Finally Fitz

Gr 9 Up–Kanter’s latest fulfills all the tropes of a traditional rom-com with some fun Gen-Z twists. Dumped by her girlfriend at the start of her dream fashion internship in New York City, Fitz uses the summer to stage an Instagram-worthy fake relationship with her estranged childhood best friend, all while on a social media hiatus from her perfect fashion influencer persona, “If the Shoe Fitz.” Amid family drama, Fitz chooses to take refuge at her older sister’s apartment rather than share a dorm with her ex. In an internship that challenges her in ways she didn’t foresee, she begins to develop real feelings for Levi, the boy she once considered her best friend. While the novel follows the typical story arc of a teen romantic comedy, it does so with a lot of heart. Along with the romantic plot points, Kanter reveals a complex, human story of a young girl trying to figure out who she is to herself, her friends, and her family, even while she is expected to present a perfect image for her “followers.” Fitz and Levi are Jewish.