What do you think?
Rate this book
Berry Parker Doesn't Catch Crushes
With her mom's new boyfriend, her best friend's new crush, and her dad's interest in her gym teacher, Berry vows to never catch a crush—and to show everyone how much better things would be without theirs—in this stand-alone contemporary middle grade from Tanita S. Davis, author of The Science of Friendship and Partly Cloudy.
Every year, Berry’s mom, Ivy, visits for a three-week “August Invasion.” And every summer Berry hopes will be the one when Ivy will stay—forever.
Which is why Ivy’s surprise return visit is amazing—until Berry realizes her mom didn’t come for her. Ivy’s back to pack the last of her things, and she’s brought her new “friend,” Mr. Cole to help. When Berry discovers that Mr. Cole is taking a job in England, she’s convinced that Ivy wants to move all the way across the ocean with him, to where an August Invasion can’t reach. Even at school, messy feelings are ruining everything. Berry’s best friend, Lia, rearranges her schedule to have classes with her crush, leaving Berry alone all day. Even Berry’s normally boring dad is making excuses to talk to her gym teacher.
All these crushes are crushing the life out of Berry. Weren’t things better before these extra people came along? Why do things have to change?
Every year, Berry’s mom, Ivy, visits for a three-week “August Invasion.” And every summer Berry hopes will be the one when Ivy will stay—forever.
Which is why Ivy’s surprise return visit is amazing—until Berry realizes her mom didn’t come for her. Ivy’s back to pack the last of her things, and she’s brought her new “friend,” Mr. Cole to help. When Berry discovers that Mr. Cole is taking a job in England, she’s convinced that Ivy wants to move all the way across the ocean with him, to where an August Invasion can’t reach. Even at school, messy feelings are ruining everything. Berry’s best friend, Lia, rearranges her schedule to have classes with her crush, leaving Berry alone all day. Even Berry’s normally boring dad is making excuses to talk to her gym teacher.
All these crushes are crushing the life out of Berry. Weren’t things better before these extra people came along? Why do things have to change?
Audible Audio
First published September 16, 2025
2067 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 3, 2025
Berry Parker Doesn’t Catch Crushes!
💔
Berry is starting a new school year and everything is wrong. Her mom, Ivy, comes for a visit outside of the August time she usually sees her, which would be great except she brought her “new friend” with her. Berry’s dad is also flirting with her coach at school and her best friend, Lia, not only doesn’t want to change her schedule so she and Berry can have classes together like they always did, but she’s also pulling away from their friendship and showing interest in a boy from school. Berry didn’t handle all of these changes well, but she has supportive parents who help her through it.
💔
This was such a relatable MG book by @tanita_writes So many students struggle with romance in middle school from not feeling romantic about anyone to resenting that others are more ready for those relationships than they might be or potentially being asexual or demisexual. This novel allows Berry to work through her feelings and figure it out in a safe and supportive environment. I adored this title!
CW: divorce, parental abandonment, postpartum depression (hinted at)
💔
Berry is starting a new school year and everything is wrong. Her mom, Ivy, comes for a visit outside of the August time she usually sees her, which would be great except she brought her “new friend” with her. Berry’s dad is also flirting with her coach at school and her best friend, Lia, not only doesn’t want to change her schedule so she and Berry can have classes together like they always did, but she’s also pulling away from their friendship and showing interest in a boy from school. Berry didn’t handle all of these changes well, but she has supportive parents who help her through it.
💔
This was such a relatable MG book by @tanita_writes So many students struggle with romance in middle school from not feeling romantic about anyone to resenting that others are more ready for those relationships than they might be or potentially being asexual or demisexual. This novel allows Berry to work through her feelings and figure it out in a safe and supportive environment. I adored this title!
CW: divorce, parental abandonment, postpartum depression (hinted at)
Read
September 15, 2025Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
Berry Parker Doesn't Catch Crushes by Tanita S. Davis is a third person-POV contemporary middle grade centered around Berry Parker as her friends start to become more interested in romantic relationships and her mother begins to consider marrying a new partner. Berry Parker is entering seventh grade and is ready to start the year in the same cohort as her best friend Lia. Only Lia is not going to be in the same cohort and is now developing a potential romantic relationship with Miguel on top of wanting space to explore her own developing interests. Meanwhile, Berry’s mother visits so she can go through boxes in the garage and brings a new beau who lives all the way in England.
