A girl’s summer plans to get her crush to notice her are upended by a surprise guest in this entry in the new tween middle grade rom-com Spotlight Sprinkles series! This is going to be the summer Julie finally catches the attention of her crush, James! She has the perfect outfits, ice-breaking jokes, and a list of places she can oh-so-casually run into him. At least that was the plan until Julie’s parents decided to surprise her by inviting a friend to their beach house for the next three weeks. Honestly, Julie’s not even sure she would call Sophia a friend, but one thing is for sure: having to play nice with Sophia who is always hanging around was not on the agenda. Now, Julie has no idea how this summer is going to go—especially since she’s unexpectedly feeling flutters around a new friend, Liam…and she thinks he might like her, too. Can Julie figure out how she feels about James and Liam? Or will having Sophia around ruin everything? As she (Julie) learns how to be a good friend, she also learns how to be her genuine self and accepts that fulfilling relationships come in all forms, romantic, familial, and platonic. Hand this book to a reader who might be a little too focused on their budding love life or who might need a little persuasion toward being themself instead of following the crowd. -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books ― 41/25 Easy-to-digest chapters and a manageable length make this book a great fit for middle grade readers who want a light, entertaining, yet highly engaging read. . . These titles offer a perfect opportunity for middle grade readers who want an innocent exploration of romance and crushes. -- School Library Journal ― 5/1/25 Lee Heart has always been a hopeless romantic and looks back on her middle school days fondly. Now, she spends her time writing about middle school tween adventures in her beach house, where it feels like summer all year long. When she’s not writing, she spends her time reading, collecting seashells, perfecting her secret s’mores recipe, making crafts with her BFF, and looking for shooting stars. Chapter 1 CHAPTER 1 As I look down at my phone screen, my nerves start to get the best of me, and I absently chew the eraser on my pencil. I have to reread the question. Is the answer A or B ? Or even C ? I feel so unprepared. Like one of those bad dreams where you walk into class and the teacher puts a test in front of you and you realize you are totally clueless. This is so unlike me. I’m almost always prepared for whatever test or quiz I have to take in school! Just breathe, Julie, I tell myself. With a clear head, I choose an answer and tap B with confidence. Now that all the questions are answered, I go back and carefully score myself against the answer key at the bottom of the article. When I see my results, I can’t help but smile from ear to ear! I’ve been right all along! I am meant to be with James Carter Jr.! The quiz is called “Is He Your Soul Mate?” I guess you could say that I rely on the monthly quizzes on the Chic Chick blog I subscribe to for guidance on all things related to James Carter Jr. When this month’s issue came out and I saw the title of the quiz, I hoped deep down that it would erase all my doubts. And now that I have taken—and aced—the quiz, I was right—there is no doubt that James is my soul mate! “James,” I whisper, slowly and dreamily as I lie back on my bed. It has such a perfect sound to it. The J of James, then the -ames , the simple two-syllable last name, it’s like a little song. It’s the perfect name for the perfect boy. I turn over onto my stomach and open an app on my phone. In it I doodle in large loopy letters. Julie Carter . Then: Julie & James. James & Julie . We already sound like a couple. Not to mention, his name starts with J , my name starts with J. Our names fit together perfectly, J+J , as if it were meant to be. Because, of course, it is. Julie and James TLF . True Love Forever. I roll off my bed and head straight for my desk, open the drawer, and pull out the oversize pink card that’s face down and shoved toward the back. I turn it over and read. THE LOVE PLAN: OPERATION CELL PHONE On this index card I have carefully drawn out a neat flowchart, just like the ones I learned to draw in science class last spring. The arrows point from one box to another: If yes, go to this box. If no, go to that box. They all end up at the heart-shaped goal at the bottom: I love plans. I love organizing things, making lists, and having everything in its place. My mom always jokes that it’s because I’m an only child and like things the way I’m used to them, but my dad says that it’s because I’m just like him. We’re both “very precise,” he says. But being an only child does help keep things just the way I like it. There’s no one here to mess up my room or to make my parents veer off schedule. It’s simply always calm and quiet at the Garcia house, and I wouldn’t have it