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This Book Might Be About Zinnia
Clap When You Land meets Monday’s Not Coming in this moving novel told in two timelines as one teen searches for her biological mother and the other copes with giving up her baby. From the acclaimed author of SLAY.
Two moments in time. Two very different girls. And one story that connects them both.
It’s the year 2024, and Zinnia Davis is on a mission to ace her personal essay. But when an admissions rep hints that her adoption story is “lacking heart,” she has to figure out a new spin. Frankly, Zinnia doesn’t know much about her birth parents; that is, until her favorite author releases a new novel—Little Heart—about a princess with a heart-shaped birthmark on her forehead and separated from her mother at birth…just like Zinnia. Could this be her birth mother?
Flashback to 2006, and teenager Tuesday Walker is barely making it through high school after experiencing a loss that had her on leave for months. To cope, Tuesday writes a series of entries in a journal, but when the journal is lost, it feels like reliving the trauma all over again. Tuesday’s search for the journal uncovers dangerous secrets about her past, her crush, and her own mother’s story.
If Tuesday isn’t careful in her search, Zinnia will have to reap the consequences in the present.
Two moments in time. Two very different girls. And one story that connects them both.
It’s the year 2024, and Zinnia Davis is on a mission to ace her personal essay. But when an admissions rep hints that her adoption story is “lacking heart,” she has to figure out a new spin. Frankly, Zinnia doesn’t know much about her birth parents; that is, until her favorite author releases a new novel—Little Heart—about a princess with a heart-shaped birthmark on her forehead and separated from her mother at birth…just like Zinnia. Could this be her birth mother?
Flashback to 2006, and teenager Tuesday Walker is barely making it through high school after experiencing a loss that had her on leave for months. To cope, Tuesday writes a series of entries in a journal, but when the journal is lost, it feels like reliving the trauma all over again. Tuesday’s search for the journal uncovers dangerous secrets about her past, her crush, and her own mother’s story.
If Tuesday isn’t careful in her search, Zinnia will have to reap the consequences in the present.
352 pages, Hardcover
Published July 1, 2025
6 people are currently reading
453 people want to read
About the author
Brittney Morris
17 books1,189 followersBrittney Morris is the author of SLAY, THE COST OF KNOWING,MARVEL'S SPIDER-MAN: MILES MORALES - WINGS OF FURY, THE JUMP, and THIS BOOK MIGHT BE ABOUT ZINNIA. She holds an economics degree from Boston University and has written for video games including The Lost Legends of Redwall, and Subnautica: Below Zero. She spends her spare time reading, playing video games, and enjoying the rain from her home in Philadelphia. She lives with her son Atlas. Brittney is the founder and former president of the Boston University Creative Writing Club and looks forward to NaNoWriMo every year.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
July 3, 2025
2025 reads: 158/300
i received a digital review copy from the publisher as part of their influencer program. this did not affect my rating.
this novel follows two teen girls, set apart by eighteen years, as one searches for her biological mother and the other copes with giving up her baby. zinnia is an adoptee who’s been told her personal essay is lacking heart. when she notices some similarities between herself and the main character of a book, she wonders if the author might be her biological mother. tuesday is barely surviving after one loss, and after losing the journal that helped her cope, she feels like she’s gone through another loss. as she searches for her journal, she uncovers dangerous secrets about her past, her crush, and her own mother.
i love books with dual timelines, and books featuring adoptees, so i was looking forward to this one! this was my first book by brittney morris and definitely won’t be my last. i loved getting to know both zinnia and tuesday. though they are so very different, it was clear how their own stories impacted one another. i also appreciated seeing them grow up a bit. for example, zinnia starts off as being not-so-attuned to her best friend’s troubles, instead focusing on her own. this changed throughout the book, which i appreciated!
overall, this was a lovely book. i’d recommend this to anyone wanting a book featuring two teenage girls taking their own journey to adulthood.
i received a digital review copy from the publisher as part of their influencer program. this did not affect my rating.
this novel follows two teen girls, set apart by eighteen years, as one searches for her biological mother and the other copes with giving up her baby. zinnia is an adoptee who’s been told her personal essay is lacking heart. when she notices some similarities between herself and the main character of a book, she wonders if the author might be her biological mother. tuesday is barely surviving after one loss, and after losing the journal that helped her cope, she feels like she’s gone through another loss. as she searches for her journal, she uncovers dangerous secrets about her past, her crush, and her own mother.
i love books with dual timelines, and books featuring adoptees, so i was looking forward to this one! this was my first book by brittney morris and definitely won’t be my last. i loved getting to know both zinnia and tuesday. though they are so very different, it was clear how their own stories impacted one another. i also appreciated seeing them grow up a bit. for example, zinnia starts off as being not-so-attuned to her best friend’s troubles, instead focusing on her own. this changed throughout the book, which i appreciated!
overall, this was a lovely book. i’d recommend this to anyone wanting a book featuring two teenage girls taking their own journey to adulthood.
December 20, 2025
I wish I had the words to describe how good this book was. I feel like it should be a movie. The pacing was perfect, and I was entertained from beginning to end. This book now has a special place in my heart. 🥹
August 4, 2025
I am SO. SAD. that this book didn't work for me. I am a Brittney Morris STAN, because I've given 3 of her previous books 5 stars. This book was just missing something in terms of plot and pacing to keep me interested. I felt like the first 75% dragged because we already knew what was happening, and by the time the last 25% came in with more action, I was already checked out and felt like I had whiplash from the sudden change of pace. I also got a little confused between the two POVs because they sounded so similar. I think the general idea of this book is so interesting and I'm so disappointed in the execution - I will however continue to pick up books by this author and I really hope she goes back to writing books with video game / competition elements to them because that is where I think she thrives!
June 25, 2025
This Book Might Be About Zinnia by Britney Morris. Thanks to @simonteen for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Zinnia Davis doesn’t know much about her birth parents. She is shocked when her favorite author releases a book with a character eerily similiar to her and her story.
I don’t rate a lot of young adult books five stars, but I really enjoyed this one! It was a heartwarming adoption trope story but had a lot more to it, including a book which helps lead the way to Zinnia’s birth mother in an unusual way. I loved the ending. It got very suspenseful but also leaves you with a smile.
“Every protagonist needs a best friend. Especially one who’s the protagonist of their own story.”
This Book Might Be About Zinnia comes out 7/1.
Zinnia Davis doesn’t know much about her birth parents. She is shocked when her favorite author releases a book with a character eerily similiar to her and her story.
I don’t rate a lot of young adult books five stars, but I really enjoyed this one! It was a heartwarming adoption trope story but had a lot more to it, including a book which helps lead the way to Zinnia’s birth mother in an unusual way. I loved the ending. It got very suspenseful but also leaves you with a smile.
“Every protagonist needs a best friend. Especially one who’s the protagonist of their own story.”
This Book Might Be About Zinnia comes out 7/1.
June 23, 2025
I actually feel bad for how awful I thought this book was. I'd previously read SLAY by this author and loved it. There was nothing technically wrong with the writing. My problem was with the characters and plot.
Starting with characters: was I supposed to like any of them? Because I didn't like a single one. One of the main characters had a side plot where she thought she might be a narcissist because all she thinks about is herself and I think that tells you all you need to know.
The plot had the potential to be twisty and shocking, but it was predictable. It was so predictable that I thought "surely that can't be where it's going" and then lo and behold... that's where it went.
I also hate it in books where there are excerpts from a book and you're supposed to think it's good, but it's not. The book had the potential to be a scathing commentary on parenting and the lasting effects parents have on their children. But it wasn't. It wasn't anything.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
Starting with characters: was I supposed to like any of them? Because I didn't like a single one. One of the main characters had a side plot where she thought she might be a narcissist because all she thinks about is herself and I think that tells you all you need to know.
The plot had the potential to be twisty and shocking, but it was predictable. It was so predictable that I thought "surely that can't be where it's going" and then lo and behold... that's where it went.
I also hate it in books where there are excerpts from a book and you're supposed to think it's good, but it's not. The book had the potential to be a scathing commentary on parenting and the lasting effects parents have on their children. But it wasn't. It wasn't anything.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
June 8, 2025
Told in two timelines, two very different girls at the same age share a connection. In 2024, Zinnia gets a heads up on her personal essay to Harvard University; it lacks heart. It seems like a sign when her favorite author releases a new novel about a princess with a heart-shaped birthmark on her forehead separated from her mother at birth—just like Zinnia. Her personal essay could be about following a bestselling novel to find her birth mom. Doesn't get more original than that!
In 2006, Tuesday Walker is coping with a loss and huge secret. She is barely making it through high school after what her mother calls "the incident." Tuesday writes her feelings in a journal that is later lost. It is the entries told in that very journal that brings the two girls together.
What a heartwarming story with unexpected suspense. Themes of bravery, independence, parenthood and security are explored within its pages. Such a beautiful tale wonderfully told with the right pacing. I do not favor multiple points of view and past/present narration but Brittney Morris' writing style made it clear and easy to read.
The author mentions going no-contact in the Acknowledgments. This was actually my favorite section of the book and a strong message that I needed to hear at this time. Sometimes we have to protect ourselves and respect our own boundaries. Like Zinnia, she protected her peace while discovering herself and searching for the woman responsible for her life and could change it moving forward. Again, this is a level of bravery that all young adults could strive for.
I recommend the perfectly titled This Book Might Be About Zinnia for young adults to read this summer. Make it a buddy read with a friend or mom. Soak in the lessons and sunshine.
Happy Early Pub Day, Brittney Morris! This Book Might Be About Zinnia will be available Tuesday, July 1.
Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie
In 2006, Tuesday Walker is coping with a loss and huge secret. She is barely making it through high school after what her mother calls "the incident." Tuesday writes her feelings in a journal that is later lost. It is the entries told in that very journal that brings the two girls together.
What a heartwarming story with unexpected suspense. Themes of bravery, independence, parenthood and security are explored within its pages. Such a beautiful tale wonderfully told with the right pacing. I do not favor multiple points of view and past/present narration but Brittney Morris' writing style made it clear and easy to read.
The author mentions going no-contact in the Acknowledgments. This was actually my favorite section of the book and a strong message that I needed to hear at this time. Sometimes we have to protect ourselves and respect our own boundaries. Like Zinnia, she protected her peace while discovering herself and searching for the woman responsible for her life and could change it moving forward. Again, this is a level of bravery that all young adults could strive for.
I recommend the perfectly titled This Book Might Be About Zinnia for young adults to read this summer. Make it a buddy read with a friend or mom. Soak in the lessons and sunshine.
Happy Early Pub Day, Brittney Morris! This Book Might Be About Zinnia will be available Tuesday, July 1.
Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie
September 19, 2025
“No matter where you go, or what you do, or who you grow up to be, people will always question your decisions.”
Thank you to Simon and Schuster for sending me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
I've also posted this review on Instagram and my blog.
Instagram Post
Blog Post
Content Warnings: death of a parent, car accident, mention of murder
The premise of this book was very interesting! I was immediately invested in following Zinnia on her journey to find her birth mom through a best-selling novel. I enjoyed the alternating perspectives between both of the main characters and the parallels between them. What I found disconnected me from this story the most was the pacing. At first, the plot was slow and mainly focused on letting the reader get to know both Tuesday and Zinnia. However, in the last quarter of the book, it was very fast-paced and had many plot twists. This felt a bit disjointed and created an ending that was rushed at times. In terms of the characters, I thought that Tuesday was the most well developed. I especially liked one side character, Milo, who is Zinnia's best friend. I wish that we got to see even more of him!
Thank you to Simon and Schuster for sending me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
I've also posted this review on Instagram and my blog.
