Available now from Balzer + Bray / HarperCollins!
From the author of Happily Ever Afters, comes the highly anticipated companion novel, One True Loves, another irresistible YA romantic comedy full of self-discovery, Black love, and a dreamy European cruise.
Lenore Bennett has always been a force. A star artist and style icon at her high school, she’s a master in the subtle art of not giving a . . . well, you know what. But now that graduation is here, she’s a little less sure.
She’s heading to NYU in the fall with a scarlet U (for “undeclared”) written across her chest. Her parents always remind her that Black kids don’t have the luxury of figuring it out as they go—they have to be 110 percent prepared. But it’s a lot of pressure to be her ancestors’ wildest dreams when Lenore’s not even sure what her dreams are yet.
When her family embarks on a post-graduation Mediterranean cruise, her friend Tessa is sure Lenore’s in for a whirlwind romance. But Lenore knows that doesn’t happen in real life. At least not to girls like her.
Then she meets Alex Lee. After their parents bond over the Cupid Shuffle, she ends up stuck with him for the remainder of the cruise. He’s a hopeless romantic and a golden boy with a ten-year plan. In short, he’s irritating as hell.
But as they get to know each other during the picturesque stops across Europe, he may be able to help her find something else she’s been looking for, even if she doesn’t want to admit it to herself: love.
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Praise for One True Loves:
An Indie Next Pick
One of NPR’s Best Books of 2022
Target YA Book Club pick, February 2022
“One True Loves is not only wonderfully romantic, funny and charming—it has genuine depth. I loved watching Lenore learn to open herself up to love and to the wider world around her.”
–Nicola Yoon, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“I love this book! One True Loves is laugh-out-loud funny, and every character is so tenderly drawn. Elise Bryant manages something quietly revolutionary in giving us Black love and Black joy on a European cruise, while also deftly and thoughtfully examining the burdens of representation and the beauty of the Black family.”
–Christina Hammonds Reed, New York Times bestselling author of The Black Kids
“One True Loves is a fantastic tale full of shenanigans, escapades, and lighthearted banter, while also delving into deeper issues of race and the perception of the successful futures of young people of color.”
–NPR
“In this companion novel to Happily Ever Afters, Bryant maintains her contemporary yet timeless authorial style that is a breath of fresh air for the genre. The dynamic characters and relationships and authentic tone make for an engaging read. Charm and humor balance the portions of the novel that delve into more serious topics like race, the pressures of familial and societal expectations, and mental health. A sweet love story for the realistic romantics of the world.”
–Kirkus Reviews
“The narrative does so much more than tick the enemies-to-lovers box. Lenore shines as a compelling female lead searching as much for a sense of self as for a soul mate, and her broader family story gives a depth and sensitivity to her struggles. Alex, meanwhile, as handsome and charming as a leading man should be, is likewise flawed, honest, and supportive. Thoughtful commentary on race throughout stands as an essential part of the story, as Lenore reflects on how being Black affects her decisions, her friendships, her love life, and the future she thinks she should have. A companion novel to Bryant’s previous Happily Ever Afters, this novel will delight earlier fans and garner new ones.”
–Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“This summer romance seamlessly packs vacation fun alongside serious discussions of race and mental health….Supportive relationships, even in unexpected places, and flawed characters coming into their own make this novel especially compelling. With its twists on beloved tropes, this a clear pick for fans of Sandhya Menon and Stephanie Perkins.”
–ALA Booklist