BETTER THAN REVENGE

A Central California high school junior experiences betrayal—and learns the consequences of seeking revenge.

Finley has big dreams of becoming a podcast host. Her football player boyfriend, Jensen, has been supportive and has helped her prep for the auditions for the school’s podcast, which is hosted only by seniors. Finley is hoping to garner a co-host gig—a coveted spot that opens the door to an internship at the community college. But Jensen surprises her when he tries out, too. To her shock, he’s named a co-host, and she only gets a research position. Making it worse, during a hot mic moment on the school’s PA system, Jensen insults Finley’s podcasting abilities. Finley decides that since he stole her podcast host dream, she’s going to hit him where it hurts: football. Theo, Jensen’s nemesis on the team, is popular, good-looking, wealthy, and well-dressed. At a party at Theo’s house, former soccer player Finley discovers she’s good at kicking a football. Theo agrees to coach her, with the goal of taking away Jensen’s coveted spot as kicker. There’s chemistry between Finley and Theo, and their flirtatious relationship intensifies during their training. Finley’s first-person narration explores the ups and downs of self-esteem, self-doubt, and self-reflection that many high schoolers grapple with. Romance is the driving force of this endearing story’s momentum. Finley and Jensen read white, while Theo is cued Latine.

A page-turning, character-driven romance that promotes girl power.