When The Vibe Is Right (YA fiction)

     A lot of people are joining me in crossing library age lines in the realization that the most authentic, relevant, diverse, and inclusive fiction volumes are on the YA side. This is particularly true for that genre we call romance. Sarah Dass's When the Vibe Is Right is a prime example of this. 

     Every year in Trinidad the Carnival festival, held on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, is a very big deal. Costumes, both traditional and modern, play a major role in the celebration. Tess's family's business, Grandeur, is about costume designing, manufacturing, and selling.

     "For most people, those days of Carnival passed and then it was over. But for those of us who dedicated our lives to the festival, Monday and Tuesday were just the culmination of the rest of the year. Making Carnival costumes was an artform that took months of work, time, and commitment, and the process began days after the last festival ended."

     For most of her life Tess has been fascinated with designing and manufacturing costumes. She spends as much time as she is allowed to at Grandeur. Her ambition is to ruin the family business when her Uncle Russell retires...

     ...but there's a major problem. The costume business is highly competitive. Grandeur's major rival, Royalty, is kicking their ass. They haven't turned a profit in years. In fact if things don't turn around this year Russell has decided that it will be their last.

     Tess isn't about to give up on her family business and her dream. She can see salvation being achieved by a more creative and strategic social media presence. Unfortunately this is not in her skill set...

     ...and the person who could help the most, Brandon, is the classmate she can't stand being in the same room with. 

On a purrrsonal note, I just picked up a sort of costume--my graduation regalia: gown, cap, and the grad school stuff. I'm especially proud because the stroke didn't stop me from pursuing my dream.

A great big shout out goes out to my fellow class of 25 grads.

Jules Hathaway 

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