Staff Picks
Social Media in Teen Fiction
- Thomas M.
- Wednesday, August 02, 2023
Collection
Are you addicted to the world of likes and shares? Are comments and connections worth the toxicity and loss of privacy? Or are you keeping your distance and disregarding what the world thinks? Social media can be an all-consuming popularity contest full of posing and fake glamour. It can also be a lifeline, tutor, and rallying cry. The books on this list depict social media as all that and more, sometimes with extreme drama, other times with heart.
There Goes the Neighborhood
Published in 2023
A raised fist against the destructive forces of gentrification and a love letter to communities of color everywhere, Jade Adia's unforgettable debut tells the darkly hilarious story of three best friends willing to do whatever it takes to stay together. The gang is fake, but the fear is real. Rhea's neighborhood is fading away—the mom-and-pop shops of her childhood forced out to make space for an artisanal kombucha brewery here, a hot yoga studio there. And everywhere, the feeling that this place is no longer meant for her. Because while their little corner of South L.A. isn't perfect, to Rhea and her two best friends, it's something even more important—it's home. And it's worth protecting. But as more white people flock to their latest edgy, urban paradise for its cheap rent and sparkling new Whole Foods, more of Rhea's friends and family are pushed out. Until Rhea decides it's time to push back. Armed with their cellphones and a bag of firecrackers, the friends manipulate social media to create the illusion of gang violence in their neighborhood. All Rhea wanted to do was protect her community. Her friends. Herself. No one was supposed to get hurt. No one was supposed to die. But is anyone ever really safe when you're fighting power with fear?
There Goes the Neighborhood
Published in 2023
"In order to stop the destructive forces of gentrification, three best friends use social media to create a fake gang and get justice for their South L.A. community"-- Provided by publisher.
Clementine and Danny Save the World (and Each Other)
Published in 2023
You've Got Mail gets a fresh YA twist in this irresistible rom-com that spotlights the power of activism and community organizing in the face of gentrification, perfect for fans of Tweet Cute and Yes No Maybe So. Clementine Chan believes in the power of the written word. Under the pseudonym Hibiscus, she runs a popular blog reviewing tea shops and discussing larger issues within her Chinatown community. She has a loyal, kind following, save for this one sour grape named BobaBoy888. Danny Mok is allergic to change, and the gentrification seeping into Chinatown breaks his heart. He channels his frustration into his internet alter ego, BobaBoy888, bickering with local blogger Hibiscus over all things Chinatown and tea. When a major corporation reveals plans that threaten to shut down the Mok's beloved tea shop, Clementine and Danny find themselves working together in real life to save this community they both love. But as they fall hard for this cause—and each other—they have no clue that their online personas have been fighting for years. When the truth comes to light, can Danny and Clementine still find their happily-ever-after?
Clementine and Danny Save the World (and Each Other)
Published in 2023
You've Got Mail gets a fresh YA twist in this irresistible rom-com that spotlights the power of activism and community organizing in the face of gentrification, perfect for fans of Tweet Cute and Yes No Maybe So. Clementine Chan believes in the power of the written word. Under the pseudonym Hibiscus, she runs a popular blog reviewing tea shops and discussing larger issues within her Chinatown community. She has a loyal, kind following, save for this one sour grape named BobaBoy888. Danny Mok is allergic to change, and the gentrification seeping into Chinatown breaks his heart. He channels his frustration into his internet alter ego, BobaBoy888, bickering with local blogger Hibiscus over all things Chinatown and tea. When a major corporation reveals plans that threaten to shut down the Mok's beloved tea shop, Clementine and Danny find themselves working together in real life to save this community they both love. But as they fall hard for this cause—and each other—they have no clue that their online personas have been fighting for years. When the truth comes to light, can Danny and Clementine still find their happily-ever-after?
