The Fall of Whit Rivera - by Crystal Maldonado

About the Book

Seventeen-year-old Whit, a plus-sized Puerto-Rican girl, is forced to plan the school's Fall Formal with her handsome ex.

Book Synopsis

Could you plan the Fall Formal with your (hot) nemesis? Whit Rivera is about to find out.

Frenemies Whit and Zay have been at odds for years (ever since he broke up with her in, like, the most embarrassing way imaginable), so when they're forced to organize the fall formal together, it's a literal disaster. Sparks fly as Whitney--type-A, passionate, a perfectionist, and a certified sweater-weather fanatic--butts heads with Zay, a dry, relaxed skater boy who takes everything in stride. But not all of those sparks are bad. . . .

Has their feud been a big misunderstanding all along?

Blisteringly funny and profoundly well-observed, The Fall of Whit Rivera is a snug and cozy autumn romcom that also tackles weightier topics like PCOS, chronic illness, sexuality, fatphobia, Latine identity, and class. Funny, honest, insightful, romantic, and poignant, it is classic Crystal Maldonado--and it will have her legion of fans absolutely swooning.

A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year
A Massachusetts Book Award Winner
A Kirkus Reviews Best Young Adult Book of the Year
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

"Meaningful. . . Multidimensional. . . An important addition to YA literature."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"A celebration of love in all its forms--family, friends, romance, and (especially!) self."--Monica Gomez-Hira, author of Once Upon a Quinceañera

"Satisfying and delightful... Maldonado shines!"--Kelly Jensen, editor and author of (Don't) Call Me Crazy, Body Talk, and Here We Are: Feminism for the Real World

Review Quotes

"A pumpkin-spice-latte-flavored treat."--PEOPLE Magazine

★ "Meaningful. . . Multidimensional. . . An important addition to YA literature."--Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

"Maldonado wraps this sweet romance in a satisfying story of self-acceptance, surrounding Whit with a fully realized cast of family and friends. Readers will swoon as they watch Whit and Zay fall for each other, but they'll love watching Whit fall in love with herself even more."--Booklist

"Maldonado's writing warmly captures the charms and challenges of high school life for a Latina in a fat body, believably rendering the struggles and idiosyncrasies of teenagerhood. The heart-fluttering romance that ensues with the thoughtful Zay makes for a cozy autumnal read, but the depictions of friendship, family, and navigation of a chronic illness make this a solid read for all seasons."--The Horn Book

"This novel celebrates the less-than-perfect with a lot of Rory Gilmore energy."--The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Vivid prose by Maldonado (No Filter and Other Lies), paired with ample romantic and lighthearted antics, aids in levying serious interrogations of anti-fatness, chronic illness, and medical gaslighting, making for a compassionate and cozy read."--Publishers Weekly

"An ode to all things autumnal, with a dash of sweet romance and timely social issues on top."--Paste

"Whit has a Type-A personality, but is teeming with love for her two longtime best friends, her autistic sister, and her abuela. That love comes through strongly."--AudioFile

"A must-read. . . It's everything I love in Crystal Maldonado's books wrapped up in a cozy sweater."--RJ Julia Independent Booksellers, Staff Pick

"Full of humor and love, Crystal Maldonado has created another layered story filled with evolving family relationships, complex friendships, and a new crush that feel all too real. Paired with flirty banter that will make you swwon, this is the perfect book."--The Odyssey Bookshop, Staff Pick

"Beautifully tackles themes of chronic illness, fatphobia, sexuality, and class. It will also have you laughing out loud!"--Parnassus Books, Staff Pick

About the Author

Crystal Maldonado is a young adult author of inclusive romcoms for fat, brown girls. She has written the award-winning novels The Fall of Whit Rivera; Fat Chance, Charlie Vega; and No Filter and Other Lies, as well as a middle grade novel called Camp Sylvania: Moon Madness, co-written with #1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Murphy. Her forthcoming YA romcom, Get Real, Chloe Torres, releases in spring 2025. Follow her everywhere @crystalwrote.