Instagram Post
Blog Post
Content Warnings: death of a parent, car accident, mention of murder
The premise of this book was very interesting! I was immediately invested in following Zinnia on her journey to find her birth mom through a best-selling novel. I enjoyed the alternating perspectives between both of the main characters and the parallels between them. What I found disconnected me from this story the most was the pacing. At first, the plot was slow and mainly focused on letting the reader get to know both Tuesday and Zinnia. However, in the last quarter of the book, it was very fast-paced and had many plot twists. This felt a bit disjointed and created an ending that was rushed at times. In terms of the characters, I thought that Tuesday was the most well developed. I especially liked one side character, Milo, who is Zinnia's best friend. I wish that we got to see even more of him!
July 4, 2025
Thanks to @netgalley and @simonandschuster for the advance Kindle copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
•
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5 for this new release (7.1.25). High school senior Zinnia, who has dreamed of going to Harvard her entire life, receives word that her admissions essay is lacking originality at the same time that her best friend gets her the newest book by her favorite author, in which the main character has a few too many details in common with her - a heart-shaped birthmark on her hairline, no record of her birth mother, an allusion to the same adoption agency - and it sends her on a journey to find out if this author is actually her mother. Every other chapter is the actual story of her birth mother in 2006, as she discovers her own family’s unsettling legacy as she deals with giving Zinnia up for adoption and having her journal given up to an author looking for inspiration. This is intended for high school readers, and I would say it’s accurate. I would hand it to readers in grades 9+. #highschoolreads
•
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5 for this new release (7.1.25). High school senior Zinnia, who has dreamed of going to Harvard her entire life, receives word that her admissions essay is lacking originality at the same time that her best friend gets her the newest book by her favorite author, in which the main character has a few too many details in common with her - a heart-shaped birthmark on her hairline, no record of her birth mother, an allusion to the same adoption agency - and it sends her on a journey to find out if this author is actually her mother. Every other chapter is the actual story of her birth mother in 2006, as she discovers her own family’s unsettling legacy as she deals with giving Zinnia up for adoption and having her journal given up to an author looking for inspiration. This is intended for high school readers, and I would say it’s accurate. I would hand it to readers in grades 9+. #highschoolreads
July 13, 2025
Special thanks to the author & @simonteen #SimonTeenInfluencer for my gifted copy‼️
This book was absolutely amazing from start to finish. I was curious to see how the author would tie together both timelines for Tuesday and Zinnia and she executed everything perfectly.
This Might Be About Zinnia is a touching and heartfelt story about a young biracial teen seeking the truth about her birth mother and where she comes from. Showcasing the effects of overly controlling parents, uncovering trauma, the support adoptive children often require, how “protecting” our children from the truth can do more harm than good, and exploring the highs and lows teens experience. Brittney Morris created an unflinching portrayal of finding family from the perspective of mother and child.
I was rooting for Zinnia the entire time and wanted so bad for her to find her birth mother. I love how Morris twisted the plot and had us thinking things would unfold so easily. But that twist was unexpected and took the novel to a different level by adding a bit of suspense to the story.
Zinnia was such a courageous character for taking matters into her own hands. I love how her friend Milo was there every step of the way even with dealing with his own issues. Both timelines give us the backstory we need to understand the characters. Tuesday’s mother was at fault for a lot and had she supported her daughter or at least told the truth about her past Tuesday could’ve potentially kept her baby. Justin made me want to ring his neck although he acted out of kindness he completely overstepped.
Overall, this YA book was EVERYTHING‼️The characters were well-developed, and I loved how the dialogue really brought the story to life. The plot flowed seamlessly and left no room for holes or confusion so I highly recommend this book.
This book was absolutely amazing from start to finish. I was curious to see how the author would tie together both timelines for Tuesday and Zinnia and she executed everything perfectly.
This Might Be About Zinnia is a touching and heartfelt story about a young biracial teen seeking the truth about her birth mother and where she comes from. Showcasing the effects of overly controlling parents, uncovering trauma, the support adoptive children often require, how “protecting” our children from the truth can do more harm than good, and exploring the highs and lows teens experience. Brittney Morris created an unflinching portrayal of finding family from the perspective of mother and child.
I was rooting for Zinnia the entire time and wanted so bad for her to find her birth mother. I love how Morris twisted the plot and had us thinking things would unfold so easily. But that twist was unexpected and took the novel to a different level by adding a bit of suspense to the story.
Zinnia was such a courageous character for taking matters into her own hands. I love how her friend Milo was there every step of the way even with dealing with his own issues. Both timelines give us the backstory we need to understand the characters. Tuesday’s mother was at fault for a lot and had she supported her daughter or at least told the truth about her past Tuesday could’ve potentially kept her baby. Justin made me want to ring his neck although he acted out of kindness he completely overstepped.
Overall, this YA book was EVERYTHING‼️The characters were well-developed, and I loved how the dialogue really brought the story to life. The plot flowed seamlessly and left no room for holes or confusion so I highly recommend this book.
September 12, 2025
THIS BOOK MIGHT BE ABOUT ZINNIA 📚 I love the creative set up of this YA book. It has dual timelines - one in modern times where Zinnia is gifted a book by her favorite author about a girl that sounds remarkably like her. 12 years earlier you follow Tuesday who is an aspiring author with a difficult home life who discovers some dangerous secrets about her past.
📚 I love the parallels between the two teens and the vivid characters that surround them. I loved the thoughtful discussion of adoption and the complicated relationships of all kinds. It is a tense, often suspenseful read that keeps you turning the pages until you get to the satisfying end.
📚 I love the parallels between the two teens and the vivid characters that surround them. I loved the thoughtful discussion of adoption and the complicated relationships of all kinds. It is a tense, often suspenseful read that keeps you turning the pages until you get to the satisfying end.
August 22, 2025
This was a cute book with a twist towards the end that I wasn’t expecting. But maybe I should’ve (and no, not the twist of the mother, the one after dinner…IYKYK). But regardless, made the story that much more better. Loved the author’s storytelling, made me captivated and hooked onto these characters already. My first time reading a book by her, and won’t be my last.
August 10, 2025
I read Slay by the same author, and I really enjoyed that one.
I should have used the time I took reading this to just read that one again.
I should have used the time I took reading this to just read that one again.
