Try Your Worst

by Chatham Greenfield

I Kissed Shara Wheeler meets The Agathas in this cozy mystery about two rivals forced to team up to figure out who is framing them for crimes they didn't commit.

Sadie Katz and Cleo Chapman have been rivals since birth. Literally. They entered the world competing to be the first baby born in the new year, a title Cleo ultimately won. And she’s been nonchalantly winning at just about everything since—much to Sadie’s chagrin. Now in the fall of their senior year, Sadie and Cleo are neck-and-neck for valedictorian. But when a string of increasingly serious pranks take over their school, the perpetrator deliberately sets up Sadie and Cleo to take the fall.

Suddenly expulsion is on the line, and the only way to clear their names is to join forces and search for the culprit. As their investigation progresses, the girls begin to question more than suspects. Sadie, struggling with depression and academic burn out, finds that her ivy league dream doesn’t seem as appealing as it once did. Meanwhile, Cleo wonders if it's time she start fighting for what she wants, rather than passively accepting whatever comes easiest.

With their futures on the line, the two grow closer, and both start to ask themselves: Are they really meant to be rivals? Or were they always destined to become something more?

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Lesbian, Queer, Mystery, Contemporary, LGBT

320 pages, Hardcover

Published September 23, 2025

About the author

Chatham Greenfield is an award winning author and romance enthusiast. Their debut novel, TIME AND TIME AGAIN, received a Stonewall Honor Award, was named a best queer book of the year by Autostraddle, and was a LitUp by Reese’s Book Club pick. Their second novel, TRY YOUR WORST, comes out September 2025 and their third novel, LIKE A LADY, comes out early 2027.

Reviews

[alyssa✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75*

i looove rivals to lovers and this was amazing! i wish it was longer though because i felt like the end wrapped up too quickly but overall i really enjoyed myself

[Keanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I clocked who the one pulling the “pranks” was almost immediately, and the ending happened so fast it gave me whiplash, bUT IT WAS A CUTESY READ!!! Cute characters! Cute concept! As a depressed lesbian, I love seeing representation lmao!!!

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew I was gonna like this purely based on the authors debut and this fantastically fat cover and I was right. I did love it.

please world give me more books with significantly fat main characters and love interests. I want all the fat characters and all the fat romance.

anyway, this is a rivals to lovers situation where these two girls were born a day apart and have essentially been rivals since birth and constantly competing for the same thing at all stages of their lives. this book takes place their senior and when one of their prank goes too far, they end up teaming up to figure out who is truly playing the pranks on them that are jeopardizing their future.

I really loved both Cleo and Sadie and I like that they are different enough to know who is who and this book uses two narrators for a dual POV which is my personal preference, especially for same gender relationships.

another part of this book that I really enjoyed was that like mystery crime-solving element to it. there's someone who is playing these severe pranks on them and they're getting in trouble for it and are potentially going to lose their valedictorian/ salutatorian status as well as college acceptances, etc. I personally did not know who was behind all of that until it was revealed. I think that that is a really difficult thing to do in a book, especially in like a contemporary book. so kudos for that.

this book also has additional representation beyond fat representation. there is depression rep and hypermobile rep. both of these girls have a different disability and it affects them each differently. both disabilities are invisible disabilities so while outside people may not be able to see them. they are still constantly dealing with it and having to explain why things are different for them and why their brains and bodies work differently

overall, this is definitely one that I will read again and look forward to reading it and seeing if I can actually spot any hints where it gives away who the culprit is. I would have loved to see a little bit more of the actual relationship with these two, but I also really enjoyed the realistic ending to leaving some of that unknown. it is a happy for now where they are together but moving forward in their lives.

last but not least because I didn't explicitly say it enough, the fat representation with a capital f is phenomenal. it's so clear that this was written by a fat person and who understands what it's like living in a fat body. I also will never get enough of romance books where fat people are loved and appreciated and attractive to others. like fat people are hot and the world would be better if society would just recognize that.

lesbian MCs

[Bea · Rating 3 out of 5]

PREDICTABLE

[Elsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

HELLO??????? I WILL rave about this book to anyone and everyone who happens to come across my path.... Holy fuck was that a good romcom. Predictable? Oh, 100%, but man was I kicking my feet every single time and did I feel every single emotion that was to be felt with this one. I love lesbians and this isn't an exception.

