An Own-Voices, Enemies-to-Lovers Historical YA Perfect for Fans of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and I’ll Give You the Sun.
Set against the vibrant, rigid backdrop of 1990s Italy, Forget Nico is a witty, raw, and deeply emotional fictionalized memoir exploring the messy, beautiful path to self-discovery, gender identity, and the complicated boundaries of first love.
Teen angst. Friendship. And the love story of a lifetime.
Lee doesn’t know it yet, but they’re nonbinary. Their male soul would feel at home in their female body if not for the crushing expectations of 1990s Italy, where strict gender roles rule.
Puberty has abruptly ended the days of belching contests, tree climbing, and gaming. Now, friends see Lee only as dating material—when they see them at all. Craving deep emotional connection far more than kissing games, Lee throws themselves into volleyball, dreaming of making it to nationals despite their short stature.
The only person who understands even a sliver of Lee's inner darkness is Nico, their childhood frenemy. Ever since moving north from Sicily in third grade, Nico’s favorite pastime has been tormenting Lee. But Lee is no victim. Over time, their fierce antagonism twisted into an unlikely friendship—the one stable anchor in two otherwise turbulent lives.
Still, Nico doesn’t know what to make of post-puberty Lee. Popular, brooding, and fiercely protective, he struggles to reconcile old loyalties with confusing new feelings. As Lee’s growing alienation turns into anger, the two hurt each other time and again, yet find themselves utterly unable to stay apart.
Then Alex enters the picture: a handsome new suitor determined to win Lee’s heart, threatening the fragile bond Lee and Nico have spent a lifetime building.
