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Force of Nature
This fresh, smart, and funny young adult debut with a speculative twist asks the What if Mother Nature was a teenage girl?
Who is Chloe Lovejoy, really? A straight-C student, a girl with a crush on the cutie from chorus, an all-powerful being responsible for taking care of the planet . . . or perhaps all three. That’s what Chloe finds out on her sixteenth birthday, when she unexpectedly inherits the role of Mother Nature from her grandmother. Chloe is overwhelmed, to say the least. Then, when the unthinkable happens, and Grandma is no longer around to guide her, Chloe is left to oversee the natural laws of the world all by herself.
Between managing earthquakes and hurricanes, rivals at school, and her not-very-helpful mother, Chloe tries to maintain balance and harmony on Earth and in her everyday life. But someone in the community has an eye toward harnessing her powers for nefarious purposes, which means Chloe needs to dig deep and get her act together before her secret is found out. After all, the universe is depending on her.
Force of Nature by Melissa Clark is an utterly unique coming of age story about a teen girl rising to the occasion, even when she feels completely in over her head.
Who is Chloe Lovejoy, really? A straight-C student, a girl with a crush on the cutie from chorus, an all-powerful being responsible for taking care of the planet . . . or perhaps all three. That’s what Chloe finds out on her sixteenth birthday, when she unexpectedly inherits the role of Mother Nature from her grandmother. Chloe is overwhelmed, to say the least. Then, when the unthinkable happens, and Grandma is no longer around to guide her, Chloe is left to oversee the natural laws of the world all by herself.
Between managing earthquakes and hurricanes, rivals at school, and her not-very-helpful mother, Chloe tries to maintain balance and harmony on Earth and in her everyday life. But someone in the community has an eye toward harnessing her powers for nefarious purposes, which means Chloe needs to dig deep and get her act together before her secret is found out. After all, the universe is depending on her.
Force of Nature by Melissa Clark is an utterly unique coming of age story about a teen girl rising to the occasion, even when she feels completely in over her head.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published May 19, 2026
About the author
Melissa Clark
77 books138 followersMelissa Clark is an American food writer and cookbook author. Since 2007, she has been a food columnist for The New York Times. She has written more than 40 cookbooks and in 2018 won a James Beard Award.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
High school junior Chloe Lovejoy lives on the West Coast with her mother, Laurel, and grandmother, Fern. She sees her father occasionally. Fern is a bit quirky, spending a lot of time watching the weather on television and going out to a shed in the yard. Laurel has trouble keeping a job, and there are many days where she doesn't get out of bed because she is hung over. A lot of household management falls to Chloe, who is a solid C student thinking about college, hanging out with her friends, and crushing on the very cute Curtis. On her sixteenth birthday, she hopes that she will get a car, but is disappointed when Fern gives her an antique key to the shed, which Fern calls the Maparium. It turns out that Fern is Mother Nature, and controls the weather all over the world. Now that Chloe is sixteen, she will be an apprentice, and come into her full powers at twenty one. Laurel is bitter that she has been passed over because of her poor life choices, and Chloe is a bit wary of the whole process until Fern makes a lemon tree in the yard magically bloom. Chloe starts to read the Book of Nature and prepare for her role, but Fern dies suddenly and thrust Chloe into her new position. She consults Wade, who lives up on Mt. Kismo, after her mother throws the ancient book into the pool and there is a volcano in Switzerland. He gives her a device with the digitized book on it, and suggests how she can study. Since her friend Felix has had to drive her, he's in on her secret. After Chloe is involved in an uncharacteristic altercation with a teacher who tries to take the device away, thinking it is a phone, it is recommended that Chloe start therapy for her grief over Fern's death. Wade demands that Chloe spend more time in the Maparium actively controlling the weather, which interferes with her schoolwork. Things get strange when Laurel starts dating local weatherman Duncan Sunshine. He eventually finds out about the family connection to Mother Nature, and steals the key in order to further his television career. Will Chloe be able to learn on the job, keep the weather in check, and deal with her family and personal issues?
Strengths: What an absolutely fantastic premise! Of COURSE Mother Nature's role is passed down matrilineally! Chloe realistically tries to juggle school, dating, her friends, her mother, and all the weather in the world! The reasoning behind the mother being skipped was a big part of the story, and made a lot of sense. The father appeared just enough, and was able to share some back story Chloe didn't know. Digitzing the Book of Nature made perfect sense, and I would have gladly spent more time with Wade. Duncan Sunshine was the perfect villain, and added a bit of levity to the plot. I would have adored this book when I was in high school and all of my friends were reading heavy duty fantasy.
Weaknesses: Would it be better or worse to spend more time with Fern? She was such a great character, so it was sad that she died, but Chloe needed to work on her own. Perhaps if she had gone on vacation, and had been able to come back to teach Chloe some more and fix her messes, she wouldn't have had to die. I also wanted a little more about the weather and why Chloe's family was chosen to fill the role of Mother Nature.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who want a magical book like Roberts' fantastic 2010 Green or Welch's Spells for Lost Things. I'm debating purchase for my middle school library; even though Chloe is in high school, the story is still appropriate for middle school, but I don't have as many readers for magical realism as I used to. The cover is great, so I'll order it if I have enough money next year. I would definitely order it for a high school library.
High school junior Chloe Lovejoy lives on the West Coast with her mother, Laurel, and grandmother, Fern. She sees her father occasionally. Fern is a bit quirky, spending a lot of time watching the weather on television and going out to a shed in the yard. Laurel has trouble keeping a job, and there are many days where she doesn't get out of bed because she is hung over. A lot of household management falls to Chloe, who is a solid C student thinking about college, hanging out with her friends, and crushing on the very cute Curtis. On her sixteenth birthday, she hopes that she will get a car, but is disappointed when Fern gives her an antique key to the shed, which Fern calls the Maparium. It turns out that Fern is Mother Nature, and controls the weather all over the world. Now that Chloe is sixteen, she will be an apprentice, and come into her full powers at twenty one. Laurel is bitter that she has been passed over because of her poor life choices, and Chloe is a bit wary of the whole process until Fern makes a lemon tree in the yard magically bloom. Chloe starts to read the Book of Nature and prepare for her role, but Fern dies suddenly and thrust Chloe into her new position. She consults Wade, who lives up on Mt. Kismo, after her mother throws the ancient book into the pool and there is a volcano in Switzerland. He gives her a device with the digitized book on it, and suggests how she can study. Since her friend Felix has had to drive her, he's in on her secret. After Chloe is involved in an uncharacteristic altercation with a teacher who tries to take the device away, thinking it is a phone, it is recommended that Chloe start therapy for her grief over Fern's death. Wade demands that Chloe spend more time in the Maparium actively controlling the weather, which interferes with her schoolwork. Things get strange when Laurel starts dating local weatherman Duncan Sunshine. He eventually finds out about the family connection to Mother Nature, and steals the key in order to further his television career. Will Chloe be able to learn on the job, keep the weather in check, and deal with her family and personal issues?
Strengths: What an absolutely fantastic premise! Of COURSE Mother Nature's role is passed down matrilineally! Chloe realistically tries to juggle school, dating, her friends, her mother, and all the weather in the world! The reasoning behind the mother being skipped was a big part of the story, and made a lot of sense. The father appeared just enough, and was able to share some back story Chloe didn't know. Digitzing the Book of Nature made perfect sense, and I would have gladly spent more time with Wade. Duncan Sunshine was the perfect villain, and added a bit of levity to the plot. I would have adored this book when I was in high school and all of my friends were reading heavy duty fantasy.
Weaknesses: Would it be better or worse to spend more time with Fern? She was such a great character, so it was sad that she died, but Chloe needed to work on her own. Perhaps if she had gone on vacation, and had been able to come back to teach Chloe some more and fix her messes, she wouldn't have had to die. I also wanted a little more about the weather and why Chloe's family was chosen to fill the role of Mother Nature.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who want a magical book like Roberts' fantastic 2010 Green or Welch's Spells for Lost Things. I'm debating purchase for my middle school library; even though Chloe is in high school, the story is still appropriate for middle school, but I don't have as many readers for magical realism as I used to. The cover is great, so I'll order it if I have enough money next year. I would definitely order it for a high school library.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
If you’ve ever thought, “being a teenager is hard enough already, but what if I also had to control the entire planet?” then “Force of Nature” by Melissa Clark is basically that idea turned into a coming-of-age story with a magical twist.
The premise is honestly one of my favorite parts: Chloe is a pretty average high school junior; she is a solid C student, dealing with friend drama, crushing on a cute guy, and trying to survive her less-than-stable home life. Then on her sixteenth birthday, her grandmother casually drops the bomb that she’s Mother Nature. Literally. And now Chloe is next in line.
I loved how the book blends something super mythic (like controlling the weather and natural disasters) with very normal teenage life. One minute Chloe is worrying about school and relationships, the next she’s accidentally causing a volcano eruption because she’s still figuring things out. It’s chaotic in a fun way.
Chloe herself is kind of a mixed bag but in a realistic way. She’s not perfect at all. She makes mistakes, gets overwhelmed, has moments where she’s a little frustrating, but she also grows a lot over the course of the story. Watching her slowly step into this massive responsibility, especially after her grandmother suddenly dies and she has to figure things out alone, was one of the stronger parts of the book.
The family dynamics add a lot too. Her mom struggling with alcoholism and resentment over being “passed over” for the Mother Nature role brings in this layer of generational trauma that gives the story more weight. It’s not just a fun magical premise; it’s also about inheritance, responsibility, and the consequences of choices.
There’s also a bit of romance and school drama sprinkled in, which helps keep it grounded in that YA feel. Sometimes it leans a little cliché (rivalries, crushes, etc.), but it fits the tone of the story.
That said, the book does try to juggle a lot. You’ve got magical training, family issues, grief, romance, school life, plus a villain subplot with a weatherman trying to exploit her powers (yes, really). Because of that, some parts don’t feel as fully developed as they could be, and the ending might feel a little rushed or not as satisfying as you’d want.
The dialogue can also be a bit hit-or-miss; it sometimes tries a little too hard to sound “teen,” which can come off a bit awkward. And depending on the reader, Chloe’s personality might not always land. Younger YA readers will probably enjoy this book more than older ones.
But overall? This is a really creative, engaging YA read with a standout concept. It’s fun, a little messy, sometimes emotional, and definitely unique in how it reimagines something as big as Mother Nature through the lens of a teenage girl just trying to keep her life together.
If you like coming-of-age stories with magical realism, family drama, and a touch of chaos, this one’s worth checking out.
If you’ve ever thought, “being a teenager is hard enough already, but what if I also had to control the entire planet?” then “Force of Nature” by Melissa Clark is basically that idea turned into a coming-of-age story with a magical twist.
The premise is honestly one of my favorite parts: Chloe is a pretty average high school junior; she is a solid C student, dealing with friend drama, crushing on a cute guy, and trying to survive her less-than-stable home life. Then on her sixteenth birthday, her grandmother casually drops the bomb that she’s Mother Nature. Literally. And now Chloe is next in line.
I loved how the book blends something super mythic (like controlling the weather and natural disasters) with very normal teenage life. One minute Chloe is worrying about school and relationships, the next she’s accidentally causing a volcano eruption because she’s still figuring things out. It’s chaotic in a fun way.
Chloe herself is kind of a mixed bag but in a realistic way. She’s not perfect at all. She makes mistakes, gets overwhelmed, has moments where she’s a little frustrating, but she also grows a lot over the course of the story. Watching her slowly step into this massive responsibility, especially after her grandmother suddenly dies and she has to figure things out alone, was one of the stronger parts of the book.
The family dynamics add a lot too. Her mom struggling with alcoholism and resentment over being “passed over” for the Mother Nature role brings in this layer of generational trauma that gives the story more weight. It’s not just a fun magical premise; it’s also about inheritance, responsibility, and the consequences of choices.
There’s also a bit of romance and school drama sprinkled in, which helps keep it grounded in that YA feel. Sometimes it leans a little cliché (rivalries, crushes, etc.), but it fits the tone of the story.
That said, the book does try to juggle a lot. You’ve got magical training, family issues, grief, romance, school life, plus a villain subplot with a weatherman trying to exploit her powers (yes, really). Because of that, some parts don’t feel as fully developed as they could be, and the ending might feel a little rushed or not as satisfying as you’d want.
The dialogue can also be a bit hit-or-miss; it sometimes tries a little too hard to sound “teen,” which can come off a bit awkward. And depending on the reader, Chloe’s personality might not always land. Younger YA readers will probably enjoy this book more than older ones.
But overall? This is a really creative, engaging YA read with a standout concept. It’s fun, a little messy, sometimes emotional, and definitely unique in how it reimagines something as big as Mother Nature through the lens of a teenage girl just trying to keep her life together.
If you like coming-of-age stories with magical realism, family drama, and a touch of chaos, this one’s worth checking out.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Mother Nature with technology? though this seems like an interesting concept, it fails to work on the page, especially when in the end Chloe finds her 'inner power' and controls weather through emotion and intuition. Which is a trope as old as time.
the story is very out of nowhere and going nowhere. Statements and scenes come barreling down the hill yet fizzle out before they can truly land any real impact on the characters and plot.
Her grandmother's death, though needed for the plot, falls short in delivering and emotional ring in both the character and reader. Leaving Chloe generally coming off aloof and very self involved, even when she is supposedly juggling being a teen and Mother Nature.
