First Place Fluster: A Clean YA Summer Honors Rivals Romance

Tied for first and stuck together in a summer honors program, Arden and Reed turn a heatwave service project into something bigger than rivalry and far more dangerous than a crush.Arden enters her summer honors program determined to earn the recommendation that could shape her future. Focused, prepared, and under more pressure than she lets anyone see, she is ready to compete until Reed ties her for first and upends her plans.Reed is thoughtful, steady, and frustratingly hard to read. When a dangerous heatwave turns their academic program into a community support initiative, Arden and Reed are forced to work side by side helping families access water, cooling information, and practical assistance with dignity.As the project grows, so does the trust between them. Arden begins to see the heart beneath Reed's calm. Reed begins to understand the fear and responsibility behind Arden's relentless drive. But with only one major recommendation available, every step closer makes the final decision harder to bear.