Brady Mason's Perfect Fit - by Nicole Melleby (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

What happens when a sporty foster kid from the suburbs meets her glamorous birth mom in the big city? This slice-of-life novel is perfect for fans of Judy Blume and Ashley Herring Blake.

Brady Mason couldn't care less about fashion. She likes what she knows: baseball, comfortable clothes, and pork roll with egg and cheese. When Brady's friends notice that she looks strangely like fashion editor Elena Lavigne, they start the rumor that Brady is Elena's long-lost daughter. They'll make a few TikTok videos, get some fun buzz online about their similarities, and that will be the end of it.

But when a DNA test confirms that Brady is Elena's long-lost daughter, she's summoned to Manhattan to live with her. The only problem: Elena's high-fashion life clashes with Brady's tomboy antics, and Elena doesn't know how to be a mother any more than Brady knows how to be a daughter. But the more time passes, the more Brady sees what they have in common, and she starts wondering...if she and Elena are both searching for a family, could the two of them be the right fit?

Balancing humor and heart, here is a winning story of hard-fought growth and found family.

Review Quotes

Praise for Brady Mason's Perfect Fit:
"All the fun and glamour of The Devil Wears Prada, but with a giant empathetic heart at its core. I loved it."--Eliot Schrefer, two-time National Book Award finalist

"Angry, prickly, and perfectly Jersey, Brady Mason is anything but weak. She's a cool kid that readers young and old will root for from page one."--Taylor Tracy, Stonewall Honor author of Murray Out of Water

"A beautifully written story in Nicole Melleby's pitch-perfect middle grade voice. Annie meets The Devil Wears Prada told with warmth, humor, and hope. From the Jersey Shore surf to the glittering world of New York fashion, I loved Brady's determination to remain true to herself while exploring a relationship with her birth parent. Kids are going to devour this book!"--Ali Terese, National Book Award-longlisted author of Free Period and Vote for the G.O.A.T.

"Angry, prickly, and perfectly Jersey, Brady Mason is anything but weak. She's a cool kid that readers young and old will root for from page one."--Taylor Tracy, Stonewall Honor author of Murray Out of Water

Praise for Nicole Melleby:
* "Locke and Melleby deliver a high interest, meaningful, and hopeful title about athletes and sports....A must-purchase not just for sports fans but any reader ­looking for hope and stories of ­belonging."--School Library Journal, starred review (Athlete is Agender)

* "A powerful, emotional look at queerness, pride, and what it truly means to feel held."

--Kirkus Reviews, starred review (Winnie Nash Is Not Your Sunshine)

* "Melleby deftly tackles weighty topics--mental illness, child protective services, single parenting, sexuality--while effortlessly weaving in elements of the life and works of Vincent van Gogh, creating a thoughtful, age-appropriate and impressive novel."--Shelf Awareness, starred review (Hurricane Season)

* "This funny, tender, and heart-wrenching story will have readers calling for an encore."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review (In the Role of Brie Hutchens)

*"This emotional read shows the power of friendship and family without omitting the work that goes into loving someone."--Booklist, starred review (The Science of Being Angry)

About the Author

Nicole Melleby, a New Jersey native, is the author of highly praised novels for young readers, including the Lambda Literary finalist Hurricane Season, ALA Notable book How to Become a Planet, Camp QUILTBAG (co-written with A. J. Sass), and The House on Sunrise Lagoon series. She's also the author of Sunny and Oswaldo, as well as the co-editor of Athlete Is Agender: True Stories of LGBTQ+ Excellence in Sports. She lives with her wife and their family and invites you to visit her online at nicolemelleby.com.