A sweet and chaste tropical YA romance inspired by Jane Austen’s Persuasion. Reyna and Aiden grew up and fell in love on the island of Tobago, where her family owns a beautiful seaside resort. When Aiden’s band hit it big, he left to pursue his dreams and Reyna got left behind. It’s been tough: she’s still grieving her mother’s death and starting to feel trapped by the hotel she once loved. After a two year absence, Aiden returns to the hotel with his bandmates as VIP guests. Though Reyna resolves to keep her distance, the two are thrown together when his friends insist she take charge of their schedule—and she can’t help but remember why she once thought they’d be together forever. Readers will appreciate the way Dass keeps the beats of Austen’s original while making the story her own with its winning characters, vivid tropical setting, and fun musical vibe. For fans of Ibi Zoboi’s Pride and Tahereh Mafi’s A Very Large Expanse of Sea.

This heartfelt YA enemies-to-lovers romance features hugely likable protagonists and unfolds against an equally appealing backdrop: Trinidad’s lauded Carnival celebration. For Beatrice, known as “Tess” to her friends, Carnival is the family business: she’s a talented seamstress who designs costumes for the family masquerade band Grandeur. But after a public incident threatens Grandeur’s future, she’s forced to ask for help from skilled social media influencer Brandon, who also happens to be her nemesis. But the more the two start hanging out, the harder it is for Tess to hate him. A sweet (and chaste) love story, endearing side characters, and a modern riff on Much Ado About Nothing all add up to perfect summer reading. For fans of Dass’s Where the Rhythm Takes You and Joya Goffney’s Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry.