Jay's Guide to Crushing It by Ruby Clyde (author)

It isn’t easy working out who you like when you’re still working out who you are.Jay – sorry, Jennifer – and her family move to a new town for a fresh start, after bullying at her last school went too far. Jennifer’s mum insists that she do things differently, so gone are her jeans, T-shirts, skateboard and short hair. Jennifer want to keep her mum happy, so she follows Mum’s plan to start looking and acting like a girl. But it soon starts to wear on Jennifer, and she starts leading a double life, dressing in her brother’s clothes to sneak out to go skateboarding in the local park. That’s where Jennifer feels most like herself, where she can be Jay again. But then Jay gets tangled up in a crush with Alex, a closeted boy at the skate park who thinks Jay is a boy. But is her friend Mina flirting with Jay … as a girl? Can Jay keep their different worlds from colliding? A romantic comedy that shows readers that sometimes the basics can be quite complicated!

Hilarious and heartfelt, this novel is perfect for fans of Heartstopper, Felix Ever After, I Kissed Shara Wheeler and Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating.
Ruby Clyde is a rising talent, known for their comedy writing and acclaimed performances as half of the comedy duo Shelf

Praise for Jay’s Guide to Crushing It “ The word ‘heartwarming’ is overused when it comes to teen love but Clyde’s debut, about a teenager who is forced to dress more like a girl when they move to a new school, is genuinely that… This sweet and tender romance will offer hope to all teenagers who feel constrained by societal and parental expectations.” THE BOOKSELLER – ONE TO WATCH REVIEW

Our August 2023 Teen Book of the Month

Our Book of the Month for Teen readers is Jay’s Guide to Crushing It from own-voices author Ruby Clyde. 14-year-old Jay – sorry, Jennifer – and her family move to a new town for a fresh start after bullying at her last school went too far. Jennifer wants to keep her mum happy so gone are her jeans, t-shirts, skateboard and short hair and she’s following the plan to start looking and acting like a girl. But Jennifer soon starts to lead a double life, sneaking out to the local skatepark where she feels most like herself and can be Jay again. Here she gets tangled up in a crush with Alex, a closeted boy who thinks Jay is a boy too. But at school is her new friend Mina flirting with Jay…as a girl? It isn’t easy working out who you like when you’re still working out who you are.

This funny, big-hearted romantic comedy about a teen doing their best to fit in shows readers that sometimes finding yourself can be quite complicated! Author Ruby Clyde is a rising talent, best known as one half of the acclaimed comedy double act Shelf, and brings a fresh and unique voice to the forefront in this debut novel. Jay’s Guide to Crushing It softens difficult coming-out themes with whip-smart humour and is a perfect read for fans of Heartstopper, Felix Ever After, and Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating.