Nobody in Particular

May 15, 2025
A secret romance between a piano prodigy and a crown princess forces them both to confront difficult choices. Daniela Blythe, a "shockingly pale," blond teen from Boulder, Colorado, will be attending Bramppath, a girls' boarding high school in the fictional Western European country of Henland, on a music scholarship. She's anxious to fit in with her wealthy peers and even more terrified to play piano in front of anyone, especially after being targeted by a group of bullies at her old school who circulated videos of her performances online. Fortunately, Molly Kwon, who's of Korean descent, is quick to take Danni under her wing. Soon Danni joins a social group that includes the inscrutable Princess Rosemary of Henland. Rose, who's cued white, is running from the trauma of a tragic accident that damaged both her public image and her friendship with Molly. The desire to salvage her reputation puts extra pressure on Rose to be the model princess her parents and publicist want her to be. As Rose, who's lesbian, and Danni, who's bisexual, grow closer and reveal their true feelings for one another, they must choose who they want controlling the narrative of their love and their lives even as threats of exposure loom. The story, which has no shortage of heart-fluttering moments, effectively builds in suspense that will keep readers guessing along with an unflinching look at the effects of past trauma. Skillfully balances angst with fairy-tale romance.(Romance. 14-18)

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Starred review from June 1, 2025
Grades 8-12 *Starred Review* Danni is starting over in a new country at a fancy new boarding school. After years of bullying in Colorado, she's excited to be moving to Henland with her mom and stepdad and to have received a music scholarship to a prestigious school for girls. There, she meets Molly, a new best friend who is dealing with a strained relationship with her friend Rose--the crown princess of Henland. As Danni and Rose become closer through their mutual friends, their attraction for each other grows. But Rose is shouldering the weight of a country, and Danni's biggest challenge is performing in front of her school. On top of that, Henland is a majority Catholic country, and Rose isn't out--nor does she think she ever will be. Readers will appreciate glimpses into each girl's perspective; watching Danni grow in confidence and Rose embrace who she really is while they fall in love with each other is a supremely satisfying journey. Their connection is palpable, and the pages crackle with chemistry. The work tackles the nuances of grief with empathy and emotion, allowing the teen characters to be imperfect in how they react to their trauma. Gonzales, who also touched on teenage fame in the cowritten If This Gets Out (2021), succeeds with this entry into the queer royal-romance canon.

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Starred review from June 1, 2025

Gr 9 Up-Gonzales does it again-another swoony romance filled with deep emotions and characters who are witty and smart. This time she utilizes the popular trope of royalty falling for commoners, but with the twist of the princess falling in love with the new girl at school. Princess Rose of Henland has it all, or so everyone thinks. She's trying hard to forget a tragic moment in her past, but the public and press won't let her. Her image is shot, and the last years of boarding school loom ominously without her best friend, who turned her back on her after the "incident." Enter new girl Danni, who is on a music scholarship. Gonzales is wise not to use the overdone theme of snobby rich students picking on the scholarship kid, and Danni fits in nicely-but she's hiding a secret that is similar to Rose's. Danni is bisexual and Rose is gay, which they discover as their friendship blossoms into something more. The story runs the gamut of heartbreak and pure joy. Rose must reconcile the public figure she is pressured to maintain with living the truth she wants desperately to have with Danni. Yes, there is palace intrigue and misunderstandings, but it all feels fresh and original with moving dialogue and love at the core. Contains drug use and underage drinking, an off-page overdose death, and a fade-to-black sex scene. VERDICT Anything Gonzales writes should be an automatic purchase for librarians, including this story that bursts with hope and love rising above people intent on destroying it.-Maria Ramusevic

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