Promo text

Ellie Sweet is a lot of things—good girl, novelist, silent adorer of the new boy at school, Palmer. But when “outcast” gets added to the list, she decides it’s time to take reality into her own hands … and tweak it as needed.In the pages of her book, she’s Lady Gabrielle, favorite of the medieval Italian court. Her once-friends are reduced to catty ladies-in-waiting, and the too-charming Palmer—who in real life never spares her a second word—gets to be nothing more than a rake wracked by unrequited love for her. She even has a perfect real-life villain in the brooding Chase, who hails from the wrong side of town.But just when she’s getting along great in her fictional world, the real one throws her a few curves. With Chase pursuing her, Palmer wanting to date her—but in secret—and the details of her manuscript going public, Ellie suddenly receives more attention than she ever really wanted. And when her former-friends discover what she’s been writing, they’re determined to teach Ellie a lesson about the severe consequences of using her pen as her sword.

Tropes present

Love Triangle Ellie’s never been kissed, but suddenly there are two boys interested in her. One is pompous and preppy, while the other one gets into fights and gets DUIs.

Low-key faith message Ellie’s a good girl, and she goes to church. But beyond that, it’s a little difficult to see why this is being marketed as a Christian book.

Friend-group meltdown Ellie is a introvert, but she has a few friends who start out the book as nice people. But then she has to deal with their turning into jerks. Also it doesn’t help when they figure out she’s been using their names and likenesses to create a novel about palace intrigue in 15th-Century Italy.

Brooding boy, gentle girl Chase and Ellie. He starts out the book looking seriously toxic, but it turns out there’s more to him than that.