FICTION

The Cuffing Game

HarperCollins. Nov. 2025. 368p. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9780063330412. Gr 9 Up
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Gr 9 Up–It’s a simple premise for a college reality dating show: contestants are chosen because they either have a crush on someone, or they are the object of that crush. Couples who stay together through the week are voted on by the audience, and the winning pair walk away with $5,000—and each other. Against the vibrant backdrop of Los Angeles’s K-pop college scene, readers meet Mia, a small-town Texas freshman, and Noah, a handsome and strikingly popular senior from Korea with a massive social media following. Both attend the same film school and are equally determined to master their craft. Noah, who was voted the most eligible guy on campus, quickly becomes Mia’s classroom nemesis, consistently challenging her at every turn. Caught between attraction and major irritation, Mia is just as determined to never give in. When Mia creates a new dating show called The Cuffing Game, Noah is immediately cast, as he is the secret crush of Mia’s roommate. More contestants are selected, a remote mountain location is secured, filming begins, and what starts as a lighthearted show becomes increasingly complicated. The story shines through its richly diverse cast, reflecting a wide spectrum of gender and racial identities. These are college students not just chasing romance and prize money but also learning who they are in the process.
VERDICT High school readers drawn to the K-pop aesthetic and an inclusive cast will enjoy this homage to Pride and Prejudice.

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