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LIKE, COMMENT, SUBSCRIBE? by Kat Ost

LIKE, COMMENT, SUBSCRIBE?

From the Rhiza Shorts series

by Kat Ost

Pub Date: Aug. 12th, 2025
ISBN: 9781761112577
Publisher: Rhiza Edge

A 15-year-old Australian girl’s life as a baking influencer is anything but a piece of cake.

Becca has appeared in baking videos with her mum, who owns a patisserie, since she was a toddler. Baking used to be fun, but with the constant pressure of brand partnerships, collaboration with other content creators, and the overbearing presence of Aunt Jane, her social media manager, @BeccaBakes has spiraled into an unwieldy monster. There’s no easy recipe for balancing teenage insecurities, a slipping follower count, and schoolwork. It only gets worse when Aunt Jane, who believes that Becca has gained too much weight, rebrands the account @BeccaBakesBetter and pressures her to shift her focus: “Still baking but a healthier, diet-conscious platform.” Poetry lover Becca begins posting anonymously in an online form, Poet’s Portal, where she finds a new friend who truly understands her. As the pressure on Becca to succeed intensifies, she must choose between what her family wants for her and what she wants for herself. This concise story with a simple yet compelling narrative, told in language that’s accessible to reluctant readers, is utterly heartwarming. The short chapters open with Becca’s social media statistics and a rating of her mood, fun details that help readers track both her online status and emotional state. Through her deeply relatable characters, Ost authentically depicts modern teenage experiences. Characters read white.

An appealing and uplifting story about finding your way to what you love.

(Fiction. 12-18)