I Wanna Be Where You Are

A debut young adult rom-com about an African-American ballerina who finds love on the road to an audition.

“Chloe’s determination to be a professional ballerina is palpable in Jeanette Illidge’s narration of this realistic YA romance…. Dancers and non-dancers alike will enjoy this romance and root for Chloe and Eli to get together.” (AudioFile)

When Chloe Pierce’s mom forbids her to apply for a spot at the dance conservatory of her dreams, she devises a secret plan to drive 200 miles to the nearest audition. But Chloe hits her first speed bump when her annoying neighbor, Eli, insists upon hitching a ride, threatening to tell Chloe’s mom if she leaves him and his smelly dog, Geezer, behind. So now, Chloe’s chasing her ballet dreams down the east coast – two unwanted (but kinda cute) passengers in her car, butterflies in her stomach, and a really dope playlist on repeat.

Filled with roadside hijinks, heart-stirring romance, and a few broken rules, Kristina Forest’s I Wanna Be Where You Are is a YA debut perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Sandhya Menon.

“In a world where it’s easy to lose faith in love, I Wanna Be Where You Are is a brilliant burst of light. A dazzling debut.” (Nic Stone, New York Times best-selling author of Dear Martin and Odd One Out)