Book Review: “Finally Fitz” by Marisa Kanter

“Finally Fitz” by Marisa Kanter (2024)

Genre: YA, Romance, Fiction, LGBT

Page Length: 400 pages (hardcover edition)

Synopsis:

Ava “Fitz” Fitzgerald has worked hard to create the picture-perfect life she’s always wanted. She spent her junior year transforming her passion for sustainable fashion and upcycling into a viral online platform, maintaining a 4.0 GPA, and spending every free second with her soon-to-graduate girlfriend, Danica. And this summer she plans to take it all to the next level by attending a prestigious summer fashion program in New York City and convincing Dani that they can survive a year of long distance.

But when Dani dumps her before classes even start, accusing Fitz of being more invested in growing her online persona than deepening their relationship, she’s left not only heartbroken, but also creatively blocked.

Fitz will do anything to win Dani back, even if that means taking a break from the platform that she’s worked so hard to build. But just as she decides to go all-in on a hiatus, a chance encounter reunites her with Levi Berkowitz, her childhood best friend that she hasn’t seen since elementary school. Levi is struggling with heartbreak of his own, and this cosmic coincidence sparks a new use for her social media savvy. Fitz offers to help Levi craft a fake relationship online to make his person jealous…if in return he can pretend to be her boyfriend in front of Dani to make her jealous. If all goes according to plan, by the end of the summer they’ll both be reunited with their perfect partners and get to rekindle their friendship in the process.

Sometimes even the most carefully designed plans can come apart at the seams, though. And when real history leads to not-so-fake feelings, Fitz will have to decide if she’s finally willing to let go of what she thought was picture-perfect and choose what might actually be right for her.

Review:

The synopsis of an all too familiar rom-com movie trope had me hooked into reading this book. What readers find between the pages of the novel is a story about friendships, family, love, and finding your passion. Finally Fitz though angsty at some moments is a heartwarming story about growing up and tackling obstacles that arise in all types of relationships.

I think readers will find this novel relatable due to its grounded reality and how it discusses the importance of self-care when it comes to tackling mental health. As a person who also struggles with anxiety issues, I saw a bit of myself and connected to Dani’s character. Throughout the novel, she works through her issues of pursuing her career, difficult relationships, and the realization that she needs to focus on herself more and open up. On the outside, she created this perfect persona to showcase her trendy fashion statements and feels as if she is performing for her followers rather than what she wants. This novel also executes in great detail the struggle of being a content creator/creative and how we can get in the way (a persona sort of artist’s block) of our visions.

The setting of a summer in New York City is a lot of fun and adds to the overall entertainment factor of the novel. In between glimpses of Dani’s dorm life, readers get whisked around the boroughs of the city to experience the sights and sounds that it has to offer. The dates Dani and Levi go on give off a meet-cute vibe that provides some cute romantic scenes. They chance to mend their friendship as well as realize feelings for each other that have been bubbling under the surface.

I enjoyed the reflection on Dani’s relationships with her older sisters (along with Levi) and how she comes to well as figuring out there’s more out there for her. The growth of the characters was done well and the story progression felt realistic despite taking place over the course of a summer. I definitely recommend this novel for your summer reading list!

Final Verdict: