Review By: Anonymous
Published: 2024
Genre(s): Young Adult Fiction
Audience: Grades 8 to 12
Content Warnings: Family dynamics
Goodreads Link: Finally Fitz
Publisher’s Summary:
A bisexual teen girl tries to make her ex jealous by faking an Instagram romance that leads to surprisingly real feelings in this hijinks-filled rom-com perfect for fans of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and She Gets the Girl .
Ava “Fitz” Fitzgerald has worked hard to create the picture-perfect life she’s always wanted. She spent her junior year transforming her passion for sustainable fashion and upcycling into a viral online platform, maintaining a 4.0 GPA, and spending every free second with her soon-to-graduate girlfriend, Danica. And this summer she plans to take it all to the next level by attending a prestigious summer fashion program in New York City and convincing Dani that they can survive a year of long distance. But when Dani dumps her before classes even start, accusing Fitz of being more invested in growing her online persona than deepening their relationship, she’s left not only heartbroken, but also creatively blocked.
Fitz will do anything to win Dani back, even if that means taking a break from the platform that she’s worked so hard to build. But just as she decides to go all-in on a hiatus, a chance encounter reunites her with Levi Berkowitz, her childhood best friend that she hasn’t seen since elementary school. Levi is struggling with heartbreak of his own, and this cosmic coincidence sparks a new use for her social media savvy. Fitz offers to help Levi craft a fake relationship online to make his person jealous…if in return he can pretend to be her boyfriend in front of Dani to make her jealous. If all goes according to plan, by the end of the summer they’ll both be reunited with their perfect partners and get to rekindle their friendship in the process. Sometimes even the most carefully designed plans can come apart at the seams, though. And when real history leads to not-so-fake feelings, Fitz will have to decide if she’s finally willing to let go of what she thought was picture-perfect and choose what might actually be right for her.
Review:
Finally Fitz by Marisa Kanter is a heartfelt and thought provoking novel that explores identity, self discovery, and the struggles that relationships can cause. The story centers on 17 year old Fitz Holton, a girl who has spent her life being the glue holding her family together. With her father battling chronic illness and her mother working tirelessly, Fitz has learned to suppress her own dreams to support those she loves. However, when an unexpected opportunity arises, Fitz must confront what it means to finally live for herself.
Fitz struggles with obligation, guilt, and ambition, connecting with readers navigating their own paths to independence. The novel’s dialogue is witty and authentic, drawing readers into Fitz’s world as she grapples with decisions that could alter her future and her family dynamics. Themes of mental health, resilience, and personal growth are woven throughout, making this story both timely and timeless.
