Fun Fact: I Love You

by Gina Lynn Larsen

Overview

In this friends-to-lovers romance, high school senior Nellie has her future all planned out—except for a disastrous first kiss, a hurtful prank, and the unexpected twist of falling in love with her childhood friend. 
 
Fun fact: Nellie Samsin has ten days left of high school, and she’s never been kissed—which is fine with her. She’s been more focused on editing the yearbook and being named valedictorian than worrying about a boyfriend. But when she has a chance to kiss her longtime crush, she hopes it will be a magical experience. Until she learns it was all a lie, a hurtful prank orchestrated by her so-called best friend, leaving Nellie heartbroken and angry with everyone involved.
 
Jensen Nichols has spent his senior year keeping three massive secrets: first, he’s been writing a best-selling romance fantasy series under the pseudonym “Jen Dimes”; second, he’s been harboring a secret crush on Nellie, to the point where he’s based his fictional romantic heroine on her; and third, Nellie’s dad has been his writing mentor and coach. Jensen has promised himself that he’ll reveal his secrets—but only when the time is right. Then he sees Nellie kissing his best friend, and his unexpected rush of jealousy means that the time for keeping secrets is running out.
 
When a family tragedy rocks Nellie’s world, the future she meticulously planned for is threatened. And when she learns the people she thought were her friends have lied to her, she feels lost and betrayed. At least she has Jensen, who is the one person she knows for a fact she can trust. But the more time the two of them spend together, the more Nellie suspects Jensen is hiding something from her. (Fun fact: Keeping secrets is the worst.)
 
It seems Nellie and Jensen are perfect for each other, but they will need to separate fact from fiction in order to see if their unplanned romance can last beyond graduation day.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781639932450
Publisher:	Shadow Mountain Publishing
Publication date:	07/02/2024
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	307,797
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)
Age Range:	3 Months to 18 Years

About the Author

Gina Lynn Larsen grew up on a 100-acre family dairy farm with 200 head of registered, pure-bred Holsteins, a dozen horses, barn cats, herding dogs, her four siblings, and a bunch of extended family. She’s comfortable fixing fences, running power tools, wearing a dress, applying makeup, speaking into a microphone, feeing a large crowd, and opening a beehive. 

An extrovert married to a soccer boy-turned-funeral director, she and Kyle live on a beautiful eight-acre property, complete with horses, a cow or two, goats, dogs, cats, and bees—oh! And their four children, who are basically adults now. 

You can find her on social media platforms as SeriouslyGina. 

Editorial Reviews

04/22/2024

First love, betrayal, and grief intertwine in Larsen’s swoony debut romance. High school senior Nellie Samsin can’t wait for graduation, which is only 10 days away. She’s spent all of high school solely focused on academics, leaving her little time for romance. Her best friend Britta is determined to not let Nellie graduate without having been kissed, so she orchestrates a scheme to have Nellie’s crush Sterling be her first. Nellie’s childhood friend Jensen, meanwhile, is enraged by Britta’s antics, especially since his crush on Nellie is so obvious it’s almost comical to him that Nellie hasn’t figured it out yet. Jensen even writes bestselling fantasy romance novels under the pseudonym Jen Dimes, born from his love for Nellie and secretly edited by Nellie’s father. A last-minute yearbook assignment between Nellie and Jensen ignites a spark between them, but complications, such as her father’s sudden death, threaten the teens’ budding relationship. In this sweet entry into the teen romance canon, Larsen utilizes high-intensity drama that puts Nellie and Jensen through the wringer. Yet, as the white-cued pair grow closer, their undeniable chemistry propels this amorous tale to a satisfyingly romantic resolution. Ages 13–17. (July)

Publishers Weekly

"Larsen's debut navigates love, loss, secrets, and family relationships expertly. It's packed with emotion and romance and truly shines. I loved it!"

Kasie West (author of Sunkissed)

2024-05-17
Just before graduation, former friends reconnect over disappointment, grief, and secrets.

Valedictorian Nellie Samsin has a five-year plan that takes her all the way to grad school for astrophysics. Nothing’s going to stop her—until she begins to spiral following a disappointing first kiss and a devastating family event. The only thing that makes sense is Jensen Nichols’ re-entry into her life. Unable to penetrate her mother’s cold walls and angry with and disconnected from her unsupportive best friend, Nellie begins spending time with Jensen, a childhood friend who’s liked by everyone, and she starts seeing him in an entirely new light. Jensen has always wanted to be with Nellie, and now, if he’s brave enough, he might be able to. But her world has just changed irrevocably, and he still has a secret that he doesn’t know how to share. If there’s one thing they’ve both learned, though, it’s that no one can totally prepare for the future. This sweet if somewhat convoluted story shows teens navigating deep love and deep heartache. The main characters, who are cued white, are well developed, but the complications from external relationships feel superfluous at times. Larsen explores numerous serious themes but doesn’t provide enough room to delve into each sufficiently; this lack of depth, combined with the lack of closure around several storylines, leads to some emotional whiplash and a feeling of dissatisfaction for readers.

A short, overstuffed novel about love, loss, and the unknown. (Fiction. 13-18)

Kirkus Reviews