Teen Tuesday: Listen to Your Heart by Kasie West

Image: Scholastic

Listen to Your Heart by Kasie West. 336 p. Scholastic Inc., May, 2019. 9781338210064. (Review of finished copy courtesy of publisher.)

Teen Tuesday features Listen to Your Heart by Kasie West. West's newest romance is a fluffy one. Kate is an introvert, still obsessing over the breakup with her boyfriend, and not eager to leave her beloved lake for school. She loves nothing more than to be out on the lake or working at her parents' marina. Her best friend, Alanna, convinced her to try a podcasting class and Kate finds herself picked to co-host the advice show. Turns out, Kate is pretty good at it and the podcast gains in popularity. Alanna has a crush on Diego, who happens to work at the tutoring center Kate drives her cousin to; so Kate strikes up a conversation with him hoping to talk up her best friend. It seems to be working - until it isn't. 

While this wasn't my favorite West romance, my students will love it. Kate is pretty funny. Her friendship with Alanna is fun. The podcasting part of the plot was interesting. It's a fine romance for the middle school crowd.