Like Water: A Lambda Literary Award-Winning LGBTQ YA Novel of First Love and Family Duty

Like Water: A Lambda Literary Award-Winning LGBTQ YA Novel of First Love and Family Duty

~Winner of the Lambda Literary Award for the best LGBT YA novel of 2017~ An unforgettable story of two girls navigating the unknowable waters of identity, millennial anxiety, and first love, from the acclaimed author of The Mystery of Hollow Places. In Savannah Espinoza’s small New Mexico hometown, kids either flee after graduation or they’re trapped there forever. Vanni never planned to get stuck—but that was before her father was diagnosed with Huntington’s disease, leaving her and her mother to care for him. Now she doesn’t have much of a plan at all: living at home, working as a performing mermaid at a second-rate water park, distracting herself with one boy after another. That changes the day she meets Leigh. Disillusioned with small-town life and looking for something greater, Leigh is not a “nice girl.” She is unlike anyone Vanni has met, and a friend when Vanni desperately needs one. Soon enough, Leigh is much more than a friend. But caring about another person threatens the walls Vanni has carefully constructed to protect herself and brings up the big questions she’s hidden from for so long. One summer to decide her future. One girl who could change everything. Friends to Lovers Romance: Vanni just needs a friend, but rebellious Leigh offers something much more. A powerful, life-changing love story that starts with an unexpected connection. - Bisexual Awakening: After a string of meaningless hookups with boys, meeting Leigh makes Vanni question everything she thought she knew about love and her own identity. - Heartbreaking Family Drama: A raw and honest look at the impact of hereditary illness, as Vanni grapples with her father’s Huntington’s diagnosis and the 50/50 chance she carries the same gene. - Authentic LGBTQ+ Representation: A Lambda Literary Award-winning novel featuring a bisexual protagonist and a genderqueer love interest, told with unforgettable honesty and heart. Gr 8 Up—Vanni is stuck in small-town New Mexico, dreams of college dashed by her father's diagnosis of a chronic condition that will soon render him unable to care for himself. Loyal to her parents and their hard-earned family business (and fearful of whether this genetic condition has been passed down to her), she has resigned herself to a life of restaurant-work drudgery, flings with local boys, and watching her friends go out into the world without her. When she meets Leigh and Lucas, twins who have recently relocated from the northeast, things shift for Vanni in ways she never expected. Initially drawn to Lucas, she soon realizes that Leigh fascinates her more than any boy she's ever met. The two young women soon fall deeply in love, leading Vanni question her sexual identity. Leigh is mischievous and daring, pushing Vanni out of her comfort zone (and sometimes into trouble, like getting fired from the local water park where she played a mermaid). She is also critical of Vanni's resignation and insists that she, Leigh, will be leaving New Mexico the moment she turns 18. Their relationship is passionate and rocky, but ultimately life-changing for Vanni. A strong coming-of-age story, if at times just slightly predictable for sophisticated readers, this book should have wide appeal for teens who feel trapped by their circumstances and family obligations. VERDICT A good selection for most YA shelves.—Nora G. Murphy, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, CA “Podos delivers an eerie debut novel that is a solid homage to mysteries and Gothic novels alike.” - School Library Journal “Well-handled are Leigh’s genderqueer identity and Vanni’s bisexuality. The author richly and authentically describes the culture of a small New Mexico town, while welcomingly unitalicized Spanish enriches Vanni’s interactions with friends and family. A worthwhile addition to collections of contemporary romance with depth.” - Kirkus Reviews “Vanni’s realization about her bisexuality is satisfyingly matter-of-fact, and her relationship with Leigh faces realistic teenage troubles. As much about self-discovery as it is about love, this moving coming-of-age tale is an ideal choice for fans of Nina LaCour’s We Are Okay .” - Booklist “This book should have wide appeal for teens who feel trapped by their circumstances and family obligations.” - School Library Journal PRAISE FOR THE MYSTERY OF HOLLOW PLACES: “This heartfelt and page-turning debut introduces readers to a whip-smart and wise heroine.” - Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “Sharp plotting, unexpected twists, dynamic characters, and a sensitive treatment of mental illness make Podos a writer to watch.” - Booklist (starred review) “Debut author Podos creates an engrossing mix of detective story and family story.” - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review) “Wholly original with a brilliant voice and gripping plot. This book utterly captivated me.” - Jasmine Warga, author of MY HEART AND OTHER BLACK HOLES “Debut author Podos makes capable use of believable characters and