BAD AT LOVE

An aspiring music journalist falls for the teen pop star she’s trying to dig up dirt on.

When 17-year-old Sasha saves pop star Rotten from the paparazzi in a chance meet-cute in Los Angeles, the magazine where she’s interning dangles the possibility of earning a college scholarship—making dreams of higher education attainable for this daughter of Brazilian immigrants—if she dates the rocker and comes up with an exclusive story about him. But pansexual Sasha realizes that Rotten, whose real name is Daniel, isn’t the bad boy the media has labeled him. Far from being the player described in tabloids, Daniel is demisexual and hasn’t even experienced his first kiss yet. He was the last to join the close-knit band that propelled him to sudden stardom and suffers from imposter syndrome. Born and raised in Brazil, Daniel also feels like an outsider as he adjusts to the challenges of life in the public eye and in the U.S. Mistaken first impressions beleaguer Daniel and Sasha’s relationship from the start, but their character arcs are skillfully and compassionately developed. A quick-paced plot and fluid prose make for an enjoyable read as the teens muddle through a blooming romance complicated by ulterior motives and Daniel’s celebrity status. As they grow closer, Sasha and Daniel also meaningfully engage in introspection about their sexuality and heritage, including issues relating to the diaspora and colorism.

A sweet, heartfelt romance that thoughtfully explores identity and belonging.