Something Like Possible follows Madison, an aspiring campaign manager, as she turns a break-up and firing into an opportunity for victory and a bit of romance. I loved reading about Madison reaching her goals and fighting for a campaign victory without being painted as “bossy” or “overbearing.” The romance plot later in the book was also portrayed as respectful and loving, while simultaneously being adorable. Their relationship had me kicking my feet and giggling. Moreland did an excellent job of depicting Madison and the love interest as equals with their own set of strengths, even if the love interest could have been a bit more fleshed-out. They balanced each other out really well.

I also loved the sense of LGBTQ+ community and allyship throughout the book. There was a lot of queer joy, which made me happy. Moreland discussed many pertinent queer issues that arise in the school setting in a graceful manner related to plotline. I’m not sure how realistic the mostly supportive school environment was for a charter school in the Midwest, but the homophobia (and biphobia) in the book was handled so well. I would definitely recommend this to an ally looking to learn about homophobia or biphobia in schools.

I really appreciated the discussion of school and local politics in the novel as well. With an upcoming presidential election, highlighting local civic engagement and electing women into office is extremely important. Madison can’t vote, but she still involves herself in political volunteering and goes to city halls. Civic engagement is so vital and is an excellent way for teens to get involved before they can vote and I’m glad this book emphasized that. I’m unsure, though, as to how realistic the portrayal of the junior class president campaign was. All of the characters were referring to it like it wasn’t just a popularity contest. Same thing with the Jays Jigsaw pieces; they were portrayed as coveted items, but I doubt most high schoolers would care.

Ultimately, though, I really enjoyed Something Like Possible. The romance is super loveable and balanced; all of the friend characters are interesting, but are also honest with Madison. The conflicts are handled well and you root for Madison to keep finding empowerment. The plot dragged a bit in the middle, but you’re invested enough in the characters to ignore it. Something Like Possible is just a really lovely read.