e-ALC, 07:47:51
Narrated by: AhDream Smith
Release Date: July 7, 2026
Published by: Hachette Audio
Read from: Juky 16-17, 2026
Stand-alone
Source: Library’s Libby
Content Warning: Death of a Parent
For Readers of: 2sLGBTQ+ (Bi), Audio, Coming of Age, Contemporary, Sparkly Cover, Libby, Racial/Ethnic Diversity, Realistic Fiction, Romance, YAA heartbreaking yet hopeful novel about one girl’s journey through grief and the family, first love, and shocking truths she finds on the other side—perfect for fans of Jandy Nelson and Every Last Word.
All her life, it’s just been sixteen-year-old Skylar and her rockstar dad against the world. But this year, a horrible accident cuts the summer short and upends her life.
As Skylar grieves her dad, she discovers a huge secret: her mother is still alive. Now, Skylar is uprooted from her home and thrust into a family of strangers on the other side of the country. Furious with the mother who deserted her, she seeks comfort in her baking and decides to enter a local competition with a dazzling prize of a trip to a Parisian pastry school. As she gains her footing in the contest and her new town, she befriends a girl who seems just as lost as her, and she also finds more than friendship in the frustratingly irresistible boy next door. But as Skylar bakes her way to a brighter future, she’ll uncover truths about the past in the last place she expected.
Filled with heaps of emotion, a spoonful of hope, and an unexpected twist of fate, this is a powerful story about the true meaning of home.
*MY THOUGHTS*
This was an emotional ride. One that I don’t think I was even ready for lol This book caught me off guard by confirming what I thought. And it had me looking up strawberry shortcake recipes, which I’m not mad at lol
Ok so I always know I live a book when it makes me emotional. And this one did just that. At that one part even though it happens in the beginning, I was still crying my eyes out. Then I was hella mad at that one person, then her, then everyone that lied to her. I’m pretty sure I felt every emotion while reading this. (If you’re wondering where the happy is, it was like closer to the ending lmao)
The plot was realistic but damn was it rough. I don’t think I could have thought to do what they did, even as kids. This was a lot to take in. Did I like it? No. Did I understand it? Also no, but it made a bit more sense as things went on. They weren’t ready. But to give up things entirely, forever? I just didn’t understand that. Ain’t no way I could have ever done that. And the way she found out was so traumatic. I felt so bad for her. So she has to deal with this whole new world along with still grieving her father. I just wanted to hug her.
Now I felt bad for her, but she did get on my nerves for a bit lol She deserved to be upset, but when she was doing things deliberately to hurt that other person, I just couldn’t vibe with it. And the way she even took her stuff so she could learn more but not allow the other person to as well annoyed me too. And I get it, she’s a teen, but she knew what she was doing. That’s why she hid it for so long. But again, she was a teen so bad ass decisions LOL But I was proud af of her for going to therapy and for finding something for herself like the baking competition thing and when she finally let down her guard enough to ask someone for help. I was glad she got to have that. She deserved it.
This was emotional, but gripping in the best way. I had a great time with this. It made me think, it made me emotional, and I got hungry for strawberry shortcake lol So basically, I’m sharing this with y’all so y’all can feel like I did lol Go pick this up today!
Overall, I give this
