Seven Minutes in Candyland

by Brian Wasson

Sophomore Kalvin Shmelton has finally perfected his underground candy-selling hustle at school. He keeps his prices reasonable, his inventory fresh, and himself out of the drama. But when a heartbroken Sterling Glistern—Kal’s longtime crush— barges into the storage closet where he keeps his candy supply, a new source of income unexpectedly presents itself: relationship therapist. Sure, he only meant to help Sterling realize she’s been dating a jerk—and maybe win her over—but news spreads fast that Kalvin’s not just the master of sweets…but hearts, too! And as the son of two famous therapists, he leans into this newfound reputation and the money that comes with it.

The truth, however, is that Kalvin’s parents’ “perfect” marriage is crumbling. He was supposed to woo the girl of his dreams, fix his parents’ relationship, and lend a listening ear to a school-full of heartbroken teens. But a jealous boyfriend, a vengeful competitor, and Kalvin’s own growing ego threaten those plans, forcing Kal to rethink all he thought he knew about friendship, family, and love.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Coming Of Age, Teen, Mental Health

336 pages, Hardcover

First published December 12, 2023

About the author

Aside from being an author, Brian Wasson is a husband, father of 3 kids, and a high school English teacher who’s learned much more from his students than they ever could’ve hoped to learn from him.

He has 2 novels, SEVEN MINUTES IN CANDYLAND and TWO TRUTHS AND A LIONEL.

Follow him on TikTok @teacherbrian919
Subscribe to his words on Substack at https://brianwasson1.substack.com

Pronouns: he/him

Reviews

[Wobilba · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah to be young and over dramatic *sigh*

I feel like I should be eating candy while reading this 🍭🍫🍬

[Brian Wasson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trust me, it's great!

[Anniek · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the concept of this, and was hoping it would give Sex Education vibes, as in a teen therapist offering his services at school and the drama that ensues. This didn't end up being exactly like I was hoping, but I did still enjoy it. I particularly liked the main character. I do however think the story could have been fleshed out a little more.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two of the only Black teens in school bond over candy as Kalvin is the king of the side hustle with an underground candy business that shifts into private therapy advice. Things blow up when his therapist parent's relationship is revealed to be on the rocks and suddenly no one trusts Kalvin's advice. A standout debut full of heart and humor and perfect for fans of authors like Ben Philippe or the Netflix show Sex Education. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

[Pamela Gaskin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a chance to get an early copy! It was an absolutely fantastic debut! This author has a great future ahead of him

[Amy's Book Cafe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brilliant and messy YA book which reminded me of Sex Education (& messy YA books are the best)

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Initial reaction: 3 stars overall is where I'll land. "Seven Minutes in Candyland" had me from the moment I saw the cover. It's freaking cute. The vibes look like this is going to be a cute story. There are many moments in this where it is as sweet as its cover, and quite funny when it sticks the landing.

But I think there are elements of this story, though well intentioned, that feel like it's forcing its hand a bit. Kalvin's internal voice sometimes felt older than his 16-years/being a sophomore in high school. Some of it I think worked in the dialogue he had with his parents, peers, and even for his intentions in what he's doing with his candy side hustle and wanting his parents to get back together, but I felt like some of the internal voice landed mismatched with him. Sterling was very cool. The side characters have their distinct moments. And this is a romance/coming of age story that has a LOT of mess among a group of well-to-do teens. But I think the execution could have been better.

Full review:

I think I'm still navigating out of my happy buzz from the cover of "Seven Minutes of Candyland" being as beautifully vibrant, colorful, representative of its characters, and gorgeously cute. I wish that there were more covers like this in YA. I also wish that this book had been as cute as the cover, alas.

This is not to say that Brian Wasson's debut YA novel didn't have its moments of sticking the landing. When it worked, it was very cute and showcased the chemistry between the characters in a way that I could appreciate with a coming of age rom-com for teens. Also when it worked, it showcased a teen boy trying his hardest to navigate the failing relationship of his parents alongside maintaining a secret candy business in order to bring them back together to the family they used to be - so it had heart there. However, the presentation of this book is so awkward that I think it very much forgets the audience its intended for. That's ultimately what ends up hurting it, unfortunately.

