cover image Jesse%E2%80%99s Girl

Jesse%E2%80%99s Girl

Miranda Kenneally. Sourcebooks Fire, $16.99 (304p) ISBN 978-1-4022-8482-3

In Kenneally%E2%80%99s (Breathe, Annie, Breathe) breezy romance, 17-year-old Maya Henry%E2%80%94a self-taught, 1980s-obsessed musician%E2%80%94gets a rare opportunity. As part of her school%E2%80%99s career day, Maya is sent to shadow Jesse Scott, a wildly successful Nashville country singer, whose uncle happens to be her school principal. Though Maya isn%E2%80%99t a country fan, she used to have a poster of Jesse hanging in her bedroom, and she hopes that he may be able to help her career. (Maya%E2%80%99s band recently dumped her, and she has intense stage fright.) Jesse%E2%80%99s defensive, stuck-up attitude initially turns her off, but he has his reasons: he feels isolated in his celebrity and has become distrustful of other people%E2%80%99s intentions. Despite a rocky introduction, they quickly fall in love, surprising and pushing each other to become better artists and people. Kenneally%E2%80%99s story about following one%E2%80%99s dreams inspires as it entertains. The characters%E2%80%99 musical passions and search for belonging are believable, while readers should get a vicarious thrill from watching Maya get to know a dreamy music star for who he really is. Ages 14%E2%80%93up. Agent: Sara Megibow, KT Literary Agency. (July)