Charlie Vega is a fat, brown girl trying to navigate high school while finding herself. Charlie is an aspiring writer who fantasizes about first loves and first kisses, yet she has never been kissed herself. She has spent most of her school days hiding in the shadows of her best friend, Amelia, the skinny, beautiful, popular girl.

When Charlie starts dating Brian, the artsy Asian boy at school, who makes her feel bold, confident, and beautiful, she falls head over heels in young love. They spend all their time together, watching movies, perusing art museums, and meandering through book stores. Little does Charlie realize she has abandoned her best friend to hang out exclusively with Brian which leads to a falling out. After the venomous fight with Amelia, Charlie's world comes crashing down - she has lost her best friend and boyfriend in a matter of minutes. How will she ever recover?

Crystal Maldonado perfectly narrates every high school girl's feelings about not being good enough, becoming their own person, and discovering love. Crystal gave Charlie a genuine voice while facing dilemmas regarding race, weight, and the need to please everyone else. While the references to the 90s and AOL made me cringe at my own age, the plot was something I think everyone can relate to, regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, or age.