Kalvin is a 16-year old sophomore at his high school who is in the business of selling candy outside his school's official channels, from a storage closet, no less. Imagine his surprise when a girl (Sterling) he's had a crush on for the longest time ends up sneaking in the closet with him, tears on her face. Kalvin realizes that she's having trouble with her current boyfriend and wants him to help her try to improve things. This isn't what Kalvin has in mind, since he would like to shoot his shot with her, but he agrees anyway. He gives her the advice that he thinks she wants to hear. (And it seems to help.)

Unfortunately, word gets around that Kalvin is a relationship expert and he starts getting requests from other members of the student body, per Sterling's recommendation. And sure, Kalvin knows what to say because his parents are a famous pair of relationship experts. Problem with that is, Kalvin knows what the public doesn't know - his parents' relationship is in trouble. Kalvin decides to use his candy business, what he's saved, and his newly formed "relationship advice" business to get enough money before Valentine's Day to raise money to give them a trip that would give them the chance to be a happy family again.

Of course, nothing about what Kalvin intends ends up working out the way he plans. He thinks his intended journey will land him all that he wants, but it ends up breaking off more than even he envisioned. The result is messy, temultuous and honestly cringe in many moments. For those who were comparing this to the Netflix series "Sex Education" - that's a spot on comparison to what it was like in some moments of this. (Albeit not as graphic. Let me point that out very bluntly.) I wondered if this was even going to lean into an actual romance based on how certain things transpire towards the latter part of the book. Kalvin feels the weight of things blowing up in his face, and in the end, does his best to make amends where he can. But this has an HEA! It is a romance! I don't think it reckoned with all the weight of certain things getting there and blew past some of the mess, but I was surprised.

I think there are genuinely sweet interactions between Kalvin and Sterling, that was a highlight for me as I saw them through moments where it felt genuinely dorky and sweet. I also liked Kalvin's rapport with Dino and several of the side characters here. The humor worked when it was momentary, felt in the vein of what a teen would actually say, and wasn't trying too hard. Unfortunately those moments felt too far between, as one of the biggest problems in this narrative was that Kalvin's narrative voice felt like it was older than the actual character, trying too hard to be something he wasn't. I saw it more in Kalvin's internal thoughts. When he was talking with his friends and parents, he felt like a teenager in most interactions, but I felt shoved out when it came back to him trying to be humored internally. (Those moments...didn't land the humor well.)

The other piece of this - and I think people are wondering on how this lands as a Black teen romance. Ehh. It honestly feels a bit awkward. If you look at this group of privileged teens it tells the perspective from, you can tell it takes place in a PWI school (primarily white institution). Some of the ways in pointing that out trying very hard not only to convince the reader that this is from a teenager but also trying to tongue in cheek point out that the Black kids know they're in this environment they're navigating. Felt like I was getting whiplash from the way it bounces between being "fine, makes sense" (as someone who grew up upper middle class, I navigated those spaces) and doing far too much, to the point of feeling inauthentic. My overarching thought was "It really doesn't need to try this hard! Pick the voice that actually feels like it comes from the 16-year old Black boy and his friends here. Center them, doggone it." So, yeah, that's the best way I can describe it, and it feels mega awkward for the points it misses. I have a feeling teens picking this up will probably go "What is this trying to do? And why does some of this feel/sound weird?" in those moments.

Anyhow...this is definitely a story that has moments where I think people can take from the overarching journey Kalvin goes on and appreciate the sweet moments between him, Sterling, and his friends. But it requires wading a bit through the overwrought moments; it didn't have to be that complicated. (Or mess.) Good mess with reckonings would have been fine, but it didn't always stick the landing, not with Kalvin or the overarching conflict. And I think it could have been much better than what it offered.

I'm willing to read more of the author's work in the future, though.

Overall score: 3/5 stars.

Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this black romance young adult novel although I would be hesitant to call this a full romance because that wasn't the central part of the plot. We meet Kalvin, a fifteen/sixteen year old whose is trying to sell candy on the side to help pay for a trip to repair his parents marriage. He interacts with a girl he's had a crush on since forever, Sterling and he discovers that she is going through a lot in her personal life. Kalvin quickly shifts from being the candyman to being a therapist to the kids at his highschool. There were some decisions and pacing decisions that I wasn't 100% a fan of but for a debut this was a cute, semi quick read.

