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Featured on TAYSHAS Reading List (2025) and the Rise: A Feminist Book Project List (2025)

Lucia Cruz may be turning eighteen this year, but she is not the debutante type. Everything about a traditional Filipino debut feels all wrong for her. Besides, custom dictates that eighteen friends attend her for a special ceremony on her birthday, and Lucia only has one friend– Esmé Mares. They've stuck to each other's side all throughout high school, content to be friends with only each other. At least, Lucia thought they were content.

As it turns out, Esmé wants something different out of her senior year. And, on top of that, Lucia's mom has planned a debutante ball for her birthday behind her back. She'll be forced to cobble together a court of eighteen “friends” before her beloved lola arrives from the Philippines for this blessed occasion.

How far will Lucia stray from her comfort zone in order to play the role of dutiful daughter and granddaughter? Will she do the unthinkable– participating in a school sponsored activity? Will she discover that her sense of humor can be a way to connect with people, not just push them away?

"Rogers' lush, vivid storytelling brings Albuquerque alive, and readers will feel deeply for Lucia's struggle with the terrible ordeal of knowing and being known... This should absolutely not be missed."

— Booklist (starred)

"Rogers attentively depicts issues surrounding race, gender, parental responsibility, divorce, and self-esteem via Lucia's numerous relationships, particularly with her mother. Lucia's stand-up comedy seeds humor throughout this cathartic read."

— Publishers Weekly

"Rogers’ sophomore novel features rich, deep representation of Filipino experience in the U.S. as well as strong character development, as it follows a loner who finds connections one small, imperfect step at a time...Beautiful, relatable, and full of emotion."

—Kirkus