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Description
Mercedes Moreno, an artist with creative block, is unable to paint because of her grandmother's stroke and also because she's in love with her best friend, Victoria. The plot contains profanity and sexual references.
Quick Summary
Mercedes is a high school junior who's a talented artist but can't finish her paintings because she's stuck on a creative block, partly due to her grandmother's stroke and partly because she's falling for her best friend, Victoria. The story blends the messy, honest feelings of teenage crushes with the weight of family responsibility, and it does it with a raw, almost diary-like voice that feels like a real conversation. If you're into stories that mix art, LGBTQ+ romance, and the stress of caring for a loved one, this one's a good pick; it's especially appealing to teens who love realistic contemporary fiction with a touch of the surreal, similar to the emotional honesty you'll find in "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda." Parents should be aware that the book contains occasional strong language and some sexual references, though nothing gratuitous its focus is on emotional tension rather than explicit scenes. The plot moves quickly through Mercedes's attempts to break her creative block, which involve secret art projects, late-night conversations, and a gallery exhibition that becomes a metaphor for unfinished business. Overall, it's a heartfelt, sometimes funny, sometimes heart-wrenching read that will resonate with anyone who's ever felt stuck between what they want to create and what life throws at them.