With her mom's new boyfriend, her best friend's new crush, and her dad's interest in her gym teacher, Berry vows to never catch a crush—and to show everyone how much better things would be without theirs—in this stand-alone contemporary middle grade from Tanita S. Davis, author of The Science of Friendship and Partly Cloudy.

Every year, Berry’s mom, Ivy, visits for a three-week “August Invasion.” And every summer Berry hopes will be the one when Ivy will stay—forever.

Which is why Ivy’s surprise return visit is amazing—until Berry realizes her mom didn’t come for her. Ivy’s back to pack the last of her things, and she’s brought her new “friend,” Mr. Cole to help. When Berry discovers that Mr. Cole is taking a job in England, she’s convinced that Ivy wants to move all the way across the ocean with him, to where an August Invasion can’t reach. Even at school, messy feelings are ruining everything. Berry’s best friend, Lia, rearranges her schedule to have classes with her crush, leaving Berry alone all day. Even Berry’s normally boring dad is making excuses to talk to her gym teacher.

All these crushes are crushing the life out of Berry. Weren’t things better before these extra people came along? Why do things have to change?

BIO

Tanita S. Davis is the award-winning author of several novels for middle grade and young adult readers, including Serena Says, Peas and Carrots, Happy Families, and Mare’s War, which was a Coretta Scott King Honor Book and earned her a nomination for the NAACP Image Award. She grew up in California and was so chatty as a kid that her mother begged her to “just write it down.” Now she’s back in California, doing her best to keep writing it all down. Visit her at tanitasdavis.com.

REVIEWS

"This emotionally intelligent novel will resonate with readers who have experienced shifting relationship dynamics. Berry is a compelling protagonist, and Davis portrays the arc of her growth authentically. The author cleverly uses colors to evoke artistic Berry’s different moods and her perceptions of how she and others are feeling. An introspective, insightful look at the uncomfortable changes of early adolescence." -- Kirkus Reviews

"A Black middle schooler resolves to prove that life is better without the distraction of romance in this wistful novel by Davis (The Science of Friendship). As Berry navigates shifting relationships, Davis utilizes sympathetic prose to detail a hopeful yet bittersweet story about confronting change while remaining true to oneself." -- Publishers Weekly

"Davis (The Science of Friendship, 2024) always incorporates meaningful explorations of friendship in her novels, and here tween readers will relate to Berry and her friends as they find their footing in middle school and experience their first romantic feelings. A first purchase for middle-grade library collections." -- Booklist

[H]  HarperCollins  /  September 16, 2025

8.25" L x 5.5" W (0.81 lbs) 336 pages

For ages 8 to 12