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The Fall of Whit Rivera
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 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. Whit Rivera's wry, optimistic voice will linger happily in your mind long after you turn the last page."—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 Feminism for the Real World
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 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. Whit Rivera's wry, optimistic voice will linger happily in your mind long after you turn the last page."—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 Feminism for the Real World
352 pages, Hardcover
First published October 10, 2023
41 people are currently reading
4519 people want to read
About the author
Crystal Maldonado
8 books730 followersCrystal Maldonado is a young adult author who writes inclusive stories about fat, brown girls. She is the author of The Fall of Whit Rivera, which People Magazine called a “pumpkin-spice-latte-flavored treat”; Fat Chance, Charlie Vega, which was a New England Book Award winner, a Cosmopolitan Best New Book, and a Kirkus Best YA Fiction of 2021; and No Filter and Other Lies, which was named a POPSUGAR and Seventeen Best New YA.
By day, Crystal works in higher ed marketing, and by night, she’s a writer whose work has been published in Latina, BuzzFeed, and the Hartford Courant. She has a degree in English and journalism from the University of Connecticut and lives in western Massachusetts with her husband, daughter, and dog. Follow her everywhere @crystalwrote.
By day, Crystal works in higher ed marketing, and by night, she’s a writer whose work has been published in Latina, BuzzFeed, and the Hartford Courant. She has a degree in English and journalism from the University of Connecticut and lives in western Massachusetts with her husband, daughter, and dog. Follow her everywhere @crystalwrote.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 350 reviews
October 9, 2023
"how can a season belong to a particular kind of person, you know?🍂🍁
this was a decent read. perhaps the main reason I couldn't fully enjoy this book was because I'm not really fond of young adult and coming of age romances in general. but, the cover was enticing and I was hoping for a good and fluffy, fall read. or it was probably due to the writing being a bit odd for my liking.
we follow whit on her tumultuous teenage journeys. the storyline alternated between family drama, health issues, and teen-crushes. the romance was the one aspect of the book that i loved the most. the kind of rivals-to-lovers arc was charmingly drawn. it all started with a mutual crush between the protagonists at 13 year old but during their middle and high school years, they ignored each other because of a specific event. the little game of ghosting each other evaporated when they had to team up. their dynamic was honestly an entertaining camaraderie that later on morphed into a cute love story.
many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange of an honest review.
December 1, 2025
3.5 stars. reading vlog: https://youtu.be/bloLkI7t3I0
a lovely YA contemporary with a lil bit of romance! i loved the fall vibes and as always, the deeper topics were handled with such grace and care by crystal maldonado. i love seeing plus sized protagonists in her books receive love and know they are deserving of love! however, i just don't love YA as much anymore for me personally so that reflects in the star rating!
a lovely YA contemporary with a lil bit of romance! i loved the fall vibes and as always, the deeper topics were handled with such grace and care by crystal maldonado. i love seeing plus sized protagonists in her books receive love and know they are deserving of love! however, i just don't love YA as much anymore for me personally so that reflects in the star rating!
September 21, 2023
For me, this was very much an instance of the right book at the right time. I needed a book that felt like a warm hug with cosy autumn vibes for an anxiety day spent under my weighted blanket, and this was exactly what I needed. I already want to reread this every autumn, it was just perfect to me. All of the characters are so extremely loveable, and I'd have a hard time picking a favourite. But I adored Whitney, the main character, so much especially. She's so easy to love and empathize with, and I want only the best things for her.
Specific things I loved include, but aren't limited to:
☆ Whitney being allowed to be super girlie in a way people deem "basic" and often look down on, which includes: PSLs, Gilmore Girls, makeup, and so much more.
☆ The way Lily's (Whitney's sister's) autism being introduced in a list of all of her amazing qualities, which was so loving and made my heart swell as an autistic person.
☆ So many queer and BIPOC characters, all represented in such a casual way.
☆ The PCOS rep and seeing Whitney struggling with it but eventually learning to open up to people about it and letting them take care of her.
☆ Whitney's loving family unit of her, her abuela, and her little sister, which filled me with so much warmth.
I could honestly go on, but all I can do is urge you to put this book on your autumn TBRs and find out more for yourself.
Specific things I loved include, but aren't limited to:
☆ Whitney being allowed to be super girlie in a way people deem "basic" and often look down on, which includes: PSLs, Gilmore Girls, makeup, and so much more.
☆ The way Lily's (Whitney's sister's) autism being introduced in a list of all of her amazing qualities, which was so loving and made my heart swell as an autistic person.
☆ So many queer and BIPOC characters, all represented in such a casual way.
☆ The PCOS rep and seeing Whitney struggling with it but eventually learning to open up to people about it and letting them take care of her.
