Picture-Perfect Boyfriend

March 15, 2023
When her imaginary boyfriend appears in real life, an aspiring photographer must be honest with her family--and herself--about her dreams and ambitions. When Kenzie Reed arrives in Maui with her family for vacation, her boyfriend, Jacob Miller, is at the airport to surprise her. He's cute and fun and knows all about her, but there's one big problem: She made him up. Knowing that her parents would be happier if she were more like her sister, Alana--organized, serious, dating the right kind of guy, and preparing to join the family optometry practice--Kenzie quashed the exuberant parts of herself, including her love of nature photography, and invented a boring, stable long-distance boyfriend. Her parents have been very happy with the changes she's made, but now that her formerly imaginary boyfriend is somehow there in the flesh, she knows time is running out until her lies are revealed. But who is this Fake Jacob? Despite this mystery, the time she spends with him makes her realize that she misses being impulsive, joyful, and creative and that being truthful about who she is is the only way forward. Kenzie's dilemma will resonate with teens trying to balance others' expectations with their own interests and desires. Main characters are cued White. The balmy setting and sweet developing relationship will appeal to teen romance fans. (Romance. 12-18)

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March 20, 2023
Eight months before this book’s start, high schooler Kenzie Reed vowed to completely change her life. Because her family didn’t support her photography aspirations, she gave up the hobby to cultivate an interest in her parents’ optometry business, joining her school’s science club and attending meetings for future healthcare professionals. She even invented a boyfriend named Jacob Miller to impress her parents. Kenzie thinks her upcoming vacation to Maui will be a much-needed break from pretending, until she learns that her parents invited Jacob on their vacation, too. But if Kenzie made him up, who is this stranger? Desperate to keep up the charade and uncover the mystery behind the newcomer, Kenzie stays mum. The couple explore Maui while getting to know each other, connecting over similar interests, shared conflicts, and immediate chemistry. Hawaii’s natural beauty shines via Kenzie’s tourist eye, and her airy narration and tendency to romanticize the world around her through her camera’s lens read as a love letter to the island. Dean (Love & Other Great Expectations) spins an immersive and romantic story about being true to oneself that features Kenzie’s intensely personal troubles amid a far-fetched premise that recalls classic rom-com tropes. Ages 12–up. Agent: Eva Scalzo, Speilburg Literary.