Amelia Westlake: The brilliantly funny YA romcom about the greatest hoax ever

(Paperback)

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FromAmpersand Prize-winningauthorErin Gough comes this ferociously funny romp throughan elite private school, anda brilliantfeministhoax that could change or ruin everything.

Harriet Price has the perfect life: shes a prefect at Rosemead Grammar, she lives in a mansion, and her gorgeous girlfriend is a future prime minister. So when she decides to risk it all by helping bad-girl Will Everhart expose the schools many ongoing issues, Harriet tells herself its because she too is seeking justice.And definitelynotbecause she finds Will oddly fascinating.

Will Everhart cant stand posh people like Harriet, but even she has to admit Harriet's ideas are good and theyll keepWillfrom being expelled. Thats why she teams up with Harriet to create Amelia Westlake,a fake student who cantake the credit for a series of provocative pranksat their school.

But the further Will and Harriets hoax goes, the harderit is for the girlsto remember theyre sworn enemies and to keep Amelia Westlakes true identity hidden. As tensions burn throughout the school, how far will they go to keep Amelia Westlake and their feelings for each other a secret

Perfect for fans ofDavid Levithan and Becky Albertalli,this triumphant queerYA rom-comexplores politics, privilege and power,and hasagloriouslyupliftingteen romance at its heart.

• Winner of the 2018 Readings Prize for Young Adult Books, 2019 NSW Premier's Literary Awards: Ethel Turner Prize for Young People's Fiction, 2019 International Youth Library White Raven Book
• Shorlisted for the 2018 Queensland Literary Awards, 2019 Victorian Premier's Literary Awards: Writing for Young Adults, 2019 Indie Book Awards: Young Adult, 2019 ABIA Book of the Year for Older Children
• Longlisted for the 2019 Gold Inky
• A 2019 CBCA Notable Book of the Year for Older Readers

Reviews

'A delightful, timely romantic comedy of two opposites attracting, connecting and fighting for justice together at a private girls' school. I fell in love with Amelia Westlake.'
Justine Larbalestier, author of Liar and My Sister Rosa

'The characters were so good, believable and believably flawed, witty and warm and it was deliciously subversive, with such a relevant and timely sting in its tail.'
Melissa Keil, author ofLife in Outer Space and The Secret Science of Magic

'Funny, smart, romantic and uplifting, Amelia Westlakewill steal your heart, together with Will Everhart and Harriet Price, the mischievous social justice warriors who gave her life. Together, they hatch a plan to challenge injustice and shine a light on hypocrisy and privilege, wreaking a fair amount of mischief along the way. Youll fall in love with all three of them, like I did.'
Nicole Hayes, author of One True Thing

A brilliant social satire with a feminist vibe and two strong main characters whose voices alternate telling the story. This smart, sassy novel skewers a range of issues including sexism, elitism and lack of diversity with a light touch. Gough has created a clever, engaging feminist romp for readers aged 12 and up that is utterly unputdownable.
Angela Crocombe, Books + Publishing

Praise for the US edition,Amelia Westlake Was Never Here:
'Quirky, original, and completely charming characters, an adorable love story, plus a feminist plot to take down institutionalized misogyny at a stuffy prep school Yes please. I loved everything about this book.'
Sarah Watson, creator of The Bold Type

Rom-com and YA fans alike will flock tothis simultaneously familiar and refreshing story. Author Erin Gough has created a refreshing, timely, and downright delightful story with a diverse, three-dimensional cast of characters whose hijinks are thrilling without being unrealistic. Queer-identifying readers will be particularly excited to see that both heroines are sure of and comfortable in their sexuality, never hiding who they are despite social and familial pressures. Like the most adept writers for this age group, Gough admirably presents young readers with clear examples of personal growth, acceptance, and healthy relationships without getting heavy-handed.
School Library Connection (starred review)

Opposites attract in this story of pranks, justice, and hate-to-love romance. The [protagonists']romance is well-paced and satisfying.Emotional abuse, heterosexism, and racism are all touched upon in the narrative but are secondary to the skewering of sexism and institutional hypocrisy ... Empowering.
Kirkus

'Goughs novel pulses with hilarious, defiant heart.I rooted for unlikely allies Harriet and Will from the first pages and couldnt get enough of their chemistry.Maybe Amelia Westlake is imaginary, but her triumph over injustice is so gratifying and genuine.'
Adrienne Kisner, author of Dear Rachel Maddow

'Empowering and insightful,Amelia Westlake Was Never Hereis a rollicking reminder that even the smallest actions can change the world. This book is a feminist, romantic delight.'
Ashley Herring Blake, author of Suffer Love

'Filled with surprises and twists, Amelia Westlake Was Never Here is so smart and quick that I found myself speed reading to find out what happened nextand then going back to make sure I didn't miss a single line. Clever and effortless.'
Katrina Leno, author of You Must Not Miss

'Sharp-witted and unapologetically queer, with an opposites-attract romance I absolutely adored.'
Malinda Lo, author of A Line in the Dark

'A delightful, timely romantic comedy of two opposites attracting, connecting and fighting for justice together at a private girls' school. I fell in love with Amelia Westlake.'
Justine Larbalestier, author of Liar and My Sister Rosa

-- Justine Larbalestier

'The characters were so good, believable and believably flawed, witty and warm and it was deliciously subversive, with such a relevant and timely sting in its tail.'
Melissa Keil, author ofLife in Outer Space and The Secret Science of Magic

-- Melissa Keil

'Funny, smart, romantic and uplifting, Amelia Westlakewill steal your heart, together with Will Everhart and Harriet Price, the mischievous social justice warriors who gave her life. Together, they hatch a plan to challenge injustice and shine a light on hypocrisy and privilege, wreaking a fair amount of mischief along the way. Youll fall in love with all three of them, like I did.'
Nicole Hayes, author of One True Thing

-- Nicole Hayes

'A brilliant social satire with a feminist vibe and two strong main characters whose voices alternate telling the story. This smart, sassy novel skewers a range of issues including sexism, elitism and lack of diversity with a light touch. Gough has created a clever, engaging feminist romp for readers aged 12 and up that is utterly unputdownable.'

Angela Crocombe is the manager of Readings Kids

-- Angela Crocombe * Books and Publishing *
Starred review for the US edition,Amelia Westlake Was Never Here:
Rom-com and YA fans alike will flock tothis simultaneously familiar and refreshing story. Author Erin Gough has created a refreshing, timely, and downright delightful story with a diverse, three-dimensional cast of characters whose hijinks are thrilling without being unrealistic. Queer-identifying readers will be particularly excited to see that both heroines are sure of and comfortable in their sexuality, never hiding who they are despite social and familial pressures. Like the most adept writers for this age group, Gough admirably presents young readers with clear examples of personal growth, acceptance, and healthy relationships without getting heavy-handed.

* School Library Connection *
Praise for the US edition, Amelia Westlake was Never Here:

Opposites attract in this story of pranks, justice, and hate-to-love romance. The [protagonists']romance is well-paced and satisfying.Emotional abuse, heterosexism, and racism are all touched upon in the narrative but are secondary to the skewering of sexism and institutional hypocrisy ... Empowering. * Kirkus *
Praise for the US edition, Amelia Westlake was Never Here:
'Goughs novel pulses with hilarious, defiant heart.I rooted for unlikely allies Harriet and Will from the first pages and couldnt get enough of their chemistry.Maybe Amelia Westlake is imaginary, but her triumph over injustice is so gratifying and genuine.' Adrienne Kisner, author of Dear Rachel Maddow
-- Adrienne Kisner
Praise for the US edition, Amelia Westlake was Never Here:
'Empowering and insightful,Amelia Westlake Was Never Hereis a rollicking reminder that even the smallest actions can change the world. This book is a feminist, romantic delight.' -- Ashley Herring Blake
Praise for the US edition, Amelia Westlake Was Never Here:
'Filled with surprises and twists, Amelia Westlake Was Never Here is so smart and quick that I found myself speed reading to find out what happened nextand then going back to make sure I didn't miss a single line. Clever and effortless.' -- Katrina Leno
Praise for the US edition, Amelia Westlake Was Never Here:
'Sharp-witted and unapologetically queer, with an opposites-attract romance I absolutely adored.' -- Malinda Lo
Praise for the US edition, Amelia Westlake Was Never Here:
'Quirky, original, and completely charming characters, an adorable love story, plus a feminist plot to take down institutionalized misogyny at a stuffy prep school Yes please. I loved everything about this book.' -- Sarah Watson, creator of The Bold Type

Author Bio

Erin Goughis a Sydney-based writer whose first YA novel,The Flywheel, won Hardie Grant Egmont's Ampersand Prize.TheFlywheelwas published in the US asGet it Together, Delilah!and inGermany, and was shortlisted for the CBCA's Bookofthe Year for Older Readers and the Centre for Youth Literatures Gold Inky.It was also named a White Raven International Youth Library title.Her second YA novel,Amelia Westlake, was published in 2018.

Erins award-winning short stories have appeared in a number of journals and anthologies including Best Australian Stories, The Age, Overland, Southerly and Going Down Swinging.Erin is a past recipient of the Varuna Eleanor Dark Flagship Fellowship for Fiction and an Australian Society of Authors Mentorship.