Charming as a Verb

From the award-winning author of The Field Guide to the North American Teenager comes a whip-smart and layered romantic comedy. Perfect for fans of Nicola Yoon and Jenny Han.
Henri ?Halti? Haltiwanger can charm just about anyone. He is a star debater and popular student at the prestigious FATE academy, the dutiful first-generation Haitian son, and the trusted dog walker for his wealthy New York City neighbors. But his easy smiles mask a burning ambition to attend his dream college, Columbia University.
There is only one person who seems immune to Henri's charms: his ?intense? classmate and neighbor Corinne Troy. When she uncovers Henri's less-than-honest dog-walking scheme, she blackmails him into helping her change her image at school. Henri agrees, seeing a potential upside for himself.
Soon what started as a mutual hustle turns into something more surprising than either of them ever bargained for. . . .
This is a sharply funny and insightful novel about the countless hustles we have to keep from doing the hardest thing: being ourselves.

About the author

Ben Philippe is a New York–based writer and screenwriter, born in Haiti and raised in Montreal, Canada. He has a Bachelor of Arts from Columbia University and an MFA in fiction and screenwriting from the Michener Center for Writers in Austin, Texas. He also teaches film studies and screenwriting at Barnard College. He is the author of the William C. Morris Award–winning novel The Field Guide to the North American Teenager. Find him online at www.benphilippe.com.

Summary

But his easy smiles mask a burning ambition to attend his dream college, Columbia University. There is only one person who seems immune to Henri’s charms: his “intense” classmate and neighbor Corinne Troy.

Additional text

“It’s no longer tenable to imagine that the anxieties of a white heterosexual young man expelled from an expensive prep school capture the spirit of our era. Today’s snarky young anti-hero instead looks like Norris, the black French Canadian boy in The Field Guide to the North American Teenager.”

Product details

• Authors: Ben Philippe
• Publisher: Balzer & Bray
• Languages: English
• Age Recommendation: from age 13
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 28.02.2022
• EAN: 9780062824264
• ISBN: 978-0-06-282426-4
• No. of pages: 336
• Dimensions: 135 mm x 203 mm x 19 mm
• Subjects: Children's and young people's books; YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Coming of Age, YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Humorous / General, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Family and home stories, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Humorous stories, Personal & social issues (Children's / Teenage), Interest age: from c 12 years, Children’s / Teenage general interest: Boys and men, Children’s / Teenage: Poetry, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Stories in verse, YOUNG ADULT FICTION: Humorous / General *, YOUNG ADULT FICTION: Coming of Age *, Children’s / Teenage social topics: Migration / refugees, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Romance and love stories