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Finally Fitz
A bisexual teen girl tries to make her ex jealous by faking an Instagram romance that leads to surprisingly real feelings in this hijinks-filled rom-com perfect for fans of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and She Gets the Girl .
Ava “Fitz” Fitzgerald has worked hard to create the picture-perfect life she’s always wanted. She spent her junior year transforming her passion for sustainable fashion and upcycling into a viral online platform, maintaining a 4.0 GPA, and spending every free second with her soon-to-graduate girlfriend, Danica. And this summer she plans to take it all to the next level by attending a prestigious summer fashion program in New York City and convincing Dani that they can survive a year of long distance.
But when Dani dumps her before classes even start, accusing Fitz of being more invested in growing her online persona than deepening their relationship, she’s left not only heartbroken, but also creatively blocked.
Fitz will do anything to win Dani back, even if that means taking a break from the platform that she’s worked so hard to build. But just as she decides to go all-in on a hiatus, a chance encounter reunites her with Levi Berkowitz, her childhood best friend that she hasn’t seen since elementary school. Levi is struggling with heartbreak of his own, and this cosmic coincidence sparks a new use for her social media savvy. Fitz offers to help Levi craft a fake relationship online to make his person jealous…if in return he can pretend to be her boyfriend in front of Dani to make her jealous. If all goes according to plan, by the end of the summer they’ll both be reunited with their perfect partners and get to rekindle their friendship in the process.
Sometimes even the most carefully designed plans can come apart at the seams, though. And when real history leads to not-so-fake feelings, Fitz will have to decide if she’s finally willing to let go of what she thought was picture-perfect and choose what might actually be right for her.
Ava “Fitz” Fitzgerald has worked hard to create the picture-perfect life she’s always wanted. She spent her junior year transforming her passion for sustainable fashion and upcycling into a viral online platform, maintaining a 4.0 GPA, and spending every free second with her soon-to-graduate girlfriend, Danica. And this summer she plans to take it all to the next level by attending a prestigious summer fashion program in New York City and convincing Dani that they can survive a year of long distance.
But when Dani dumps her before classes even start, accusing Fitz of being more invested in growing her online persona than deepening their relationship, she’s left not only heartbroken, but also creatively blocked.
Fitz will do anything to win Dani back, even if that means taking a break from the platform that she’s worked so hard to build. But just as she decides to go all-in on a hiatus, a chance encounter reunites her with Levi Berkowitz, her childhood best friend that she hasn’t seen since elementary school. Levi is struggling with heartbreak of his own, and this cosmic coincidence sparks a new use for her social media savvy. Fitz offers to help Levi craft a fake relationship online to make his person jealous…if in return he can pretend to be her boyfriend in front of Dani to make her jealous. If all goes according to plan, by the end of the summer they’ll both be reunited with their perfect partners and get to rekindle their friendship in the process.
Sometimes even the most carefully designed plans can come apart at the seams, though. And when real history leads to not-so-fake feelings, Fitz will have to decide if she’s finally willing to let go of what she thought was picture-perfect and choose what might actually be right for her.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published April 23, 2024
10 people are currently reading
4290 people want to read
About the author
Marisa Kanter
4 books487 followersMarisa Kanter is the author of modern love stories for both teens and adults. Born and raised in the suburbs of Boston, her obsession with books led her to New York City, where she worked in publishing for a number of years. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband, where she writes by day and crochets her wardrobe by night. Friends With Benefits is her debut adult novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
July 11, 2025
Cute read for Pride month! Fake dating with best friends 👏👏
Also Dani got on my nerves, apparently she's better in another book?
Content warning: anxiety, toxic parent, biphobia, disordered eating (mention)
Also Dani got on my nerves, apparently she's better in another book?
Content warning: anxiety, toxic parent, biphobia, disordered eating (mention)
November 5, 2024
OBVIOUSLY I was soft for the soft plant boy from the start 😭
Also: Marisa Kanter is just so good at this. The stuff about social media & the filters we wear was so pertinent to *me* as an adult in terms of writing & art, but I know it’s also so relevant for teens, especially driven (anxious) ones like Fitz.
Also: Marisa Kanter is just so good at this. The stuff about social media & the filters we wear was so pertinent to *me* as an adult in terms of writing & art, but I know it’s also so relevant for teens, especially driven (anxious) ones like Fitz.
June 19, 2024
4.5 // I’m in the acknowledgments & I’m emo!!
Also, this is a Levi fan club now. I am the president.
CW: biphobia, vomiting, toxic parent (off-page), mentions of disordered eating & treatment
Fitz and her girlfriend Dani (one grade older) go to New York City for their respective summer programs, with the expectation that Fitz goes home at the end of the summer for her senior year and Dani will stay in the city until Fitz can move back. That plan is foiled when Dani dumps Fitz in public at the beginning of the summer.
Fitz reconnects with her childhood best friend, Levi, on the subway, and again while she cries next to a fountain during Pride (which is so me coded). To all the gays, girls, and theys, LEVI IS THE BEST. He rehomes plants and knows all the lesser known tourist spots and fun facts about all of them. Levi and Fitz fake date to make their exes jealous. Bet you can't guess where it goes from there!
This book is an ode to all the bi girlies just trying to navigate the world, and it's a love letter to NYC. The author is bi and lived in NYC, so you know every inch of this book is authentic. It's technically a standalone, but Fitz is a side character from As If on Cue and those characters play more of a role than I expected. You'll be fine without reading that one, but it will enhance the experience.
And if you read that one first you might actually like Dani instead of lowkey hate her the whole book. I'm sorry Fitz, but what do you see in her besides the turquoise hair??
One of my least favorite topics explored in YA these days is social media addiction/influencer culture, which is partly why this book only got 4.5 stars. I was bored during those portions at the beginning, and it's only when Fitz goes on her "hiatus" and she and Levi start fake dating that I got fully invested.
This book also has messy sister relationships, messy Jewish feelings, and messy self-discovery. It's a wonderful YA book, and should be read by anyone questioning their sexuality. You can be bisexual and date men. You are still bisexual.
Rep: bisexual and Jewish main character, bisexual and Jewish love interest, nonbinary side character, Black queer side characters, multiple queer minor characters
Thank you to Simon Teen for the finished copy, and to Marisa Kanter for the arc. All opinions are my own.
Also, this is a Levi fan club now. I am the president.
CW: biphobia, vomiting, toxic parent (off-page), mentions of disordered eating & treatment
Fitz and her girlfriend Dani (one grade older) go to New York City for their respective summer programs, with the expectation that Fitz goes home at the end of the summer for her senior year and Dani will stay in the city until Fitz can move back. That plan is foiled when Dani dumps Fitz in public at the beginning of the summer.
Fitz reconnects with her childhood best friend, Levi, on the subway, and again while she cries next to a fountain during Pride (which is so me coded). To all the gays, girls, and theys, LEVI IS THE BEST. He rehomes plants and knows all the lesser known tourist spots and fun facts about all of them. Levi and Fitz fake date to make their exes jealous. Bet you can't guess where it goes from there!
This book is an ode to all the bi girlies just trying to navigate the world, and it's a love letter to NYC. The author is bi and lived in NYC, so you know every inch of this book is authentic. It's technically a standalone, but Fitz is a side character from As If on Cue and those characters play more of a role than I expected. You'll be fine without reading that one, but it will enhance the experience.
And if you read that one first you might actually like Dani instead of lowkey hate her the whole book. I'm sorry Fitz, but what do you see in her besides the turquoise hair??
