‘The Voting Booth’ by Brandy Colbert

Five stars!

Book Blurb:

“From Stonewall Award-winning author Brandy Colbert comes an all-in-one-day love story perfect for fans of ‘The Sun is Also A Star.’

Marva Sheridan was born ready for this day. She's always been driven to make a difference in the world, and what better way than to vote in her first election?

Duke Crenshaw is so done with this election. He just wants to get voting over with so he can prepare for his band's first paying gig tonight.

Only problem? Duke can't vote.

When Marva sees Duke turned away from their polling place, she takes it upon herself to make sure his vote is counted. She hasn't spent months doorbelling and registering voters just to see someone denied their right. And that's how their whirlwind day begins, rushing from precinct to precinct, cutting school, waiting in endless lines, turned away time and again, trying to do one simple thing: vote. They may have started out as strangers, but as Duke and Marva team up to beat a rigged system (and find Marva's missing cat), it's clear that there's more to their connection than a shared mission for democracy.

Romantic and triumphant, ‘The Voting Booth’ is proof that you can't sit around waiting for the world to change, but some things are just meant to be.”

Review:

So many things make ‘The Voting Booth’ the perfect Contemporary YA read right now, including the timing.  This book touches upon several important and relatable every-day-life issues, such as divorced parents, loss of family members, gun violence, voter suppression, Juneteenth, protests, discrimination and prejudice based on race, gender, and class.  And of course, the importance of voting and the impact each election can have for years to come, especially for young people.

All these issues are artfully incorporated within a one-day adventure where our 18-year-old main characters attempt to vote in their first election, deal with family and relationship issues, search for an Instagram-famous runaway pet cat, and try to arrive to their band’s first paying gig on time.  Though the themes are heavy, that the main characters were so easy to root for and always tried to do the right thing made this an enjoyable for me.

Grab ‘The Voting Booth’ on July 7, 2020!

#TheVotingBooth #NetGalley - I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s.