You Should See Me In A Crown

 By: Leah Johnson

Location: FIC JOH

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, LGBGT

“I never needed this race, or a hashtag, or the king to be a queen. I was born royalty. All I had to do was pick up my crown.”

Liz Lighty has always believed she's too black, too poor, too awkward to shine in her small, rich, prom-obsessed midwestern town. But it's okay -- Liz has a plan that will get her out of Campbell, Indiana, forever: attend the uber-elite Pennington College, play in their world-famous orchestra, and become a doctor.

But when the financial aid she was counting on unexpectedly falls through, Liz's plans come crashing down . . . until she's reminded of her school's scholarship for prom king and queen. There's nothing Liz wants to do less than endure a gauntlet of social media trolls, catty competitors, and humiliating public events, but despite her devastating fear of the spotlight she's willing to do whatever it takes to get to Pennington.

The only thing that makes it halfway bearable is the new girl in school, Mack. She's smart, funny, and just as much of an outsider as Liz. But Mack is also in the running for queen. Will falling for the competition keep Liz from her dreams . . . or make them come true?

"This is a story on the multiple facets of identity, the juggling that comes with that, with prejudice and other people’s expectations, with how sometimes you are only seen for one thing, or you can only handle being seen for one thing. This is a story on bravery, on how it exists in many different shapes. This was a story of hope and how people can change the world in little or big ways by being the person they are meant to be, without fear and without restrictions.

I just kept loving this book more and more with every chapter and it made me feel so much. It brought out the tears and healed my heart a little bit too. I truly believe that this is one of the best books that has ever happened to me, it’s one of those that remind you of the power stories hold." Maeyls

Helenas Tick List

compelling main character ✔️
cute sapphic romance ✔️
great m/f friendship ✔️
discussions of racism, queerphobia and classism ✔️
conflict that doesn't revolve around the main character's sexuality ✔️
diversity ✔️
lots of fun ✔️

really enjoyed this one!