☆ Whitney's loving family unit of her, her abuela, and her little sister, which filled me with so much warmth.
I could honestly go on, but all I can do is urge you to put this book on your autumn TBRs and find out more for yourself.
October 10, 2023
This was a beautiful love letter to all things Fall and found family with excellent disability rep (PCOS) and a wonderful cast of queer positive and neurodiverse secondary characters! I've loved Crystal's other YA books but this is definitely my new fav.
Great on audio and perfect for fans of Talia Hibbert. Whit is a thoroughly relateable character that so many teens will be able to identity with and her ex-friends to lovers second chance romance is completely swoony!!
If you love PSLs, Gilmore Girls and everything Autumn, you do not want to miss this YA romance!! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!!
Great on audio and perfect for fans of Talia Hibbert. Whit is a thoroughly relateable character that so many teens will be able to identity with and her ex-friends to lovers second chance romance is completely swoony!!
If you love PSLs, Gilmore Girls and everything Autumn, you do not want to miss this YA romance!! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!!
January 31, 2024
A perfect cute, cozy romance that lets you escape back to autumn vibes … sign me up!
As someone who experiences chronic pain, I found a lot of similarities between my and Whit’s experiences. It was amazing to see a woman still have a happy life and love while also having a chronic illness.
As someone who experiences chronic pain, I found a lot of similarities between my and Whit’s experiences. It was amazing to see a woman still have a happy life and love while also having a chronic illness.
October 11, 2023
Another Crystal Maldonado book that I wish I could go back in time and give to teenage Sarah to read. This was such a warm hug. PCOS girlies, this one is for y’all!
October 5, 2025
This is probably the cutest, coziest, cringiest read I've ever picked up. Easy binge. I highly recommend reading it outside on a crisp Autumn day. It has everything Fall you can imagine: apple picking, pumpkin spice everything, pumpkin patch, fall festival, hayride, corn maze, carnival, and anything else I'm leaving out. I will say that I genuinely grew concerned about the amount of sugar consumption on nearly every single page. I hope they're ok.
September 13, 2023
4.25 stars rounded up!
November 16, 2023
you can read more of my reviews on https://teatimelit.com/
Crystal Maldonado firmly solidified herself as one of my auto-read authors after her fantastic debut, Fat Chance, Charlie Vega, and sophomore novel, No Filter and Other Lies — I don’t need to know the summary of the book, if Maldonado’s writing it, I’m reading it, and once again, she knocked it out of the park with The Fall of Whit Rivera.
The Fall of Whit Rivera follows high school senior Whitney Rivera on her quest to have the perfect fall season. The summer was a rough one filled with doctors appointments and isolating herself from her friends because she was ashamed to talk about how her PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) diagnosis has affected her. She knows that the way to make her senior year as perfect as possible will be to be the head of the Fall Fest committee at her school — the very event where her Abuelo and Abuela met when they were teenagers. The one thing that she didn’t plan on was having to work with her middle school ex-boyfriend, and she really didn’t plan for the complicated feelings that would come along with that.
Something that I think Maldonado excels in is writing realistic characters, and that has continued with her latest work. Whit was a fantastic protagonist; she was so easy to root for and I loved that Maldonado wrote so much complexity into her character. As in real life, Whit was multifaceted — she could be gentle, and loving, and other times she could be quick tempered, impulsive, and single-minded. Additionally, I think it was really great read about a character with PCOS , and for it to be a very central part of the story — women’s health in general is rarely discussed in…well, anything, but PCOS is discussed even less, and I think it’s so important, especially in YA literature, to have these topics at the forefront of a story and not seen as something that you have to hide.
Maldonado did a wonderful job of making sure that Whit’s PCOS was a major plot point, and important to Whit’s characterization, without it being the only thing defining her. I loved that she was a Gilmore Girls and PSL girlie, that she liked “basic” things and was so honest in her love of them because they made her happy. That she had a spreadsheet for everything (same), that she felt most comfortable with taking charge of a situation and finding solutions to any problems that came her way. Similarly to how I saw parts of myself in Maldonado’s first protagonist, Charlie Vega, I found parts of myself in Whit Rivera as well.
We know that I love a good family dynamic, and I thought that the relationship between Whit, her sister Lily, and Abuela was so sweet and lovely. It was so cute how they all loved the same boyband (it was giving major One Direction vibes and I’m not mad about it), and how they would bake together, and how the love between the three of them was so clear. I really loved all the scenes with the three of them, especially some of the scenes towards the end during the preparations for Fall Fest.
