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Whit Rivera LOVES Fall. Inspired by her grandparents' love story and driven by the fact that this is her senior year of high school, Whit is determined to plan the perfect Fall Fest. However, Whit is also struggling with a recent PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) diagnosis that has changed her body and the way she feels about herself. She is also contending with a recent breakup, reconnecting with her two best friends who she's avoided all summer, and her younger sister who seems to be pulling away. To top it all off, to plan Fall Fest, her teacher pairs her up with her 6th grade ex-boyfriend, Zay.
Full of humor and love, Crystal Maldonado has created another layered story filled with evolving family relationships, complex friendships, and a new crush that feel all too real. Paired with flirty banter that will make you swoon; this is the perfect book to cozy up with any time of the year. So, pick up a PSL (pumpkin spice latte) and enjoy!
Could you plan the Fall Formal with your (hot) nemesis? Whit Rivera is about to find out.
Frenemies Whit and Zay have been at odds for years (ever since he broke up with her in, like, the most embarrassing way imaginable), so when they’re forced to organize the fall formal together, it's a literal disaster. Sparks fly as Whitney—type-A, passionate, a perfectionist, and a certified sweater-weather fanatic—butts heads with Zay, a dry, relaxed skater boy who takes everything in stride. But not all of those sparks are bad. . . .
Has their feud been a big misunderstanding all along?
Blisteringly funny and profoundly well-observed, The Fall of Whit Rivera is a snug and cozy autumn romcom that also tackles weightier topics like PCOS, chronic illness, sexuality, fatphobia, Latine identity, and class. Funny, honest, insightful, romantic, and poignant, it is classic Crystal Maldonado—and it will have her legion of fans absolutely swooning.
A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
"Meaningful. . . Multidimensional. . . An important addition to YA literature."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"A celebration of love in all its forms—family, friends, romance, and (especially!) self. Whit Rivera's wry, optimistic voice will linger happily in your mind long after you turn the last page."—Monica Gomez-Hira, author of Once Upon a Quinceañera
"Satisfying and delightful... Maldonado shines!"—Kelly Jensen, editor and author of (Don't) Call Me Crazy, Body Talk, and Here We Are: Feminism for the Real World
About the Author
Crystal Maldonado is a young adult author with a lot of feelings. Her debut novel, Fat Chance, Charlie Vega, is a New England Book Award winner, a Cosmopolitan Best New Book, and a POPSUGAR Best New YA Novel, while her sophmore novel, No Filter and Other Lies, was a POPSUGAR and Seventeen Best New YA. By day, Crystal works in higher ed marketing, and by night, is a writer who loves Beyoncé, shopping, spending too much time on her phone, and being extra. Her work has also been published in Latina, BuzzFeed, and the Hartford Courant. She lives in Western Massachusetts with her husband, daughter, and dog. Find her everywhere @crystalwrote or CrystalWrote.com.
Praise For…
"A pumpkin-spice-latte-flavored treat. . . ."—PEOPLE Magazine
★ "A sentimental story about friendship, family, and love as sweet as a pumpkin spice latte."—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
"Maldonado wraps this sweet romance in a satisfying story of self-acceptance, surrounding Whit with a fully realized cast of family and friends. Readers will swoon as they watch Whit and Zay fall for each other, but they'll love watching Whit fall in love with herself even more."—Booklist
"This novel celebrates the less than perfect with a lot of Rory Gilmore energy and some Gabi, a Girl in Pieces."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
"Vivid prose by Maldonado (No Filter and Other Lies), paired with ample romantic and lighthearted antics, aids in levying serious interrogations of anti-fatness, chronic illness, and medical gaslighting, making for a compassionate and cozy read."—Publishers Weekly
