The Summer of Jordi Perez (And the Best Burger in Los Angeles)
(Hardback)
Available Formats
Publishing Details
The Summer of Jordi Perez (And the Best Burger in Los Angeles)
By (Author) Amy Spalding
Skyhorse Publishing
Sky Pony Press
3rd April 2018
United States
Classifications
Young Adult
Fiction
FIC
Physical Properties
Hardback
284
Width 140mm, Height 210mm, Spine 28mm
422g
Description
"This book is the queer, fat girl rom-com of my dreams! Plus-size fashion, a fat girl falling in love, nuanced friendships, and cheeseburgers! Did I mention cheeseburgers" Julie Murphy, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dumplin'
Seventeen, fashion-obsessed, and gay, Abby Ives has always been content playing the sidekick in other peoples lives. While her friends and sister have plunged headfirst into the world of dating and romances, Abbys been happy to focus on her plus-size style blog and her dreams of taking the fashion industry by storm. When she lands a great internship at her favorite boutique, shes thrilled to take the first step toward her dream career. Then she falls for her fellow intern, Jordi Perez. Hard. And now shes competing against the girl shes kissing to win the coveted paid job at the end of the internship.
But really, nothing this summer is going as planned. She also unwittingly becomes friends with Jax, a lacrosse playing bro-type who wants her help finding the best burger in Los Angeles, and shes struggling to prove to her motherthe citys celebrity health nutthat shes perfectly content with who she is.
Just as Abby starts to feel like shes no longer the sidekick in her own life, Jordis photography surprisingly puts her in the spotlight. Instead of feeling like shes landed a starring role, Abby feels betrayed. Can Abby find a way to reconcile her positive yet private sense of self with the image others have of her
Reviews
"Yes, this book is as fantastic as it sounds." PopSugar
"The summer's hottest queer teen romance." Entertainment Weekly
"This book is funny, empowering, and romantic, without downplaying the role of platonic friendships. And to the fat girls who are sidelined in almost every romantic comedy Its a love letter." Becky Albertalli, author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda
"The Summer of Jordi Perez is a confectionary delight. From lovely romantic date nights to secret makeout sessions to utterly relatable friend drama, this is the happy queer-girl romance I've been longing for since I knew enough to long for happy queer-girl romance." Robin Talley, New York Times bestselling author of Lies We Tell Ourselves
"This book is the queer, fat girl rom-com of my dreams! Plus-size fashion, a fat girl falling in love, nuanced friendships, and cheeseburgers! Did I mention cheeseburgers" Julie Murphy, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dumplin'
"You'll want to go shopping with Abby. You'll obsessively need to sample every cheeseburger in town. You might even plan a foodie-fashion-fun times vacation in L.A. But most importantly, you'll fall in love with The Summer of Jordi Perez. Just like I did." Gretchen McNeil, author of Ten and I'm Not Your Manic Pixie Dream Girl
"Amy Spalding is the funniest YA contemporary writer out there." Hey YA Book Riot Podcast
[*] Funny, full of heart, and refreshingly free of a weight-loss arc. Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Abbys journey is a vehicle for highlighting the dangers of negative self-perception in any relationship or endeavor. . . Finally able to appreciate her talents, she discovers support and care rather than criticism. Shopping, humor, and summer romance add to the appeal of the story. VOYA
Sweet and delightful. School Library Journal
"A deceptively fun and breezy novel that gracefully delineates the difference between dreaming about a relationship and actually having one. . . . The story moves along effortlessly. This is a book you dont want to miss a word of. . . . A treat with a heroine whos not easily forgotten." Foreword Reviews
"Its about the painful fizzy joy of a new crush, about the solidity and support we get from platonic friendships, about feeling lost when family dynamics change." Leila Roy, feature for Kirkus Reviews
"Spalding is back with another bubbly and fun-loving protagonist, similar to the leading ladies in her Kissing Ted Callahan (and Other Guys) (2015) and The New Guy (and Other Senior Year Distractions) (2016). Abby finds herself having a summer full of surprises when she starts dating Jordi Perez, her fellow intern at the summer job of her dreams, and helping her new friend Jax rate a bunch of burger joints in L.A. for his fathers soon-to-launch app. A plus-size fashion blogger, Abby proclaims to everyone that she is comfortable with her body, but doesnt like to look at pictures of herself or post them online. As Jordi turns the camera on her, Abby slowly begins the journey to complete self-love that will lay the foundation for a deeper romantic love. Abby will connect with readers who appreciate the realistic and natural love story between the two girls, and with anyone whos ever struggled to feel comfortable in his or her own skin." Booklist
"Full of fast-paced writing and just the right amount of romance, this is a happy read that will have you rooting for Abby as she comes to terms with what she wants and how best to get it. Plus, the wonderful queer fat girl rep will leave you with a big smile on your face and an urge to read more just like it." The Mary Sue
"The plot is as sweet as bubblegum, and probably the lightest, most enjoyable read youll have all summer. Dont let the bright colors and stellar shopping fool you, this book carries themes like body positivity, following your dreams, and maintaining friendships too." After Ellen.com
"Abbys rambling voice is honest, charming, and absorbing. In a story about staying true to ones passions, Spalding (The New Guy (and Other Senior Year Distractions)) presents an interesting look at first love, social media, and private and public personas." Publisher's Weekly
"Seventeen-year-old Abby Ives is also working after graduation, interning at a hip clothing boutique. Abby claims that shes doomed to be 'the sassy best friend,' but readers will quickly see her star power. Shes bubbles on steroids dipped in Pop Rocks, perpetually chatty, dressed in candy colours and daydreaming. Amy Spaldings The Summer of Jordi Perez bursts with love: for clothes, for burgers (Abby goes on a 'best burger' hunt with a new jock friend) and for Abbys female colleague, Jordi. Abby loves her body too and is comfortable describing herself as fat, with the essential qualification, 'Being fat isnt bad. Acting like fats an insult is, though.'" Globe and Mail
Named one of the Best YA Books of 2018 by Cosmopolitan
"The summer's hottest queer teen romance." Entertainment Weekly
"This book is funny, empowering, and romantic, without downplaying the role of platonic friendships. And to the fat girls who are sidelined in almost every romantic comedy Its a love letter." Becky Albertalli, author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda
"The Summer of Jordi Perez is a confectionary delight. From lovely romantic date nights to secret makeout sessions to utterly relatable friend drama, this is the happy queer-girl romance I've been longing for since I knew enough to long for happy queer-girl romance." Robin Talley, New York Times bestselling author of Lies We Tell Ourselves
"This book is the queer, fat girl rom-com of my dreams! Plus-size fashion, a fat girl falling in love, nuanced friendships, and cheeseburgers! Did I mention cheeseburgers" Julie Murphy, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dumplin'
"You'll want to go shopping with Abby. You'll obsessively need to sample every cheeseburger in town. You might even plan a foodie-fashion-fun times vacation in L.A. But most importantly, you'll fall in love with The Summer of Jordi Perez. Just like I did." Gretchen McNeil, author of Ten and I'm Not Your Manic Pixie Dream Girl
"Amy Spalding is the funniest YA contemporary writer out there." Hey YA Book Riot Podcast
[*] Funny, full of heart, and refreshingly free of a weight-loss arc. Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Abbys journey is a vehicle for highlighting the dangers of negative self-perception in any relationship or endeavor. . . Finally able to appreciate her talents, she discovers support and care rather than criticism. Shopping, humor, and summer romance add to the appeal of the story. VOYA
Sweet and delightful. School Library Journal
"A deceptively fun and breezy novel that gracefully delineates the difference between dreaming about a relationship and actually having one. . . . The story moves along effortlessly. This is a book you dont want to miss a word of. . . . A treat with a heroine whos not easily forgotten." Foreword Reviews
"Its about the painful fizzy joy of a new crush, about the solidity and support we get from platonic friendships, about feeling lost when family dynamics change." Leila Roy, feature for Kirkus Reviews
"Spalding is back with another bubbly and fun-loving protagonist, similar to the leading ladies in her Kissing Ted Callahan (and Other Guys) (2015) and The New Guy (and Other Senior Year Distractions) (2016). Abby finds herself having a summer full of surprises when she starts dating Jordi Perez, her fellow intern at the summer job of her dreams, and helping her new friend Jax rate a bunch of burger joints in L.A. for his fathers soon-to-launch app. A plus-size fashion blogger, Abby proclaims to everyone that she is comfortable with her body, but doesnt like to look at pictures of herself or post them online. As Jordi turns the camera on her, Abby slowly begins the journey to complete self-love that will lay the foundation for a deeper romantic love. Abby will connect with readers who appreciate the realistic and natural love story between the two girls, and with anyone whos ever struggled to feel comfortable in his or her own skin." Booklist
"Full of fast-paced writing and just the right amount of romance, this is a happy read that will have you rooting for Abby as she comes to terms with what she wants and how best to get it. Plus, the wonderful queer fat girl rep will leave you with a big smile on your face and an urge to read more just like it." The Mary Sue
"The plot is as sweet as bubblegum, and probably the lightest, most enjoyable read youll have all summer. Dont let the bright colors and stellar shopping fool you, this book carries themes like body positivity, following your dreams, and maintaining friendships too." After Ellen.com
"Abbys rambling voice is honest, charming, and absorbing. In a story about staying true to ones passions, Spalding (The New Guy (and Other Senior Year Distractions)) presents an interesting look at first love, social media, and private and public personas." Publisher's Weekly
"Seventeen-year-old Abby Ives is also working after graduation, interning at a hip clothing boutique. Abby claims that shes doomed to be 'the sassy best friend,' but readers will quickly see her star power. Shes bubbles on steroids dipped in Pop Rocks, perpetually chatty, dressed in ca
Author Bio
Amy Spalding has a B.A. in advertising and marketing communications from Webster University, and an M.A. in media studies from the New School. Amy studied longform improv at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. By day, she manages the digital media team for an indie film advertising agency. By later day and night, Amy writes, performs, and pets as many cats as she can. She grew up in St. Louis, but now lives in the better weather of Los Angeles.
