Left on Read

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Author(s)
Publisher
Age Range
14+
Release Date
August 04, 2026
ISBN
978-0823460564
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In this rivals-to-lovers romcom from Marissa Eller, overachiever Murphy wants one thing: to be the top student in her school. So when a student who could beat her turns up, she tries to keep her eyes on her own paper… and off this infuriatingly perfect boy.

School is everything to Murphy—literally everything, since she's missed out on all of the Traditional High School Things in pursuit of academic success. Her senior year is going to be perfect, and so is she... because she's pushing herself to her physical and mental limit. All she needs to do is ignore her mounting anxiety! Which is probably clinical! La la la!

But Hayes—her ultrasmart, ultra-annoying rival for valedictorian—is making her year far less perfect than she imagined.

He's after that top spot, and he doesn't care who he has to shove outside. But when Murphy and Hayes are paired up for a group project on student mental health, Murphy discovers that he might be the only one who understands what she's going through. The burnout. The self-doubt. The unrelenting grind. Together, they can stand up to the pressures of academia, family, and the way most traveled... if they partner up in more ways than one.

Editor review

1 review
Sweet Romantic Comedy
(Updated: July 01, 2026)
Overall rating
 
5.0
Plot
 
5.0
Characters
 
5.0
Writing Style
 
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
N/A
“Left on Read” by Marissa Eller takes readers into the world of Nova, an overly ambitious high school student who is excited to take a college-level American Literature course. When she finds out that her academic rival, Hayes, is also in the class, she doesn’t quite know how it will all go and if she’ll be able to enjoy it. Little does she expect that Hayes will not be nearly the worry that her new professor turns out to be.

Nova has to figure out how to deal with the challenges of college while still being in high school and dealing with new crushes, past mistakes, and the desire to do her best work at all times. Along with her best friend, Esha, and new friends like Piper, Luke, and even—though she never would have guessed it—Hayes, she discovers that life is what you make of it and not necessarily what you wait for others to make of it for you.

Marissa Eller has written a sweet romantic comedy with a relatable main character and a great love interest who happens to have once been her academic nemesis. There are moments that couldn’t have been predicted, and others that, while predictable, will still have readers eager to continue turning the pages.
Good Points
Marissa Eller has written a sweet romantic comedy with a relatable main character and a great love interest who happens to have once been her academic nemesis. There are moments that couldn’t have been predicted, and others that, while predictable, will still have readers eager to continue turning the pages.
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