Maldonado’s strong character writing also shone through in the books supporting characters — Whit’s friends Sophie and Marisol were fully fleshed out characters who had interests, personalities, and lives outside of their friendship with Whit, and I loved hearing about their lives as well. They had some very sweet moments, the scene where her friends are saying “LET. ME. LOVE. YOU!!!” made me laugh and is definitely something that my friends and I say to each other. Whit and Zay’s romance was so sweet — I loved seeing them rebuild their friendship because it was so clear that they genuinely cared about one another, and it was nice to see them connecting with each other’s friends as well. Without giving it away, there’s a scene about half way through the book where Zay really shows up for Whit and it really was so heartwarming.
This is the perfect book to read in the fall; you know that TikTok that Taylor Swift made where she’s reading her old Tumblr post about why fall is great? That’s literally what this book felt like. The Fall of Whit Rivera feels like a love letter to the autumnal season and everything it entails, it felt like a wonderfully autumn shaped hug! You should absolutely check this book out if you’re looking for a cozy fall read with lots of heart.
---
4.5 stars, rtc!
Crystal Maldonado firmly solidified herself as one of my auto-read authors after her fantastic debut, Fat Chance, Charlie Vega, and sophomore novel, No Filter and Other Lies — I don’t need to know the summary of the book, if Maldonado’s writing it, I’m reading it, and once again, she knocked it out of the park with The Fall of Whit Rivera.
The Fall of Whit Rivera follows high school senior Whitney Rivera on her quest to have the perfect fall season. The summer was a rough one filled with doctors appointments and isolating herself from her friends because she was ashamed to talk about how her PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) diagnosis has affected her. She knows that the way to make her senior year as perfect as possible will be to be the head of the Fall Fest committee at her school — the very event where her Abuelo and Abuela met when they were teenagers. The one thing that she didn’t plan on was having to work with her middle school ex-boyfriend, and she really didn’t plan for the complicated feelings that would come along with that.
Something that I think Maldonado excels in is writing realistic characters, and that has continued with her latest work. Whit was a fantastic protagonist; she was so easy to root for and I loved that Maldonado wrote so much complexity into her character. As in real life, Whit was multifaceted — she could be gentle, and loving, and other times she could be quick tempered, impulsive, and single-minded. Additionally, I think it was really great read about a character with PCOS , and for it to be a very central part of the story — women’s health in general is rarely discussed in…well, anything, but PCOS is discussed even less, and I think it’s so important, especially in YA literature, to have these topics at the forefront of a story and not seen as something that you have to hide.
Maldonado did a wonderful job of making sure that Whit’s PCOS was a major plot point, and important to Whit’s characterization, without it being the only thing defining her. I loved that she was a Gilmore Girls and PSL girlie, that she liked “basic” things and was so honest in her love of them because they made her happy. That she had a spreadsheet for everything (same), that she felt most comfortable with taking charge of a situation and finding solutions to any problems that came her way. Similarly to how I saw parts of myself in Maldonado’s first protagonist, Charlie Vega, I found parts of myself in Whit Rivera as well.
We know that I love a good family dynamic, and I thought that the relationship between Whit, her sister Lily, and Abuela was so sweet and lovely. It was so cute how they all loved the same boyband (it was giving major One Direction vibes and I’m not mad about it), and how they would bake together, and how the love between the three of them was so clear. I really loved all the scenes with the three of them, especially some of the scenes towards the end during the preparations for Fall Fest.
Maldonado’s strong character writing also shone through in the books supporting characters — Whit’s friends Sophie and Marisol were fully fleshed out characters who had interests, personalities, and lives outside of their friendship with Whit, and I loved hearing about their lives as well. They had some very sweet moments, the scene where her friends are saying “LET. ME. LOVE. YOU!!!” made me laugh and is definitely something that my friends and I say to each other. Whit and Zay’s romance was so sweet — I loved seeing them rebuild their friendship because it was so clear that they genuinely cared about one another, and it was nice to see them connecting with each other’s friends as well. Without giving it away, there’s a scene about half way through the book where Zay really shows up for Whit and it really was so heartwarming.
This is the perfect book to read in the fall; you know that TikTok that Taylor Swift made where she’s reading her old Tumblr post about why fall is great? That’s literally what this book felt like. The Fall of Whit Rivera feels like a love letter to the autumnal season and everything it entails, it felt like a wonderfully autumn shaped hug! You should absolutely check this book out if you’re looking for a cozy fall read with lots of heart.
---
4.5 stars, rtc!
February 19, 2024
This book is so full of love!!!! Familial love, friend love, romantic love (queer too!), it had it all and it was so deep and intense!!
The writing style was more colloquial (I'm not sure if that's the right word to describe it) which made it so fun to read. It tackles important topics likes fatphobia and racial biases while still being a light and feel-good story with so much joy.
I'm crying, I really love this so much.
It was also very interesting to read about PCOS because I've been diagnosed recently and I'm still very ignorant about it unfortunately.
Representation: fat Puerto Rican bisexual fmc with PCOS, Afo-Latino (Puerto Rican) mmc, multiple side characters of color, side sapphic couple, side sapphic autistic character (fmc’s little sister)
Content Warnings: fatphobia, diet culture, bias within the medical community, racism, parental abandonment, loss, grief, emotional cheating, ableism.
The writing style was more colloquial (I'm not sure if that's the right word to describe it) which made it so fun to read. It tackles important topics likes fatphobia and racial biases while still being a light and feel-good story with so much joy.
I'm crying, I really love this so much.
It was also very interesting to read about PCOS because I've been diagnosed recently and I'm still very ignorant about it unfortunately.
Representation: fat Puerto Rican bisexual fmc with PCOS, Afo-Latino (Puerto Rican) mmc, multiple side characters of color, side sapphic couple, side sapphic autistic character (fmc’s little sister)
Content Warnings: fatphobia, diet culture, bias within the medical community, racism, parental abandonment, loss, grief, emotional cheating, ableism.
August 16, 2023
I really wanted to love this one, but unfortunately the execution was lacking.
I think it's really great that the author chose to take on the topic of PCOS in a YA novel. I didn't know about the existence of this condition until I was well into my twenties, and it's something that many women have to deal with, so I think spreading awareness about it among teens is important for a lot of reasons. The cast is also very diverse.
However, this is a novel, and as a novel it fell short in many ways. The characters had all the depth of a piece of cardboard. The prose suffered from the same lack of depth and nuance - discussion of the lead character's parents abandoning her and of the premature death of her only father figure are treated with the same gravitas as her teacher's robot-print dresses.
The only thing that I felt was well-handled was the main character's feelings of shame, anger and frustration at the ways the PCOS has impacted her life and her body. Those moments were without a doubt the best-written parts of the story, and I really felt for her.
For the first half of the book, though, she was a profoundly unsympathetic character - to the point I would have DNF-ed this hadn't it been an ARC. She was shallow, superior and self-absorbed, and her treatment of her sister was infuriating. She does improve over the course of the novel, particularly once the situation with her sister comes to a head, but it's possible to have a deeply flawed character and still have them be likable the entire time (or at least likable enough that readers root for them to improve), and this fell short.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I think it's really great that the author chose to take on the topic of PCOS in a YA novel. I didn't know about the existence of this condition until I was well into my twenties, and it's something that many women have to deal with, so I think spreading awareness about it among teens is important for a lot of reasons. The cast is also very diverse.
However, this is a novel, and as a novel it fell short in many ways. The characters had all the depth of a piece of cardboard. The prose suffered from the same lack of depth and nuance - discussion of the lead character's parents abandoning her and of the premature death of her only father figure are treated with the same gravitas as her teacher's robot-print dresses.
The only thing that I felt was well-handled was the main character's feelings of shame, anger and frustration at the ways the PCOS has impacted her life and her body. Those moments were without a doubt the best-written parts of the story, and I really felt for her.
For the first half of the book, though, she was a profoundly unsympathetic character - to the point I would have DNF-ed this hadn't it been an ARC. She was shallow, superior and self-absorbed, and her treatment of her sister was infuriating. She does improve over the course of the novel, particularly once the situation with her sister comes to a head, but it's possible to have a deeply flawed character and still have them be likable the entire time (or at least likable enough that readers root for them to improve), and this fell short.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
June 26, 2023
Crystal Maldonado’s gift for character just blows me away. In THE FALL OF WHIT RIVERA, Maldonado has given us another complex, witty, and open-hearted protagonist to love, as well as a richly developed supporting cast. Family relationships are beautifully portrayed, friendships are oh so real, and all the feelings around crushes - and their messiness - are on full display. And the book’s themes of self acceptance, learning to let go a little, and love of all things FALL will hook readers and keep them blissfully turning pages. Another absolute gem from one of my absolute favorites. My thanks to the author and Holiday House for the ARC.
October 29, 2023
4.75 ✨
Atmospheric, fun, warm 🍂
Whit is determined to make her fall perfect, after a rough summer of doctors appointments and shame. She has her heart set on leading the Fall Fest committee with her friends to ensure the season is just right. But when her middle school ex is forced to work with her, things become more complicated.
This book is the embodiment of autumn. It’s packed with heartfelt moments, happy romance, and fall activities. At the beginning, I didn’t love Whit but she definitely grew on me throughout the book! By the end, I adored all of the characters. The romance had a good pace and it was easy to read as well.
I really enjoyed this autumnal story 🥰🥰
Atmospheric, fun, warm 🍂
Whit is determined to make her fall perfect, after a rough summer of doctors appointments and shame. She has her heart set on leading the Fall Fest committee with her friends to ensure the season is just right. But when her middle school ex is forced to work with her, things become more complicated.
