A warm, contemporary YA tale that balances charm, tension, and heart.
Keating’s latest is a breezy yet emotionally grounded YA novel that blends summer-romance charm with a sharp look at beauty culture. Fresh out of high school, Calli Stockton heads to a private island resort for a summer job with her best friend—only to stumble into a magical tattoo that promises beauty, fame, and everything she’s ever wanted. When the fantasy begins to demand a price, Calli must choose between the life she thinks she wants and the people who matter most.
The island setting is vibrant, the friendships believable, and the magical realism subtly handled. Keating uses the resort backdrop to explore class, beauty standards, and the pressure to reinvent oneself, all without losing the book’s light, summery tone. While the plot moves quickly, the emotional throughline remains strong: Calli’s gradual recognition that authenticity carries more power than illusion. Smartly observed and quietly resonant, this is a sunlit, thoughtful coming-of-age tale with wide teen appeal.
Pub date June 17, 2024
ISBN 978-1957656557
Price $3.78 (USD) Paperback, $3.85 Kindle edition
