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Biographical Note:
DeAndra Davis is New York-born and Florida-bred. She's a hopeless musical theater nerd (
Wicked is definitely her favorite), a perpetual student and teacher, and always trailed by a kid or a dog because she has way too many of both. She has an opinion for everything, an argument ready, and a hug for everyone, and she thinks you should, too. She is the author of
All the Noise at Once, winner of the William C. Morris Award for best young adult debut book, and
The Lovers, the Liars, and Me. DeAndra can be found on most socials @DeAndraWrites.
Review Quotes:
"Rhythmic language renders Jaliya's candid first-person narration as she perceptively confronts questions of sexuality and cultural identity. The evenly paced narrative provides ample room for readers to empathize and connect with the easy-to-root-for characters, making for a satisfying and introspective offering."--Publishers Weekly
Review Quotes:
"Davis enchants in this coming-of-age novel about a teen girl discovering her roots and herself...A lovely coming-of-age novel of a teen who finds herself while looking for family that will resonate with fans of Ann Liang, Ebony LaDelle, and Lyla Lee."--School Library Journal
Review Quotes:
"This lyrically written novel is centered around nuanced and deeply lovable characters, and Jaliya is a protagonist who readers will want to grow and change with as she figures out her own path. This story offers no simple answers about the gripping and complicated grief of estrangement, while handling the emotional experience of the characters with care. Fans of Elizabeth Acevedo and Ibi Zoboi will find a lot to love in this tender work, and it will likely become an important read for many teens."--Booklist, starred review
Review Quotes:
"Part mystery, part love triangle, and a whole journey of self-discovery."--Kirkus Reviews
Publisher Marketing:
A teen travels to Jamaica hoping to answer questions about her absent mother, only to discover more about her identity than she could have ever expected--and find herself caught up in an unexpected love triangle--in this dazzling young adult coming-of-age novel by award-winning author DeAndra Davis.
Jaliya Powell has never had a real adventure, a real boyfriend, or spoken up for herself. She's never even been kissed. Despite being valedictorian of her high school class, Jaliya is used to fading into the background.
But this summer will be different.
This summer, Jaliya is visiting her uncle and his family in Jamaica. Under the guise of one last vacation before college, she plans to find out more about her estranged mother, whose absence has remained an unspoken mystery. But things have changed in the seven years since Jaliya last visited. Her cousin has his own life and is reluctant to let Jaliya in, her childhood crush has only gotten hotter and more unavailable, and her aunt and uncle aren't everything she remembered, either. Then she meets India, who's vibrant, gorgeous, and free-spirited. And who makes Jaliya feel something she's never felt before.
While searching for traces of her mother across the island, Jaliya finds herself entangled in complicated relationships, tricky secrets, and a passionate new love. As she navigates this perfectly complicated summer, Jaliya must choose between who she has always been or who she hopes to become.
Review Citations:
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Publishers Weekly 04/20/2026 (EAN 9781665952682, Hardcover)
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School Library Journal 04/17/2026 pg. 1 (EAN 9781665952682, Hardcover)
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Kirkus Reviews 05/15/2026 (EAN 9781665952682, Hardcover)
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Booklist 06/01/2026 (EAN 9781665952682, Hardcover) - *Starred Review
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Shelf Awareness 12/30/0001 (EAN 9781665952682, Hardcover)
Contributor Bio:Davis, Deandra
DeAndra Davis is New York-born and Florida-bred. She's a hopeless musical theater nerd (
Wicked is definitely her favorite), a perpetual student and teacher, and always trailed by a kid or a dog because she has way too many of both. She has an opinion for everything, an argument ready, and a hug for everyone, and she thinks you should, too. She is the author of
All the Noise at Once, winner of the William C. Morris Award for best young adult debut book, and
The Lovers, the Liars, and Me. DeAndra can be found on most socials @DeAndraWrites.
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