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You Should See Me In A Crown by Leah Johnson


 

Synopsis

 

"Liz Lighty has always believed she's too black, too poor, too awkward to shine in her small, rich, prom-obsessed midwestern town. But it's okay -- Liz has a plan that will get her out of Campbell, Indiana, forever: attend the uber-elite Pennington College, play in their world-famous orchestra, and become a doctor.


But when the financial aid she was counting on unexpectedly falls through, Liz's plans come crashing down . . . until she's reminded of her school's scholarship for prom king and queen. There's nothing Liz wants to do less than endure a gauntlet of social media trolls, catty competitors, and humiliating public events, but despite her devastating fear of the spotlight she's willing to do whatever it takes to get to Pennington.


The only thing that makes it halfway bearable is the new girl in school, Mack. She's smart, funny, and just as much of an outsider as Liz. But Mack is also in the running for queen. Will falling for the competition keep Liz from her dreams . . . or make them come true?"


Book Links: Goodreads, Bookshop


 

My Thoughts

 

This book was too freaking cute for words! I could not stop listening to this and grinning like an idiot any time Liz and Mack were around each other. There was so much heart in this one I honestly could not stop reading.


Beyond being a super adorable romance, this book tackles a lot. From the growing pains of friendships and family to the racist systems that are set up to keep benefiting white people. I also thought that the friendship dynamics in this book were just so fantastic and spot on. And the message that the best way to achieve your goals is to above all just be yourself was loud and clear and I absolutely loved it.


This book truly deserves all the praise it gets! I most definitely recommend this one!

 

Genre: lgbtqia+, contemporary, ya


Representation: Black MC, sapphic MC


Content Warnings: homophobia, transphobia, racism, HP references, parental death (past), anxiety, bullying, disease, chronic illness, forced outing, panic attacks


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