Clementine and Danny Save the World (and Each Other)
Published in 2023
"Clementine Chan believes in the power of the written word. Under the pseudonym Hibiscus, she runs a popular blog reviewing tea shops and discussing larger issues within her Chinatown community. She has a loyal, kind following, save for this one sour grape named BobaBoy888. Danny Mok is allergic to change, and the gentrification seeping into Chinatown breaks his heart. He channels his frustration into his internet alter ego, BobaBoy888, bickering with local blogger Hibiscus over all things Chinatown and tea. When a major corporation reveals plans that threaten to shut down the Mok's beloved tea shop, Clementine and Danny find themselves working together in real life to save this community they both love. But as they fall hard for this cause--and each other--they have no clue that their online personas have been fighting for years. When the truth comes to light, can Danny and Clementine still find their happily-ever-after?"-- Provided by publisher.
Lark & Kasim Start a Revolution
Published in 2022
Lark Winters wants to be a writer, and for now that means posting on their social media accounts, anything to build their platform. When former best friend Kasim accidentally posts a thread on Lark's Twitter declaring his love for a secret, unrequited crush, Lark's tweets are suddenly the talk of the school and beyond. To protect Kasim, Lark decides to take the fall, pretending they accidentally posted the thread in reference to another classmate. It seems like a great idea: Lark gets closer to their crush, Kasim keeps his privacy, and Lark's social media stats explode. But living a lie takes a toll, as does the judgment of thousands of Internet strangers. Lark tries their best to be perfect at all costs, but nothing seems good enough for the anonymous hordes, or for Kasim, who is growing closer to Lark, just like it used to be between them . . . In the end, Lark must embrace their right to their messy emotions and learn how to be in love.
Lark and Kasim Start a Revolution
Published in 2022
Lark Winters wants to be a writer, and for now that means posting on their social media accounts, anything to build their platform. When former best friend Kasim accidentally posts a thread on Lark's Twitter declaring his love for a secret, unrequited crush, Lark's tweets are suddenly the talk of the school, and beyond. To protect Kasim, Lark decides to take the fall, pretending they accidentally posted the thread in reference to another classmate. It seems like a great idea: Lark gets closer to their crush, Kasim keeps his privacy, and Lark's social media stats explode. But living a lie takes a toll, as does the judgment of thousands of Internet strangers. Lark tries their best to be perfect at all costs, but nothing seems good enough for the anonymous hordes, or for Kasim, who is growing closer to Lark, just like it used to be between them… In the end, Lark must embrace their right to their messy emotions and learn how to be in love.
The Rumor Game
Published in 2022
From the authors of Tiny Pretty Things?now a Netflix original series?comes a twisty, diverse, and fast-paced drama in the vein of We Were Liars, about a rumor that spirals out of control and sows chaos in a posh private school.
The Rumor Game
Published in 2022
"A juicy, elegant, absolutely flawless thriller with a twist. It's the diverse Gossip Girl we've been waiting for!" ?Tiffany D. Jackson, New York Times best-selling author of Grown and White Smoke "Explosive." ?Entertainment Weekly All it takes is one spark to start a blaze. At Foxham Prep, a posh private school for the children of DC's elite, a single rumor has the power to ruin a life. Nobody knows that better than Bryn. She used to have it all?the perfect boyfriend, a bright future in politics, and even popularity thanks to her best friend, cheer captain Cora. Then one mistake sparked a scandal that burned it all to the ground. Now it's the start of a new school year and the spotlight has shifted: It's geeky Georgie, newly hot after a summer makeover, whose name is on everyone's lips. When a rumor ignites, Georgie rockets up the school's social hierarchy, pitting her and Cora against each other. It grants her Foxham stardom . . . but it also makes her a target. As the rumors grow and morph, blazing like wildfire through the school's social media, all three girls' lives begin to unravel. But one person close to the drama has the power to stop the gossip in its tracks. The question is?do they even want to? From Dhonielle Clayton and Sona Charaipotra, authors of the Tiny Pretty Things duology (now a Netflix series), comes another edge-of-your-seat social thriller perfect for fans of We Were Liars and Cruel Summer.
