This was a classic relationship sabotage adventure. If your favorite part of The Parent Trap was terrorizing Meredith and you always wanted Chessy and Martin to be your parents, this middle grade book is for you.

I love a good enemies to besties storyline and a short wholesome story that stills packs a punch. This has both of those things.

I wanted to like this book, I enjoy the inclusion of the lgbt community , Lesbians, non binary, transgender ect.

My issue is I really can’t stand the main characters personality, or how they try to sabotage their mothers relationship because of one interaction that happens with their mothers girlfriends son.

The constant, crying, whining and selfishness of the main character made me DNF at 32%

Thank you Netgalley Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends

Twelve year old Piper is going through a lot. It's zir first year of middle school, ze recently switched up pronouns, and there was a recent disastrous event at the school dance that left zem with a new mortal enemy: Colton the soccer bro. And now to make matters worse, zir mom, zir rock, has a girlfriend and they're getting pretty serious. Like, introductions serious. At which point Piper finds out that Gwinny, the girlfriend, is Colton's mom. And she's bringing everyone on a cruise to really kickstart the family. Given that this is absolutely catastrophic, Piper, ever the planner, starts scheming to ruin the vacation and break up the moms, even going so far as to recruit Colton to also help wreck things. But as the vacation continues and the plan as well, ze starts to realize that maybe this isn't the right course of action.
This was a cute little book. I liked how casually Piper's queerness is treated throughout the book, and Colton's character development/reveal was very satisfying. There's also a lot of Muppet discussion. It's a nice middle-grade novel that's funny silly and ultimately very sweet.

A fun middle grade reverse Parent trap spring break on a cruise ship book that sees two sixth graders whose moms are dating working together to break them up while their families take a vacation. I loved the nonbinary rep, the supportive parent relationship and the fun cruise setting. There's also an important message about people being deeper than they seem at first and that no one has an easy life. Lighthearted with tons of emotional depth. Highly recommended for fans of books like Family week and Linus and Etta could use a win. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

I quite enjoyed this reverse Parent Trap of a story. Some of the antics felt off and Piper annoyed me more times than I would have liked, but overall, I found it to be a fun and enjoyable story of family, belonging, finding ones identity, and ultimately, love. I definitely recommend.

This was an absolute delight! This is a reverse parent trap kind of story about two teens trying to break up their moms on a cruise! It's a fun coming of age story featuring two extremely loving parents. This would be an excellent addition to the library of any middle grades reader.

I really enjoyed this terrific middle grade coming of age read! As much as I love The Parent Trap, a reverse Parent Trap is almost as fun (one of my favorites is To Night Owl From Dogfish). This one had me laughing but it also pulled on my heartstrings! A delightful read just in time for Pride, with lots of queer rep including a nonbinary main character who uses ze/zir pronouns.

6th graders Piper (ze/zir) and Colton, who are already on questionable terms due to an incident at a recent school dance where kids made fun of them for dressing alike, don't want their moms to continue dating. Even though their moms seem to be a good balance! Piper is worried that zir relationship with zir mom will change, since it's always been just the two of them. Colton doesn't seem to care either way, but is game to follow Piper's plan to break the moms up.

When the four of them end up taking a vacation on a cruise together, shenanigans erupt. Mostly due to Piper and Colton's plans. But once things start going according to plan, Piper realizes that maybe what ze wanted was actually not what ze wants after all.

A great story of belonging, family, friendship, and so much more. Recommended for ages 9+.

Okay… going into this I knew I had to lower my expectations for rational choices bc the main character is a child. But ultimately I just couldn’t move past some of the choices made. I think this one would be a wonderful hit with extraordinary representation for the age level it is intended for. However, I found myself having to push through this one. It isn’t for me but that is alright because I am not the intended audience. I still want to give this one a higher rating because the representation and mentality alone of the main character was so on point. Overall a cute story full of shenanigans.

Going Overboard is a super fun MG read with a non-binary protagonist! I loved this one! The cruise ship setting was fun, and obviously written by someone who has been on a cruise before. I love Parent Trap-ish storylines, and the chaos of this one did not disappoint! Definitely pick up for summer fun, positive LGBTQIA+ characters, and some good-natured mischief.

Thanks to NetGalley, Caroline Huntoon, and Macmillan Children's for the chance to read and review! My opinions are my own

Super cute middle grade novel about a nonbinary middle-schooler scheming to break up zir mom's new relationship after realizing she's dating zir's school nemesis.