One of my least favorite topics explored in YA these days is social media addiction/influencer culture, which is partly why this book only got 4.5 stars. I was bored during those portions at the beginning, and it's only when Fitz goes on her "hiatus" and she and Levi start fake dating that I got fully invested.
This book also has messy sister relationships, messy Jewish feelings, and messy self-discovery. It's a wonderful YA book, and should be read by anyone questioning their sexuality. You can be bisexual and date men. You are still bisexual.
Rep: bisexual and Jewish main character, bisexual and Jewish love interest, nonbinary side character, Black queer side characters, multiple queer minor characters
Thank you to Simon Teen for the finished copy, and to Marisa Kanter for the arc. All opinions are my own.
January 5, 2024
4.5 rounded down. My heart! This is too fucking wholesome for words. I wish I had something like this when I was in my senior year of high school. It is so damn relatable to everyone who has ever felt less than and the pressure to filter yourself. The growth was so nice to see and it felt so organic, despite being over the course of a summer. Someone turn this into a coming of age movie STAT. Y’all will not be disappointed, especially with Levi.
Thanks to Simon Teen for the ARC!
Thanks to Simon Teen for the ARC!
March 27, 2024
Thank you Simon and Schuster for my copy! All thoughts are my own.
I have always loved reading YA and Marissa Kanter has become one of my favorite authors in the subgenres! Her last book, As If On Cue, so perfectly captured what it means to be a theatre kid that it remains a book I think about often! I was so excited for a summery NYC book and oh my gosh, did I love it. If you love New York, this book is a love letter to the city. It’s full of sticky, sweaty subway rides and finding the hidden gems within the bustling streets. It made me miss New York so much!
Synopsis:
“Ava “Fitz” Fitzgerald has worked hard to create the picture-perfect life she’s always wanted. She spent her junior year transforming her passion for sustainable fashion and upcycling into a viral online platform, maintaining a 4.0 GPA, and spending every free second with her soon-to-graduate girlfriend, Danica. And this summer she plans to take it all to the next level by attending a prestigious summer fashion program in New York City and convincing Dani that they can survive a year of long distance.But when Dani dumps her before classes even start, accusing Fitz of being more invested in growing her online persona than deepening their relationship, she’s left not only heartbroken, but also creatively blocked.Fitz will do anything to win Dani back, even if that means taking a break from the platform that she’s worked so hard to build. But just as she decides to go all-in on a hiatus, a chance encounter reunites her with Levi Berkowitz, her childhood best friend that she hasn’t seen since elementary school. Levi is struggling with heartbreak of his own, and this cosmic coincidence sparks a new use for her social media savvy. Fitz offers to help Levi craft a fake relationship online to make his person jealous…if in return he can pretend to be her boyfriend in front of Dani to make her jealous. If all goes according to plan, by the end of the summer they’ll both be reunited with their perfect partners and get to rekindle their friendship in the process.Sometimes even the most carefully designed plans can come apart at the seams, though. And when real history leads to not-so-fake feelings, Fitz will have to decide if she’s finally willing to let go of what she thought was picture-perfect and choose what might actually be right for her.” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
The Setting—This book is so New York and I loved it so much. I missing living in NYC every single day so I loved getting to visit through these pages. I know the author used to live in the city too and the love was so evident.
The Banter—One of my favorite parts of Marisa’s writing is the banter between the characters! I loved how sweet and gentle Levi was and Fitz was so fun.
The Sister Relationships—I loved that Fitz had to navigate how it feels to be the youngest sibling and moving away, not wanting to viewed as a child as she grew up, and figuring out how to best communicate.
The Lessons Learned—YA can be tough to read as an adult because we often forget how it feels to be young. But that is exactly why I love reading it! It reminds me how things feel so big when we’re young but it’s because we’re experiencing things for the first time.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
Needed More of the Summer Program—I wish we’d spent more time with Fitz at FIT. I feel like the reason she was there got lost in the shuffle, which happened to the character but I wanted to see more of her passion.
Character Authenticity: 4/5 Overall Rating: 4/5
Content Warnings:
absent parents, bi-phobia
I have always loved reading YA and Marissa Kanter has become one of my favorite authors in the subgenres! Her last book, As If On Cue, so perfectly captured what it means to be a theatre kid that it remains a book I think about often! I was so excited for a summery NYC book and oh my gosh, did I love it. If you love New York, this book is a love letter to the city. It’s full of sticky, sweaty subway rides and finding the hidden gems within the bustling streets. It made me miss New York so much!
Synopsis:
“Ava “Fitz” Fitzgerald has worked hard to create the picture-perfect life she’s always wanted. She spent her junior year transforming her passion for sustainable fashion and upcycling into a viral online platform, maintaining a 4.0 GPA, and spending every free second with her soon-to-graduate girlfriend, Danica. And this summer she plans to take it all to the next level by attending a prestigious summer fashion program in New York City and convincing Dani that they can survive a year of long distance.But when Dani dumps her before classes even start, accusing Fitz of being more invested in growing her online persona than deepening their relationship, she’s left not only heartbroken, but also creatively blocked.Fitz will do anything to win Dani back, even if that means taking a break from the platform that she’s worked so hard to build. But just as she decides to go all-in on a hiatus, a chance encounter reunites her with Levi Berkowitz, her childhood best friend that she hasn’t seen since elementary school. Levi is struggling with heartbreak of his own, and this cosmic coincidence sparks a new use for her social media savvy. Fitz offers to help Levi craft a fake relationship online to make his person jealous…if in return he can pretend to be her boyfriend in front of Dani to make her jealous. If all goes according to plan, by the end of the summer they’ll both be reunited with their perfect partners and get to rekindle their friendship in the process.Sometimes even the most carefully designed plans can come apart at the seams, though. And when real history leads to not-so-fake feelings, Fitz will have to decide if she’s finally willing to let go of what she thought was picture-perfect and choose what might actually be right for her.” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
The Setting—This book is so New York and I loved it so much. I missing living in NYC every single day so I loved getting to visit through these pages. I know the author used to live in the city too and the love was so evident.
The Banter—One of my favorite parts of Marisa’s writing is the banter between the characters! I loved how sweet and gentle Levi was and Fitz was so fun.
The Sister Relationships—I loved that Fitz had to navigate how it feels to be the youngest sibling and moving away, not wanting to viewed as a child as she grew up, and figuring out how to best communicate.
The Lessons Learned—YA can be tough to read as an adult because we often forget how it feels to be young. But that is exactly why I love reading it! It reminds me how things feel so big when we’re young but it’s because we’re experiencing things for the first time.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
Needed More of the Summer Program—I wish we’d spent more time with Fitz at FIT. I feel like the reason she was there got lost in the shuffle, which happened to the character but I wanted to see more of her passion.
Character Authenticity: 4/5 Overall Rating: 4/5
Content Warnings:
absent parents, bi-phobia
April 18, 2024
This is such a charming YA novel about relationships, family, and self-discovery. The story follows Fitz, a teen influencer and perfectionist with relationship troubles, imposter syndrome, and more. It’s a fun and cozy summer romance, and I enjoyed Fitz’s journey toward finding herself.
Something else I really liked was the relationship between Fitz and her sisters, and though the romance is the main focus, this felt significant too. Sibling relationships are complicated and messy, and I thought the author did a great job of showing all of the complexities of this family unit. Where her sisters feel they’re protecting Fitz, she often feels left out, and you can easily understand all of the perspectives and why they each feel the way they do. Above all, there’s a lot of love there, and it’s so relatable.
The friend group is fantastic too, and the love story is the best. I adore Fitz and Levi, and the fake dating trope is done so well. Levi is adorable – kind and sweet and nerdy – and his love of plants just melted my plant-loving heart! And Fitz is so oblivious to Levi’s feelings, which totally made me think of my daughter and her boyfriend, who went through a similar situation. lol The banter between Levi and Fitz is spot on, and the shenanigans they get up to all over New York City are fantastic!
I thought this was a great read and one I’d definitely recommend to YA contemporary romance readers. It’s fun and heart-warming, and the themes and characters are so relatable and realistically portrayed, much like the setting.
Something else I really liked was the relationship between Fitz and her sisters, and though the romance is the main focus, this felt significant too. Sibling relationships are complicated and messy, and I thought the author did a great job of showing all of the complexities of this family unit. Where her sisters feel they’re protecting Fitz, she often feels left out, and you can easily understand all of the perspectives and why they each feel the way they do. Above all, there’s a lot of love there, and it’s so relatable.
The friend group is fantastic too, and the love story is the best. I adore Fitz and Levi, and the fake dating trope is done so well. Levi is adorable – kind and sweet and nerdy – and his love of plants just melted my plant-loving heart! And Fitz is so oblivious to Levi’s feelings, which totally made me think of my daughter and her boyfriend, who went through a similar situation. lol The banter between Levi and Fitz is spot on, and the shenanigans they get up to all over New York City are fantastic!
I thought this was a great read and one I’d definitely recommend to YA contemporary romance readers. It’s fun and heart-warming, and the themes and characters are so relatable and realistically portrayed, much like the setting.
Want to read
January 13, 2023"a queer YA romcom about a fashion influencer reeling from a breakup who enlists her former best friend to pose as her boyfriend during a summer program in New York City to make her ex-girlfriend jealous, only to realize that the relationship she wants to repair might be the one she's faking."
May 28, 2024
3.75. I read this cozy YA contemporary in one sitting. Finally Fitz is occasionally too heavy on the pop culture references for my taste, but its emphasis on character development makes it feel like a queer Kasie West novel, in a very good way.
Thank you to Simon Teen for providing a review copy.
Thank you to Simon Teen for providing a review copy.
February 16, 2024
Even though I’m old according to the main character. Objectively. I still loved this book. I enjoyed the reflection on her relationships with her older sisters and her first best friend as well as figuring out there’s more out there and reflecting on your first love.
January 10, 2024
Sobbing. It reads a bit as gen z characters for a millenial audience, but i'm HERE for it! It's about fashion, plants AND musicals! Perfect romance with emotional depth.
April 21, 2024
*4.5 Stars
“My best can be imperfect. I can be a work in progress."
I'd like to thank Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I've also posted this review on Instagram and my blog.
Instagram Post
Blog Post
This was a delight to read! I definitely recommend Finally Fitz to everyone looking for a great summer time book. The plot was engaging and I just had to know what happened next. The writing style was fun and easy to follow and made the story so bingeable! One of my favourite aspects of Fitz's character was how she struggled with perfectionism. It was very relatable and I loved how the author approached the topic. Fitz is constantly working toward leaving the ideals of perfectionism behind. I loved following her journey with this and seeing her development as a character throughout the course of the story. The fashion aspect and Fitz's summer fashion school were an intriguing part of the plot. I enjoyed learning about Fitz's creativity and her love of creating something new out of older clothes. However, I would have liked this aspect of the story to be a bit more fleshed out and explored. We can't forget about the romance! It was so adorable from the very beginning. If friends to lovers is a favourite trope of yours then you'll love Finally Fitz! Levi and Fitz had great chemistry and it was so much fun looking back into their childhood history. The fake dating aspects were also well done and so heartwarming! Not only are romantic relationships a focus of the story, but relationships with family are as well. Seeing Fitz's family dynamic with her sisters and her parents was very intriguing. We got to learn more about each of her sisters and how impactful it was for Fitz when she feel left out of the loop. I couldn't get enough of seeing them grow together and navigate their complex emotions and misunderstandings, it made all of the characters feel so real!
Filled with heart, perfectly imperfect characters, and of course plants, Finally Fitz is a must-add to your tbr.
“My best can be imperfect. I can be a work in progress."
I'd like to thank Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I've also posted this review on Instagram and my blog.
Instagram Post
Blog Post
This was a delight to read! I definitely recommend Finally Fitz to everyone looking for a great summer time book. The plot was engaging and I just had to know what happened next. The writing style was fun and easy to follow and made the story so bingeable! One of my favourite aspects of Fitz's character was how she struggled with perfectionism. It was very relatable and I loved how the author approached the topic. Fitz is constantly working toward leaving the ideals of perfectionism behind. I loved following her journey with this and seeing her development as a character throughout the course of the story. The fashion aspect and Fitz's summer fashion school were an intriguing part of the plot. I enjoyed learning about Fitz's creativity and her love of creating something new out of older clothes. However, I would have liked this aspect of the story to be a bit more fleshed out and explored. We can't forget about the romance! It was so adorable from the very beginning. If friends to lovers is a favourite trope of yours then you'll love Finally Fitz! Levi and Fitz had great chemistry and it was so much fun looking back into their childhood history. The fake dating aspects were also well done and so heartwarming! Not only are romantic relationships a focus of the story, but relationships with family are as well. Seeing Fitz's family dynamic with her sisters and her parents was very intriguing. We got to learn more about each of her sisters and how impactful it was for Fitz when she feel left out of the loop. I couldn't get enough of seeing them grow together and navigate their complex emotions and misunderstandings, it made all of the characters feel so real!
Filled with heart, perfectly imperfect characters, and of course plants, Finally Fitz is a must-add to your tbr.
April 23, 2024
4.5
A fun and emotional story that was heartfelt and cute.
I loved all of it! The characters were real and easy to relate to.
Fitz was a typical college girl chasing her dreams and struggling with the pressures of everyday life like so many of us do. I enjoyed seeing her growth and how she overcame her difficulties.
Levi was so cute. He was understanding yet had his own flaws and struggles as well.
The whole friendship/relationship was full of ups and downs and I enjoyed every minute of it.
I also liked how the author touched on sensitive topics that are gaining more awareness today like mental health and being true to ones self.
In the end, I was left uplifted and inspired.
Some great tropes to be found here were:
Fake dating
Friends to lovers
LGBTQ reps
Mental health awareness
Finding yourself
Thank you to Simon and Schuster and the author for a copy!
A fun and emotional story that was heartfelt and cute.
I loved all of it! The characters were real and easy to relate to.
Fitz was a typical college girl chasing her dreams and struggling with the pressures of everyday life like so many of us do. I enjoyed seeing her growth and how she overcame her difficulties.
Levi was so cute. He was understanding yet had his own flaws and struggles as well.
The whole friendship/relationship was full of ups and downs and I enjoyed every minute of it.
I also liked how the author touched on sensitive topics that are gaining more awareness today like mental health and being true to ones self.
In the end, I was left uplifted and inspired.
Some great tropes to be found here were:
Fake dating
Friends to lovers
LGBTQ reps
Mental health awareness
Finding yourself
Thank you to Simon and Schuster and the author for a copy!
April 26, 2024
A delightful story of self-discovery as Fitz explores all NYC has to offer during a summer fashion internship. When Fitz initially follows her high school girlfriend to NYC for a summer of fun and pretty quickly gets dumped, she crafts the perfect fake romance with her childhood best friend and plant influencer who she just so happens to bump into on the subway in an effort to win her back.
While it’s pretty easy to see where the story is going, the story also includes sister relationships, fashion school drama, plantscapades, an excessive obsession with Instagram, and honestly some good mental health discussions. I was pleasantly surprised with the way the ending turned out.
Definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for a fun NYC fake dating LGBTQ+ YA romance.
While it’s pretty easy to see where the story is going, the story also includes sister relationships, fashion school drama, plantscapades, an excessive obsession with Instagram, and honestly some good mental health discussions. I was pleasantly surprised with the way the ending turned out.
Definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for a fun NYC fake dating LGBTQ+ YA romance.
May 1, 2024
3.5 rounded up thank you netgalley and the publisher for letting me read about fitz who is insane i’m in love
alsoooo baby bi bi bi? oh wait this is the it’s gonna be me month😭
anyway this was so much fun it had fun themes and was enjoyable as a bulk! excited to read more like this i love fake dating real love pipelines my poor baby levi i feel for you!
alsoooo baby bi bi bi? oh wait this is the it’s gonna be me month😭
anyway this was so much fun it had fun themes and was enjoyable as a bulk! excited to read more like this i love fake dating real love pipelines my poor baby levi i feel for you!
November 26, 2023
Put this book in the Louvre because it's fucking art ✨️🥺🫶
May 7, 2025
i know i'm stalking marisa kanter. but is she stalking me right back?
April 13, 2024
A fun, heartfelt queer YA fake dating summer romcom featuring two bisexual former childhood best friends who reunite in NYC. When Ana, "Fitz" Fitzgerald runs into the boy who moved away and her former best friend, Levi, they make a deal to fake date on IG in order to make their respective exes jealous.
Both Levi and Fitz have significant social media followings, Fitz as a fashion influencer and Levi as a plantsagrammer. I really enjoyed the Jewish rep, the bisexual rep, the anxiety rep, the friends to lovers romance and all the Project Runway and family drama in this one! Great on audio narrated by Sarah Beth Pfeifer and perfect for fans of authors like Dahlia Adler and Rachel Lynn Solomon.
Both Levi and Fitz have significant social media followings, Fitz as a fashion influencer and Levi as a plantsagrammer. I really enjoyed the Jewish rep, the bisexual rep, the anxiety rep, the friends to lovers romance and all the Project Runway and family drama in this one! Great on audio narrated by Sarah Beth Pfeifer and perfect for fans of authors like Dahlia Adler and Rachel Lynn Solomon.
April 8, 2024
4.5 stars!
This story had so much that was perfect for representing how things feel for you as a teenager, but also totally incorporated today’s social media issues, as well as having fun with social media aspects as well. It also had so much nostalgia for me in that it reminded me of the times I visited my younger sister when she moved to NYC. The subway fun, walking around and feeling alone when even surrounded by other people, but not in a bad way necessarily! All the places, the High Line, the parks, you name it. And the wonderful food choices! Even Fitz’s relationship with her sisters was something that was real and emotional. I have had my own times when I felt like my sisters were doing things without me. Although for me it was the opposite, because it was my two younger sisters.
This book has a lot of different things going on, but in such a good way, it was real, like life is. And when it is a teenager dealing with a lot of this, it makes things seem even bigger more disastrous at times. We had the fake dating trope, but also there was the aspect of how social media can become such a part of a teen’s life (or anyone these days) and cause relationship issues or even in Fitz’s case, issues with how she saw herself and what she thought she had to do in order to be successful or “perfect”. As I mentioned above there was even family issues for Fitz, feeling left out with her older sisters, her parents not seeming to realize she was serious about the fashion and not going to eventually go into something more “serious” like medicine or teaching, etc.
And oh did I adore Levi! I was so frustrated that Fitz couldn’t see he was actually interested in more than just the fake dating, and how she didn’t even get that when she talked to his ex the one time. Of course I know this is a teen story, and teens don’t always see what’s right in front of them. To be fair I don’t always see that either, lol. But Levi, his planty-nerdiness, was just so adorable! And I totally get why she was swooning over it, even if she was only doing it in her own head and not sharing it with him. It frustrated me at how Dani treated her and yet she still kept thinking there was a chance with her. Again, yeah, I know, teen, drama for a story, actually was realistic.
This was a really great story, one I can’t wait to share with my students. As it has so much in it. Besides what I’ve mentioned above, it also has the LGBTQ+ representation with both Fitz and Levi being bi. Dani being a lesbian, as well as I believe one of Fitz’s sisters also has a partner that is a woman. I liked how Fitz always referred to characters as first as they in her thoughts until there was a clear statement of their pronouns and from then on she would switch to those if they happened to be a she/her or he/him, or stick with the they/them as appropriate. I also enjoyed her time at the Pride Parade at the beginning of the story, and getting a bit of an inside glimpse at that from her being there and what she saw even as she searched for Dani to try to fix things.
Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.
This story had so much that was perfect for representing how things feel for you as a teenager, but also totally incorporated today’s social media issues, as well as having fun with social media aspects as well. It also had so much nostalgia for me in that it reminded me of the times I visited my younger sister when she moved to NYC. The subway fun, walking around and feeling alone when even surrounded by other people, but not in a bad way necessarily! All the places, the High Line, the parks, you name it. And the wonderful food choices! Even Fitz’s relationship with her sisters was something that was real and emotional. I have had my own times when I felt like my sisters were doing things without me. Although for me it was the opposite, because it was my two younger sisters.
This book has a lot of different things going on, but in such a good way, it was real, like life is. And when it is a teenager dealing with a lot of this, it makes things seem even bigger more disastrous at times. We had the fake dating trope, but also there was the aspect of how social media can become such a part of a teen’s life (or anyone these days) and cause relationship issues or even in Fitz’s case, issues with how she saw herself and what she thought she had to do in order to be successful or “perfect”. As I mentioned above there was even family issues for Fitz, feeling left out with her older sisters, her parents not seeming to realize she was serious about the fashion and not going to eventually go into something more “serious” like medicine or teaching, etc.
And oh did I adore Levi! I was so frustrated that Fitz couldn’t see he was actually interested in more than just the fake dating, and how she didn’t even get that when she talked to his ex the one time. Of course I know this is a teen story, and teens don’t always see what’s right in front of them. To be fair I don’t always see that either, lol. But Levi, his planty-nerdiness, was just so adorable! And I totally get why she was swooning over it, even if she was only doing it in her own head and not sharing it with him. It frustrated me at how Dani treated her and yet she still kept thinking there was a chance with her. Again, yeah, I know, teen, drama for a story, actually was realistic.
This was a really great story, one I can’t wait to share with my students. As it has so much in it. Besides what I’ve mentioned above, it also has the LGBTQ+ representation with both Fitz and Levi being bi. Dani being a lesbian, as well as I believe one of Fitz’s sisters also has a partner that is a woman. I liked how Fitz always referred to characters as first as they in her thoughts until there was a clear statement of their pronouns and from then on she would switch to those if they happened to be a she/her or he/him, or stick with the they/them as appropriate. I also enjoyed her time at the Pride Parade at the beginning of the story, and getting a bit of an inside glimpse at that from her being there and what she saw even as she searched for Dani to try to fix things.
Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.
November 1, 2024
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April 20, 2024
4.5⭐️
This was PRECIOUS! In Finally Fitz, Kanter dives into important conversations about imposter syndrome, mental health, challenging family dynamics, sustainable fashion, and social media. Books like this are so important for not only for YA readers, especially those on the verge of adulthood, but they’re also beneficial for adults to read and be reminded of what young adults are navigating. None of us have life figured out and extending grace, being vulnerable with others, and a listening ear to others makes a tremendous impact!
The thoughtful conversation around social media being a highlight reel and the need to step away and create boundaries through a digital detox was incredibly important and relevant. In a world where new content has become supreme, this story is a reminder to slow down, to step away from the camera and make memories and chase after joy, and to live authentically and not be afraid to show your filter free, perfectly imperfect self. I appreciated how Kanter wove this thread together with a conversation about mental health, anxiety, and perfectionism. Fitz’s journey to understanding herself and needs was so relatable and I wanted to wrap her in a giant hug seeing her growth and how she chose and made herself a priority.
I loved so much how sustainable fashion was a major theme through this book, especially in relation to social media and all the waste that comes from fast fashion. Fitz was so conscious of her fashion footprint and I admired her diligence and commitment to repurposing her thrifting finds and creating new textiles. Not only was it her mission to educate her followers and advocate for upcycling, but she used these pieces, especially the hand me downs from her sisters, to create connection and to tell a story.
There is so much goodness and beautiful layers in this story and it is going to leave an imprint on so many readers’ hearts. These characters and their stories were timely, deeply human, and filled with so much hope and healing.
This was PRECIOUS! In Finally Fitz, Kanter dives into important conversations about imposter syndrome, mental health, challenging family dynamics, sustainable fashion, and social media. Books like this are so important for not only for YA readers, especially those on the verge of adulthood, but they’re also beneficial for adults to read and be reminded of what young adults are navigating. None of us have life figured out and extending grace, being vulnerable with others, and a listening ear to others makes a tremendous impact!
The thoughtful conversation around social media being a highlight reel and the need to step away and create boundaries through a digital detox was incredibly important and relevant. In a world where new content has become supreme, this story is a reminder to slow down, to step away from the camera and make memories and chase after joy, and to live authentically and not be afraid to show your filter free, perfectly imperfect self. I appreciated how Kanter wove this thread together with a conversation about mental health, anxiety, and perfectionism. Fitz’s journey to understanding herself and needs was so relatable and I wanted to wrap her in a giant hug seeing her growth and how she chose and made herself a priority.
I loved so much how sustainable fashion was a major theme through this book, especially in relation to social media and all the waste that comes from fast fashion. Fitz was so conscious of her fashion footprint and I admired her diligence and commitment to repurposing her thrifting finds and creating new textiles. Not only was it her mission to educate her followers and advocate for upcycling, but she used these pieces, especially the hand me downs from her sisters, to create connection and to tell a story.
There is so much goodness and beautiful layers in this story and it is going to leave an imprint on so many readers’ hearts. These characters and their stories were timely, deeply human, and filled with so much hope and healing.
March 8, 2024
This book was a lighthearted YA read. I enjoyed the layers to the characters - you felt for the main character (Fitz) but she definitely had her flaws as well.
My issue with this book was that it grappled too many themes & topics at once. Example: there is a half-fleshed out storyline about her fauxmance being bi, but it only comes up one other time as a mini plot point that doesn't really matter. Also, there is a throw away line about Fitz's gender expression that seems like it's going to come up again later with her fashion design and haircut, but it doesn't. While queerness is important on the surface, it didn't actually matter at all to the characters or the plot which felt disappointing in a YA book about self discovery.
Also - as a New Yorker I liked how accurate the places & directions were, but it was definitely overkill and unnecessary to the story.
*this book was provided as an arc for review
My issue with this book was that it grappled too many themes & topics at once. Example: there is a half-fleshed out storyline about her fauxmance being bi, but it only comes up one other time as a mini plot point that doesn't really matter. Also, there is a throw away line about Fitz's gender expression that seems like it's going to come up again later with her fashion design and haircut, but it doesn't. While queerness is important on the surface, it didn't actually matter at all to the characters or the plot which felt disappointing in a YA book about self discovery.
Also - as a New Yorker I liked how accurate the places & directions were, but it was definitely overkill and unnecessary to the story.
*this book was provided as an arc for review
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 15, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this ARC!
3.5 stars rounded up
I want to start off by saying I am always happy for more bi rep, especially in YA, especially especially that addresses biphobia directly. As a bi woman my identity is questioned constantly, and affirming media for young people is proven to be beneficial. I really enjoyed Fitz, flaws and all; I think she's someone people at any age could relate to. Her burnout felt like what I've gone through as a recovering perfectionist and I'm sure her journey would speak to just about anyone who experienced the same thing. I also loved Levi quite a bit, but while Fitz felt like an actual teenager trying to figure shit out, Levi didn't feel like a real person. He seemed to be an idealized version of the perfect teenage boy, which took away from Fitz. He was always doing the right thing or the best thing while Fitz stumbled along.
All that being said, the most important relationship to me in this book was Fitz and her sisters. I'm an older sister and I know what it's like to think you're doing the right thing by your sibling, but seeing how badly Fitz wanted her older sisters to just include her actually felt a bit like a punch to the gut. Without spoiling anything, the resolution of this storyline meant everything to me (I may have actually teared up).
The plot is where things started to fall apart for me.
To be fair, it wasn't the plot itself, but the circumstances surrounding the romance part of the plot. (I love an unrealistic fake dating scenario!) The whole situation with Dani just felt weird to me as the plot progressed - it reminded me slightly of Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me, arguably the worst bi rep I've ever read. Sophie was not even a person, just an idea. I did love all the amazing New York locations and their not-dates and while obviously it didn't work for the plot, some more Boston location dropping as well would've been so fun for me. (As a slight aside, depending on when you leave Boston and which route you take, it can take anywhere from 90 minutes to 3 hours to get to Falmouth for the ferry to Martha's Vineyard! Signed, a current Bostonian, former Cape Codder)
Maybe it's just me, but there seems to be a trend in bi rep fiction, especially in YA bi rep fiction, where inevitably the FMC ends up choosing the the male love interest instead of the female love interest. I can think of several books where this is the case and not one the opposite. This is not necessarily on the author but part of an ongoing larger discussion to me; the takeaway from this trend could easily become being bisexual is okay as long as you end up with a man, and then the inevitable bisexual people don't belong in queer spaces if they're in heterosexual passing relationships... I just personally think it's something we as readers should point out.
I am not a fashion person so I can't speak to the specifics in accuracy beyond little details about sewing satin is difficult and the like were great in making it feel real. I'm also not Jewish, so I will defer to Jewish reviewers on that storyline. I AM a musical theater nerd, but I will keep my opinions on their musical tastes to myself.
I clearly had a lot of feelings about this book, and I really did enjoy it! Even if it looks like I didn't. It was fun and will resonate a lot with readers.
3.5 stars rounded up
I want to start off by saying I am always happy for more bi rep, especially in YA, especially especially that addresses biphobia directly. As a bi woman my identity is questioned constantly, and affirming media for young people is proven to be beneficial. I really enjoyed Fitz, flaws and all; I think she's someone people at any age could relate to. Her burnout felt like what I've gone through as a recovering perfectionist and I'm sure her journey would speak to just about anyone who experienced the same thing. I also loved Levi quite a bit, but while Fitz felt like an actual teenager trying to figure shit out, Levi didn't feel like a real person. He seemed to be an idealized version of the perfect teenage boy, which took away from Fitz. He was always doing the right thing or the best thing while Fitz stumbled along.
All that being said, the most important relationship to me in this book was Fitz and her sisters. I'm an older sister and I know what it's like to think you're doing the right thing by your sibling, but seeing how badly Fitz wanted her older sisters to just include her actually felt a bit like a punch to the gut. Without spoiling anything, the resolution of this storyline meant everything to me (I may have actually teared up).
The plot is where things started to fall apart for me.