The Rumor Game
Published in 2022
At Foxham Prep, a posh private school for Washington, D.C.'s elite, a rumor gains momentum as it collects followers on social media, pulling three girls into its path--Bryn, who wants to erase all memories of the mistake she made last summer; cheer captain Cora, who desperately wants to believe in her boyfriend's faithfulness; and shy Georgie, newly hot after a summer at fat camp and ready to reinvent herself--but who can stop a dangerous rumor once it takes on a life of its own?
Cake Eater
Published in 2022
"With a love story for the ages, this vivid tale takes the history we know and recasts it into an exciting, technicolor, future world that challenges what we know here in the present, and how we know it. I loved it! I couldn't put it down!" ?Beth Revis, New York Times bestselling author of the Across the Universe trilogy Decadent, thrilling, and romantic, this Black Mirror-esque retelling of the reign of one Marie Antoinette is perfect for fans of The Belles and American Royals. The year is 3070, and Marie Antoinette has just arrived at the glittering, thrilling palace of Versailles to marry the shy, soft-spoken Louis-Auguste. But beneath the luxurious world lies a sinister underbelly and an uncompromising elite who want to keep Marie and Louis pawns in a deadly game. Will history repeat itself? Or will these doomed lovers outwit their enemies and escape their grisly fate? Cake Eater will take readers to a dazzling world full of breathless luxuries, deadly secrets, and a thrilling romance that attempts to rewrite history itself.
Cake Eater
Published in 2022
"With a love story for the ages, this vivid tale takes the history we know and recasts it into an exciting, technicolor, future world that challenges what we know here in the present, and how we know it. I loved it! I couldn't put it down!" ?Beth Revis, New York Times bestselling author of the Across the Universe trilogy Decadent, thrilling, and romantic, this Black Mirror-esque retelling of the reign of one Marie Antoinette is perfect for fans of The Belles and American Royals. The year is 3070, and Marie Antoinette has just arrived at the glittering, thrilling palace of Versailles to marry the shy, soft-spoken Louis-Auguste. But beneath the luxurious world lies a sinister underbelly and an uncompromising elite who want to keep Marie and Louis pawns in a deadly game. Will history repeat itself? Or will these doomed lovers outwit their enemies and escape their grisly fate? Cake Eater will take readers to a dazzling world full of breathless luxuries, deadly secrets, and a thrilling romance that attempts to rewrite history itself.
Cake Eater
Published in 2022
In the year 3070, App sensation, style icon, and social influencer Marie Antoinette arrives in Versailles to marry Louis-Auguste and together, after witnessing people outside of their gilded world suffering and starving, risk everything to set things right.
Not Your #lovestory
Published in 2020
"Macy Evans dreams of earning enough income from her YouTube channel, R3ntal Wor1d, to leave her small, Midwestern town. But when she meets a boy named Eric at a baseball game, and accidently dumps her hotdog in his lap, her disastrous "meet-cute" becomes the topic of a viral thread. Now it's not loyal subscribers flocking to her channel, it's Internet trolls. And they aren't interested in her reviews of VHS tapes--they only care about her relationship with Eric. Eric is overly eager to stretch out his fifteen minutes of fame, but Macy fears this unwanted attention could sabotage her "real-life" relationships--namely with the shy boy-next-door, Paxton, who she's actually developing feelings for. Macy knows she should shut the lie down, though she can't ignore the advertising money, or the spark she gets in her chest whenever someone clicks on her videos. Eric shouldn't be the only one allowed to reap the viral benefits. But is faking a relationship for clicks and subscribers worth hurting actual people?"-- Provided by publisher.
The Marvelous
Published in 2021
From the author of Let's Talk About Love and If It Makes You Happy, this exuberant YA novel follows six teens locked together in a mansion, contending for a life-changing cash prize in a competition run by a reclusive heiress. Everyone thinks they know Jewel Van Hanen. Heiress turned actress turned social media darling who created the massively popular video-sharing app, Golden Rule. After mysteriously disappearing for a year, Jewel makes her dramatic return with an announcement: she has chosen a few lucky Golden Rule users to spend an unforgettable weekend at her private estate. But once they arrive, Jewel ingeniously flips the script: the guests are now players in an elaborate estate-wide game. And she's tailored every challenge and obstacle to test whether they have what it takes to win-at any cost. Told from the perspective of three dazzling players-Nicole: the new queen of Golden Rule; Luna: Jewel's biggest fan; and Stella: a brilliant outsider-this novel will charm its way into your heart and keep you guessing how it all ends because money isn't the only thing at stake.