This book is the embodiment of autumn. It’s packed with heartfelt moments, happy romance, and fall activities. At the beginning, I didn’t love Whit but she definitely grew on me throughout the book! By the end, I adored all of the characters. The romance had a good pace and it was easy to read as well.
I really enjoyed this autumnal story 🥰🥰
November 14, 2024
Whit Rivera is determined to have the perfect senior year and in order to make that happen she wants to organize the Fall Festival because not only does she loves fall but this festival holds a special place for her family therefore it does for her as well. Everything is going according to plan until Isaiah her ex/frenemy shows up in a committee meeting and they’re forced to work together. After talking about plans and everything in between they soon realize that they are compatible in more ways than they can imagine and decided to make it work.
This is a story of learning to live with a chronic illness (PCOS in this case), learning to know that not everything needs to be perfect. Is about friendships, family, autumn, and love. It’s about Puerto Rican culture and families. It also shows how when you’re in high school how you’re preparing for what’s coming next.
This story means so much to me because not only I am Puerto Rican but I also struggle with PCOS. And reading about this made me remember 18 year old me when I first was diagnosed with this, and i wished I could give this book to my younger self. I absolutely loved this, specifically seeing all of the things us Puerto Ricans talk about, our history and culture, it made my heart really warm and happy 🥹🤎
This book has such variety of representations and that only made me loved it more!
⤷ Puerto Ricans, love and learning to love yourself, family, friendships, autumn, chronic illness (PCOS, autism, lgbtqia+, latines, afro-latino mmc, plus size fmc
If your Puerto Rican this book is a must read and even if you’re Latinx! 🤎
5/5 ⭐️
This is a story of learning to live with a chronic illness (PCOS in this case), learning to know that not everything needs to be perfect. Is about friendships, family, autumn, and love. It’s about Puerto Rican culture and families. It also shows how when you’re in high school how you’re preparing for what’s coming next.
This story means so much to me because not only I am Puerto Rican but I also struggle with PCOS. And reading about this made me remember 18 year old me when I first was diagnosed with this, and i wished I could give this book to my younger self. I absolutely loved this, specifically seeing all of the things us Puerto Ricans talk about, our history and culture, it made my heart really warm and happy 🥹🤎
This book has such variety of representations and that only made me loved it more!
⤷ Puerto Ricans, love and learning to love yourself, family, friendships, autumn, chronic illness (PCOS, autism, lgbtqia+, latines, afro-latino mmc, plus size fmc
If your Puerto Rican this book is a must read and even if you’re Latinx! 🤎
5/5 ⭐️
January 23, 2025
Instagram: @kristinereads_
If you’re looking for the perfect cozy, cute fall romance book for the season, I am begging you to pick up this book!!
I listened to this audio in September and it kicked off my autumn in the sweetest way.
🧡 Whitney is a high school senior being raised by her grandmother. She’s as Type A as they come, and is thrilled when she gets put in charge of organizing her school’s fall formal, the dance where her grandparents fell in love decades ago. But she’s less thrilled when she’s partnered with Zay, a relaxed, Type B skater boy she had an embarrassing breakup with in middle school. They butt heads, but not for too long…
💛 Whit is the first FMC I’ve read who struggles with PCOS. I didn’t know that going in, and I was so pleasantly surprised to enjoy the representation. The book also deals with topics including sexuality, fatphobia, Latinx identity, and class.
This book is truly like a warm hug. I loved it 😭
If you’re looking for the perfect cozy, cute fall romance book for the season, I am begging you to pick up this book!!
I listened to this audio in September and it kicked off my autumn in the sweetest way.
🧡 Whitney is a high school senior being raised by her grandmother. She’s as Type A as they come, and is thrilled when she gets put in charge of organizing her school’s fall formal, the dance where her grandparents fell in love decades ago. But she’s less thrilled when she’s partnered with Zay, a relaxed, Type B skater boy she had an embarrassing breakup with in middle school. They butt heads, but not for too long…
💛 Whit is the first FMC I’ve read who struggles with PCOS. I didn’t know that going in, and I was so pleasantly surprised to enjoy the representation. The book also deals with topics including sexuality, fatphobia, Latinx identity, and class.
