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Loveless meets You’ve Got Mail in a charming YA romance centering two aspec (asexual and aromantic) teens at the heart of their own kind of love story.

REAL FEELINGS WERE NEVER PART OF THE DEAL…

Analeigh Tate has never cared about dating, partly because she’s got more important things to worry about (like grades, being valedictorian, and getting into her dream college), and partly because she fears no one would be interested in an asexual girl. But when she realizes she needs her older sister’s help convincing their overbearing parents that a musical theater degree is a serious career path, it comes at a price: proving she can get a boyfriend. Should be easy—right?

Drew Eberstark has finally gotten up the nerve to ask his online best friend to meet in person—only to learn she’s his academic rival, Analeigh Tate. Desperate not to lose his only friend, with whom he’s shared his uncertainty about being asexual and aromantic, he comes up with a plan: offer to be her (fake) boyfriend. Now he can prove he’s worth her friendship in real life, too. The only catch is that he has to make sure he doesn’t reveal his true identity in the process. So that’s not stressful or anything.

As Analeigh and Drew struggle with family expectations, grief, confusion about their identity, and uncertain futures, they’ll have to decide if their friendship is worth fighting for, and if there’s a happily ever after to their (not so typical) love story.

PRAISE

PRAISE

  • “Incredibly heartwarming, full of teen angst, joy, and everything in between.” 

    —Ann Zhao, bestselling author of Dear Wendy

  • “A triumph of authentic representation.”

    —A.J. Sass, award winning author of
    Just Shy of Ordinary

  • “A deeply emotional debut about unconditional love, grief, and self-realization.”
    —L.V. Peñalba, author of Shapes of Love

  • “Heartfelt, smart and wholly original, Averett’s debut enlivens our favorite tropes with a resonant voice and a deeply felt exploration of identity. Analeigh and Drew’s romance is an emotional, necessary addition to the YA canon, and Not Your Typical Love Story is not to be missed.” 

    —Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka, authors of Reese's Book Club Pick Heiress Takes All

  • "From the moment I opened this book, I knew it would be a meaningful one. Equal parts witty and poignant, clever and moving, Not Your Typical Love Story will be a shining addition to every young reader's bookshelf. Averett is a debut to watch!"

    —Claire M. Andrews, author of the Daughter of Sparta trilogy and A Beautiful and Terrible Murder

  • “Not Your Typical Love Story extends a big hug to everyone who’s ever felt too ‘different’ to see themselves in a romcom. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll be so grateful this book exists, because now kids like Analeigh and Drew—messy, big-hearted, brave—finally get to be seen. It’s a warm, inclusive love letter to all kinds of human connection.” 

    —Michelle Quach, author of Not Here to Be Liked

  • “Beautifully honest and quietly funny, Not Your Typical Love Story delivers a heartfelt ode to unconventional love. This fresh addition to the YA space weaves a big-hearted coming-of-age tale where a-spec joy shines in every scene. Averett’s debut is an unputdownable gem that deserves a standing ovation!” 

    —Sydney Langford, author of Someone to Daydream About

  • "Charming, smart, and refreshingly original, Not Your Typical Love Story redefines the romcom with warmth and wit. C.R. Averett delivers a heartfelt story about identity, friendship, and finding your version of happily ever after—one that will make readers laugh, ache, and feel deeply seen." 

    —Erika J. Kendrick, author of Squad Goals

  • “Tender, heartfelt and fiercely joyous, Not Your Typical Love Story utterly enchanted me. This is a remarkably layered and propulsive debut, with a fresh twist on classic tropes, celebrations of platonic love in all its forms, and characters who walked straight off the page and into my heart. I never wanted it to end.”

    —Bori Cser, author of Mirrorwoven

  • “An untypical love story you’ll adore! Fun fake-dating, emotional quests of self-discovery, and characters who leap off the page, this should be added to every YA contemporary romance reader’s bookshelf... A heartwarming debut, especially for those who have not seen themselves before as the stars of a romance.” 

    —Dana Swift, author of When Dealing with Dragons

  • “Impossible to put down and heart-warmingly beautiful, Not Your Typical Love Story offers a tender exploration of love through aspec perspectives. It’s the kind of book I wish I could have handed to my younger self—funny, heartbreaking, and meaningful.”

     —Lene D. Buttner, author of When Life Gives You Corpses

  • “Charming, propulsive, and just plain fun, Not Your Typical Love Story is a platonic romcom perfect for fans of Alice Oseman. An utter delight!” 

    —Rosiee Thor, author of Tarnished are the Stars