Two teens fall in love and must decide whether to fit in or stand out in this sophomore young adult novel by Tanaz Bhathena, The Beauty of the Moment.

Susan is the new girl—she’s sharp and driven, and strives to meet her parents’ expectations of excellence. Malcolm is the bad boy—he started raising hell at age fifteen, after his mom died of cancer, and has had a reputation ever since.

Susan’s parents are on the verge of divorce. Malcolm’s dad is a known adulterer.

Susan hasn’t told anyone, but she wants to be an artist. Malcolm doesn’t know what he wants—until he meets her.

Love is messy and families are messier, but in spite of their burdens, Susan and Malcolm fall for each other. The ways they drift apart and come back together are testaments to family, culture, and being true to who you are.

Tanaz Bhathena writes books for young adults. Her fantasy novel Hunted by the Sky was named a Best Book of the Year by the CBC and USBBY, and is the first of a YA fantasy duology set in a world inspired by medieval India. Her novel The Beauty of the Moment won the Nautilus Gold Award for Young Adult Fiction and has also been nominated for the Ontario Library Association’s White Pine Award. Her acclaimed debut, A Girl Like That, was named a Best Book of the Year by numerous outlets including The Globe and Mail, Seventeen, and The Times of India. She lives in Missisauga, Ontario, with her family.

Categories

• Young Adult Fiction / Romance / Multicultural & Interracial
• Young Adult Fiction / Social Themes / Emigration & Immigration

Product Details

ISBN: 9781250233837
ISBN-10: 1250233836
Publisher: Square Fish
Publication Date: July 21st, 2020
Pages: 400
Language: English

Recommended Reading Level

Minimum Age: 12
Maximum Age: 18
Minimum Grade Level:
Maximum Grade Level:

"Bhathena has crafted a masterfully complex story filled with flawed characters and a titanium-strength love story. In The Beauty of the Moment, readers will fall in love, experience the heartbreak, and chase burgeoning hope to the end. A brilliant follow up to A Girl Like That.” —Nisha Sharma, author of My So-Called Bollywood Life

“This dramatic romance, told from Susan and Malcolm’s alternating viewpoints, authentically traces the teens’ gradual changes as they come to terms with mistakes they’ve made and who they want to be.” —Publishers Weekly

“[Susan and Malcolm's] struggles with expectations and traditions born in a faraway land will ring true for any reader with immigrant parents. . .A good recommendation for readers interested in romance.” —Booklist

“Fans of Nicola Yoon’s The Sun Is Also a Star will enjoy this bicultural romance. A strong purchase for most YA collections, especially where contemporary romance is in demand.” —School Library Journal

“Bhathena masterfully discusses a host of those themes including cultural differences, complex family dynamics and self-discovery. The characters are strong, and their development is realistic and well paced; the tone and flow of dialogue go a long way to creating a lasting connection with the story. Best of all, no one theme overtakes the other, which allows readers to develop their own take on the story.” —The Globe and Mail