March 23, 2025
This book was so, so, SO good. This was one of my first contemporary fiction reads in a while and I can truly say it didn’t disappoint.
This story follows Zinnia as she unravels the mystery around her adoption/birth mother. Along the way we get to see her learn a lot about herself, her anxiety, her identity - and I enjoyed every moment. Being a teenager is ROUGH, and this story really spoke to how difficult it is to manage big feelings and perceived familial expectations when you’re experiencing everything for the first time. Additionally, her mom’s story??? My god.
Absolutely recommend - and thank you to the publisher for this e-arc!!
This story follows Zinnia as she unravels the mystery around her adoption/birth mother. Along the way we get to see her learn a lot about herself, her anxiety, her identity - and I enjoyed every moment. Being a teenager is ROUGH, and this story really spoke to how difficult it is to manage big feelings and perceived familial expectations when you’re experiencing everything for the first time. Additionally, her mom’s story??? My god.
Absolutely recommend - and thank you to the publisher for this e-arc!!
April 9, 2025
Thank you Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Brittney Morris’s “This Book Might Be About Zinnia” is a poignant, emotionally layered contemporary YA book that beautifully explores identity and family secrets all while demonstrating the complex process of growing up. Told in dual timelines from two unforgettable characters—Zinnia in 2024 and Tuesday in 2006—this story is a slow-reveal masterpiece that brings together mystery and heartache into a deeply satisfying and resonant story.
Zinnia Davis is a smart, book-loving teenager trying to craft the perfect personal essay for her Harvard application. But when an admissions officer implies her adoption story "lacks heart," Zinnia begins to unravel the mystery of her birth mother. The spark? A newly released novel, Little Heart, written by her favorite author, about a girl with a heart-shaped birthmark separated from her mother—just like Zinnia. Is this more than just a coincidence? Meanwhile, in 2006, Tuesday Walker is a Black teen navigating high school while grieving a life-altering loss. Emotionally isolated and stuck in a toxic household with a manipulative mother, Tuesday turns to journaling for comfort. But when her journal disappears, it triggers a chain of events that brings dangerous truths to light—truths that ripple across time and could shape Zinnia’s present in ways no one expects.
Morris excels at character development. Zinnia is sheltered, anxious, and self-aware—her journey is one of growth, privilege-checking, and emotional honesty. Her relationship with her best friend Milo is refreshingly real and filled with healthy conflict, humor, and warmth. Milo isn’t afraid to call Zinnia out when necessary, and watching Zinnia realize that her friendships matter more than elite college ambitions is a highlight of her arc.
Tuesday, on the other hand, is a deeply sympathetic figure—strong, isolated, and doing her best in a world that constantly fails her. Her chapters are raw and heartbreaking, portraying the emotional toll of being young, unsupported, and forced to make an impossible decision. Her mother’s emotional abuse and the overall lack of a safety net make her journey both tragic and heroic. You will root hard for Tuesday, and her emotional payoff at the end feels especially well-earned.
Told in alternating perspectives, the book gradually builds suspense and emotional depth as the connection between Zinnia and Tuesday slowly comes into focus. The dual timelines are cleverly constructed, giving you an omniscient view of how these two young women’s stories intersect. Even when you begin to piece things together before Zinnia does, the tension remains gripping.
Themes of adoption, race, family, identity, and forgiveness are sensitively handled. Particularly powerful is the emotional nuance of searching for one's origin story in a world that doesn’t always offer answers—or support. Morris’s prose is sharp, compassionate, and contemporary. She nails the voice of both teens while layering in moments of humor, sorrow, and deep introspection. The writing respects the intelligence of its young audience while offering plenty for adult readers to chew on as well.
By the time Zinnia and Tuesday’s timelines collide, the emotional payoff is everything you hope it will be—heart-wrenching, tender, and full of hope. The reunion scene is beautifully written, and while the ending wraps up with a few well-timed conveniences, it doesn’t feel unearned. Instead, it lands like a warm exhale after a long, emotional journey.
“This Book Might Be About Zinnia” is not just about Zinnia—it’s about all the girls trying to find their place in a complicated world. It’s about identity, resilience, and the invisible threads that connect us. Brittney Morris has crafted a thoughtful, honest, and unforgettable story that deserves a permanent spot on every YA shelf.
Brittney Morris’s “This Book Might Be About Zinnia” is a poignant, emotionally layered contemporary YA book that beautifully explores identity and family secrets all while demonstrating the complex process of growing up. Told in dual timelines from two unforgettable characters—Zinnia in 2024 and Tuesday in 2006—this story is a slow-reveal masterpiece that brings together mystery and heartache into a deeply satisfying and resonant story.
Zinnia Davis is a smart, book-loving teenager trying to craft the perfect personal essay for her Harvard application. But when an admissions officer implies her adoption story "lacks heart," Zinnia begins to unravel the mystery of her birth mother. The spark? A newly released novel, Little Heart, written by her favorite author, about a girl with a heart-shaped birthmark separated from her mother—just like Zinnia. Is this more than just a coincidence? Meanwhile, in 2006, Tuesday Walker is a Black teen navigating high school while grieving a life-altering loss. Emotionally isolated and stuck in a toxic household with a manipulative mother, Tuesday turns to journaling for comfort. But when her journal disappears, it triggers a chain of events that brings dangerous truths to light—truths that ripple across time and could shape Zinnia’s present in ways no one expects.
Morris excels at character development. Zinnia is sheltered, anxious, and self-aware—her journey is one of growth, privilege-checking, and emotional honesty. Her relationship with her best friend Milo is refreshingly real and filled with healthy conflict, humor, and warmth. Milo isn’t afraid to call Zinnia out when necessary, and watching Zinnia realize that her friendships matter more than elite college ambitions is a highlight of her arc.
Tuesday, on the other hand, is a deeply sympathetic figure—strong, isolated, and doing her best in a world that constantly fails her. Her chapters are raw and heartbreaking, portraying the emotional toll of being young, unsupported, and forced to make an impossible decision. Her mother’s emotional abuse and the overall lack of a safety net make her journey both tragic and heroic. You will root hard for Tuesday, and her emotional payoff at the end feels especially well-earned.
Told in alternating perspectives, the book gradually builds suspense and emotional depth as the connection between Zinnia and Tuesday slowly comes into focus. The dual timelines are cleverly constructed, giving you an omniscient view of how these two young women’s stories intersect. Even when you begin to piece things together before Zinnia does, the tension remains gripping.
Themes of adoption, race, family, identity, and forgiveness are sensitively handled. Particularly powerful is the emotional nuance of searching for one's origin story in a world that doesn’t always offer answers—or support. Morris’s prose is sharp, compassionate, and contemporary. She nails the voice of both teens while layering in moments of humor, sorrow, and deep introspection. The writing respects the intelligence of its young audience while offering plenty for adult readers to chew on as well.
By the time Zinnia and Tuesday’s timelines collide, the emotional payoff is everything you hope it will be—heart-wrenching, tender, and full of hope. The reunion scene is beautifully written, and while the ending wraps up with a few well-timed conveniences, it doesn’t feel unearned. Instead, it lands like a warm exhale after a long, emotional journey.
“This Book Might Be About Zinnia” is not just about Zinnia—it’s about all the girls trying to find their place in a complicated world. It’s about identity, resilience, and the invisible threads that connect us. Brittney Morris has crafted a thoughtful, honest, and unforgettable story that deserves a permanent spot on every YA shelf.
July 13, 2025
I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say that we know pretty early on that yes, Zinnia is Tuesday’s child. The “loss” that Tuesday experiences—missing months of school, etc.—is clearly her pregnancy, and since she’s not currently raising a child, we know that she gave her baby up for adoption.
I like that Zinnia has known since childhood that she’s adopted. There’s no traumatic revelation, no coming to terms with that fact. I also like that she isn’t fazed by the birthmark on her face; she wears it with pride.
At first, Zinnia’s decision to find her birth mother seems shallow. She just wants to have a strong college admission essay. And she’s in a time crunch; her first essay was rejected and she has a limited time to resubmit. She’s been aiming for Harvard all her life, and she’s right on track to get there—if she can fix the essay problem. So when a favorite author’s new book has references that are suspiciously close to Zinnia’s story…she pursues it.
Simultaneously, we get the story of Tuesday’s recovery from her pregnancy (which no one at school—including the baby’s father—knows about), the betrayal of the boy who impregnated her, and her borderline abusive mother,
As we watch both of our protagonists, we see the threads of past and present come together. There’s heartbreak. Friendships are tested. Zinnia’s single-minded pursuit of her birth mother blinds her to best friend Eli’s family struggles, and their friendship fractures because of it. (So do a lot of her other high-achieving habits. Parental relationships are tested. Tuesday’s breaks; Zinnia’s strengthens.
I love some dramatic irony (when the reader knows things the characters don’t), and we get plenty of it as we draw toward the climax of the book. All in all, the resolution and aftermath are satisfying.
Possible Objectionable Material:
Some cursing, including the f-word. Mention of teenage sex, including mention of condoms and STDs. Kissing. Vaping. Arson. Parental death.
Who Might Like This Book:
People who like coming of age, found family, adoption stories.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
This book is also reviewed at https://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2...
#BrittneyMorris #NetGalley #BookReview #YALit #ThisBookMightBeAboutZinnia
I like that Zinnia has known since childhood that she’s adopted. There’s no traumatic revelation, no coming to terms with that fact. I also like that she isn’t fazed by the birthmark on her face; she wears it with pride.
At first, Zinnia’s decision to find her birth mother seems shallow. She just wants to have a strong college admission essay. And she’s in a time crunch; her first essay was rejected and she has a limited time to resubmit. She’s been aiming for Harvard all her life, and she’s right on track to get there—if she can fix the essay problem. So when a favorite author’s new book has references that are suspiciously close to Zinnia’s story…she pursues it.
Simultaneously, we get the story of Tuesday’s recovery from her pregnancy (which no one at school—including the baby’s father—knows about), the betrayal of the boy who impregnated her, and her borderline abusive mother,
As we watch both of our protagonists, we see the threads of past and present come together. There’s heartbreak. Friendships are tested. Zinnia’s single-minded pursuit of her birth mother blinds her to best friend Eli’s family struggles, and their friendship fractures because of it. (So do a lot of her other high-achieving habits. Parental relationships are tested. Tuesday’s breaks; Zinnia’s strengthens.
I love some dramatic irony (when the reader knows things the characters don’t), and we get plenty of it as we draw toward the climax of the book. All in all, the resolution and aftermath are satisfying.
Possible Objectionable Material:
Some cursing, including the f-word. Mention of teenage sex, including mention of condoms and STDs. Kissing. Vaping. Arson. Parental death.
Who Might Like This Book:
People who like coming of age, found family, adoption stories.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
This book is also reviewed at https://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2...
#BrittneyMorris #NetGalley #BookReview #YALit #ThisBookMightBeAboutZinnia
September 15, 2025
3.5
I can't get over the fact that Tuesday got with Justin after he gave away her journal. And yes I understand that it wasn't with any bad intentions in mind but like Tuesday clearly told him no multiple times and she showed obvious hesitation when he mentioned that yet he still gave it away. And you can't tell me that he wasn't aware that it was personal bc Tuesday was even scared to give it to him in the first place. She trusted you and you betrayed her trust bc you think you know better and that's just weird. Also when the author came back to the coffee shop and Tuesday told Justin to get her journal back and he had the audacity to call the author over so Tuesday can ask for it back as if she gave away her own diary was so annoying. Like fix the problem you caused. No one told you to give her journal away yet you did that and now you don't want to own up to that and get it back?? Yea hell no.
Also don't think I forgot about you Mrs. Jodelle-Steals-stories-instead-of-coming-up-with-them-on-her-own Rae West. Like it's giving Yellowface. What's with SOME white people and their obsession with colonizing literally everything. Like ok you took the journal but when Tuesday tried to ask for it back, you leave mid conversation to your rich person house in New York (which was probably established on Native American land because what are you doing if not colonizing). And then in the future when Zinnia comes to Jodelle's book signing thing bc she believes that this famous author who she looks up to is her mother, Jodelle has the audacity to be scared as if she didn't steal a child's journal and publish it with little to no changes. And don't think I forgot about her editor or whoever person she's always on the phone with. He's the ones who supports all of Jodelle's stupid DUMB idiotic decisions bc tell me why this man tells her to pretend that Zinnia truly is her biological daughter and take her to dinner and things like that. Like is that not weird (mind you, takes this MINOR to her house). The best part of the story was when Ezra (Zinnia's father) said he was going to do something to Jodelle at the end of the story for stealing Tuesday's journal.
I can't get over the fact that Tuesday got with Justin after he gave away her journal. And yes I understand that it wasn't with any bad intentions in mind but like Tuesday clearly told him no multiple times and she showed obvious hesitation when he mentioned that yet he still gave it away. And you can't tell me that he wasn't aware that it was personal bc Tuesday was even scared to give it to him in the first place. She trusted you and you betrayed her trust bc you think you know better and that's just weird. Also when the author came back to the coffee shop and Tuesday told Justin to get her journal back and he had the audacity to call the author over so Tuesday can ask for it back as if she gave away her own diary was so annoying. Like fix the problem you caused. No one told you to give her journal away yet you did that and now you don't want to own up to that and get it back?? Yea hell no.
Also don't think I forgot about you Mrs. Jodelle-Steals-stories-instead-of-coming-up-with-them-on-her-own Rae West. Like it's giving Yellowface. What's with SOME white people and their obsession with colonizing literally everything. Like ok you took the journal but when Tuesday tried to ask for it back, you leave mid conversation to your rich person house in New York (which was probably established on Native American land because what are you doing if not colonizing). And then in the future when Zinnia comes to Jodelle's book signing thing bc she believes that this famous author who she looks up to is her mother, Jodelle has the audacity to be scared as if she didn't steal a child's journal and publish it with little to no changes. And don't think I forgot about her editor or whoever person she's always on the phone with. He's the ones who supports all of Jodelle's stupid DUMB idiotic decisions bc tell me why this man tells her to pretend that Zinnia truly is her biological daughter and take her to dinner and things like that. Like is that not weird (mind you, takes this MINOR to her house). The best part of the story was when Ezra (Zinnia's father) said he was going to do something to Jodelle at the end of the story for stealing Tuesday's journal.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2025
Thank you so much to Simon teen for the gifted e-arc!
“Clap when you land meets Mondays not coming”
This is one of those beautiful and heartwarming books that is sure to stay with you! I absolutely enjoyed this. Zinnia is a high achieving perfectionist with her sights set on Harvard. As a legacy, they’re pretty sure she should gain acceptance. She is gifted a book from her best friend. The book has some scarily similar details to her, such as the main character having a heart shaped birthmark which is identical to hers and in the same place. As an adoptee, she wonders, what if this is my birth mother? What if this story is about me? She then embarks on a journey to find details while also using this as an opportunity for material for her Harvard essay.
This is dual time line, dual POV. Just years earlier in 2006, Tuesday as a young teen is forced to give up someone very dear to her. At such a young age, she experiences loss, heartbreak, and betrayal. To cope, she journals and is a beautiful writer. there is one person who sees the talent in her, but when a good deed leads to a lost journal, Tuesday must pick up the pieces and attempt to right her life.
The two stories amazingly collide as Zinnia continues on her quest. I found the characters like-able and the relationship between Zinnia and Miles very wholesome and something to be held on to and cherished. My heart longed for Tuesday, wishing she had a better support system, but I understand her mother thought she as doing the best for her.
This was a page turner as I became more and more invested in seeing the outcome of the story! I enjoyed the way things came together. There were two-three unanswered questions that I had, and I wished they would’ve been answered in the epilogue.
Overall I highly recommend this book and will definitely need a shelf trophy!
“Clap when you land meets Mondays not coming”
This is one of those beautiful and heartwarming books that is sure to stay with you! I absolutely enjoyed this. Zinnia is a high achieving perfectionist with her sights set on Harvard. As a legacy, they’re pretty sure she should gain acceptance. She is gifted a book from her best friend. The book has some scarily similar details to her, such as the main character having a heart shaped birthmark which is identical to hers and in the same place. As an adoptee, she wonders, what if this is my birth mother? What if this story is about me? She then embarks on a journey to find details while also using this as an opportunity for material for her Harvard essay.
This is dual time line, dual POV. Just years earlier in 2006, Tuesday as a young teen is forced to give up someone very dear to her. At such a young age, she experiences loss, heartbreak, and betrayal. To cope, she journals and is a beautiful writer. there is one person who sees the talent in her, but when a good deed leads to a lost journal, Tuesday must pick up the pieces and attempt to right her life.
The two stories amazingly collide as Zinnia continues on her quest. I found the characters like-able and the relationship between Zinnia and Miles very wholesome and something to be held on to and cherished. My heart longed for Tuesday, wishing she had a better support system, but I understand her mother thought she as doing the best for her.
This was a page turner as I became more and more invested in seeing the outcome of the story! I enjoyed the way things came together. There were two-three unanswered questions that I had, and I wished they would’ve been answered in the epilogue.
Overall I highly recommend this book and will definitely need a shelf trophy!
September 16, 2025
In 2024, Zinnia Davis is fighting to gain a Harvard acceptance, supported along the way by her book-loving best friend. But his latest gift to her, a fantasy novel titled Little Heart, throws things into confusion. The story tells of a mother giving away her baby, a princess with a unique heart-shaped birthmark. Zinnia is adopted and has that same birthmark, but it's the little details that make things hit a bit too close to home. Could Zinnia's favorite author actually be her birth mother?
In 2006, a girl named Tuesday Walker is trying to get her life back on track after giving away her baby. She still maintains feelings of a sort for the baby's father, but a new coworker is beginning to seem like a much stronger match. As she sorts out her feelings, she keeps a diary, turning her story into a fantasy epic. But things become fraught when Tuesday learns the truth of her baby's father's family and their connection to her family. And then her diary disappears.
This Book Might Be About Zinnia covers a lot of feelings in a relatively short space: the feeling of having a family but wondering about your "real" one, the grief of giving up a child, the disconnect between a privileged life and the trauma of being a caretaker for a parent. While Zinnia's goals are initially set on crafting an interesting essay for her Harvard application, she soon learns that her desire to excel could be costing her things that really matter—and making her less aware of the world around her. YA novels can often miss the mark when it comes to how teens think and talk, but this turbulent novel (with an ultimately satisfying ending) hits the nail on the head time after time.
(reviewed on karadennison.com)
In 2006, a girl named Tuesday Walker is trying to get her life back on track after giving away her baby. She still maintains feelings of a sort for the baby's father, but a new coworker is beginning to seem like a much stronger match. As she sorts out her feelings, she keeps a diary, turning her story into a fantasy epic. But things become fraught when Tuesday learns the truth of her baby's father's family and their connection to her family. And then her diary disappears.
This Book Might Be About Zinnia covers a lot of feelings in a relatively short space: the feeling of having a family but wondering about your "real" one, the grief of giving up a child, the disconnect between a privileged life and the trauma of being a caretaker for a parent. While Zinnia's goals are initially set on crafting an interesting essay for her Harvard application, she soon learns that her desire to excel could be costing her things that really matter—and making her less aware of the world around her. YA novels can often miss the mark when it comes to how teens think and talk, but this turbulent novel (with an ultimately satisfying ending) hits the nail on the head time after time.
(reviewed on karadennison.com)
June 21, 2025
Thank you to Simon Teen for the ARC of This Book Might Be About Zinnia by Brittney Morris. All opinions are my own.
For years I’ve been fascinated with stories about adoption and reuniting families, so that was my main reason for choosing to read this book. While it wasn’t quite what I expected, I overall enjoyed this book and would recommend it to other people.
While this book has some light moments, it’s an overall pretty serious and emotional story about characters experiencing a lot of difficult circumstances.
This book is split between two timelines and points of view. There’s Zinnia, who’s a high school senior preparing to go to Harvard. She’s had a relatively easy life with her adoptive parents and never thought to track down her birth mom until she sees similarities between herself and a character in a new book.
The other timeline follows Tuesday, who’s a teen mom struggling with the fact that she gave her baby up for adoption and is dealing with a mom who constantly gaslights her. There’s also a lot of secrecy around her dad and his connection to the baby’s father.
I enjoyed reading from both perspectives, but I think I liked Tuesday a little bit more just because of her strength and bravery. I didn’t dislike Zinnia, but it frustrated me how much of her life revolved around herself to the point that she didn’t pay attention to the struggles of her best friend and that she dismissed her mother’s worries for her safety.
I liked how the two timelines came together in an interested and unexpected plot. It was fun trying to piece things together throughout the story.
Overall, I think this was a solid book. If you like stories with complicated family dynamics, flawed characters, and platonic relationships, then I think you’ll like this story.
For years I’ve been fascinated with stories about adoption and reuniting families, so that was my main reason for choosing to read this book. While it wasn’t quite what I expected, I overall enjoyed this book and would recommend it to other people.
While this book has some light moments, it’s an overall pretty serious and emotional story about characters experiencing a lot of difficult circumstances.
This book is split between two timelines and points of view. There’s Zinnia, who’s a high school senior preparing to go to Harvard. She’s had a relatively easy life with her adoptive parents and never thought to track down her birth mom until she sees similarities between herself and a character in a new book.
The other timeline follows Tuesday, who’s a teen mom struggling with the fact that she gave her baby up for adoption and is dealing with a mom who constantly gaslights her. There’s also a lot of secrecy around her dad and his connection to the baby’s father.
I enjoyed reading from both perspectives, but I think I liked Tuesday a little bit more just because of her strength and bravery. I didn’t dislike Zinnia, but it frustrated me how much of her life revolved around herself to the point that she didn’t pay attention to the struggles of her best friend and that she dismissed her mother’s worries for her safety.
I liked how the two timelines came together in an interested and unexpected plot. It was fun trying to piece things together throughout the story.
Overall, I think this was a solid book. If you like stories with complicated family dynamics, flawed characters, and platonic relationships, then I think you’ll like this story.
June 12, 2025
This Book Might Be About it Zinnia is dual POV between two teens that grow up in different decades.
Zinnia is a high school senior searching for a way to make her Harvard admission essay stand out among the rest. When her best friend Milo gifts her a novel written by one of her favorite authors, she believes it may give her the material she needs for her essay. This is because she and the protagonist of the gifted book share some uncanny similarities that lead her to believe the book may actually be about her adoption story.
Tuesday is a teenager navigating a complicated relationship with her mother and processing a difficult decision she had to make at a very young age. She is also discovering that her mother has been keeping secrets from her.
I really enjoyed the characterization of Zinnia and Tuesday, along with some of the secondary characters. Zinnia’s best friend Milo is a major presence in Zinnia’s story line, and he will tug on your heart strings. In fact, Zinnia’s treatment of Milo towards the end of the book caused me to have less respect for Zinnia.
The climax of the book gets really complicated and has maybe too much going on…somehow including a mob boss and a missing person alert. Overall, it’s a fast paced, engaging read but some of the characters actions were questionable and caused it to lose some stars for me.
Thanks to netgalley for the ARC!
Zinnia is a high school senior searching for a way to make her Harvard admission essay stand out among the rest. When her best friend Milo gifts her a novel written by one of her favorite authors, she believes it may give her the material she needs for her essay. This is because she and the protagonist of the gifted book share some uncanny similarities that lead her to believe the book may actually be about her adoption story.
Tuesday is a teenager navigating a complicated relationship with her mother and processing a difficult decision she had to make at a very young age. She is also discovering that her mother has been keeping secrets from her.
