The Love (De)Bug

In this hilarious and swoonworthy YA sapphic romance, two New York City teens find that sometimes love—like every app—needs a little debugging.

All 17-year-old New Yorker Khushi Singh wants is a predictable, conflict-free relationship. After her parents’ “opposites attract” marriage ends in divorce, the only guy she can see herself with is Abhay Khurana: Indian American, reasonably attractive, and on his way to MIT to study coding—just like her. The problem? He has no idea she exists, and she has no idea how to charm him.

Lavanya Shivakumar needs to get out, and fast. Out of her family’s restaurant. Out of high school, because her safe space—the Queer Students’ club she founded—is no longer hers to claim, since her ex-girlfriend now runs it. At least Lavanya is already out of the closet, armed with a million-dollar app idea that’ll help other teens come to terms with their identities, too. If only she knew how to code.

When Khushi finds out Lavanya is Abhay’s neighbor, it’s the start of what seems like a mastermind plan to each get what they want. In exchange for tips to woo Abhay, Khushi will help out-and-proud Lavanya code her social matching app. But the more time they spend together, the more confusing things become. Because Khushi is supposed to be finding her way into Abhay’s heart—not letting Lavanya into hers.