If We Were a Movie

Gr 8 Up–An enemies-to-lovers romance with a cinematic backdrop. It’s the summer before Rochelle’s senior year of high school, and she is desperate for a job that will shine on her college applications. Determined to get a business degree from Wharton and then pursue a career as an international trade attorney, Rochelle is single-minded in her desire for good grades and an impressive resume. Rochelle is offered a job at Horizon Cinema, the only Black-owned movie theater on Long Island, and it seems like her summer plan is going perfectly. Then she learns that she will be supervised by her nemesis and former childhood friend Amira. After ruining their friendship in ninth grade by claiming Amira was a distraction from her goals for the future, Rochelle has avoided her while remaining fixated on their competition to be valedictorian. Sparks of frustration and attraction fly when Rochelle and Amira are thrown together at Horizon, and when they learn that the cinema is in danger of closing, the pair must overcome their past conflicts to help save the historic landmark. Rochelle and her best friends are Black, Amira is Afro-Cuban and Afro-Puerto Rican, and their coworkers come from diverse backgrounds.