I really enjoyed the characterization of Zinnia and Tuesday, along with some of the secondary characters. Zinnia’s best friend Milo is a major presence in Zinnia’s story line, and he will tug on your heart strings. In fact, Zinnia’s treatment of Milo towards the end of the book caused me to have less respect for Zinnia.
The climax of the book gets really complicated and has maybe too much going on…somehow including a mob boss and a missing person alert. Overall, it’s a fast paced, engaging read but some of the characters actions were questionable and caused it to lose some stars for me.
Thanks to netgalley for the ARC!
August 16, 2025
In 2024, Zinnia is stressing about her essay for Harvard early acceptance - sure, she was adopted but how can she write about it in a way that stands out? When BFF Milo gives her a book whose main character, like Zinnia, has a heart-shaped birthmark on her forehead, is it a coincidence? What if her birth mother was a famous author?
In 2006, Tuesday is working at a coffee shop, going back to school after a long absence for a “medical incident,” and trying to recover from her painful secret - a baby daughter she gave up for adoption after a one night stand with the charismatic Ezra. The alternating stories are artfully interwoven in this part romance, part mystery. Big ideas include interracial adoption and the struggles of being biracial. EARC from Edelweiss.
In 2006, Tuesday is working at a coffee shop, going back to school after a long absence for a “medical incident,” and trying to recover from her painful secret - a baby daughter she gave up for adoption after a one night stand with the charismatic Ezra. The alternating stories are artfully interwoven in this part romance, part mystery. Big ideas include interracial adoption and the struggles of being biracial. EARC from Edelweiss.
June 8, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨(3.75/5)
I was gifted this ARC by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
This book follows Zinnia and Tuesday- in dual timelines where both young ladies are searching to her answers. I liked Tuesday’s storyline and how it evolved. I felt it added the most to the story.
I thought this story was pretty good. If being honest, I felt that a lot of the details were a little excessive. We spent a lot of time gathering bread crumbs but once we got to the pivotal moment it kind of fizzed out and it ended quickly.
Outside of this, I do think this was a great read and I do recommend this story to be read. It was well written and I do look forward to more from this author.
I was gifted this ARC by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
This book follows Zinnia and Tuesday- in dual timelines where both young ladies are searching to her answers. I liked Tuesday’s storyline and how it evolved. I felt it added the most to the story.
I thought this story was pretty good. If being honest, I felt that a lot of the details were a little excessive. We spent a lot of time gathering bread crumbs but once we got to the pivotal moment it kind of fizzed out and it ended quickly.
Outside of this, I do think this was a great read and I do recommend this story to be read. It was well written and I do look forward to more from this author.
May 12, 2025
I read an ARC provided by the publisher. This was my first Brittney Morris novel and I was not disappointed at all. There were two parallel stories taking place in this book and it was very easy to follow the story line. I wanted nothing but happiness for Zinnia. I felt like a part of the journey she had to take in order to find herself. It was very well written and I wouldn't be surprised if there was a follow-up story continuing the path and allowing us to see where Milo ended up.
Read
July 11, 2025Graded By: Brian
Cover Story: Misty Watercolor Memories
Drinking Buddy: A Thousand Times Yes
MPAA Rating: R (sexuality, violence)
Talky Talk: Suspension of Disbelief
Bonus Factors: Dual POV, Writers
Bromance Status: See You in 2042
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Misty Watercolor Memories
Drinking Buddy: A Thousand Times Yes
MPAA Rating: R (sexuality, violence)
Talky Talk: Suspension of Disbelief
Bonus Factors: Dual POV, Writers
Bromance Status: See You in 2042
Read the full book report here.
September 24, 2025
I didn’t realize until I picked this up to read it that it’s by Brittney Morris. The other two books I read by her had interesting premises, but the execution to me was just okay. Once again that was the case with this book. It also started off slow paced and I sometimes found myself annoyed with Zinnia. Although their voices were so similar that I would forget whose chapter I’m reading, I empathized with Tuesday more
December 15, 2025
So I’m ashamed of long I sat on this book because it was so good. This novel explores themes of identity, forgiveness and found family. I was rooting for Zinnia the entire time. She was determined to find out answers. I enjoyed Tuesday’s character as well. Her mom made me upset because she wasn’t supportive at all like girl she ain’t asking for much 🙄 be so for real. My favorite secondary character has to be Milo. He was such a sweet friend and stuck by Zinnia’s side.
July 5, 2025
👧🏻review: I actually like this book. This fantasy-realistic fiction delved into adoption, birthmarks, personal diary or journal and mother’s stories. The two POVs that ultimately bind Zinnis and Tuesday’s story turned the pages rather intensely. The ending concluded well. It is an awesome book.
September 7, 2025
the story picked up a lot towards the end. i wasn’t expecting to get so attached to the characters and feel so passionately about their lives, but it’s hard to read about how zinnia and tuesday’s lives intertwine and not be committed to finding out how things will end. i would definitely recommend this book to a friend.
November 6, 2025
3/5 stars!!
honestly, the writing of the book and the concept had so much potential but the execution was..... not it?
like the first two thirds of the book DRAGGED on forever and then thr last third was just insane whiplash. i feel like the timelinr and sequrnce of events could have occured a lot slower than what it was? this book had lots of potential but it wasnt for me.
honestly, the writing of the book and the concept had so much potential but the execution was..... not it?
like the first two thirds of the book DRAGGED on forever and then thr last third was just insane whiplash. i feel like the timelinr and sequrnce of events could have occured a lot slower than what it was? this book had lots of potential but it wasnt for me.
Read
December 12, 2025This reminded me of The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson, which I really enjoyed!
I did struggle with pacing towards the middle of the book, but for the most part, was intrigued by the character’s journey. I also appreciated the commentary on meeting your heroes.
I think this is the first thing I’ve read by BM, so I will seek out more of her backlist.
I did struggle with pacing towards the middle of the book, but for the most part, was intrigued by the character’s journey. I also appreciated the commentary on meeting your heroes.
I think this is the first thing I’ve read by BM, so I will seek out more of her backlist.
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