The Secret Summer Promise

by Keah Brown

Overview

THE BSE (Best Summer Ever) LIST!
 
1.        Blueberries
2.        Art show in ShoeHorn
3.        Lizzo concert
4.        Thrift shop pop-up
5.        Skinny Dipping at the lake house
6.        Amusement Park Day!
7.        Drew Barrymarathon
8.        Paintball day
 
Oh, and ….
 
9.        Fall out of love with Hailee.
 
Andrea Williams has got this. The Best Summer Ever. Last summer, she spent all her time in bed, recovering from the latest surgery for her cerebral palsy. She’s waited too long for adventure and thrills to enter her life. Together with her crew of ride-or-die friends, and the best parents anyone could ask for (just don’t tell them that), she’s going to live it up.
 
There’s just one thing that could ruin it: Her best friend, Hailee, finding out Andrea’s true feelings. So Andrea WILL fall out of love with Hailee – even if it means dating the cute boy George who keeps showing up everywhere with a smile.
 
Do we want Andrea to succeed? No! Does she? We’re not telling!
 
Keah Brown is a journalist, screenwriter, and author who has written for Teen Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, and The New York Times. She is also the creator of #DisabledAndCute. Now, in her YA debut of nerdy queer love, Keah gives us the perfect summer read and cast of characters to fall in love with.

P R A I S E

 “For fans of messy queer romance, some realistically complicated representation.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“Lighthearted romance that’s sure to gratify and meaningful conversations surrounding friendship and first love drive this earnest treat from Brown, which boasts leisurely pacing that mimics the syrupy unraveling of a slow, hot summer.”
—Publishers Weekly
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781646144150
Publisher:	Levine Querido
Publication date:	09/03/2024
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.25(h) x (d)
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Keah Brown is a journalist, screenwriter, and author of The Pretty One and Sam’s Super Seats, She is the creator of #DisabledAndCute. Her other work has appeared in Teen Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire UK, and The New York Times, among other publications. She has been featured in anthologies including the New York Times-bestselling You Are Your Best Thing edited by Brené Brown and Tarana Burke. To learn more check out keahbrown.com.

 

Editorial Reviews

03/13/2023

Seventeen-year-old Andrea and her best friend Hailee have prepared a Best Summer Ever list filled with activities, including attending a Lizzo concert, going thrifting, skinny-dipping, and binge-watching Drew Barrymore films. Andrea also has her own secret goal: falling out of love with Hailee. After becoming estranged from her other best friend, Olivia, Andrea is hesitant to potentially ruin her friendship with Hailee by confessing her feelings; she also struggles with the belief that her cerebral palsy will prevent anyone from loving her. When classmate George starts expressing interest in Andrea, however, she begins realizing that people do find her attractive. But after Hailee learns that Andrea has been ditching her to hang out with George, the summer sours with Hailee’s hurt feelings and Andrea’s guilt. Lighthearted romance that’s sure to gratify and meaningful conversations surrounding friendship and first love drive this earnest treat from Brown (Sam’s Super Seats), which boasts leisurely pacing that mimics the syrupy unraveling of a slow, hot summer. Andrea is Black, Hailee is Chinese, George has green eyes and brown hair. Ages 12– up. Agent: Alexander Slater, Sanford J. Greenburger Assoc. (May)

Publishers Weekly

For fans of messy queer romance, some realistically complicated representation.”— Kirkus

“The Secret Summer Promise captures the essence of youth, love, and self-discovery with remarkable grace and authenticity. Keah Brown's mastery of storytelling is evident in every page, drawing us into the beautiful, complex, and romantic world she's created. With unforgettable characters and emotions that resonate with readers of all ages, this novel is a testament to the power of love, friendship, and the human spirit. Don't miss the chance to be swept off your feet by this story.” Frederick Joseph, New York Times bestselling author

“Lighthearted romance that’s sure to gratify and meaningful conversations surrounding friendship and first love drive this earnest treat from Brown, which boasts leisurely pacing that mimics the syrupy unraveling of a slow, hot summer.” — Publishers Weekly

June's Most Anticipated LGBTQIA+ Books, Lambda Literary

“A whirlwind summer romance with all the messy emotions of first love… emphasizing that everyone deserves a love story. Put this book full of queer joy and self-love on the shelf next to Camryn Garrett and Becky Albertalli.” — Booklist 

“Young teens who want a lighthearted, queer, ­friends-to-lovers ­summer romp filled with authentic ­representation will find plenty to love in this ­debut.” – School Library Journal

From the Publisher

Tamika Katon-Donegal narrates this breezy romance about Andrea, a queer disabled teen who's determined to have the best summer ever--even if it means falling out of love with her best friend, Hailee, who she's not sure returns her feelings. Katon-Donegal is fantastic when it comes to capturing all of Andrea's excitement and butterflies-in-the-stomach feelings. Her character voices are sometimes hard to tell apart, especially since group texts and conversations among Andrea's friend group are such a big part of the story. But her overall performance is a lot of fun. With plenty of teen drama, realistic (if frustrating!) miscommunication, and an honest look at how being disabled does and doesn't affect Andrea's life, this is a great summer listen. L.S. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

July 2023 - AudioFile

Tamika Katon-Donegal narrates this breezy romance about Andrea, a queer disabled teen who's determined to have the best summer ever--even if it means falling out of love with her best friend, Hailee, who she's not sure returns her feelings. Katon-Donegal is fantastic when it comes to capturing all of Andrea's excitement and butterflies-in-the-stomach feelings. Her character voices are sometimes hard to tell apart, especially since group texts and conversations among Andrea's friend group are such a big part of the story. But her overall performance is a lot of fun. With plenty of teen drama, realistic (if frustrating!) miscommunication, and an honest look at how being disabled does and doesn't affect Andrea's life, this is a great summer listen. L.S. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

AudioFile - JULY 2023

2023-03-14
When a girl falls in love with her best friend, will it lead to a tragedy of errors?

Andrea, a painter, is planning an amazing summer with her friends. Last summer’s adventures were lost to recovery from a cerebral palsy surgery, so this year’s “Best Summer Ever” list is ambitious: an art show for Andrea; skinny-dipping for Hailee, her Chinese American bestie; a Drew Barrymore movie marathon for both of them. But there’s one big problem: Andrea’s crush. Though the queer, Black 17-year-old is well loved, well off, and talented, she doesn’t know how to tell Hailee that she’s fallen hard for her—and her internalized self-loathing is crushing. Perhaps if Andrea dates a popular boy she can get over her feelings for Hailee? To readers, it’s clear that Andrea and Hailee share mutual feels, and disaster looms over all this secret keeping, but Andrea struggles in miserable ignorance until the inevitable friendship explosion. During all this secret (and painfully messy) pining, Andrea grows in both empathy and self-respect. The dialogue is often stilted and unnatural, but the girls (and their multiracial, multi-ability, multi-sexuality friendship circle) are affectionate and dedicated to each other. Race, sexuality, and disability are not Andrea’s roadblocks, though they’re all obviously central to her identity and her life. Her difficulties come from everyday teen drama—and it is resoundingly, emphatically expressed drama.

For fans of messy queer romance, some realistically complicated representation. (Fiction. 12-16)

Kirkus Reviews