This book is truly like a warm hug. I loved it 😭
August 3, 2024
4.5!
this is hands down one of my most favorite reads this year. i really didn't expect this! the main character is a latina, who loves ALL things fall, obsessed with a boyband who went on a hiatus, has a younger sister who LOVES animal crossing, and her growing up in a hispanic household...like i couldnt relate to a book more 😭
it also takes place in new england which is PERFECT for fall. it also focuses on how the main character, whit, has recently been diagnosed with PCOS as she enters her senior year of high school and her dealing with unexpected weight gain, growth of facial hair, and more.
i think this was such a heartwarming story, loved that it brought up topics that aren't often discussed in our usual reads, and idk i just loved it so much. 10/10 recommend. (sry this was SO long i just loved it so much)
this is hands down one of my most favorite reads this year. i really didn't expect this! the main character is a latina, who loves ALL things fall, obsessed with a boyband who went on a hiatus, has a younger sister who LOVES animal crossing, and her growing up in a hispanic household...like i couldnt relate to a book more 😭
it also takes place in new england which is PERFECT for fall. it also focuses on how the main character, whit, has recently been diagnosed with PCOS as she enters her senior year of high school and her dealing with unexpected weight gain, growth of facial hair, and more.
i think this was such a heartwarming story, loved that it brought up topics that aren't often discussed in our usual reads, and idk i just loved it so much. 10/10 recommend. (sry this was SO long i just loved it so much)
November 23, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
This has allll of the autumn vibes and it just felt so cosy and warmhearted! I haven't read any of the author's books before, but I really want to read her backlist now because I enjoyed this so much. Whitney is just such a loveable main character - I love how she was such a girly-girl, with her pumpkin spice lattes and Gilmore Girl rewatches and careful outfit planning, and her relationships with her friends and family were also so lovely to read. I also really loved the discussion on women's health with the inclusion of Whitney's PCOS diagnosis - I think it's so important, particularly for YA, to bring these topics to mind and show young girls that it's not okay for your health to just be dismissed, especially by professionals who are meant to take care of you. The romance was also so cute, I loved Whitney and Isaiah together as well.
Admittedly sometimes the dialogue felt a little... cringeworthy, and these teens did not feel anywhere near as messy as I think is realistic - however, it was still really good and well written, and I think a perfect YA read for autumn!
This has allll of the autumn vibes and it just felt so cosy and warmhearted! I haven't read any of the author's books before, but I really want to read her backlist now because I enjoyed this so much. Whitney is just such a loveable main character - I love how she was such a girly-girl, with her pumpkin spice lattes and Gilmore Girl rewatches and careful outfit planning, and her relationships with her friends and family were also so lovely to read. I also really loved the discussion on women's health with the inclusion of Whitney's PCOS diagnosis - I think it's so important, particularly for YA, to bring these topics to mind and show young girls that it's not okay for your health to just be dismissed, especially by professionals who are meant to take care of you. The romance was also so cute, I loved Whitney and Isaiah together as well.
Admittedly sometimes the dialogue felt a little... cringeworthy, and these teens did not feel anywhere near as messy as I think is realistic - however, it was still really good and well written, and I think a perfect YA read for autumn!
September 14, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Holiday House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
'The Fall of Whit Rivera' was packed with fall vibes and was the story of Whit, a perfectionist navigating her PCOS diagnosis along with school and relationships, be it friends or family. This actually read a lot more middle-grade than I expected, not to mention the whole nemesis part was practically non-existent as it was more one-sided on Whit's end. Nevertheless, I liked the aspect of incorporating a bisexual protagonist along with an autistic, lesbian side character. The family relationships in this book were really adorable, and Isaiah was such a caring love interest. The premise of planning together for the Fall fest brought Isaiah and Whit closer and it was cute reading about them renavigating their relationship after a fall-out back in middle school. Whit's lack of communication with her friends and ex-boyfriend didn't make her the most likable mc initially but I'm glad she had her character development. All in all, this was a pleasant read filled with the warmth of autumn.
'The Fall of Whit Rivera' was packed with fall vibes and was the story of Whit, a perfectionist navigating her PCOS diagnosis along with school and relationships, be it friends or family. This actually read a lot more middle-grade than I expected, not to mention the whole nemesis part was practically non-existent as it was more one-sided on Whit's end. Nevertheless, I liked the aspect of incorporating a bisexual protagonist along with an autistic, lesbian side character. The family relationships in this book were really adorable, and Isaiah was such a caring love interest. The premise of planning together for the Fall fest brought Isaiah and Whit closer and it was cute reading about them renavigating their relationship after a fall-out back in middle school. Whit's lack of communication with her friends and ex-boyfriend didn't make her the most likable mc initially but I'm glad she had her character development. All in all, this was a pleasant read filled with the warmth of autumn.
January 29, 2024
I absolutely loved this book. It was just a huge, warm hug. As someone who has lived with PCOS for the last 18 years, I’ve never felt more seen. Crystal did an amazing job describing what it’s like to suffer from this disease. She also nailed exactly how you’re treated by doctors, especially if you experience weight gain as a symptom of this disease. I really hope that not just teens but as many people as possible, especially those in the medical community, could read this. Maybe it would help doctors especially to be more understanding of what this experience is like. And not just for those of us with PCOS, but anyone with an invisible illness.
dnf
July 12, 2023the writing is………hmm
Read
October 20, 2023If you want to experience FALL JOY, run, don't walk to pick this one up!
