Arden Grey

Arden is sixteen, and her life feels unsteady. Her mother has moved out, and her father and younger brother refuse to talk about it. At school, a classmate named Tanner keeps taunting her about her sexuality, even though she has never made it public. Arden knows she is drawn to girls, but she suspects she may be asexual. What keeps her going is her passion for shooting on film and Jamie, the one friend she can always count on.

That changes when Jamie, who is trans, begins dating Caroline and becomes harder to depend on. Arden's anxiety about their friendship keeps growing. Is she simply jealous, or is something about Jamie's relationship actually unhealthy? The question leads her to rethink her relationship with her absent mother and to see how much of it was not okay.

Ray Stoeve's novel is full of strong feelings, first loves, and relationships that turn toxic. Its honest, layered look at identity and family is ultimately about finding your place in the world and searching for the love and community you deserve.