The Marvelous
Published in 2021
"Everyone thinks they know Jewel Van Hanen. Heiress turned actress turned social media darling who created the massively popular video-sharing app, Golden Rule. After mysteriously disappearing for a year, Jewel makes her dramatic return with an announcement: she has chosen a few lucky Golden Rule users to spend an unforgettable weekend at her private estate. But once they arrive, Jewel ingeniously flips the script: the guests are now players in an elaborate estate-wide game. And she's tailored every challenge and obstacle to test whether they have what it takes to win--at any cost. Told from the perspective of three dazzling players--Nicole: the new queen of Golden Rule; Luna: Jewel's biggest fan; and Stella: a brilliant outsider--this novel will charm its way into your heart and keep you guessing how it all ends because money isn't the only thing at stake."--Amazon.
The Other Side of Lost
Published in 2018
When she comes to the realization that she has no real friends despite her many followers on social media, Mari decides to hike the John Muir Trail using her cousin's boots and trail diary.
Catfishing on Catnet
Published in 2019
Because her mother is always on the move, sixteen-year-old Steph hasn't lived anywhere longer than six months. Her only constant is an online community called CatNet, a social media site where users upload cat pictures and the admin is CheshireCat, a sentient AI who loves cat pictures. When a threat from Steph's past catches up to her and CheshireCat's existence is discovered, it's up to Steph and her friends, both online and IRL, to save them. A near-future thriller about online privacy and out-of-control technology and the importance of making connections in an increasingly fragmented society.
Ciel
Published in 2020
"Ciel, a gender non-conforming transgender kid with a popular YouTube channel, navigates high school, friendship, and a long-distance relationship. A book for middle graders about a trans character that doesn't focus on the character's transition, or dwell exclusively on negative aspects of being trans."-- Provided by publisher.
Deepfake
Published in 2020
Dara Simons and Will Halpern are head of the senior class at Greenpoint High, competitors for valedictorian, but also dating each other, a fact that they kept secret until Rumor Has It, an anonymous gossip site, spilled the beans--but worse is to come because the site posts a video that seems to show Dara accusing Will of paying someone to take the SAT for him and suddenly Will is under investigation and his relationship with Dara is on the rocks, even though she denies ever having said anything of the sort, and it becomes imperative to find out who is responsible for the fake video and why they are trying to wreck two lives.
The Hive
Published in 2019
In a future where online comments are monitored by the Hive and are met with terrible consequences, Cassie is forced to go on the run after she posts an edgy joke.
No Filter and Other Lies
Published in 2022
You should know, right now, that I?m a liar.? ? They?re usually little lies. Tiny lies. Baby lies. Not so much lies as lie adjacent . ???????????? But they?re still lies. Twenty one-year-old Max Monroe has it all: beauty, friends, and a glittering life filled with adventure. With tons of followers on Instagram, her picture-perfect existence seems eminently enviable. ????????????? ? Except it?s all fake. ????????? ? Max is actually 16-year-old Kat Sanchez, a quiet and sarcastic teenager living in drab Bakersfield, California. Nothing glamorous in her existence?just sprawl, bad house parties, a crap school year, and the awkwardness of dealing with her best friend Hari?s unrequited love. But while Kat?s life is far from perfect, she thrives as Max: doling out advice, sharing beautiful photos, networking with famous influencers, even making a real friend in a follower named Elena. The closer Elena and “Max” get?texting, Snapping, and even calling?the more Kat feels she has to keep up the fa?ade. ??? ? But when one of Max?s posts goes ultra-viral and gets back to the very person she?s been stealing photos from, her entire world ? real and fake ? comes crashing down around her. She has to figure out a way to get herself out of the huge web of lies she?s created without hurting the people she loves. ?? ? But it might already be too late.