September 1, 2024
SUCH A CUTE BOOK! So bingeable 😍
October 25, 2024
3.75
i finished the last half of this on the road so i lowkey got distracted but maybe i will reread that part before bed today
i finished the last half of this on the road so i lowkey got distracted but maybe i will reread that part before bed today
August 24, 2023
Book 37 of 2023 - ✅! Thank you to NetGalley, Holiday House / Peachtree / Pixel+Ink & Crystal Maldonado for an ARC of The Fall of Whit Rivera in exchange for my honest review.
Crystal Maldonado is another author that’s been on my TBR for quite some time, so when I saw a YA rom-com about a Latina lead who is living with PCOS, I hit the request button faster than the PSL loving girlies who run to a coffee shop on the first day fall items are available.
I follow Maldonado on Instagram, and it turns out we’re Latinas who are the same age and were diagnosed with PCOS at the same age (16) so when I tell you I connected with Whit (the book’s protagonist) in my soul - I absolutely did. So as to not risk of me going off on a complete tangent in this book review to talk about PCOS, I will simply say that there’s not nearly enough PCOS representation in the media, especially when so many of us deal with this chronic illness. I was so in my head about all of my PCOS symptoms for a long time, that I used to feel shame even discussing it with friends and, like many teenagers, I was worried if a guy would ever like me or accept me for who I was because I live with it. Whit’s also extremely Type-A, and if you’ve ever worked with me or I’ve planned something you’re involved in…you’d see the similarities 🙃.
This is a sweet, academic-rivals/enemies to lovers rom-com that hits all of the right notes. The supporting characters really enhance the world, and the representation throughout the book is top-notch: the majority of the characters are Latine, Vietnamese-American supporting character, Bi female MC, and many LGBTQIA+ supporting characters.
The 🌶️ scale is not relevant here, as it’s a YA book. 5/5 ⭐️ overall for The Fall of Whit Rivera. I wish 16 year-old me could have read this and seen the HEA! With fall around the corner, this is a great book to kick off the season when it comes out on 10/10/23! 🍎 🍁 🎃
Crystal Maldonado is another author that’s been on my TBR for quite some time, so when I saw a YA rom-com about a Latina lead who is living with PCOS, I hit the request button faster than the PSL loving girlies who run to a coffee shop on the first day fall items are available.
I follow Maldonado on Instagram, and it turns out we’re Latinas who are the same age and were diagnosed with PCOS at the same age (16) so when I tell you I connected with Whit (the book’s protagonist) in my soul - I absolutely did. So as to not risk of me going off on a complete tangent in this book review to talk about PCOS, I will simply say that there’s not nearly enough PCOS representation in the media, especially when so many of us deal with this chronic illness. I was so in my head about all of my PCOS symptoms for a long time, that I used to feel shame even discussing it with friends and, like many teenagers, I was worried if a guy would ever like me or accept me for who I was because I live with it. Whit’s also extremely Type-A, and if you’ve ever worked with me or I’ve planned something you’re involved in…you’d see the similarities 🙃.
This is a sweet, academic-rivals/enemies to lovers rom-com that hits all of the right notes. The supporting characters really enhance the world, and the representation throughout the book is top-notch: the majority of the characters are Latine, Vietnamese-American supporting character, Bi female MC, and many LGBTQIA+ supporting characters.
The 🌶️ scale is not relevant here, as it’s a YA book. 5/5 ⭐️ overall for The Fall of Whit Rivera. I wish 16 year-old me could have read this and seen the HEA! With fall around the corner, this is a great book to kick off the season when it comes out on 10/10/23! 🍎 🍁 🎃
November 30, 2023
5+ stars. This book is perfect.
I can't imagine how my life would've been different if this book existed when I was younger. In fact, even thinking about it makes me start to sob.
The last book that *hit* this hard was Get a Life, Chloe Brown. That book, like this one, altered my view of myself—and the world at large.
Like Whit, I was recently diagnosed with PCOS. Unlike Whit, I was in my 30s, years off of hormonal birth control, with no explanation for why my symptoms random started when I never had them before.
I related so deeply to her journey. To feeling out of control and angry and overwhelmed and just fucking exhausted of living in a body western medicine deems "wrong." The fear of disclosing to friends. Feeling entirely undesirable. Raging against the world.
And also...being loved so deeply that the rest of it doesn't matter. Having people show up for you in the most heartfelt of ways. Finding the providers who *get it* and work with you instead of dismissing you. Rediscovering who the eff you are.