Piper is a great protagonist for middle grade fiction. Ze wants to be outgoing, but is still too shy, afraid of major change, and struggles with feelings of what ze wants vs what is actually right. Piper and zir mom's relationship is great, she's very supportive and loving while still being a person in her own right - and even better that Piper realizes this too! I was initially thinking ze acts too much like a brat, but the guilt is well explored and will resonate with young readers. I do think the other boy, Colton, could have been more developed or had more of an opportunity to show his personality. There are little moments, but I wanted more from him as the two kids end up bonding.

The plot is fast paced, you're not beaten over the head with the moral of the story, plus it's really cool to see a nonbinary mc with neopronouns without it being The Main Thing.

Overall highly recommend!

A sweet middle grade book that tackles themes of family and change. Piper is a nonbinary middle schooler with such a supportive mom. But when Mom gets a new girlfriend Gwinny, and things are getting serious, Piper plans a breakup plot with Gwinny's son Colton.

This had some touching moments and Pip's chaos and confusion and emotions were very middle-school relatable. I also haven't seen much nonbinary representation in the middle grade sphere and I think it was a very big positive of this book.

The pacing was a little all over the place and this left me feeling like the ending was rushed and unfinished (some plot points weren't fully wrapped up, especially concerning Pip's friend Tru). I also wish we got a little more from Gwinny besides being "Mom's girlfriend."

As a middle grade book, the themes and representation were on point.

This is a cute middle grade story about Piper, a nonbinary 6th grader. Piper goes to a dance and has an embarrassing moment with a boy named Colton. Lo and behold, Piper's mom is dating Colton's mom, and, SURPRISE! Colton's mom invites Piper and zir mom on a cruise. Piper decides ze needs to break up the moms because ze can not imagine anything worse than being tied to Colton.

This was a fine book. It touches on some important topics about blended families and gender nonconformity. I think it'd be enjoyable for middle schoolers wanting representation for those aspects.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

Review 8/10🩵

This book follows two young teens who are attempting to break up their parents while on a spring break cruise together.

I was immediately drawn in by the boat setting and queer representation. The MC, Piper, uses neopronouns and I haven’t seen that in a middle grade book before! The queer representation was really wonderful.

I also liked the various cast of characters. Even though the book was quite short there was still time for everyone to have well round personalities. The setting was just as fun as I anticipated and kept the story upbeat when the plot was more serious at times. The book did a really great job balancing the various tones of the story. It also painted the emotional landscape really well. Even though I didn’t agree with Piper and Colton’s plan, you understood them and were rooting for them to grow.

Overall an enjoyable middle grade! Thanks to NetGalley and Feiwel and Friends for a copy of this book.

I loved this reverse parent trap book! I love a book that has queer women parents in it, what amazing representation, and for Piper to be nonbinary with neopronouns was excellent also. This was just the perfect little middle grade nugget of emotion and fun. Recommended!

Okay so Going Overboard by Caroline Huntoon was… fine. It had some cute moments, some solid character stuff, and I appreciate the nonbinary rep with the main character, Georgie. The cruise ship setting was kind of fun in a chaotic, reality-TV-show-meets-theater-kid way, but it also made the story feel a little boxed in after a while—like we were just looping through the same deck drama over and over.

I think my main issue was that the plot didn’t fully go anywhere. Like, we had potential for something really deep with the grief, the identity exploration, the messy relationships—and there were glimpses! But it kinda skimmed the surface instead of diving in. Also, the romance felt like an afterthought, which isn’t a crime, but if you’re picking this up hoping for swoon, you might leave a little dry.

All that said, I didn’t hate it! It had a good heart, and I think younger readers or anyone who’s into theater kid chaos will probably vibe with it more than I did. Just don’t go in expecting a full emotional shipwreck. 3 out of 5 stars from me.

Piper is happy the way things are. They have come out as non-binary, and that is feeling right. Their mother has been single their whole life, and that suites them. So they are a little dismayed when not only does their mom get serious about Gwinny, but they also find out they are going on a cruise with them, and Gwinny’s son, Colton, who Piper knows from school, and doesn’t like.


But, both Colton and Piper don’t want their parents to marry, and they figure the only way to stop it is to show how incompatible they are, by always fighting and getting in trouble. Problem is, of course, Piper begins to second guess themselves. Colton isn’t that bad, and Gwinny does make their mother happy.


