NOBODY IN PARTICULAR

A secret romance between a piano prodigy and a crown princess forces them both to confront difficult choices.

Daniela Blythe, a “shockingly pale,” blond teen from Boulder, Colorado, will be attending Bramppath, a girls’ boarding high school in the fictional Western European country of Henland, on a music scholarship. She’s anxious to fit in with her wealthy peers and even more terrified to play piano in front of anyone, especially after being targeted by a group of bullies at her old school who circulated videos of her performances online. Fortunately, Molly Kwon, who’s of Korean descent, is quick to take Danni under her wing. Soon Danni joins a social group that includes the inscrutable Princess Rosemary of Henland. Rose, who’s cued white, is running from the trauma of a tragic accident that damaged both her public image and her friendship with Molly. The desire to salvage her reputation puts extra pressure on Rose to be the model princess her parents and publicist want her to be. As Rose, who’s lesbian, and Danni, who’s bisexual, grow closer and reveal their true feelings for one another, they must choose who they want controlling the narrative of their love and their lives even as threats of exposure loom. The story, which has no shortage of heart-fluttering moments, effectively builds in suspense that will keep readers guessing along with an unflinching look at the effects of past trauma.

Skillfully balances angst with fairy-tale romance.