To be fair, it wasn't the plot itself, but the circumstances surrounding the romance part of the plot. (I love an unrealistic fake dating scenario!) The whole situation with Dani just felt weird to me as the plot progressed - it reminded me slightly of Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me, arguably the worst bi rep I've ever read. Sophie was not even a person, just an idea. I did love all the amazing New York locations and their not-dates and while obviously it didn't work for the plot, some more Boston location dropping as well would've been so fun for me. (As a slight aside, depending on when you leave Boston and which route you take, it can take anywhere from 90 minutes to 3 hours to get to Falmouth for the ferry to Martha's Vineyard! Signed, a current Bostonian, former Cape Codder)
Maybe it's just me, but there seems to be a trend in bi rep fiction, especially in YA bi rep fiction, where inevitably the FMC ends up choosing the the male love interest instead of the female love interest. I can think of several books where this is the case and not one the opposite. This is not necessarily on the author but part of an ongoing larger discussion to me; the takeaway from this trend could easily become being bisexual is okay as long as you end up with a man, and then the inevitable bisexual people don't belong in queer spaces if they're in heterosexual passing relationships... I just personally think it's something we as readers should point out.
I am not a fashion person so I can't speak to the specifics in accuracy beyond little details about sewing satin is difficult and the like were great in making it feel real. I'm also not Jewish, so I will defer to Jewish reviewers on that storyline. I AM a musical theater nerd, but I will keep my opinions on their musical tastes to myself.
I clearly had a lot of feelings about this book, and I really did enjoy it! Even if it looks like I didn't. It was fun and will resonate a lot with readers.
March 6, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I thought this book was really cute and sweet and I loved that the characters were so messy and complex. It’s always interesting to read about characters figuring out their feelings when you already have a pretty good guess of where the story is going.
Some critiques I have are the amount of pop culture references felt a little much and the end of the book kind of got a little messy and rushed in my opinion. I think pop culture references can be done well, especially if they help along the plot, but these just felt like they stood out too much and interrupted the flow of the narrative.
Other than that, I think it was a nice cozy read for those who are fans of fake dating.
I thought this book was really cute and sweet and I loved that the characters were so messy and complex. It’s always interesting to read about characters figuring out their feelings when you already have a pretty good guess of where the story is going.
Some critiques I have are the amount of pop culture references felt a little much and the end of the book kind of got a little messy and rushed in my opinion. I think pop culture references can be done well, especially if they help along the plot, but these just felt like they stood out too much and interrupted the flow of the narrative.
Other than that, I think it was a nice cozy read for those who are fans of fake dating.
April 23, 2024
From the second I saw this pretty cover, I knew I'd love it. And I did; the romance was absolutely adorable and everything I hoped it would be.
All in all, Finally Fitz is a great story about growing up, heartbreak, friendships, social media, family, and so much more. At times, it felt a little too how do you do, fellow kids and kinda shallow, but it all came together perfectly in the end.
Also, I have to nitpick a little: real Harry Styles fans call themselves Harries, not Stylers. Okay, that's all.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster Teens for providing me with a free extended excerpt that made me hooked on this story so badly that I had to finish it immediately on the release day!
All in all, Finally Fitz is a great story about growing up, heartbreak, friendships, social media, family, and so much more. At times, it felt a little too how do you do, fellow kids and kinda shallow, but it all came together perfectly in the end.
Also, I have to nitpick a little: real Harry Styles fans call themselves Harries, not Stylers. Okay, that's all.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster Teens for providing me with a free extended excerpt that made me hooked on this story so badly that I had to finish it immediately on the release day!
May 4, 2024
3.5 stars rounded down.
There were things I liked about Finally Fitz, but they were overshadowed by the things I didn't and I hate that because I really don't enjoy leaving reviews like this. Sometimes I wonder if I'm too old for the YA genre, mostly when I read books with characters like Fitz, but then I read stunningly beautiful and/or charmingly funny examples of what it has to offer and I know I'm not. Maybe there is a certain type of character I'm too old for though, because man was Fitz irritating.
I know this whole thing is an exercise in depicting a teenage girl with anxiety and the ways she uses unhealthy methods to cope with it. Perfectionism and self-criticism and all the rest. And it probably works for a lot of people. It probably resonates and makes them feel less alone and more seen and represented. And I love that for them, genuinely. I'm just not part of that demographic. I feel like we weren't supposed to be team Dani for a lot of this, especially when she gave the reason for breaking up with Fitz at the beginning and said she felt like her audience rather than her girlfriend, but I'm kind of like...was she wrong? She walked it back later and said she shouldn't have said that when it wasn't the real reason, and like, fine, I guess. But also, it was accurate. Should Dani have kissed Fitz after telling her they were done? No. They were both messy and confusing and confused and I get that. That's what being a teenager is.
But I do think Fitz was obsessed with portraying things a certain way on Instagram, that she was never able to be fully present in any moment because she was always thinking ahead to how it would look when she posted it online and how much engagement it would get and what people would think of it, and while I understand that it was supposed to show her anxiety and low self-esteem, it just made me dislike her. I got so, so tired of all her endless photo ops and the way she manipulated people and her dishonesty, and the way she lashed out at everyone when her feelings were hurt but would never be real about it. And yes, she got better about this toward the end, and narrative arc and character growth and all that. The journey just felt like a slog to me because I found reading about her and being in her head the whole time to be such a chore.
There's also this thing some YA books do where you can tell the author is trying to capture an authentic teenage voice, but it just feels...forced? All the references to Harry Styles and musicals and the entire book revolving around Instagram and I don't know. Maybe this is what teens sound like now and I'm just showing my age again. That's possible. But it feels uncomfortable to read and makes me enjoy a book less if it does it, and this one did it a lot.
I enjoyed Levi as a character. He was sweet and corny and kind and all the things you want a good book boyfriend to be, and his plant obsession gave his character a sense of grounding that worked well for me. I did want him and Fitz to get together in the end, even though I didn't like her, because Levi wanted it and I wanted good things for him. I also appreciated the evolving sister relationships, although I wanted more of that than we got. And I always like a creative setting where people are pursuing their artistic passions in a real way. I hated that Dani belittled Fitz's online platform and made her feel like it was less serious and less artistic than her acting. It's all art and it's all worth caring about and putting effort into. Fashion matters just as much as anything else. That struggle was interesting and I was invested in those parts of the book. And I appreciated that Mal existed as someone to call Fitz on some of her bullshit and try to push her to be more authentic.
I'm giving it 3 stars because I feel conflicted about it and this is the rating that feels the most fair. I read it pretty quickly and never found it boring, but I found it frustrating and exhausting more often than I enjoyed it and I doubt I'll be reading it again.
There were things I liked about Finally Fitz, but they were overshadowed by the things I didn't and I hate that because I really don't enjoy leaving reviews like this. Sometimes I wonder if I'm too old for the YA genre, mostly when I read books with characters like Fitz, but then I read stunningly beautiful and/or charmingly funny examples of what it has to offer and I know I'm not. Maybe there is a certain type of character I'm too old for though, because man was Fitz irritating.
I know this whole thing is an exercise in depicting a teenage girl with anxiety and the ways she uses unhealthy methods to cope with it. Perfectionism and self-criticism and all the rest. And it probably works for a lot of people. It probably resonates and makes them feel less alone and more seen and represented. And I love that for them, genuinely. I'm just not part of that demographic. I feel like we weren't supposed to be team Dani for a lot of this, especially when she gave the reason for breaking up with Fitz at the beginning and said she felt like her audience rather than her girlfriend, but I'm kind of like...was she wrong? She walked it back later and said she shouldn't have said that when it wasn't the real reason, and like, fine, I guess. But also, it was accurate. Should Dani have kissed Fitz after telling her they were done? No. They were both messy and confusing and confused and I get that. That's what being a teenager is.
