The Framing Game

by Jessica K. Foster

Virginia Benson would do anything to get into Yale, including begging Dean Alton for a letter of recommendation. But when a graffiti prank gets pinned on her, her shot at the Ivy League is at stake.

To prove her innocence, Virginia enlists her ex-boyfriend Xander. But the case isn’t cut and dried, and the suspects keep piling up. They’re forced to spend more and more time together as they try to track down the culprit—and Xander doesn’t seem sorry about it. In fact, he’s taking every sleuthing moment to do more than investigate the case. He’s still looking for a way into Virginia’s heart.

260 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 31, 2026

About the author

Jessica K. Foster writes funny, heartfelt Young Adult Contemporary fiction with a dash of romance. She is a middle school Language Arts teacher with a penchant for hot tea and romantic beach reads. Jessica lives in West Michigan with her husband, two boys, and their ragtag crew of rescue animals.

Reviews

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cozy fun read! It took me back to my own high school days with school drama, college acceptance anxiety, parental tension and teenage romance. I love the characters. Xander was my favorite.

The beginning was slow but once it got moving it had a good pace. The ending had a nice resolution and didn’t feel rushed.

[Amanda Miscisin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great quick YA read. Loved reading how Virginia matured throughout the book. Learning how important relationships are to one’s success,

[Christina Ramsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good teen mystery with a touch of romance. Virginia is threatened with punishment for something she didn’t do. This shakes up her world and makes her look more closely at her relationships. Great look at friendships as well as parent-child relationships. Highly recommend.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! It moved along great. Yes, Virginia is very much stuck in her own head trying to work through who in the world would hate her so much to frame her for something she could get expelled for. This book is so well written. I absolutely love what I have read by Jessica K. Foster so far.
Virginia is a straight A student who is on the straight and narrow path to get into Yale. She abides by the rules and never gets in trouble. One day at school she is called to the Dean's office where the Dean accuses her of grafitti'ing the boys locker room. The Dean finds the spray paint in her locker. Of course one thing that never comes up in the book is who tipped the Dean off about looking in Virginia's locker for the spray paint. That would have been one of my first questions. But somebody is definitely framing Virginia and now she just has to figure out who that person is. She decides to ask the boy in school who knows everybody, her ex-boyfriend Xander.
Virginia has to take a step back and examine all of her relationships with others and take note of how she treats other people and what she might have done to get ahead of someone, even using someone else's idea to give her an idea on how to win a contest. She has to examine her friendship with her best friend Agnus because it is obvious in the book that Agnus is angry with Virginia. She even has to re-examine her past relationship with Xander and what she is currently feeling for him. She's never really let herself feel anything thinking that if she even for one moment looked away from her coursework, that she might lose her chance to go to Yale.
She is also battling feelings of inadequacy in every way of her life. Her parents are constantly telling her that she can always do better, nothing she does is ever enough (gee, that feels like my life). The school she is in is a boarding school in California and her parents live in Boston, all the way on the other side of the country. The Dean knows Virginia and should have known from the beginning that Virginia never would have done what she is accused of and that hurts Virginia even more that the Dean believes she's guilty.

[Millicent Moon · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.25⭐

Okay I thought I would like this book but it quickly went downhill.

I picked this book thinking it would be a yk, a modern high school mystery with a hint of romance but it turned out to be a modern high school romance with a hint of mystery lol. I didn’t mind it at the beginning but it started getting on my nerves when Xander just randomly started showing up everywhere. Literally everywhere.

I actually liked the Xander parts at first, but after they started making out it just got annoying. We get like make out sessions every chapter. Then they randomly fight over some trivial issue. Then they make out again coz, oh Xander is just too hot.

I liked Xander, I’m not saying I didn’t. But the amount of times they fight or disagree just made me want to throw my Kindle.

Also Virginia never got to solve her own mystery. Xander and the others ended up solving it and guess what? It wasn’t even that good. Not gonna spoil it here tho.

That said, the writing was really good. Like I read the first few chapters (which were actually good since it focused more on the mystery) and I was like “oh wow this author can actually write I’m impressed.” Then Xander showed up n yeah.

I really wanted to like this book. Truly. Guess it just wasn’t for me. It’s a me problem ig.

Thank you to BookSirens and the author for providing me with an e-ARC!

[Bookishdays · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Framing Game follows Virginia, a fiercely dedicated student whose world is built around academic excellence and her dream of getting into Yale. But everything shatters when she suddenly finds herself accused of orchestrating an elaborate prank against the school’s principal. Forced to question her choices, her behavior, and even the people around her, Virginia sets out to uncover the truth and clear her name.

To do so, she reluctantly seeks the help of her ex-boyfriend, and school golden boy, Xander. As the two join forces, their mission slowly draws them closer, until the connection between them becomes impossible to ignore. Their dynamic is charming, tense, and full of that delicious slow-burn energy that keeps you rooting for them.

The book itself is light, funny, and easy to read. While the boarding school setting made it a bit harder for me to fully connect with the environment, I genuinely enjoyed the dynamics within the friend group and the way the story highlights the toxic pressures families can place on teenagers.

At its heart, beyond the sweet romance, The Framing Game is a story about friendship, expectations, and what it means to be young today, navigating ambition, identity, and the messy in-between spaces of growing up.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this YA romance/mystery, though I am not a heavy contemporary YA reader. I appreciated that even though the romance was front and center, it was not the only conflict in the heroine's life. Virginia is also dealing with seriously severe parental expectations and the perfectionism that comes with that plus being framed for graffiti at her boarding school. Her growth in her relationships with her parents and best friend was good to see alongside the romantic aspects.

While there is some mystery, that isn't the main focus, so if you are more into mystery than romance, this book may not be for you.

Virginia and Xander were well developed characters who felt like authentic teens (to this non-teen reader). I enjoyed their banter and flirting as well as the deeper conversations they could have with each other. I personally could have done with less of the physical relationship being shown, but I'm sure others will enjoy that part.


Parental notices
If you're a parent evaluating this book for your teen, here are a few things to be aware of:
-Teen drinking is presented as a normal part of high school.
-There are some body image/dieting issues that Virginia goes through.
-Intimacy-wise, there are heavy make-out scenes and thoughts of going further, but no "going all the way."

I received an ARC from the author. These are my honest opinions.

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

It seems like yesterday, I was helping both of my sons plan for their after-high school life whether it be college, tech school, or the working field. My oldest chose tech school and my youngest took the college/military route. Xander and Virginia reminded me a bit of my youngest and one of the young ladies he went to school with. They were always in competition with one another (although, they never dated)! He's now 2 years post-high school and when I mentioned this book, I got one of those famous eye rolls he inherited from me. That added to my enjoyable time reading this book as YA isn't typically my jam. But this one? FUN! Virginia's relationship with her parents and self reminded me a lot of my own time in high school. A lot of perfection pressure, self-discovery, and reflection that took an enormous amount of effort!

Virginia's dynamics with Xander were interesting! I loved how she realized she didn't really express herself the first time around when they dated. All part of growing up, though, I suppose. But my absolute favorite aspect was how messy the whole situation was allowed to be. They're young. It's not supposed to instantly work out. They have to go through the process, and I admired the author letting that play out.

[Jardana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute and cozy read! I didn’t really care about the mystery part, but I loved Virginia and Xander so much. Their dynamic was so engaging that I found myself far more invested in their story than in uncovering the mystery.

I also really appreciated how the author emphasized the importance of friendship and the possibility of change. Watching Virginia grow was especially rewarding! after her world unraveled, she took accountability, set her pride aside, and made a genuine effort to do better. I loved seeing her reflect on her past and recognize where she went wrong.

The portrayal of her family life added meaningful depth, helping to explain why she was the way she was. It made her journey feel even more authentic and impactful. Most of all, I was glad to see her finally find her voice and stand up for herself!


*I was able to snag this copy when meeting the author at the third coast book festival. The second she started her spiel, I was immediately sold! Thank you so much for this advanced copy and for signing it for me 🫶🏽

[Adele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a delightful read! Watching Xander and Virginia try to solve the mystery and clear Virginia’s name was fun (Dean Alton IS an asshat, btw), and I have never rooted so hard for a boy to get the girl! She held out way longer than teenage-me ever could have because Xander is cute and funny and seems really fun to be around. These characters were so well-written and the falling in love again was super realistic. It moves at just the right pace with just the right amount of hiccups.

Jessica Foster’s books are typically the only YA romance I read, and she delivers every time. One thing I always love about her romance storytelling is how well she does just enough “spice but not spice” to make it realistic to a typical teen experience without going overboard.