No Filter and Other Lies
Published in 2022
You should know, right now, that I?m a liar.? ? They?re usually little lies. Tiny lies. Baby lies. Not so much lies as lie adjacent . ?????????? But they?re still lies. Twenty one-year-old Max Monroe has it all: beauty, friends, and a glittering life filled with adventure. With tons of followers on Instagram, her picture-perfect existence seems eminently enviable. ????????????? ? Except it?s all fake. ????????? ? Max is actually 17-year-old Kat Sanchez, a quiet and sarcastic teenager living in drab Bakersfield, California. Nothing glamorous in her existence?just sprawl, bad house parties, a crap school year, and the awkwardness of dealing with her best friend Hari?s unrequited love. ? But while Kat?s life is far from perfect, she thrives as Max: doling out advice, sharing beautiful photos, networking with famous influencers, even making a real friend in a follower named Elena. The closer Elena and “Max” get?texting, Snapping, and even calling?the more Kat feels she has to keep up the fa?ade. ??? ? But when one of Max?s posts goes ultra-viral and gets back to the very person she?s been stealing photos from, her entire world ? real and fake ? comes crashing down around her. She has to figure out a way to get herself out of the huge web of lies she?s created without hurting the people she loves. ?? ? But it might already be too late. ? A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
No Filter and Other Lies
Published in 2022
Seventeen-year-old Kat Sanchez uses photos of a friend to create a fake Instagram account, but when one of her posts goes viral and exposes Kat's duplicity, her entire world--both real and pretend--comes crashing down around her.
Margot Mertz Takes It Down
Published in 2021
"For the right price, high school junior Margot Mertz will go to the ends of the internet to remove your nip-slip, dick pic, or embarrassing DM. At least that's what it says on her business card. Margot founded a now notorious company that helps students, teachers, even a local weatherman, discreetly clean up their digital shame. And since her parents lost her college fund, Margot is happy to work for anyone... if they can pay, she can clean. But when a fellow student hires her to take down some leaked nudes, Margot discovers a secret revenge porn site featuring Roosevelt High girls. And hell hath no fury like Margot when she sees girls' butts shared without their consent. With the help of an unwitting ally, the popular and uncomfortably handsome Avery Green, Margot will gain access to the far flung cliques of Roosevelt High. Anything to find the mastermind (read: asshole) behind the site. But the more she digs, the deeper and darker the case becomes until Margot realizes that some jobs are so dirty, no one can come away clean. Even her. Gross"-- Provided by publisher.
#MurderTrending
Published in 2018
@doctorfusionbebop: Some 17 y. o. chick named Dee Guerrera was just sent to Alcatraz 2.0 for killing her stepsister. So, how long do you think she'll last? @morrisdavis72195: I hope she meets justice! She'll get what's coming to her! BWAHAHA! @EltonJohnForevzz: Me? I think Dee's innocent. And I hope she can survive. WELCOME TO THE NEAR FUTURE, where good and honest citizens can enjoy watching the executions of society's most infamous convicted felons, streaming live on The Postman app from the suburbanized prison island Alcatraz 2.0. When seventeen-year-old Dee Guerrera wakes up in a haze, lying on the ground of a dimly lit warehouse, she realizes she's about to be the next victim of the app. Knowing hardened criminals are getting a taste of their own medicine in this place is one thing, but Dee refuses to roll over and die for a heinous crime she didn't commit. Can Dee and her newly formed posse, the Death Row Breakfast Club, prove she's innocent before she ends up wrongfully murdered for the world to see? Or will The Postman's cast of executioners kill them off one by one?
