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Not My Problem

by Ciara Smyth

Subject
LGBTQ+ - General
Age
Teen
Format
Hardcover
Pages
368
Publisher
Harperteen
Size
14.0 cm × 21.3 cm
ISBN
9780062957146

Perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli and Nina LaCour, this queer coming-of-age story from the author of The Falling in Love Montage is wry, multilayered, and unflinchingly honest.

Aideen has plenty of problems she can’t solve. But when she stumbles upon overachiever Meabh Kowalska having a full-blown meltdown, she sees one that she can actually fix. Meabh is desperate to escape her crushing pile of extracurriculars. Aideen volunteers to help—by pushing her down the stairs.

Problem? Solved. Meabh’s sprained ankle is the perfect excuse to ditch her overwhelming schedule. But when one of their classmates learns about their little scheme, more “clients” start asking for Aideen’s “help”—kicking off a semester of traded favors, ill-advised hijinks, and even an unexpected chance at love.

Fixing other people’s problems won’t fix her own. But it might be the push Aideen needs to start.


One girl with a talent for creative solutions. A whole school full of problems.


Academic Pressure: Follows an overachiever so desperate for a break she’ll pay to have her ankle sprained, and the underachiever who’s happy to help.Witty Banter: Aideen’s sharp, sarcastic narration guides you through a semester of back-alley deals and unexpected feelings.Complicated Family Life: While Aideen is busy solving problems for cash, she’s ignoring the much bigger one waiting at home with her alcoholic mother.Found Family: An unlikely team of misfits—including the girl she just pushed down the stairs—comes together to run the school's most chaotic problem-solving service.LGBTQ+ YA Romance: What starts as a bizarre business arrangement might just be the beginning of an honest, awkward, and hilarious queer romance.

About the author

Ciara SmythAuthor

Ciara Smyth studied drama, teaching, and then social work at university. She thought she didn’t know what she wanted to be when she grew up. She became a writer so she wouldn’t have to grow up. She enjoys jigging (verb: to complete a jigsaw puzzle), playing the violin badly, and having serious conversations with her pets. Ciara has lived in Belfast for over ten years and still doesn’t really know her way around. Visit her online at www.ciarasmyth.com.

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What reviewers said

Praise for The Falling in Love Montage: “An emotionally stirring queer romance with witty, playful dialogue.”
Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Delightfully brash and no-nonsense. Pleasantly and audaciously fills a gap in queer romance.”
"A meet-cute in the style of Jenny Han, and just as sweet and cinematic as YA rom-com fans will expect."
Booklist
“A snarky and sincere romp through meet-cutes and grand romantic gestures, this book is a must-read for fans of Becky Albertali and Morgan Matson.”
Ashley Poston, author of Geekerella and The Princess and the Fangirl
“A joyous, hilarious, big-hearted book with the kind of electric, rollicking voice that makes you want to live in its pages forever.”
Jeff Zentner, Morris Award-winning author of Rayne & Delilah's Midnite Matinee
“A charming romp of a rom-com about the delights and terrors of falling in love. Saoirse is a heroine for the ages; she is smart, flawed, funny, and—when she lets her guard down—achingly vulnerable. This book will make your heart sing. Read it.” - Misa Sugiura, award-winning author of It's Not Like It's a Secret and This Time Will Be Different
© 2026 Peekabooks Inc. All Rights Reserved.
© 2026 Peekabooks Inc. All Rights Reserved.