The Key to You and Me

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Description

A sweet and funny LGBTQ+ romance perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli and Julie Murphy, from the critically acclaimed author of Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit!

Piper Kitts is spending the summer living with her grandmother, training at the barn of a former Olympic horseback rider, and trying to get over her ex-girlfriend. Much to Pipers dismay, her grandmother is making her face her fear of driving by taking lessons from a girl in town.

Kat Pearson has always suspected that she likes girls but fears her North Carolina town is too small to color outside the lines. But when Pipers grandmother hires Kat to give her driving lessons, everything changes.

Pipers not sure if shes ready to let go of her ex. Kats navigating uncharted territory with her new crush. With the summer running out, will they be able to unlock a future together

"Piper and Kat are imperfect, but always trying their bestaren't we alland Brown had me rooting for them all the way through this sweet, slow burn romance. Their triumphs, their blunders, and the way they swing between confidence and self-doubt are utterly relatable."Misa Sigura, award-winning author ofIt's Not Like It's a Secret

Reviews

"Piper and Kat are imperfect, but always trying their bestaren't we alland Brown had me rooting for them all the way through this sweet, slow burn romance. Their triumphs, their blunders, and the way they swing between confidence and self-doubt are utterly relatable." Misa Sugiura, award-winning author ofIt's Not Like It's a Secret "Such a sweet story with compelling family relationships, awesome female characters, a satisfying mix of coming out and already-out-and-proud, and lots of equestrian goodness!" M-E Girard, Lambda Literary Award-winning author of Girl Mans Up A sweet and joyful representation of family, friendship, and two girls falling in love. Sarah Prager, author ofRainbow RevolutionariesandQueer, There, and Everywhere "The story, told through alternating chapters narrated from each girls first-person perspective, gracefully and generously engages with gender and sexuality.Readers will laugh, cry, and cheer." Kirkus Reviews "A sweet slow-burn romance built on a foundation of friendship and self-discovery. Readers will love being swept along for the ride." Booklist "The Key to You and Me reminded us of what the best relationships are built on, what wed like to see more of when it comes to LGBTQ ships, and that the place youre in when it comes to being queer might not be the same place where someone else is at. That doesnt make their story any less worth telling or exploring. Fangirlish PRAISE FOR The Meaning of Birds: An evocative story of the thrills of first love and the anguish of first loss. Thiswill break you and heal you. Julie Murphy, #1New York Timesbestselling author ofDumplin An unforgettable story that resonated deep in my bones,The Meaning of Birdswill break your heart and then put it right back together again. Jess and Vivis relationship was so beautiful and true. I loved them and didnt want the story to end. Amber Smith,New York Timesbestselling author ofThe Way I Used to Be A profoundly moving and exquisitely written story of love, loss, grief, and healing. These characters have imprinted on my heart and will be with me for a long, long time. Amy Reed, author ofBeautifulandThe Nowhere Girls A heart-wrenching journey through anger and grief, balanced on the sharp edge of hope. Malinda Lo, author ofAshandA Line in the Dark Prepare to cry, oftenand to be thoroughly swept away into this subtle and utterly real story of grief and love and heartbreak and finding yourself in the middle of it all. Robin Talley,New York Timesbestselling author ofThe Lies We Tell OurselvesandOur Own Private Universe Told in alternating then and now chapters, the moving narrative captures well the nonlinear progression of Jess grief and emotional growth. Frank and accessible, this gritty drama realizes with great compassion and empathy the ways reckoning with loss can manifest. Kirkus Reviews(starred review) Affectionately rendered. Browndepicts Jess with raw realism. Publishers Weekly Browns exploration of loss is raw and devastating, placing readers directly into Jesss turbulent experience. Captures the ambivalence of grief in this searing and ultimately hopeful novel. For fans of Jandy Nelson, Adam Silvera, and Nicola Yoon. School Library Journal Praise forGeorgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit: Funny, thoughtful, compassionate Jo is a delightful narrator. The frank portrayals of swearing, sexual activity, underage drinking, etc., neither titillate nor condemn; they just depict teens being authentic teens. While Jo and Mary Carlson are white, the rest of their friends display considerable diversity portrayed with nuance through each characters words and actions. A sweet, sexy, honest teen romance that just happens to involve two girlsall the more charming for being so very ordinary. Kirkus Reviews(starred review) Faith matters in this book, but so do family, friends, and being funny. The dialogue is snappyJoanna is sharp tongued and sometimes brattyand the characters arent types. Rather, theyre individuals navigating a complicated world, which makes for a rich and satisfying read. Publishers Weekly (starred review) Brown orchestrates a fast-paced narrative that is powerful, moving, and relatable. This work will resonate with those who enjoy a female protagonist who is bold, brave, candid, and thoughtful. The language is realistic, and the author accurately captures queer and Southern cultures. Brown expertly describes the complex nuances of faith and sexuality. This plot-driven story is humorous, and the characters are effortlessly likable. Teens who root for underdogs will be pulling for this dream team of characters. For fans of David Levithan and John Greens Will Grayson, Will Grayson; this title is a worthwhile purchase for all YA collections. School Library Journal (starred review) Readers will appreciate the compelling characters, the humor, and the romance. Anyone who enjoys the writing of John Green or Rainbow Rowell will find a sense of familiarity in Browns writing, and will be left longing for more. teenreads.com

Author Bio

Jaye Robin Brown is a former high school art teacher. She is also the critically acclaimed author of the young adult novels Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit and No Place to Fall. She lives in Massachusetts. Website: www.jayerobinbrown.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/jayerobinbrown Facebook: www.facebook.com/jayerobinbrown