Finally Fitz

Following a teenage influencer interested in fashion after she gets dumped by her girlfriend and agrees to fake date her childhood best friend, FINALLY FITZ has more charm in it than I was expecting. It’s a wonderful YA book that explores the absolute mess that teenagers can be in a very caring manner. Teenagers aren’t perfect and this book embraces that and shows the characters trying to be better.

What I Loved:
The growth! Fitz is not a perfect character, even at the end of the book. She makes mistakes and bad choices, but the important part is that she is given room to grow during the summer. The author, Marisa Kanter, gave so much space to Fitz to allow her to learn and grow as she learns more about herself and what is important to her.

The characters in this book were realistic. Fitz and Levi were both characters that felt authentic for the setting and time, which doesn’t always happen.

The relationships between the characters! Marisa Kanter wrote dialogue and interactions that felt so realistic for these characters. From the banter between Levi and Fitz to the relationship that Fitz has with her sisters. There was space for those interactions to shine and it added depth to the story.

What Left Me Wanting More:
I would have loved getting to spend more time with Fitz at her summer program. It isn’t necessary to tie the book together, but it could have been fun to explore.

There were also a lot of themes and topics being discussed. That’s not necessarily a bad thing since the author tried hard to give them all the space that they needed, but it can be overwhelming for some readers.

Final Verdict:
FINALLY FITZ was a fake-dating romance that handled deeper topics than I could have expected from first glance, adding a beautiful depth to a fun romance.

FINALLY FITZ is a charming YA contemporary about finding yourself and complicated relationships. Ava Fitzgerald (Fitz) is spending the summer in NYC with her girlfriend while participating in a prestigious program for aspiring fashion designers. She has a pretty good following on instagram, and she showcases her finds along with thrifting and DIY tips there. At the end of the first week, Fitz is ready to tell her girlfriend that she loves her - only to meet a fan at dinner and then find herself being dumped instead.

Unsure where to head, but unwilling to head back to the shared living space they have, Fitz goes to visit one of her older sisters who lives in the city. Fitz's sisters are much older than her, and as such, she has always felt left out of their group. Adding to that her distant parents, and Fitz has spend a lot of time feeling alone. Now, dumped in a new city, her loneliness echoes.

When she runs into her childhood BFF, Levi on the subway, Fitz is not sure if her summer will take a turn. However, when she sees an opportunity to maybe get her ex back with jealousy, she proposes a fake relationship so they can both make their exes wish they had them back. The plan set in motion, Fitz now has to figure out her fashion designs - but finding her own style is as difficult as the relationships in her life.

What I loved: This was such an engaging read about finding yourself, complicated relationships (family, friends, and romantic), and forging your own path. While Fitz is set adrift at the beginning of the summer due to her breakup and the crashing of her plans, she will end up finding her own way through with the help of friends new and old. While she came to the city in part for her girlfriend, the program she is participating in has the chance to be life-changing. Except that Fitz's style is catered to instagram and she is not sure who she - or the fashion she wants to make - is.

Thus comes a summer of self-discovery through interactions and finding her way. While the fake dating was quite cute, it was really the personal epiphanies that Fitz has along the way that make the story. The romance is a major theme, but only as far as it helps her to discover her own identity and who she wants to be. Her relationships with her sisters are another piece Fitz will begin to navigate. She has felt like she was in the shadows for so long - but maybe this is a chance for change.

Fitz really grows during this summer, and while she may not be perfect, she learns to begin embracing the imperfections. Another theme is around mental illness. While Fitz is not diagnosed, it seems that she may have some element of anxiety. Importantly, she begins to realize that this is something for which she needs help and begins to understand her own limitations. Other characters also tell their own stories related to mental health, and it creates a positive message for therapy and healing.

Levi was sweet and overall really great for Fitz. While things may not go perfectly, their friendship remains an important element to the story. Through experiences and discussions, Fitz has many of her epiphanies through their deeper discussions and activities. The fake dating was a fun element that fell away quickly (even if they would not admit it). While the ending for them was not perfect, like other things in Fitz's life, there is power in the imperfections.

Final verdict: FINALLY FITZ is a sweet YA contemporary with a coming-of-age story that weaves together a story of romance, connection, and art.