Worst-Case Scenario

Ray Stoeve

Book cover for Worst-Case Scenario
Image for variant 9781419764998
Book cover for Worst-Case Scenario
Image for variant 9781419764998

Worst-Case Scenario

Worst-Case Scenario

Ray Stoeve

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Description
An enemies-to-lovers romance about nemeses who are forced to share their school's Queer Alliance presidency following a tie in the election, new from beloved author Ray Stoeve

Sidney has one goal for their junior year. Well . . . two, if they're being honest. Number one: become president of their school's Queer Alliance club. And number two: keep their self-diagnosed anxiety in check so their grades don't tank like they did last year.

But when the election results in a tie with none other than Sidney's arch nemesis, the class clown Forrest, the two are forced to share the presidency until a revote at the end of term. Sidney expects Forrest to be insufferable, but it turns out that working together is . . . kind of nice?

As surprising feelings for Forrest emerge, Sidney's techniques for managing their anxiety stop working. With the reelection approaching and assignments starting to pile up, will all this pressure be too much for Sidney to handle on their own?

About the Author

Ray Stoeve is the author of the young adult novels The Summer Love Strategy, Arden Grey, and Between Perfect and Real. They also contributed to the young adult anthology Take the Mic: Fictional Stories of Everyday Resistance. They received a Made at Hugo House Fellowship and created the YA/MG Trans and Nonbinary Voices Masterlist, a database that tracks all books in those age categories written by trans authors about trans characters. When they're not writing, they can be found gardening, making art in other mediums, or hiking in their beloved Pacific Northwest.

Critical Reviews

***STARRED REVIEW***

"All the myths and misdiagnoses surrounding OCD are explored in the safe environment of the world Stoeve creates--this is perfect for students who want to read more about someone living with OCD and how to be a good friend to them...Stories about diverse teens dealing with all types of difficulties while having full, rich lives and romance are still rare finds. This, and all of Stoeve's novels, will fill that empty space on shelves perfectly."

--School Library Journal

***STARRED REVIEW***

"It's the perfect queer enemies-to-lovers romance for those who crave an emotionally devastating ride."

--Booklist

"[T]he writing is readable and straightforward, depicting Sidney's feelings and experiences authentically and poignantly. Teens seeking a realistic and compassionate depiction of mental health challenges and those who enjoy low-key love stories will find this novel resonates...An honest depiction of OCD paired with a cute queer romance."

--Kirkus Reviews

"Enlivened by playful rom-com devices, empathetic prose and Sidney's vulnerable first-person narration vividly portray the protagonist's emotional distress, resulting in an honest unpacking of one teen's struggle to manage their spiraling mental health alongside authentic high school drama."

--Publishers Weekly

Publishing Information

Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
Pub date: 2026-01-20
Length: 304 pages

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