But I do think Fitz was obsessed with portraying things a certain way on Instagram, that she was never able to be fully present in any moment because she was always thinking ahead to how it would look when she posted it online and how much engagement it would get and what people would think of it, and while I understand that it was supposed to show her anxiety and low self-esteem, it just made me dislike her. I got so, so tired of all her endless photo ops and the way she manipulated people and her dishonesty, and the way she lashed out at everyone when her feelings were hurt but would never be real about it. And yes, she got better about this toward the end, and narrative arc and character growth and all that. The journey just felt like a slog to me because I found reading about her and being in her head the whole time to be such a chore.
There's also this thing some YA books do where you can tell the author is trying to capture an authentic teenage voice, but it just feels...forced? All the references to Harry Styles and musicals and the entire book revolving around Instagram and I don't know. Maybe this is what teens sound like now and I'm just showing my age again. That's possible. But it feels uncomfortable to read and makes me enjoy a book less if it does it, and this one did it a lot.
I enjoyed Levi as a character. He was sweet and corny and kind and all the things you want a good book boyfriend to be, and his plant obsession gave his character a sense of grounding that worked well for me. I did want him and Fitz to get together in the end, even though I didn't like her, because Levi wanted it and I wanted good things for him. I also appreciated the evolving sister relationships, although I wanted more of that than we got. And I always like a creative setting where people are pursuing their artistic passions in a real way. I hated that Dani belittled Fitz's online platform and made her feel like it was less serious and less artistic than her acting. It's all art and it's all worth caring about and putting effort into. Fashion matters just as much as anything else. That struggle was interesting and I was invested in those parts of the book. And I appreciated that Mal existed as someone to call Fitz on some of her bullshit and try to push her to be more authentic.
I'm giving it 3 stars because I feel conflicted about it and this is the rating that feels the most fair. I read it pretty quickly and never found it boring, but I found it frustrating and exhausting more often than I enjoyed it and I doubt I'll be reading it again.
August 9, 2025
Was the main character messy? Yes. Did she give me anxiety? Yes. Was it a fun read? Yes.
I especially liked that Fitz and Levi did not immediately decide to get into a relationship or even commit to a long-distance relationship. Rather, they stayed in contact and invested in themselves before dating. I also liked that the book had a circular ending, beginning and ending with Fitz saying, “I love you.”
I especially liked that Fitz and Levi did not immediately decide to get into a relationship or even commit to a long-distance relationship. Rather, they stayed in contact and invested in themselves before dating. I also liked that the book had a circular ending, beginning and ending with Fitz saying, “I love you.”
January 21, 2024
cute bi romcom with theater nerd/plant nerd/fashion nerd major plots and it was so fun :D i loved the vibe the entire time. thanks for the arc
November 22, 2023
Are YA books starting to make me feel old? Yes. Was this still the cutest queer fake dating childhood friends to lovers book I’ve read lately? Absolutely 💕
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April 1, 2024This review was first posted on my blog BookishlyJewish
It’s been a while since I truly whipped through a book without taking a moment to stop and think on the craft that went into creating it. That’s a consequence of doing this job plus being a writer. I see a lot of plot "surprises" coming from a mile away, and I'm often so distracted by examining the bones of a book I forget to enjoy how the writer has fleshed them out. So it’s saying something pretty significant when I tell you that I binged Marisa Kanter's new YA romance Finally Fitz faster that a new Netflix drop. I would have finished it in a single sitting, but I do have other responsibilities, and they rudely interrupted me several times.
The title character Of Finally Fitz is Ava Fitzgetald, a teen Instagram fashion influencer, who goes by the name of Fitz. Thanks to her trendy up cycling and large fan base, she is in NYC for the summer completing an intense program at FIT, learning how to sustainably scale up her brand. The main problem in this idyllic scenario is that her girlfriend, and also roommate for the summer, unceremoniously dumps her right before the program starts. In the most awkward living situation ever, the now ex-girlfriend also starts dating their mutual third roommate. A heartbroken Fitz can barely think, yet alone create, so when she fortuitously runs into her long lost best friend Levi Berkowitz on the 1 train he seems to be the solution to all her problems. Fitz quickly hatches a fake dating plot to make both their respective exes jealous and Levi, who is mostly in this for the help he will receive on rescuing plants, reluctantly agrees.
The chance meet cute on the subway reminded me of how Finally Fitz came into my possession. I actually emailed the publisher, explaining the concept of BookishlyJewish, and asked for a different title. They very kindly provided that title (a review of it is forthcoming) and inquired if I might like to try Finally Fitz too. Indeed thoughtful publicist, I would.
The thing is - not every book is on my radar. I’m small enough that most big five publishers are not exactly sending me their catalogues to peruse, and even if they did, I usually have no way to know which ones have Jewish content unless someone, ANYONE, tells me. This is why I rely so heavily on the suggest a book form and my fellow bloggers, writers, and readers who often share this information about their favorite reads with me. Still books can slip through the cracks- like this one almost did.
Which is actually pretty ironic, because Fitz’s perfectionism and anxiety have her worrying on the page about whether she’s Jewish enough to attend a reform Shabbat service with Levi. I bet she'd be worried her book didn't belong on the website. It’s a reflection of what I have often noted- Judaism can sometimes magnify our internal mental struggles to the point where some people stop engaging with it, rather than worry about if they are doing it right. Those people need a Levi in their lives. He shows Fitz such kind and caring compassion that she can’t help but find herself developing some more than friendly feelings towards him.
The romance is low heat, nothing more than kissing, so it’s perfect for those YA readers that enjoy a good swoon but don’t want sex on the page. This adult reader enjoyed it quite a bit too. The focus was on Fitz reconciling with herself rather than someone else magically fixing her with their love. As someone intimately familiar with how mental health can block a person from creating, I really appreciated the message and thought it was relevant for all ages of reader.
Teenagerhood clearly looks a lot different now than when I went through it. We had no phones to build “platforms” on, and my parents were nervous to let me ride the train into Manhattan let alone spend an entire summer there unsupervised, but Kanter gives a realistic picture of what growing up this way might do to a person. The realities of being a social media personality are universal and cross age borders - and I don’t even post photos or have a huge following. Finally Fitz is also quintessentially a NYC book, with many familiar locations and outings. Locals will enjoy the references.
I sank into this book for so many reasons, and I didn’t pause to think over how I would frame it, or what angle I needed to take in the review. Much like Fitz, I learned to just enjoy the ride. I’m still struggling with waiting for the other part of my art and creativity to return, it’ll take as long as it takes I guess, but this post was easy to write. That no small gift from a novel.
It’s been a while since I truly whipped through a book without taking a moment to stop and think on the craft that went into creating it. That’s a consequence of doing this job plus being a writer. I see a lot of plot "surprises" coming from a mile away, and I'm often so distracted by examining the bones of a book I forget to enjoy how the writer has fleshed them out. So it’s saying something pretty significant when I tell you that I binged Marisa Kanter's new YA romance Finally Fitz faster that a new Netflix drop. I would have finished it in a single sitting, but I do have other responsibilities, and they rudely interrupted me several times.
The title character Of Finally Fitz is Ava Fitzgetald, a teen Instagram fashion influencer, who goes by the name of Fitz. Thanks to her trendy up cycling and large fan base, she is in NYC for the summer completing an intense program at FIT, learning how to sustainably scale up her brand. The main problem in this idyllic scenario is that her girlfriend, and also roommate for the summer, unceremoniously dumps her right before the program starts. In the most awkward living situation ever, the now ex-girlfriend also starts dating their mutual third roommate. A heartbroken Fitz can barely think, yet alone create, so when she fortuitously runs into her long lost best friend Levi Berkowitz on the 1 train he seems to be the solution to all her problems. Fitz quickly hatches a fake dating plot to make both their respective exes jealous and Levi, who is mostly in this for the help he will receive on rescuing plants, reluctantly agrees.