[DOMINIQUE Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kalvin is selling candy in order to save up enough money for a family trip. Kalvin starts to notice things are different at home between his parents and feels this trip will help bring them back together. Sterling is in a troubling relationship when she stumbles upon Kalvin supply in the storage closet. Kalvin is crushing on Sterling and offering her relationship advice was his in. This was a cute YA read.
Overall I rated this one 3.5 out of 5

[Francis M. Prensa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can I love Kalvin any more?!!! I adore this character, the fact that he wanted to sell his candy, be the candy man, lol and then, on top of that trying to save his parents marriage, it’s so admirable, even though he’s a child, and he should not have to be experiencing those things and having to see those things, when it comes to his parents, it’s amazing the way that he had a goal, and his goal was to save his family.

But then, he ended up being a little bit more than just the kid that was the candy man. he ended up being the kid, that will be there to help and support his own classmates with whatever it is that they’re going through, I thought that was super cute, not to reveal too much about the book, but this book was very funny, very sweet, very heartfelt, and Book that is worth the read. There are some topics that can be very triggering in this book, and the way that he handles things even his own issues, is amazing, this author did their thing. And like I said before it is worth the read.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not gonna lie a couple of these characters had me fighting air, but I let it go. I thought this was cute with a great nod to mental health. None of it was ethical of course, but it was still worth it to see a budding therapist lol Real review to come.

[Emma Andje · Rating 4 out of 5]

*actual rating is 3.5 stars*

[Chris G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

When your parents are relationship experts with a popular podcast and you’re an only child it’s hard not to notice when your folks don’t seem happy or in-sync. Junior Kalvin is determined to save up enough to take the family back to Hawaii for a vacation in hopes that it will re-spark his parents’s love, but along the way to making the needed money he bungles things with his crush, alienates his friends, and discovers that he his much better at giving counsel than taking his own advice. As Black kids in a mostly white school, Kalvin and his friends navigate aggressions of all sizes but revel in their own cultural joy and identity. EARC from Edelweiss.

[Sydney · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5

This is a very typical coming of age ya story if that's what you're looking for. Both of them are on the cover but I wouldn't consider this book a romance. It's definitely about Kelvin and him trying to save his parents marriage. I just wanted to give him a hug, he was struggling so hard. He deserves the world.

I received an arc through netgalley.

[Thamy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Son of therapists, famous couple who hosts a podcast about relationships, all Kalvin wants is for his parents to go back to really be the perfect couple they pretend to be to their followers. For that, he's been selling candies at school so he'll get enough money to buy them a special trip to Hawaii. But his deadline is coming, their marriage is falling apart, and Kalvin is still short of his goal. That's when he starts helping students for a fee, using all the advice he's heard his whole life as a therapist's son.

3+

There are great things about this story. Not only representation, not only good jokes, I like where Kalvin's arc takes him. I was sure I knew where we'd get, but it actually surprised. Not that it's an unbelievable climax, but the author chose a more difficult route but one that prompts the reader to think.

However, the story is still bland. There wasn't one time I got the book to continue because I really wanted to know what was going to happen. Kalvin... isn't a bad guy, but he's not my favorite person. I'm not sure how he managed to get such nice friends being such a pain. The romance had so many complications, including that Sterling has a boyfriend, that I wasn't really cheering for them. And what the character wanted, as I said I didn't even care for Kalvin to care for what he wanted, but I've read enough books to know where that would go for me to expect any different. I should note the author treated this very well, but it doesn't change that it was hard to hope for Kalvin to get what he wanted.

I imagine younger readers, the actual target audience, won't have read as many books to have the same feeling of "been here, read that" that I had, and I do remember being much less bothered with characters like Kalvin when I was younger, so this is probably a 4-star to them.

To me however, it was just slightly above average because at least I felt I could trust this author, and he proved my feeling was right. There are important points that will regenerate reflection, and I feel they were well explored as well. It's not a bad book, and I would like to read more from Brian Wasson. The story just didn't marvel me.


Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

[K.C. Norton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book. Man. I liked what it had to say about mental health and family dynamics, but the tone was all over the place, and the ending really annoyed me. Mild spoiler: the main character pulls a ‘nice guy’ act and is initially called out for it, but then… somehow it’s retroactively fine? Guuhhh?

