A Show For Two

A SHOW FOR TWO is a consuming and delightful YA contemporary romance that celebrates dreams, film, and sisters. Mina has a plan for her life - she wants to win the Golden Ivy student film competition and go to USC to get away from her parents and pursue her dream of screenwriting. Mina is hyper-focused and will do anything to reach her goals, even talk to the rude celebrity undercover at her high school, Emmitt Ramos.

After a particularly terrible meet-cute, Mina would love nothing more than to avoid Emmitt, but it seems the only way to win a Golden Ivy is to have a celebrity cameo. Although he is equally reluctant to work with her, Emmitt agrees to be in the film in exchange for Mina's help with a photography contest. Using different themes, he needs to take a photo each week, and being from London, he needs a city expert (Mina) to pick locations and help him get there. As they spend time together and begin to get to know each other, they find that they are maybe not so different after all.

What I loved: Bjuiyan really has a gift with words. Much like her first book, this one is unputdownable and so compulsively readable with all the feels. Mina's story is emotional and gripping, with moments that will have readers laughing and others that will leave them bereft. With an ultimately happy ending, this is a journey of self-discovery and following your dreams that will leave readers cheering (and with a book hangover - it is that good).

Beyond the compelling writing, the characters are also gripping, with Mina and Emmitt stealing the show and hearts. Other characters also really came to life, such as Mina's sister and her BFF. Mina has a lot of missteps in navigating these relationships. She has become really prickly, in part due to her parents' deep criticism, but she often lashes out at those around her. She is not always a likable character, and this makes her feel more genuine. Eventually, she does begin to see what the reader sees and understand where she has gone too far and change her behavior, and, as per real life, this is not smooth sailing but shows a lot of growth. Learning is always a bumpy road, and Mina is definitely finding herself and beginning to understand herself better, particularly through her close relationships. Her goals are consuming her, and Mina is working to find her own balance.

Themes around family, strained parent-child relationships, safely reaching for your goals, the power of the arts/film, self-discovery, and balance make this a really thought-provoking read that will resonate with YA readers. Beyond Mina's own journey and complex relationships, Emmitt is also struggling with self-discovery, parental expectations, and how to navigate where he is to where he wants to be. Their parallel journeys are certainly different, but complement to make for a stronger discussion of these important themes. This is a really powerful read for YA readers who may be struggling with similar situations and trying to define themselves and their independence.

Final verdict: A riveting and compelling YA contemporary romance, A SHOW FOR TWO will captivate and consume readers through a beautiful, emotional, and heartfelt journey that leaves them with powerful and hope-filled messages. Highly recommend picking up this fantastic book!