York City high school senior Avery Blackwell doesn’t mind being single; she’s on track to graduate as valedictorian, study biology at Columbia, pursue oncology in medical school, then start her own life-saving practice. But after her free-spirited mother dies of cancer, grieving Avery defers Columbia to spend a year drafting a rom-com novel—“the only thing Mom and I had in common”—at her late mother’s alma mater in Brighton, England. While on a train to the University of Brighton, Avery strikes a deal with a local girl named Charlie: they’ll fake-date to make Charlie’s ex-girlfriend jealous, and Charlie will help Avery solve a scavenger hunt left for her by her mother. Despite resolving to buck rom-com tropes, Avery and Charlie fall for each other, and—when secrets threaten their romance—Avery must decide whether real feelings merit real risk. Lengthy exposition and shallowly developed subplots sometimes disrupt the pacing of actor Revord’s debut sapphic romance. Nevertheless, the author charms with ample references to college radio hitmakers (Girl in Red, Måneskin, Oasis) and a vivid British setting. Chapter titles cleverly outline familiar genre devices as white-cued Avery navigates change and embraces possibility with support from intersectionally diverse friends. Ages 13–up. Agent: Rick Richter, Aevitas Creative. (Sept.)