I liked the narrator’s dynamic with his best friends, but he pulls some stuff even in those relationships that really frustrated me. Don’t get me wrong, I like a flawed narrator, but several people behave egregiously in this book and it’s just… not a big deal in the end, I guess? The way everything gets so neatly resolved made the emotional stakes feel really low. Sometimes the characters acted much younger than their age. There are some genuinely funny moments in here, but I struggle with a book that has the MC making all kinds of bad like decisions and then living out a redemption arc that doesn’t require them to actually change their behavior or demonstrate growth. If it weren’t for the aggressively wish-fulfillmenty end, I would have liked this book a lot more. It’s like the author wanted to tie every possible loose end into a neat bow, even when the resolution was at odds with the characters’ earlier behavior.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this as an ARC.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one took me a little bit to get into as it definitely had its slow parts. Even as an adult reading a YA novel, there were good takeaways and life lessons. There were some situations that I felt could have been expanded on but overall it covered great topics. The characters were mostly relatable and were well developed. The main character was trying to run a candy business and give out advice to make money for a purpose but what he doesn’t realize is what he might loose in the process.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC, this is a voluntary honest review.

[Tiffany T · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is slow and steady, a bit too slow for me. I enjoyed the role that Kalvin plays and his budding romance with Sterling as well as the concurrent plotlines with Rod and Dino. However it just didn't move fast enough for me and about 54% of the way through, I gave up. I just don't have enough patience and this is more of a me thing than a dig on this book.

[Maggie Boyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

The charming cover drew me to pick up Seven Minutes in Candyland, and I am so glad I did. This feel-good story brings back all the best memories of high school while simultaneously reminding us that it wasn’t a perfect place. It’s a celebration of youth, love, the power of friendship, and the joy that can be found in a small piece of chocolate.

Sophomore Kal (Kalvin) Shmelton needs big money, and he needs it fast. His parents have turned a joint psychologist practice into a wildly popular couples therapy podcast and YouTube channel that’s pulling in thousands of dollars a week in sponsored content. But their work on Right the ‘Ship has all but cost them their marriage – and KaI is convinced he can save everything if he just gets their family to Hawaii. It’s the last place he can remember everyone being truly happy, and he is certain if they return, memories will come flooding back of how things were, and everyone will reconnect once more. He doesn’t have a job, but he does have a side hustle in dealing candy of the Mars and Hershey variety between classes. With its allergen restrictions and inflated vending machine prices, the school isn’t giving the students the sugar rush they need to make it through the day, but Kal can and does.

When the gorgeous Sterling Glistern – Kal’s forever-but-never-acted-upon crush – sneaks into the storage closet while he’s taking inventory of his candy stash, he is at first dumbfounded and tongue-tied. She’s crying, and he has no idea how to fix that. It turns out that what he does do – listen and offer the kind of practical advice he’s heard his parents dish out for years – is all that’s needed. In fact, Sterling appreciates it so much that she quietly tells all her friends how much help Kal was. Now, he’s the go-to man for everyone with a problem. He refuses (at first) to counsel anyone – until folks start offering to pay. Before he can quite wrap his head around it, Kal is selling seven-minute therapy sessions for ten bucks a pop in his sugar-laden hidey-hole. Need relationship advice? Kal, who has never really had one, is your man. Struggling with teen anxiety and depression? He’ll teach you the mindfulness techniques needed to make it through your day. Kal doesn’t love the job, but he does love the cash he’s raking in.

The gig isn’t without its problems, though. Mr. Perkins, who allows Kal to keep his candy stash in the AV closet, is eating through Kal’s inventory as he works through his own problems. Maddie, the student council VP, has it in for Kal for something he totally didn’t do. She’s threatening to find grounds to have him suspended, something that will not look good on college applications. And his best friend Rod has managed to tick off one of the varsity soccer players, and now the two of them have to watch their backs constantly, waiting for the man to take revenge. Nothing about Kal’s life is easy, but nothing about growing up ever is.

I think some people will question the ethics of Kal’s doing therapy sessions, but I had no problem with it. Everyone knows he doen’t have a license, and he recommends professional counselors to those who have serious problems. It could be an age thing, but when I was in school, the student newspaper had columns that gave advice from students to students. I also remember reading numerous teen romances based on the school paper advice column reporters, the most famous (infamous) being Dear Lovey Hart, I Am Desperate by Ellen Conford, which was turned into an Afterschool Special on TV. (Before my time, but I did watch the re-run.) So yeah, this wasn’t an issue for me.

If I had a teen in my life, this is the book I would gift them for the holidays. See the rest of my review at https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used the Netgalley audio to listen to this absolutely awesome YA story of debut author Wasson.

Let's start with the cover and title. Can't get better than that.

It focuses on food- particularly candy and specifically making pithy candygrams as Kalvin's side hustle in school in a former AV closet that he has access to. He's an entrepreneur. Yes.

And then the girl of his dreams, Sterling, happens to pop into "Candyland" with tears in her eyes and a stupid boyfriend. Kalvin thinks this might be his in, but he also has something else up his sleeve- his parents are relationship therapists, and popular podcasting/tech savvy ones whose brand is out there in the world, so Kalvin dishes out more than just the candy, he gives advice.

Kalvin's voice along with his friendships are rich. How he weathers the storm that is the secrets of his parents (will they or won't they?) possible divorce lends weight to weightier topics in the book. And the romance is sweetly centered around his industriousness.

As the book came to an end, there were several vibrant scenes that made it an all around male protagonist forward story. Not that I want it because I can be judgmental, but this would make an adorable Netflix-adapted movie (please please make it like Heartstopper, To All The Boys, and Dumplin')

[Selena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kalvin is an entrepreneur. He sells candygrams to students in school. Yes, he is trying to make money, but it is for something important. He also stumbles into giving relationship advice to his classmates, for $10 a session, 7 minutes each in the supply closet tricked out to be their meeting place. Students of all cliques come for his advice. He seems to be the perfect guy for this because his parents are a famous therapist team. Soon his crush comes to him for advice. During all of this, his rival, a girl from student council, is trying to take him down for the candy business AND therapy sessions.

Poor Kal is stuck to decide how to approach is crush's issues. Does he help her or himself by making her realize her boyfriend is totally wrong for her? What does he do to keep himself from being discovered as a fake therapist?

I think my students will like this book. It sounds like some of the conversations overheard in the halls of the school, maybe not the candy selling or therapy, but similar relationship issues.
I will recommend this book to some of my students.

I was given the opportunity to read this book by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

[Diane Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for the synthesized voice galley of this title in exchange for an honest review.

First, a note about synthesized voice galleys. Sometimes they work better than others, i.e. if there are not too many characters that the voice cannot differentiate, and if there are no dialects to contend with. This was not one of those cases. With a real narrator, I expect this book will be brilliant in audio.

There was a lot going on in this book—competition for candy sales, a family on the verge of breaking up, a first crush… but the most important theme for me, as a former teacher, was how much high school kids are in need of support and a listening ear. There is a growing need for mental health services in schools, and this book highlighted it in a truly unique way.

Seven Minutes in Candyland was not what I expected it to be from the title and the cover. It started out all about the candy, and I really wasn’t sure where it was going. It took some twists and turns and ended up at a pretty cool destination.

[Gemini · Rating 3 out of 5]

Goofy

I really wanted to love this book, but it just didn’t work for me. I ignored the awful cover art with hopes that the story would make up for it. The plot definitely had potential. The execution was so cheesy and cliché. This felt like any movie from the 80s with thirty-something actors portraying teenagers. There was a nerdy boy crushing on the girl that is “out of his league” and already coupled up with the popular rich kid. The nerd outwits the popular boy and gets the girl. A lot of times I felt like the dialogue didn’t seem authentic. It read like a 40 year old man posing as a high school sophomore. The severely overused dynamic of the handful of Black kids trying to navigate in a school full of wealthy white kids annoyed me. That theme is so tired. Overall, this felt too silly and stereotypical for my personal taste.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins, and Brian Wasson for this advanced copy to review. #SevenMinutesinCandyland #NetGalley

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kalvin's so close to his goal of $12K. He's been undercutting StuCo's candy-sales fundraiser for the last year by selling his own candy stash -- with more variety, and at better prices -- plotting to use the funds for a blowout Hawaiian getaway to save his parents' fraught marriage. His relationship-therapist parents don't have much to say to each other nowadays, other than on their wildly successful podcast. With weeks left to reach his goal, it's only natural for Kalvin to start giving his classmates relationship advice...

