Pitiful Peaches

by Chaylee McCleese

Penny Hartley has big plans for the summer of 1975. Instead of spending time with her family, she plans to make memories with her friends in Moose Creek by picking peaches, listening to her favorite musicians, and having a fun 15th birthday. Her childhood friend, Darren, looks different when she arrives. Darren has gotten taller and has a deeper voice that makes her question their relationship. She is unwilling to risk giving up years of friendship for something more, but she can't shake her feelings for him.

Penny's stepdad begins to struggle with his self worth and wants to cut their trip short. Time is running out, but as Penny debates what to do, everyone’s favorite band, Jesse Young and the Matches, whips into town, making Penny face the truth of rock and roll stardom, her feelings about Darren, and the bonds holding her family together by a thread.

192 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 13, 2026

About the author

Chaylee McCleese works as a partner teacher at an Idaho charter school, where she teaches small language art groups to elementary and middle school students. She also uses social media platforms to advocate for young patients with autoimmune conditions because she has psoriatic arthritis. Her debut young adult novel, Pitiful Peaches, was published by Evernight Teen on March 13th, 2026.

Reviews

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to rate this book five stars just due to sheer pride that the author was a part of the first teen book club I ever led at my library years ago, and I am so happy for her and her achievement! Great work Chaylee! I’m so happy your love for the 70s and reading has led you here.

Bias aside, however, this is a great YA book for the younger end of the teen fiction spectrum. Sweet, honest, and heartfelt this book deftly covers coming-of-age well and the slow shift into the “adult” world we all feel at this age. I really appreciate how well this book handled the topic of mental illness for younger readers without sugarcoating anything. Also, phenomenal 70s song choices. This historical romance for older tweens and younger teens is a great one and I can’t wait to see what McCleese writes next!

Ps. Read this and watched Almost Famous as I am sure the author would approve of.

[Bruce Buchanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

PITIFUL PEACHES is a YA book as sweet and enjoyable as a bowl of peach ice cream on a hot summer day.

Set in 1975, this novel tells the story of a music-obsessed teenager’s summer romance. But along the way, PITIFUL PEACHES delves into some more serious subjects, including mental health and substance abuse. Author Chaylee McCleese never loses sight of the core store, and weightier material makes the book more real and relatable to its teen audience.

The main character, Penny Hartley, is a likable, believable kid, and in her childhood friend Darren, she finds a guy who just might become her first boyfriend. Along the way, one of their favorite rock bands—Jesse Young and the Matches—visit the small town of Moose Creek, and the kids get a taste of the rock ‘n’ roll life, both good and bad.

It’s “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” crossed with “Almost Famous” — and I loved it! Oh, and all the classic rock references are wonderful. Each chapter has its own companion song!

[Jitske · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an emotional musical ride this novel has taken me on! I really enjoyed listening to the musical subtitles each chapter has. For me it added to the story.
McCleese takes us back to the summer of ´75 where Penny can´t wait to have a wonderful summer with her friends having fun, swimming and eating peaches, but this summer does not go as planned. From the start you are sucked into the friend and family dynamics even though you need the whole novel to work out the layers of the story.

McCleese has written a poignant coming of age story in which growth is the main theme. Growth from girl to woman, friendship, love, strength of conviction and commitment.

I am very impressed with this debut novel and look forward to reading future works by Chaylee McCleese.

Thank you to Booksirens for providing an Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Millicent Moon · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75⭐

This book was just… okay.

I went into this expecting a nice summer coming-of-age story, and it was that to some extent. The whole Moose Creek setting, peach picking, and the 1975 vibes were actually pretty nice. It had that soft nostalgic feel, and I did like seeing Penny figure things out, especially with her friendships and family.

But idk, the writing just didn’t do it for me. I can’t even fully explain why, it just didn’t connect with me. Sometimes it felt a bit flat, and I wasn’t as emotionally invested as I wanted to be, which is kinda important for a story like this.

The whole thing with Darren was… fine? Like I get what the author was going for; childhood friends to something more, but it didn't... urgh I just couldn't get into it. I wasn’t super attached to their relationship.

What did stand out though was the family aspect. Penny’s stepdad struggling with his self-worth and everything that follows was really heavy, and I think the book handled grief and mental health in a meaningful way. It showed how messy and confusing it can be, and I appreciated that it didn’t try to make things unrealistically perfect.

Overall, it’s a decent coming-of-age story with some strong themes, but the writing style kind of held it back for me.

It was fine, just not great.

Thank you to BookSirens and the author for the e-arc!

[Justyna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just finished Pitiful Peaches by Chaylee McCleese, and it is such a sweet, relatable read! Even before the book mentioned it, I was getting major Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret vibes. It’s a classic coming-of-age tale that deals with the awkwardness of growing up—from physical changes to that first crush—while learning how to confront your past.
​What I loved:
​The Relationships: It dives deep into what friendships really mean and how our bonds with our parents change as we get older.
​The Tone: It’s very "clean" and age-appropriate (Very PG!), making it a great pick for young teens.
​My only critique:
The book touches on more mature themes like mental health, which I loved seeing included. However, it felt a little surface-level. I understand not wanting to make it too heavy for a younger audience, but I would have liked to see a bit more depth regarding the actual impact of those struggles rather than just glazing over them.

Thank you Booksirens for the arc.

[Norelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed advanced copy

This YA book follows Penny’s adolescent journey during her last family vacation before her life begins to change in significant ways. It starts at a measured pace, with the early chapters taking time to build the world and introduce the characters. As the story progresses it finds its rhythm.

At its core, the story captures both the innocence and indecisiveness of young love, and I especially enjoyed how music is woven throughout the story; it adds an extra layer of emotion and connection. The narrative also takes an unexpected, darker turn later in the pages that I wasn’t expecting.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and think this new author shows a lot of promise in both storytelling and character development. I did find myself wishing for more background on Darren, as well as more insight into James and the challenges and emotions surrounding that piece of the story, as those moments were especially impactful.

[Rebecca Morel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am SO glad I had the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Pitiful Peaches. From the very first page, this book took me back to my childhood. I went on vacation every year with my parents and had great memories of my time at a cabin in Wisconsin. This book took me back there with all the feels of summer friends and vacation "feels". I felt like I was right there with the characters. This book blended vacation vibes with family issues, first love and the difficulty of life. For an author I was not familiar with, I will definitely be doing more research and reading more by her. If you love a book with nostalgia and all the feels, this is it!

[Hailley Smart · Rating 4 out of 5]

As short and sweet as peach ice cream in the summer, Pitiful Peaches by Chaylee McCleese perfectly captures the feeling of an young adult reflecting on the nostalgic summer that changed her life and all the challenges that come alongside the pleasures. Young Penny is adorable and you can't help but wish the best for her and her girlhood romance. The recommended songs scattered throughout the book add a nice ambience and help to capture the tone of the story. I am not usually a realistic fiction fan, and yet I enjoyed it and finished it on two days! Definitely worth the read! 🍑.

I received a free copy of this book via Evernight Teen and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Hailley Smart · Rating 4 out of 5]

As short and sweet as peach ice cream in the summer, Pitiful Peaches by Chaylee McCleese perfectly captures the feeling of an young adult reflecting on the nostalgic summer that changed her life and all the challenges that come alongside the pleasures. Young Penny is adorable and you can't help but wish the best for her and her girlhood romance. The recommended songs scattered throughout the book add a nice ambience and help to capture the tone of the story. I am not usually a realistic fiction fan, and yet I enjoyed it and finished it on two days! Definitely worth the read! 🍑.

I received a free copy of this book via Evernight Teen and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pitiful Peaches is such a warm and tender coming of age story. It's set in the summer of 1975 and captures the strange and beautiful moment when childhood starts giving way to something deeper. 🫂 Penny’s time in Moose Creek feels real and nostalgic. Long days with friends, music always playing somewhere nearby, and the quiet realization that the people you’ve known forever can suddenly mean something new.
The story balances young love, family tension, and the pull of music and dreams in a way that feels honest and grounded. If you enjoy thoughtful coming of age stories with heart and a bit of vintage rock and roll spirit, this is an easy one to recommend. 🍑🌠🎸💛

[blueberrylilac · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a short and sweet little coming-of-age novel about friendship, grief, and redemption. This book ended up dealing with some darker topics than I initially thought it would, but placed emphasis on the need to check up on the people around you, even those who appear to be fine. It is a heartfelt story about a girl experiencing her last summer before she has to grow up too fast. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Ashley Shipley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written, it offers a meaningful perspective on life, love, and finding strength through difficult times. This is a truly emotional and beautifully written story that explores pain, heartbreak, love, perseverance, and the journey of growing up. With beauty and honesty, it blends heartbreak with the resilience needed to move forward. Truly a powerful and memorable read for readers of all ages.

[Taylor Cosby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing book. Reading it feels as if you're there going through it alongside the characters, it perfectly captures the struggles of becoming a young adult and the strength you need to persevere through. Beautifully written, would definitely recommend reading.

[Chaylee McCleese · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hope you enjoy my debut young adult novel set in the 1970s! 🍑🥰

[Bonnie K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great, feel good read! I caught myself reading “one more chapter” before putting it down. I loved the young love story and rooted for Penny and Darren.

[Ethan Vickery · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book over and over! The author obviously tried her best to write this book, and the characters were very well explained. I would recommend this to anyone!