Donut Summer

Gr 10 Up–Kelly’s young adult debut is a hugely relatable forced proximity queer romance that sees two estranged friends working in the same beloved donut shop for the summer and bonding as they fight to save the store from corporate takeover. Penny Dexter is a deeply anxious teen who is passionate about climate change activism and fighting for the things she cares about. Top on that list are myriad local businesses in her hometown that seem to be dropping like flies. But as she finds herself working with Mateo della Penna, the one person she’s struggled to get along with, she slowly comes to realize Mateo’s life isn’t as charmed as she once assumed, and that together they might be able to achieve much more than they could apart. Kelly delivers a big-hearted story about queer love, small town pride, and youth activism that has excellent mental health and anxiety representation.