One thing I thought was very interesting was how it was left open-ended that Berry might end up developing crushes in the future or that she might not. There is no real way to know, though the impression I was getting was that she might be somewhere on the Asexual spectrum, particularly Demisexual. Even if she’s not and she’s just not interested in romance at this stage in her life, it is something many kids go through as their friends and the world around them starts to become interested in romantic relationships and dating while they’re still focused on friendships and school and aren’t really compelled to go looking for romance yet.
Berry’s arc is largely her navigating the change in her friendship with Lia and how her relationship with her mother could change if her mom gets married and moves to England. Berry is definitely blindsided by Lia wanting space and doesn’t handle it well, but that is fairly normal when you’re young and most of your world is your friend group. But this also shows that Berry loves routine and she doesn’t like surprises. This plays into the other side of the coin as she knew her mother and her father were not getting back together, but she also still hoped that maybe they would and could go back to how things were before her parents split. Berry’s mother, father, and the potential stepfather all give Berry space to come around to the situation in her own time, but it does take time.
The other thing that I really appreciated was when Berry and her mother sat down and discussed how Berry was wanted, but that didn’t mean her mother was completely happy once her reality of being a parent at nineteen set in. It’s a very hard conversation to have because how do you explain to a child that they are not what you regret, but that you do regret not waiting until you were older to have them? There were also some hints of her mother having post-partum depression though it’s never stated outright. It’s something that some kids will be able to relate to and are probably also struggling with.
I would recommend this to fans of middle grade books discussing romantic relationships but are not about romance and young readers in a transition period
Berry Parker Doesn't Catch Crushes by Tanita S. Davis is a third person-POV contemporary middle grade centered around Berry Parker as her friends start to become more interested in romantic relationships and her mother begins to consider marrying a new partner. Berry Parker is entering seventh grade and is ready to start the year in the same cohort as her best friend Lia. Only Lia is not going to be in the same cohort and is now developing a potential romantic relationship with Miguel on top of wanting space to explore her own developing interests. Meanwhile, Berry’s mother visits so she can go through boxes in the garage and brings a new beau who lives all the way in England.
One thing I thought was very interesting was how it was left open-ended that Berry might end up developing crushes in the future or that she might not. There is no real way to know, though the impression I was getting was that she might be somewhere on the Asexual spectrum, particularly Demisexual. Even if she’s not and she’s just not interested in romance at this stage in her life, it is something many kids go through as their friends and the world around them starts to become interested in romantic relationships and dating while they’re still focused on friendships and school and aren’t really compelled to go looking for romance yet.
Berry’s arc is largely her navigating the change in her friendship with Lia and how her relationship with her mother could change if her mom gets married and moves to England. Berry is definitely blindsided by Lia wanting space and doesn’t handle it well, but that is fairly normal when you’re young and most of your world is your friend group. But this also shows that Berry loves routine and she doesn’t like surprises. This plays into the other side of the coin as she knew her mother and her father were not getting back together, but she also still hoped that maybe they would and could go back to how things were before her parents split. Berry’s mother, father, and the potential stepfather all give Berry space to come around to the situation in her own time, but it does take time.
The other thing that I really appreciated was when Berry and her mother sat down and discussed how Berry was wanted, but that didn’t mean her mother was completely happy once her reality of being a parent at nineteen set in. It’s a very hard conversation to have because how do you explain to a child that they are not what you regret, but that you do regret not waiting until you were older to have them? There were also some hints of her mother having post-partum depression though it’s never stated outright. It’s something that some kids will be able to relate to and are probably also struggling with.
I would recommend this to fans of middle grade books discussing romantic relationships but are not about romance and young readers in a transition period
April 26, 2025
Berry’s family situation has always been a bit unusual but as 7th grade begins, not only it begins to change, so does a long time friendship she thought was steady as a rock. But this is middle school and nothing seems easy when you are going those years!
Berry’s parents had her when they were young and mom/Ivy left them when she was 3. Since then, Ivy has found success in the hospitality industry but stays in touch with Berry regularly, even making their “August Invasion” an annual event of shopping and staying with Berry and her father for time together that, along with 2Face video calls and texts, keeps them connected and her hopes alive that one day the three of them will be a family. This August Invasion was much the same, however, Ivy’s boss Lennex keeps calling and she seems a bit preoccupied. Then, when school starts, her best friend Lia has rearranged her course selections so their schedules no longer align but she does seem to be in most of Miguel’s classes and her previous little crush is now a full-on obsession turning towards the “going out” level.
Change is hard for all of us, but Davis’ book models a young girl with supportive parents and a level head that, in the end, allows her to accept a new man into her life as well as her mom’s, see friendship both old and new in different and positive ways, and recognize that she is enough just the way she is. Davis gave Berry a love of art and color which allows the author to reveal her skill of description to apply colors to moods and events. Tangerine woven through a day indicates joy and pleasure but as the grays begin to dampen and change that cheerful orange to something more dull, so Berry’s feelings also change. Such clear pictures of Berry’s experiences will be created in readers’ mind with this writing tool in place. Great life lessons are included in areas of friend-making, acceptance and positive anticipation of change, and the realization that sometimes fire does refine gold. (Ignus aurum probat-a phrase learned in her Latin language/culture class as well as from her grandmother’s sketch/doodle book meaning tough times can cause positive change.)
Text is free of profanity, sexual content (one little cheek kiss included in the Lia/Miguel story) and violence. Representation: Berry is Black but her friend group seems filled with Black, Icelandic, Caucasian and possibly Hispanic but physical descriptions are pretty scarce allowing readers to paint the many of the characters with whatever color they wish. Target age for this book is likely grade 4-7.
Thanks for an eARC, Edelweiss.
Berry’s parents had her when they were young and mom/Ivy left them when she was 3. Since then, Ivy has found success in the hospitality industry but stays in touch with Berry regularly, even making their “August Invasion” an annual event of shopping and staying with Berry and her father for time together that, along with 2Face video calls and texts, keeps them connected and her hopes alive that one day the three of them will be a family. This August Invasion was much the same, however, Ivy’s boss Lennex keeps calling and she seems a bit preoccupied. Then, when school starts, her best friend Lia has rearranged her course selections so their schedules no longer align but she does seem to be in most of Miguel’s classes and her previous little crush is now a full-on obsession turning towards the “going out” level.
Change is hard for all of us, but Davis’ book models a young girl with supportive parents and a level head that, in the end, allows her to accept a new man into her life as well as her mom’s, see friendship both old and new in different and positive ways, and recognize that she is enough just the way she is. Davis gave Berry a love of art and color which allows the author to reveal her skill of description to apply colors to moods and events. Tangerine woven through a day indicates joy and pleasure but as the grays begin to dampen and change that cheerful orange to something more dull, so Berry’s feelings also change. Such clear pictures of Berry’s experiences will be created in readers’ mind with this writing tool in place. Great life lessons are included in areas of friend-making, acceptance and positive anticipation of change, and the realization that sometimes fire does refine gold. (Ignus aurum probat-a phrase learned in her Latin language/culture class as well as from her grandmother’s sketch/doodle book meaning tough times can cause positive change.)
Text is free of profanity, sexual content (one little cheek kiss included in the Lia/Miguel story) and violence. Representation: Berry is Black but her friend group seems filled with Black, Icelandic, Caucasian and possibly Hispanic but physical descriptions are pretty scarce allowing readers to paint the many of the characters with whatever color they wish. Target age for this book is likely grade 4-7.
Thanks for an eARC, Edelweiss.
August 13, 2025
4 stars
Prospective readers absolutely SHOULD judge this book by its fantastic title and cover. This is another great read from Tanita S. Davis!
Berry Parker lives with her dad but spends as much time with her mom as possible, though she lives several hours away working in Lake Tahoe, a well known resort town in Northern CA. Like many children whose parents live separately, Berry's big dream is that her mom and dad will reunite one day. At the same time, she's at a tough age where her own life is getting increasingly confusing. Her friends and relationships are changing, and while she "doesn't catch crushes" now, who's to say where she might land over the course of the novel? Or next school year?
Berry is a great character for her target audience, and I especially enjoyed the coversations around friendship and the family dynamic. Readers in the intended demo will be entertained, and they will also learn important lessons without feeling like they're in a didactic scenario.
I so enjoy this author and am looking forward to recommending this book to readers of all ages.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Prospective readers absolutely SHOULD judge this book by its fantastic title and cover. This is another great read from Tanita S. Davis!
Berry Parker lives with her dad but spends as much time with her mom as possible, though she lives several hours away working in Lake Tahoe, a well known resort town in Northern CA. Like many children whose parents live separately, Berry's big dream is that her mom and dad will reunite one day. At the same time, she's at a tough age where her own life is getting increasingly confusing. Her friends and relationships are changing, and while she "doesn't catch crushes" now, who's to say where she might land over the course of the novel? Or next school year?
Berry is a great character for her target audience, and I especially enjoyed the coversations around friendship and the family dynamic. Readers in the intended demo will be entertained, and they will also learn important lessons without feeling like they're in a didactic scenario.
I so enjoy this author and am looking forward to recommending this book to readers of all ages.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
November 6, 2025
Almost thirteen, Berry is perfectly happy to have things stay the same - her stable routines with her dad, her mom’s visits every August and sharing most classes with her best friend. But as seventh grade begins, her friend’s switch from Latin to French means they don’t have classes together, and crushes are sweeping through the friend group. Mom’s floating the idea of moving to England with her new boyfriend. Can Berry find a way to keep her group together? Is there a way to persuade her mom not to leave the country? Just the sort of real issues that real kids are dealing with. Well done! EARC from Edelweiss
April 3, 2025
It’s the start of seventh grade and there are so many changes for Berry. Her mom says she might be going to England with Mr. Cole. Why? Her friends, Lia and Elyse, aren’t in any of her classes with her. Does Lia have a crush on Miguel? Why is her dad talking to Coach Tee? Does Eirik have a crush on Berry? So many changes for Berry, but at the end she has a smile or two for some surprises.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC of this book, All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC of this book, All opinions are my own.
July 22, 2025
Reviewing for professional magazine
September 15, 2025
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Like most middle schoolers, Berry doesn't like change, especially when life is going just the way she wants it to. She's having a great August with her mother, who comes once a year for a back-to-school "invasion", taking her vacation days from managing a resort hotel in Lake Tahoe to spend helping Berry get ready for the school year and spending quality time together. Berry's father, a surgical nurse, is goofy and embarrassing, but the two get along well. Her best friend, Lia, is going to be taking 7th grade Latin with her, so they'll be in the same cohort and have lots of classes together. Things go sideways when Berry suspects her mom has a boyfriend and is thinking about possibly moving to England, her father is hanging out with the new gym teacher, Coach Torres, and Lia isn't answering her texts... and is taking French! Even though she has the coolest Latin teacher EVER, Berry is not enjoying having to work with Lia's cousin Kai, even though some of the other students in the class, like Elyse, are friendly. Berry hopes that she can talk to Lia at her family's yearly barbecue, even if her father is talking about inviting Coach Torres. Lia has a huge crush on Miguel, and Berry thinks that some of her choices are motivated by this, but Lia also wants Berry to find some other friends. When Ivy, and Lennox, show up at the picnic, Berry isn't happy. Ivy wants to spend time cleaning out boxes of her mother's to free up space in the garage. Since Berry didn't quite realize that Grandma Gemma's boxes might be for her, she doesn't like this idea, especially since it means that Lennox is going to be hanging around as well. Things are rocky with Lia, although the two friends do continue to talk to each other, and school projects, like one on Ancient Roman bathrooms, are stressful. Berry's friends start to hint that she should be interested in Eirik, who might have a crush on her, but Berry just wants to focus on herself and her family. Ivy, who had Berry when she was 19, unearths some of Grandma Gemma's scrapbooks, and Berry is comforted to know that her grandmother also liked drawing and art the way that Berry does. When Ivy and Lennox get serious, will Berry be able to handle such a big change in her life?
So many middle grade novels deal with grieving the death of a parent, when in real life, it's far more likely that tweens have to deal with parents who don't live nearby or parents who are dating. Davis understands how important family is to kids in middle school; her Figure It Out, Henry Weldon (2023) is a great exploration of problems with a sibling. The other huge concern of this age group is difficulties with friends. When Lia talked about how she felt a bit smothered by Berry I was sure the two were done, but it was more interesting to see them work things out.
We learn so much about what Berry is experiencing emotionally (I LOVED her description of summer as a tangerine colored feeling!) that I was surprised halfway through the book to realize it is written in the third person. The details of everyday life are more vivid from this perspective, and there are so many excellent ones that made me feel like I was living Berry's story. There are delicious foods, fun outfits, activities with friends at school, and quality time spent with family that help give depth to Berry's inner life while making sure that the story moves along quickly. I don't often think about books in terms of dramatizations, but this would make an EXCELLENT After School Special! (What's the 2025 equivalent? A Disney Plus cartoon?)
Davis has a steady stream of excellent, upper middle grade novels that explore the middle school experience and include a wide variety of characters and events. Partly Cloudy (2021) addresses the issues of having to live with a relative and the effects of wildfires, Serena Says (2020) includes a friend with serious health issues, and Peas and Carrots (2016) has both a student in foster care and a prestigious private school. One of my favorites is Mare's War (2010) that portrayed a grandmother who had been in the Women's Army Corps! These have all been popular with my students, who enjoy the endearing Black characters who struggle a bit with their lives but have a positive attitude and lots of support. Berry is in good company, and reading about her put me in a "tangerine" mood as well.
Sometimes, life hands you surprises. For instance, I never thought I would have a middle grade book dedicated to ME. The dedication to this book, by the fabulous Tanita Davis (whom I met at Kid Lit Con in San Diego in about 2014, and with whom I have corresponded about the Cybils Award and Latin in her novels), reads "For Ms. Yingling- and the fictional Mrs. Jüngling- who agreed that it would be nice if there were more middle grade books with Latin classes in them." There's also a wonderful tribute to librarians at the end.
So just go buy two copies (at least!) for your library. You'll thank me- and Mrs. Jüngling.
Like most middle schoolers, Berry doesn't like change, especially when life is going just the way she wants it to. She's having a great August with her mother, who comes once a year for a back-to-school "invasion", taking her vacation days from managing a resort hotel in Lake Tahoe to spend helping Berry get ready for the school year and spending quality time together. Berry's father, a surgical nurse, is goofy and embarrassing, but the two get along well. Her best friend, Lia, is going to be taking 7th grade Latin with her, so they'll be in the same cohort and have lots of classes together. Things go sideways when Berry suspects her mom has a boyfriend and is thinking about possibly moving to England, her father is hanging out with the new gym teacher, Coach Torres, and Lia isn't answering her texts... and is taking French! Even though she has the coolest Latin teacher EVER, Berry is not enjoying having to work with Lia's cousin Kai, even though some of the other students in the class, like Elyse, are friendly. Berry hopes that she can talk to Lia at her family's yearly barbecue, even if her father is talking about inviting Coach Torres. Lia has a huge crush on Miguel, and Berry thinks that some of her choices are motivated by this, but Lia also wants Berry to find some other friends. When Ivy, and Lennox, show up at the picnic, Berry isn't happy. Ivy wants to spend time cleaning out boxes of her mother's to free up space in the garage. Since Berry didn't quite realize that Grandma Gemma's boxes might be for her, she doesn't like this idea, especially since it means that Lennox is going to be hanging around as well. Things are rocky with Lia, although the two friends do continue to talk to each other, and school projects, like one on Ancient Roman bathrooms, are stressful. Berry's friends start to hint that she should be interested in Eirik, who might have a crush on her, but Berry just wants to focus on herself and her family. Ivy, who had Berry when she was 19, unearths some of Grandma Gemma's scrapbooks, and Berry is comforted to know that her grandmother also liked drawing and art the way that Berry does. When Ivy and Lennox get serious, will Berry be able to handle such a big change in her life?
So many middle grade novels deal with grieving the death of a parent, when in real life, it's far more likely that tweens have to deal with parents who don't live nearby or parents who are dating. Davis understands how important family is to kids in middle school; her Figure It Out, Henry Weldon (2023) is a great exploration of problems with a sibling. The other huge concern of this age group is difficulties with friends. When Lia talked about how she felt a bit smothered by Berry I was sure the two were done, but it was more interesting to see them work things out.
We learn so much about what Berry is experiencing emotionally (I LOVED her description of summer as a tangerine colored feeling!) that I was surprised halfway through the book to realize it is written in the third person. The details of everyday life are more vivid from this perspective, and there are so many excellent ones that made me feel like I was living Berry's story. There are delicious foods, fun outfits, activities with friends at school, and quality time spent with family that help give depth to Berry's inner life while making sure that the story moves along quickly. I don't often think about books in terms of dramatizations, but this would make an EXCELLENT After School Special! (What's the 2025 equivalent? A Disney Plus cartoon?)
Davis has a steady stream of excellent, upper middle grade novels that explore the middle school experience and include a wide variety of characters and events. Partly Cloudy (2021) addresses the issues of having to live with a relative and the effects of wildfires, Serena Says (2020) includes a friend with serious health issues, and Peas and Carrots (2016) has both a student in foster care and a prestigious private school. One of my favorites is Mare's War (2010) that portrayed a grandmother who had been in the Women's Army Corps! These have all been popular with my students, who enjoy the endearing Black characters who struggle a bit with their lives but have a positive attitude and lots of support. Berry is in good company, and reading about her put me in a "tangerine" mood as well.
Sometimes, life hands you surprises. For instance, I never thought I would have a middle grade book dedicated to ME. The dedication to this book, by the fabulous Tanita Davis (whom I met at Kid Lit Con in San Diego in about 2014, and with whom I have corresponded about the Cybils Award and Latin in her novels), reads "For Ms. Yingling- and the fictional Mrs. Jüngling- who agreed that it would be nice if there were more middle grade books with Latin classes in them." There's also a wonderful tribute to librarians at the end.
So just go buy two copies (at least!) for your library. You'll thank me- and Mrs. Jüngling.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews