The Fall of Whit Rivera
Books | Young Adult Fiction / Social Themes / Dating & Sex
Crystal Maldonado
Could you plan the Fall Formal with your (hot) nemesis? Whit Rivera is about to find out.A MASSACHUSETTS BOOK AWARD WINNER!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 England Book Award Finalist ● A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year● A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year ● A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection ● A TAYSHAS Reading List Selection ● A Parnassus Books Pick ● Named to the ALA Rainbow List"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."—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
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Author
Crystal Maldonado
Pages
352
Publisher
Holiday House
Published Date
2023-10-10
ISBN
0823457257 9780823457250
Community ReviewsSee all
"While the premise sounded promising, this book didn’t capture the same energy or intrigue as Maldonado’s other works. It delivered plenty of vibes, but the actual plot didn’t feel engaging.
Whit is a relatable protagonist—driven, organized, and deeply caring toward her family and friends. Her insecurities surrounding her PCOS diagnosis, its impact on her body, and her relationships were explored thoughtfully, making this aspect of the story my favorite. I saw myself in Whit’s experiences, and I appreciated how the book tackled this topic.
However, the Fall Fest storyline felt secondary, despite it being an overarching plot line, and the rivalry with Isaiah was barely there. Their conflict stemmed from a childhood misunderstanding, which made the miscommunication somewhat forgivable given their ages, but it wasn’t compelling.
The writing and dialogue often felt cringy and unfunny to me, missing the spark and juiciness I’ve come to expect from Maldonado’s works. While it was an easy read, it didn’t hold my attention plot-wise.
Overall, I was disappointed, especially since this was a highly anticipated read for me. While I didn’t hate it, it didn’t wow me like I’d hoped. If you’re interested in stories about personal growth, navigating chronic health conditions, or lighthearted fall vibes, this book might be worth a try, but it lacked the impact of Maldonado’s other novels."
Z G
Zariah Grant
"⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Such a wholesome, cozy book! If you just want a book without much drama and love representation of LGBTQ, chronic illnesses, autism, BIPOC this is your book! A very, very YA book. "
Fefe Luna (she/they)