Banger after banger. The book team here at THP has been obsessed with the books we’ve reviewed this year! And if you’ve been keeping up with us, you’ll know about all the new diverse fantasies and contemporary romances.
Today, we’re reviewing a book we’ve been anticipating since the end of 2023! Marisa Kanter’s new novel, Finally Fitz, is finally almost here.
With just a few short weeks until its release date, we thought we’d give all the reasons why Finally Fitz should be your next read!
Book Overview
Content Warnings: panic attacks and anxiety, divorce, biphobia, mention of eating disorders, cheating
Summary: 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.
The Queer Representation
Finally Fitz is the diverse, LGBTQIA+ book we’ve been obsessed with! Fitz and her love interest, Levi, are both bisexual. They’ve struggled with finding labels and coming out, especially Levi, whose dad couldn’t understand and accept his identity. Fitz’s sister Maya is also queer. We found it so refreshing to read about LGBTQIA+ and nonbinary characters who don’t need to explain themselves.
Fitz’s Character Development
Fitz being chronically online at the beginning of Finally Fitz really sets up a great route for her character development. She even goes on a summer-long social media hiatus to prove to her ex-girlfriend Dani that she’s serious. But Fitz has multiple reality checks before learning that not everything has to be a post. She doesn’t have to constantly cater or need validation from other people. And that’s okay!
The Sweet Summer Romance
Oh, to be fake dating our childhood best friend in New York for the summer. We absolutely adore Fitz and Levi’s fauxmance! Levi is a nerdy plant lover, theater kid, and part-time New York tour guide who just gets Fitz. We’d love to see New York from a local’s perspective any day. And the way Fitz chooses herself before she can choose Levi is the best part of their friends-to-lovers romance!
Queer representation, sustainable fashion, and a childhood friends-to-lovers romance make Marisa Kanter’s new book, Finally Fitz, the biggest green flag!
Finally Fitz by Marisa Kanter is available April 23, and you can preorder a copy of it here!
What do you think of Marisa Kanter’s new romance, Finally Fitz? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!
Want to hear some of our audiobook recommendations? Here’s the latest!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MARISA KANTER:
INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | WEBSITE
