A love letter to romantic comedies, sweet sixteen blowouts, black joy and queer pride—this is a novel about finding yourself, falling in love, and celebrating what makes you you.

Sixteen-year-old Mahalia Harris never got to have a Sweet Sixteen like her best friend Naomi, because her single mother couldn’t afford to throw her one. But it’s okay, because Mahalia has an even better idea: she’ll have a lavish “Coming Out Party” where she announces her queerness to her friends and family.

Mahalia’s mom agrees to match whatever she can save from her afterschool job at the bougie organic grocery. And things start looking up when Mahalia meets a girl who gives her actual butterflies. That is… until she learns her crush, Siobhan, is already seeing one of the most obnoxious guys in school. And then Mahalia’s mother is laid off, forcing her to dip into her grocery store savings to keep their family afloat.

Things are looking bleak but Mahalia is no quitter; she’ll just have to get creative to pull off the party of her dreams, and (hopefully) get the girl along the way.