Foster is an auto-buy from me, and I cannot wait for her next book!

Thanks to the author and publisher for the ARC.

[Mindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this Teen/YA Contemporary Romance novel. Virginia is away at boarding school, chasing the ultimate dream of acceptance to Yale. She is studious, involved in activities and sports and takes on academic competitions all to boost her resume. She felt like she was on the right track, until she was accused of a graffiti prank she didn’t do. In an effort to claim her innocence, she uncovers more than she expected.

The pressure of boosting a resume to get into college while chasing an elite school is all too real these days. I enjoyed seeing how Virginia handled the pressure and the magnifying glass of how that impacted her relationships. Virginia’s thought process through everything was spot on and realistic. The suspect remained a mystery to me until the very end.

Thank you Jessica K Foster and Booksirens for the gifted advanced copy of this book.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

In her senior year at a boarding school, Virginia's a stellar student, tops in everything, and on the path to Yale. Everything seems perfect...or is it? After she's accused of graffiting the walls of the boys' locker room with anti-dean propaganda, that future looks questionable. The only one who can help her clear her name is her super popular ex-boyfriend who knows everyone and has all access to all rumors. Of course, it wasn't her fault they broke up years ago. You'll learn that in the course of the story. The ending was satisfying and believable. I wish we knew a little more about the future, but maybe the author has another one about these characters planned. That would be great! The characters are realistic, and the story moves along for the most part.

[Milena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an entertaining story set in a private boarding school. The author's writing style is such that I breezed through the book in a day.

I thought I'd miss having the MMC's POV but the story worked really well with just the FMC's POV.

It is a coming of age type of journey that Virginia undertakes as she tries to figure out who framed her. Her family relationship did tug at the heart strings but I think the progression of it was realistic.

I did get frustrated with Virginia at times but I think her reactions were realistic for an 18 year old.

Overall, it was a book that was well written and kept my attention.

I was given an advanced copy of this book from Story Sirens in exchange for an honest review.

[Char ღ Denae · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Framing Game is a YA second chance romance with a mystery.
Virginia wants into Yale in the worst way. When she’s framed for a graffiti prank, she’ll do anything to prove her innocence, even work with her ex boyfriend.
Xander still wants Virginia and will do anything to get her back, even help her solve the mystery of the real graffiti artist. He knows that she’ll leave him to go to Yale, once she’s cleared but, in the meantime, alls fair in winning back your love.
A cute, engaging romance where learning that moving from childhood to adulthood, isn’t always easy, and what you think is the most important, isn’t always right.

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

[Rachel Ermutlu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was on the ARC team for this book. The Framing Game was an interesting, well-written book. I kept trying to figure out who was framing Virginia but I couldn’t. Virginia was an interesting character. She did not have very good social skills but I think her parents were partly to blame for that. It was interesting she was so focused on getting into Yale that she didn’t realize she had hurt people. Xander was also an interesting character. I kept going back and forth between, “This guy is such a jerk!” And “This guy is so sweet.” Overall, it was an enjoyable read.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved The Framing Game! I was immediately hooked. The mystery unfolds in such a fun, fast-paced way. The suspects keep piling up in the best possible way, and I found myself genuinely trying to solve the case alongside Virginia.

This is a perfect balance between the whodunit mystery, and the high emotional stakes of being a teenager with big dreams, high expectations, and falling in love. If you’ve ever loved a good puzzle wrapped in a coming-of-age story, this one delivers.

[Jess]

I could not put this book down! The ups and downs kept me hooked. I was so sure I had the plot twist figured out, but was surprised when I wasn't (fully) correct. I appreciated how the characters grew throughout the book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Tara B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun and introspective story that will keep you guessing the entire time. I loved watching Virginia sort through her past actions and coming to realize that her words have a bigger effect than she'd ever realized. And the romance was *chef's kiss! The tension between Xander and Virginia was off the charts. Another wonderful read by Jessica.

[Charleigh Frederick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in LOVE with this book!!! Foster never disappoints and always gives the best YA romance energy!!! Xander feels like Logan from Gilmore Girls and Virginia is like if Rory was raised by a Lorelai that wanted to be rich and in high society! Absolutely amazing!!! 😊❤️

[Makayla Storm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good quick and easy YA book to read. I liked the plot and how Virginia had to analyze all of her relationships.