Chloe is more often 'the mother' while her own mother is mostly checked out or busy with herself, lack of job, and new BF. This wants to be a major plot point and yet they never truly have it outand her mother's change for the better is too convenient and lacks that real resolution theu both need to truly grow as mother daughter. Being neglected by your parent is a big trauma and the story doesn't deal with it in any meaningful way.
Chole is as much a bad guy as the conveniently placed weatherman (mother's BF). She ends up causing an avalanche (started as a petty act againsther bully) that ended killing one person and Chole barely seems to register that she is at fault. But it conveniently gave the weatherman an opening to tell her to give her powers up. She does and (because it's tech based) the weatherman ends up stealing it from Chole's mother. Enter the most ridicules and unbelieve ending where his justification, in their final showdown, for abusing the weather is that he needs to be right because he's up against ratings and AI. Here Chole 'successfully' controls the weather with her emotions, and the weatherman just 'poofs'. More like bailed from their 'fight' by taking a noes dive into the ocean. Leaving an anticlimactic ending where Chloe now doesn't need the tech to be Mother Nature, her mother is all better, Chloe has a BF herself that just accepts her as Mother Nature, and her barely there 2 BFF's are now dating, but the reader can't really root for any of this because we didn't get any real build up.
Despite trying to be grounded in important environmental messaging the story leaves much to be desired in the end of the day.
the story is very out of nowhere and going nowhere. Statements and scenes come barreling down the hill yet fizzle out before they can truly land any real impact on the characters and plot.
Her grandmother's death, though needed for the plot, falls short in delivering and emotional ring in both the character and reader. Leaving Chloe generally coming off aloof and very self involved, even when she is supposedly juggling being a teen and Mother Nature.
Chloe is more often 'the mother' while her own mother is mostly checked out or busy with herself, lack of job, and new BF. This wants to be a major plot point and yet they never truly have it outand her mother's change for the better is too convenient and lacks that real resolution theu both need to truly grow as mother daughter. Being neglected by your parent is a big trauma and the story doesn't deal with it in any meaningful way.
Chole is as much a bad guy as the conveniently placed weatherman (mother's BF). She ends up causing an avalanche (started as a petty act againsther bully) that ended killing one person and Chole barely seems to register that she is at fault. But it conveniently gave the weatherman an opening to tell her to give her powers up. She does and (because it's tech based) the weatherman ends up stealing it from Chole's mother. Enter the most ridicules and unbelieve ending where his justification, in their final showdown, for abusing the weather is that he needs to be right because he's up against ratings and AI. Here Chole 'successfully' controls the weather with her emotions, and the weatherman just 'poofs'. More like bailed from their 'fight' by taking a noes dive into the ocean. Leaving an anticlimactic ending where Chloe now doesn't need the tech to be Mother Nature, her mother is all better, Chloe has a BF herself that just accepts her as Mother Nature, and her barely there 2 BFF's are now dating, but the reader can't really root for any of this because we didn't get any real build up.
Despite trying to be grounded in important environmental messaging the story leaves much to be desired in the end of the day.
May 22, 2026
thank you to netgalley, macmillan children’s, and farrar, strauss and giroux for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review! for transparency’s sake, this book was definitely on the younger side of YA which put me a bit out of range to really enjoy it as a reader, so i’m kinda putting on a librarian filter for this review! this was a short and sweet read, and it was pretty cut and dry, which would make it fantastic for more reluctant readers. the pacing was steady and while the secondary characters were a little flat for my taste, they were really just there to help chloe shine, and i think that she did. her arc over the course of the story is pretty linear but overall positive and enjoyable. i do have some beef with chloe’s parents, but i suppose that them being the way that they are would feel very authentic for some readers. i also think that the loss of chloe’s grandmother and how she coped with it were very authentic, and that portion of the book was moving for me. the environmental message throughout was appropriate for the age group that i can see connecting with this book, and i could also see it potentially sparking an interest in geology, meteorology, and related fields.
this review is also available on instagram here!
this review is also available on instagram here!
September 13, 2026
I picked this book up because the bookstore I was at had a little sign saying the author wrote it in that store (Village Well in Culver City, CA; highly recommend). I thought that was cool and I wanted to support! I don't think I would have otherwise chosen this book for myself, to be honest, so take my review with a grain of salt, but I'm not mad at the time I spent in this world.
This was an easy read and a genuinely cute story. There were too many moments to count where I rolled my eyes at Chole in the teenage girl drama parts of it, but it has a really solid message and is quite wholesome. I appreciate the perspective that this book gives to each individual character, the depth that it's willing to provide for even the "mean girl."
And the "how does it feel to find your way back to yourself?" central thread is well articulated and genuinely inspiring for the average kid, I think. I try to think of how I would have experienced this book reading it in high school, and it's pretty bland in some regards--though it does have a unique premise, but also very sweet and hopeful. I think it definitely deserves a solid spot on the "comfort books" shelf.
This was an easy read and a genuinely cute story. There were too many moments to count where I rolled my eyes at Chole in the teenage girl drama parts of it, but it has a really solid message and is quite wholesome. I appreciate the perspective that this book gives to each individual character, the depth that it's willing to provide for even the "mean girl."
And the "how does it feel to find your way back to yourself?" central thread is well articulated and genuinely inspiring for the average kid, I think. I try to think of how I would have experienced this book reading it in high school, and it's pretty bland in some regards--though it does have a unique premise, but also very sweet and hopeful. I think it definitely deserves a solid spot on the "comfort books" shelf.
September 13, 2026
Chloe was hoping for a car on her 16th birthday, instead she finds out she is next in line to be Mother Nature! If you love super light, fast-paced fantasy with a ridiculously fun concept, Force of Nature is such a cute, easy read. When the old Mother Nature dies unexpectedly, Chloe is thrown into the role with little training and no mentor. She has to figure out how to master her new elemental powers while still surviving standard high school drama. Fantasy isn’t really my jam, but this cozy fantasy I might could get into. This is a short book, coming in at only 227 pages, and I felt that when it came to world-building and plot development. Also, it skews to the younger side, more of a breezy middle-grade feel not heavy YA. As a high school librarian, I will definitely be adding this to my collection, but I wouldn’t necessarily call it a first purchase. There is no spice, no content warnings, and it’s great for high school or middle school. While it didn’t completely blow me away, it’s a charming, low-stakes 3.25 star palate cleanser if you want something quick and cozy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I kinda dig it. For some reason, Chloe reminds me of Kamala Khan and her embiggen qualities making her an average New Jersey teen by day and Ms. Marvel when villains are in her midst. In this case, Chloe turns 16 and now her grandmother tells her she's inherited (though she'll be learning for a few years) the weight of Mother Nature. She will be Mother Nature.
The mix of romance and family trauma (mom is an alcoholic) with a kindly eccentric grandmother who literally gives her a key to becoming Mother Nature as a supportive figure. Mix with that people's understanding of nature and what power and control comes with weather as well and you've got the central conflict of a girl learning to be magical. I liked the ride I went on with this one.
The mix of romance and family trauma (mom is an alcoholic) with a kindly eccentric grandmother who literally gives her a key to becoming Mother Nature as a supportive figure. Mix with that people's understanding of nature and what power and control comes with weather as well and you've got the central conflict of a girl learning to be magical. I liked the ride I went on with this one.
August 23, 2026
I was curious about the premise of Force of Nature, imagining what kind of challenges Chloe may have to face as the new Mother Nature—on top of the regular teen struggles. Melissa Clark does a great job of describing Chloe’s duties and showing her learning curve. While Chloe feels overwhelmed by the responsibilities, she rises to the occasion by learning all that she can. I was pleasantly surprised by how informative this story is. I learned a lot about nature and the environment—and how Earth functions—which made the reading experience even more enriching. Chloe’s character growth is also inspiring, as she discovers who she really is, as well as how to achieve balance of her two worlds.
May 27, 2026
1/5
When I first added this book, so some reason I presumed it was going to be a graphic novel. With the book itself I didn’t like how the nature aspect was turned almost into a spy/mechanical thing and not something that was rooted in natural abilities by the main character. With the parts in the story that were supposed to pull at the heartstrings, honestly read as something that had to happen to push the story forward.
When I first added this book, so some reason I presumed it was going to be a graphic novel. With the book itself I didn’t like how the nature aspect was turned almost into a spy/mechanical thing and not something that was rooted in natural abilities by the main character. With the parts in the story that were supposed to pull at the heartstrings, honestly read as something that had to happen to push the story forward.
June 15, 2026
This was such a fun and creative read. I loved the idea of Mother Nature being a teenage girl trying to balance everyday life with huge responsibilities. Chloe was easy to root for, and her journey of growth, loss, and self discovery kept me turning the pages. A unique and entertaining YA story with heart and imagination.
June 20, 2026
Chloe becomes Mother Nature when her (spoiler alert!) grandma dies. So fun to imagine that the reason the weather is so chaotic is because there's a sixteen year old controlling it all. Loved this book and all the great characters, and of course the epic plot!!!!
August 14, 2026
Good teen book, interesting and realistic plot twist
October 25, 2026
An interesting premise but a poorly executed magic system.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews