Leah on the Offbeat meets We Are Okay in this pitch-perfect queer romance about falling in love and never quite falling out of it--heartbreak, unexpected new crushes, and all.
Before Quinn Ryan was in love with Jamie Rudawski, she loved Jamie Rudawski, who was her best friend. But when Jamie dumps Quinn a month before their senior year, Quinn is suddenly girlfriend-less and best friend-less.
Enter a new crush: Ruby Ocampo, the gorgeous and rich lead singer of the popular band Sweets, who's just broken up with her on-again, off-again boyfriend. Quinn's always only wanted to be with Jamie, but if Jamie no longer wants to be with her, why can't Quinn go all in on Ruby? But the closer Quinn grows to Ruby, the more she misses Jamie, and the more (she thinks) Jamie misses her. Who says your first love can't be your second love, too?
Katie Heaney is a full-time senior writer for the Cut, a former editor at BuzzFeed, and the author of the memoirs Never Have I Ever: My Life (So Far) Without a Date and Would You Rather? Girl Crushed is her YA debut.
"The pacing is spot-on, and the exploration of lesbian relationships—particularly post-breakup—is handled deftly. Fresh and charming." —Kirkus Reviews
"This charming romance also addresses the all-too-common practice of discounting or ignoring the queer identity of people in hetero relationships, the complicated road back to friendship after a romantic relationship ends, and the importance of adjusting expectations as you go." —SLJ
“Hilarious and heartbreaking, often all at once. I loved Girl Crushed, which radiates with humor, awkwardness, and heart. It’s a joy to have Katie Heaney’s voice in young adult literature.” —Amy Spalding, bestselling author of The Summer of Jordi Perez
“Girl Crushed is the perfect book about queer longing, immediately relatable for anyone who’s ever obsessed over someone impossibly cool. I’m smitten.” —Britta Lundin, author of Ship It