WE THREE

Three outcast teens fall in love at summer camp.

Jassie never wanted to attend performing arts camp, but her parents sent her anyway to encourage her to make friends. She dreads the prospect of a full month away from home until she meets Syd, a confident rebel, and Ams, a quiet, genderqueer musician. Initially, Jassie’s simmering feelings for both teens confuse her, but as the three of them open up to one another, mutual attraction draws them into an unexpected triad. Each misunderstood in their own ways, together they find a new sense of belonging. Written in the first person, the story follows Jassie’s perspective. Her recent ADHD diagnosis surfaces as a concern, especially when she catches herself losing focus, but despite her insecurities, her partners ground her and praise her imagination. Romance drives the plot: The pacing of the relationship between Ams and Syd shifts abruptly from awkwardness to romance while Jassie’s feelings intensify through each of her interactions. Outside of the triad, few characters, including those who cause conflict, receive meaningful development. Even so, this hopeful love story with its idealistic happy ending provides important affirming representation for queer, polyamorous relationships. Jassie is South Asian and her family doesn’t eat pork, Syd seems to be white, and Ams is cued as Latinx.

A first love story full of sunshine.