Leah Johnson (You Should See Me in a Crown) and George M. Johnson (Flamboyants) bring queer exuberance to their heartfelt YA holiday romcom, There's Always Next Year.
Cousins Andy and Dominique Cole's family have been in the Midwest town of Oakrun for generations. Two years ago, "Start Up Tech Ninjas" with "more money than God" starting moving in. Around the same time, Dom went viral as a fashion influencer and left for New York City. Now, 17-year-old Andy's parents are on the brink of losing Cole's Hardware (another local fixture being demolished to push out the "Black folks who have been the backbone of this town") and 19-year-old Dom is coming back for New Years Day to act as the face of a fancy hotel chain, courtesy of the town's mayor. Andy loathes Mayor Youngblood and is certain that Dom will be appalled when she tells him the real reason Youngblood chose him as spokesperson. While Andy and her "lesbian punk band"-vibed crush dash to get to Dom before the Festival of Lights hotel announcement, Dom reunites with an old track teammate who had always felt like "something more" than a friend.
Andy's and Dom's sympathetic, enthusiastic, and candid first-person narratives unfold over a single day. The authors (no relation) sprinkle the story with plenty of twists, hilarious hijinks, and an "ageless fairy gayparent" drag queen. They tactfully touch on racism, the complexity of life post-high school, and the need for unconditional love. Above all, the witty prose brings constant laughs. There's Always Next Year is a holiday title that should brighten any spirit. --Samantha Zaboski, freelance editor and reviewer