There's literally no part of this book that doesn't absolutely shine. The writing, the characters, the relationships, the representation. 🤌🏻
Thank you Crystal Maldonado for writing this absolute fucking GEM of a book. And to my mutual Marisol for recommending it. You're doing holy work.
I can't imagine how my life would've been different if this book existed when I was younger. In fact, even thinking about it makes me start to sob.
The last book that *hit* this hard was Get a Life, Chloe Brown. That book, like this one, altered my view of myself—and the world at large.
Like Whit, I was recently diagnosed with PCOS. Unlike Whit, I was in my 30s, years off of hormonal birth control, with no explanation for why my symptoms random started when I never had them before.
I related so deeply to her journey. To feeling out of control and angry and overwhelmed and just fucking exhausted of living in a body western medicine deems "wrong." The fear of disclosing to friends. Feeling entirely undesirable. Raging against the world.
And also...being loved so deeply that the rest of it doesn't matter. Having people show up for you in the most heartfelt of ways. Finding the providers who *get it* and work with you instead of dismissing you. Rediscovering who the eff you are.
There's literally no part of this book that doesn't absolutely shine. The writing, the characters, the relationships, the representation. 🤌🏻
Thank you Crystal Maldonado for writing this absolute fucking GEM of a book. And to my mutual Marisol for recommending it. You're doing holy work.
November 18, 2023
Perfect read for the Fall season it gave all the vibes you’d look for with the cozy weather setting, pumpkin patches, apple picking, and a Fall Festival. But the book title and beautiful cover is what really had me sold. The story was super cute and swoony with lots of diversity, representation, and important topics discussed throughout. We’re given a curvy main character Whitney Rivera who’s battling with PCOS, weight gain, and a multitude of other issues that come along with having the condition and being a teen. The side characters were memorable and well-developed. Loved the representation with her sister being autistic and the diversity within her friend circle.
The authors writing felt authentic and believable. Can’t say I’ve read a book where the MC was dealing with PCOS but I love how the author kept that as the main focus throughout the book and took us on a journey as Whit learned to accept it.
Whit and Zay’s relationship was the cutest and what caused them to become frenemies back in middle school was solely based off miscommunication. As soon as you see sparks fly you’ll be rooting for these two to get back together. I kinda like when characters are forced to work together and put aside their differences and rekindle. Zay was a better option for Whit anyway because Aiden wasn’t giving her the time of day anymore. Their long distance relationship was the first sign it wasn’t going to work. Then the one word text messages and blowing her off were all red flags of a cheater but once Aiden came clean Whit wasn’t tripping. At that point I was all for her and Zay getting back together.
Overall, loved the book the narrative was captured perfectly. There’s lots of culture and diversity within the characters and I think many would find Whit’s character to be very relatable. If you’re into YA novels I recommend you guys give this one a read. Special thanks to the author & @holidayhousebks for my gifted copy!!!
The authors writing felt authentic and believable. Can’t say I’ve read a book where the MC was dealing with PCOS but I love how the author kept that as the main focus throughout the book and took us on a journey as Whit learned to accept it.
Whit and Zay’s relationship was the cutest and what caused them to become frenemies back in middle school was solely based off miscommunication. As soon as you see sparks fly you’ll be rooting for these two to get back together. I kinda like when characters are forced to work together and put aside their differences and rekindle. Zay was a better option for Whit anyway because Aiden wasn’t giving her the time of day anymore. Their long distance relationship was the first sign it wasn’t going to work. Then the one word text messages and blowing her off were all red flags of a cheater but once Aiden came clean Whit wasn’t tripping. At that point I was all for her and Zay getting back together.
Overall, loved the book the narrative was captured perfectly. There’s lots of culture and diversity within the characters and I think many would find Whit’s character to be very relatable. If you’re into YA novels I recommend you guys give this one a read. Special thanks to the author & @holidayhousebks for my gifted copy!!!
September 11, 2023
This was absolutely the book I needed at 16 years old. I’m so glad that it exists for girls who struggle with PCOS and all of its many challenges and inconveniences. I loved all of the characters and the author’s sense of humor was pervasive throughout the book. It’s a perfect celebration of self acceptance. Oh, and also fall. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc.
May 15, 2024
I read this in the wrong season but thats alright, but this book was super cute! I love the representation of women with PCOS and how it was depicted, I appreciated how the plot was not too focused on the romance and the slang and the dialogue just felt natural as well which props to the author for that! bc that’s always where YA novels screw up.
also the band ‘Intonation’ (im pretty sure reference to one direction) being a running theme of the book was also cute lol
also the band ‘Intonation’ (im pretty sure reference to one direction) being a running theme of the book was also cute lol
ebook-tbr
July 12, 2024࣭ ⭑⤷ I NEED TO READ THIS LIKE I NEED AIR
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