Adjoa’s debut is as emotionally rich as it is narratively layered. Jae and Derek’s relationship is built with care and realism; their eventual trust is rooted in understanding, a love of creativity, and the shared experience of having non-white fathers who didn’t fully pass on their cultures to their children. . . . A touching, vulnerable romance navigating gut-wrenching conflict to deliver the ultimate relief of catharsis.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Sharply rendered poems by various characters are interspersed throughout the protagonists’ compelling and unique alternating narration, and Jae and Derek’s electric chemistry leaps off the page.
—Publishers Weekly

Adjoa’s debut has developed complex characters in Jae and Derek and deftly creates empathy for their situations through poetry.
—School Library Journal

Characters’ layers are revealed, their complexity captivating readers with empathy as secrets on both sides unfold and an enemies-to-lovers romance ignites. Secondary characters bring humor into heavy situations. Prose with periodic engaging free verse, this debut pairs brilliantly with Hannah V. Sawyerr’s Truth Is (2025).
—Booklist

The prose itself takes on a lyrical cadence—every line feels as if it was written with meticulous care. The focus on teen autonomy grounds the novel, which manages to avoid becoming preachy as characters, both main and secondary, learn to respect others’ needs and make their own decisions. Hand this to readers looking for a deep and meaningful romance that doesn’t shy away from tough issues.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books