13 new YA releases that belong on your May reading list
By Lacy Baugher
May 2021 release: Some Girls Do – Jennifer Dugan
Jennifer Dugan’s swooniest queer romance yet, Some Girls Do follows the story of an openly gay track star who falls for a closeted, bisexual teen beauty queen with a penchant for fixing up old cars. (Hello, someone please make a CW series out of this, like, right now.).
The story follows Morgan, a track star who must transfer to a new school after her decision to come out gets her kicked out of her private Catholic academy. On her first day, she’s almost run down in the school parking lot by Ruby, a local girl deemed “trashy” by her classmates because she lives in a trailer park and competes in beauty pageants at the insistence of her mother, who sees her daughter as their ticket to a better life.
The two are instantly drawn to one another, but Ruby’s previous lack of interest in relationships and homophobic mother are problems for Morgan, whose tired of living a less than open life, even though it may impact her college options next year. Can two girls from such different worlds make it work?
The official synopsis describes the story as follows.
"Morgan, an elite track athlete, is forced to transfer high schools late in her senior year after it turns out being queer is against her private Catholic school’s code of conduct. There, she meets Ruby, who has two hobbies: tinkering with her baby blue 1970 Ford Torino and competing in local beauty pageants, the latter to live out the dreams of her overbearing mother. The two are drawn to each other and can’t deny their growing feelings. But while Morgan–out and proud, and determined to have a fresh start–doesn’t want to have to keep their budding relationship a secret, Ruby isn’t ready to come out yet. With each girl on a different path toward living her truth, can they go the distance together?"
Some Girls Do is available on May 18.