Freddie and Stella Got Hot

Endearing mean girls keep the pages turning in a fresh and funny sapphic romance by Horne (Don’t Let It Break Your Heart). Bisexual science whiz Stella and her newly out lesbian bestie, film-obsessed Freddie, are dismayed to realize that their former friend, popular lesbian homecoming queen Levi, seems destined to win their California all-girls high school’s coveted college scholarship, awarded annually to one student as voted upon by the junior class. Still bitter that Levi abandoned them freshman year to climb the social ladder, wallflowers Stella and Freddie rebrand themselves as “mythical hot girls” to sabotage Levi’s chances. But when Stella’s schemes start adversely affecting innocent bystanders, Freddie enlists Levi’s help in stopping her—and learns a secret that rekindles her own covert crush on Levi. Freddie’s journey from “quirky sidekick” to seizer of the day (and the girl)—narrated in her breezy, fantastically facetious voice—steals the show, transforming the love-to-hate-’em mean girls into can’t-help-but-root-for-’em protagonists in this snarky and tender love story. Intermittent callouts reference stereotypical tropes (“Hot girls are beloved by their teachers,” “hot girls work out,” “hot girls do brunch”) for a cheeky effect. The trio read as white. Ages 14–up. Agent: Claire Friedman, Inkwell Management. (Jan.)