But after she incites a fight during playoffs with her long-time rival, Leticia Ortiz, everything she’s been working toward seems to disappear.Įmbarrassed and desperate to be anywhere but home, Vale escapes to her beloved childhood soccer camp for a summer of relaxation and redemption…only to find out that she and the endlessly aggravating Leticia will be co-captaining a team that could play in front of college scouts. Her friends, her future, and her father’s intense expectations are all wrapped up in the beautiful game. Valentina “Vale” Castillo-Green’s life revolves around soccer.

I don't think anyone will be surprised when I say that Racquel Marie has done it again: this is truly young adult contemporary at its best.' -Jonny Garza Villa, author of the Pura Belpré Honor Book Fifteen Hundred Miles from the SunĪ queer YA romance about rival soccer players from author Racquel Marie, perfect for fans of She Drives Me Crazy. It's a story of grief and loss, of legacy, of culture, of holding the things and people that bring us joy close.

And keeping Alexa's secret makes Dalia realize one of her own: She might have more-than-friend feelings for Rani.You Don't Have a Shot ' You Don't Have a Shot has every ingredient that makes rivals-to-lovers such a great trope, but it's also so much more. But what starts out as a week of funnel cakes and Lazy River rides goes off the rails when Dalia discovers that Alexa's girlfriend is joining the trip. Luckily Dalia comes up with a new plan: If she joins Alexa on her trip and brings Rani, the new girl from her swim team, along maybe she can have the perfect summer after all. Withĭalia's future stepsister Alexa heading back to college soon, the grown-ups want the girls to spend the last weeks of summer bonding-meaning Alexa has to cancel the amusement park road trip she's been planning for months. But when her dad suddenly announces that he's engaged, Dalia's schemes come to a screeching halt. Would-be amusement park aficionado Dalia only has two items on her summer bucket list: (1) finally ride a roller coaster and (2) figure out how to make a new best friend.

'Dalia’s journey to self-discovery is refreshingly honest, and this entire cast of characters will steal your heart.” – Maulik Pancholy, actor and Stonewall Honor-winning author of The Best At It In this Stonewall Honor book, a week-long amusement park road trip becomes a true roller coaster of emotion when Dalia realizes she has more-than-friend feelings for her new bestie.

Almost Flying by Jake Maia Arlow