It has:
- perfectly balanced whimsy, angst, and message
- impeccable plotting, pacing, and a satisfying resolution
- authentic, realistic teen voices

This book is simply outstanding. I appreciated the many nuggets of truth about life, relationships, and wellness. I, a relationship psychologist, even learned from it! I really didn't have any critiques whatsoever. That is...quite rare.

[Joyce M. H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the debut book by Brian Wasson. Brian did an awesome job, his characters are likable, plot is great with young adults romantic comedy. Kal is a sophomore in high school and is known as the candy man with parents that are famous therapists. Kal has crushed on his long-time friend Sterling for sometime now. Kal runs a great underground candy business to make extra money. Things are not to going to well with Sterling in the romance department so she goes to Kal for much needed help. Kal lends a listening ear and his therapy skills as he is not to fond of Sterling’s jerk of a boyfriend. Kal has issues that he is dealing with as he trying to mend his parents broken relationship.

Can Kal get the girl and repair his parents relationship?

I received an ARC via NetGalley and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Diamond Jones-Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book focused on the hardships of teenage life. It focused on being able to deal with situations and seek help when you are struggling.
It showed that it's "okay" to not be "okay". It was a bit of a slow read for the first few chapters but I enjoyed the underlining theme.
This book also focused heavily on letting people make their own mistakes because that's the only way they can learn.
The main character Kevin had to learn that even though he gave great advice and counseling, he almost lost all of his friends due to thinking his way of conflict resolution was the only way.

This book gives great insight even for an adult reader.

The negative:

The book was a tad bit slow. I almost stopped reading it after the first few chapters, it just didn't have enough substance at first.

[Erika Reynolds · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kalvin Shmelton runs an underground candy business at school, putting the student council out of business with his low prices and better inventory. He soon inadvertently turns his candy business into therapy sessions when he gives relationship advice to Sterling, a popular, rich girl who just so happens to be Kal’s crush. Kal’s parents are therapists and relationship experts who host a successful podcast, and it turns out Kal is a natural. But when his parents’ marriage begins to fall apart and a few classmates turn against him, Kal’s world begins to crumble.

This has some great commentary on therapy and family dynamics. It has a wonderful message for teens, and I like the emphasis it placed on healthy relationships destigmatizing therapy. However, I did not like the portrayal of Kal’s relationship with Sterling. Without giving any spoilers, he does something in the middle of the book that really upsets Sterling (rightfully so), he reflects on it and admits it was wrong, then in the end basically does the same thing. I didn’t like the message that sent, especially to teens, but I can at least appreciate how he wrestles with what he’s done instead of it being blown off as not a big deal. Thanks to NetGalley, Harper Audio, and Brian Wasson for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Julie Trapp · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Sophomore Kalvin Shmelton has finally perfected his underground candy-selling hustle at school. He keeps his prices reasonable, his inventory fresh, and himself out of the drama. But when a heartbroken Sterling Glistern—Kal’s longtime crush—barges into the storage closet where he keeps his candy supply, a new source of income unexpectedly presents itself: relationship therapist. He only meant to help Sterling realize she’s dating a jerk—and maybe win her over—but news spreads fast that Kalvin’s not just the master of sweets…but hearts, too! And as the son of two famous therapists, he leans into this newfound reputation and the money that comes with it. [amazon synopsis]

And that synopsis is the book. Quite boring and a lot of "who cares".

[Yapha · Rating 4 out of 5]

As grown-ups we sometimes forget all of the pressures that teens face in high school. This book does a great job addressing all of the different types of relationship issues -- with their friends, their parents, their romantic interests -- while still telling a great story. Kalvin, whose parents are famous therapists specializing in relationship issues, finds himself giving advice to his classmates while his own relationships are imploding. This was a great read with a lot of relatable characters and situations. Recommended for grades 8 & up.

eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was pretty good! Part of me liked how much this book focused on therapy (albeit, from a teenager in a storage closet) because I think it did a good job at normalizing therapy and how all types of people can benefit from it. But I DID find it weird that Kalvin was smart enough to give all this great advice but dumb enough to think raising enough money to send his parents to Hawaii would magically fix their marriage.

There's a lot of good to this book, but it lacked whatever that special thing is that hooks me. I enjoyed it, but it's easily forgettable.