Nav's Foolproof Guide to Falling in Love

Starred review from April 1, 2025

Gr 9 Up-A heartwarming and relatable story about coming to terms with change, growing up, and getting out of one's own way. Lewis uses humor and heart to illustrate normalcy within the queer experience as well as within dealing with anxiety, offering readers kinship and resonance. The book follows Nav, the witty main character, as she balances working part-time with high school. New girl Gia asks Nav for help getting to know her best friend Hallie; amid hangouts and fake dates to prep Gia, who has an anxiety disorder, for the real thing, feelings inevitably get involved. Lewis's writing is clear and informative, balancing difficult topics, such as divorce, feelings of abandonment, and more with an engaging narrative that has readers feeling as though they are Nav's best friend. What sets this book apart is its ability to distill the complexity and vulnerability of Nav's life experiences into digestible and captivating entries. Readers will also laugh along as Nav falls in love with Gia (and her dog Jordan!) and shows off her smarts. Nav is Black; Gia has a Mexican American mother and an Italian father. VERDICT For avid YA romance readers or casual readers with an interest in LGBTQIA+ experiences, this book provides a heartwarming and relatable overview of a teenager's life.-Jenna LaBollita

Copyright 2025 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2025
A lesbian who doesn't believe in love plays dating coach. Naveah has never had "an official girlfriend"--she's against dating on principle; relationships are too "messy." Instead, Nav keeps things casual and fun, unlike her bisexual best friend, Hallie (both girls are Black). Hallie is constantly getting her heart broken. After Hallie's latest boyfriend turns out to be a cheater, Nav is determined to fix things for her. The problem is that Hallie is headed to an academic summer camp Nav didn't get into. Then Italian and Mexican American new girl Gia, who has social anxiety and whose mom is a sponsor for Hallie's camp, asks Nav for help getting Hallie's attention. Nav agrees to teach Gia how to win over Hallie in exchange for the spot at camp that Gia's planning to give up. Since Nav is good at flirting, this should be simple--but after Gia's anxiety ruins her first date with Hallie, Nav has to go back to basics with her romance lessons. When Nav starts to have feelings for Gia, she panics. Nav hates change--and now she has to decide whether her perfect summer plan is more important than taking a chance on love. The highly relatable characters make cringeworthy mistakes while also showing their vulnerability. This book is about more than just romantic love: Lewis balances family trauma and complicated relationships with depictions of strong support systems. Funny, serious, and adorably awkward in all the best ways.(Romance. 12-18)

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