The upside of falling

Becca, 18, is disillusioned about love; her father walked out on her mother when Becca was six, and now the only romance Becca cares about is in books. When Becca's ex-best friend Jenny embarrasses Becca in class by ridiculing her for being single, Becca claims to be secretly dating Brett, the football team's popular captain . . . and is shocked when he goes along with it. Brett idolizes his dad, an ex-footballer who lives vicariously through Brett's football success. Becca, despite herself, begins to fall for Brett even though she knows their relationship is all for show. And when Brett discovers a shocking secret about his parents, it threatens to destroy whatever he and Becca may have. Readers get both Brett's and Becca's points of view through alternating narratives. At times, the plot strains believability, and the prose can be awkward. Overall, though, this is a sweet and fun debut that neatly riffs on the unrealistic expectations romance novels can set for real life.--Sharon Rawlins Copyright 2019 Booklist

High school seniors do the fake dating thing.Brett Wells has always been focused on football. Brainy Becca Hart's faith in love was destroyed by her parents' divorce. The two have little in common other than being pestered by their friends and families about the lack of a special someone in their lives. They embark upon a "fake relationship," but, predictably, it gives way to a real one. Debut author Light sprinkles in just enough charm and good-natured romance as the narrative bounces between Brett's and Becca's perspectives to keep readers engaged but not overwhelmed by twee sentiment. Becca is a much better developed character than Brett (handsome yet doofy, he has the complexity of a golden retriever), and her chapters are the novel's highlights. Brett's whole deal is a bigger pill to swallow, but readers who go with it will find a pleasant story. The novel is a syrupy ode to what it feels like to slowly fall for someone for the first time, and that mood is captured effectively. Becca and Brett have chemistry that feels completely natural, but sadly there are some late-in-the-game plot mechanics that feel forced. Fortunately, the author seems as uninterested in these disruptions as readers will be: Things are resolved quickly, and the novel ends on a high note. Whiteness is situated as the norm; main characters are white.A successful romantic enterprise. (Romance. 12-16) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.