Maldonado's witty rom-com and coming-of-age story explores the life and times of Charlie Vega, who feels out of place as a fat, Brown girl in her neighborhood of slim, white suburbanites. Intelligent, creative, and charismatic, Charlie just wants to be liked, but she struggles against her mother's body-shaming toxicity, and a negative self-image has impacted her confidence and happiness, even as she warily pursues a relationship with a boy who might have a romantic connection to one of her closest friends. With a memorable cast that brings fresh faces and voices to a typically homogenous genre, this title focuses on the positives of the often difficult and confusing high-school experience: genuine friendships and allies, powerful first crushes, and discovering oneself. There are, of course, plenty of mortifying moments filled with drama, suspense, chisme, and even betrayal, but Charlie's optimistic outlook, despite the challenges that come with her identity, will attract a widespread audience of romance lovers and expand their idea of what a romantic lead can look like.

In this winsome, body-affirmative YA novel set in New England, a self-described fat Puerto Rican American teen wrestles with insecurity and familial pressure to lose weight as she journeys toward love and self-acceptance. Sixteen-year-old high schooler Charlotte "Charlie" Vega has never dated anyone but yearns for the real-life version of the swoonworthy romances she writes online. In her day-to-day life, Charlie contents herself with daydreaming ("I imagine being kissed about a hundred times a day") and hanging out with her supportive best friend Amelia, who is Black. That all changes, however, when her handsome Korean classmate and coworker, Brian, expresses an interest in dating her. But as Charlie's insecurities about her worthiness as a romantic interest begin to surface, she must work through her doubts before she sabotages the relationships closest to her heart. In a book containing themes reminiscent of Julie Murphy's Dumplin', debut author Mal- donado melds sunny prose with incisive commentary on society's fatphobia, complex mother-daughter relationships, and the struggle to fully love oneself. Though the story's narrative beats tread familiar territory, Charlie's emotional arc hits all the right notes, resulting in a warm and insightful coming-of-age tale. Ages 14--up. Agent: Tamar Rydzinski, Context Literary. (Feb.)

Debut author Maldonado brings charming Charlie Vega to life as an endearing rom-com protagonist. At 16, Charlie, who has a White mom and Puerto Rican dad, has never been kissed. This is just one of the many reasons she views herself as second fiddle to Amelia, her charming, confident, pansexual best friend who is "the walking embodiment of Black excellence." Another big reason is that Amelia is beautiful--and Charlie is fat. Though Charlie is working to inculcate the body-positive messages of the #fatfashion influencers she follows, she cannot deny that classmates, especially boys, and even her own mother seem to prefer Amelia to her. She cannot blame them. To her, Amelia is perfect too, as well as being an amazing best friend. When Brian, her Korean American co-worker and classmate, begins to pursue Charlie, it is a dream come true. But a dark seed of mistrust lies buried within her. Before Charlie can truly love herself, let alone others, she has to address insidious self-doubt about her own worth caused in no small part by the constant comparisons she makes. Though readers will expect a happy ending, it is not a foregone conclusion. Charlie's struggles are authentic and raw while Maldonado's bright prose makes for a page-turner. Charlie inhabits an inviting, diverse world in an unnamed Connecticut town. An overdue and welcome ingénue. (Fiction. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Gr 9 Up--Charlie Vega is struggling, and who can blame her? She's continuously bullied by her mother about her weight, resigned to being overshadowed by her thin and popular best friend Amelia, withdrawn from her Puerto Rican extended family after the death of her father, and tossed aside by her admittedly unworthy crush. When she meets a new coworker, Brian, it's not easy to let go of her insecurities in pursuit of her own happiness. Charlie's romantic journey is adorable, perfectly encompassing all the giddy hopes and insecurities of first love. Maldonado dumps all the old tropes that have so often portrayed teenage boys as being manipulative and mean until finally realizing that maybe a female character is worthwhile. Here, love interest Brian is constant, compassionate, and kind from the beginning. The teenage characters act out with some high school melodrama, especially Charlie and Amelia as they adjust to their changing friendship. However, they own and apologize for their actions, demonstrating an emotional maturity and self-awareness not always credited to teenagers. Charlie's mother's tentative acceptance of her isn't convincing enough to overcome the fat-shaming and emotional abuse she demonstrates throughout the story, however, it's Charlie's personal growth that matters the most. She starts out knowing that she should love and accept herself, but believing it is hard. Getting there is worth the bumps along the way. The characters are diverse and authentic--Charlie's dad was Puerto Rican and her mother is white, Amelia is pansexual and Black, and Brian is Korean American with two moms. VERDICT Sweet and sincere, Charlie Vega's journey is a delight.--Alyssa Annico, Youngstown State Univ., OH