There Goes the Neighborhood

A group of high school students in South Los Angeles start a fake dating app to combat rising housing prices and gentrification in their neighborhood. The teens match longtime residents with newcomers through a system designed to sabotage potential relationships and deter people from moving to the area. The story centers on sixteen-year-old Rhea, who helps run the scheme while juggling family responsibilities, her job at a local restaurant, and the dynamics of her friend group. Her involvement becomes complicated when she makes a real connection with a newcomer to the neighborhood. The novel explores themes of community, loyalty, and the personal costs of activism. Through its characters' choices and conflicts, the book examines questions about class, race, and belonging in rapidly changing urban neighborhoods.

Readers praise the authentic portrayal of gentrification's impact on a Los Angeles neighborhood through the perspective of Black and brown teens. The friendship dynamics and activism storylines resonate with young readers who relate to fighting for their communities. Positive reviews highlight: - Natural dialogue and slang usage - Complex family relationships - Diverse character representation - Balance of serious themes with humor Common criticisms: - Pacing drags in the middle sections - Some plot points feel unrealistic - Romance subplot could be more developed Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (150+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.4/5 (80+ ratings) "The characters jump off the page with their distinct voices" - Goodreads reviewer "Captures the anger and helplessness of watching your neighborhood change" - Amazon reviewer "The friendship between the main characters feels genuine and lived-in" - Barnes & Noble reviewer

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🏘️ "There Goes the Neighborhood" tackles gentrification through the lens of teenagers, a perspective rarely seen in literature addressing this social issue. ✍️ Author Jade Adia wrote this debut novel while still an undergraduate student at Stanford University. 📱 The story's young activists use social media as a tool for community organizing, reflecting real-world youth movements like Black Lives Matter. 🎨 The book's setting, Inglewood, California, has experienced significant real-world gentrification due to the construction of SoFi Stadium and other major developments. 🌟 The novel was praised by Publishers Weekly for successfully balancing serious social commentary with humor and authentic teen relationships.