I’ve loved Jessica Lewis’s books since her debut, Bad Witch Burning, and each new release just further cements how much I love her books and stories. After Nav’s book last year, I knew I needed to and could not wait to get my hands on Hallie’s book, and this was so good!!
Hallie feels like she’s a failure and not good enough, especially after a few of her exes have treated her poorly or denigrated her, plus the pressure from her parents to be The Best in all things, and shaming her for not doing better the first time she took SAT. But this summer she’s determined to change and be better, starting by swearing off romance and planning to be the best at Carnegie Camp for Young Scholars.
It was so amusing seeing Hallie develop small crushes on everyone initially, but then as she settles in and makes friends, things start feeling a lot smoother. But things with her cabinmate, Julia, aren’t as easy to move past because the more she sees and gets to know her, the deeper her feelings grow until Hallie is playing a constant tug-of-war inside herself because she really likes Julia, but she wants to change and that change means no romance.
This was such an excellent YA and I really loved the ways Gia’s mom, Ms Flores, who is the sponsor for this year’s camp, is trying to get the kids to realize they don’t have to study to the exclusion of all else and pushing them to learn new skills, especially with the life skills she brings into the curriculum. I also loved how she was there to listen and help each of the campers, and how we see so many different types of growth among the characters.
I spent so much of the book wanting to hug Hallie super tight because it hurt to see how she believed she needed to earn the chocolate bar and criticizing herself for not getting and being “better.” There is so much emotional stuff happening, but I love the friendships and the way Hallie and the others are able to be kids and learn how to back off on some of the pressure.
This was just so sweet and perfect, and a delight of a book. I loved Hallie and Julia becoming closer, and the ways Julia respected Hallie’s rules, but also kept trying to get her to see that she didn’t need to change and all the things Hallie saw as flaws weren’t always bad traits. I love seeing Nav and Gia, and seeing more of Nav’s dynamic with Hallie and just how close their friendship is. There’s really just so many good elements, and I cannot wait to see what we’ll get next from Jessica Lewis.
