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Crystal Maldonado is a young adult author with a lot of feelings. Her debut novel, Fat Chance, Charlie Vega, is a New England Book Award winner, a Cosmopolitan Best New Book, and a POPSUGAR Best New YA Novel. Her next novel, No Filter and Other Lies, explores teenage life in the social media age-and the lies we tell to ourselves and others. By day, Crystal works in higher ed marketing, and by night, is a writer who loves Beyonce, shopping, spending too much time on her phone, and being extra. Her work has also been published in Latina, BuzzFeed, and the Hartford Courant. She lives in western Massachusetts with her husband, daughter, and dog. Find her everywhere @crystalwrote or CrystalWrote.com.
A Cosmopolitan Best New Book of Winter 2020 Charlie's struggles are authentic and raw while Maldonado's bright prose makes for a page-turner. . . . An overdue and welcome ingenue. -Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review Charlie's emotional arc hits all the right notes, resulting in a warm and insightful coming-of-age tale. -Publishers Weekly Sweet and sincere, Charlie Vega's journey is a delight. -School Library Journal Fat Chance, Charlie Vega is an accomplished debut, and its nuanced depictions of first love, a complex mother-daughter relationship and fat acceptance make it stand out. -BookPage With a memorable cast that brings fresh faces and voices to a typically homogenous genre, this title focuses on the positives of the often difficult and confusing high-school experience: genuine friendships and allies, powerful first crushes, and discovering oneself. . . . Charlie's optimistic outlook, despite the challenges that come with her identity, will attract a widespread audience of romance lovers and expand their idea of what a romantic lead can look like. -Booklist We're so excited to get our hands on it. -Buzzfeed Readers will appreciate Charlie from the get-go and rejoice when she herself begins to see the Charlie-celebrating light. -The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Fat Chance, Charlie Vega is an utterly heartwarming story of love--of friends, of family, of romance and, most importantly, of oneself. -Shelf Awareness Issues of body positivity and racial and gender identity are dealt with in a light, positive, and totally engrossing manner. This novel is perfect for fans of Julie Murphy's Dumplin' (Balzer + Bray 2015) and for any reader who struggles with feeling like they are 'not enough.' -School Library Connection This book feels like your best friend giving you a hug-it's warm and sweet and healing. -Mason Deaver, bestselling author of I Wish You All the Best A sweet and cheerful debut, Fat Chance, Charlie Vega moves with rom-com energy and a whole lot of awkward, goofy, chubby-girl-with-a-crush-on-a-boy vibes. -Gabby Rivera, author of Juliet Takes a Breath and Marvel's America
