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According to Plan
Table of Contents
About The Book
Three starred reviews!
“Warm, witty, and wonderfully queer.” —Aiden Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of Cemetery Boys
From USA TODAY bestselling author Christen Randall comes a cozy, “authentic, and affirming” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) queer romance about self-discovery, finding your person, and carving out a space for yourself in unexpected places—perfect for fans of Heartstopper and Julie Murphy.
Mal Flowers expected senior year fall to be full of cozy sweaters, good coffee, and copyediting. As the new editor-in-chief of their school’s literary magazine, they just want to follow The Plan to graduate and get out of their small midwestern town—a place where, as a broke, fat, queer person with ADHD, they’ve never really fit in. But when budget cuts result in the lit mag’s cancellation, Mal is suddenly left scrambling for something to replace it.
That is, until Emerson Pike—who also has ADHD but is loud, confident, and Mal’s complete opposite—suggests the staff go rogue and create a zine instead. Which would be cool, except that making and selling contraband isn’t exactly what Mal envisioned listing as the extracurricular activity on their college application. A zine would be unofficial, unapproved, and definitely not in The Plan.
But a zine is also a good way to spend more time with Emerson, whose playful banter and bad jokes Mal can’t seem to get enough of. And maybe, with a group of new friends, the back of the charming coffee shop where Emerson works could be somewhere Mal does belong. Because breaking the rules with Emerson—and flirting with her over coffee—is fun.
Maybe The Plan isn’t the only way to find happiness, but can Mal let go of something they’ve depended on for so long?
“Warm, witty, and wonderfully queer.” —Aiden Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of Cemetery Boys
From USA TODAY bestselling author Christen Randall comes a cozy, “authentic, and affirming” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) queer romance about self-discovery, finding your person, and carving out a space for yourself in unexpected places—perfect for fans of Heartstopper and Julie Murphy.
Mal Flowers expected senior year fall to be full of cozy sweaters, good coffee, and copyediting. As the new editor-in-chief of their school’s literary magazine, they just want to follow The Plan to graduate and get out of their small midwestern town—a place where, as a broke, fat, queer person with ADHD, they’ve never really fit in. But when budget cuts result in the lit mag’s cancellation, Mal is suddenly left scrambling for something to replace it.
That is, until Emerson Pike—who also has ADHD but is loud, confident, and Mal’s complete opposite—suggests the staff go rogue and create a zine instead. Which would be cool, except that making and selling contraband isn’t exactly what Mal envisioned listing as the extracurricular activity on their college application. A zine would be unofficial, unapproved, and definitely not in The Plan.
But a zine is also a good way to spend more time with Emerson, whose playful banter and bad jokes Mal can’t seem to get enough of. And maybe, with a group of new friends, the back of the charming coffee shop where Emerson works could be somewhere Mal does belong. Because breaking the rules with Emerson—and flirting with her over coffee—is fun.
Maybe The Plan isn’t the only way to find happiness, but can Mal let go of something they’ve depended on for so long?
About The Author
Vincent Young
Christen Randall (they/she) is a queer, fat, neurodivergent author of queer, fat, neurodiverse books, including Junior Library Guild selection and instant USA TODAY bestseller The No-Girlfriend Rule. When they’re not writing joyful stories for the next generation of geeky gay kids, you can find them making zines about neighborhood cats, nerding out doing readers’ advisory as a library associate at their local library branch, or at home planning all the D&D campaigns they’ll run one day, they swear. Christen lives in Covington, Kentucky. Visit them online at ByChristenRandall.com and on social media @ByCRandall.
Why We Love It
“According to Plan is THE book you want to curl up with anytime you need to escape to somewhere warm and cozy—a place where romance comes with a side of coffee, a good zine, and a self-care walk in the crisp autumn air. Mal Flowers is anxious and brave and funny, with such a big heart, and I cannot think of a better match for them than bright and bubbly Emerson Pike; their chemistry makes me feel like I’m third-wheeling through the page! Seeing two fat, queer, neurodivergent teens finding themselves and falling in love will heal parts of you that you never expected.”
—Feather F., Editor, on According to Plan
Product Details
- Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (January 26, 2027)
- Length: 432 pages
- ISBN13: 9781665939850
- Ages: 14 - 99
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Raves and Reviews
★ “Perfect for autistic, ADHD teens, or list-making overachievers, [According to Plan] captures the slow, steady growth of a character learning who they are beyond their own and others’ expectations. Stepping into one’s own isn’t always easy, linear, or clean, and Mal’s journey mirrors that authenticity. . . . A cozy read and perfect distraction from life’s stressors.”
– School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW
★ “Mal is a well-realized character, a fat teen who describes their experiences with dyslexia, ADHD, and possible autism in ways that are understandable and relatable. Alongside their sweet romance, Randall also realistically explores Mal’s struggles with family pressure and finding their own interests; these relationships are exceptionally well drawn. . . . A rich, authentic, and affirming story about building your community.”
– Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
“Warm, witty, and wonderfully queer, this is the joyful, neurodivergent story every anxious overachiever didn’t know they needed! Perfect for fans of Felix Ever After and Alice Oseman, and anyone who’s ever needed a backup plan for their backup plan."
– Aiden Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of Cemetery Boys
“Whether it’s the characters, the feels, the relatability, or the prose, Christen Randall proves to be one of the best queer storytellers of our time, bar none. A must-read.”
– Jonny Garza Villa, Stonewall Book Award-winning author of Canto Contigo
“Christen Randall creates worlds I want to live in and characters I want as my best friends. According to Plan is a cozy collage of fat joy, found family, neurodivergence, queer love, and carving out your place in the world. An absolute delight.”
– Crystal Maldonado, award-winning author of Fat Chance, Charlie Vega and The Fall of Whit Rivera
“According to Plan explores the transformative experience of finding a community that’s Correct for you after years of fitting yourself into others’ expectations. A nerdy celebration of found family and queer love, and a total joy to read!”
– Kristy Boyce, New York Times bestselling author of Dating & Dragons
&★ “Perfect for autistic, ADHD teens, or list-making overachievers, [According to Plan] captures the slow, steady growth of a character learning who they are beyond their own and others’ expectations. Stepping into one’s own isn’t always easy, linear, or clean, and Mal’s journey mirrors that authenticity. . . . A cozy read and perfect distraction from life’s stressors.”
– School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW
Resources and Downloads
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