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Amelia Applebaum isn''t in love with Walter Holland. He just happens to be her favorite moderately famous, chaotically bisexual YouTuber. Who she just happened to invite to prom. (But it''s fine. No, for real. If you delete the post, it didn''t happen.) Okay, maybe her friends are right: She''s slightly parasocially infatuated. But Amelia just knows sparks would fly--if only she could connect with Walter for real. If only he would host a meet and greet. If only it were just a short road trip away. And if only Amelia could talk her best friends into making it the perfect last hurrah before graduation--even her newly single, always-cynical, guitar-toting best friend Natalie. One thing''s for sure: All roads lead to butterflies. But what if Amelia''s butterflies aren''t for Walter at all?
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Albertalli creates a realistic microcosm of queer and Jewish teen culture with no shortage of her signature humor and clever snark... The friends' banter is warm, endearing, and relatable. Fresh and witty on the surface, tender and heartfelt at its core. - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"The novel is written in first-person narration that brilliantly portrays how Amelia's delightful brain works... Albertalli masterfully weaves together characters from Amelia's life with fan favorites from her previous work Imogen, Obviously (2023), but the focus is wholly on Amelia and her journey. Amelia is vibrant and easy to root for, and what she learns about parasocial relationships is impactful for all. Guess who's back? Albertalli's back, venturing into one of her previous worlds with more fun, chaotic queer romance and a relevant message for the social media age." - Booklist
"The witty banter between Amelia and her friends on their road trip and their first glimpses of college life add more layers of humor to this laugh-out-loud, adorable queer romance that is a perfect summer read for any teen who has been in parasocial love with a favorite celebrity." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Amelia, If Only provides a succinct, devastatingly accurate yet humorous take on what it means to be a fan - and how the reality of meeting your idols doesn't always live up to your daydreams. All that paired with an amazing friends-to-lovers arc, a supportive friend group and the most unhinged and relatable main character makes Amelia, If Only pure art. Whether you're a long-time fan of Albertalli or just want to dip your toes into a book that's all about being a fan, this one is not to be missed!" - The Nerd Daily
