★ “Evocative and realistic; captures the tangled feelings of young love and lust.” — Kirkus Reviews

Northern Italy, 1993. A messy, funny, and fiercely honest coming-of-age story about first love, identity, and the courage it takes to grow up.

Book 4 of The Italian Saga—can be enjoyed entirely as a standalone novel!

Teenage Lee and Nico have been circling each other since childhood: enemies, frenemies, and finally, a couple. But while teen Nico is sexually experienced, Lee has never even dated anyone. Catholic guilt and adults weigh heavily on Lee, who struggles to trust, especially the bully who tormented her in childhood. But will Nico wait?

Beneath the surface of teenage drama, Lee is fighting a quieter, deeper battle—navigating a labyrinth of gender identity, body image, and self-acceptance. From the breathtaking backdrops of Northern Italy to Southern France, Lee’s journey toward the first time becomes a candid, messy, and comically honest debacle that is as educational as it is deeply relatable.

Can you truly trust the bad boy you’re falling for, or is he just bad news, like everyone insists?

 • An Honest Look at Intimacy: A refreshing, unglamorous, and deeply funny take on the realities of adolescent sexuality and boundary-pushing.

 • 90s European Nostalgia: Richly atmospheric, capturing the specific magic, music, and grit of youth culture in 1990s Italy.

 • Chosen Family & Identity: A powerful, nuanced exploration of gender identity, eating disorder recovery, and finding the people who truly see you.

 • Read as a Standalone: Perfect for new readers jumping into the series for the first time or longtime fans of The Italian Saga!

Fans of Sex Education, I’ll Give You the Sun, or Heartstopper will love this deep exploration of resilience and independence.