YA Dystopian. A boy is a Hacker (I think) and the city they live in is a mega city with levels stacked on top of each other. There’s glass dividing the parts of the city. The bottom levels are polluted and poor. Falls for a girl.

[Jervaise]

I’ve read the book in the last 5 years, I think. Either this is a real book, or I’ve dreamed it. I can picture parts of it. The boy might have a red hat. The boy goes to a noodle shop run by an old lady. He finds a girl who scouts out rich people who leave their residences to go somewhere else and she “steals” their identity living in their homes. They connect in a big open place. They dance. She leaves him sleeping. (view spoiler)[ I think he sacrifices his hacker home for the girl because he brings her there. The noodle woman is killed, maybe. They escape while the government tries to break in...and everything he’s gotten over the years is lost. (hide spoiler)]

[A.J.]

Is it part of a collection of short stories? I could be way off base, but the topic description reminds me of Pocketful of Dharma, which is a short story in a collection called Pump Six and Other Stories. There is a huge building being constructed which is actually living, and the protagonist has a cube which carries the soul of a Dalai Lama, similar to a USB. He doesn't wear a red hat, but red and blue are mentioned to carry forward the theme. There is no romance.

[Jervaise]

No, but thank you! That’s not the right plot.

[Bridget]

Doesn't match all your details, but maybe The Walled City by Ryan Graudin? It's about the Kowloon Walled City, which had stories upon stories of homes and apartments all crammed into an incredibly confined space. The girl in the book is a thief and there is mention of a noodle shop. That's about it though. ;)

[Jervaise]

No, that’s not it either! But thank you!! It looks good!

[Rainbowheart]

Still looking, Jervaise?

[Jervaise]

Yes. Or I dreamt it. :)

[Rainbowheart]

These are some books with vertical cities, but I don't know if they match up otherwise.

Floor 21
The Roar
Breakaway
Nightpeople
The Summer Prince
The House of Power

[Jervaise]

Thanks. None of them fit. Must’ve been a dream. :)

[Anthony]

Did anyone ever figure out what this was?

[Jervaise]

No. That’s okay. We can close it. :)

[Rainbowheart]

Are you sure? We're happy to keep it open if you still want to find it. I'm curious too!

[Jervaise]

I’m more and more convinced it was a dream. Thank you all. :)

[Ingo]

And I am one of the silent followers of this, would also like to see this solved. Please do not close nor abandon it!

[Sarah]

This is kind of a reach, but have you checked out Hex by Rhiannon Lassiter? One of my all-time favourites. I think it's more middle grade, but the themes are quite dark and it also features a vertical city. Don't remember any noodle shops, though.

[Sarah]

I did some additional googling and this might be a candidate as well: Rise of the Red Hand.

[Helena]

I immediately thought of Katharine McGee's "the thousandth floor"

[Jervaise]

Haven’t read any of those. Shucks.
Thanks for trying.
Okay. I won’t close it.

I’m becoming more and more convinced it was a dream. 😂

[Lily]

Literally just joined this group to answer this post. I'm PRETTY sure I know what you're talking about. Have you read the Legend series by Marie Lu? It's YA Dystopia. It was originally a trilogy but a few years ago she published a companion book that features some of the same characters but kind of acts like a stand-alone, called Rebel. It very closely matches your description. Hope this helps!

[Bargle]

Link Rebel by Marie Lu.

[Jervaise]

Oh! I’ve read Legend series, so I’ll look back at Rebel. Thanks!! :)

[Kris]

Google Books preview of Rebel by Marie Lu - Lily's suggestion:

https://books.google.com/books/about/...