The blurb for the book talks about this being a reverse Parent Trap, which it is in a way. But if that gets you reading the book, then yes, distribute it that way. I liked how Piper being non-binary wasn’t the point of the book. It was just an aspect of them. And of course their mom and Gwinny were lesbian/bi, and that wasn’t make a big thing either, which is just perfect.


I enjoyed the story, though I caught on quicker than Piper, that they shouldn’t break the two up. But isn't’ that what is the fun part of reading, when you get it before the main character does?


Thanks to Netgaley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is coming out the 27th of May 2025.

3.5 stars, rounded up.

I'll say at the outset: I liked a number of things about this, even if I had some reservations.

On the plus side, Piper's voice is really clear throughout, and I always understood zir motivations. Zir relationship with zir mom is the driving force behind most of the dubious decisions Piper makes throughout the book, and I think they will be clear to many young readers with parents who are newly dating, and who fear losing their attention (or just fear change in general).

My biggest complaint was how plot-driven this could be at times, in the sense that the characters would do things that didn't seem organic. For example, Piper decides that ze's going to break up the moms, and then a chapter or two later has a conversation with Tru in which Tru suggests the same thing and Piper is like, "What a wild idea, how would I even do that?" The resolution was also VERY rushed, and I wish we'd spent more time on almost all the relationships. Tru (a Black transfemme character) had the potential to be really interesting but came across as more token, and Gwinny (Mom's girlfriend) never felt particularly developed. The writing style made Piper sound pretty mature and self-aware at times, which was one reason some of the sillier plot stuff came across as forced or out of place. Even without plot changes, I would have enjoyed this more if the story didn't frequently gloss over moments of reflection and rush to the next thing as quickly as possible. Then again, it is a middle grade work.

Overall, this was a lot of fun. I liked it, I just saw places where the story could have been stronger. In general, I prefer books that place more focus on character than external action, so many of my hangups are based on personal preference, and thus rounded up.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Note for NetGalley only: this book is scheduled in the Trans Rights Readathon 2025 release graphic.]

This middle grade novel is a clever reverse-Parent Trap story that follows Piper Shapiro, a nonbinary kid who's grappling with the changes in their family dynamic when their mom, Noura, starts dating Gwinny. Piper's bond with Noura is beautifully depicted, filled with spontaneous adventures and open communication, making their relationship a joy to read about. Enter Colton -- Gwinny's son, and part of Piper's latest humiliation, and their reluctant partner-in-crime as they hatch a plan to break up their parents and keep their lives as they know it.

What I loved most about this book is how Huntoon balances humor with heartfelt moments. The cruise setting adds a fun twist to the chaos. And, as Piper and Colton navigate their mission, they discover that maybe change isn't so bad after all. This story is a delightful exploration of love, identity, and the complexities of family life -- making it a must read for kids and adults alike!

This is an ultimately heartwarming book that would do well as a movie adaptation. Think a reverse parent trap, which one of the characters mentions herself. However my enjoyment of the book was significantly decreased by how stunningly self absorbed the MC (Piper) is. I think the story is meant to be lighthearted, but it's hard to maintain that vibe when everyone is expected to and does cater to Piper's every passing emotion and (at times unhinged) insecurities. The entire premise of the novel is reliant on a single interaction at a dance, wherein other kids comment on the physical similarities between Piper and Colton (these appear to be dark hair of a similar length and both wearing a white t-shirt and flannel). Piper responds by freezing and nearly crying, whereas Colton passes off the awkwardness with a not particularly. nice, but also not at all cruel, joke about Piper's reaction. Cue a complete meltdown from Piper who views the interaction as traumatic and decides the Colton (whose name Piper could not even remember in the first scene, despite being classmates in three classes) is some sort of villain. This could maybe be written off as the antics of young kids, except every other character (including Colton, who, frankly, comes off more like 52 year old psychoanalyst) is consistently more mature and less convinced the world revolves exclusively around themselves than Piper.

Very fun, sweet middle grade read! Piper and their loved ones are well-developed, compelling characters. It's easy for the reader to empathize with Piper's desire to avoid getting a new step-parent, especially because Piper's mom did seem to be taking things way too fast for any reasonable 8th grader to adjust to. Meeting your mom's girlfriend and her son, and then spending a week on a cruise with them a few days later? Of course Piper freaked out! The interaction between Colton and Piper at the dance was big enough to be understandably upsetting, but also insignificant enough that it makes sense how Piper and Colton could reconcile and become friends. I read this book in one sitting, and I look forward to giving it to library patrons.