Cover of You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
Young Adult FictionSweet

You Should See Me in a Crown

by Leah Johnson

2021 · 533 pages

"Liz Lighty has always believed she's too black, too poor, too awkward to shine in her small, rich, prom-obsessed midwestern town. But it's okay -- Liz has a plan that will get her out of Campbell, Indiana, forever: attend the uber-elite Pennington College, play in their world-famous orchestra, and become a doctor.But when the financial aid she was counting on unexpectedly falls through, Liz's plans come crashing down . . . until she's reminded of her school's scholarship for prom king and queen. There's nothing Liz wants to do less than endure a gauntlet of social media trolls, catty competitors, and humiliating public events, but despite her devastating fear of the spotlight she's willing to do whatever it takes to get to Pennington.The only thing that makes it halfway bearable is the new girl in school, Mack. She's smart, funny, and just as much of an outsider as Liz. But Mack is also in the running for queen. Will falling for the competition keep Liz from her dreams . . . or make them come true?"--

EmotionalComfortCozy
Editor ReviewedAI-AssistedRomance Profile Available
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About This Book

You Should See Me in a Crown is a young adult fiction romance novel by Leah Johnson, first published in 2021 by Thorndike Striving Reader. It runs 533 pages. Readers can expect sweet heat; a emotional and comfort tone.

At a glance

Genre
Young Adult Fiction
Heat
Sweet
Ending
HEA
Mood
Emotional
Published
2021
Length
533 pages

Where to read or listen

Get You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson

These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.

Should I read this?

Why You May Love This Book

You may love this if…

  • When a wallflower is forced into the spotlight of her town's obsessive prom queen competition to secure her college future, she finds herself falling for the one person she shouldn't: her competition.
  • Fans of queer joy
  • Readers who love high school competition tropes
  • Hopeful
  • Features Rivals to Lovers

This may not be ideal if…

  • Readers looking for high heat/steamy content
  • Readers who dislike high school social drama
  • High school tropes may feel familiar
Romance Profile

The Romance

Tropes, dynamics, and the chemistry that drives this story.

Tropes

Rivals to LoversOutsidersComing of AgeHidden Identity/SecretsCompetitionSmall Town

Relationship Dynamics

Mutual SupportSoft and SweetCompetitorsBonding over shared outsider status

Details

Type: Contemporary YA Romance

Pairing: F/F

Power balance: Equal

Slow BurnStrong (50 out of 100)
Relationship TensionStrong (65 out of 100)
Emotional IntimacyVery strong (85 out of 100)
Emotional Experience

How It Feels

The emotional landscape you'll move through while reading.

High comfort, moderate tension, moderate humor, and a strong emotional payoff.

AngstMild (45 out of 100)
ComfortVery strong (75 out of 100)
HumorStrong (60 out of 100)
TensionStrong (55 out of 100)
DarknessLow (15 out of 100)
Emotional IntensityStrong (70 out of 100)
Emotional PayoffVery strong (90 out of 100)
Tear RatingMild (30 out of 100)
Pacing: Fast-paced
Tone:UpliftingEmpoweringHeartwarmingVibrant
Heat & Explicitness

Heat Level

Based on available metadata and editorial review.

Heat Level
On-page sexual contentLow (10 out of 100)

No or minimal on-page sexual content

Explicitness: Sweet
Heat information is based on available metadata and editorial review. Reader sensitivities vary.
Reader Fit

Who Is This Book For?

Best for

Fans of queer joyReaders who love high school competition tropesFans of Becky Albertalli or Jenny HanReaders looking for Black girl magic

Reading mood

HopefulInspiredRomanticWarm

May not suit

Readers looking for high heat/steamy contentReaders who dislike high school social drama

Recommended audience: Young Adult

Content Guidance

Content Guidance

Story & Themes

The Story

Spoiler-Free Synopsis

In Campbell, Indiana, prom is everything. For Liz Lighty, it’s a means to an end—the scholarship money she needs to attend the elite Pennington College and become a doctor. But becoming royalty requires enduring a gauntlet of social media trolls and public events that trigger her deepest anxieties. The journey becomes complicated when she meets Mack, the smart and funny new girl. As the two outsiders bond, Liz must decide if winning the crown is worth losing the first person who truly sees her.

Central Conflict

Liz must choose between her lifelong dream of attending a prestigious college (which requires winning the prom scholarship) and her growing feelings for her direct rival in the competition.

Setting

Campbell, Indiana; a wealthy, prom-obsessed small town in the Midwest.

Themes

Prom QueenScholarship raceSapphic YASocial media dramaWallflower leadsQueer JoyBlack ExcellenceComing OutHigh School RomanceMust-Read YA

Strengths

  • Compelling voice
  • Nuanced exploration of intersectionality (race, class, and sexuality)
  • High emotional stakes
  • Positive representation of anxiety

Consider before reading

  • High school tropes may feel familiar
  • Antagonists can be somewhat one-dimensional
Book Club

Discussion Guide

Questions to deepen your reading experience or spark a book club conversation.

  1. 1

    How does the central conflict shape the relationship between the main characters?

  2. 2

    Which theme — Prom Queen — resonated most strongly with you, and why?

  3. 3

    How does the setting influence the characters' decisions and their relationship?

  4. 4

    Did the emotional payoff feel earned by the story's buildup?

  5. 5

    How do the relationship dynamics evolve throughout the story?

  6. 6

    Who would you most want to recommend this book to?

  7. 7

    How did the pacing affect your reading experience?

  8. 8

    Which aspect of the story did you find most compelling?

Questions are generated from approved book intelligence and may not reflect every reader's experience.
Trust & Transparency

How This Profile Was Created

Eikna uses book metadata and AI-assisted analysis to create structured romance profiles. Public profiles are reviewed and approved by an editor before publication.

Editor reviewed:
Yes
Last reviewed:
September 19, 2026
Confidence:
High confidence
Profile version:
eikna-public-book-intelligence-v1
Meet the writer

About the Author

LJ

Leah Johnson

Reader Reviews

What Readers Say

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Publication Details

Publisher
Thorndike Striving Reader
Published
2021
Length
533 pages
Language
English
ISBN-13
9781432890353
ISBN-10
1432890352

You Should See Me in a Crown: quick answers

Who wrote You Should See Me in a Crown?
You Should See Me in a Crown was written by Leah Johnson.
When was You Should See Me in a Crown published?
You Should See Me in a Crown was first published in 2021 by Thorndike Striving Reader.
What genre is You Should See Me in a Crown?
You Should See Me in a Crown is a young adult fiction romance novel.
How many pages is You Should See Me in a Crown?
You Should See Me in a Crown is 533 pages long.
How spicy is You Should See Me in a Crown?
EIKNA rates You Should See Me in a Crown as sweet heat.

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Where to read or listen

Get You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson

These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.

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