Fitz Holton waits in fear for the day his single mother’s early-onset Alzheimer’s starts stealing her memory. He’s vowed to stay close to home to care for her in the years to come—never mind the ridiculous college tour she’s forcing him on to visit schools he knows he’ll never go to.

Juniper Ramirez is counting down the days until she can leave home, a home crowded with five younger siblings and zero privacy. Against the wishes of her tight-knit family, Juniper plans her own college tour of the East Coast with one goal: to get out.

When Fitz and Juniper cross paths on their first college tour in Boston, they’re at odds from the moment they meet—while Juniper’s dying to start a new life apart from her family, Fitz faces the sacrifices he must make for his. Their relationship sparks a deep connection—in each other’s eyes, they glimpse alternate possibilities regarding the first big decision of their adult lives.

Marisa Blake

Stem