#MurderTrending
Published in 2018
WELCOME TO THE NEAR FUTURE, where good and honest citizens can enjoy watching the executions of society's most infamous convicted felons, streaming live on The Postman app from the suburbanized prison island Alcatraz 2.0. When seventeen-year-old Dee Guerrera wakes up in a haze, lying on the ground of a dimly lit warehouse, she realizes she's about to be the next victim of the app. Knowing hardened criminals are getting a taste of their own medicine in this place is one thing, but Dee refuses to roll over and die for a heinous crime she didn't commit. Can Dee and her newly formed posse, the Death Row Breakfast Club, prove she's innocent before she ends up wrongfully murdered for the world to see? Or will The Postman's cast of executioners kill them off one by one?
#MurderTrending
Published in 2018
Falsely accused of murdering her stepsister, seventeen-year-old Dee fights to survive paid assassins on Alcatraz 2.0, the most popular prison on social media.
Margot Mertz Takes It Down
Published in 2021
Veronica Mars meets Moxie in this hilarious and biting YA contemporary novel following Margot Mertz, a girl who runs an internet cleanup business and embarks on a quest to take down a revenge-porn site targeting the girls in her school. For the right price, high school junior Margot Mertz will go to the ends of the internet to remove your nip-slip, dick pic, or embarrassing DM. At least that's what it says on her business card. Margot founded a now notorious company that helps students, teachers, even a local weatherman, discreetly clean up their digital shame. And since her parents lost her college fund, Margot is happy to work for anyone... if they can pay, she can clean. ? But when a fellow student hires her to take down some leaked nudes, Margot discovers a secret revenge porn site featuring Roosevelt High girls. And hell hath no fury like Margot when she sees girls? butts shared without their consent. With the help of an unwitting ally, the popular and uncomfortably handsome Avery Green, Margot will gain access to the far flung cliques of Roosevelt High. Anything to find the mastermind (read: asshole) behind the site. But the more she digs, the deeper and darker the case becomes until Margot realizes that some jobs are so dirty, no one can come away clean. Even her. Gross.
Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous
Published in 2021
Sunny Song's Big Summer Goals: 1. Make Rafael Kim my boyfriend (finally!) 2. Hit 100K followers (almost there...) 3. Have the best last summer of high school ever Not on Sunny's list? Accidentally filming a PG-13 cooking video that goes viral (#browniegate). Extremely not on her list? Being shipped off to a digital-detox farm camp in Iowa (IOWA??) for a whole month. She's trading in her WiFi connection for a butter churn, and if she wants any shot at growing her social media platform this summer, she'll need to find a way back online. But between some unexpected friendships and an alarmingly cute farm boy, Sunny might be surprised by the connections she makes when she's forced to disconnect.
Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous
Published in 2021
A PopSugar Best Book of June! "An absolute joy to read. I completely demolished it one sitting."?Alethea Kontis, NPR.org Korean American social media influencer Sunny is shipped off to a digital detox camp in this hilarious, charming romantic comedy. Perfect for fans of laugh-out-loud coming-of-age stories. Sunny Song's Big Summer Goals: 1) Make Rafael Kim my boyfriend (finally!) 2) Hit 100K followers (almost there...) 3) Have the best last summer of high school ever Not on Sunny's list: accidentally filming a PG-13 cooking video that goes viral (#browniegate). Extremely not on her list: being shipped off to a digital detox farm camp in Iowa (IOWA??) for a whole month. She's traded in her WiFi connection for a butter churn, and if she wants any shot at growing her social media platform this summer, she'll need to find a way back online. But between some unexpected friendships and an alarmingly cute farm boy, Sunny might be surprised by the connections she makes when she's forced to disconnect. Praise for Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous: "Sunny Song is one of the most hilarious, heart-warming, relatable teen characters I've had the pleasure of encountering. A must-have."?Sandhya Menon, New York Times bestselling author of When Dimple Met Rishi "A true delight!"?Helen Hoang, USA Today bestselling author of The Kiss Quotient "Sunny will easily endear herself to many readers."?Booklist "Park smartly and honestly weaves Sunny's nuanced experience as a Korean American into a story that is ultimately about human identity in our advanced age of social networking."?Kirkus Reviews "Suzanne Park smartly explores identity, specifically when it is intertwined with social media...an insightful, pertinent and humorous novel."?Shelf Awareness Also by Suzanne Park: The Perfect Escape
Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous
Published in 2021
"A social media influencer is shipped off to a digital detox summer camp in this funny coming-of-age story"-- Provided by publisher.
Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous
Published in 2021
A social media influencer is shipped off to a digital detox summer camp in this funny coming-of-age story, perfect for fans of Jenny Han's The Summer I Turned Pretty and Love and Gelato. Sunny Song's Big Summer Goals: 1) Make Rafael Kim my boyfriend (finally!) 2) Hit 100K followers (almost there...) 3) Have the best last summer of high school ever Not on Sunny's list: accidentally filming a PG-13 cooking video that goes viral (#browniegate). Extremely not on her list: being shipped off to a digital detox farm camp in Iowa (IOWA??) for a whole month. She's traded in her WiFi connection for a butter churn, and if she wants any shot at growing her social media platform this summer, she'll need to find a way back online. But between some unexpected friendships and an alarmingly cute farm boy, Sunny might be surprised by the connections she makes when she's forced to disconnect.
While You Were Dreaming
Published in 2023
In this debut contemporary YA romance by bestselling author Alisha Rai, a girl with undocumented family members goes viral after saving her crush's life in disguise. A must read for fans of Sandhya Menon and Nicola Yoon. A Phenomenal Book Club Pick! It's a classic story: girl meets boy, girl falls for boy, boy finally notices girl when he sees her in a homemade costume. At least, that's what Sonia Patil is hoping for when she plans to meet her crush at the local comic-con in cosplay. But instead of winning her crush over, Sonia rescues him after he faints into a canal and, suddenly, everything changes. Since she was in disguise, no one knows who the masked do-gooder was . . .but everyone is trying to find out. Sonia can't let that happen—her sister is undocumented, and the girls have been flying under the radar since their mother was deported back to Mumbai. Sonia finds herself hiding from social media detectives and trying to connect with her crush and his family. But juggling crushes and a secret identity might just take superpowers. Can Sonia hide in plain sight forever?
While You Were Dreaming
Published in 2023
In this debut contemporary YA romance by bestselling author Alisha Rai, a girl with undocumented family members goes viral after saving her crush's life in disguise. A must read for fans of Sandhya Menon and Nicola Yoon. A Phenomenal Book Club Pick! It's a classic story: girl meets boy, girl falls for boy, boy finally notices girl when he sees her in a homemade costume. At least, that's what Sonia Patil is hoping for when she plans to meet her crush at the local comic-con in cosplay. But instead of winning her crush over, Sonia rescues him after he faints into a canal and, suddenly, everything changes. Since she was in disguise, no one knows who the masked do-gooder was . . .but everyone is trying to find out. Sonia can't let that happen—her sister is undocumented, and the girls have been flying under the radar since their mother was deported back to Mumbai. Sonia finds herself hiding from social media detectives and trying to connect with her crush and his family. But juggling crushes and a secret identity might just take superpowers. Can Sonia hide in plain sight forever?
While You Were Dreaming
Published in 2023
Sixteen-year-old Indian American Sonia, who has undocumented family members, goes viral after saving her crush James's life.
14 Ways to Die
Published in 2021
Ten-years ago, Jess lost her mother to the Magpie Man, an infamous serial killer who is still at large and planning to kill again. She's going to use her new platform as the star of a YouTube reality series to catch him. That is, if he doesn't catch her first. Jess's online show means that everyone is talking about her mother's murder case. But, fame comes with its downsides. The whole world is watching her every move. And, it's hard to know who she can trust. Could the Magpie Man be lurking closer to her than she thought? Is he watching her right now?
Killer Content
Published in 2021
Six teen influencers begin turning on each other when one member of their group is found dead in the infinity pool of the Malibu beachfront mansion where they all live.
