Sidney has one goal for their junior year. Well . . . two, if they’re being honest. Number one: become president of their school’s Queer Alliance club. And number two: keep their self-diagnosed anxiety in check so their grades don’t tank like they did last year.
But when the election results in a tie with none other than Sidney’s arch nemesis, the class clown Forrest, the two are forced to share the presidency until a revote at the end of term. Sidney expects Forrest to be insufferable, but it turns out that working together is . . . kind of nice?
As surprising feelings for Forrest emerge, Sidney’s techniques for managing their anxiety stop working. With the reelection approaching and assignments starting to pile up, will all this pressure be too much for Sidney to handle on their own?
In Worst-Case Scenario by Ray Stoeve, the author has created a refreshing and honest teen romance that deals with gender identity, anxiety, OCD and mental health in a way that is authentic and realistic. From the start, Sidney is easy to like but so too is Forrest, even though the two seem to be very different, but those differences just add layers to the romance and the relationship the pair develop.
I love the way that relationship does develop as the two talk to the other and change how they interact. Sometimes in life, we don’t realize that we are missing out on a connection unless we open ourselves to the possibility and I love that aspect of the story, especially within the friend groups that surround Sidney and Forrest.
What is most interesting is how the depiction of Sidney’s mental health is handled, with respect but also with authenticity, showing us how Sidney feels but also how it is not seen as a terrible thing but as something Sidney just needs help with. I especially like how it depicts OCD outside the typical form we see on television.
If you like novels that deal with young adult relationships and mental health journeys, this one is worth taking a look at, especially for its refreshing and honest approach that also shows respect for those who struggle with any mental illness. I love the ending but also the relationship between Sidney and Forrest. It is a beautiful story.
Rating: 5 out of 5 intrusive thoughts.
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