e-ALC, 10:31:48
Narrated by: Brenda Arteaga-Walsh
Release Date: June 16, 2026
Published by: HarperCollins
Read from: June 24, 2026
Stand-alone
Source: Netgalley (I received this e-ALC from the publisher and Netgalley. I received a hardcover copy of this from the publisher and an ARC copy from TLA. This did nothing to influence my review.)
Content Warning: Mental Illness and Grief
For Readers of: Audio, Contemporary, Sparkly Cover, Most Anticipated, Own Voices, Racial/Ethnic Diversity, Realistic Fiction, Romance, YANever Have I Ever meets Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute in this hilarious and moving YA coming-of-age about a girl juggling way too many lies, one very off-limits crush, and a secret summer internship—all while steering clear of the dreaded f-word: her future.
Ezzie Ramos is a champion secret keeper. Her brilliant-professor mami and nosy abuelita don’t know about her daily ritual (wandering the art museum), her college applications (hopelessly blank), or her summer plans (avoiding the dreaded f-word, a.k.a. her future, at all costs).
Ezzie’s biggest secret? She’s interning at Sprout, the urban garden she’s stunned to discover her father founded weeks before his death. All she knows about Papi begins and ends with his dazzling scientific research legacy—but what if he dreamed of a different path too?
With seven weeks to uncover who Papi really was, Ezzie must chase down every lead, even if it means tangling with Sprout’s star volunteer, Gabe McCalister, who couldn’t be more off-limits—or distractingly cute. But as Ezzie begins to put down roots at Sprout, she learns that secrets, like seeds, have a way of growing toward the light. .
*MY THOUGHTS*
This was a super cute coming of age story. These are usually a hit or miss with me, but this one was definitely a hit. I enjoyed the community consciousness and the environmentally friendly choices they made. Definitely a book that will appeal to action oriented teens.
I had all the feels when I was reading this. I was sad for her because she lost her dad. I was mad at him and her mom for never telling her about Sprout. I was upset with her abuela because she acted like she knew everything about her son and didn’t want to listen to anything else, when that wasn’t actually the case. And that was how I knew how much I liked this. Because I was so into this. I got really into it and then I couldn’t stop listening to it.
I also loved the way this was so community friendly and layered in social justice from the sustainability pillar.. From her friend who was so involved with recycling, all the way to the community garden in Sprout. So much good comes from urban and community gardens and I’m glad that teens will see that through this book. I also liked the way they made everything seem so fun. Working in the garden never really felt like work, and I feel like that’ll draw them in too.
The romance was cute! I knew where it was headed, but they really took their time getting there lol I usually hate slow burns, but these were kids and I didn’t want to rush them. I did not like all the secrets she was keeping tho. I knew where things were going before it got there. But even still he helped her with everything she needed and never asked how or why. They were actually really cute.
The plot was so good! I felt so sad for her having to sneak around and find information and belongings of her own dad. And the way she basically got in trouble for asking about him. I felt so bad for her. But the more she learned about Sprout, I was glad she got to have those memories and make her own at the same time. Ugh I was so mad at her mom.I got even more mad when she said, “Remembering him is too painful for mami, but so is forgetting him for me.” I hated that for her.
This was a super sweet book about found family and family love. Mini activists will love this. And even if you’re not one, you’ll love this too. I hope y’all go and pick this up!
Overall, I give this
