It’s You Every Time

Gr 9 Up–A coffee shop meet-cute in New York City—that happens over and over. The author controls the clock so teenagers Sydney and Marcus, who are both Black, meet again and again, pretending everything’s okay when clearly, it isn’t. The same-day repeat plot will feel tiresome to some readers but will be an appealing fantasy for others as a romantic courtship unfolds, from learning how to ride a bike to attending a fake prom. Each day ends painfully in real time at the exact moment Marcus lost his best friend in a recent, tragic accident. That hasn’t erased his capacity for love, however. When Sydney shares a secret career aspiration she cares about deeply, he encourages her to apply for a competitive internship. He’s her “better tomorrow”—the one she’s been waiting for since her brother’s death. She’s his brave role model as together they reenter the imperfect present, with no guarantee of a happy ending.