How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe
Published in 2021
The Hating Game meets I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter in this irresistible romance starring a Mexican American teen who discovers love and profound truths about the universe when she spends her summer on a road trip across the country. When her twin sister reaches social media stardom, Moon Fuentez accepts her fate as the ugly, unwanted sister hidden in the background, destined to be nothing more than her sister's camerawoman. But this summer, Moon also takes a job as the "merch girl" on a tour bus full of beautiful influencers and her fate begins to shift in the best way possible. Most notable is her bunkmate and new nemesis, Santiago Phillips, who is grumpy, combative, and also the hottest guy Moon has ever seen. Moon is certain she hates Santiago and that he hates her back. But as chance and destiny (and maybe, probably, close proximity) bring the two of them in each other's perpetual paths, Moon starts to wonder if that's really true. She even starts to question her destiny as the unnoticed, unloved wallflower she always thought she was. Could this summer change Moon's life as she knows it?
How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe
Published in 2021
When seventeen-year-old Star Fuentez reaches social media stardom, her polar-opposite twin, Moon, becomes "merch girl" on a tour bus full of beautiful influencers and the grumpy but attractive Santiago Philips.
Follow Your Arrow
Published in 2021
For the last several years teenager CeCe Ross has been in a serious relationship with her girlfriend Silvie, enjoying their career as social media influencers with thousands of fans, posting about fashion and relationship goals, and totally abandoning the liberal politics that were the subjects of her original social media profile; than suddenly in their senior year Silvie breaks up with her, and CeCe meets Josh, a new boy who is not interested in online profiles but is interested in her--and while CeCe has always known she is bisexual, she is not prepared to find herself in the middle of an online storm where her public and private lives collide.
Never Coming Home
Published in 2022
Ten teen influencers arrive on Unknown Island expecting to find a tropical paradise, but instead they discover a deserted resort, poisonous snakes, and secrets worth killing for.
Never Coming Home
Published in 2022
The beach read you have been dying for! When ten of America's hottest teenage influencers are invited to an exclusive island resort, things are sure to get wild. But murder isn't what anyone expected. Will anyone survive? Everyone knows Unknown Island?it?s the world?s most?exclusive?destination.?Think?white sand beaches, turquoise seas, and luxury accommodations. Plus, it?s invite only, no one over twenty-one allowed, and it?s absolutely free. Who wouldn?t want to go? ? The mysterious resort launched with a viral marketing campaign, and now the whole world is watching as?the mysterious resort?opens its doors to?the First Ten, the ten elite?influencers?specifically?chosen to be the first to experience everything Unknown Island has to offer. You know them.?There?s?the gamer, the beauty blogger, the rich girl, the superstar, the?junior?politician, the environmentalist, the DJ, the CEO, the chef, and the athlete. ? What they don?t know is that they weren?t invited to Unknown Island for their following?they were invited for their secrets. Everyone is hiding a deadly one, and it looks like someone?s decided it?s payback time.?Unknown Island isn?t a vacation, it?s a trap.?And it?s beginning to look like the First Ten?no matter how influential?are never coming home.
Never Coming Home
Published in 2022
The beach read you have been dying for! When ten of America's hottest teenage influencers are invited to an exclusive island resort, things are sure to get wild. But murder isn't what anyone expected. Will anyone survive? Everyone knows Unknown Island?it?s the world?s most?exclusive?destination.?Think?white sand beaches, turquoise seas, and luxury accommodations. Plus, it?s invite only, no one over twenty-one allowed, and it?s absolutely free. Who wouldn?t want to go? ? The mysterious resort launched with a viral marketing campaign, and now the whole world is watching as?the mysterious resort?opens its doors to?the First Ten, the ten elite?influencers?specifically?chosen to be the first to experience everything Unknown Island has to offer. You know them.?There?s?the gamer, the beauty blogger, the rich girl, the superstar, the?junior?politician, the environmentalist, the DJ, the CEO, the chef, and the athlete. ? What they don?t know is that they weren?t invited to Unknown Island for their following?they were invited for their secrets. Everyone is hiding a deadly one, and it looks like someone?s decided it?s payback time.?Unknown Island isn?t a vacation, it?s a trap.?And it?s beginning to look like the First Ten?no matter how influential?are never coming home.