The Summer of Jordi Perez (And the Best Burger in Los Angeles)

Abby Ives lands her dream internship at a boutique clothing store in Los Angeles, where she'll spend the summer working alongside Jordi Perez, a photographer and fellow intern. Despite her passion for plus-size fashion blogging, Abby struggles with self-doubt about her size and her place in the fashion world. As Abby and Jordi work together, their relationship evolves beyond friendship while Abby simultaneously pursues a side project reviewing burgers with her new friend Jax. The summer brings unexpected challenges as Abby navigates her first real relationship, her mother's health food empire, and her own career aspirations. Through romance, friendship, and fashion, the story explores themes of body positivity, self-acceptance, and finding one's voice. The novel takes an honest look at the complexities of first love, family expectations, and the courage required to pursue authentic self-expression.

Readers describe this as a light, upbeat YA romance that handles themes of body positivity and coming out. The friendship dynamics and Los Angeles setting receive frequent mentions in reviews. Liked: - Main character Abby's confidence and self-acceptance - Authentic portrayal of teen relationships and family dynamics - Food blog subplot and LA restaurant scenes - LGBTQ+ representation without trauma or tragedy Disliked: - Some found the plot predictable - Romance develops quickly without much buildup - Supporting characters could use more depth - A few readers wanted more resolution with Abby's mother storyline Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (6,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (120+ ratings) BookBrowse: 4/5 Notable Reader Comment: "Finally a queer YA romance where coming out isn't a source of pain. Abby knows who she is and owns it." - Goodreads reviewer

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli A coming-of-age story follows a gay teen exploring first love while working at a summer theater program and navigating the complexities of coming out to friends and family.

Hot Dog Girl by Jennifer Dugan The tale unfolds at an amusement park where a bisexual teen works as a dancing hot dog while pursuing romance and friendship during her last summer before senior year.

Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit by Jaye Robin Brown A queer teen radio host moves to conservative small-town Georgia and must balance her identity with her father's expectations and her growing feelings for a new girl.

The Falling in Love Montage by Ciara Smyth Two girls create their own summer romance inspired by rom-com movie clichés while dealing with family obligations and the knowledge their time together has an expiration date.

Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde Three friends attend a fan convention where one pursues her crush on a fellow YouTuber while managing anxiety and challenging beauty standards in the entertainment industry.

🍔 The novel features a diverse cast of LGBTQ+ characters and was a finalist for the 2019 Lambda Literary Award in the Young Adult category. 💜 Author Amy Spalding drew from her own experiences growing up in Los Angeles to create authentic details about the city's vibrant food scene and culture. 👗 The main character Abby works at a boutique clothing store, which reflects the author's real-life experience working in retail during her teenage years. 🏳️‍🌈 The book was named to the 2019 Rainbow List by the American Library Association, which recognizes quality LGBTQ+ books for children and teens. 🎨 The protagonist's passion for plus-size fashion blogging was inspired by the body positive movement and the rise of social media influencers in the fashion industry.