HEARTS OVERBOARD

A mathlete and a jock find common ground in Alaska.

Savannah likes routine and predictability, and she thought her boyfriend, Caleb, did as well. Which is why it comes as a horrible surprise when he dumps her, saying that she’s boring and stuck in her ways. Their breakup happens right before a trip to Alaska—a cruise with the company that employs her parents as well as the mother of Tanner, the attention-seeking classmate who beat her in the election for Astronomy Club president. After they’re thrown together, Tanner agrees to help Savannah with her plan to use the vacation as an opportunity to try new things. He volunteers to join her, taking photos she can share on social media to show Caleb what he’s missing; in exchange, Savannah will help Tanner figure out his college major. During the two-week trip, as she experiments with zip lining, karaoke, and whitewater rafting, Savannah comes to see that there’s more to Tanner than she’d realized—and that his kindness and sense of fun make him a good match for her. Savannah’s aversion to risk will resonate with many teens, while Tanner’s goofiness and easy charm will be familiar to others. The relationship develops at a natural pace (albeit with the requisite bumps along the way) and will have readers rooting for a happy ending. Savannah and Tanner are cued white.

A relatable story in which rivals become friends—and more—against the backdrop of a spectacular setting.