When You Get the Chance by Emma Lord
Wednesday Books
Publication Date: January 4, 2022
ISBN: 9781250783349
Millie Price is dead set on becoming a Broadway star, but her introverted dad is reluctant to let her leave home to attend a special musical theater school. When Millie discovers her dad’s LiveJournal from 2003, she decides that a deep dive into this history will help her find out who her birth mother is, in hopes that her newly found mom will support her dreams.
Full of humor and a flair for the dramatic, Millie is a captivating heroine who makes plenty of mistakes. She knows what she wants and who she is, with just one small piece missing: her mom. When Millie discovers three candidates she has varying levels of success getting to know them. A heavy dose of Mamma Mia!, well-developed secondary characters, some enemies-to-lovers romance, and plenty of heart help broaden the appeal of this title.
The theme of finding family also runs through a comparable Emma Lord title, You Have a Match. Readers who are looking for similar content about reconnecting with parents could also try Here We Are Now by Jasmine Warga. For musical theater YA, try the Nate series by Tim Federle, starting with Better Nate Than Ever.
—Emily Williams
Other Nominated Titles:
- The Year I Stopped Trying by Katie Heaney
- One True Loves by Elise Bryant
The Selected Lists teams read throughout the year in search of the best titles published in their respective categories. Once a book is suggested (either internally or through the title suggestion form), it must pass through a review process to be designated an official nomination.
Each week, the teams feature a review of one of the officially nominated titles. Additional titles to receive this designation are listed as well. At year’s end, the team will curate a final list from all nominated titles and select a Top Ten.