GIRL CRUSHED

A San Diego soccer player struggles with life’s uncertainties.

Quinn knew exactly what she wanted: to be recruited by the University of North Carolina and to have a happy future with her girlfriend, Jamie. But everything falls apart when Jamie breaks up with her right before senior year. The two are close with Alexis (who’s never met a piece of news she didn’t want to share) and Ronni (Quinn’s fellow soccer star), and the four still eat lunch together daily. Quinn and Jamie, awkwardly trying to make their friendship work, have role models in older lesbian exes who amicably run their favorite queer cafe, Triple Moon. A complication arises in the form of a new possible love interest for Quinn: Ruby, classmate and gorgeous lead singer of a local band, newly separated from her boyfriend—and first on the list Quinn and Jamie once made of “Straight Girls We Wish Weren’t.” Adding to Quinn’s stress, her unreliable father pops up, she hasn’t heard from college recruiters, Jamie is cozying up to another girl, and Triple Moon is having financial difficulties. The pacing is spot-on, and the exploration of lesbian relationships—particularly post-breakup—is handled deftly. Quinn is a sympathetic character, and her interactions with Jamie feel true to life. Unfortunately, Ronni is a little too perfect and two-dimensional in the role of Black Best Friend. Ruby’s surname cues her as Latinx; all other main characters are white.

Fresh and charming.