SEE YOU ON VENUS

Debut novelist Vinuesa pens a story of star-crossed teens in this dual-narrative novel.

Born with multiple heart defects, foster kid Mia has always known she’s living on borrowed time. Determined to find the biological mother who left her as an infant, Mia meticulously plans an 18th-birthday trip to her mother’s home country, Spain. But when Noah, her friend and travel partner, dies suddenly and Mia’s health deteriorates, she accelerates her timeline. Noah’s best friend, Kyle, blames himself for the crash that killed Noah and grievously injured Josh, another friend. Traumatized and depressed, he plans to end his own life as penance. After Mia interrupts Kyle, preventing him from carrying out his plan, she guilts him into accompanying her to Spain. The two set off on a whirlwind trip—Kyle begrudgingly and Mia enthusiastically. While the days fly by in a haze of lush scenery, delicious food, and meetings with possible birth mothers, the teens grow closer, though both are keeping secrets they fear may destroy their budding relationship. But just as Kyle’s heart starts to heal, Mia’s starts to fail, and neither may end up getting the closure they so desperately desire. Major characters are coded white; Mia’s foster sister has a cognitive disability. The heartbreaking but hopeful narrative flows beautifully, with easy banter and enticing exposition, and the characters are well-written and easy to root for.

Grab a box of tissues and prepare to ride an emotional roller coaster.