This debut novel told from alternating points of view offers a young adult love story that’s messy, awkward, and weirdly wonderful—just like life.

Rae struggles over masking her autism, navigating social situations and telling people exactly what she thinks—whether they like it or not. Braden acts Just Fine even as his anxiety sends him spiraling over things like quitting the basketball team and the air quality in the cafeteria. Braden and Rae don’t quite fit in, which makes it even harder to survive high school. When they meet as student aides in the Special Needs classroom, their worlds collide. Together they face down bullies, fake bomb threats and the terrifying vulnerability of first love. 

For anyone who’s ever been called a freak, felt too much, or wondered if their quirks made them unlovable, this raw, funny, and fiercely compassionate neurodivergent love story champions owning your oddness, standing up when it’s easier to disappear, and finding that person who doesn’t ask you to be, or pretend to be, “normal.”