Lightning in Her Hands

When she was four years old, Teal Flores’s mother stole some of Teal’s power over the weather and then abandoned Teal and her sisters. Now, Teal is an adult, and she has plenty of power but no control over it. Every time she has a feeling, the weather reflects it, and between her bipolar disorder, depression, and feelings of abandonment, there are a lot of stormy days. The only way to fix her gift is to get back what was stolen. She also needs a date to her ex’s wedding and asks Carter Velasquez, her former friend, to be her plus-one. Carter agrees, with one condition—Teal has to marry him. Carter’s abuela is holding his inheritance hostage and won’t release it until he’s married. Teal agrees to the fake marriage, but living with Carter proves to be more difficult than she imagined. This fake-relationship romance is beautifully and sympathetically written. The protagonists are well-developed, with backstories that explain their present actions and reactions. Their Mexican American heritage is a significant part of the story and is woven in skillfully.