* “[A] simultaneously uplifting and unflinching romance.”
– STARRED REVIEW, Publisher’s Weekly
ABOUT THE BOOK
When Jessa and Bird join forces to break up their best friends’ toxic relationship, they start to fall for each other in this swoony ’90s romance from bestselling author Amber Smith and Sam Gellar, perfect for fans of She Gets the Girl.
Bird and Jessa don’t have much in common. Bird is an aspiring poet, still finding herself after a transformative summer away at writing camp. Jessa lives for the discovery of new music, using it to block out the dysfunction waiting for her at home. They would never have crossed paths if it weren’t for one shared problem: Their two best friends have started dating, and the relationship is threatening to ruin their senior year.
Tired of falling second to their friends’ romance, the girls come to the only logical conclusion: they have to break their friends up. But the more time Bird and Jessa spend scheming, they start to realize they might have more in common than they thought.
Set in the late 90’s in a world full of change as much as possibility, Jessa and Bird relearn what it means to love themselves and receive love in return, and to dream for a future they never imagined.
Praise for Fade into You
* “[A] simultaneously uplifting and unflinching romance.” (Publishers Weekly, starred review)
“A perfect romance for teens on the precipice of adulthood.” (Booklist)
“A dark yet hopeful historical novel set in 1999 that explores love, friendship, and mental health….For fans of Jennifer Mathieu’s Moxie, an overall relatable and universal coming-of-age story.” (School Library Journal)
“An absorbing and unflinching look at queer love in the late 90s. Smith and Gellar have crafted a hopeful, sometimes painful, always empathetic story about two teens falling in love amidst struggle both political and familial. I could not put it down.” (Kathleen Glasgow, New York Times bestselling author of Girl in Pieces and The Glass Girl)
“Fade Into You is a raw, heart-felt exploration of growing up queer in the 90s, feeling left behind by your friends, and discovering what it means to be loved for exactly who you are. Smith and Gellar’s unique voices weave an unforgettable narrative that will stick with you long after The End.” (Isabel Sterling, author of These Witches Don’t Burn and The Coldest Touch)
“Fade Into You calls back—in vivid detail—the challenges and triumphs of being queer and young in the time of Y2K. Smith and Gellar transport their readers back in time, with all the angst and anger of living complicated lives at a complicated time. Fade Into You is both timely and timeless. A bold and fresh take.” (Gia Gordon, author of The Redemption of Daya Keane)
“I loved Fade Into You. It took me back to the cusp of the 2000’s when being queer was less okay than now and family dynamics were built around even bigger societal expectations. Both Jess and Bird are dealing with struggles in friendships and siblings, neither quite knowing how to be completely themselves. Until they meet. And though it’s not a charmed meet cute and there are stumbles along the way, what both girls discover is that it is possible to find that person, the one who accepts and adores you for ALL that you are. With beautiful writing and relatable characters, Amber and Sam have written a distinct dual POV young adult romance that highlights the importance of finding someone who really gets you and still likes you anyway. A love story not to miss.” (Jaye Robin Brown, author of Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit and The Meaning of Birds)
Out in Paperback October 6th, 2026
Signed Copies Available from Protagonist Books & Coffee, Dryden, New York!
Meet Sam Gellar, co-author of FADE INTO YOU!