I have had two big episodes of depression in my life and I felt very VERY connected to Sadie in so many ways it's scary. I was talking with my therapist yesterday and this quote just hit me real hard after that talk: "It's not that I don't think I can do it. It's that I don't want to hurt myself in the process."

Also, that author's note....... wow. "Maybe she'll be so busy living that she'll forget, at least momentarily, that there was ever a time she wanted to stop." I really wish middle school me had had this book. She wouldn't understand it fully, but I just truly wish something stuck with her out of it. Beautiful beautiful book, so precious to me.

[tillie hellman · Rating 4 out of 5]

the prank plotline was just okay but everything else in this book was cute and fun! i liked all the different types of rep and the characters were great!

[rachel x]

""I Kissed Shara Wheeler meets The Agathas in this cozy mystery about two rivals forced to team up to figure out who is framing them for crimes they didn't commit.

[Meagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 4.5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury YA for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review! This comes out September 23rd.

Sadie and Cleo have been rivals since birth. It’s the fall of their senior year and they are neck-and-neck for valedictorian when a string of increasingly serious pranks take over their school, the perpetrator deliberately setting up Sadie and Cleo to take the fall. With expulsion on the line, Sadie and Cleo team up to investigate who the true culprit is. The two grow closer and wonder if they are really destined to be rivals.

This was such a fun, sweet romance and mystery. I loved both Cleo and Sadie so much. The characterization is excellent - they truly do feel like people you could meet. I loved how this is a story about two lesbians confident in their identities. Cleo, specifically, is referred to and refers to herself as a butch multiple times. While stories about figuring out your sexual and romantic orientations definitely have their place it’s always refreshing to read a story where the characters’ orientations are still important but do not define them.

The other aspects of their identities are also important but not character-defining. The depiction of Sadie’s depression was excellent. I have been in Sadie’s shoes and it all felt so raw and authentic.I can’t speak personally to the Jewish and chronic pain representation but I loved their inclusion and I could tell they were also done with care.

I can see some people wishing the ending had more loose ends wrapped up but I loved that it ended with some things still up in the air - it feels true to life when you’re a teenager with a whole life ahead of you.

This book has cemented Greenfield as a must-read author for me. I can’t wait to see what they write next!

[Nicole Zelniker · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Even if we're fated to be just friends forever, it's an honor to be one of the few people in this world who Sadie Katz doesn't completely despise."

Y'all, it is SO hard to get me to enjoy a dual POV romance (shout out to Anna Sortino and Sabina Nordqvist, both clear exceptions), but this is one of the best novels I've read this year. I loved so much about it, but one of the things that really stood out to me was the disability rep. With Sadie, I so rarely see depression laid out so honestly on the page, and it's even rarer that I've read my experience of inpatient hospitalization as a young teenager mentioned, and with such nuance. This book has heavy themes – I always advise to check content warnings – but for me, they all felt very healing. Too, Cleo's experience with chronic pain wasn't always easy to read about, but it was the representation we deserve.

Another thing that really stood out to me was the depth of relationships throughout the book. Cleo's older sister Lily is rarely physically present, but we get so much of their bond through just a few scenes. As the older sister who left for college halfway down the east coast (but in the other direction), I'm definitely the Lily – though my sister and I both have chronic pain. Likewise, Cleo's relationship with her mom was less fun to read about, if only because Mrs. Chapman is so vivid in her impossible expectations. I thought Chatham Greenfield did a fantastic job contrasting Cleo's parents with Sadie's, the latter of whom have made mistakes, but their love for their daughter comes through in every scene. And, of course, Cleo and Sadie's relationship was a joy to read about, especially as they got to know each other better.

I was a huge fan of Chatham Greenfield already – I loved their debut! – and I'm so excited to read their next book in 2027.

[Elise · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25*

Sweet romance story of two high school girls falling for each other amid a turbulent whodunnit. I particularly appreciated the diverse cast and the realistic portrayal of several physical and mental health conditions.

Also, while I'd read romances before with one fat main character, or male-female pairings where both were fat, I don't remember ever reading a romance before with two fat women or girls falling in love, and I LOVED that aspect of the story. Fatphobia is so common and it was refreshing to read a story that didn't hide that the world we live in can be very fatphobic, while at the same time portraying a beautiful sapphic love story between two fat girls. I felt very seen by this book in more than one way.

I did think the particular whodunnit mystery was unexpectedly heavy/intense for a high school romance -- I had expected the mental health struggles to be the main ... Struggle in the book, and didn't think the 'pranking' mentioned in the synopsis would take quite the severe levels it did. While it worked for the story/plot, it didn't necessarily feel realistic to me (but I didn't grow up in the US so maybe this stuff is realistic? I hope not...). It smacked a bit of bullying to me which I didn't like.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sadie and Cleo have been in competition since before they were born and their mothers were in the running for having the first baby born in the new year. That rivalry has followed them through their lives to their senior year of high school. But, when someone starts playing pranks around the school and framing them for it, Sadie and Cleo must put their differences aside and learn to work together so they can find out who's sabotaging them before it's too late.

Greenfield does a masterful job of showing us what someone deep in the throes of depression looks like, and they make you care about their characters with how well thought out they are. I was rooting for Sadie and Cleo the whole way through.

The only thing that keeps this from being a five star read for me is that I found the ending really abrupt. For me at least, it felt like the story wasn't over there, and I was left wanting a few more scenes to wrap things up. It's still worth the read though, and I definitely recommend picking this one up!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Cherie • bookshelvesandtealeaves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Bloomsbury and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC. All thoughts are my own.

This was such a great book. A REAL enemies to lovers, or at least enemies on one side anyway. It was a lot of fun having that back and forth with Sadie warring between hating Cleo and enjoying getting to know her properly.

I loved the slow burn romance, watching Sadie’s feelings slowly develop for Cleo while Cleo’s deepened. These two were so wonderful together. I loved every up and down, every push and pull.

Both the chronic pain and depression rep here was SO good and so painfully relatable at times. I’ve been where both these characters have been, still am some days, and it meant a lot to read a book with that kind of representation. I wish I’d had this book 15 years ago.

I did figure out who was framing them very early on but it felt so satisfying knowing I’d been right all along.

[Marisa Carpico · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found in the free book room at work and was hoping I'd finish it before the release date, but too many other books intervened and took precedence.

Solid. It's a little ambitious in scope, as Sadie and Cleo have so many issues to contend with in addition to the central mystery, but Greenfield ultimately handles them very well. Once again, I appreciate when a YA novel doesn't talk down to its intended audience and this certainly doesn't.

That said, the pacing can be a tad questionable. There's a real lack of urgency in the mystery investigation that doesn't feel quite right for the characters even as they're largely focused on falling in love with each other. The solution to the mystery I think is rather smart and tough and I like the way this ends overall, with not everything resolved.

Works best as a character study, as they all feel distinct and full and our central characters especially have a lot of great growth.

[Safy Ba · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year the second I finished Time and Time Again and they became one of my auto-buy authors. This book is filled with the most delicious representation I’ve seen in a while. The butch/femme dynamic was absolutely to die for and they used the those actual terms which you’d think would happen more but absolutely doesn’t . There’s nothing I love more than a little mystery being solved by lesbians while they realize their feelings for each other, I eat it up every time !

Reading about all sorts of lesbians is my favorite pastime an this book giving rich representation of Fat, Disabled lesbians makes my heart actually combust , you can tell these characters were loved and cared for when they written and I appreciate jt endlessly. New comfort read for sure , love that it exists xxxxx

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Greenfield's last book, so I have been eagerly awaiting this one, and it did not disappoint! This was such a cute coming of age story set against a mystery whodunit backdrop, and I had such a fun time reading it. I thought the disability rep was really well done and enjoyed all the different intersecting identities our two main characters had and the ways they were made prominent and showcased without without any one part becoming the focal point of their stories. &as a fellow disabled lesbian, it was nice to see some of my own experiences reflected back at me as well.
Definitely recommend and can't wait to see what Greenfield writes next!

Thank you to netgalley for the e-ARC.

[Jasmine Shouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is so much about this that I love. Cleo and Sadie have an incredible rivals to lovers, almost even a true contemporary enemies to lovers story. This is a sweet romance wrapped in a mystery that truly does combine the best parts of Shara Wheeler and The Agathas without the annoying parts of those books.

The depression rep and chronic pain rep both made me feel so seen. I wish I had this kind of story when I was a teenager. I also loved that this book centers two fat girls who find each other alluring. The mystery kept me interested throughout, and it wasn't until just before the reveal that I even had an inkling of who it was. I like the open ending on a good note because depression never goes away.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this sophomore YA Sapphic romance that involves high school rivals who are being set up and have to work together to figure out who's been framing them for crimes they didn't commit.

