SHAPES OF LOVE by L. V. Peñalba
9781250408372
5/19/2026
Wednesday Books
Ages 13-18
E-galley available on Edelweiss and NetGalley
In L.V. Peñalba’s new YA novel SHAPES OF LOVE, Sasha is a pop star with a fake boyfriend, a real secret, and a story that will change how you think about love.
When nineteen-year-old Sasha’s debut album catapults her to stardom, her fans become obsessed with finding the “muse” behind her love songs, but as an aroace-spec artist, Sasha’s not interested in romance, unless it comes in the shape of a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers book! To satisfy the public, she enters a PR relationship with her estranged best friend and ex, Kai, forcing her to navigate industry pressure while protecting her authentic self.
While their history is complicated, Sasha and Kai quickly fall back into the effortless rhythm of their friendship. However, performing a “fake” romance for the cameras is far from easy, with Sasha especially feeling the mounting weight and discomfort of deceiving her fans. But another challenge lies in moving past the shadows of their history to define what they mean to each other now. As the industry relentlessly pushes a romantic narrative, Sasha must navigate the fear of future loneliness, wondering how to keep Kai as her “person” in a world that insists on a kind of love she doesn’t feel.
Through this journey, Peñalba explores the nuances of the aroace spectrum and celebrates platonic friendships that are just as deep and vital as any romance. Watching Sasha navigate her way toward self-realization while reconnecting with her people felt incredibly personal. Peñalba handles this deeply relatable search for belonging with such heart and honesty. It is a journey that will stay with me long after closing the book.
This story also captures the magic of a found family so perfectly. It is the heart of the book and a beautiful reminder that the most ‘real’ homes are the ones we build ourselves, even when they don’t look the way the world says they should. The care Peñalba brings to exploring identity, love, loneliness, and mental health will resonate with anyone who has ever felt like they were living on the outside of everyone else’s expectations.
Perfect for fans of Alice Oseman’s LOVELESS and the celebrity fake-dating charm of Ann Liang’s THIS TIME IT’S REAL, this story explores the space between friendship and romance with breathtaking honesty. Readers will laugh and they will cry; there is so much love to be felt within these pages.
Happy reading!
<3 Hallie
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