PRE-ORDER NOW - 22nd December 2026

A heartwarming and hilarious YA romance about the high-stakes world of pageantry and the beauty of first love. Perfect for fans of rom coms by Casey McQuiston!

Parker Ryland has always been the master of his own destiny, meticulously planning his escape from his small town. But when he’s told that his college application is “boring”, he is thrown for a loop. Parker may be many things, but boring is not one of them.

So, Parker applies to his school’s Miss Spirit pageant to spice up his application and challenge himself and the town’s antiquated gender ideals.

Pageant life in southern Tennessee is intense enough without the nerdy but undeniably charming student body president, Dean, offering to give Parker a crash-course in pageantry. As the two get closer, Parker's carefully constructed plans begin to unravel. And then someone starts sabotaging Parker, threatening not only his chance at the crown, but his future.

As paint splatters and sparks fly, Parker learns that sometimes the best way to win is to play—and love—by your own rules.

“This book takes the crown.”—Sara Raasch, New York Times bestselling author of The Nightmare Before Kissmas.