Love Letters for Joy

by Melissa See

Overview

A new LGBTQIA+ romance story by the author of You, Me, and Our Heartstrings.

Less than a year away from graduation, seventeen-year-old Joy is too busy overachieving to be worried about relationships. She’s determined to be Caldwell Prep’s first disabled valedictorian. And she only has one person to beat, her academic rival Nathaniel.

But it’s senior year and everyone seems to be obsessed with pairing up. One of her best friends may be developing feelings for her and the other uses Caldwell’s anonymous love-letter writer to snag the girl of her dreams. Joy starts to wonder if she has missed out on a quintessential high school experience. She is asexual, but that’s no reason she can’t experience first love, right?

She writes to Caldwell Cupid to help her sort out these new feelings and, over time, finds herself falling for the mysterious voice behind the letters. But falling in love might mean risking what she wants most, especially when the letter-writer turns out to be the last person she would ever expect.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781338875386
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	06/06/2023
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	411,597
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 5.40(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Melissa See is a disabled author of young adult contemporary romances. When not writing, she can be found reading, baking, or curled up with her cat, most likely watching anime or 90 Day Fiancé. She currently lives in the New York countryside. You, Me, and Our Heartstrings is her debut novel.

Editorial Reviews

04/17/2023

Seventeen-year-old Joy Corvi, who has cerebral palsy and identifies as being within the asexual umbrella, is adamant about becoming the first disabled valedictorian at Manhattan’s Caldwell Preparatory Academy; the only thing between her and her goal is rival Nathaniel Wright. She also feels that she has bigger things to worry about than relationships, until her friends and classmates begin pairing off, brought together by an anonymous student known as Caldwell Cupid. Suddenly feeling that she’s missed out on something important, Joy writes to Caldwell Cupid for advice (“Is there a formula for romance?”). Their correspondence starts out innocuous enough, but the more they talk, the deeper Joy falls for the mysterious matchmaking entity. Alongside moments of budding romance, Joy contends with worries about her future. Through a pleasant combination of text message chains and email exchanges, See (You, Me, and Our Heartstrings) organically develops a lighthearted courtship that tackles themes of queer identity and highlights one teen’s experience living with a disability. Chapters alternating between Joy’s vulnerable narration and the enigmatic Caldwell Cupid add playful suspense leading up to Cupid’s reveal. Joy and Nathaniel read as white. Ages 12–up. Agent: Emily Forney, BookEnds Literary. (June)

Publishers Weekly

2023-03-14
A wholesome romance featuring a case of hidden identity and an asexual protagonist with cerebral palsy.

Love is in the air at Manhattan’s Caldwell Preparatory Academy thanks to an anonymous student known as Caldwell Cupid. Overachiever Joy Corvi is on the romantic side of the ace spectrum but hasn’t had much time for first love, preferring to devote her energy to academics. She’s poised to become the school’s first valedictorian with cerebral palsy—if she can stay ahead of her academic rival, self-assured and handsome Nathaniel Wright. But when people around Joy begin pairing off thanks to Caldwell Cupid, she starts to wonder whether she’s missing out. Seeking a sympathetic ear, Joy emails Caldwell Cupid for advice, and their correspondence causes her to question her approaches to love, friendship, and her future. Details about the matchmaker’s identity are cleverly revealed to readers but not to Joy, providing dramatic irony as they wait for the truth to emerge. Joy’s cerebral palsy is an important part of her character, woven into her emotional and physical responses throughout. The discussions of social themes are satisfying, and the scenes of gentle courtship and vulnerable confessions as Joy’s heart thaws are charming. A central source of conflict for Nathaniel and Joy is developed without subtlety and features a rushed resolution, however. Joy and Nathaniel are cued White; supporting characters bring racial diversity and span the queer identity spectrum.

Earnest, sweet, and socially aware. (author’s note) (Romance. 13-18)

Kirkus Reviews