Greenfield does a great job with crafting characters who have depth and are dealing with big things like chronic depression (Sadie) and her love interest, Cleo has hEDS and chronic pain related to an injury she sustained as a result that never properly healed.

Overall, it was a sweet, heartfelt and heartwarming enemies to lovers, forced proximity romance with a fun extra layer of mystery and intrigue. Perfect for fans of books like I kissed Shara Wheeler. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

[Ever L · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a missed opportunity to accurately depict hyper mobility. I appreciate the representation of fat, queer people with mental and physical illnesses. This is a true experience. I didn't appreciate the throw away approach to chronic pain. It was lazy to describe a character with only hypermobility and assume that all of their troubles were treated with marijuana and Advil. The comorbidity of anxiety and depression could have been explored to make the charactermore well-rounded. I understand the writer is using their personal lens of depression to discuss this, I wish they had done additional research into hypermobility conditions and what that looks like for somebody.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hadn't read Greenfield's other but it comes with great reviews and I had been recommended this one somewhere and liked the title. The voice didn't mesh with me but the story itself is unique enough with a few solid tropes to be engaging. Two girls, rivals since the very beginning are being setup for "crimes" they didn't commit and have to team up to figure out who is framing them as they come to the end of their senior year only to realize they might be better off shifting their hatred.

It's got the banter that isn't my favorite (to me it's like Albertalli) but that won't stop me from recommending it. I always like a good senior year story.

[Yapha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet romance and a good mystery. Sadie and Cleo have been rivals since the day they were born. They are currently both in the running for valedictorian when they are called into the principal's office and accused of vandalism. As the pranks continue to escalate, they start spending more time together, looking for a way to clear their names. Unexpected twists and a few red herrings keep the page turning. Many high school students will relate to the pressure from their families and themselves. Highly recommended for grade 8 & up.

eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss

[Kerry Gibbons · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars, 4.5 rainbows

This ya novel by Greenfield is almost as intriguing as their first, Time and Time Again. I love the way the characters feature facts about me and my friends we don’t often see depicted: they’re fat, they’re lesbians, they have major depression, they have hypermobility, and chronic pain, they’re practicing Jews… these appearing alongside each other as they do speaks to a view that these are not negative or positive aspects to a person. They’re just aspects of that person.

The story reveal seemed a bit obvious to me from the start, which bumped it down a bit for me.

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this author and their books!!!! This followed Cleo and Sadie - two high school rivals as they try to solve the mystery of who set them up to get in trouble. The potential for it to impact college apps and their future is too great. This is a cute YA romance and does a great job building up Sadie and Cleo’s friendship first.

This book features:
- rivals to lovers
- sapphic ya romance
- chronic illness and depression rep
- plus size rep
- and some much more

[Darianne Schramm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely ADORED this book! Dual POV can be kind of tricky if one POV is more interesting than the other, but both of these girls had me hooked from the beginning. The banter is top notch, the plot is adorable, and being a Florida girlie myself I loved seeing St. Aug on the page! Such a fun read!

[Becca Bird · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up. I was excited for this book. Queer rep? Mental health rep? And using the Agathas (one of my fave YA books) as a comp? It was so promising.

But the mystery was insipid and obvious who the culprit was, the will they won’t they dragged on for too long and it just got boring.

[Ezra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate that I didn't like this book more. Two fat characters?? Main characters??? Who are each other's love interests??? 10/10, love that!

And it wasn't that the writing isn't bad and I really like Time and Time Again, but the story itself didn't interest me and I kind of fought my way to finishing it. I couldn't let myself DNF it though for the characters alone.

[Celeste · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but the mystery solution didn't make sense to me. Why did Mel vandalize Cleo's locker if she was trying to frame Cleo? Cleo and Sadie get called to the principal's office after the locker incident so Sadie is already in trouble. Why would Mel escalate at that point if she didn't want to get Sadie in trouble?

[Siena Beattie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. This was such a fun YA read! I love the complex characters Chatham Greenfield writes; I see so much of myself and my friends in them that it feels incredibly comforting.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

[Sophia Chang]

Happy Book Birthday!!
Watch my no-holds-barred interview with Chatham where we get vulnerable and honest about author envy, feeling like a failure, and celebrating small wins when you have big dreams! Youtube: https://bit.ly/lifeafterdebut

[Isaiah]

To see a full reivew check it out here.

How did Greenfield manage to become a top author for me in ONLY two books?