The chance meet cute on the subway reminded me of how Finally Fitz came into my possession. I actually emailed the publisher, explaining the concept of BookishlyJewish, and asked for a different title. They very kindly provided that title (a review of it is forthcoming) and inquired if I might like to try Finally Fitz too. Indeed thoughtful publicist, I would.
The thing is - not every book is on my radar. I’m small enough that most big five publishers are not exactly sending me their catalogues to peruse, and even if they did, I usually have no way to know which ones have Jewish content unless someone, ANYONE, tells me. This is why I rely so heavily on the suggest a book form and my fellow bloggers, writers, and readers who often share this information about their favorite reads with me. Still books can slip through the cracks- like this one almost did.
Which is actually pretty ironic, because Fitz’s perfectionism and anxiety have her worrying on the page about whether she’s Jewish enough to attend a reform Shabbat service with Levi. I bet she'd be worried her book didn't belong on the website. It’s a reflection of what I have often noted- Judaism can sometimes magnify our internal mental struggles to the point where some people stop engaging with it, rather than worry about if they are doing it right. Those people need a Levi in their lives. He shows Fitz such kind and caring compassion that she can’t help but find herself developing some more than friendly feelings towards him.
The romance is low heat, nothing more than kissing, so it’s perfect for those YA readers that enjoy a good swoon but don’t want sex on the page. This adult reader enjoyed it quite a bit too. The focus was on Fitz reconciling with herself rather than someone else magically fixing her with their love. As someone intimately familiar with how mental health can block a person from creating, I really appreciated the message and thought it was relevant for all ages of reader.
Teenagerhood clearly looks a lot different now than when I went through it. We had no phones to build “platforms” on, and my parents were nervous to let me ride the train into Manhattan let alone spend an entire summer there unsupervised, but Kanter gives a realistic picture of what growing up this way might do to a person. The realities of being a social media personality are universal and cross age borders - and I don’t even post photos or have a huge following. Finally Fitz is also quintessentially a NYC book, with many familiar locations and outings. Locals will enjoy the references.
I sank into this book for so many reasons, and I didn’t pause to think over how I would frame it, or what angle I needed to take in the review. Much like Fitz, I learned to just enjoy the ride. I’m still struggling with waiting for the other part of my art and creativity to return, it’ll take as long as it takes I guess, but this post was easy to write. That no small gift from a novel.
April 13, 2024
FINALLY FITZ is a charming YA contemporary about finding yourself and complicated relationships. Ava Fitzgerald (Fitz) is spending the summer in NYC with her girlfriend while participating in a prestigious program for aspiring fashion designers. She has a pretty good following on instagram, and she showcases her finds along with thrifting and DIY tips there. At the end of the first week, Fitz is ready to tell her girlfriend that she loves her - only to meet a fan at dinner and then find herself being dumped instead.
Unsure where to head, but unwilling to head back to the shared living space they have, Fitz goes to visit one of her older sisters who lives in the city. Fitz's sisters are much older than her, and as such, she has always felt left out of their group. Adding to that her distant parents, and Fitz has spend a lot of time feeling alone. Now, dumped in a new city, her loneliness echoes.
When she runs into her childhood BFF, Levi on the subway, Fitz is not sure if her summer will take a turn. However, when she sees an opportunity to maybe get her ex back with jealousy, she proposes a fake relationship so they can both make their exes wish they had them back. The plan set in motion, Fitz now has to figure out her fashion designs - but finding her own style is as difficult as the relationships in her life.
What I loved: This was such an engaging read about finding yourself, complicated relationships (family, friends, and romantic), and forging your own path. While Fitz is set adrift at the beginning of the summer due to her breakup and the crashing of her plans, she will end up finding her own way through with the help of friends new and old. While she came to the city in part for her girlfriend, the program she is participating in has the chance to be life-changing. Except that Fitz's style is catered to instagram and she is not sure who she - or the fashion she wants to make - is.
Thus comes a summer of self-discovery through interactions and finding her way. While the fake dating was quite cute, it was really the personal epiphanies that Fitz has along the way that make the story. The romance is a major theme, but only as far as it helps her to discover her own identity and who she wants to be. Her relationships with her sisters are another piece Fitz will begin to navigate. She has felt like she was in the shadows for so long - but maybe this is a chance for change.
Fitz really grows during this summer, and while she may not be perfect, she learns to begin embracing the imperfections. Another theme is around mental illness. While Fitz is not diagnosed, it seems that she may have some element of anxiety. Importantly, she begins to realize that this is something for which she needs help and begins to understand her own limitations. Other characters also tell their own stories related to mental health, and it creates a positive message for therapy and healing.
Levi was sweet and overall really great for Fitz. While things may not go perfectly, their friendship remains an important element to the story. Through experiences and discussions, Fitz has many of her epiphanies through their deeper discussions and activities. The fake dating was a fun element that fell away quickly (even if they would not admit it). While the ending for them was not perfect, like other things in Fitz's life, there is power in the imperfections.
Final verdict: FINALLY FITZ is a sweet YA contemporary with a coming-of-age story that weaves together a story of romance, connection, and art.
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
Unsure where to head, but unwilling to head back to the shared living space they have, Fitz goes to visit one of her older sisters who lives in the city. Fitz's sisters are much older than her, and as such, she has always felt left out of their group. Adding to that her distant parents, and Fitz has spend a lot of time feeling alone. Now, dumped in a new city, her loneliness echoes.
When she runs into her childhood BFF, Levi on the subway, Fitz is not sure if her summer will take a turn. However, when she sees an opportunity to maybe get her ex back with jealousy, she proposes a fake relationship so they can both make their exes wish they had them back. The plan set in motion, Fitz now has to figure out her fashion designs - but finding her own style is as difficult as the relationships in her life.
What I loved: This was such an engaging read about finding yourself, complicated relationships (family, friends, and romantic), and forging your own path. While Fitz is set adrift at the beginning of the summer due to her breakup and the crashing of her plans, she will end up finding her own way through with the help of friends new and old. While she came to the city in part for her girlfriend, the program she is participating in has the chance to be life-changing. Except that Fitz's style is catered to instagram and she is not sure who she - or the fashion she wants to make - is.
Thus comes a summer of self-discovery through interactions and finding her way. While the fake dating was quite cute, it was really the personal epiphanies that Fitz has along the way that make the story. The romance is a major theme, but only as far as it helps her to discover her own identity and who she wants to be. Her relationships with her sisters are another piece Fitz will begin to navigate. She has felt like she was in the shadows for so long - but maybe this is a chance for change.
Fitz really grows during this summer, and while she may not be perfect, she learns to begin embracing the imperfections. Another theme is around mental illness. While Fitz is not diagnosed, it seems that she may have some element of anxiety. Importantly, she begins to realize that this is something for which she needs help and begins to understand her own limitations. Other characters also tell their own stories related to mental health, and it creates a positive message for therapy and healing.
Levi was sweet and overall really great for Fitz. While things may not go perfectly, their friendship remains an important element to the story. Through experiences and discussions, Fitz has many of her epiphanies through their deeper discussions and activities. The fake dating was a fun element that fell away quickly (even if they would not admit it). While the ending for them was not perfect, like other things in Fitz's life, there is power in the imperfections.
Final verdict: FINALLY FITZ is a sweet YA contemporary with a coming-of-age story that weaves together a story of romance, connection, and art.
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
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